Alice here.
Am I dead?
Many of you have asked that of Roland. Am I?
Ghoul they call me. Am I?
I eat the living. But then so do many of you ...
and for far less pressing reasons :
for spite, for envy, for the sheer pleasure of it.
I was born after Princess Victoria and before grown men started wearing ear-rings.
In New Orleans, I was betrayed into a living death by Mother, jealous of my step-father's attention.
I had the cold comfort of watching her beauty wither, her loves leave her,
starting with my step-father ... who had only pretended affection for the two of us.
I gave her revenge,
and the only price was her sanity.
Watching the monster you made of your own daughter eat your beloved right in front of you
will tend to make your mind become just like your heart ... empty.
So what am I to do with Victor Standish?
I am an old woman in a girl's body. He is an old soul in a boy's frame. Hemingway once told me that it can never end well when two love one another.
And I find myself falling in love with Victor. Is what I see growing in his eyes love for me? I will destroy him I know.
I even forced myself to tell him so. And do you know what he did?
He laughed that gypsy laugh of his, kissing me on the cheek.
"Oh, silly rabbit," he said. "Captain Sam's enemies are gonna kill me long before that! Let's just enjoy it while we've got it."
"It what?," I whispered.
"Us," he whispered back, and this time he kissed me full on my cold, cold lips.
And he didn't flinch. Not even a little.
***
I Love This Soviet Short Film
7 hours ago
Beautiful writing, as usual :)
ReplyDelete---Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Dark, scary, gorgeous, mesmerizing passage. I am blown away by Alice and have to know more about her. I've got to get hers and Victor's stories.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, as always!
ReplyDeleteHi Roland .. great to read more about Alice - fascinating how you weave ghouls and life together .. beautiful Alice and tempting Victor - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteOh, this was just fantastic. Utterly chilling and yet beautiful too. I just love your writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
I have a soft spot in my heart that has Alice's name on it :-)
ReplyDeleteSigh. Alice is such a fantastic character. She's scary and yet approachable at the same time. You've done such a great job with her.
ReplyDeleteA is for lovely Alice! This is why Victor Standish is my fave character!
ReplyDelete:-) Take care
x
Shivery, spine-tingling writing inviting further investigation.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice words and for co-hosting the A-Z Challenge!
Melissa:
I think you would enjoy Victor's and Alice's world. Thanks for visiting and staying to chat! Roland
Kyra:
It is easy to write well of those goth lovers, Alice and Victor!
Hilary:
I'm so glad you like the twilight zone love affair of Victor and Alice!
Clare:
You made my afternoon!
Sarah:
Alice loves you, too!
Jasmine:
Alice just seems to talk inside my head. Scary sometimes. She thanks you for liking her.
Kitty:
Victor is fond of you, as well. Just don't let jealous Alice know!
Jabblog:
I think you would find haunted New Orleans a fun place to visit!!
Beautiful writing, Roland. But if I parked near an alligator you'd be writing about me being dead from a heart attack. Yipes!
ReplyDeleteRoland,
ReplyDeleteI so like your Alice. Though not as much as I like Victor. He is brilliant. In fact, I am almost finished with your book. I know it has taken me ages. Not because of you and your witty writing, but because of my own life challenges. I am definitely going to feature THE LEGEND OF VICTOR STANDISH on my blog in May. I can't wait to read more, too!
Kittie:
ReplyDeleteI keep an eye peeled for certain when I get out of the blood van late at night!!
Susan:
Thank you so much for giving something for Victor to look forward to in May! I hope his and Alice's adventures make your days lighter and more fun! I will say many prayers that your life challenges ease up a bit!! Roland
Awsome "A" start. There is no one quite like Alice and "A" is worthy of her.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThat means a lot coming from you. Only good news for you this whole month!! Roland
Very dark and very interesting. I cant wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteHow perfect that you chose "Alice" to write about. This is JUST stunning, as all of you writing is!
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing! I'll be back for more, my friend.
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
Awesome A! Creepy but great :)
ReplyDeleteWait a minute--I eat the living too? (I guess I do). Alice and I are compadres then. Interesting post. Does Alice Wentworth have anything to do with Wentworth Miller, dreamboat actor? *drools*
ReplyDeleteMatch made in... well, someplace.
ReplyDeleteHow necromantic. Get it? Necro, Romantic.
ReplyDeleteIt's a Necromance!
- Eric
As you know I have a soft spot for Alice. Her voice is so sweet, alluring, and deadly.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad she found someone she can have a relationship with that isn't her dinner.
Well done, Roland.
Gotta love Alice!
ReplyDelete