His meal, Her shame

A new adventure

Normandy, France

Elam got off the train at the Évreux station in Normandy, scanning her surroundings until she found the person she was looking for, her Aunt Floral.  Being a late February and a crisp 15℃ didn’t seem to bother Floral who stood in her normal bohemian/gypsy style under the safety of an awning as it drizzled around her.  It was a shame that Fer had never met Floral, she was an interesting woman that Elam thought could give even Fer a run for his money in… self-confidence. Elam smiled at herself, maybe she would get lucky and wouldn’t miss him if she was going to be with the female version of Fer these 6 coming months.  Her biggest worry was missing his insufferable self and spoiling the trip for her Aunt. 

She allowed herself a small smile as she walked up to Floral and enveloped her in a hug.  “I’ve missed you Floral.” She whispered into her Aunt ear.  Her Aunt was a whole head shorter than her and it almost felt like she was hugging a child.  “Elam,” her Aunt cooed, “You’re so pale and thin, is there no fat on your body? What have you been doing to yourself? I thought you said you would take care of yourself.” Floral fussed, as she had been for the last 10 years.  Elam laughed, if only her Aunt knew the reason for her paleness was also the reason for her insisting on staying in London.  “Floral, I told you I have a slight iron deficiency, which I take vitamins for.  At the reason I am trim, not thin, is because I look after myself.  I may not have extra padding, but my body will last me until I’m a ripe old age with how I care for it.”  Elam smiled at her Aunt, who she knew had always been a firm believer in ‘Having something to hold onto’, especially when it came to a ‘lover’.  But as Elam didn’t have, and from the looks of it would never have, a ‘lover’ having something for that ‘lover’ to hold onto wasn’t really a concern for Elam. 

Floral tsked at Elam in disproving, almost knowing way.  “At least tell me that you are not like this because of that man?” Floral had never met Ferox but knew of him from pictures Elam had shown her on visits and from around her home.  Floral didn’t have a computer, phone, or TV, which meant she definitely didn’t have social media. This meant that all of their communication had been through letters and all Floral’s knowledge of Ferox came from brief mentions in those letters and Floral’s random visits.  Elam didn’t know where her - gypsy like - Aunt was most of the time, having no fixed address, but somehow the woman always seemed to answer the letters Elam sent her to her locked box.  Elam gave her Aunt a doting glance, knowing that despite having never met Ferox, Floral most certainly didn’t think fondly of him.  Which was strange, he was certainly handsome with his raven black hair, slim but chiselled features and ice-blue eyes - that many woman had openly said they wouldn’t mind freezing in, as long as he would warm them back up… in front of her… while he was her ‘date’ to an event…  - Plus, as well as being handsome, Ferox was well respected in business and Elam made sure to only highlight the positive parts of his personality.  Leaving out the fact that he was; selfish, demanding, domineering and either totally oblivious to her feelings for him or pretending not to notice.  Plus, Elam had made sure to stress that they were only good friends and he had never done anything ungentlemanly to her.  Unless the feeding counted, but since she couldn’t tell her Aunt her friend was a blood sucking mythical creature that wasn’t supposed to exist outside of a horror movie - or porn – that little activity didn’t come up in conversation.  

“Floral,” Elam purred in a pleading whine. “why are you so hard on Fer?  He’s a good friend and looks out for me in the big city that is London. Plus, you know that I live my life for me, and me alone. Otherwise I wouldn’t have decided to be all independent in a city that eats people alive.” Elam nudged her Aunt, purposely quoting her Aunts previous complaints about London. Floral narrowed her eyes at her niece, “just because you were wilful enough not to live with me on the road, doesn’t mean that the decision was all your own.  I know that you chose London of all places, because that was where he was moving to.”   Her Aunt was annoying right, so Elam decided it was best to change topics.  “So, where are we going next? In your letter you said that we were going hiking but given that there is nothing in Normandy big enough to hike up, I figure this isn’t where we’ll be hiking. 

Floral gave her a smug smile, “you’d be surprised my dear.”