Aris Returns

by Devin Morgan

  “Who are you?” The man’s words had a foreign ring yet I was able to understand his meaning. He was tall and fair, his build lean and strong. He was clothed in rich velvet that spoke of the court.

  I moved from behind the building and spoke. “I am Aris. I come from the Holy Roman Emperor.” As the sun sank lower, I was able to better see them. Each of them was beautiful to me in a way that was almost too perfect to be human. “And who are you?” They stood still at my question.

  The woman spoke to me. “I am Gabriela.” She too was lean and tall. She was dark with thick deep curls that touched her waist. Her dark blue velvet frock was torn and soiled yet she carried herself as if she were stepping into the royal audience chamber. In my eyes at that moment, her beauty overshadowed that of the setting sun. Nodding her head toward the tall, fair haired man, she spoke one word, “Richard.” Her native tongue was the same as the court of Madrid. “And what is one of our own kind doing riding in the guise of the Emperor?”

  “And what kind are we?” I heard the challenge in my voice, speaking just as the crown of the sun sank beneath the plane of the earth and a round, full moon peeked its crest on the opposite horizon behind a distant hill.

  “Ah Aris, we are one and the same. Do you not know?” Her voice was questioning as they moved once again, drawing closer to me. They moved evenly and smoothly over the garden rows, traveling through the rough dirt as if skimming along over a smooth marble floor.

  The woman searched my face. The man stood quietly next to her. When she spoke her words were soft, rolling from her tongue as a wave rolls onto a distant shore. Her words etched themselves into my mind, “We are the undead.” She turned and the moon illuminated her face. The silver light cast ghastly shadows. She no longer seemed beautiful. Her eyes appeared black as pitch, holes in the white, bleached skeleton of a death’s head. “Do you not know what you are? Where do you come from?” She stood motionless as an alabaster statue, waiting for my answer.

  “I come from a time long ago and a distant land. I have been the only one of my kind I have known since I came to being.” As I answered her, I felt something akin to relief. I was not alone. There was more of my kind. Each one of us wants to know there are others out there. Each one of us searches for our mates, much as you humans do, Sarah.”

  She jumped at his words. Her reality had become sixteenth century. Now, suddenly, he was here, with her, in the twenty first century lying on a reclining chair in her office.

  “Mates?” She thought about his question. “Yes, I suppose we all want to find our own kind and yes, I suppose we all hope to find our soulmates.” Shifting in her chair, she leaned closer to him. She dismissed his return to present time, “Now, please, go on. What happened with Gabriela and Richard?”

  Worried that my men would grow concerned for me and come searching, I took my leave of them with a promise to meet in the church later when all were sleeping in my camp.

  I rode slowly back, fighting the hunger that ravaged my very soul. Suddenly, a deer ran across my path. I leaped from my horse to catch the creature. Its life blood quenched my thirst and, for the time being, soothed the deeper hunger for human blood. I arrived at the encampment just in time; a group of soldiers were being dispatched in search of me.

  I assured them of my safety. We settled in for the night and ate a poor meal of small ale and bread. With full stomachs yet not satisfied, they stretched out in the soft dirt around the night fires. One by one, they slept.

  When I was sure they would not awaken, I crept away. Leaving my horse tethered with the rest, I moved out on foot. Once away from the sleeping soldiers, I began to run. Covering ground on foot more rapidly than riding my horse, I was at the church before the moon was straight up in the sky. The bright light flooded the courtyard, shining in the small door and window of the sanctuary.

  Suddenly a shadow stepped into the light, then another. Richard and Gabriela joined me and we walked together.

  I was full of questions. Where had they come from? When? Were there others? As they told me their story, a strange sense of peace filled me as I learned there were many of my kind.

  Richard had been a lord in charge of an envoy from the English King to meet with the Emperor. King Henry was seeking an annulment of his marriage to Katherine. Because the Spanish emperor was her nephew, Henry hoped her relative would use his influence with her to aid in convincing her to join a convent. Charles was incensed by the request and sent the envoy back to England. The court was full of rumors about the outcome.

