The Twilight Hours

[Christiana]

A lone woman walks down a lonely pathway, headed in only one direction. Her dark mass of wavy hair gently blows in the salty sea breeze, and her slender legs gracefully continue down the unrelenting pathway leading to two seemingly unreachable iron gates. The Iron gates, that within hold a luscious sanctuary.

As the sun finally diminishes below the horizon, the twilight hours begin, where the undead of Volterra are free to roam the ancient city. The undead being Vampires, and the lone woman----seemingly innocent and beautiful----actually being a Vampire, and that Vampires’ name being… Christiana.

[/i]

As she reached what was seemingly unreachable moments before, her footsteps lessened and her pace slowed. Two men on either side of the iron gates nodded and smiled at her, no words were spoken, for words were not needed. The two men----apparantly guards----pushed the heavy gates open without even a wince or struggle. As they stood up straight, with their arms crossed, they nodded again as she quickly glided past them into the gardens.

In the daylight, the botanical gardens are specifically used as a tourist attraction, but at night when most tourists have gone, the garden is an eden or oasis for the Vampire population. That is the reason she came here, on this night. The garden served as a refuge from what was usual and difficult.

She moved gracefully down the curvy sidewalk, observing the beautiful flowers and sometimes stopping to smell a certain one that had caught her eyes. Ahead of her----a few hundred yards away----stood a charming gazebo, dimly lit by tiny lights, and that looked out onto a small pond.

Decidedly she began a quicker pace towards the gazebo, and then walked up the few steps onto the large platform, and over to where she could see the pond clearly. Standing there alone, she pondered different things, and contemplated continuing her journey through the gardens, but something inside made her stay a few minutes longer, to enjoy the beautious view the dim light offered. [/color]

[Holly]

She was but a simple silhouette in the night. Her form a shadow, her eyes a glittering hazel. Dark hair was hidden under a black hood as was her pale, ghost-like skin. She sat, motionless, on a stone that curved gently out of the pond. She listened carefully to the soft lapping of water against the rock and the rhythmic chirping of crickets. All was at peace in the gardens. Holly London was alone as always, unaware that another would soon join her.

A flicker at the edge of her mind caused her to turn at look at the gazebo. It was lit dimly, a beautiful place for love-touched lovers and a glorious get-away for the lonely of Volterra. Many times, Holly had sat on the edge of the wooden posts and stared out at the gardens in silent awe. Tonight, however, she had found another place to listen to the calm of the dark.

She saw the woman clearly, a vampire with amber eyes and dark brown hair. Holly recognized her from the lower city of Volterra and placed the name quickly. Christiana. Holly would have normally waited until the vampire left...and yet tonight she felt like talking. As fluid as the liquid that surrounded her, Holly rose and vanished. She appeared next to the woman who would not have been startled by the sudden presence. After all, vampires were rarely taken by surprise.

"Hello Christiana," Holly said quietly, shy around people as always. She smiled softly, though it might not have been seen through the slight mask of her hood. Perhaps Christiana had wanted to be alone... Holly grit her teeth in fear of disturbing this woman's peace. And yet, maybe, she would not mind someone to keep her company.

[janevolterra]

I slid smoothly through the exquisite rose bushes-I was right to come here on Aro's suggestion. The priceless plants shone brightly with my keen vision, but I frowned as I caught an unwelcome scent. Turning immediately, I sensed the flowers quivering in a a slight breeze.
"There!" I thought to myself briefly, spying the two vampires standing off at a distance. As soon as my eyes laid sight of them, the wind changed direction.
The smell, it was irreplaceable. The perfect scent, the perfect blood. The breeze curled around me, almost as though it were trying to bring me to the prey.