Betrayed, With a Kiss

As I gracefully walked down the stairs everyone turned to welcome me. Social interactions weren't my thing. But mother always forced my attendance. So naturally I didn't bother to show up on time. I smile and wave to everyone as I pass on my way to the living room where my so called friends would be awaiting my presence. Even though these girls absolutely despised me I act as if I haven't the slightest clue. Two days from now I'd be twenty one and allowed to leave my home to live in one of my own. Of course I had one already picked out. And everyday I would escape to visit the one I'll be able to really feel at home in. It's a small cottage just down the hill near the river bank. Papa would not let his little girl go any farther as because I am not yet married. But it was just far enough from the one I've lived in for most years of my life. Setting my thoughts aside as well as my drink I decide to slip out without being noticed. Creaking the door slightly open I walk out. A fresh breeze swishes its way through my hair. I overlook the abnoxious and hideous group of males coming to greet me. I don't know how many more proposals I can handle. And everyone always says I'm heartless. That I don't care to spare any of their feelings. But what about my feelings! And what I want! I didn't care for any of those men. "Katerina! Oh Katerina!" Clark yells for me. I roll my eyes. Caught, I think to myself. I turn around and face upward. "Good morning Clark how are you today?" I ask politely. Manners. Another thing my mother forced upon me. He takes off his hat and replies politely in return "Oh just swell thank you, and you?" In his hands are flowers and a tiny little box and by the look on his face this was the thing I was talking about. I wait for the ladies coming up the steps to walk in before I stop smiling. "Look Clark I'm flattered, but you'll just have to find some other girl." "Katerina I'm in love with you", he desperately looks at me for a different response. "Oh I'm sure of that", I laugh shoving the flowers back into his arms and pick up my dress. "No here you keep them, i insist", he still tries any chance to show off his 'gentleman manners' as possible. As if I'd so quickly change my mind. "I'm fine" I say pushing them back slightly with my hand. He insists a second time so I grab them because if not we'd be standing here doing this back and forth all day. "Good day Katerina", he says as I walk off. I sigh in disgust. Kicking off my heels I start jogging. With my dress picked up in one hand and his flowers in the other I dodge the puddles in the ground. Acknowledging the road I take the faster route cutting through the forest. The wind ruffles through my hair and layers in my dress as I pick up my pace. I toss the flowers aside of me as far as I can and don't look back. In this moment I can't help but feel so free. Through the leaves I catch a slight glimpse of the red bricked fireplace atop the cottage. Arriving I stick my hand under the mat and open the door with the silver key. Walking in I shut the door behind me. It's already well furnished to my liking. I open the curtains as light hides the darkness. The cottage was still in process of being painted on the outside. Only a few days ago was the furniture brought in. I pick up the book I had left on my sofa yesterday and plop myself into the seat. A thump in the kitchen interrupts Jane Austen's words as they were scrambling their way into my brain. I mark my place and quietly step to the kitchen. Taking a peek around the corner I see nothing. I sigh in relief when suddenly another thump sounds in the wall beside me. I cry in horror when I notice a face that isn't my own in the mirror ahead of me. I turn around to see my intruder but no one is standing there. I turn back to the mirror when I see the person again. I stand frozen. "Don't be afraid! I didn't mean to startle you!" the figure says. Walking closer I see more than just his face. I see his coat abroad his shoulders but nothing past his waist. He has dirty blonde hair with hazel green eyes and strong face features. I must be going crazy. "They call me Andrew, and you?", he slightly smiles to help me feel comfortable in any way possible. Speechless it takes me a moment to respond. "K-katerina." I say under my breath. I continue, "who calls you Andrew? May I ask?" trying not to offend whatever it is I am talking to. "Well everyone before-before the accident" he looks down in sorrow. Accident? Was this a- a ghost? Thinking to myself I find him observing me. He notices that I caught him, "Since my death no one has lived here, until well, now." he looks into my eyes. My death? This was a ghost. I never believed in the supernatural but at this moment my viewpoint has greatly changed. "Sincerely I apologize." I motion my hands over my heart. "I shall find another place to dwell." I decide. "No! No! Please stay." he asks desperately. "I haven't had company in many many years. It's been lonely you see. Please, if you will, stay? I promise not to be a peasant", he proposes an offer. With those desperate eyes I'm forced to accept. "I might add you are quite lovely." he smiles and I feel a blushing sensation rush to my cheeks. Was this even okay? I stay and we talk the whole evening. Besides his name being Andrew I learn that he is from another century, he died at 26, a very young age and never married. He died along with a friend in a collapse of the old roof that used to cover the cottage and according to him this used to be his escape from his home. After several weeks of developing a relationship with Andrew I find