Moonlightaholics

I love this story as well, Moonshadow.
And being the total MickChick that I am, you had my heart fluttering with these well written sentences......

"Mick let the rope drop, clipped the carabinier of his harness on and began to feed the line, bouncing outward as he dropped. The cave opening was about a third of the way down the face. He rappelled over to it feeding line as he went."

Ah, I could see it all.
That gorgeous hair moving in the breeze, his Duster flaring out......
Not exactly the correct abseiling gear, but he's a vampire!
The rules don't apply.

AussieJo,

I have to share a secret on that point, when I wrote that scene I could literally hear the buzz, zip that rope makes as it's being fed through the carabinier, and the thought of watching Mick on rappel made my heart go

Just a bit of silliness:
I'm so tickled pink that people call it abseiling.
Because that's a German word. It means... well, Abseilen. Okay, I understand why you don't have your own word. It means to get down on something by using a rope. But isn't it a great word?

MoonShadow wrote:AussieJo,

I have to share a secret on that point, when I wrote that scene I could literally hear the buzz, zip that rope makes as it's being fed through the carabinier, and the thought of watching Mick on rappel made my heart go

Oh... yes... yes.... YES!!
etc, etc.....

Yes Francis, abseiling is a great word.
Thank you for it.
I love that English uses different language words as well.

Oh, this story was so good...and frustrating. I'm with Mick...who was she and how was she involved with Josef? And why would he stake her rather than put her out of her misery? Sooooo many questions!!!!!

Very interesting and thought provoking story. I never read it before. I agree with so many others though it leaves so many questions.

Just bumping this very interesting story again. It is so much food for thought

I haven't read this one in so long--I revisited it tonight and got a wonderful late-fall shiver. Maybe it's a little late for a Halloween chill, but ghost stories fit in to any time of year. I love this one because it has so many more questions than answers. Every time I read it, I seem to make up a different scenario to try to answer the lingering questions.

What a wonderful story! You write so elegantly, creating clear pictures with such lovely clean prose. I love how we don't get everything over explained to us too. thank you. I have to say, the use of sound in this eerie scenario gave me some genuine chills.

Moonshadow

This is lovely.

What an artist you are at setting the mood in this somber piece that leaves us with more questions at the end than answers. Luxe used a perfect word here, 'elegant'...yes, that fits.

You capture so many other things so very well! Beth's captivation with all that is Mick (and who could blame her there), Josef's easy control of the vampire poker game and his knowledge of many things he does not choose to share with his poker buddies. Mick's thoughtless client, who at least had the good graces to be absent most of the time.

I would be one extremely happy camper if there was a sequel to this, as there are so many delicious loose ends that so many of us would love to explore with you, but whatever your decision is in that regard, thank you for this superb story!

This story has lots of loose ends, but then that's part of what makes it a good ghost story.

But maybe there could be another original story hiding here.

That sounds fabulous.

The mood created here is spellbiding. But you have probably heard that already.

Thank you!

This. Is. Exquisite.

I know of few better examples of how ambiance can take a good story and make it a truly memorable one. What a fabulous job you do of creating a spellbinding mystery, wrapped in the Santa Ana winds and the spray coming off the Pacific, with Mick, Beth, Josef and the rest. No matter how many times I read this, it is still mesmerizing.

Thank you.

Jenna

Jen, you make me blush with your kind words.
thank you!

It is never my intention to make anyone the least bit uncomfortable, but I just want you to know what a superb job you have done here.

This speaks of the differences that are inherent in vampires, and while some charm (as Mick does Beth) others mystify and in the case of this poor woman who has been undone by too much time, it can be a horror. As Josef said more than once, 'forever is a long time'

The sensory picture that you weave with your description of sight, sound, smell and feel here are equally a piece of the fabulous story here, adding to the feeling of loneliness that pervades this place.

Thank you again!

Jenna