  While the English guard was in Madrid, Richard met Gabriela. They were drawn to one another and became lovers. When the envoy traveled back to England, Richard stayed behind with her. They suffered many trials but at last, he was accepted into the Spanish court.

  One night when they met in the Emperor’s gardens for a lovers’ tryst, they were set upon by two of our kind.. Knocked unconscious, they were dragged deep into the surrounding forest. It was there they were changed. They joined their first coven and it was from that coven they were running when I happened upon them in the monastery garden.

  ‘No more than beasts’ was the way Richard described his first vampire family. Frightening and dull of mind, they attacked without thought of capture. Gabriela was terrified the humans would learn of their presence and destroy them all. Her fear grew until it came to fruition. The guard found one of the coven in the palace. Knowing the legends of the vampires, the captain of the guard dispensed soldiers into the forest to find them and wipe them out.

  Richard was hunting when he came across the soldiers’ camp and heard them speak of their mission. Frightened of discovery, he hurried to find Gabriela and take her to safety. He knew where they would go.

  Several weeks before; a traveler from a distant coven stopped at their forest home. He told them of an advanced group of vampires that lived in the Catacombs under the streets of London. The couple was intrigued at the thought of a more intellectual life. They wondered if they should leave Spain to travel to the Catacombs. After hearing the soldiers, Richard made his decision. He and Gabriela would return to his home, his England, to seek the British coven and some semblance of a better life.

  They were on their way to the sea to find a ship that would carry them to his home country when they stumbled onto the monastery. The monks were drunk and cavorting with a woman when the two vampires found them. They drained the woman and one of the monks, the other was half dead of fright and unable to move or speak. He rolled into a tight ball and there he lay still, shivering in the garden behind the monastery. Sensing my hunger, they offered him to me. I moved quietly, under the full moon to fulfill my blood lust.

  She gasped as Carlos turned his head toward her and opened his eyes. “I will leave you now, Sarah. Leave you to this young man.”

  His eyes closed and his head rolled back onto the soft cushion of the chair.

  When she brought him back into real time, he sat up, stretching his arms over his head. “Well, that’s enough for one day.”

  “Wouldn’t you like to discuss the session Carlos?”

  “No, not today. I’m done.” He zipped his sweatshirt and moved toward the door.

  “Carlos, what’s wrong? Is it the same thing you mentioned at Colleen and Bill’s party? Your old gang?”

  “I told you Sarah, nothing’s wrong. Why can’t you let it alone? I said I’m done. See you next Friday.” He slammed the door behind him.

  #

  Daylight streaming through her office window awakened her. She must have fallen asleep sitting in her recliner with her laptop on her lap. The battery obviously died while she slept because the screen was dead.

  “Just like I feel.” She closed the computer, placing it on the chair next to her. She stretched a little. Rubbing her eyes, she spoke out loud to no one. “Is this all just one big bad dream? None of this can be real, can it?” Standing, she carried her computer to her desk and plugged it into the outlet.

  She turned her chair to
face the window, sat down and stared out into the bleak, cloud-filled day. “What is going on? I have to deal with both a present day parolee and a vampire from the sixteenth century. I’m not sure what to do with either of them.”

  She stared at the city until she heard sounds coming from the outer office. It was one of Maggie’s days to work. “At least I’ll get some decent coffee.” She turned from the window, waiting.

  The door opened and Maggie stepped into the room. “Hey boss.” She stopped short. “Wow! You look awful.”

  “Why thank you. You sure know how to start out my day with a bang. Did you bring coffee?”

  “Yeah. Right here.” She handed Sarah a large steaming cardboard cup. “No milk, two sugars. Didn’t you go home last night?”

  Sarah took a sip of the hot black liquid. Her mouth puckered. “This tastes like battery acid.”

  “Maybe I forgot the sugars. Did you work all night?”

