Blue Moon

“I. Can't. Breathe.” I said clutching my stomach and gripping the banister tighter.

“I'm sorry miss but it's you mother's orders you wear a corset for the conference today,” said my maid Lucia.

“Why though? It's just a meeting between stupid officials that only want to court me,” I said still gasping for air.

You see I'm nineteen and unmarried. I was the daughter to a countess and my mother was losing the estate slowly but surely. I did this whole routine every month and had no luck in finding at least a decent guy. Not even one close to my age.

“And on top of that their like in their forty's! It's just degrading,” I said finishing my thoughts on it all.

“I agree miss but your of age and need to be wed soon so your mother doesn't lose the estate,” said Lucia turning me around.

“I know, I know,” I said pinching my nose.

“Time for your hair now,” she said. I sighed tiredly and walked over to my vanity.

“Hair up or down miss?” asked Lucia.

“Chose for me. The lack of air getting to my head is causing me to not think straight,” I said jokingly.

She smiled a bit,” Up it is then,” she said.

She took my brown curls and started to braid and pin my hair. Within thirty minutes my hair was held up tightly with the exception of a few ringlets hanging down around my neck. She took some powder and brushed it over my porcelain like skin. She added some blush and proceeded to add some dark powder to my eyelids making my dark blue eyes stand out more. She dabbed some ruby pink lip stain and smoothed it over my lips. I looked beautiful with the makeup smeared all over my face.

“Time to put your dress on miss,” said Lucia.

I got up and stepped over into the dress that was waiting in her hands. I pulled it up and over my shoulders and Lucia started to tie the back up. The tightness around my stomach increased.

“It can't be looser?” I asked exasperated.

“I wish it could miss but no can do,” she said walking away to get my shoes.

I sat down on my bed and fell back. “Miss! Your going to mess your hair up!” said Lucia coming back over and tying my shoes onto my feet..

“Lucia don't you think that if I'm going to find a husband I should at least like him and not be able to count the gray hairs growing on his head?” I asked.

“Well miss everyone wants a love but not all of us are lucky enough to get it, and we just have to settle with what's already in front of us” she said.

I sat up,”Looks like you and me have something in common then Lucia,” I said.

“Yes I believe we do,” she said curtsying and walked out of my room.

I got up and off my bed and walked over to my full length mirror in the corner of the room. I looked at myself in distaste. My dress was a light creamed yellow with white stripes. The sleeves came down mid length arm and had three white buttons holding the sleeve together. My hair was tightly pinned back but it looked loose and natural. I was never a girly girl. I mean sure the dress was beautiful. I never could feel like myself in one though. I wore pants one time because my cousin was visiting and he let me try a pair, and I must say I could wear them forever. I know this was looked down greatly, especially in someone my position is society. No one ever found out and I trust my cousin enough not to tell.

I shook off my thoughts and walked over and grabbed the hat from the dresser. I placed it on my head and tilted it to the side a bit. I nodded to the mirror slightly satisfied to how I looked and walked out of my room and descended the stairs.

“It's about time your ready Elizabeth dear! Were behind schedule and were going to be late!” huffed my mother shoving her gloves on.

“Oh mother you know these things are pointless! I never find a suitable man! Their all twice my age and just as immature as a little boy!” I said irritated.

“Elizabeth you will not whine about this. Anything but this! It's a serious matter that we find you a suitable husband,” she said grabbing my arm and dragging me out the door.

I shook my arm from her grasp,”I may not be able to find a suitable man but I can walk myself,” I snapped at her.

“Elizabeth Rose! Stop with the horrid attitude and act like the young lady you are!” my mother snapped back.

“My apologizes mother,” I muttered climbing into the carriage. The door shut behind me and the carriage lurched forward and started it's way to the conference.

On arrival I was wanting this thing to be over with before it even started. “Do not embarrass me Elizabeth,” my mother told me sternly.

Now she wouldn't have told me this regularly but after me downing three champagne glasses last time, she was pretty entitled to tell me so.

“Yes mother,” I replied slightly annoyed. The door to the carriage opened as me and my mother stepped out. I looked up at the now familiar mansion.

The owner, Mr. Charles Donner, was a wealthy business man who worked with my father when he was alive. My mother only kept friends and contact with him so her precious reputation wouldn't be tarnished. I found the whole idea of it cynical and hypocritical since my mother always told me to be who I was, when herself was being the total opposite. She wasn't always like this though. When my father was alive and well five years ago, she was lively and a bit careless. She was the poster child for mothers everywhere. She hosted parties and told me beautiful stories of her childhood or how her and father met. Since then she's become a bit snide and dry. She lost her lust for life, and it broke my heart.

“Come now Elizabeth,” said my mother, breaking me from my thoughts.

We stepped into the large mansion and I looked into the crowds and crowds of people here. I've scene most of them before though, so nothing was intimidating.

“Oh Miss. Mansfield! Always a pleasure to see you!” said Mr. Donner greeting us. “And the always beautiful Elizabeth! Welcome back !” he said greeting me as well.

I put on my million dollar smile and attitude and turned my fake angelic switch on. “Why thank you Mr. Donner! It's always such a treat to visit,” I said as properly as possible.

