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The ringing of the telephone was barely audible over the sound of Sarah’s electric toothbrush. She heard it, lifting the receiver just in time.
“Hello?”
“DeMarco?”
His laugh was clear as he answered. “Si. DeMarco. I am calling to tell you that you are in my thoughts and to wish you well on Thanksgiving.”
She didn’t tell him she was just thinking about him, wondering if she would hear from him while he was in Italy. “Thank you. It’s great to hear your voice. How are you?”
“All is well here, but I do miss your smile.”
“Are you with your family?”
“No. I am taking care of some business in Milano before I travel to be with my family. It seems so long since I have spent much time with them. Our home is in the country and it is very beautiful.” He paused. “Perhaps some time you will visit.”
Sarah was glad she didn’t really have the option. She certainly didn’t have any intention to travel with DeMarco to visit his family, yet she wondered what they were like. He hadn’t told her very much about them except that there were a lot of them. “Like most Italian families, I suppose,” she thought.
“When will you return to the states?”
“I will be back soon after New Year. I will telephone you again before I leave my country.”
“It will be great to see you again.”
“Yes, I miss you, Sarah. Have a lovely holiday. Buona sera.”
“Goodnight, DeMarco.” She held the receiver to her ear a moment longer until she heard dead air at the other end.
CHAPTER 12
The waiter left the table and the three friends settled in for their traditional pre-holiday dinner. They sipped their wine and ate bruschetta as they chatted.
“Okay Sarah,” Colleen spoke, exasperation clear in her voice, “what took you so long to fess up about this Italian guy?”
“C, there’s not that much to ‘fess up’ about. We’ve been seeing each other for a while, that’s all?”
“But what about Carlos?” Bonnie rested her elbows on the table as she leaned toward her friend.
“I don’t get it. Why is everyone asking me about Carlos?”
“Come on,” Colleen grinned. “We all know you’ve got the hots for each other. It’s been obvious for a long, long time.”
“We’re just friends.” Her words sounded hollow as she spoke and she knew it. “Okay, so I’m not quite sure what we are; we’ve never really talked about it much.” “Hell,” she thought, “if they only knew I’m not even quite sure what he is much less how I feel about him.” She spoke out loud once again, “We just enjoy being together.”
“That’s pretty obvious, so what about him? Does he know about DeMarco?”
“I told you, DeMarco’s just a friend.”
“You sure have an over-abundance of friends these days.” Colleen giggled before she picked up her iced tea.
“Okay ladies, my turn.” The two other women turned to give Bonnie their full attention. “I’ve met a guy.”
“Where? Tell us everything?”
“I hate to admit it, but on the internet and he’s a really nice guy. He’s a fireman and knows how to cook.” Bonnie laughed.
Colleen gave her a hug. “Never under estimate the power of a man who knows how to boil water. I married me one, didn’t I?”
“I don’t know if I’ll marry Jack Dixon, but he can sure whip up a great dinner in record time. And he actually likes doing it?”
“I say do not pass go, do not collect one dime, grab this guy and run.” Colleen was happy to see Bonnie meet someone after a long, dry spell of not dating.
“It hasn’t gotten that far yet, we just seem to really get along and laugh a lot. And the really cool thing is we’re from similar backgrounds.”
“Similar backgrounds,” Sarah thought about the two men in her life. “How about similar continents or similar species.” She shook her head and chuckled to herself as the waiter brought the pasta to the table.
#
Aris enjoyed driving Sarah’s car and having her as a passenger. The trees whizzed past them, their black trunks clearly sculpted against a cloudy, gray Thanksgiving sky. Driving was one of the added benefits of the twenty-first century. He looked forward to the day when he would own a really fast car. He remembered riding the swiftest horses in the king’s stable through the English countryside. The exhilaration he felt in those long gone days would pale in comparison with one hundred miles an hour and many, many horses under the hood of a shiny black sports car.
