by Jane Jordan
“You are cold, we should go into the church.”
We entered through the ancient door and I instantly felt warmer as the thick stone walls kept the cold breeze at bay. It was very dark, for within the last few moments the moonlight had become shrouded by thick cloud. The small windows did not allow much outside light to penetrate the building and I could barely see in front of me.
“Stay here,” Darius instructed as he left my side and I watched his black silhouette move beneath the metal chandelier. He reached up and released the chain that bound it and lowered it slowly which enabled him to light the candles, and then he secured the chandelier in place again. The church was instantly illuminated with dozens of flickering shadows that danced their way across the stone walls.
Darius took my hand again and we walked silently through the church, until we came to a stop in front of the altar with its long table. It was deathly silent, as the thick stone walls allowed no noise from the outside world. In this ancient building, in this remote place it was as though we were the only two beings in the entire world. Darius turned to me.
“If only I were mortal, I would have married you in this very church.” I stared at him, and caught up in the intensity of the moment I heard my voice tremble as I spoke.
“There is nothing in heaven or earth that can keep us apart. I have opened my mind to understand and accept your being. I would marry you, mortal or immortal, it is of no consequence and I do not need a priest or piece of paper to make a marriage vow to you.”
The chill I had felt in the air disappeared and was replaced with an intense feeling of heat. As I looked at him, I was more certain of this than anything else.
“Darius, I will take you to be my husband for now and forever and nothing shall keep me from you.” As he looked back at me his beautiful vivid eyes hypnotized my mind, leaving his soft sultry voice to appeal to any remaining senses. I heard him utter the next words:
“Madeline, I take you to be my beloved wife, my mortal love, for when your life is over mine shall cease also.”
Darius pulled me into his arms and kissed me with such intensity that it took my breath away, but I responded, clinging to him with every ounce of my being. As we stood with our bodies entwined, his chilled lips only gave me moderate cause for concern. His sensual kiss moved slowly further down to my neck and then to my throat and suddenly I felt him freeze. He released me instantly and I looked up at him in shock, his eyes belied a glowing dark intensity. I drew my breath in a half stifled gasp and stepped back from him, suddenly afraid.
He hadn’t fed.
“Darius?”
“Stay here” he whispered darkly and he was already out the door. I was alone in the church. The warm tears were running down my face and I instinctively put my hand to my neck. He had not been out for two nights and now he needed blood. Caught up in the emotions of what we had just done, the vow we had just made, he had let his guard down and allowed an inner instinct to take over. I had come very close to being infected tonight.
Now, I thought about the words he had said to me all those months ago, that it was inevitable. Was it? No, I couldn’t think like that. Darius could control it, he would control it.
Minutes passed and somewhere in the distance I heard an animal scream, the sort of terrifying noise an animal makes when it is suddenly aware of its own imminent death. I sat down on the pew for support. Some wedding! I thought bitterly, but I could not blame Darius and whatever poor creature had died out there tonight, it had died so that I might live.
I waited for forty minutes or so, before the church door opened. Darius silently came to me, his composure was normal and the darkness in his eyes was quietened, but he had a grave look on his face.
“Forgive me Madeline, I should not touch you when I am so cold.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” I said taking his hand and noting that it was now warm. He looked into my eyes imploring me with his own. I felt his anguish, but I smiled reassuringly back at him.
“Madeline,” he hesitated briefly. “Can you really live like this?”
“Yes, I meant those words,” I readily replied. “I am just as compelled to you now as ever and it would be incomprehensible for me to imagine a life without you. Besides, I thought that you would never let me go?” he smiled at me.
“No . . . I could not bear to let you go . . . not now,” he concluded. I glanced up at him fixing him with a determined look.
“And I am not afraid,” I said, and turned. I pulled him to the front of the church, and removed my jacket and spread it out on the alter table. Then I turned back to him and began to unbutton his clothes, his hand covered mine, making me look up at him.
“Madeline what are you doing?” he asked with a small amount of surprise mixed with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“I thought that it was obvious,” I said innocently. “We just got married didn’t’t we? We have to consummate the marriage.”
“What, here?” I detected the faint shock in his voice.
“Why not?” I said provocatively, “Or do you think it inappropriate and me sinful because of it?” He shook his head.
“Whatever sin you think you might commit, it can be no greater than my own,” he
remarked as he lifted me in his arms and placed me on top of the altar table. He pressed me firmly to him and then I cast aside my own clothes, allowing the heat from his body to replace the warmth of their fabric. I pulled at his remaining clothes still in pursuit of my own desire. He did not resist, instead he responded with his own seductive touch that enticed me further. As our kiss became more passionate, I tried to ignore the faint taste of blood in his mouth. Then as I relinquished myself entirely, I completely forgot about that metallic taste of only moments before.
The ancient table groaned under our amorous passion, until we at last became still, but we remained on our impromptu marital bed, unconcerned by our surroundings, I was bound to him body and soul, for he was now my husband.
Chapter Twenty Two - A Journey into the Night.
