Delivered to Eternity, An Alesta the Vampire Book

by Yirak, Laura

  “Yes.” Patrick spread butter on the bread plopped the cheese on it and took a bite.

  “Sugar?” Judy asked and Patrick mumbled and nodded. “And my daughter called this morning. She wants to meet me in High Street.”

  “Well you can go when you want. I’ve got everything covered.” Patrick had already finished eating and downed the tea. “Oh and Alesta’s sleeping?”

  “She is.” There was a tone of concern.

  “What? What is it? Something’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Judy said.

  “Tell me,” Patrick insisted.

  “Alesta wants to tell you about it herself.”

  “She’s okay?”

  “Yes I assure you she is.”

  “Right well, I guess I can wait if that’s what she said. Anyways you should go and get ready or sleep, oh anything I need to do?”

  “Everything is caught up as far as I can tell.” Judy washed her hands, “See you later then.”

  “Bye Judy,” he waved.

  Patrick waited a good hour till Judy was positively gone. He wanted peace to explore. The old horse shed stored supplies now, it felt damp and musty inside like the horses still dwelled there. The lawn mower sat waiting to be used. It was time to mow, but everything was too wet. Ignoring it as well as all the other chores he was reminded of walking in there, Patrick found a torch and a knife. He didn’t want a repeat of the last visit in the secret room. Once back in the kitchen he filled a bottle of water and tucked it in his belt and double checked that his cell phone was charged up. The pantry looked like it always did, even though it was so much more.

  “Okay!” he said out loud.

  The knob was still there after Patrick pulled the mat out of the way and got down on his hands and knees. The outline to the secret door was not noticeable at all. Whoever designed it was very skilled. He wasn’t sure where to place his feet, he did not want to fall like last time. Enough was enough in regards to the injuries suffered over the weekend. Patrick rubbed his side recalling them. Using the broom seemed like a good idea. He lay back as far as he could and extended the broom just touching the knob and pressed it in. The door opened quickly before him with a solid echo following after, remaining open for a short period of time then closing again.

  “Ah ha! That’s how it happened,” Patrick exclaimed.

  It was all so simple. Patrick turned his torch on and pushed the button again this time looking into the black hole. There was stairs going down and then just the empty room. He ventured down into the room and watched the stairs retract and the mysterious door close above him.

  Patrick was slammed with nausea and an intense dizziness. He dropped the torch, lowering the illumination of the room. The red eyes came slowly from the corner of the room getting closer and closer to him, spinning as Patrick’s eyes circled. He clumsily backed up against the wall, reaching out a hand to steady himself, but he underestimated the direction of the wall and fell to the floor.

  The eyes came closer and closer till they were above him spinning with the rest of the room. The presence was there, but not physical in nature, just intense energy hovering.

  “Ahhhhh!” Patrick cried as if being attacked.

  He kept his eyes closed so as to not see it. Sheer horror consumed him. The energy rolled him around on the floor and then kept him pinned, readying for something.

  “In God’s name!” Patrick got a choked whisper out. He broke free and swung into the air. There was nothing there but an empty stone room.

  “Bloody hell,” he whispered. “Am I imagining things?”

  Suddenly the room seemed to feel smaller, then bigger, almost like the walls were moving.

  “I’ve got to get out of here.” Patrick scrambled around trying to find the knob to open the door back up.

  “Where is it? Where is it?” But it was not there. “This can’t be happening.”

  But it was. He was trapped again.

  “I know it’s here, I know it.” Shining the light on the walls he inspected every stone. He wasn’t even sure the way he had come in. The room was so disorienting in that everything looked the same, every line, every mark and dent. In panic he just started pressing every one of them, high, low, and center.

  Finally a stone gave way.

  “Thank God!” Patrick felt a sense of relief, which quickly vanished.

  A slab of wall slid open, no stairs, and no secret door above. He directed the torch to the opening. There was a long, long, stone hallway before him. Patrick, thinking quickly, jumped into to it as the door began to close. He turned to watch the cold stone room vanish wondering if he had made the right choice.

