Beauty

by Kris Calvert

  “Let us pray. God, Creator and defender of the human race, who made man in your own image, look down in pity on this your servant, now in the toils of the unclean spirit, now caught up in the fearsome threats of man’s ancient enemy, sworn foe of our race, who befuddles and stupefies the human mind, throws it into terror, overwhelms it with fear and panic…”

  Faint voices and distant screams faded in my head and I found myself everywhere and nowhere. Time was standing still or better yet, it did not exist. Such a feeling of love overcame me. It was as if the full and indescribable moment right before shedding a tear of joy, had been placed on an emotional repeat cycle. I did not breathe. There was no reason. I didn’t walk or move. It seemed as if every want or need was fulfilled. Every desire I’d ever known, ever longed for was requited. The butterflies of new love, the laughter of a baby, the glow of true friendship, the exhilaration of physical exertion—they were all emotions I knew, but they were all together, all at once and never-ending.

  Walking barefoot through a grassy meadow, rose petals rained down on me from the sky. The sweet perfume filled my body. I was one with everything around me.

  Holding my hands in front of me, I captured the red petals, pulling them to my face.

  I tripped over my feet and fell, landing with a resounding thud, I gasped for air. The smell was putrid and I wretched, trying to vomit.

  “Depart, then, transgressor. Depart, seducer, full of lies and cunning, foe of virtue, persecutor of the innocent.”

  I heard the words and felt my body convulse, my stomach pulsing and rolling.

  “Give place, abominable creature, give way, you monster, give way to Christ, in whom you found none of your works. For He has already stripped you of your powers and laid waste your kingdom, bound you prisoner and plundered your weapons.”

  My skin crawled. I was lashed by a thousand hands and bitten by slobbering, filthy mouths all over my body. I wrenched my hands and feet against the restraints.

  “He has cast you forth into the outer darkness, where everlasting ruin awaits you and your abettors. To what purpose do you insolently resist? To what purpose do you brazenly refuse?”

  I was in a beehive and pain swarmed all around me. Over and over my body reacted to the words, the feelings, the pain.

  “For you are guilty before almighty God, whose laws you have transgressed. You are guilty before His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you presumed to tempt, whom you dared to nail to the cross.”

  No longer could I hold out. No longer could I fight. I wanted to give in, give up. Be gone. Be done.

  A warming sensation touched my hand and I opened my eyes, shut tight with fear and watched a young, beautiful woman with long blonde hair holding my hand. She said nothing, but looked at me—looked through me, and I knew.

  “In the name of the spotless Lamb, who has trodden down the asp and the basilisk, and overcome the lion and the dragon, to depart from this woman, to depart from the Church of God. Tremble and flee, as we call on the name of the Lord, before whom the denizens of hell cower, to whom the heavenly Virtues and Powers and Dominations are subject, whom the Cherubim and Seraphim praise with unending cries as they sing—”

  She nodded at me and I began to pray. I could hear the voices around me. I could hear the voice in my body cry out in pain. I could hear the calm above it and I lifted my soul to reach it.

  Suddenly, I was falling. Sucked into a vortex that spun all around me taking my breath, taking my very being.

  Reaching my arms to the heavens I grasped for something to cling to. Ray’s face came into view and I bellowed in pain as I collapsed onto the floor.

  Silence was all around me. The floor was cool beneath my cheek as I lay facedown. My heart raced and I felt as if I’d completed a marathon in record time. Sweating from head to toe, I turned my limp and wasted body over to stare at the ceiling and watched my heart beat out of my chest.

  I could feel the restraints on my ankles and wrists, but yet I was free.

  “Lizzie?”

  Ray’s face hovered above mine.

  “Lizzie, can you hear me?”

  His voice was distant as if he was calling to me on a tin can with string. I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head. Darkness enveloped me.

  25

  BEAUTY

  My body was sore and my face ached. The closet was dark, but I could see a tiny shard of light from under the door. Pushing myself up to lean my head against the side of the closet, I felt clammy, damp skin next to mine.

  “Zara?”

  Feeling my way through the darkness, I searched for what had touched my hand. I found it.

  A cold, stiff body lay next to me. I began to scream, pounding my fists on the door as loudly as I could. I clawed at the wood, chipping off pieces of the door under my nails. Continuing to scream and pound on the door, I finally collapsed in the floor crying until I found it hard to breathe.

  Suddenly the lock clicked and as the door was opened, I fell into the floor—Zara’s black and blue body next to me. I screamed again as I kicked my way into the middle of the room.

  “What did you do?”

  I saw him standing in the center of the room. The repugnant look upon his face told me everything I needed to know. “You killed her. You killed Zara.”

  Sir laughed. It was deep and evil. His black eyes pierced through my soul. “She was disposable. No one is ever going to come looking for her. I’ll get another girl tomorrow. But you—you my dear, are truly beautiful and I’d like for you to behave so I can keep you around.”

  I placed my hands over my swollen face and nose. “I’m not beautiful. All beauty comes from the inside. I have nothing left inside of me.”

  He sighed as if I was taking up his time with my gibberish. “You’ll need to bury her in the garden.”

