The treading of the winepress.

Love, is a trifling thing. It is a painful process of learning how to empathize with another’s flaws, to understand the wisdom of another’s reasoning, to be patient towards the quirkiness of another's character, and to have the heart to help another, rather than be helped. Alas, love many times over, is used as a tool to manipulate another, a leash to control another victim, a means to an end. So it was with many men who fell prey to the bright eyes and the red lips of a seductress of the nightfall. A vampire in the guise of an innocent creature. A demon, masquerading as an angel of light.

And so, the night was young. The night's gentle caress upon the inhabitants of the earth seemed stronger under the reign of the full moon, and the stars seemed in alignment for the preparations of this night. The breeze of the east wind flowing throughout the streets spoke of the vengeance of the night, the revenge longed delayed, of justice being delivered. The night was young, indeed.

A carriage clopped its way into the front of the prime steak house in Bordeaux. “We have arrived at your desired location, Mademoiselle! I trust the opera was entertaining?” the Coachmen politely inquired. The young fair woman with blonde hair and green eyes flashed a smile of white teeth. “Oh, Moussier, very much so. So very much so. Carmen is a nostalgic piece for me. The story of a gypsy who seduced a man through his own folly, only to lay his heart as he truly was. Pathetic in the dust, left with nothing but emptiness and rage. A classic tale, indeed,” the Young Maiden said with a subtle boasting in her tone.

The coachmen chuckled at her with an uneasy tone, as he positioned himself in front of the carriage door, opening it politely for the fair maiden. “At your service, and I bid you adieu, Mademoiselle!” the Coachmen declared with a bit of a hasty nerve. The young blonde woman strutted forth slowly, as she spared no attention to the Coachmen. Her heart remembered this place, all too well. “The very restaurant where afterwards my first love was, disposed of. How befitting a night for my mystery date my friends have set for me. He always loved a plate of Pot au feu with his glass of merlot,” the Woman thought to herself.

The swaying of tender violins filled the restaurant with tender music, passionately playing songs that spoke of the sweetest love, without words to say otherwise, or an image to paint a picture. And yet, the message was clear and the image portrayed perfectly in the hearts of all within. Thus, the young beautiful blonde maiden sat and listened to the skill of the violinist, her heart moved within as he serenaded the crowd with his tender, sweet message. Her eyes softened at the sound of his playing. “Perhaps, I have become too secluded for my own good. Perhaps after years of solitude, it's time for this clam to reveal the pearl within, my deepest treasure, my heart. I was always shrewd and distrusting of others. Perhaps it’s time to, at long last, be vulnerable,” she said to herself.

The steps of another within the shadows overheard her conversation, the subtle ear given in the midst of blissful ignorance relayed. “Oh, how naivety is a terrible thing. By the end of this night, you will learn the depths of your own folly,” the figure in the shadows thought, silently.

As the music came to a final decrescendo, and silence stood still throughout the building, the restaurant applauded lightly. The young woman tapped her right hand lightly to suggest her amusement towards the musician. “Bonjour, Mademoiselle! How might I be of service to you?” the Waiter in a fancy suit asked ever so gently. Her eyes refused to even meet with his, but spoke of what was foretold by another. “I have been told a fine young suitor has already paid for my dinner and what I am to have. A glass of your finest merlot, and the main course being Pot au fue. Please do come back, soon,” She said seductively and softly.

The waiter curtsied politely, and sped off with all due haste. The young woman sighed with a sign of annoyance. Her eyes gazed shrewdly at the staff with a mark of disdain upon each waiter. “Such a petulant staff, forgetting as to whom they serve. I’m annoyed,” the Young Woman thought with disdain.

The wine was brought alongside the meal itself. She looked at the meal with delight. “Such a delectable plate, a memorable one, quite frankly. Tis a pity I cannot share it, with him,” She thought to herself. She looked around, but did not find the suitor anywhere in sight. She sighed. “Such a pity. I had hoped to share this with the man who was supposed to woo me, to romance me as we dine. Alas, I digress. A toast, for the night is still young!” the Young woman thought with flick of the wrist and a swig.

“How interesting. Do you find it the least bit amusing? The very drink you hold in your hand, and that you have so unwittingly poured down your throat, being the instruments of my very wrath. The very tools to pour out my revenge, slowly, but surely. Can’t you see the irony?” A familiar, deep and soothing masculine voice said behind her back. Chills went down her spine the moment the voice ended its initial statement. “That voice,” She thought to herself with chills. Her mind shuttered with anxious thoughts of uncertainty, as the familiarity of the voices tone struck her with fear. She knew who that was, oh, all too well.

A strapping young man, clean shaven and suited eloquently with a red rose fitted perfectly upon his left shoulder pocket came in full view of the terrified eyes that would bear witness. Slick black hair as smooth as a raven, with blue eyes sharded with crystals of ice, as uncertain as the depth of emotions from the sea, and a smile that said it all. She looked at him, with total panic, as she attempted to regain her composure by clearing her throat. “I, I thought-,” She attempted to muster, but to no avail, he already knew the appropriate response. “That you had finished me off and left me to die at sea? Pity. And I thought I loved you for your intelligence and your beauty. It seems your aesthetics are the only thing keeping you running smoothly, Annabelle,” the Male stated confidently, and smoothly.

Annabelle started to tremble at the usage of her name. “This, this isn’t a nightmare. He’s, he’s really alive!” Annabelle thought nervously. His eyes became shrewd as her nerves grew in strength. A surge of emotions hitting her like a train wreck, her mouth speechless as her heart searched for words. He extended a chair and sat down, then scooted himself into the table with a strong reinforcement, foretelling of what was to come.

He sat there smiling at her, as she was struck silent. “You left my body to die at sea along the pier, thinking you could claim what was mine. A pity. I thought you to be a wiser girl. You took my heart, used it as your plaything, then when you were satisfied with what you received, you betrayed me and cast me aside into the abyss, thinking that all would be hidden and your betrayal wouldn’t be made manifest. But I’m here to tell you, what was hidden in the darkness, will be brought to light. What you intended for my harm, will become my triumph. Do you have any last words, Annabelle?” the Young Man thought.

“Frederick, I am so sorry for what I did. If there’s anything I can to make it better for you, I will do it!” Annabelle started confessing openly. A hand was placed upon her shoulder, as the police appeared from behind, as if at the ready. “So you openly confess, and don’t even deny it? Ha! I thought you were more cunning than that. Alas, what I said was true. All aesthetic! Neither intelligence, nor wisdom. Such a shame! Au revoir, and I bid you adieu, my delicate little snake!” Frederick said. Annabelle started twisting in turning as she was grabbed by multiple police officers and brought to bear. “Frederick, I swear, I didn’t mean to do that! It was an accident! Frederick, please, I love you! Let me go! Get your hands off me! I’ll get you back for this Frederick, I will! Let me go! ARGHH!” Annabelle screamed until she faded away into the night.

Frederick looked at the situation and all that had transpired, and sighed. He took a sip of the wine, and gazed at the plate. “I was once a lamb to the slaughter, now a lion to feed upon the predator who betrayed me. Where once a vampiric banshee devoured my blood and sought to betray me with my favorite cup of wine, so my favorite cup of wine became the instrument of my wrath. How ironic, that such grapes were harvested and set perfectly, as a declaration of war. Innocent blood has indeed been avenged this day, and justice has been delivered. I have another reason out of many to love this wine, to say the least,” Frederick said with a smile as he took a swig of Merlot. He thought to himself silently. “The night is young, indeed,” He said aloud.

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