  The High Street was filled with people buying their messages from the butchers shop or the bakery and other stores. It was the place to be in the daytime if you didn’t have to be at work. Everyone knew everyone and Alexandrites stopped here and there to discuss the latest news of their lives or what they heard about Mr. So and So or Mrs. So and So’s son’s daughter’s cousin’s wife. Even the Priest couldn’t resist a gander on the High Street.

  Judy hadn’t been down town in quite a while. She preferred her privacy most of the time and received all of her people-interaction from church and now from the Manor. It had suited her just fine to avoid the busy, buzzing High Street, but Cara wanted to meet there and Judy, thrilled to see her, would do absolutely anything she wanted. She had missed her daughter so much since their last falling out. It was time to make amends.

  The Gossip Cup was a quaint little breakfast and lunch eatery. Everything was made fresh daily from mince pies and sausage rolls to creamy butterfly cakes and caramel shortbread. As Judy neared the top of the stairs, her heart fluttered and the butterflies stirred in her stomach. She knew Cara was already there.

  Cara sat by the window looking out already sipping on tea. Judy took her purple coat off and hung it on the chair in front of Cara.

  “Mum!” A short thin Cara stood up and hugged her short mother.

  They embraced happily but not for too long as the Scots never did show much signs of affection.

  “Oh Cara! I’m just delighted to see you.” Judy could not stop smiling.

  “I know Mum. It’s been too long. I don’t want to fight anymore,” Cara said.

  “Let’s forgive and forget. I just can’t bear to be with out my little girl.”

  Cara smiled too, “Mum!”

  “What shall it be then? Have whatever you like, my treat,” Judy said.

  The line was small at the order counter and Judy sat back down quickly waiting on her tea delivery. She was parched.

  “You cut your hair!” Judy noticed.

  “Yes well, I’ve bleached it too many times.”

  “It looks good.”

  “Thanks, it was shocking at first but now I’m used to the new me, although I do want to grow it out again.”

  “Yes, well, either way, you’re a bonnie lass.”

  Cara smiled, “Thanks.”

  “Tell me, how are things? Work? Are you still with Colin?”

  “Work is fine, Colin isn’t.” Cara paused and Judy just waited. “We split up.”

  “Oh pet.” Judy reached out her hand and placed it on her daughter’s.

  Cara suddenly looked sad, her grey eyes quivering lightly, but tried to quickly cover it up. She sighed, “It just wasn’t going to work. We tried, but I couldn’t forgive him.”

  “And you don’t have to. Those things are hard to forgive.”

  “I really did try. It’s not me. The trust is gone,” Cara said. “Every time I looked at him, all I could see was her, my best friend. The two of them in our bed. Oh Mum!” Cara covered up her face.

  The waitress dropped off Judy’s tea and she readied her cup as she listened to Cara continue.

  “That bitch!” The sadness turned to anger. “The whole time she acted like my friend but she wasn’t, she said the whole thing was an accident. But I just don’t believe her.”

  “Trust your instinct
s,” Judy advised.

  “Yes, well I’m moving out now. I found a new flat to rent.”

  “Oh?” Judy perked up.

  “Yes, I’m moving back to Alexandria.”

  Judy was delighted, “You are! Oh Cara! I’m so happy. We will be close again, but what about work?”

  “Oh, I’ll find something. I’m going to take some time off. I’ve been saving a while. Colin didn’t know. I just need a fresh start.”

  “Brilliant! You can come visit me anytime you want.”

  “At the Manor?” Cara asked.

  “Yes.”

  “How is it there?”

  “I love it there. The last few days were busy as we were full, but now it’s calmed down a wee bit. I work with Patrick Dowell, do you know him. He’s about your age.”

  “No. I don’t think I do, well maybe the name is familiar.” Cara squinted her eyes and looked out the window trying to remember, “No, don’t recall.”

