Tale of a Vampire

Chapter 43

"I am sorry I came unannounced." She said breaking the awkwardness. Diana still felt her legs weak, trembling like jelly. She didn't know if it was the cold breeze or just the fact to have James in front of her after so many years. No... it couldn't be. She hated him; she didn't love him. He had abandoned her and Megan without even a word or a goodbye. She hated him; she didn't love him.

James gave two steps nearer. His feet crushing the yellow leaves on the ground, the only sound heard. As he approached her, his face was lightened by the oil lamp that he now had near the fountain and she had a full vision of his bright blue eyes. Diana felt like she could run away from there at any moment. His presence was just too hard to handle, and she wasn't prepared for it. It was love still... she concluded, and she hated herself instead.

"I didn't know you were in England." He said still surprised with her presence.

His thunderous voice almost made her jump as she was hypnotized by the blue gaze she thought forgotten. It was like she had never left that place, like they had never been apart. Like he had never hurt her.

"I came back..." She said feeling her voice betraying her. "...today...I arrived today."

"Oh!" James exclaimed rather surprised. Then he remembered how he had blocked Diana off his life after she abandoned him and never asked Constantine about her. James looked in her eyes and felt the need to run a hand over her face. No... he thought. That couldn't be. Not after what she has done to him. Not after she abandoned him without even saying goodbye, nothing... not a word... not even for him to hear from Megan. He should hate her. He shouldn't be feeling like that.

"I came to see my father." She decided to clarify.

Their eyes weren't able to leave each other's gaze. They tried to absorb all the years where they hadn't set eyes on each other. James realized how much she had changed, but not for the worst. Diana had lost her childish traces, she now looked as an adult woman, more beautiful than he could remember, more elegant and yet more simple. She had traded her artistic and elaborate dresses for simple designs but that suited her even better. Diana looked great wearing whatever, he concluded.

"How's your husband? He asked though the words cost him to come out.

"He's fine." She said shortly.

"And..." James fell silent, but Diana understood what he wanted to know, even if she thought he didn't have the right to ask about her.

"Megan is also fine." She told him and she saw his lips curved on a soft smile.

"She's 5 now..." He said but her eyes were betraying her, and she decided to cut down their conversation.

"I better go inside to see my father." She said not wanting to stay in front of his presence anymore.

Her heart was racing like she could no longer remember. Diana was caught off guard by her reaction. Like her mind refusing it and her heart giving in the moment she saw him. She wasn't prepared to feel something for James still. She expected his presence to cause no reaction in her. She was overwhelmed by it and it confused her a bit.

"Go inside. He's in the kitchen...I don't have to explain how you can get there."

"Good night James." She said and turned around to go inside.

"Good night." He said.

Instead of coming back to his carriage, he stayed there watching her leave. He felt like his feet were glued on the ground. He wanted to move and yet he stayed there watching her perfect figure. Unexpectedly, she looked back, catching him in the same place. Their eyes met one more time and James felt a knot on his throat. Diana was more beautiful than ever and the disquietedness that her presence provoked on him was already there. His head was running a mile per second already. His brain was yelling with questions. Words were getting stuck on his throat, choking him. The door closing yanked him from his trance; she was no longer in his sight. James turned around to leave.