The Moon of Artemis

Falling Forever With Her

Seraphina listened ever so attentively to the story of how my family came to be throughout the centuries. Her eyes widened, paying very close attention to every word that flowed out of my mouth as I explained each event. She didn't utter a single word and let me speak as I was immersed throughout the entirety of my narration.

I had just realized that I had let out my deepest and darkest secret. I didn't even realize. I had never even told anyone about the fact that I liked women. But it just spilled out of me for some reason, as if talking to her somehow made me that much more vulnerable. I couldn't believe myself. How could I have done that just now. It was unlike me, to be so open to someone I barely knew, to tell her a secret I had never even dared to tell any other soul. I was anxiously nervous as to how she would react to it, after realizing what I had done.

"A sapphic young witch turned vampire for the past two centuries who reminisces on her past mortal life. In a peculiar way, that fits you quite well, Artemis." She paused for a moment. "But I do hope you don't go around telling strangers of your unique preference regarding love interests. Because that could prove detrimental, you know. At least in my case, I am quite careful with whom I choose to know of my deepest secret. But it would appear that you and I are one in the same—in our preferences that is..."

I was utterly shocked. Could it possibly be that she was the same as me? That I had not made a drastic mistake in subconsciously announcing my most profound secret? I gathered myself and said, "I actually did not mean for you to know of it, but for some reason...it's almost as if I felt like I could trust you, and yet I do not even know you all too well. The words just came out of my mouth, without it even registering in my mind. You will be the first and last person to ever know of my secret."

"I somewhat suspected it the moment I met you. You give off this energy, that I think only the likes of us can sense. That's part of the reason why I wanted to see you tonight. I don't know, I suppose I just wanted to see you again."

"Well can I just say, I'm glad you could tell, because otherwise I would not be having this wonderful night with you, Seraphina."

"Artemis, if I'm being quite honest with you, I've wanted you since the moment I met you. I just didn't know if you would want me in the same way." She said nervously.

I swallowed as I blushed, "Seraphina, since I laid eyes on you, I wanted you to want me in the same way that I wanted you." I said with relief.

In that moment, our fates were sealed. We would be one, forever. And she was to never leave my side, for as long as I lived.

I met her three years ago. The beginning of our story started in the spring of 1630. It was now winter of 1633 and my life could not be any more drastically different. Although on the outside, it would appear—to anyone that did not actually know me—that I was the same innocent and respectable Artemis that I always was. But on the contrary, meeting her changed me indefinitely. Everything I thought that I knew of the world, was proven presumably futile in my efforts to understand my existence, for she influenced me in ways in which she didn't even mean to.

She was so beautiful in infinite ways. Her soul captivated me and tethered mine to hers. She was everything to me. For over three years, I experienced a love I thought not to be possible in the very existence of my own nature. It was as if loving her with all my heart enlightened something so deep within, that I was willing to die for her. And what made my heart even more ecstatic was the very fact that she loved mine with the same intensity. Her very existence inherently completed mine, and without a doubt, I would quite simply do anything for her.

A secret, our love was. Prior to our meeting, we both dwelled in our own dark secrets, for no one but our own selves knew of our "preferences." After our connection with each other, we then had another secret to keep—together, as one. We dared not to speak of our relationship with another soul. A witch and vampire relationship was not breaking any rules by any means. It was typically frowned upon, but it was not explicitly forbidden that a witch and a vampire be together. However, it was the apparent fact that we were both women. And that was simply forbidden as a society.

The entirety of our relationship consisted of longing looks, quick glances, graceful touches, and unbeknownst to our caretakers—sneaking away to see each other. It was quite exhilarating in some aspects, but more than none—it was utterly terrifying. To live in a society where one cannot be with the one they love. What a dreadful life to live. But that was the life we had to live. We had no choice. Although, I dream of one day where we can live in a world where freedom of love is celebrated instead of punished. I don't see a valid reason as to why we should be divided because of our differences when we all share this same earth. The world would be much more united if we all recognized our differences as simply just differences instead of dividers.

Every month on the full moon, we would escape the confines of our homes and meet on the river Thames, at the same spot where we first watched the moon together. Sometimes, I would bring food, but always I would bring a blanket or a cloak for her. We would just simply enjoy each other's presence while we talked about anything you could imagine. From the new spell she learned to the new joke I had come up with that day. Sometimes there would be a few people around, so we proceed to go on a stroll instead. As her cold hands were in the pockets of her coat, I would slip my hand into hers. Intertwined but concealed, just as our relationship was. Those simple moments are the memories I will always cherish.

My mother was quite happy at the fact that I had finally made a "friend". And eventually with time, my father started to warm up to Seraphina. He didn't much enjoy the witches, but seeing as Sera was the new leader of the Augustin coven, I did observe my father trying his very best to be civil with her. The witches of the Augustin coven took a liking to me, once they found out that I too, used to be a witch. They understood my frustration in being a vampire, as I did not particularly consent to my new life. As my closeness with Seraphina grew, soon the entirety of supernatural creatures in London knew that we were the closest of "friends". They dared not to offend either one of us. She was the head of the witch coven, and I, the heir of the vampire clan. We were seemingly royalty in the supernatural world, and theoretically, no one could touch us.