  “And Claire Mc Faden.”

  “Oh aye, bright red hair, and the personality to go with it,” Cara laughed.

  “Well…oh God it’s so embarrassing.” Judy stopped.

  “What?”

  “I was spying on Claire and her boyfriend kissing in the kitchen and I fell flat on my face.”

  Cara wanted to laugh but held back, “What? No….”

  “Aye, the door fell open, you see it’s a swinging door.” Judy started laughing.

  “Oh Mum.” They started in hysterics till the food arrived and they both calmed down. “Mum, that is so funny, I needed a good laugh.”

  “I know you did.” Judy felt great sitting there and the food was delicious.

  But the two became silent as they were both starved and ate their mince meat pies and chips. The Gossip Cup was packed now with the lunch rush and every once in a while if one tried hard enough you could overhear your neighbors conversation. Judy and Cara listened in to an old biddy complaining about her “bloody” neighbors, as she kept repeating. They smiled at each other.

  “I’m glad you’re coming home hen.”

  “Me too,” Cara said.

  The passage way was dark, lanterns lined the way, but they were not lit and most covered in dusty cobwebs. Patrick walked slowly and mindfully. He was afraid, but excited at the same time. He passed countless closed doors, hesitant to open any after what had just happened in the other room. The hallucinations had felt a bit too real for comfort. The doors, though, looked very old, made of solid wood and black cast iron. The odd web lined the stone ceiling with no signs of any spiders and the dark passage way seemed endless. Was it another illusion?

  Patrick stopped and stood outside one old door waiting cautiously, debating.

  “Just do it!” he whispered.

  Patrick pressed down on the handle. It was so stiff, like it hadn’t been opened in centuries. It wouldn’t budge.

  “Come on then.” Patrick leaned his body into it and shoved.

  With a heavy cracking sound, the door gave way. Patrick shone the torch in to reveal a gathering of coffins, at least fifty. They were different shapes and different sizes and made of different materials. They all lined the floor neatly with walking space around each one. The scene was sinister and certainly not inviting to the living. One coffin in particular stuck out among the others, it glowed bright in the light and was made of white marble. He decided to open the small child-size coffin. The lid was heavy, but unexpectedly slid with ease, just a bit too easily. The lid fell to the ground with a large crash.

  “Christ!” Patrick jumped back looking at the cracked lid. “Christ!” He tried to push the pieces back together.

  The coffin was empty and dust lined the satin cream bed inside. A body print creased the bottom.

  “What the hell?” Patrick got the creeps and decided to leave the rest be.

  He wasn’t in the mood for seeing any dead bodies. Although somehow he knew that there were none. Patrick closed the door quickly behind him, puzzled and wanting more answers.

  Curiosity was an addicting thing as he pushed open the next door down. There were just so many to choose from. The room seemed larger than the previous one. It was filled with old junk, tables, chairs, all antiques and some in good condition. He saw his reflection in broken mirror, distorting his attractive face. It looked like someone had split it in half and slid one part down. He didn’t realize how tired he looked. Patrick rubbed his face noticing the adrenaline wearing off from his test, as well as all the other thrills. He sighed.

  The old chair creaked as Patrick sat down a minute and just breathed. The room was so stale, filled with dust, mildew and god knew what else. He picked up his cell phone to check the time. Hours had passed.

  “What? That can’t be.” Patrick felt like he’d only been down there for only half an hour or more. “That can’t be.”

  The little indicator on the screen was red indicating no cell phone service.

  “I’ve got to get back.”

  Patrick got up and looked back the way he had come. He dreaded that room with the eyes.

  “I can’t go back there.” So he turned around and continued further in.

  The hallway split as he continued. The choice was simple, the path ahead or as he directed the bright light, “To the left? Hmmmm.”

  There was a slight sound of movement behind him. Patrick just about jumped out of his skin, but there was nothing there.

  “God, this place.”