  “Until I fell asleep, yeah.”

  “Gorgeous Havarro again.”

  “Back off, Maggie.” Her voice was harsh, angry.

  Maggie looked startled and sheepish. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re just so involved in his case.” She paused for just a breath. She smiled. “And he is gorgeous.”

  “I’m sorry too, Maggie.” She touched her assistant’s arm in apology. “I’m just awfully tired and this thing has got me puzzled.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “No. Not right now. What I want is to go home. I need a long, hot shower. Do I have anybody this morning?”

  “You’re free until one thirty.” She stepped closer to Sarah, looking deeply into her eyes. “Why don’t you go? After your shower, take a short nap. It’ll do you good. You have Mrs. Grossman this afternoon. She always wears you out even when you aren’t tired.”

  Sarah looked at her watch. “I think I will. Hold down the fort and call me on my cell if anything important happens. Otherwise, I’ll be back at one.”

  She took her trench coat from the coat tree by her door, picked up her bag, waved to her secretary then made her way to the elevator and her bed. “I hope to hell I don’t have any daymares. I’ve had about all I can take for a while.”

  CHAPTER 17

  The office phone rang once and stopped as Maggie answered. Sarah’s office door opened and Maggie stepped inside, her forehead puckered, a disbelieving look on her face. “Sarah, its Jeff.”

  “Jeff? My ex-husband?”

  “Yep. The same. Do you want to take the call?”

  “Yes. It can’t be good.” She reached to pick up the receiver.

  “Jeff, what can I do for you?” Sarah sat at her desk, her back to the door as she looked out her window. A cool, spring rain fell in gentle drops across the city. Strange, her ex hadn’t contacted her personally in months. It was usually his attorneys who did all the communicating.

  “It was great to see you at Bob and Colleen’s party. You look happy. I’m glad to see that.” His tone was light, conversational.

  “Thanks Jeff. What is it that you want?”

  “Will you have lunch with me this week?” His words were tentative, almost pleading, so different than his usual brusque manner. “Any day you’re free?”

  “What in the world for?” She answered without thinking, her voice sharp and tight.

  “Look, I just want to talk to you. I’m having some personal problems and you know me better than anyone.”

  “Jeff, you have a wife. She should be the one helping you with your personal problems. Not me.” Her tone was flat, to the point.

  “Sarah, give me a break. We were partners for a long, long time. I need some advice and I don’t know who else to talk to.”

  Sarah sighed into the phone. “Okay but there’s no need to meet for lunch. You don’t have to bribe me.” She swung her chair around to face her desk. She picked up a pen and began doodling infinity signs on the yellow pad resting in front of her. “What’s the matter?”

  “Well, it’s a little embarrassing.”

  “Okay.”

  “It’s Susan.”

  “Susan? You’re coming to me with problems about Susan?” She stopped doodling. She couldn’t believe her ears, her shock audible. “Don’t you think that’s a little off the wall?”

  “Maybe, but I don’t know who else to talk to.”

  “Look Jeff, you always were insensitive, but this is unbelievable. Take your Susan problems to a shrink or a lawyer, not to your ex-wife.” She didn’t bother to hide her exasperation. “Are you out of your mind?”

  “But you’re a therapist.” Again, the pleading tone.

  “Sorry but this is way out of the line of my expertise.” She laid her pen on the desk. “Listen, good luck and have a nice day.”

  Shaking her head in disbelief, she hung up the phone. “Boy, I am so grateful to be out of that one.” She sighed. “Unbelievable.”

  #

  “Carlos didn’t show up for his last session and I’m worried.” The restaurant was noisy. Maggie leaned closer to hear Sarah speak. “I can’t figure it out.”

  “He has been consistent up until now. What do you think happened?” Her assistant spoke as she poured all three small cardboard containers of blue cheese dressing on the lettuce and tomato left in her plate “I hate eating rabbit food.” She used her spoon to scrape the last drops of the dressing onto the remnants of her salad. “Did you ever notice the first three letters of the word diet spell die?”

