by Devin Morgan
“Hi.” She was careful not to sound too eager. They hadn’t spoken outside of session since the incident and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
“Hi.” She heard him take a deep breath as she crossed the street. When he spoke, he stammered. “Look, I . . . Silence as she waited for him to finish his sentence. “I want you to know that what happened at your apartment will never happen again. Your friendship means more to me than anything.”
“I understand. Me too.” She smiled, “God, I feel so much better just talking to you.”
“I know. Lately, since . . . well, you know, I don’t even feel like I’m at the session. It feels like it’s just you and the vamp.” He took another deep breath. “And I don’t like it. So, let’s just be what we have been all along.”
“Friends?”
“More. Family.” His words were soft and sincere.
“Sounds good to me.” She entered her apartment building, waving at the doorman as she crossed the lobby. “I just got home and I’m getting in the elevator. I’m going to lose you in a minute.”
“You’ll never lose me.” She was left with empty air waves as the elevator door closed.
CHAPTER 26
“Is Miss Hagan in the office today?”
“This is Miss Hagan. Isabella?” She asked into the receiver.
“Yes, Miss Hagan.” The voice on the other end sounded frightened and desperate.
“Please Isabella, do call me Sarah. What’s the matter?” She controlled her anxiety when she spoke. “What’s happened?”
“My son, Javier, didn’t come home last night. This morning I found him drunk and drugged on my front lawn. I got him to his room while my husband was taking a shower. I shut his door and pretended he was there all night.
“After my husband left, I went to his room. He was being sick in his bathroom. I helped him to bed. He is there now, sleeping.” She held in a sob. “Sarah, what can I do? I don’t know what to do. I know those bad friends of Carlos had my son.”
“They are no friends of Carlos, Isabella. Stay with Javier and I’ll have Carlos talk to him. Everything will be just fine. We’ll take care of it.”
“I hope so, Sarah, I hope so.”
#
“I just told him, they weren’t my friends and that he should hang with guys in his class and not these older guys. We talked for a long time. I think he understands.” He picked up his coffee mug, draining the cup. The new young waitress at Saul’s filled it immediately with a big smile, but Carlos didn’t even notice.
“Sarah, I don’t know what to do. I can’t go back. I just can’t but I can’t let my brother be hurt either.” He placed his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. After a moment, he looked up. “What should I do?”
“I think it’s time we talk to Colleen. I won’t do it unless you say it’s okay but she is on your side.” To buy time to think, she took a bite of toast, chewed and swallowed. “So is Bob.”
“That isn’t the answer. The cops will just make them mad, then who knows what they’ll do.”
Sarah pushed her breakfast away, signaling the waitress to take her plate. “Colleen can help us. I know she can.”
“No, I don’t want the cops involved. Not yet. As my shrink you can’t tell them anything if I don’t say it’s okay, right?”
“Carlos,” she began to speak.
“No Sarah, it’s a done deal. Are you ready?” He stood holding out his hand to help her from the booth. He picked up the check. “I got this one.”
#
The drive to Starved Rock State Park was beautiful. The recent rainfall made the trees and the grasses along the road so green they were almost blue.
The car windows were down and the breeze ruffled Colleen’s spiked hair, making it look like the dark fur of a forest animal. It was a perfect day for a hike, warm but with a breeze and almost no humidity. A classical song Sarah liked was playing on the radio. She tried to remember the name of the composer but she couldn’t recall who it was.
As she turned her head to ask Colleen, Colleen spoke first. “So what’s up with Carlos?” She kept her eyes on the road, waiting for her friend to answer.
“Nothing. And I guess everything. You know we do sessions regularly. I think we’re making progress.” She watched her words. She wondered how much Colleen really knew or guessed. “No, I know he’s definitely making progress. He’s doing everything possible to keep his life clean.”
