She steps onto the jetty its planks still moist with dew. She tugs the mooring rope softly and she draws the boat towards her. She drops lightly into the boat casts off, and slips away into the morning. Her tiny island awaits: just blissful.
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Image credit: Unsplash+ in collaboration with Serene arches (Sadje has purchased the membership of Unsplash+ so any image is permitted for this)
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a beautiful wooden rocking chair, placed on a small carpet. The setting is unusual as it is sat upon a three-tiered stone circle, beside a swamp / marsh.
The next day, the red-head woman and Joan of Arc (also known as the Maid of Orleans), had agreed to go to see part of the Tour de France – and it was even better since there was a rest day before the next race.
The red-head woman had been driving (she’d borrowed a car for a couple of days) and Joan had been looking at the scenery, it was only 2 hours from Paris, down to Orleans, as they were chatting happily all the way.
Soon they drove into a grand chateau, just outside the town, and Joan beamed at it: ‘I have been there before – centuries ago – and you know what,’ said Joan, ‘we’ll stay there, since I know a very old friend who lives there.’
They left their things in the car for the moment and walked around the beautiful town, Joan kept out of the sun, meanwhile, the red-head woman bought two ice cream cones as they walked over to the bridge; ‘you know what, we could go on a little adventure,’ they looked at each other, ‘let’s find a couple of bicycles,’ as they giggled.
They rode around the chateau, and passed the tall trees, cycling happily, then they raced for a little way, then they stopped and got off, putting their bicycles down.
They laid down on the soft grass where it was shady and sweet, where the scent of lavender was blissful; but will both of them be able to get up again?
Pick a card, any card look at it and put it back don’t tell me about it here it is and it’s right! Will you have another chance?
Let’s try something else…
Here’s a big top hat hey presto, a little bunny now she’s disappeared! Oh, don’t worry, she’s fine. Would you like a final chance?
Sorry. No money now. Shame.
🐰~~~🎩~~~🐰
~~~
Image credit: Julian Drost@Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an extended hand. Over the hand, hovering in the air is a deck of playing cards, enveloped in flames. At the top of the deck, aces of spades and hearts are visible.
The large doors clanged open and the young woman appeared, she waved and beckoned; now or never, thought the red-head woman, as she entered the ancient house and into the dark hall, the doors closed, and it echoed around the building.
Both women walked through the courtyard, as they looked at each other; ‘I know who you are,’ said the red-head woman, ‘you’re Joan of Arc, aren’t you?’
‘I am indeed,’ she said as she bowed – ‘I know that you are a vampire, as well.’
‘This is all true,’ said Joan, ‘but let me explain,’ she carried on, ‘I managed to get away before I was burned on the stake, and most of that wasn’t true anyway, but I was a hermit for many centuries until I found a few good friends – we still live here – come and meet them,’ she held up her hands, and beamed.
Joan took her hand and led her into the great hall, where several vampires were sitting drinking absinthe; two were playing chess and one was reading, and further on was a big screen where they were watching the television.
‘Oh my goodness,’ said the red-head, ‘that’s the Tour de France, could we go?’
are we beautiful? in a way blessed and humble we perceive is it odd? maybe but we’re free like a bird in a tree
but maybe I could be a film star or maybe just famous just fifteen minutes is all I ask, please?
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Image credit: Tom Barrett @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a billboard on which the quote; “You are beautiful” is written in the form of many colorful post-it notes. There are faint images of buildings in the background.
She had been looking at her smartphone many times, but there was nothing there, the two gargoyles had not moved at all and the cemetery was also silent in the moonlight, apart from a couple of young people who had almost shed all their clothing; the red-head woman had looked away, and up over the city into Montmartre, as she sighed and got into bed.
The next day was the weekend and it was particularly busy: the bells had been ringing around the two cathedrals and there was music everywhere, there was even a very tall clown wearing bangles, bows and buttons, and he was playing a tambourine; the red-head looked down from her tiny flat, she rubbed her head, as she decided to go out and down.