  Sarah smiled at her friend but her thoughts sobered quickly. “I don’t know what’s going on with him and that’s part of what has me worried. He’s been so up front with me. Now, nothing.” Sarah wondered if she should tell Maggie about their conversation at Colleen’s party. “I’m not sure what to do?”

  “Did you contact the half-way house?”

  “Yeah. He goes there to sleep at night and he hasn’t missed a day on his job. I’ve left messages both places but he hasn’t returned my calls.” She moved her half eaten salad from in front of her. “I don’t want to push him by showing up there and I don’t want to bring Colleen into this because I don’t want to cause him any trouble. But, I don’t know how else to get in contact with him. I just don’t know what’s going on.”

  “We have his parents’ address in his file. Maybe if you go there, you can find out something.”

  “I hate to intrude but I think you’re right. If he doesn’t come to session on Friday, I’ll call them.” She had never done anything remotely like this before, but she was determined not to lose Carlos and his progress back to the streets.

  Maggie finished her salad and buttered the last piece of bread.

  #

  The neighborhood where Carlos’ parents lived was quiet and full of budding spring flowers. Many trees and shrubs lined the well-kept parkway and some of the driveways had children’s toys scattered in them. Sarah took her time as she parked. She got out of her car, locked the door and stood for a moment looking at the front of the house. An old fashioned swing attached by chains at one end of the wooden porch seemed inviting. She walked slowly, climbing the few steps to the door.

  A lovely middle-aged woman answered. Her black hair was cut short, sprinkled with silver highlights. “Mrs. Havarro?”

  “You must be Miss Hagan, please, come in.” She opened the door wider, stepping back, beckoning her guest into the entrance foyer. “You may call me Isabella.”

  “Please, call me Sarah.” She stepped inside. “Thank you for taking my phone call this morning, for seeing me on such short notice.”

  The tiny reception hall opened into a comfortable living room. Two large soft beige sofas sat across from one another in front of a small stone fireplace. A glass coffee table stood between them and a tea set rested in the center of it. Isabella took Sarah’s jacket. She laid it carefully across a chair arm.

  “Would you like a cup of peppermint tea? I just brewed it.” Isabella motioned Sarah to sit across from her. She poured the tea in
to small china cups. “I enjoy tea in the afternoon. It gives me a moment to sit down and relax before my husband comes home from work.”

  “You have a lovely home.” Sarah sipped the warm, refreshing liquid offered to her.

  “Mrs. Havarro. Isabella. As you know I have been seeing Carlos for some months now. We have made a great deal of progress.”

  “I know. When I visit him I see the changes in him. He respects you very much.” She had a quizzical look in her eyes, wondering why Sarah had asked to see her.

  “Well, for the last few weeks, he hasn’t come to his sessions. I haven’t been able to reach him and I’m concerned.”

  “Oh? I didn’t know. I have seen him. He seems fine.” She placed her cup and saucer on the table. “He is working. He is more settled at the half-way house.” She smiled an embarrassed smile. “I wish he would come home, but he and his father have some trouble.”

  “Yes, I know.” She looked down at her lap then met the older woman’s eyes. “My concern is that he might be drifting back to some of his old habits.”

  “No. I am sure he is not.”

  They heard the front door open. A tall, handsome, gray-haired man entered the room. He wore a dark suit and carried a briefcase.

  Isabella looked frightened. “Fernando, you are home early.” She gestured toward Sarah. “This is Sarah Hagan. Sarah, please meet my husband.” Isabella’s voice quivered slightly. “Fernando, she is here to talk about Carlos.”

  Violently, he slammed the briefcase into the chair by the door. “What has your miserable son done now?”

  Sarah spoke quickly, “Nothing, Mr. Havarro. I just wanted to make a family visit. I’m his therapist.”

  “Therapist, that bum needs jail.” He turned, stomping from the room.