‘Giorgio, you stand well too old friend. How is it that every time I see you, you look younger? You must tell me your secret’ said Gregor while shaking the mans hand.
‘Well I wouldn’t say I look all that young anymore but thanks for your kind words. Your kind words about others always came easy to you. It is good to see you Gregor. Eliza and I have been travelling a lot lately trying different cuisines all over Europe. Very potent indeed. You must join us sometime. Now, would you like to introduce your friends or have you been dumbstruck by our appearance?’
Giorgio looked at the rest of them but his eyes were now fixed on Cassandra.
‘Yes, of course. How rude of me’ Gregor replied with a tone of agitation in his voice. These hypothetical friends were in reality ghouls who drank of humans and not of animals. In the past, Gregor and Giorgio had had a falling out on the matter. He knew that Giorgio was restless when it came to feeding and could find no logic in a moment of hunger.
‘This is my cousin Sam and his fiancée Sarah. Her sister, Rebecca and my fiancé Cassandra’ Gregor said. They all greeted.
‘Good heavens Gregor, I never thought you were the marrying type!’ Giorgio said reaching out to lift Cassandra’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
‘It is my pleasure to meet you. I’m sure you will make a lovely wife. He always did have good taste.’
Then he reached over to Sarah and Sam and at last he took hold of Rebecca’s hand, kissing it softly.
‘You, my dear, are a vision of beauty. I am fortunate to be making your acquaintance. Are you also attached to a fiancé somewhere?’ he asked.
Before Rebecca even thought of answering Gregor jumped to answer.
‘Of course she has her fiancé back in England and he will be coming this weekend. Now how, could you possibly think such a beautiful woman would remain unattached and free? That’s silly’ Gregor added.
Gregor’s tenants had no idea why he kept going on and on lying, but they went along with whatever he said.
‘Oh really, that’s too bad, I could have been a great companion for you, but perhaps in another life!’ he said staring into Sarah’s eyes like a mad man.
‘Aren’t you two together?’ Cassandra asked in a nervous voice while taking Gregor by his arm and holding his hand tightly as to prove that what he had said was indeed true.
‘Thankful I am that we are not!’ snapped Elizabeth. ‘Giorgio and I are cousins. We both lost our families at a young age and have been together ever since. Seems like forever actually.’
Every one tried to make civil conversation. Sam took his turn.
‘Do you live here?’
‘No, not anymore. We moved away years ago but visiting is like a ritual, we do it every year. Visit friends, relatives and our old family home in the woods. But how is it that Gregor has not told you about us? We have been in his life more than his own relative have.’
Cassandra took on the question.
‘Gregor and I have more important things to discuss than who our friends are. Right baby?’ she said looking straight up into his eyes and pressed her body tightly on to his demonstrating a supposed love for him.
Gregor nodded with a smile affirmatively.
‘Anyway, it was very nice to have met both of you but we really must be going. Grandmother is expecting us to help her with the chores and supper. We wouldn’t want to upset her. Perhaps we will meet again.’
Cassandra pulled her bag up to her shoulder and started to walk toward the exit of the cave.
‘Come on Rebecca.’
‘Yes, let’s get started, love. It’s a good, long way back.’ Elizabeth stared as they all started out of the cave and then spoke.
‘Perhaps we could get together for a drink before we leave again.’ Her eyes poured all over Sam and Gregor.
‘We will keep that in mind and try to work out an evening within the coming week’ Gregor replied. ‘I will call you and let you know. Your number is the same right?’
Giorgio looked at Gregor with a look of question. He really didn’t trust that he would call them.
‘Our numbers are the same, old friend. And we will be expecting your call. If not, we’ll come visit you at the inn.’ His words, Gregor knew were a threat.
Walking down the mountains, Rebecca broke the silence. ‘Okay, I don’t know if you are all with me on this but I really think we should postpone the rest of the points for today and just go back. And by the way, Mr. Gregor here will be needing time to do some explaining for all those lies he said back there!’
‘I absolutely agree,’ continued Cassandra. ‘I played along with everything only because I was so good at drama class back in high school I thought I’d try again but that didn’t stop me from being scared out of my wits!’
‘It sure didn’t seem like you were scared but you played a damn good role I must say. You almost had me believing that you and Gregor were actually together!’ Sarah said smiling.
Cassandra caught up to Gregor who was leading the group down the trail and she stopped him pulling on his shoulder.
‘What is most important is that Gregor tells us what happened back there. Gregor what was that fiasco?’
‘Those were ghouls back there. I know all too well. Unless you were all family members it would be impossible to keep them from draining your blood. Every year that has passed, I have seen them in the woods drinking from any passerby. Once, they drank from a tenant we had accommodated and left him lifeless. They had done their homework well. They knew he had no family and finding him as humble as Mr. Mintitos was well, it made them all the more attracted to him. I found them over and over again taking the lives from the innocent. When I saw them today, for the first time I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to protect you. Animals are easier to stand up to. I am very sorry for taking you to such a secluded place and putting you all in danger like that.’
‘No apology is necessary, love. We all came out of our own accord’ Rebecca said. All the others agreed with her.
