Adriano Cecioni, “Interior with a Figure,” [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
“I’ve put you in the blue room,” the landlady of the respectable seaside boarding house had said. “I’m sure it will suit you.”
Lillie was at the boardinghouse to regain her health. She suffered from a nervous condition, according to her aunt’s physician. In his view, it was brought on by all the reading she did. She needed fresh air and exercise to cure her of her fancies.
They all said—her aunt and cousins—that she was too sensitive. Even more so since the young man she had hoped to marry was killed in the Crimean War. She always seemed more comfortable reading her books. Immersed in fictional worlds, she escaped the constant chatter and gossip of her cousins. Thus, while her aunt wasn’t looking, and despite the doctor’s orders, Lillie had slipped a book into her small travel bag.
On the first night in the blue room, tucked in bed under the warm quilt, she read her book, before blowing out the candle and drifting off to sleep. Somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, she sensed she was not alone. A luminous presence hovered nearby. “Lillie,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
The next night, he came again just as she fell asleep. This time he kissed her. She began to long for the nights and his caresses. She barely spoke to the other women staying in the boardinghouse, although they muttered about strange noises coming from her room at night. For three weeks, she sleepwalked through the days, but at night, in her dreams, she was alive with passion.
One morning, she did not come down for breakfast. They found her body in the blue room under the crisp, white sheets. A book was by her side, The Demon Lover.
This is in response to Jane Dougherty’s Microfiction Challenge. –although I went over 200 words with this one. Oops. The prompt was the painting above by Adriano Cecioni.
I had been thinking about Victorian views of women, medicine, and hysteria. I discovered after I wrote the story that there is well-known story called “The Demon Lover,” by Elizabeth Bowen. Written in 1945, it is about a woman affected by the Blitz in London, and who upon returning to her home there, find she may or may not have been contacted by her fiancé killed in WWI.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
You condense Lily’s story beautifully, but I think you could work this up into a longer story to do it justice. t’s exactly that, the hysteria, beginnings of psychoanalysis, female repression etc. I wasn’t expecting that ending at all!
Oh good! I’m glad I surprised you! 🙂
Yes, I could probably make it longer. I was trying to keep it to short fiction, if not micro.
Really enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for a ghost story.
Thanks! I’ve never really written one before. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
You’re a natural.
Thanks! 🙂
This was such a really fascinating short story, Merril. You layered in with details so it became very realistic and I held my breath. . . wondering how the nights would transform her life. I must admit, I was shocked at the ending!
I had hoped a neighboring man whose wife died in childbirth would run into her outside, as she headed home. With her three weeks of romantic visits, her senses come alive, she may have offered to be the new baby’s nanny. Then, of course, her dreams and hopes would come true with a needy, yearning and lonely widower! ❤
You can see where my mind wandered, Merril. . . . 😉
Hahaha, Robin. Demon lovers seldom lead to happy endings. 🙂
Fascinating. Suitably inspired
Thank you, Derrick.
Fantastic, Merril.
Thank you, Carol!
And in the pages of the book were the accounts of those many nights.
That would be oversharing. 😉
I was caught up in the magic and the surprising ending. Like Jane, I think this could be worked into a longer piece. Pairing with the picture would be dynamite!
Thank you very much, Marian!
Merril.it seems i forgot to breath in this blue room.. really thrilled to read this piece..
Thank you so very much, Akhila! I appreciate your kind comment.
This gave me the shivers! I loved it!! Poor thing — demon lovers are not to be trusted. EXCELLENT writing, Merril. The dark suits you very well. May I re-post this on SlasherMonster?
Thank you so much, Rose. It is a bit of a change for me. I do like those Victorian ghostly tales. 🙂
I’d be honored for you to re-post it.
YES! Thank you, Merril. I’ll let you know when it’s posted. It may take a few weeks as we have other works in the queue. I’m SO excited to share your story!
Thank you. It’s kind of you to share it. I’m happy that you’re excited. 🙂
Those worlds we enter in books ARE real, I knew it!
This has just the right eerie atmosphere, and the ending is perfect.
Best to be careful what we are reading…(K)
I didn’t really want it to be a cautionary tale, but it kind of came out that way. 🙂 But books and characters are real. Thanks, Kerfe.
and there are those today who, having stay in the blue room, will say that if one carrying a book with them, they will find it opened and not in the place it had been left in.
Oooooooo! Shivers.
Oooh no! I wanted her to throw off her corset and run away! You really pulled me in to this.
Thanks so much for letting me know, Sarah. I’m glad I pulled you in!
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Loved the story, thanks to Rose for sending me here… 🙂
Thank you so much. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂 Rose told me that this comment might be in my spam folder (and it was).
Welcome and thanks to you too for recovering the comment… 🙂
It was good of Rose to let me know about it. 🙂
🙂 …
Hi Merril,
Maniparna (Scattered Thoughts), a fellow blogger and friend just informed me that she left you a comment on this post. It may have gone into your spam folder as she’s been having problems with that happening just recently.
Thank you for letting me know! I found it. 🙂
loved the story. just the right amount of creepyness(if you know what i mean)
thanks to poet rummager for bringing me here
Thank you for letting me know that you liked the story! And yes, thanks to Rose, too. 🙂