He slowed down as he turned into a residential neighborhood. Aris pulled the car in front of Colleen and Bob’s front walkway and parked. He jumped out and walked around to the passenger side to help Sarah lift a huge bag of food out of the back seat.
“Is it traditional to bring such massive amounts of food to a Thanksgiving dinner? This is my first, you know.”
“Yes, I know, but do your best to not be so obvious about it. You’re supposed to be a Mexican-American who has been doing this for more than a quarter of a century.” He took the shopping bag from her and held her arm as they walked down the icy sidewalk. “We all expected you would be different after a near death experience, but so far you’ve been all Carlos.”
“Do not be afraid.” He laughed as he let go of her arm to ring the doorbell. “Baby, I’m so down with it.” He winked at her as he pressed the buzzer
CHAPTER 13
SARAH HAGAN, transcript, session 3
I was sleepless throughout the night. Only he filled my thoughts. Even memories of the old woman’s prediction of mystery and death could not erase the image of his golden skin and flying black hair from my mind. I moved quietly from the bed so as not to disturb my sleeping sister. “I must see him again.” The thought chewed at me without ceasing, giving me no peace.
There was a moment of silence as Sarah paused, deep in trance. In that brief instant, her romantic dream from weeks before flashed through her mind in its entirety. She gasped as she remembered the intensity of their passion as he made love to her.
At last, she groaned as she spoke a name. “Diego.”
“Who is that Elizabeth?”
Bonnie was alert, a bit shocked by the sound of desire etched into the voice of her friend. “Tell me more of him Elizabeth.”
I rode alone, away from the hunt. A wild boar ran in front of my horse, frightening it. It reared and as it bolted, I was thrown onto the ground. As I stood, a masked rider appeared as if from nowhere lifting me in front of him onto his mount. He rode like a whirlwind, carrying me off into the wood. Her breath was short, almost panting as she recounted the experience. There, on the forest floor, he ravaged me. I fought as a demon at first yet even as I struggled, his lust ignited a never-before-felt yearning inside my young virgin’s body. I was unable to withstand the fervent demand from him; at last, I succumbed with all my heart and with a heat I was not even aware existed. His lust wrapped us in a blanket of wanton abandon. Who was I? Who was he? I disappeared into him as he loved me with his body, his soul. I became his in that moment knowing naught about the past, the future. Not caring. Each caress, each kiss burning a raw, aching need into my yielding flesh. There was pain and blood and ecstasy.
At last when we were spent, he held me, covering my nude body with the thick strands of my long, golden hair. “I have taken you. Now you are mine. I pledge my life and my love to you always.”
I reached to untie his mask, to see the rest of his beautiful face. He grasped my wrists moving my arms to rest on the ground above my head. I whispered, “Who are you?”
He was silent, staring into my eyes. As I opened my lips to ask again, he covered them with his own. “No, do not speak. My name is unimportant. But, your name? Your name is Beauty, Belleza, Belleza de Oro. My beauty of gold,” he murmured into my trembling mouth.
I know not how many hours we lay on the forest floor. He covered us with my voluminous skirts to keep warm
as the twilight crept among the trees. A sliver of a moon peeked from behind the sheltering leaves and branches when, at last, I recognized the lateness of the hour. I knew I must return to my father’s house. If I were gone longer, a search party would be sent for me. I did my best to make clear to him who I was and the great danger there was to him and to his people if my father found us.
He shook his head and drew me more closely into his arms. Promising to come to him the following day, I persuaded with words and caresses to be allowed to rise. We gathered my clothes, doing our best to arrange them. Filthy and wrinkled, yet I knew I could explain it away. My horse must have returned to the stable hours ago. The household would know I had an unfortunate occurrence. It would easily explain my distress. I felt their concern for me even in that very moment. I knew I must make haste to protect my love, to protect the esteem of my family. My actions of the day had dishonored our household. I must not let on. They must not know.
