That night the sky was cloudy, a storm brewing over her head. No moon nor stars were shining, no romance was in the air...
That’s probably what most expect to hear when you tell them a story as tragic of that of divorce. But it only shocks the elderly in this new day and age. Youngins don’t get married as a rule anymore, and divorce is not much of a taboo nowadays. Separation is as natural as breathing, for better or for worse. With all that said, for young Alexis, divorcing her second husband had never been part of her plans. She had hoped, truly, that they’d remain together and keep each other company in the eternal darkness of their vampirehood. Unfortunately, life had other plans, and Lexie could not stay still.
The beginning of their relationship had been filled with the usual seduction tricks and tactics, through the veil of human society. Both were trying to blend in when they met, and they instantly knew the hidden truth the other tried to conceal. It was only natural they would grow closer, seem more inclined to be with one another. She hadn’t been in London long and few vampires were open to make society with what they deemed “fresh blood”. Ironic. Only vampires not from London, or with more of an open mind, were willing to make her acquaintance.
The night they met was at a ball, of course. Only way to meet other people at that time. Children aged sixteen were thrust into the world of courtship while they mothers watched like rabid beasts, waiting to make their move and snatch themselves a good son-in-law. For Alexis, Alexandra at that time, it could be difficult to justify her appearing alone, no mother nor chaperone in sight. However, her aura tended to keep most at bay, as she silently watched the couples dance and the friends chat. Until one night, she was approached by a gentleman who looked about her age, slightly younger if anything. He smiled in a way that was gentle and understanding, a sense of recognizing glimmering in his eyes.
They danced most of the night together, and when not dancing, they talked. The whispers of scandalized mothers reached their ears, which led them to leave, each at their own time, to regroup at a different spot. After that, they would sparingly show up at balls, mostly to avoid raising suspicion. They did frequent other places the darkness offered, that weren’t too far removed from the etiquette disposed by the era. Their relationship took on some disguises (siblings, cousins, fiances, husband and wife) before they were able to think about the true nature of their union.
Other vampires they met, but with most it was polite conversation about the state of the human world and how hiding in the shadows wouldn’t be a reality forever. Some others were concerned with keeping about their wits, with art, with sex, with praying, with preying, with killing; yet Alexandra’s and John’s destiny was not swayed by these encounters. Or so they thought.
Some time after they had married, two decades perhaps, Alexandra discovered a creature that made her convictions waver. He was enchanting, thrilling, kept her interested, ignited her curiosity, and warmed her heart. Marriage to the wrong vampire is just like marriage to the wrong human. First years tend to be easy, but with the passing of time, some rough edges begin to appear and some resolved issues surface. For Lexie, it was her identity, her desire to keep busy, and her growing need to find her maker. John had become disenchanted with the outside world, too concerned with the inner workings of his mind, too taciturn and static.
So meeting Hatter had brought back the excitement to her life. She had found herself a toy. Eventually, John did too, and their lives moved forward. For thirty years, they maintained a facade of peaceful married life that behind closed doors became nothing but a mimicry of what married couples do. Ask each other about their day, any plans, any thing they could do together, only to be met with short replies and a desire for the conversation to be over.
It’s not like Lexie gave up instantly, as soon as she began to notice how her husband actually was. But he had given up on most things by the point she had began to try to salvage anything that could be salvaged, so her attempts were mostly failures. Frustration was a constant in her life, and though from time to time they shared moments of bliss and of intimacy, the spark was mostly gone. So she felt no guilt when she ultimately acknowledge to herself she was in love with Hatter too. Her intriguing walking grandfather clock that kept her on her toes, always keeping her yearning to hear more about where he came from, and where he’d go.
It felt natural when they kissed for the first time. John knew of Hatter’s existence as Lexis’ sustenance and source of society and entertainment, so Hatter’s scent was not a problem. Usually, they’d spend just a couple of hours together, before he’d take off into his usual fits of madness which caused him to lose sense of where he was and, consequently, of her. Once that happened, she’d have a walk along the neighborhood, watch people and their night habits for quite some time, before she’d return home to a rather sulky husband. Most of the time, conversation got him out of it and they’d be able to reconnect but the effect didn’t last long.
At one point, Lexie wondered if it had been her or if John had always been wired like that. As if the torment of his life could never be overcome and he was bound to brood over events that were not relevant any longer. For some vampires, moving on was not a possibility. They just relieve significant moments of their lives as in a loop that had them stuck. John was one of them. Haunted, is how she described him.
When the split happened, John didn’t bat an eyelash and simply accepted the fact that past, present, and future couldn't be reconciled. But he asked about Hatter and Lexie was unable to hide the truth any longer. That’s when he snapped, finally. He could understand separating over their personalities, but doing so because of another was were he drew the line. She snapped too. They spent several hours stuck in a back and forth of “You are...”, “If only you weren’t...”, “I wish you’d change”, “How dare you...”
Eventually, Lexie admitted she had been trying to run away from whence she came, and that settling down had become an even worse cage than the one she had escaped from. That sitting still was not her style, that routine was harmful, wasteful, and that without some sort of thrill or danger, she could not thrive. That Hatter kept her sane and interested, because at least he let his madness show.
John made no comment but understood the inferences he was supposed to gather from her listing. He signed the papers before he returned to his study to collect himself and decide where life would take him. Lexie wasted little time packing up whatever she actually wanted to take with her before leaving.
The moon was high up in the sky, stars could be clearly seen. Life kept going despite the break, as if none of anything had ever happened. No rain, no anger turning into passion, just an end in silence. She went straight to Hatter to think over the matter of her freedom. She knew she could not remain but leaving was rather painful at that moment. She held on for a couple of weeks before she allowed herself to be found and brought back to headquarters.
“Whatever did you do for fifty years?”
“Tried to live an ordinary woman’s life.”
