Journal Log: Paris café, she found me June 2007
Date Made: 1890
Name: Veronique Motelier
I must admit I was shocked when Veronique found me. I was sitting in a quite café at night looking over my journals and maps deciding where to go next. My options were endless as I had leads in every country in Europe. I sipped my latte and happened to look up as a couple walked through the door. The woman looked directly at me. She was a vision. Her long golden hair was shining in the amber light, her blue eyes were darkened by copious amounts of black eyeliner and her lips were blood red. She flashed a smile that could stop traffic. I was surprised when she sauntered my way and sat right next to me. With a thick French accent she said hello, fluttered her eyelashes and said, ‘I am here now. Relax, I will tell you my story.’ Without thinking I felt around for my recorder. It was I who usually did the tracking down, not the other way around.
Confession of the Vampire Veronique
“I started dancing at the Moulin Rouge in 1887. I was young and beautiful and I received a lot of attention, if you know what I mean. Don’t get me wrong I was just as caddy as the other girls. But, we made a game of it you see. On stage we looked out into the audience and decided which gentleman was the best in the room. It did not always mean who was the wealthiest. It could be the most handsome man or the most well built. It could be anyone, but we all had to agree on him. Once decided, the game was on and we all vied for his attention. Whoever won got to be the lead the next night.
That night on stage I knew in an instant who I would pick. He had dark skin and short dark hair. He held himself as I had seen no man hold himself. He walked through the crowd and somehow everyone parted before him without even knowing it. I caught his eye and flashed a huge smile. He nodded his head and looked away. Put off I thought to myself there is no man in this room who can ignore me, especially him.
We all agreed he was the chosen one. Backstage we fought over the best dresses, shoes and bustiers. I had the little stage girls tie mine extra tight. My figure was already good, but bustiers always made them better. They could work wonders on even the flattest of women. That night I grabbed the best dress we had. It was a shimmering green satin gown with a low revealing neck line. I pressed my face with powder. Put a little rouge on my checks, my lips and fit a few jeweled ornaments from my lovers into my hair.
I walked into the room and headed straight for him. But, those damn men would not let me walk by without a kiss. Stuck, I watched as Danielle approached him and sat on his lap. With a smile on her face she leaned back and whispered something into his ear. I knew just what she was saying, she said it to all her men and it usually worked. But, for some reason it did not work with him. He responded with a sour expression. Danielle ran off as fast as she could in humiliation. I pushed the men away, approached his table and asked if he would like some company. I would not make the same mistake Danielle had and sit on his lap. He looked up at me with his piercing eyes and said, ‘My company is a costly thing my sweet, are you sure you’re ready?’
At first I thought he was jesting, but when he did not smile I realized he was one of those serious types. I had dealt with all sorts of men, so surely I could handle him. I sat down next and waved for the waiter to bring over a bottle of wine. I gazed about the room. All the girls glared at me, their eyes seething with envy. Ha, I said to myself. I’ll show them!
He poured wine into my glass and set it on the table. I scooted around the bench to move closer to him. I wanted him to see my breasts, my curves and smell my perfume. Above all I wanted him to find me irresistible.
With his deep voice he told me, ‘Ah, I see you are quite a beauty. May I ask your name?’ I placed my hand on his arm and gave him my most seductive look and said, ‘Veronique, Monsieur.’
His grey-brown eyes lingered on mine. There was a sadness there. He told me ‘he was christened Benoit, but now I go by Degare.’ I thought this a little strange at first, but it seemed everyone took on a new identity at some point in their life. After all, I was not always Veronique. It was then I noticed how smooth his skin was, how timeless his face. This man, he was perfect. Even his eyes had a luster I had only seen in children or those foolish enough to fall in love. From that moment on I was entranced by him. His charms were over powering.
