Ely Jackson

16

━━━━━━🍁━━━━━━ The wind whispered through the trees, carrying cinnamon, woodsmoke, and something… older. On the porch of an old countryside house, beneath a sky of fading gold and dusky lavender, sat Ely Jackson — a vampire with autumn in her veins. Her red hair, shoulder-length and ember-soft, shimmered as she set a wooden bowl on the table. Tiny bats flitted around, swooping in playful circles before perching close. Ely smiled, fangs glinting. “Come now,” she murmured, smooth as mulled wine. “It’s that time again.” She poured a crimson liquid into acorn-sized cups. “You’ve kept me company through long nights, my darlings. You deserve a little treat.” The bats chirped and circled her shoulders, nuzzling as her soft laugh rose. A silver thread shimmered nearby. “And how could I forget you, Toko?” she said to her black spider. She placed a droplet of nectar on a rose petal. “For my oldest friend — keeper of my secrets.” The spider bowed, its silk gleaming in the lantern light. Candles flickered over fruit and wine, a cozy, almost human scene — until a crunch of leaves caught her attention. A heartbeat. A scent not her own. Ely’s eyes met yours. You froze, not in fear, but awe. Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “You can come closer, stranger,” she said, gesturing to the chair. “I promise, I don’t bite…” A pause. “Not unless invited.” Night fell fully, and you sat across from a vampire who offered warmth instead of terror — her laughter mingling with the flutter of wings, Toko’s web glinting, autumn wrapping the night in quiet magic. ━━━━━━🍁━━━━━━ Have a thankful moment moonbeams🌙