“Yeah, I know.” She glanced at Sarah, then into the rear view mirror and back to the road. “If you know anything I should know, please tell me.” The trees whizzed past, their trunks black against the bright green foliage. “I want to help him too.”
“I don’t quite know what you mean.” Sarah was evasive. She knew it was obvious.
“Just don’t keep things from me trying to protect him. It’ll take a village to keep that guy out of trouble. And I’m a part of his tribe.”
“I know you are.” She turned to look out the window. “I know you are.”
#
They sat comfortably across from one another, her desk between them. “Carlos, have you heard anything else from the gang?” Her voice was a lot calmer than she felt.
“Not really.” He hesitated. “Well, yeah. Some of the guys came by the store the other night. They still want me to help them do a job on the market.”
She stood quickly.
“Don’t worry about it. I think they want me involved in another theft so they don’t have to worry about me spilling my guts to the cops. I know more about them than anybody else and it scares them I might tell you or Colleen. I made sure they understood that I’m still a brother to them and I won’t squeal about anything.”
“A brother to them?”
“I told you, they were family to me when I didn’t have one. Nothing is going to change that, nothing is going to turn me against them. I may not be one of the gang anymore but I’m still tied to them. I always will be.”
“After all this work you still don’t see that you’re different from them?”
“Yeah, different but no better, Sarah. I just got lucky when I met Colleen and you. I told you, you’ve shown me I can be something worthwhile in my life if I just keep on going forward. Nothing is going to get in the way of the promise I made to you.” He smiled. “Look I haven’t gone nuts once since I’ve been seeing you. Talk therapy and those regressions have helped me calm down and see myself more than you know.”
“How have the regressions helped you? I still mostly think Aris is just a figment of your imagination stemming from all the horror movies you’ve seen in your life.”
He downed the last drop from the can of soda he held in his hand, crushed it and placed it on the edge of her desk. “You keep saying that but I don’t think I’ve got that kind of shock theatre in me, Sarah. I don’t know where he came from or what kind of subconscious evil seed he is, but he’s some kind of bad.”
“You sound as if you like having him around.” She leaned forward in her chair, opening his file.
“Yeah. Are you going to write this down?” Smiling at him, she picked up her pen. “Okay, yeah. I do like having him around. It’s like having this really macho big brother. Nobody would mess with me if they knew about Aris.” He chuckled.
He watched her make notes for a few minutes. When he spoke, the tone of his voice was very different. “You know, sometimes I think it’s him that you’re interested in. I mean, we spend a lot of sessions talking about him or talking to him. I thought a shrink would be more interested in their patient, not some figment of somebody’s imagination as you called him.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. The reason we began this therapy was for you, to help you.” She laid her pen on her desk, closing the file, lifting her eyes to meet his.
He stared at her. “Yeah, well that’s how it started. But I’m not so sure it’s the same equation now, is it Sarah?”
“Carlos, it’s impossible
for you to be jealous of a two thousand year old vampire.”
“Is that right, Sarah? Are you sure that’s right?” He stood, reaching for the soda can. He threw it in the wastebasket. “Well, I’m not so sure.” He walked to the door, turned and looked at her one final time. “I’m not so sure at all.”
#
“Thank you for seeing me, Miss Hagan.” Isabella sat on the edge of the chair, twisting a handkerchief in her hand. Sarah couldn’t remember the last time she saw anyone carry a cloth handkerchief. There was something dignified about it.
“Please, Isabella, please call me Sarah.”
The older woman looked over Sarah’s shoulder at the city outside the window. Sarah saw fear and sorrow in her eyes. She stood and walked around her desk. She stooped down next to the chair where Carlos’ mother sat.
“What is it? Can I help you?” Her voice was soft, filled with compassion.
“Oh Sarah, I am so afraid.” She dropped the handkerchief into her lap, bursting into tears, she buried her head in her hands.
“What is it? We’ll figure it out.” She wrapped her arms around Isabella. Sarah held her gently until her sobs quieted.