Once dressed, he lifted me onto his horse and we rode to the edge of the clearing where he found me earlier in the day. Kissing me roughly, he set my feet on the ground. Looking deeply into my eyes, he spoke. “I am Diego.” He reached to untie his mask and as he removed it from his face, I gasped. It was he, my beautiful gypsy dancer; he who I was unable to forget. I knew unbounded joy as I hastened to my father’s manor house, arriving just as the dogs and horses entered the courtyard, home from their search.
My father’s arms wrapped around me. I could hear my mother’s sobs of relief. I told the tale of being thrown and lying, senseless for most of the day. An easy lie for it was true. Entranced in a stupor of love, I had spent my afternoon. I felt no remorse for my story as I was led into the house and taken to my room.
All was quiet in the office as Bonnie finished her notes then sat silently, waiting for her friend to continue. When she didn’t, the therapist questioned her further. “Did you see him again?”
Again and again I crept away while my sister slept. I danced and laughed and loved as the gypsy camp became as my second home. The married women stayed far from me; the young, unmarried ones despised me for entering their world. The crones and the men delighted in me, in my differences. It was a time of great joy and adventure. The old ladies brushed my long blond hair and dressed me like a gypsy doll every time I visited.
One morning, just before dawn as I crept up the stairs to the room I shared with my sister, I was seen by one of the kitchen girls. Now frightened less she make it known I was away from the manor during the night, I hurried up the stairs to my chamber.
Sitting in the middle of the bed, very awake and very cross, was my sister. Arms folded across her chest, her mouth set in a straight, demanding line, she spoke. “Where have you been, sister? What mischief have you wrought? Father came to our room last night and found you gone. He is furious. He rode out with his men to search for you. It seems luck was with you he did not find you. Now, where have you been?”
“Oh Jane, you must help me. He must never know. I have been at the gypsy camp.”
“The gypsy camp?” Her tone was incredulous. “Why the gypsy camp? What have you done?” She gasped. “The gypsy dancer. You have fallen in love with the gypsy dancer. Oh Elizabeth, whatever will you do? Father will send you away.”
“He will do worse than send me away. He will send me to the royal court and I will never see Diego again. I love him, Jane.”
The younger girl covered her ears with her hands. “No. Do not make me a part of your charade. I will not alibi you, sister.” Her eyes grew round and her mouth hung open. “Has he touched you,” she whispered. “Have you given him your maiden-head?”
Casting my eyes to the ground, I nodded my head yes.
“Oh my Lord. What will Father do to you? What have you done? Can you be with child?”
“I do not know.”
Sounds of feet stomping on the stones of the great hallway making haste toward our chamber caught my attention. “They come, silly girl. What will you do now?”
“Oh Jane, I know not.” I hid my face in my hands as I sank to the hard stone floor. “I know not.”
The door burst open. My father yanked me from the floor, slapping me hard on my face. I had never been touched except in love and my heart was crushed with the blow.
“I know where you have been,” he roared. “It is over. Their wagons are burned. They are turned off this land and if I see another gypsy they know I will strike him dead.” He threw her on the bed. “Gather your things. You go to court in the morning, position or no. You are no longer welcome in this house. You are a disgrace to me.” He spun on his heel, slamming the great door behind him.
I crumpled into a ball of sorrow and shame. My sister left me quietly to sob into the pillows of her virgin bed.
Tears poured from Sarah’s eyes as Bonnie slowly brought her back to real time. She stared blankly at the ceiling as Bonnie handed her a damp towel to wipe her face. “Come on honey, sit up and have a sip of water. You’ll feel better in a minute.”
Sarah swung her legs off the recliner, placing her feet flat on the floor. She was silent for many minutes before she spoke.
“Good heavens, Bonnie, what was that?”
“That, my friend, was a past life regression lived like reality.”
“I need some time to digest this, Bon. I think I’ll go home and we can discuss it next week. Is that alright with you?”
“Perfectly. Just be careful going home and if you need me for anything, call me. I’ll be close to the phone.”
Sarah stood, hugging her friend good-by. Buttoning her coat, she silently left the office.
