Aris Returns

by Devin Morgan

  The sound of a cell phone interrupted their conversation. Sarah stood, moving to the sofa. Her purse lay on the armrest. She pulled the phone from its compartment just as it stopped ringing. She crossed the room back to the table, laying the phone next to her plate, waiting for the voice mail signal to beep. When it did, she checked her message.

  “It’s Carlos. Excuse me a moment, I just want to make sure everything is okay.” She dialed the code to retrieve the message. Her face was a blank mask as she listened. “He wants me to call him and his voice sounds anxious.”

  “Go ahead. Call him. Bob and I will clear the table. We can finish our wine in the living room.” Colleen rose and began to stack the dishes. Bob shoveled the last of the ravioli into his mouth, picked up his plate then the couple carried the dishes to the kitchen giving Sarah some privacy.

  She hit the recall button. She waited. His phone rang several times then went to voicemail. After she left a return message, she joined her friends.

  “Strange, he didn’t answer.” She looked puzzled. “But he just called me.”

  “Maybe he’s at work.” Colleen spoke over the grind of the garbage disposal. “Why don’t you two go in the living room? I’ll be right in as soon as I rinse these dishes.”

  Bob took her by the arm, leading her to the couch. He sat next to her. “Sarah, what’s with this guy? Why are both of you so interested in some petty crook?”

  “He’s not that. He’s a really smart young man who hasn’t had much of a chance. Colleen sees herself in him. She wants to rescue someone the way you rescued her. She says she wants to pay it forward. Does that make sense?”

  He shrugged. “I guess. But what about you? Why are you so concerned?”

  She stared into space for a moment, a look of serious thought on her face. After a silence she turned to look at Bob and answered. “I don’t know.” She shook her head as she spoke. “I honestly don’t know.”

  #

  “You still look really tired.” He grinned his old grin at her as he rested his head on the recliner. He closed his eyes. “Maybe you need to see a therapist.”

  “Very funny.” She aimed the recorder at him and began to take him into a relaxed state.

  #

  CARLOS HAVARRO, transcript, Session 17, July 2

  The great hall was ablaze with candles, many thousands by the light, the feel of warmth. I stood to the side of the dancers, watching as the Lady Anne bewitched every man who came close to her. Her green silk gown flashed sparkles of light as the jewels sewn into the skirt shifted when she spun in the dance.

  Suddenly the harsh sound of the heralds echoed throughout the cathedral-sized space, bouncing off the stone walls like the harsh crash of lightening. The music stopped. The dancers stood stock still. Their King was coming.

  He was always larger than life. Tall, imposing, he entered the room with the step of an athlete. The courtiers bowed low in his honor. “Continue the festivities.” He waved his jeweled hand toward the balcony that held the musicians and they immediately resumed playing.

  “Ah, Anne.” She crossed to his side with a perfect curtsey.

  “Your Majesty.” Rising, she looked into his sparkling eyes, her smile radiant.

  “To the banquet.” She rested her small hand on the curve of his outstretched arm, gently letting her fingers drape over his soft golden sleeve.

  As they led the court into the dining hall, the heralds played the King’s fanfare. They moved together to the high table. When they reached their places, they turned to face the court. Henry raised his goblet of gold, then drank it dry. The court applauded and waited for their monarch to be seated. He sat, followed by his mistress. Only then did the court take their seats at the dining tables.

  Wine flowed and the gold and silver plate reflected the candlelight like fireflies in the meadows in late summer. Again, the trumpets sounded as the servers began to bring the food.

  The grandest tray was carried by the server in the most magnificent livery. A peacock served with all its feathers in place and the tail fully furled, created a magnificent show of color. Inside, the bird was stuffed with other fowl, one inside the other. It was placed in the center of the high table between Henry and Anne.

  Another trumpet fanfare announced the Master Carver. He carried sharp knives that glistened with a light of their own and his fingers were heavy with rings of gold. He approached the high table and performed a low bow. When he rose, the King motioned him forward.