  “No,” I said coming to my feet and wiping the tears from my eyes. “I won’t bury my friend.”

  “Then what am I to do with you?”

  “Let me go. Let me walk away from here. I’ll never speak a word about you or this place.”

  A smarmy grin crossed his face. “That would be nice wouldn’t it? But I’m afraid someone was asking about you last night. You caused quite a stir with your antics. So you have two choices here, Beauty. Follow orders or…”

  “Or what? You’re going to kill me and chop me into pieces like Christine and Zara?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll never rest until he finds me.”

  In one swift and fluid motion, Sir pulled a knife from his side, leaning into me.

  The burning sensation in my neck was brief as I fell to my knees. Feeling as if I was drowning in warm and salty glue, I sank into the floor. This time when the darkness came, it turned to the brightest light I’d ever seen.

  26

  ELIZA

  The next two weeks were quiet on Park Ave. Our home had a clean and fresh smell and even the sun seemed to shine brighter through the old windows. In the days that followed, Ray and I learned even more about the house we’d bought and the girls of Rosewood.

  Father Gilfoyle came back to bless Park Ave and to give me a hug.

  “My dear, how are you?” he said as he entered the house with a smile. It was a stark difference to the look on his face the night we first met.

  “I’m okay,” I said beckoning him into the parlor to sit.

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Father, will you tell me what happened. I don’t remember anything—well except the pain at the end—and I’m afraid to talk about it with anyone else—at least for now.”

  “It was bad. It was very bad. But you are truly an intrepid soul who dared to look evil in the eye and vanquish it.”

  “The bruises from the chair, and the scratches on my body are proof to me that while my soul was feeling no pain and in a beautiful place, my earthly body was taking a beating—fighting for my life.”

  “And you really don’t recall the exorcism at all?”

  I
shook my head. “I remember peace and calm. I was in a place I didn’t know if I wanted to return from. Is that what heaven is like? Peaceful and beautiful?”

  “Only those who’ve been there truly know. But I know your soul was well taken care of.”

  “No one would believe me if I told them what I saw, what I went through.”

  “Just because others don’t believe doesn’t make it real. There were plenty of people who refused to believe Jesus. Take what you’ve learned my child and make your life and the lives around you better.”

  I nodded. There were no words. I knew somehow the lost soul of Beauty had been by my side that night. She wanted to help me. And she wanted to be set free from whatever evil kept her here.

  “Father, do you believe in destiny? I mean, I was drawn to this house from the very beginning and I think it was to help her—to help Beauty.”

  “I believe God makes a path for all of us. And maybe part of your path was to help someone time had forgotten. Love is powerful, Eliza. It heals. And your love for this house, for Ray and even your love for her—has brought about a healing effect. I just hope your physical injuries are mending quickly too.”

  I looked down to my battered wrists. The dark purple and blue had given way to the yellows and greens of my healing body. “I’m coming along.”

  “I see you’re still wearing the bracelet.”

  I rolled the red cord between my fingers. “Yes. I figured she’s protected me so far, why not? The house has been so quiet these past two weeks and I can tell that she’s gone. Everything’s gone. The house has a completely new vibe to it. We can never thank you enough Father.”

  “God bless you, Eliza.”

  Ray tucked my battered and weary body into bed, kissing me on the forehead. “We’re a sight, aren’t we?” The words tumbled out of my mouth filled with exhaustion and relief. I’d avoided talking about that night with Ray and he’d obliged me saying he was ready to listen when I was ready to talk.

  “Black and blue,” Ray said with a smile. “Me and you.”

  “Did I really rip that chair apart?” I asked as I stared at my bruised ankles.

  “You did. It was the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t ever want you to go through that again.”

  “Funny,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “I really don’t remember that much. I explained it to Father Gilfoyle today. I mean I could hear him speaking, and I remember her—”

  “Who?”

  “The girl. Beauty…I don’t know. She somehow gave me what I needed to—”

  Ray sat back on the side of the bed. “To what?”

  “Live.”

  He kissed me and brushed my hair out of my eyes with his fingers. He stood, hooking his hands on his hips giving me his signature crooked smile. It had been a long three and a half months on Park Ave, and I knew only good things would happen from this point forward. I could take full and even breaths, feeling energized each time I exhaled. I knew whatever had a hold on it and me, was gone.

  “I’m going down to turn out all the lights. I’ll be right back up to cuddle your battered body.”

  I let out a small laugh and rolled over, closing my eyes and inviting my long lost friend, sleep, to show me the way home. I nestled my head into my pillow, allowing the crushing fatigue to overtake my tired body and soul.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “You’re only going to get us into even more trouble. Just do as he says.”

  The dark haired girl rushed past me knocking my shoulder into the wall. In a daze, I wander down the staircase and into the parlor. The fireplace was roaring and the warmth made me pause. My hands were like ice, and I held them to my face, feeling the heat from my body.

  Turning, I see the piano. Instinctively I sit and open the lid. Running my cold fingers across the ivory keys I smile. Quietly, at first, I began to play. Humming in the beginning, I started to sing by the end of the song.

  “Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.”