A month had passed since that fateful night in the church and I knew Darius would be leaving for the city any day now; it had been nearly two weeks since his last trip. I was sitting in the library when Darius came in, I rose from the desk and studied him subtly, his disposition was calm.
“Darius, can I come to London with you?” His gaze showed no immediate expression, but shifted slowly from me and rested on the bookcases, as though he were preoccupied. He remained silent for a few moments.
“With you in the city, it could be dangerous for me,” he remarked at last.
“Why?” I could not hide the surprise in my voice. Darius moved closer to me, he hesitated for a long moment.
“I can disappear easily, dissolve into the shadows and you cannot. I have no interest in mundane things like shops and restaurants, and with you needing to participate in a normal life, it could draw attention to me.” I felt a little bit resentful that he thought I wanted to go shopping and not just be by his side.
“I am not incapable of doings things on my own during the day, and we don’t have to be in public together. Besides, I would not draw attention to you and you forget that I have lived in the city -- I know how to take care of myself.” I stopped talking. His demeanour he changing, then without warning he became threatening.
“Do you want to see him, is that it?” he suddenly levelled at me.
“Who are you talking about?” I said, bewildered by his unexpected attitude.
“The boyfriend!” His eyes narrowed and there was venom in his voice. “I do not want you in the city, with or without me, do not argue with me!”
I stared at him in amazement, shocked at his accusation and obvious jealous thoughts, but I knew this situation could easily get out of hand if I was not careful. But it upset me to realise that if Darius believed I wanted to see Charlie -- he would kill him! But I was hurt by his words, and disregarding the warnings in my head, and his venomous manner, I snap
ped back at him angrily, provoking his anger further.
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit possessive? And it’s got nothing to do with anyone else. I can go to the city if I want to and you cannot stop me.” I caught my breath, he was angry now.
“You wanted this life, Madeline, here with me,” he snarled taking a step towards me. “You didn’t’t want to be in the city. Remember? And I could and would stop you!” He glared at me for a few seconds and then turned, making it clear that he did not wish to continue this conversation. I could feel my blood rising, but I willed myself to calm down.
“Darius you know that I only want to be with you, I don’t care about shops and I do not intend to see Charlie again, if that is what you are really concerned about.” He did not move. “I want to be in all of your life. You have all of mine, but I feel as though I only know a part of yours.” Darius’s dark mood subsided a little and he turned back to me.
“A good part, Madeline. Here at Ravens Deep is the life I want to have with you. You know there is a part you cannot have -- the darkest part. I do not want to share that with you,” he said in a gentler tone. “You are right, I am possessive, but now you are mine I have a right to that possessiveness.”
“Darius, what you do, here or in the city, it makes no difference to me, but I hate it when you leave me, I feel empty without you. Don’t you feel the same, when you are away from me?” Darius was close now, his hand moved lightly around my waist, but his expression was full of sorrow.
“I agonize over leaving you every time, but I must, it is how I am able to be with
you. You know my hunger is less these days, but it still persists. My excursions into the city allow that need to be fulfilled completely, and away from you my conscience is diminished, here is the light, the good part of my existence, and I long for it whenever I am gone” he replied quietly.
“It makes no difference to me,” I said, imploring him with my most endearing tone. “Please, Darius let me come, that part of your life can be better too. I want to see the museum and all the things you have told me of, the objects you have collected. Let me be a part of that life too.” I repeated earnestly. He sighed, resigning himself, I thought, to the fact that he was defeated by my logic.
“You know I would not deny you anything that would make you happy.” He remarked, as his embrace tightened fractionally. “If you come with me, you will do as I say, stay by my side and there will be no excursions into the city on your own.” His eyes narrowed. “I do not want you seeing anyone,” he concluded sharply.
I a little taken aback, but I thought that Darius probably meant Charlie when he emphasized anyone, so I nodded in agreement.
“I only want to be with you, Darius,” I said happily.
“Madeline if you break your promise to me this time, I will not let you leave here
again!” he said abruptly, making his warning clear, and startling me by his attempt at intimidation.
“Stop threatening me!”
“Why?” he snapped back at me coldly. “I give you life here with me and peace for what life it is, and yet you persist in seeking something more. A side of me you may not care to witness. I wish you could save me from the darkness and awaken me from this torturous life. I wish I could really become something more than this . . . this nothing that I am.”
“Darius, you are not nothing,” I said, trying to sound calm although his words were beginning to frighten me. “As you exist now is the person I fell in love with, demon or angel it makes no difference. It is what it is, neither of us can change that fact.” I hesitated for a moment. “You see me as a danger to you away from here, but that is not true, you must know by now that I would never betray you. I love you more than life itself, more than anything.” Darius’s eyes softened and after a moment he pulled me close to him.