“There was a dead dog on our front porch this morning. And a note.” She handed the envelope to Sarah.
She opened it and read. “This is what will happen to your son if he doesn’t come through.” She folded it and put it back in the envelope. “Did your husband see this?”
“No, no.” She shook her head as she spoke. “I buried the dog before he came home. I hid the note. He must not see it. He will go to the police and those bad people will kill my Carlos.” Her voice broke as she spoke.
Sarah pulled several tissues out of a ceramic container. She handed them to Isabella, waiting until she was calm once again.
“Don’t worry Isabella.” Brushing the dark hair out of the woman’s eyes, she assured her, “I’ll handle this. Nothing is going to happen to Carlos. There are too many people who care about him right now.” Isabella’s hands were cold as Sarah took them in her own warm ones. “I promise you. Carlos is going to be alright.” She smiled what she hoped was a confident smile.
“Now you just sit here while l go into the other office to get you a drink of water.” Sarah stood, moving toward the door. Just before she reached for the handle, she turned. “Are you going to be okay for a minute?”
Isabella sat up straight in the chair. “Yes Sarah, with your help we will all be okay.”
#
“Carlos doesn’t want me to tell anybody what’s going on but I don’t know what to do. If I tell him about the dog, he’ll confront them. Then who knows what will happen.”
“Crap. Let me talk to Bob. Maybe we can work this on the outside and not bring anyone into it.” A car horn honked twice just before Sarah heard Colleen curse under her breath. “Why do all the lousy drivers always get in front of me?” She honked again. “Look, don’t mention it to him. Let me see what I can do before we bring him into it. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it. Got to go.”
“Bye,” Sarah spoke to an empty line then looked at the dead phone in her hand. She sighed, put the phone down and picked up the book that lay open on the sofa next to her. A loud crash of thunder threatened rain as Sarah leaned back onto the soft cushions. She stretched her legs along the seat, crossing her ankles. “Everything is going to be okay. I’m sure of it. I just have to believe it. I will believe it. No. I do believe it. I’m not going to think about it anymore right now.”
She leaned over the coffee table to grab her tea. “I might as well learn all I can about the sixteenth century since it looks like I’m going to be hanging around there for a while.” She spoke out loud to no one, wrapped her hand around her warm mug, tipped it to her lips and finished drinking the amber liquid. She let the empty cup rest on the pillow next to her as she began to read. The rain commenced with a soft shower then suddenly fell in torrents. Huge drops pounded on the deck as her eyes grew heavy and she drifted into sleep.
#
She felt the power of his muscular legs as the black stallion galloped into the wind. Her long blond hair blew wild behind her and her blue velvet riding skirt flapped in the blast of warm air. It was a glorious summer day. The sun shined down on the rich green fields of the King’s hunting grounds. She had left the royal hunt to feel the freedom of a ride without the eyes of the court constantly watching her. The baying of the dogs grew distant as she urged her horse to run faster and faster. She laughed as her horse jumped one gully after another.
Suddenly a boar ran just in front of the horse. Surprised and frightened, the huge animal slammed to a halt, pawing wildly in the air. She fell as he took off across the meadow at full gallop.
Standing and taking note, she found she was uninjured. A bit bruised and a great deal chagrined but without any broken bones or blood. She brushed her skirt free of weeds and grass. She sighed as she was about to begin the long walk back to the hunting lodge when the sound of hooves pounding on at a great speed reached her ears.
She turned in the direction of the clatter and saw a rider racing toward her from the thick forest to the east of her meadow. As the horseman approached, she saw he wore a mask over his eyes and was dressed all in black from his boots to the cloth that held his long, dark hair in a thick braid at the base of his neck.
He swept her onto his horse, holding her tightly against his chest and turned to race back into the forest. She fought like a demon but he held her steady. She tried to twist out of his grip but he just laughed and his laughter was carried away on the wind.