CHAPTER 14
Curled on her sofa, the ritual mug of evening tea steaming in her hand, Sarah prepared to write in her journal. What in the world happened to her? Her session with Bonnie had been astonishing. She had fully expected to return in her mind’s eye as Elizabeth Wyatt, to meet and love Aris at Henry’s court, but a concubine for a wild, Spanish gypsy? Never would she have dreamed such a thing. Yet she did. Her whole body flushed white hot as she remembered it again. The passion of her dream. Never had she remembered there being such passion in her present life, such yearning. What in hell could it all mean?
Writing in her journal became a task that was impossible. Her mind was too wild and out of order to make one word follow another into even a semblance of a complete thought.
“Bed. Sleep. Tomorrow morning it will all make more sense.” Methodically running water into her mug then turning it upside-down in the sink, Sarah made for her bedroom.
As she clicked on the light, she caught sight of a blood red rose, once again on her pillow. “Enough! He promised!” Furious hands reached for the telephone as she dialed Aris.
After two rings she heard his voice. Without a greeting she began. “What the hell are you doing? You gave me your word you wouldn’t sneak into my room again and you did it tonight. With me sitting right in the living room.”
His tone was shocked. “What are you talking about, Sarah?”
“You and your nighttime climbing up the side of my building. The red rose on my pillow. You gave me your word.”
“Sarah, calm down. Just calm down. I have not been in your home without invitation since the first time I came back to your office. And, I never left a red rose on your pillow.”
She gasped, then all was silent.
“Sarah, what is it? What has happened?”
“I don’t know. This is the second time it’s happened. I go into my bedroom and there’s a long stemmed rose on my pillow. I checked with security the first time and they didn’t show a record of anyone coming upstairs so I assumed it was you. You said you had been here without my knowing.”
“Yes, at the very start of my life as Carlos. To be close to you while you slept. I never came when you were not there. Are you in the apartment right now?”
“Yes.”
“Get your keys and leave. Go to the lobby and wait for me. I am on my way. Take your cell phone wit
h you. Leave that apartment this instant.”
“I’m in my pajamas.”
“I do not care if you are naked, leave the apartment now, lock the door and wait for me in the lobby. I will be there as soon as I possibly can be.” She could hear the rustle of him getting into his jacket and closing his door. “Do it now, Sarah, do you hear? Now.”
Quickly she changed into the sweats lying on the chair by the bed. She rushed out the door. Shaking, she entered the elevator, watching the door close behind her.
“Tom,” her voice was shaking as she spoke to the security guard behind the desk. “Has there been anyone asking for me this evening?”
“No, Miss Hagan. No one I know of.”
“Someone has been in my apartment without my knowledge.” She took a few deep breaths to regain control of herself before she continued. “Is it possible to see the footage from the security cameras.” As a full security building, there were cameras trained on all the entrances and exits of the building at all times.
“I don’t know how it’s possible for someone to get past me. I was here all evening, Miss, but I’ll call my supervisor right away and get the okay to check the camera footage. You want to just stay here until I get someone to go through your apartment and make sure it’s safe?”
“Yes.” She shivered, not because she was cold. She was very frightened. “Yes, I’ll wait here. I have a friend coming over to stay with me but until then, I’ll just sit in the corner there and wait.” She pointed to the grouping of chairs near the elevators.
“I’ll get you some water.”
“No, Tom. I’d feel better if you just stayed within view until my friend gets here if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, Miss Hagan. Not at all.” He helped her settle into a comfortable chair.
She felt a little more calm as she sat in the well-lit lobby with the well-muscled security man standing close to her. She would feel much more secure when Aris arrived and they figured out who or what had been in her apartment. She grinned sardonically at her thoughts. What kind of convoluted world did she live in where she felt less danger in the presence of the undead than she did alone? There was no sane answer to the question. Time seemed to stand still as she waited.
Aris Rising: The Court of Vampires: AN INFINITY DIARIES NOVEL Page 6