The Guest Who Never Actually Died - Part 2 (A2 English Story)
Updated: 5 days ago
The Truth About Love
New to the story? Read Part 1 before continuing!
Lucian could not believe his luck.
After three hundred years, Elena had returned to his life.
She was alive. She was beautiful. And, just like him, she was a vampire.
For the first time in hundreds of years, Lucian was truly happy.
"Elena, you must stay!" he said. "We have so much to talk about!"
"Well, I only planned to stay for one night."
"One night? My dear, we have lost three hundred years together!"
Elena looked toward the door. Outside, the rain was getting stronger.
She sighed.
"All right. Perhaps a few nights."
Lucian smiled.
He had no idea how difficult the next few days would be.
An Old Love
The next evening, Lucian prepared a romantic dinner.
He placed candles around the dining room, put red roses on the table, and played music from hundreds of years ago.
"Do you remember this music?" he asked excitedly. "We danced to it in 1724!"
"Yes," Elena answered. "I remember."
Lucian began talking about their past.
He talked about their walks in the garden, their evenings by the river, and their first kiss.
Elena listened politely.
But after an hour, she began looking at the clock.
After two hours, she was looking at the door.
"Is something wrong?" Lucian asked.
"No, no. I'm just a little tired."
"Tired? But we're vampires!"
"Yes, Lucian. Even vampires need some peace and quiet."
Lucian laughed.
"Of course! Tomorrow, we can spend the whole evening together!"
"Wonderful," Elena whispered.
But she did not sound happy.
The Question
Over the next few days, Lucian tried everything to make Elena happy.
He took her walking in the garden. He showed her his old paintings. He even played their favorite music again.
But Elena was not excited.
One evening, Lucian finally asked the question he had waited hundreds of years to ask.
"Elena, why did you disappear?"
She looked away.
"It's a long story."
"We have all the time in the world," Lucian said.
Elena looked nervous.
"Things were difficult back then."
"Was someone chasing you?"
"No."
"Did your family make you leave?"
"No."
"Was it an evil witch? A terrible curse?"
Elena stared at him.
"Lucian, there was no witch."
"Then what happened?"
Elena was silent.
Finally, she said, "I don't want to talk about it."
Lucian nodded sadly.
But he knew she was hiding something.
The Truth
On the fifth night, Elena packed her suitcase.
Lucian found her standing near the front door.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes, Lucian. I'm sorry."
"But why? I thought we were happy together!"
Elena looked at the floor.
"Lucian, there's something I need to tell you."
He stepped closer.
"Please, Elena. Tell me why you left all those years ago."
She took a deep breath.
"I left because... I was bored."
Lucian stared at her.
"Bored?"
"Yes."
"Bored of what?"
Elena sighed.
"Of you."
The room became very quiet.
"You left me because I was boring?"
"Lucian, we did the same things every day! We walked in the same garden. We listened to the same music. You told me the same stories!"
"But you loved those stories!"
"The first ten times!"
Lucian looked confused.
Elena continued.
"One evening, you spent two hours telling me about a new chair you bought!"
"It was a beautiful chair!"
"You showed me that chair every day for a month!"
Lucian looked down.
"I really liked that chair."
Elena sighed.
"Look, Lucian. You were kind to me, but I wanted adventure. I wanted to travel and see the world. You just wanted everything to stay the same."
Lucian remembered those days.
He remembered Elena asking to travel.
And he remembered always saying no.
"I thought you were happy," he said quietly.
"I know. And I should have told you the truth."
A New Beginning
Lucian was silent for a long time.
Finally, he opened the front door.
"Goodbye, Elena."
"Goodbye, Lucian."
She picked up her suitcase and stepped outside.
Then she turned around.
"Oh, and Lucian?"
"Yes?"
"Please don't wait another three hundred years for me."
Lucian smiled sadly.
"I think I've waited long enough."
Elena disappeared into the night.
This time, Lucian did not follow her.
For several weeks, he felt sad.
But one evening, he looked around his old hotel.
Nothing had changed in hundreds of years.
The same paintings. The same furniture. The same music.
Suddenly, he understood.
Perhaps Elena had been right.
The next morning, Lucian decided to change things.
He bought new furniture. He invited musicians to play at the hotel. He organized parties and welcomed travelers from around the world.
Soon, the Black Rose Hotel became famous.
Lucian made new friends and began enjoying life again.
One evening, a guest asked him why he had changed the hotel.
Lucian smiled.
"Because I learned something important."