  The trumpets sounded yet another time as he began his craft. He was able to create a perfect slice for each one at the table; every slice containing every bird yet, even after carving, the beauty of the sculpture remained intact. As he raised the gold plate showing his art, the court applauded. He bowed with a flourish then continued to slice the creation. The servers carried the laden plates to each of the waiting court.

  I was seated on a lower dais, watching Anne. She was animated, keeping the King delighted and laughing. She took care of his every need before he knew it existed. Before his goblet was empty, it was filled. Before he ate the last bite of any delicacy, it was replenished. I could not help but respect her ability to create an air of perfection around them. I focused all of my attention including my sensitive hearing on their conversation.

  “Hal, my Hal.” She poured him yet another goblet of wine then leaned close to whisper in his ear. “Do you see how the courtiers mock me?”

  The King was startled at her words. “Mock you, sweeting?”

  “Yes.” Sadness filled her dark eyes. “Katherine still lives at court. They whisper behind my back that you do not truly love me.” She lowered her eyes then gazed at Henry from beneath her eyelashes. She looked forlorn, even to my vampire eyes.

  Henry sat straighter in his chair. His eyes searched the court seated below. “Who would say this? Just say their name.”

  Her touch on his arm brought his gaze back to her. “Too many, my lord. While Katherine still lives at court, I am ignored.” She reached to clasp his hand as unshed tears filled her eyes. “You must send her away, banish her.”

  “Banish her?” Henry’s booming voice was heard down to the lower court whose long tables were set many steps away from them on the stone floor of the castle.

  “Yes, Henry. While she is here,” Anne filled his goblet once again, “I will never be recognized as your consort.” She smiled at him conspiratorially, “and our sons never honored as princes.”

  Henry’s face lit like the sparklers from the East. “Our sons? And how, Anne? Sons, when you will not share my bed?”

  “I remain a virgin while Katherine remains at court, until I am truly Queen and our marriage is fully recognized and honored.” She turned to face him and her eyes shone in the dancing light of the candles. “I will give you strong sons once Katherine is sent away.”

  He drained his goblet in one long drink, and then slammed the empty golden cup on the table. “And so, she will be banished.” He stared at Anne for a long moment in silence, and then laughed. A laugh that shook his large body and turned his drink bloated face red. “And so we will be married and you will give me sons.”

  #

  “It seems you have turmoil in your life right now.”

  “How do you know that?” She was surprised Aris knew what was happening in real time. He hadn’t shown up in Carlos’ life for quite a while. The last was the night in front of her building when he possessed the young man’s mortal mind.

  There are times when I am able to see out of his eyes and hear what his mind thinks. I have no explanation for it other than his consciousness has been opened in some strange way from the drugs he has taken in the past. I have no control over it, but there are occasions when he and I are one being.”

  She wondered why she always felt so much safer, more secure when she was in the presence of Aris. “Carlos is in trouble and I’m not sure how to help him.”

  “It angers me that I do not have a human body to be your champion. This man will
not relinquish his to me.”

  “You must never hurt Carlos.” Anger rang in her words. “Never, do you hear me?”

  The voice was smiling as he spoke, “Ah Sarah. Can you be in love with him?”

  She stammered. “I’m not. But he means a great deal to me. I don’t want anything to hurt him.”

  “To live inside his body is not to hurt him. It is to make him into something much stronger than he is. Something invincible.”

  “No. Promise me you will never do anything to harm him.”

  “Would you believe a promise from a monster such as I am?”

  “I don’t believe you are a monster, Aris. I don’t know for sure what you are, but a monster? No.”

  #

  The dark of her bedroom and the comfort of her bed didn’t drive away the thoughts of her last session with Aris. She wondered why she thought of it as a session with Aris. Was Carlos right? Was she beginning to forget the whole ordeal was to help him, not to know more about this sixteenth century creature? Was Aris really a monster?