that I'm deeply in love with him. Foolish, yes. But I simply cannot deny my feelings any longer. Sitting in front of the mirror I start to bawl, "Oh Andrew!" I sobb, "I object to seeing you stuck in this wretched mirror any longer! I would do anything for you to come out." I throw myself to the side of the frame and stare into his eyes as tears fall down from mine. "Katerina my love, do stop crying. There is a way, however you would have to be willing to go to the extreme for me." he says then he sadly looks down, "But I'm afraid I do not believe you love me enough to do so." I shake my head in disagreement and assure him a thousand times that my love is strong. "I'll kill myself! Is that it?" I motion towards the kitchen and bring back a knife. Touching it against my skin I'm interrupted by his voice. "Katerina! Wait!" I look up to see him gaping at my actions, "Now I see you are willed enough to do anything." he presses his hands against the glass. I drop the knife and do the same. Quickly he explains a plan for me to carry out. I agree and shove the knife downwards behind the bow that ran around my waist. Walking outside I slip on my extra pair of shoes that lie on the porch. Since this was and has now been my home for some time no one had authority over me as to where properly I am to place my heels. Rage and excitement flowed through my veins as I walked up to Peter who was standing outside the saloon. "Hello there peter", I say charmingly. I turn to his friends, "Good day to you gentleman." They take their hats off and place it at their chest and wish me a good day as well. Looking back to peter I blush slightly and walk away. I start to hear whispers when suddenly "Katerina! Wait!" I stop in my tracks and smile to myself before turning around. "Would you care for me to walk you back home?" he asks elegantly. "Why it would bring me great joy" I respond. On our way back to my cottage we converse greatly. It almost makes me feel sorry as to what is to become of him. Almost. Arriving at our destination I insist he come in for drink or a cup of tea and he accepts. Knowing his intentions I played along. For if seducing him were my only option then so be it. Quickly glancing at the mirror I see my own reflection and know that Andrew is hiding himself from sight. I ask peter if he would, open the curtains as I pour us both a drink. He sits at the sofa and I take my place closely beside him. "Peter? May I ask you something" I say making my expressions soft. "Why of course Katerina." he responds placing his hand over mine. Amused I continue, "Peter am I not pretty enough for you?" I start to pout, "all the other men have proposed to me but you've only ever talked to me as a friend." lying, I let a tear run down the side of my face. I had to play the 'victim' for any sort of sympathy. "I love you peter. It's always been you." I cry dramatically. He wipes the tears from my face and hushes my sobbing with firm kiss. Pushing him backward I remember the knife planted in my bow. I slide it in the side of the sofa cushion as he is still distracted with his lips on mine. He rolls me over and starts to caress and undress me, "I've longed for this moment for so long. I too have love for you Katerina." I roll my eyes in disgust as he forces himself on me. Reaching for the knife I slowly raise it and stab it into his spinal cord therefore paralyzing him from any further movement. He yells in terror. I stab him once again in his chest as I pull him upright. My legs on either side of him I sit atop and watch as his soul no longer occupies his body. I smile satisfyingly and wipe off the blood that drips from the blade. Still in my undergarments I drag his body off the sofa and towards the mirror to see Andrew already waiting for me. "Here my love, come to me through him as you have said you can do". I cry desperately. Suddenly a bright light blinds me and I fall to the ground. Peering through my fingers that cover my eyes I see a rush of light flowing from the mirror and into Peter's body. I watch as Peter's features convert into Andrew's. The blood dries and disappears from his buttoned shirt and I catch a glimpse of the stab wounds closing themselves up. Then the sun fills the room back up. Still I have my hands over my face. A hand grabs ahold of my arm "Katerina.", a voice says. I look up to see Andrew standing in flesh and bone before my eyes. I jump up in excitement throwing myself on him and kiss him passionately. Our lips still locked I feel his hands run up and down my body as he picks up  one of my legs. I wrap both around him as he carries me to the sofa. Making love to me he apologizes. Confused I open my eyes too late to see him stab the same knife straight into my heart. Barely breathing I watch him lather my neck like a cat with his tongue filled with blood spilling from my breast all the way up to plant me with a bloody kiss. I feel the coldest tear run down my face as he picks up my body and walks me down to the basement. "You understand Katerina, I simply couldn't wait any longer." he shrugs emotionlessly. My eyes gloomy of sorrow as I am still suffering I see a mirror. And in that mirror stands a woman far more fair than I. Her expression brightens as she sees Andrew. "Charlotte my love." he cries, "we can finally be together again." he says as he harshly pulls the knife from its place in my heart. Putting pieces together I realize the other person who died with him was no friend as he said but his lover. Betrayed I feel my consciousness detach itself from my body when a familiar blinding light overcomes the darkness that once filled the room.