  I paused for a moment, gazing out the window and into the darkness of the night. A flash of lightening brightened the sky for a split second and I felt a wave of sadness fill my body. I was cold, it was dark, and my fingers found the keys once more as I began to play.

  “Rosy rosy, bloody lamb, I know you know where I am. In the dark so cold and black, cut in pieces, wrapped in sack. Close your eyes, don’t go to bed. Either way, you’ll end up dead.”

  “Lizzie?”

  I could hear my name and I turned, looking into the darkness. I walked away from the house. I never wanted to look back again.

  The soft rain fell from the heavens and into the garden. The moon peeked out from behind a dark cloud as the water seemed to cleanse my body.

  Falling to my knees, I began to dig.

  Lizzie

  I could hear the faint voice in the distance, but the darkness and cold overwhelmed me and I found that I couldn’t speak. I could only push my hands into the black dirt over and over.

  My fingers sifted through mud and thorns, each dip of my palm tearing at my flesh, as I couldn’t stop myself from pushing the mud out and away from my body. I needed to dig. I needed to dig to the center of the earth if need be. I couldn’t and I wouldn’t stop.

  The thorns ripped into my skin and I stopped only to push the wet hair and mud from my face. My eyes burned, my flesh was torn—still I continued.

  “Lizzie!”

  Pulled from the earth, she came back into the world and into the arms of the one—her one true love. In his passionate embrace, she kissed his lips, and I tasted the sweetness of vanilla on the warmth of his mouth. “I told you. You’re the one,” she said. “Do you believe me now?”

  “I believe you, and I promise to never let you go ever again.”

  I felt my body go limp and darkness overcame me.

  I sat in the kitchen of my house, wrapped in a blanket and soaked from head to toe. Bloody and caked in mud, I watched the blue lights flash through the windows. I’d only found one, but the crew outside continued to dig, using small shovels and taking great care of anything they found.

  “Miss Lovelace?”

  “Yes?” I replied looking up from the floor.

  “I’m Detective Moore.”

  “Yes?” I asked, my mind a blur, my senses dulled as if life was going on around me, but didn’t include me. “Tell me.”

  “Are you sure you want to know this, honey?” Ray placed his hands on my shoulders, giving them a squeeze. I knew he meant well. I could feel it in his loving touch. “Yes. I need to know.”

  “The first body—the one you found Miss Lovelace, was intact. But as we’ve continued to dig, there are just pieces.”

  “Pieces?” I asked as I felt the tears begin to pool in my eyes.

  “Yes ma’am. It seems—” The detective hesitated and I looked up at him, begging him to get it over with. “It seems as if there are body parts. We think there are at least two more buried in the rose garden.”

  “We have to find them. We have to find them all.”

  Ray nodded in agreement. “Please give them the respect they deserve. They’ve—I mean, we’ve been through a lot.”

  “I understand sir.”

  Ray and I stood at the window watching as he hugged me tightly to his hip. “You did it, Liz. You gave them what they needed.”

  I nodded. I knew he was right. It was finally over.

  27

  ELIZA

  My cell phone rang, pulling me from my writing trance. Glancing down, I saw Lester’s name and hit Save before answering. “Mr. Searing. How are you?”

  “I just wanted to thank you Eliza. I received the frame you sent by messenger yesterday. When Beatrice’s body is released I will do as you wish and bury it with her next to Dr. Gold.”

  “I only think it’s right. I want her to be at peace with the
man she loved.”

  “I do as well. Dr. Gold searched a long time for her. She was his princess.”

  “And he her prince,” I said, recalling both of their reflections in the darkness of the mirror.

  “What did you see in the mirror, Eliza? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  I looked around my office at the three rose paintings Ray had given me to decorate my writing space—a tribute to the girls—and thought of what to say. “I saw…I saw Beauty, Lester. I saw Beauty with the crown on her head and I saw her prince standing right behind her—it was Edmund.”

  “Did you see your own future?”

  I took a deep breath and exhaled before answering. “I don’t think I was meant to. I think I was meant to see for her—through her—if that makes any sense.”

  “It does indeed.”

  Lester hesitated on the other end and I knew there was something else he wanted to say. “So, Lester—Ray and I would love to have you for dinner sometime.”

  “That would be lovely. And Eliza, you’ll never know how much you’ve done for Dr. Gold. I know he’s not alive anymore, but you’ve done a wonderful thing here—whether you know it or not.”

  I looked down to the red cord still tied to my wrist amongst the other leather bands and trinkets along with the one new bracelet Ray had given me—a cross. “We did a wonderful thing—I was never on this journey alone.”

  EPILOGUE

  2015

  I lay on the cold exam table, the white paper crackled under the weight of my body. Ray held my hand as we watch the monitor and listened closely. It had been a year since we’d moved into Park Ave and six months since we’d said I do.

  I was slightly pregnant at the time of the wedding, but was blissfully unaware until we came home from the honeymoon.

  Park Avenue was completely renovated, but still very empty. We’d spent all our extra cash knocking down walls, repainting and restoring all three floors of the house. As soon as spring blew into Baltimore, the rose garden became a priority.