“No need to thank my dear I happen to enjoy your mother and yours company,” he said smiling.

As much as I hated that my mother used Mr. Donner for leverage to get me a husband, Mr. Donner was a truly nice man. He was the jolly fellow you see on street corners. The kind of guy who will help you out, regardless of you class. So I wasn't fully lying when I said visiting him was always a treat. He was almost like a father figure to me.

“Now Elizabeth how about you make rounds of greeting people while Mr. Donner and I talk,” my mother suggested but I knew it was more like command than anything.

“I shall do that mother,” I said. I turned and bowed my head a bit to Mr. Donner saying goodbye for now. I walked around with my hands clasped behind my back.

I bumped into no one special every now and again. Some new faces appeared but they were the same as the others, old and obnoxious. I sighed starting to feel cramped in the crowds of people surrounding me. I saw the french doors leading out to the garden. I turned and made my way through the people, desperate to get outside for some fresh air.

I reached the doors and pushed one open stepping out. I inhaled the air like I haven't breathed for years. I always loved the outdoors unlike most girls my age. I wasn't alone outside thankfully. Some men were heavily smoking their pipes. Mr. Donner didn't like people smoking in his house so he requested people went outside for it.

I stepped down the stairs to the small path that weaved its way through the small garden in front of me. I've been through the garden many times, but never further into the area he owned. I knew Mr. Donner wouldn't mind, he knew my love for outdoors. I walked through the garden and admired the beautiful roses and daisies that sprouted from the ground. Small butterflies made their rounds as they fluttered around me. I slightly smiled at how peaceful it was. I soon came to the end of the garden and found myself wondering where to go next. I turned around and walked over to the small maze he also had. I now knew this maze like the back of my hand. I didn't mind walking through it sometimes though.

I entered the maze and slowly started to walk on the path to the exit. It was silent with the exception of some men talking on the other side of the bush. I ignored the talking until something one of them said caught my attention. I listened closer, curious to what they were talking about.

“It's quite strange. Five people have when missing in the last two weeks. The general of course is fretting about it like his money depends on it.” said a older man.

“Well I must say the bodies recovered have been gruesomely attacked. Almost as if it was done by a beast of some kind.” said the other man.

“A beast you say? I don't think that could be the cause should it?” replied the other man.

“The attacks have only been going on for a month or so now,” said the man back.

“It seems like the only plausible solution. No man could rip someone like that to shreds.” he said.

I winced a bit. Rip someone to shreds? Why aren't they spreading this around?

“Now Clark, I just can't wrap my mind around this. Where they murdered that badly?” asked the man in shock.

“Quite so, one even had a arm detached from his body,” said Clark.

“You will have to show this to me sometime,” said the other man.

“I certainly do. Now about those profits from earlier,” said Clark.

I stopped listening at that point. A beast? How unreal! I turned and walked out other maze. I didn't feel like walking through that thing again. I looked around and saw the stables in the distance. I smiled a bit. It's been forever since I've scene a horse, at the very least heard one!

My father would take me riding all the time as a girl. We would race and he would always let me win it seemed like. I started toward the stables. The grass soon turned to a worn down hay like cover. I lifted my dress a bit not wanting the dry dirt to get on the hem. I reached the stable doors and peeked in. I didn't see anyone in sight as I stepped in. I took my hat off and let in fall to the back of my neck. There had to be over ten horses here. I walked up to a gorgeous white one that had some gray specs on it.

“Hey...” I stopped and looked it's end. “girl,” I said patting it's nose a bit. It shook it's head a bit.

I picked some hay off the ground and brought it up to her mouth.

“Want some hay girl?” I said. I felt a bit weird because it wasn't like the horse was going to respond.

It nibbled on the hay in my hand as I stroked it's mane a bit. It finished it was and neighed. I back away a bit in surprise. I haven't heard a neigh in a long time. I looked down the line of horses, admiring everyone of them. I heard one of them neigh furiously suddenly. I jumped frightened a bit. I didn't know why it was so upset. I walked farther down to it but not close enough to get to me. It reared a bit when it saw me.

“Whoa there,” I said holding my hands up a bit. “Calm down,” I said comfortingly.

I saw a bucket of apples and chopped carrots a few feet away. I walked over and grabbed half a apple. I walked back over and the horse was still agitated.

“Whoa there, just calm down,” I said steadily. I held my hand out hesitantly.

“Want a apple?” I asked. It neighed again. I retracted my hand immediately.

“It's okay,” I said soothingly. I slowly stuck my hand back out as the horse calmed a bit. It sniffed the apple apprehensively. I bit my lip partly in fear. It slowly started to nibble at it. After a couple of minutes I slowly reached my hand up and barely touched the side of it's face. It didn't do anything. I started to slowly pet him as he ate away the apple. When he finished I continued to stroke it's face.

“Now that wasn't so bad was it?” I said. I took my hand away satisfied. My father also taught my how to calm a horse. My father was practically a horse whispered on the side of him being a business man.

I stepped back and sighed. “Hey! What are you doing in here?” asked a voice suddenly from behind me. I knew then I was in trouble.