  Thoughts swirled around in her head until she felt dizzy. Was Aris real or was it a subconscious desire Carlos had to make himself feel invincible in a world where he was so vulnerable? As a twenty-first-century person, believing in the undead was almost impossible. What was the answer? Carlos knew nothing about Tudor England or Alexander the Great for that matter. Where did all of his information come from if not from Aris? She researched everything that came out in session. Each and every story was based on historical fact. Not fact about vampires to be sure, but fact about times and places and people.

  In a state of confusion and mental exhaustion, she fell into a dreamless sleep.

  #

  She smiled at him as she finished her notes. It had been a good talk therapy session with Carlos. She was glad she decided not to take him into hypnosis. They spoke more about his childhood, about his need for a “tribe,” a place to belong. She was surprised when he spoke, once again showing confusion.

  “Look Sarah, I know I said I’d stick it out ‘til the end and I will, but I’m just not sure about the hypnosis part anymore.” He sat slouched in his usual chair across from her desk, his hands folded in his lap and his chin on his chest. He rarely stayed in her office after a session as he used to. She wondered what was on his mind.

  “I don’t know what you mean, Carlos.” She leaned forward as she always did to let him know she was really interested in what he was saying.

  “Well, I don’t see how you spending all these sessions with this Aris guy is helping me find out why I’m pissed off at the world.” He sat up straight in his chair and leaned forward toward her. “Do you? I mean really, do you? Besides I don’t feel so pissed off any more.”

  “Look Carlos, if you don’t want to go into trance anymore, you don’t have to.” Moving to stand in front of him, she leaned on the edge of her desk. “You vacillate all the time between not wanting to move forward and being gung ho, let’s go. Just what do you want to do?”

  He leaned back into his signature slouch as he silently stared into her eyes. When he spoke, he smiled, “How can we stop in the middle of a scary story?” He nodded his head up and down. “I guess we have to go through to the end whether its death and destruction or here comes the bride of Dracula.”

  #

  The July afternoon was hot and humid. The flowers limply hung their heads. The two women sat in the shade of a big, very green maple tree and sparrows pecked a piece of a hotdog bun that had fallen on the ground. They enjoyed a late lunch in Lincoln Park whenever they found time. It was a perfect end to a hectic week and Maggie and Sarah both leaned back into the bench, stretching out after they finished eating. “I guess it’s time to go back to the office,” feigned disappointment showing in Sarah’s voice.

  Maggie looked at her watch. “It sure is. You’ve got an appointment in half an hour.”

  “Sorry Mag,” she giggled. “I forgot to tell you, the two o’clock cancelled. We’ve got another hour’s reprieve.”

  “I could have enjoyed my lunch a lot more if I knew that before we ate.” Maggie gave her associate a fake scowl. She stood. “Want to take a walk since we’ve got plenty of time?”

  “Sure.” Sarah bundled the wrappers and containers from her lunch. She tossed them into the recycling barrel, then stood to brush the crumbs from her skirt. The birds immediately began to eat the little pieces of chips that fell to the ground. “What a perfect day.” Her full skirt ruffled in the wind as they began to walk.

  “Yeah, it is.” Her reply didn’t match her tone.

  Startled, Sarah paused and looked at her friend. “What’s up Maggie? I can hear it in your voice.”

  Maggie stopped walking, turning to face Sarah. “I didn’t want to have to tell you this, but it’s gotten a little weird.” She looked off over Sarah’s shoulder.

  “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.” Sarah stopped walking in the middle of the sidewalk. Other pedestrians circled around the two, giving them exasperated looks for stalling the foot traffic.

  “Let’s sit.” Motioning toward an empty bench under another big maple tree, Maggie led Sarah away from the lunch crowd getting their daily exercise. They sat in dappled shade.

  “The last few nights, I’ve been followed home. At least I think I’ve been followed.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “I can’t really be sure. It’s just a feeling. I think there’s someone trailing behind me but when I turn around, there’s no one there except the usual commuters. I start to walk again and I feel that creepy feeling again.” Her voice was soft and apologetic, “Do you think it has something to do with Gorgeous?”

