Romeo & Juliet & Vampires by William Shakespeare Page A

yourself through this hell?”
    â€œMy eyes may have changed color, Nurse, but that does not make me blind,” Juliet snapped, wiggling away from her. “Count Paris is not like me in the slightest, and my family only approves of him because they want to preserve their power. Honestly, Romeo Montague is more like my kin than any Capulet—he detests the violence between our families as much as I do. You will see, when he and I become joined, our hell will become our heaven.”
    â€œIf heaven is where you want to reside with thisman, then you must not keep secrets from him,” the nurse warned. “You must tell him the truth.”
    â€œI understand.” Juliet gently took the nurse’s shawl and put it over her own head. “Everyone here is still sleeping, and I must get to the friar’s. Will you help sneak me out of the castle? Please?”
    â€œIt is against my better judgment, but I know you will do what you want anyway and I won’t be able to stop you.”
    The nurse glanced around the orchard and found some beautiful white dog roses in a nearby bush. She grabbed some by the stem, ripped them free, and then handed them to Juliet.
    â€œHere, a bride should not be without flowers on her wedding day,” she said, wiping streams of tears from her face. “Now let us go, before I change my mind.”
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    At around a quarter to three, Juliet and her nurse were at the monastery door, waiting to gain entrance. They had successfully evaded the guards at Capulet Castle by escaping through the tunnel system. The nurse had also led her through the forest and into the valley, using several unmarked paths.
    Now that Juliet was on Friar Laurence’s doorstep, her mind had been wiped clean of the entire journey. She no longer recalled the frantic race through trees, or her dress getting caught on prickly shrubs, which tore small holes in the fabric. She did not rememberhow the roots of her hair had become damp, although it was surely due to the condensation in the castle tunnels, or why her body ached all over, or where she had dropped her bouquet of flowers. But memory was no longer important to her. Everything that had happened in her life up until now seemed trivial and meaningless.
    With the exception of meeting Romeo, of course.
    As the nurse knocked on the door for the second time, Juliet felt a blinding pain pinch her stomach that caused her legs to wobble.
    â€œUgh, where is this man? We cannot stand out here forever. What if we are discovered?” the nurse complained as she knocked once again.
    â€œBy who? This monastery is not exactly a popular spot in Transylvania,” Juliet replied.
    The nurse turned to Juliet, a streak of moisture glistening on her top lip. “Perhaps one of the Montagues has gotten wind of this. They may have plotted to disrupt this wedding and chop your pretty head off!”
    Juliet was surprised to find herself laughing. This wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, but still, the thought of it was just so…comical.
    â€œDo you actually think I’m trying to be funny?” the nurse asked, visibly irritated.
    â€œNo, I don’t.” Juliet fanned her face with her hands in an attempt to compose herself. “But it seems rather obvious that you think this wedding of mine will soon lead to my funeral.”
    The nurse lowered her head, her mood now somber. “Yes, and that is why I must remain out here.”
    â€œWhat? You are not going to give me away?” Juliet felt a ball of sadness building inside of her chest.
    â€œEven though I wish this wasn’t true, you are not mine to give, my lady,” the nurse replied.
    Juliet wanted to plead with her, but before she could, the door of the monastery opened. A thin, humble-looking, white-haired man in a brown robe appeared in the archway, smiling warmly as he bowed.
    â€œWelcome, Juliet,” he said. “Good tidings to you and your