A true story…

Dracula the Scorpio was an actor who lived in the artist section of the city, on the top floor of his building (the 13th floor). Scorpio doesn’t like to live under people; they prefer a high perch. This is not to lord it over others. They just want to maintain their own privacy, but have the ability to see into your backyard. Drac had four planets in Scorpio and make no mistake, he could really exude. His Leo rising gave him dramatic ability, and a pronounced stage presence. My Venus in Leo made a fine complement.

One night we were in his apartment and we got into a fight. Our fights were intense, passionate, and highly theatrical. We had scripts embedded in our psyches, damned near. Scenes right out of a movie and a good one, no kidding. I was thirty at the time, so a seasoned actress.

On this night, we were up out of our chairs, pacing and stuff. You’ve got to move on stage, you know. It’s more engaging to the audience. The argument heated up. We were circling, pacing, smiling evilly and cocking our eyebrows. I flipped my hair while he lit a cigarette. We were getting our licks in, our little barbs, a snarl here, a flinch there. It was kind of fun, can you tell?

Things escalated, of course. I told him that I was leaving, of course. This was the part where I would walk out on him, and slam the door with a dramatic look on my face. I wanted a good shot too. It was possible I could get a still out of it.

He got in close and he whispered, “If you walk out that door, Elsa…”

I interrupted. “If I walk out that door, then what? What!” And then, “Are you threatening me?”

He was in my face. “I just want you to know that if you walk out that door…”

I smiled wide, opened the door, passed through it, and *SLAM!*

“Not bad.” I thought. I rode the elevator down 13 floors with adrenaline pumping.

“That bastard! What a jackass!” I was thinking things like this. I really loved fighting with him, but thinking like this was necessary to stay in character. When the elevator door opened, there’d be another camera, right? It was about 11:00 PM.

I stepped out of the elevator into the lobby of the building, and passed through the glass doors of his apartment building, to the street. I looked up at the full moon, hazy behind the clouds, between the branches of the fifty year old trees that lined the street. Gotta love that. I turned crisply on my heel to walk to my car.

It was autumn in the neighborhood, and there was a chill in the air. Enough to give me a little blush in my cheeks and allow me to wear a coat. Black. Vintage. It had one large button at the neck to frame my face, and it swung as I walked.

Chin up for the camera, I walked down the street, platform pumps, click, clack on the sidewalk, and this is when I heard him. His voice was low and came from the trees.

“Major mistake.”

I didn’t lose my cool. I’m very good at what I do. I knew where he was. He was on his balcony, thirteen floors above me. Whispering. A stage whisper, I mean. One that you can hear, just so. He said it again with slight foreboding in his voice.

“Major mistake.”

Man… he’s goooood.

I didn’t look up. I didn’t break stride. Just the slightest hesitation in my step, this is what the camera wants.

He kept repeating his line. He was almost chanting it.

“Mayyyyy -jor Mis-take!”

The guy had a gift. His voice mixed with the wind, and made a song. Man, he was tasty, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction… until tomorrow.

I kept walking and his voice faded out.

I got in my car, turned the key.

He could see the exhaust in the cold air.

I flicked on the headlights and two beams light up the cold night. Driving away, I sneaked a peek at the balcony in my rear view mirror, but he’s gone.

CUT!

This is dating, Leo style.