  “I don’t know, Maggie. Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”

  “No, I wanted to talk to you first. I know he’s a special client to you. I don’t want to get him into any trouble. And I know the whole thing could just be my imagination. I’ve been going to a lot of scary movies lately.”

  “Let me talk to him first. We’ll see what he says. We’ll go from there.” She reached for her friend’s hands, holding them in her own. “Is that alright with you? The most important thing is that you feel safe.”

  Maggie thought in silence. When she answered, her voice was sure. “Yes, I think you should talk to Carlos before we do anything at all. I trust him to tell you the truth.” She smiled a nervous smile. “And I’ll stay away from fright night at the movies.”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.” Sarah’s response was immediate and strong. It gave Maggie the confidence she needed to relax a bit, to just wait to see what happened next.

  #

  Sarah left Carlos a message early in the afternoon but he didn’t return the call until evening. The tall, bright lights of the shopping center parking lot came on as the sky darkened after sunset. Their reflection bounced off the dark, waxed finish of her car hood. She waited to go inside the market while she finished her conversation. A low beep on her cell phone warned her that the battery was almost dead. “Hang on a minute, Carlos, I’ve got to plug this thing in or I’m going to lose you.” She plugged the phone jack into the cigarette lighter. “There, now we’re good to go.”

  “I don’t know why Manu would have Maggie followed. She doesn’t have anything to do with any of this crap. I don’t even know how he would know she exists.” Carlos sounded as puzzled as Sarah was.

  “I don’t know either, but she was worried about it. Is there any way you can check it out?”

  “Let me make a phone call. Stay put. I’ll call you right back.”

  The phone went silent. She placed it on the console and leaned against the leather seat. Manu was turning into a constant problem. There had to be a way to get him out of the equation. She closed her eyes to let her mind wander for a solution.

  The ring of the phone brought her back to the moment. “Hi.”

  “Hey Sarah, I talked to one of the guys who I can still trust. He says no, none of the guys are tailing anyone. He’
s pretty close to Manu and I’m sure if anything like that was going on, he’d know. I’m sure she’s okay. Just tell Maggie to hang tight and let me know if anything else like that happens again.”

  “Thanks Carlos. If you’re sure it’s no one related to the gang, I’ll tell Maggie. I know it’ll make her feel a lot better. Maybe it is just her imagination.”

  “Cool. Gotta’ go. See you Friday.”

  She placed the phone in a pocket in her purse. Climbing out of the car, she walked toward the market feeling relieved for the first time since her conversation with Maggie. Her stomach growled and her mind went to shopping for her dinner.

  #

  Each one of the four televisions mounted on the wall in front of the treadmills showed a different channel. The volume was turned down. The words of closed caption for the hearing impaired moved across the bottom of the screens. The music blared so loud from the speakers attached to the sound system, she thought she would soon be in that category. Not only was the gym freezing cold but they blasted loud, upbeat music constantly. She pulled her ear plugs out of her pocket, fitting them into her ears.

  She wondered why all gyms seemed determined to ruin the hearing of their clientele. She couldn’t attend any of the classes. The instructors blasted music, shouting into microphones making static and loud screeches. If she had room for a treadmill in her apartment, she wouldn’t have bothered joining a gym in the first place. “Soon,” she thought, “Soon I’ll have a house and a basement with my own little Zen gym. She smiled at the thought of a fountain and soft classical music while she worked out. Great idea. She laughed at herself as she wondered if she was getting old or she just needed more sleep.

  As her mind drifted, Bonnie mounted the elliptical next to her. Sarah pulled the plugs out of her ears. She was attacked again by the pounding bass line. She shouted, “Hey Bon, how are you doing?”

  “Great, haven’t seen you in a while. How’s Colleen doing?” She set the controls and started moving her legs to the beat of the tune on the speakers.