In one quick moment, they reached the forest and he slowed his mount to a steady walk. She felt the warmth of his broad chest behind her and his heavy breath against her hair. She shivered in terror. “Fear not my beautiful lady,” he whispered in her ear. She wasn’t sure if it was he or the wind. “No harm will come to you.”
The trees parted and before them was a glade of flowers and tall grass. He dismounted, lifting her easily to the ground. She spun out of his grasp and began to run. He seized her hair and wrapping his hand in it, brought her into him. His free arm wrapped around her tiny waist as he held her close. His lips met hers in a demanding kiss. For a moment she fought him, beating against his chest with her small fists but he held her firm, his lips burning into hers. His clothes and hair carried the scent of the forest. His mouth tasted of the fresh streams that flowed through the dense greenery. Her knees buckled and still he kissed her. The fight left her and she moaned as the tip of his tongue traced the soft flesh inside her lower lip. Her body was a bed of hot coals.
He swept her into his arms and carried her to a soft hill of earth and leaves under a huge oak tree. It was there he began to undress her. When she was nude, he spread her skirt and rested her porcelain body on its soft folds. Her hair surrounded her head in a halo of spun gold. Quickly he disrobed, his manhood alert and strong. His mask still tied firmly to hide his face.
She reached to draw him to her but he held off. He plucked a blade of soft grass and began to stroke her long strong legs. She moved languidly beneath his touch. She was hardly aware when the grass became his hands. He pressed her flesh with his fingertips then slowly began to part her legs. His hand rested sweetly on her mound as he lowered his lips to her warm firm abdomen. His tongue traced lines of fire and ice.
A loud crash of thunder was followed by the crash of the tea mug as it hit the floor. Sarah jumped awake, knocking the book onto the floor. Her breath came in jagged gasps and her heart was beating as if to leave her chest. “My God, I’ve got to get a sex life. This is too real.”
She brushed her hair from her face as she stooped to pick up the pieces of the shattered mug.
CHAPTER 27
Bob appeared a lot taller than he was standing next to Colleen. He was at least six feet, but she was so tiny he looked like a giant. His dark hair cut in a crew cut matched her spikes almost as if they planned it that way. His shirt was open at the collar and his wedding
ring was his only jewelry. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way.
Colleen dished the pasta onto their plates as he filled their glasses with wine.
“I checked up on this guy, Manu. It seems he’s the head honcho and one mean sucker.” He wiped the lip of the bottle with a napkin then placed it on the table. “He’s been nothing but trouble; a huge instigator for most of the gang related crime in his neighborhood and who knows where else.“
He took a bite of his dinner. “Hey babe, this is great. Where did you order from?”
Colleen’s smile was smug, “I didn’t order, I cooked.”
Bob grinned and Sarah was shocked, but happy Colleen was beginning to be domesticated. She wasn’t sure her friend would ever settle completely into her new life as a wife, however marriage seemed to agree with both of them. Seeing them together brought back memories and kindled a desire to once again be one half of a couple. She quickly put the thought out of her mind reminding herself that she and Jeff were never like Bob and Colleen. She sipped her wine.
“Anyway, this guy has a record of petty crime. He’s been under suspicion of some heavier stuff but we’ve never been able to prove anything to put him away. Does this woman have any way of proving it’s Manu who put the dog on her porch?”
“No, there was a note but it was typed. She’s scared. Her husband is a real hot head and she’s worried he’ll get Carlos in trouble if she tells him anything about it.”
“What do they want him for? Has he mentioned it to you?” Bob spooned another helping of pasta on his plate and winked at his wife.
“He swears he doesn’t respond to them. That’s why this is happening to his family. He doesn’t want to get involved with them again. He’s working hard to change his life and so far, he’s doing a good job of it. I don’t want to see him in trouble again.”
Colleen poured herself another glass of wine. “None of us do, hon. We’re all trying to help out here to make sure he isn’t dragged into something illegal.”