"What was that?"
"Living forever is not much fun if you keep living the same day."
Just then, a beautiful woman walked through the front door.
"Excuse me," she said. "I heard this hotel is full of interesting people."
"It certainly is," Lucian answered.
"Wonderful! I'm looking for a little adventure."
She smiled, showing two long, sharp teeth.
Lucian stared at her.
Then he began to laugh.
Some things never change.
The End.
Vocabulary
1. Romantic (adjective) - Showing love or strong feelings for someone.
Example: Lucian prepared a romantic dinner for Elena.
2. Politely (adverb) - In a kind and respectful way.
Example: Elena listened politely to Lucian's stories.
3. Peace and quiet (phrase) - A calm time without noise or problems.
Example: Elena wanted some peace and quiet.
4. Excited (adjective) - Feeling very happy and interested in something.
Example: Lucian was excited to see Elena again.
5. Disappear (verb) - To go away and not be seen or found.
Example: Elena disappeared hundreds of years ago.
6. Curse (noun) - Magic that causes bad things to happen to someone.
Example: Lucian wondered if an evil witch had put a curse on Elena.
7. Hide (verb) - To keep something secret or where others cannot find it.
Example: Elena tried to hide the real reason she left.
8. Bored (adjective) - Feeling unhappy because something is not interesting.
Example: Elena became bored of doing the same things every day.
9. Adventure (noun) - An exciting or unusual experience.
Example: Elena wanted to travel and have new adventures.
10. Furniture (noun) - Large objects in a room, such as tables, chairs, and beds.
Example: Lucian bought new furniture for his hotel.
11. Organize (verb) - To plan and prepare an activity or event.
Example: Lucian decided to organize parties at the hotel.
12. Realize (verb) - To suddenly understand something.
Example: Lucian realized that his life had not changed in hundreds of years.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Understanding the Story
Why was Lucian so happy at the beginning of Part 2?
What did Lucian do to prepare a romantic dinner for Elena?
How did Elena feel when Lucian talked about their past for a long time?
What were two possible reasons Lucian suggested for Elena's disappearance?
Why did Elena become nervous when Lucian asked about the past?
How many nights did Elena stay at the hotel before deciding to leave?
What was the real reason Elena left Lucian hundreds of years ago?
What story did Elena tell about Lucian and his new chair?
What did Elena want to do that Lucian did not want to do?
What changes did Lucian make to his hotel after Elena left?
Think About the Story
Why do you think Elena did not tell Lucian the truth when she first left him?
Do you think Lucian was a bad partner, or did he and Elena simply want different things? Explain your answer.
What do you think Lucian learned from seeing Elena again?
What do you think the final sentence, "Some things never change," means?
Do you think Lucian will have a different relationship with the new vampire? Why or why not?
True or False?
Lucian prepared a romantic dinner because he wanted to make Elena happy.True / False
Elena was excited to listen to Lucian's old stories for hours.True / False
Elena disappeared because an evil witch put a curse on her.True / False
Elena wanted to travel and experience new things.True / False
Lucian decided to close the Black Rose Hotel after Elena left.True / False
At the end of the story, another vampire visits the hotel.True / False
Answer Key
Understanding the Story
Because Elena had returned after three hundred years, and he discovered she was also a vampire.
He put candles around the dining room, placed red roses on the table, and played music from their past.
She became bored and wanted the conversation to end.
Possible answers: Someone was chasing her, her family made her leave, or an evil witch put a curse on her.
Because she did not want Lucian to discover the real reason she left him.
Five nights.
She was bored of Lucian and their life together.
Lucian spent two hours talking about a new chair and showed it to her every day for a month.
She wanted to travel, have adventures, and see the world.
He bought new furniture, invited musicians, organized parties, and welcomed travelers from around the world.
Possible answer: She did not want to hurt his feelings or have a difficult conversation.
Student's own answer.
Possible answer: He learned that life should include new experiences and that he should listen to what other people want.
Possible answer: Another vampire has arrived at the hotel, just like Elena did. It may also suggest that Lucian still likes mysterious women.
Student's own answer.
Thinking About the Story
Possible answer: She did not want to hurt his feelings or have a difficult conversation.
Student's own answer.
Possible answer: He learned that life should include new experiences and that he should listen to what other people want.
Possible answer: Another vampire has arrived at the hotel, just like Elena did. It may also suggest that Lucian still likes mysterious women.
Student's own answer.
True or False
True
False
False
True
False
True
Comments