‘Thank you all for being so understanding and quick to play to sudden tune. Come along, we can do the other points tomorrow.’
They all moved at a quick pace as going down the mountain was easier than walking up it. Gregor was silent the whole way back. He had too many secrets and had told too many lies already. How was he to keep them all safe without revealing himself? His greatest problem now was keeping the couple from coming to the inn. He needed to plan fast and find a way to keep everyone safe until their departure. That he had to do without raising suspicions upon himself. For the very first time Gregor was distracted with fear. Fear of being uncovered, of loosing his sister again and of unwillingly hurting the people he came into contact with. He couldn’t stop thinking.
Finally, they arrived back at the inn and Gregor woke to the sound of his grandmother’s voice. Marina was outside watering her vigonias on the front porch.
‘Back so soon? I didn’t expect you until at least six or so.’
They all greeted her and retired to their rooms. All except Rebecca. She slowly turned to Gregor.
‘I’d like to thank you for the tour today. It was exhilarating. Would you like to join us later for dinner?’ she shyly asked him.
‘After what I put you through today, anything you ask of me, I will not deny but I actually would love to have dinner with you of my own accord. The others won’t mind will they?’
Of course not! We all enjoy your company. So, see you later!’
Rebecca ran the stairs to her room with a great big smile on her face. All the while, Marina watched Gregor’s facial expressions and read him like an open book. She waited for the silence and then asked him.
‘What has happened? You look as though death is chasing you.’
‘Worse! When we were still at the falls we were taken by surprise by the Stefanou cousins. They showed up out of nowhere.’
‘How did you maneuver that meeting?’
‘I lied, I told them they were relatives and that Cassand
ra was my fiancé. It worked for the moment but something tells me they won’t give it up.’
‘This is very bad Gregor! We must have the tenants leave and you should tell Cassandra the truth or lose her again.’ Marina’s voice pleaded.
‘I know grandmother, I know! I will see how it is best to handle it! I must attend to my work now, we will talk at dinner.’ Gregor said.
He went upstairs and squeaky door to his room he heard Rebecca’s sweet voice.
‘Hey you, just getting in?’
‘Yes, it took me a while to fill in my grandmother on today’s crazy events.’
‘Well, truth be told, after everything that happened I couldn’t relax. I figured I’d go get myself a cup of coffee. Would you like to join me?’ Rebecca was practically eating him up with her eyes.
‘I would love to but, I need to tidy up first. Go on ahead and I’ll meet you there in ten.’
‘I’d rather wait for you. We could go down together.’
‘Ok then, come on in and you can browse through those magazines there on the night stand while I take a quick shower, if you’re not afraid to come into my room that is?’ He asked with one brow to the sky.
‘Of course not! Let me through!’
‘How about I order that coffee in and we have it up hear?’ Gregor asked again.
‘Sure love, why the bloody hell not!’ she answered and her voice had now become nervous.
Gregor pulled on the bell rope and soon Fanis was at the door. He ordered him to bring up coffee and pastries.
‘Oh, if there is any of that pie grandmother makes just for me, bring it up too.’ Gregor closed the door and there stood Rebecca.
‘Wow, pie made especially for you. I’m impressed.’ She boldly put her arms around his neck and started playing with his hair. Gregor took her by the waist and looked down into her twinkling eyes.
‘Well, what can I say? My grandmother has no one else to please so she tries her best to please me.’
‘Gregor, would you mind terribly, love, if today I wanted to please you?’ she asked as she stood on her toes accepting and returning his luscious kiss. Gregor needn’t answer. He lifted her off her feet and placed her on his bed without for a moment loosing eye contact. He unbuttoned his shirt, leaned over her kissing her neck gently and moving so slow as to make her anticipate whatever was next. He gently carved into her skin behind her ear with his fingernail so softly that she felt nothing but tingling throughout her perfect body.
Gregor drank from her as she fell into ecstasy. As he reached for the last button on Rebecca’s shirt the door knocked and Fanis voice sound that the coffee had arrived.
‘Leave the trolley, Fani. I will bring it and serve it myself’ he said.
Fanis did as he was told and went back to work. Gregor kissed Rebecca passionately leaving her breathless and numb. Then he looked into her eyes again and whispered.
‘Waiting makes everything sensual. I will be back.’ He walked away from her and toward the door. He brought in the trolley with the pastries and pulled it up next to the bed. He sat back down and dipped his finger into the pie filling. Then he smeared it onto her lips her neck and down to her stomach and at last followed the same route with his lips making her body tingle with pleasure. Both drowned into each other’s arms and indulged into each others techniques and unforeseen games. Rebecca was a lioness in the king’s den. Gregor was a king and a hunter. Both gave one hundred percent of themselves for hours to come and lost track of all time. Rebecca laid in Gregor’s arms listening to his heartbeat and watching his broad chest move up and down. She was so happy that Gregor had chosen her and she realized that she wanted to be with him always.
Then it occurred to her that he hadn’t promised her anything. She was willing to go with the moment and take in as much happiness as she could without getting too serious and without asking him to make plans for the future. Rebecca was proud and had no intention of begging for anything. If he wanted her, time would tell. Gregor was silent for the first few minutes after love play but now he felt the need to tell her what was on his mind.