  Patrick took the left. There were no doors this way and it seemed like the hall was narrowing and angling down, but he wasn’t sure because it was very minor. He stopped abruptly and guided the light down, showing a steep set of stone stairs.

  “Few.” Patrick regained his balance after almost tumbling down them.

  The stairs were small and following the question of whether to venture on down, he made the descent. It was only a quick peek, he told himself. It seemed like forever as he carefully made each step. A small red door sat at the bottom looking bright and shiny.

  Patrick pushed the door open with ease and felt a gush of air hit his face. He ducked as he passed through it and swung the light in front of him, but it barely illuminated the massive void. It was magnificent. He gasped as he scanned the gigantic ball room. It was larger than the whole manor itself. Dusty crystal chandeliers lined a detailed painted ceiling of angels in a soft blue heaven facing demons on the other side in the burning pits of hell.

  “Wow……..” He scanned around in utter awe listening to his own echo, “Whoa!”

  There were ornate tables lining a circular, perfectly smooth, marbled black floor. The room was colored all a deep blood red with gold crown molding circling the top and bottom. Intermixed around the wall were other smaller paintings of religious scenes and more open hallways leading who knew where.

  Patrick had never seen anything so grand. He felt so small standing in that place and utterly alone. The large space was absolutely quiet. Minutes passed as he just stood there taking it all in. A feeling of despair came over him, as if hundreds of voices had been silenced there. Chills ran over his body followed by goose bumps.

  “Right!” his voice echoed after him. “Time to go.”

  The ascent was quicker, it always seemed that way though to Patrick. Anticipation made trips seem longer than what they really were. It was back to the main passage way and a way out, he assumed.

  A T-intersection lay ahead with a light scent of lavender wafting in the air.

  “Alesta!” Patrick whispered.

  Maybe she was down here too? He wanted to look around more but noticed a button on the wall as he looked to the right of the T. There were more rooms the other direction but Patrick just wanted to get back. Allister would be up soon.

  The stone button was small, but obviously not concealed like all the rest he had encountered.

  “Thank God,” Patrick said. “A way out.” He pressed it and passed through into a rather full wine cellar.

  He took the stairs up and
passed into Alesta’s kitchen.

  “What the?”

  Patrick was completely surprised and stood a moment trying to digest the discovery. He was silenced. Alesta he assumed was sleeping upstairs. What if she had heard him? Patrick tiptoed around through her living room and into the hallway out. How would he explain all this if she caught him?

  Patrick almost didn’t care if she did and decided he needed to see her beautiful sleeping face.

  Judy and Cara had been talking for hours and the Gossip Cup was almost empty. The two of them had had way too much caffeine and the jitters set in.

  “Cara lets go for a walk in the park.”

  “Okay, yeah we’ve been here so long, but it was good. Good tea and even better dessert.”

  “Yeah that’s why I want to walk.” Judy laughed.

  “Oh Mum you’re as fit as a fiddle. What are you worrying about?”

  “That is why I’m fit.”

  “I should exercise more but I’ve just been too busy with work and everything else going on. I used to get up early and ride my bicycle before Colin.”

  “Well it’s never too late. Maybe you should start it up again. The weather will be getting better soon.”

  “You’re right, once I get all moved.” Cara followed Judy as she paid the bill.

  The High Street was also a bit quieter as the shops were getting ready to close at five. The park was only ten minutes away and the two walked quickly to warm up. The air was just a tad bit nippy as dusk was approaching.

  Grove Park was beautiful no matter what time of year it was. There were many chestnut trees scattered around, with swings and a large merry-go-round for children. It overlooked the water and had a perfect view of Alexandria Castle. Judy and Cara sat down on a bench on the waterside. The castle stood out upon the water with an almost perfect reflection. It looked old and wise like it had seen many a battle and many a feast.

  “Oh Mum, remember the dancing I used to do at the castle when I was little. We used to go during school to practice for the yearly competition. I was pretty quick-footed wasn’t I?”

  “Yes.” Judy watched a crane out in the mud as the tide was out.