My entry for @derosnec's writing contest: "The Daemons of Life are Getting Old"
The multi-talented and fellow STEEM Engine member, @derosnec is hosting a writing contest based on one of her illustration from her high-school sketch book. Full details, rules and prize can be found here.
Here's the muse for this story:
And now the story...
"The Daemons of Life are Getting Old"
Amelia sat in the once plush armchair in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel and took a leisurely drag on her cigarette. Smoking had been prohibited in here since 1987, but what difference did it make now? They were going to tear the hotel down any day… she'd smoke where she damn well pleased.
The hotel had been her home for more than half a century, not that it mattered to them. All they cared about was "progress" and how she was holding up "their plans for a parking structure".
She took another drag and slowly released the smoke between her pursed lips, watching it twirl and swirl towards the crystal chandeliers still hanging in the ceiling. She wondered why they'd not been removed and sold off with the other fixtures. Probably would've cost them too much she thought.
Still looking at the twinkling crystals, her mind began to wander back to the endless parties she'd been to here and the men that had courted her. She could still feel their embrace, holding her a little too tight and feel their breath on her cheek as they tried to steal a kiss. True, she'd led on more than one, but she was young and full of life.
She could hear the music, the laughter and, as if in a trance, rose from her chair and began to dance around the parquet floor one last time. Eyes closed, smiling, she moved as one with the imaginary beat.
From behind, she heard an unexpected sound that startled her back to reality, and, upon opening her eyes, caught a glimpse of her reflection in the gilded mirror behind the bar. Who was this wretch shrouded in purple silk looking back at her? What had happened to the once tall, elegant debutant, the socialite? What had happened to the woman men wanted, and the women wanted to be?
What had happened, what had happened… She stopped mid thought, her mind began to wonder again.
She adjusted her pearls and made her way to the foyer and marveled at its grandeur. In her mind's eye, she pictured the priceless paintings which once hung there… Picasso, Dali, Monet… and marveled at their beauty.
As she reached the bottom of the grand staircase, she could feel his presence and without looking, reached out and took his hand. His icy grip closing around hers.
The daemon had come, and she was ready for him.
Original content by @redwellies
Word count 419
This is great!! The character is definitely well developed and you’ve given her so much history. Well done!
@derosnec Thank you! Sometimes it's easy to write when you have the right inspiration :) Thank you for creating such an extraordinary piece :)
:D :D :D
So creative and skillful that you link the text to the picture well.
@prch Thank you! It was a lot of fun taking a picture drawn by someone else and using that as the inspiration for the story :)
@redwellies, I'm re-reading the text now hoping to learn from your creative and spot-on writing style. It's just like reading a page of a novel.
@prch Wow! Huge compliment thank you :) I simply imagined what her life may have been like and what would happen with the daemon lurking behind her chair.
Awesome! Very eerie. "Who was this wretch shrouded in purple silk looking back at her? "!!
@kittyandcheese Ha! Thank you :) I hope that I've captured the essence of the drawing :)
I love your writing full of vivid descriptions something I would need to work on. Maybe I should start reading books again.
@watersnake101 Thank you! I've never really tried my hand at something like this, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm thinking that it's something I should do again :). And if it inspires you to read some books, I'm all for it! :)
I love the story, although it is shorter than 500 words you managed to show present and past state of both the character and the scene.
Quality of the story is best seen in how you used deterioration of the hotel in combination with aging of once laughing and charming lady to emphasize the point of them "dying" together.
@tripdespider thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the short story :) It was one of those times where the sketch spoke to me quite literally and the words flowed :)
YOu're very creative. I love how you made a story from the illustration. Now the story is complete! Goodluck on the contest. I'll also check this out. I'm inspired by you ^^
@dawnsheree Thank you! I do think that the story fits her rather well and brings her to life :) You should have a go, I'd love to read it :)
Yes will do. The post says it's the last batch but I'll keep a look out. ^^
@dawnsheree you still have time :)
Thanks @redwellies. It's work week but I would love to give this a try. :)
Nice post.I respect you very much because you contribute to steemit.I will do activities like you.I would like to extend the steemit.