‘Rebecca, from the very moment I saw you, I was mesmerized by your eyes, your walk even the sound of your voice. It lured me like suckle to a bee. I want to ask you something but, I don’t want to frighten you away’ he said.
‘After everything I’ve seen today, I don’t think there is anything that can really scare me much less something you would say, love.’
‘Don’t be so hasty to declare that. First, I’d like to ask if you would consider living in a place like this, you know, cut off from the rest of the world, far from civilization and exposed to all sorts of dangers like today’s.’ Absolute silence filled the room.
‘I believe that I would never think of anything so preposterous before I met you but, the way I feel about you now, knowing that you can save me from any harm, well, that alone makes me feel I could stay on an uncharted island with every wild beast that exists so long as I would be there with you!’ she answered.
And what if I told you that there is much more to me than what you have seen? A part of me you don’t know yet.’
‘I don’t know how much you have kept to yourself or how much more of you there can be but I am pretty I want to know everything about you.’
Gregor looked at Rebecca with a very serious look.
‘If I am going to ask you my next question, I need to tell you everything about me. Every last detail, no secrets.’
‘I guess that’s a good idea. Okay no secrets! You go first!’ Rebecca sat up in Gregor’s arms hoping that what she was going to hear would not lead to him rejecting her. She had been hurt before and it had been the reason she was available. She wasn’t ready to be let down so soon after her high.
‘You saw those ghouls today; they were ready to rip us up in a matter of seconds. Previous to that there were the ghouls that were in the forest that did not touch a hair on Cassandra’s head. In my story, I told you all about what the ghouls were like back when I was a child growing up. My family was attacked by the ghouls. What I failed to mention was that my mother and father were not found because they were turned to ghouls.’
‘I’m so sorry but that is not going to change the way I feel about you if that is your big secret.’
‘Wait, there is more. They took my sister away when she was just a baby. That baby is now your age. That baby is your best friend. She’s Cassandra, she’s also my sister’ Gregor said waiting for Rebecca’s response to the overload of information.
Rebecca turned to him and looked deep into his eyes with an overwhelming rush of sympathy. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
‘I don’t believe it. My best friend and you siblings! Please, go on.’
‘The couple in the woods that came across Cassandra today were our parents. They recognized her locket and that is why they didn’t drink from her.’
‘This story of yours, love, it is too wild to be true! It can’t be!’ Rebecca was moving her head negatively.
‘I’m sorry but it is. I will understand if from this moment you want nothing to do with me and I am sorry that I got so carried away with my feelings for you that I couldn’t find it in me to tell you sooner.’
‘There is nothing to be sorry about. It is not your fault for whatever is happening or happened in the past. You were only a child, you poor thing. I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been for you to grow up without a family and to have all those memories!’
‘I haven’t finished. Please listen to me, Rebecca. The worst has yet to come.’ Gregor took a deep breath. Rebecca held his hands tightly waiting for the worst.
‘There is no good way to say this so I’ll just say it. The night of the attack on the inn, the night I ran out and had my grandmother looking for me crazily, that very night I too was made ghoul.’
Gregor caught his breath as he turned his eyes away to keep Rebecca from seeing his pain and his shame. Rebecca on the other hand put her arms
around his waist from behind him and tightly hugged him and spoke consolingly.
‘Don’t stop, I want to know everything about you.’
‘My grandmother found me in some bushes the next day. I had been scratched and drained. She brought me back and nourished me back to health. She accepted what I was to become. She said she could not bear to lose me too!’ There was a long period of awkward silence.
Gregor felt his world about to crumble again as he saw Rebecca get up off the bed and turn her back to him while putting her clothes back on. He wished so very hard that he wasn’t what he was but he knew he could do nothing about it. He said nothing more he just sat there helplessly falling apart inside, knowing he would never find love again because of what he was. Rebecca picked up his shirt from the floor, turned towards him and said in a very serious voice.
‘Do you realize that I fell in love with you while you were wearing this shirt? Did I mention that I have been hurt in a previous relationship so bad, that I promised myself I would never get into another one again?’
Gregor looked at her expecting the worst.
‘Do you know that I love you just the way you are and I want to be with you no matter what you are?’ Then she smiled at him.
Gregor finally smiled. He was madly in love with her and was finally being given the chance to tell her.
‘I was so afraid that you would reject me. Almost sure that you wouldn’t want to even hear me after I had told you the truth and yet I had to risk even the fewest moments with you in order to fulfil my purpose.’
‘And what purpose might that be?’
‘Rebecca, can I ask you a question?’
‘Shoot, love!’
‘Would you like to spend the rest of your life with me? Through whatever life throws our way? Would you honor me by becoming my soul mate?’
Rebecca tightened her grip as much as her little hands could around his and answered.
‘I would love to be your everything as long as we both exist!’
Gregor pulled her over to his night stand and opened the top drawer. He took out a very old little box and inside was a beautiful 24kt gold ring with a ruby in the center of it. It was embellished with the family crest initial “D” all around it. It was a family heirloom.
Secret Of The Crest Page 7