“I do know,” he said softly, “but my conflict is at times unbearable. My love for
you is as strong as my instinct, my hunger for blood. You are not aware of the moral dilemma I face every time I take a life. Once it did not matter to me, but now each time I commit the act, I question myself: what if this was Madeline? I am tormented by you, because of my love for you,” he said sadly. I was distraught at his words, his hands fell away from my body and I sat on the edge of the desk. Darius ran his fingers through his hair, he seemed as upset as I was, and took a couple of steps to the window. He stood unmoving, staring out into the darkness, for several minutes.
“Would it end your torment or give you peace if I left you?” Even as I began to speak the words, my heart pounded painfully, and I felt a growing sickness in my stomach at the very thought of leaving him.
“No!” he said, turning towards me. “You cannot leave me now, and you know I would not let you go. It is my burden, I will bear any torment for you, because you saved me from the dark and let light into my life. You made it possible for me to live again and to feel alive.”
“Then let me in -- let me be in all of your life,” I whispered. Darius studied my face.
“Come here,” he said. My eyes never left his. I left the desk and moved into his arms, and he bent down to kiss me. He was irresistible, our earlier argument felt as if it never happened.
“I travel to London tonight, you can come if you keep your promise.”
“I will keep my promise Darius,” I murmured softly.
* * *
I quickly packed a small bag with essential items and some food and drink, as I knew Darius would have nothing at the museum and if he did not let me out of his sight, then buying anything was going to be difficult. I brushed that thought aside and hurried with my packing in case he should change his mind. But he was calm and seemed resigned to the fact that I would accompany him tonight. I wondered about his sudden rages, and thought about the words I had spoken earlier. At times I did feel as though I was living with a demon and an angel, both beings could be apparent to me within a matter of minutes. It seemed to me that being un-dead was a constant conflict of good and evil. For within the good there was love, peace and beauty, but on the other side was a dark, possessive, jealously and of course, death. Darius didn’t’t often show the latter to me, but when he did it was powerful and all consuming. I reminded myself that I should try harder not invoke his rage, for my own sake.
It was a bittersweet emotion as we locked the door to Ravens Deep. It really had become a meaningful home and I was sad to leave even for a short time. But the brief sorrow was replaced with the excitement of going to the city for a few days with Darius, and to be able to see all the things in the museum that he had talked about so often. I wondered how long it would take us to walk to his car, as Beaconmayes was four miles away and it was dark. We closed the garden gate, but instead of leading me along the woodland path, where I imagined the shortcut existed, Darius headed through the hedge in the opposite direction.
“Where are we going?” I asked. Taking my hand he pulled me after him.
“To the farm,” he replied. “I had to mislead you before,” he smiled, “it was for your own good. You will see,” he said mysteriously.
We worked our way down the rough path for several minutes and then we were suddenly standing before an old derelict farmhouse. It was little wonder I had never seen it before, over the years it had been concealed with mature encroaching woodland. Even through the darkness I could see that it must have been a sizable house at one time. To the side of the ruined house, stood a large barn in seemingly good condition. I could see a gravel road ran behind the farm and disappeared into the trees.
Darius turned to me and I detected the amusement in his voice.
“Did you really think that I would walk four miles every time I needed to get to my car?” I ignored his amusement and the question, realising how gullible I had been.
“Where does it lead to?” I asked.
“It continues for about a mile, before meeting up with the main road. This road runs out and becomes grass as it rounds a corner, which conceals it com
pletely from view. There is a gate and an electrified fence that is connected between the trees. To any casual onlooker it looks like a foreboding entrance into an overgrown field. I had the electricity run up here decades ago and I connected it to the house.” Seeing my look of astonishment, he remarked, “I have told you that in eternity you have the time to learn all sorts of skills.”
“But wasn’t that incredibly dangerous?” I asked, still amazed by this revelation. Darius laughed at me.
“Maybe, but what’s the worst thing that could have happened to me? It couldn’t’t kill me, unless I erupted in flames,” he remarked dryly.
We reached the front of the barn and Darius unlocked the padlock and threw open the double doors. There before me stood Darius’s car. I stood in awe, stunned by its age old elegance and style. The paint-work shone even in the darkness and shadows of the barn. It was the colour of midnight and it gave me the feeling of having both a sinister and regal quality. I could just imagine a car like this prowling through the desolate moors in the dead of night, hauntingly beautiful and ghostly. Its image evoked another time -- an archaic era. A car like this would have a history.
“What is it?” I asked turning towards Darius.
“A 1939 Rolls Royce Wraith,” he said, watching my reaction to his obvious beloved possession. He walked to my side.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a car like this before, only perhaps in a movie,” I said as Darius opened the passenger door for me.
“There were only 491 produced and many of them are owned by collectors. I have owned this one from new.” He looked at me and remarked, “Its only history is with me.” I looked inside, it was a beautiful symphony of wood, leather and chrome.
“It’s beautiful,” I said admiringly, and then I turned to look at him and added, “I could not imagine you driving anything else, it’s so you!” He smiled at me as I climbed into the passenger seat. The leather was cool against my skin and it really was in immaculate condition. I imagined it looked exactly like this when it came from the factory.