Meanwhile the two gargoyles laughed out loud as the red-head woman walked away; they knew that this would only work if she went on her own.
Too much noise still, thought the red-head woman, as she began to walk down one of the cobble streets; the music was strident and strange, as the frequency began to build like a big beat on the drum – faster and faster – the noise was unbearable, and then suddenly… it stopped.
‘Who is this?’ – she looked around, and then she saw a high window in the old house, she looked again to see a young girl.
Suddenly she remembered what the gargoyles said, and she realised this was a vampire – but she was not expecting this one.
Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.
she hides behind a mask not revealing herself she moves sedately most of the time but sometimes she’s free and lithe she dances around in the dark no one can see and then, in the morning she hides her face again behind her mask
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Image credit: Michael Dziedzic @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a mechanical mask held by a metal hand. Both the eyes are staring in different directions.
The two gargoyles had nodded sagely, as the red-head woman watched both of them, a moment later one of them took out a smartphone and began to messaging, while both of the gargoyles chatted quickly; meanwhile, the red-head woman seemed rather astonished – a phone?! – she peered at it, and it was even newer than hers.
‘We’re busy now – and we have moved into the 21st century – who wouldn’t? but anyway, we need some help too, since we now know that this place goes back to 1789 and the Revolution, not that it matters any more, probably; but never mind just now, we need the old vampire – no, don’t worry – he is on our side.’
The red-head woman raised an eyebrow, as she wondered where she was needed any more, and anyway she was getting restless, although a vampire sounded interesting; she decided to focus on what was happening, ‘you said only two days, what was that?’ – just as her vision cleared – ‘oh, of course, the full moon.’
The two gargoyles almost giggled to each other, ‘now, we need a proper plan, it will all go swimmingly (not like last time… definitely not), okay?’ – ‘yes indeed, and especially since this is the summer solstice, very special in our calendar, don’t you agree?’
The red-head woman was about to explain for the people who live in the southern hemisphere, but she decided not to complicate it, instead she stared over the roof where she saw the beautiful view… how lovely.
You hanker down wondering what to do, as you look right and left. It’s a lonely, dark and strange place, and the road is steep and narrow. Slowly you go up, as it twists and turns, you are not distracted, you keep going.
You trudge on, feeling anguish and pain. It’s taking so long, but still you’re going in the right direction, even though it’s so arduous. You’re feeling that you’re falling away, but you have to go on.
Don’t look back (whatever you do) keep going. Don’t look too far. Don’t look up, not yet.
You want to go into the sunshine but it’s still too dark and too frightening. You are desperate to see the sunshine… please!
You want to go into another place.
You start to climb. Going up and up again and you’re feeling more confident at least. As you go into this special place – at last.
You turn around this time and you look back. Now it’s time. Definitely. Be bold, be happy – it’s coming…
You go into the light now. The sky is blissful. And you walk into the sunset now and later you run into the moon and the stars.| You will be a new star… yes!
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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.
The red-head woman had been poring over the ancient documents, doing her damndest to make any sense at all, she had been searching for clues and she had made some headway, but not enough.
She looked out from her tiny balcony where she could just see the old building round the corner; it was going dark – time to go – she closed the screen and put her tablet on the table, it seemed unlikely that she’d need that up there.
She had made her way to the old building, making sure no one was around, as she quickly opened the door with her key, and shut it again; she could already hear the two gargoyles bickering on the roof, as usual, but what were they saying?
‘Well, we’ve both heard on the grapevine that this old place would be replaced with a grand and tall building, but where can we go? – they were wringing their hands.
As she got up and so close this time, she realized how huge and ugly they were, quite terrifying in fact, but she was hardly the type who would faint; so she smiled as brightly as she could, and said, ‘I think you could help me… please?’
The two gargoyles did their best to smile back, ‘we are happy to help, as we can talk and read in several languages, so let’s see,’ – while the red-head woman spread out the ancient deeds – two gargoyles peered at them – ‘August 1789’ sacre-bleu!– so you know what this means…
luna's on line 