After we finished the bottle of wine he asked if I would go with him back to his hotel room. I knew what he meant and I knew I had won. Tomorrow I would be the star of the dancing line! As we walked out of the Moulin Rouge everyone looked at us, men and women. I could see my regulars shaking their heads in sorrow and I could see the girls trying to hide their venomous stares. No matter I told myself, I had won.
It was cold outside. He wrapped his coat around my bare shoulders and hailed a carriage. While we waited he told me his hotel had a wonderful view of the Seine and that it was almost as beautiful as me. Flattered I kissed him passionately. He responded in kind, but his lips were so cold. When we arrived at his room I could not believe my eyes. The moon, the city, the lights, the Seine, everything was so beautiful. A spark of regret filled my chest. All my nights were spent at the Moulin Rouge which made it to easy to forget what the real world was like.
Degar took me in his arms and kissed me as if he had not kissed a woman in sometime. Our clothes flew about the room in our passion. Degare was unlike any man I had been with. During our lovemaking he told me his thoughts were consumed by love. He asked me if I would be his forever. As a lady of the Moulin Rouge we are trained to answer these questions with a yes. Most men say things in passion they later do not really mean. We all know a repeat customer is always a good thing and we humor them. But, when I looked into his eyes I could sense he really meant it. Inside my chest a warmth grew. It was a feeling I had not felt in a long, long time. That night we held each other for a long time. I thought to myself, is this love? As soon as the word ‘yes’ escaped from my mouth he bit down on my neck. I felt as if the world was draining away, I was weightless and helpless. He pulled away from me crying tears of blood. Then he bit his wrist and pressed it to my lips. I took it with both my hands and drank.
The next morning my lover was gone. There was a note telling me to stay inside all day and that he would return that night. Thinking it had all been a dream I went to the bathroom and there on my neck were two red dots. He had marked me, I was his. Nervous I wondered what I was to do. There had always been men that liked strange things, but never this. I tried to cover them up with make-up, but finally gave up. With these holes on my neck there was no way I could be center stage.
It was then my stomach cramped. I fell over onto the tiled floor, every inch of me sweated. The tile felt refreshingly cool against my skin. I heard someone moving in the room and I called out for Degare. It wasn’t him. It was someone from the hotel who Degare had instructed to bring me a piece of raw meat. He helped me to my seat at the table. I laughed and told him I had never eaten raw meat in my life, why would I want to now. He did not say a word. When he set me down his neck brushed close to me. I could smell his blood, he smelled delicious. My eyes sized him up. Suddenly, he became very nervous and excused himself from the room. I looked back at the raw meat. Without thinking I grabbed it and sucked all the blood out of it.
That night I was ready for him. I felt alive, I felt strong, I felt aware of everything. When he entered the room his eyes lit up, he was on fire. After we had made love he told me what I was, what he was, what we were. He told me he had been searching for years for someone to share his lonely life. He was wealthy beyond imagine and that I, Veronique the showgirl, the courtesan, would never have to worry or grow old. In that moment I realized the gift he had given me was beyond what any man ever could. Degare gave me lasting youth and forever I will remain the beautiful Veronique.”
With a sly smile she kissed my cheek and headed to her companion. He was tall, with dark haired. His arm glided around her and they kissed passionately. Before they headed outside he stole a glance back at me. His eyes were grey-brown. Degare! Seeing the recognition in my face Veronique nodded and the two vanished into the night.
***
This flash fiction is a part of a vampire series I am doing for #fridayflash.
Vella and Jeremy Vampire Tracker Part 2
Vella and Jeremy Vampire Tracker Part 1
Ammon The Moon Flute Player The Cliff Dwelling Part 2
Lis, Andrew and the Flute Player The Cliff Dwelling Part 1
Lis Desert Vampires.
Natalia Confession of the Vampire Natalia
Natalia Vampire Natalia Searches the Jungle
Andrew Vampires in the Jungle
Veronique Vampires at the Moulin Rouge
Veronique and Natalia Snow in Paris
Vampires ~ Flash Fiction ~ Friday Flash
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