Her name was Rebecca. She was Romany gypsy by blood. Born under a blue moon she used to tell me. I met her one day as I was leaving Londinium. I failed again in my attempts to become a noble's jester. She had her old gypsy caravan just off the country road and she was seated in front of it, in the mud.
I rode up on my steed, Morning-Star, and asked her, "Good morrow, m'Lady. What fortunes should leave you here?"
"Funny you should ask that, sir, as it usually my job to see problems like this in advance. But in hindsight I suspect I pay more attention to others' fortunes than mine. My horse was struck lame and I just put her out of her misery, but now find myself with my own share."
"So m'Lady is in need of a horse. Where are you headed?" I asked.
"As far away from that loathsome town of cheap bastards named Londinium," she spat as she finished.
"Then it seems we are meant to travel the same road, and for similar reasons. Those arrogant fools wouldn't know humour if a hyena bit them in the arse! I am sure that my steed wouldn't mind the burden of your cart, if you would have my company with him."
She blushed and asked, "M'Lord, do you believe in fate?"
"I believe in Laughter, Luck, and Love. I suppose that my luck could be influenced by fate - perhaps as such as our meeting here."
She smiled a knowing little smirk that I'd come to know well over the years. She said, "I dreamt of a single star shining in the heavens... one that looked like the white mark on your steed's brow... a morning star."
I was struck speechless, one of few times. I realized then that she had the Sight and was of true Rom blood. In awe, I said, "M'Lady, it would please you to know that my horse takes to that name."
She smirked again and said, "Yes, I know... Donovan."
I nearly fell off my steed, and did so anyway for comic relief. When I picked myself up, I walked up to her and knelt down before her, took her hand and said, "M'Lady, you have me at a disadvantage. What name has the Heavens so wisely bestowed upon you?"
"I am Rebecca. Not such a remarkable name."
After kissing her hand gently, I said, "On the contrary, m'Lady Rebecca, its beauty is only exceeded by the lady herself. A truly remarkable name for a remarkable woman. I mean, I don't fall off my horse for just anyone - they usually have to pay me first." With that she laughed - a heavenly chime that only angels before had the pleasure to hear.
From that moment on, we traveled together, visiting towns and villages trying to bring some light into the dark times that surrounded them. She used to tell people's fortunes while I would amuse the crowd. She was my partner in life and love.
We traveled together for years. Every
In this town, the center of the community was a small tavern and inn. This is where I met Gwenovere. She always convinced the Innkeeper to rent, cheap or free, a room for Rebecca and I whenever we stayed in town. Rebecca and I considered Gwenovere a sister. From Gwenovere I learned the best gossip in town for material. Rebecca would always teach Gwenovere a new divination - first the Tarot, then the crystal sphere, and eventually Runes and Bones. She also taught her how to track the stars for the powerful Astrology.
But our traveling had to continue, so we would pack up and move on. One night, she told me she was with child. That was the happiest moment of my life. I promised her that I would love her forever and asked her to be my bride. At first, I thought she was actually going to refuse. She told me how Romany never married outside their blood - except in the most remarkable of circumstances. I told her again how remarkable she was and she smiled and said "yes".
We visited more towns in order to make enough money for a proper wedding. When we had enough, we decided to head back "home" where we knew they would love to share the ceremony with us. But on the road back, one night, a band of highwaymen attacked us. At knifepoint, one of them grabbed Rebecca and another beat me. When their comrade tore through the small cart and found our money I hoped they would leave. But things instead got worse.
They scared Morning-Star into running off, with the cart bouncing roughly behind. They really beat the living glory out of me and eventually knocked me out cold. While I was out, they held Rebecca down and raped her - then slit her throat. I came to waking many times throughout the following morning and into the day, and each time I tried to pull myself closer to Rebecca. When I finally saw the horror of her death, I tried to get up and walk around. But the pain shot through me like a red-hot poker.
That's when I heard the voices for the first time. In my delirium, I thought I could hear my beloved's voice. "Donovan..." it softly called to me. At first I thought she might still be alive. But upon touching her cold, rigid body, I realized it could not be. But then I heard her again, "My love... for you... sweet Donovan... will not die." With those words, I passed out again. Now, however, I knew I was dying. I looked forward to being with my Rebecca in Heaven Above.
Liquid fire. Burning my lips as the droplets trickled down.
I licked at the searing sweet liquid, and found myself craving more. I opened my eyes and was horrified by the source - a wrist hovering above my mouth. "Good, you're awake," a sweet voice in the darkness said. I grabbed the wrist and suckled it like a teat filled with mother's milk. "To you, I shall be your new Mother, my poor Donovan. Drink up, but you'll have to stop soon."
But I didn't want to stop. She eventually pushed me away and said, "That's enough for now. Soon I will teach you how to feed on your own." With those words, I could feel her blood inside me. Changing me. Healing me. Making me thirsty for more. Then my fangs extended and I whined, "I want more... yes, teach me, Mother."
"Later," she said. "Now, we must find shelter before the sun rises. Follow me," and so I did, but not before looking back at what remained of my beloved Rebecca. As I followed my Mother back, I asked her, "What about Rebecca?"
"I'm sorry, my child. I could not save your gypsy rose. She was dead when I came across your scent. But you, my child, were just at the brink. I saved you, my Jester child. You have a Gift from me - Eternity - to release your cacophonous laughter unto the world. Prank them, trick them, love them, hate them. But most importantly, make them all die laughing, my sweet."
That was the first of my lessons from my Mother. We ran deep into the forest to an area where the trees were so thick and tall that no sunlight dared shine down upon us. In there I found Morning-Star and the cart, amazingly still intact. I walked up to pet Morning-Star but he reared up at the sight of me. "Your pretty star-faced one fears you now, but I will teach you to how to get close to him again."
She did, as she also taught me how to hunt with stealth. She taught me how to contact her whenever I needed her. She even told me the old stories of her kind, my kind now. Eventually the time came for me to leave my Mother behind, riding solo in the cart with Morning-Star in the reins as loyal to me as ever.
As I rode off, I couldn't help but think of Rebecca and how empty the caravan seemed without her. Just then, I heard Rebecca’s voice again, saying, "I will be here with you, always, my love." It was then that I realized what Mother meant about her Gift. For love has made me deranged, but in my madness, I am closer than ever to my beloved Rebecca.