by Yirak, Laura
But what if Ian decides to feed on Ro?”
“Eh, well I suppose it would finish him off and we don’t mind that outcome now do we. In fact that would be ideal,” the Count said.
“Maybe.” Alesta wasn’t certain. “This idea makes me a little nervous. There’s too many ifs. I just don’t know. I mean Father Mac Namara is still going to be in that cell, the poor man. Don’t you think he’s been through enough?”
“What other choice do we have?” The Count picked up the limp body from the sofa and placed it over his shoulder.
“Let me look at his head,” Alesta insisted. “We don’t want him to get an infection.”
The wound was small and there was a big lump. Patrick had cleaned it up nicely.
“Well the blood has come to the surface and not into his skull. I think the Father will be fine except for a large headache, a minor concussion. He’s lucky Judy didn’t kill him.”
“Would you rather it him or Patrick?” Nicholas led the way to the kitchen, then to the cellar.
“Oh! There you go again teasing me. I’m not in the mood. Please Nicholas.” Alesta carried the cat and the Count carried Father Mac Namara back to the dungeons.
Steam filled the kitchen; plates were clanging, food flying, everything moving quickly but in harmony. It was everything Patrick needed to keep his mind off of the vampires.
“All done, let’s serve. Judy you’re on drinks and I’ll take the rest out, Claire just keep the hot plates coming!” Patrick backed out of the swinging doors into the Great Hall.
Appetizers were almost finished with as the main course was laid out. The guests looked happy as the fire roared and the music played in the background. Judy kept up with wine pouring and Patrick answered every question and delivered every request. It was back into the kitchen for the rest and then there would be a lull till dessert had to be served. They all stood back against the counters looking pleased at the progress and absence of error.
“I love it when it’s like this,” Patrick said.
“Aye. Me too,” Claire added.
The stress was catching up a bit with Judy who hadn’t worked so hard in years. Her feet were feeling it. “I think I should buy different shoes.”
“They’ll toughen up.” Claire grinned enjoying Judy’s obvious discomfort.
Patrick did not notice their tension however, “That they will, just give it a month or so.” Patrick pulled some small plates out of the cupboard. “I used to get sore, but now it’s a breeze.”
Claire watched as Patrick prepped the small cakes and berries on the plates. She wanted so badly to nose into the beach scene more, but after Judy’s stern chatter earlier held back reluctantly. He didn’t even have a hair out of place she looked him over head to toe. He must have changed she thought, but after a little more self talk she piped up.
“You okay Patrick?” Claire asked.
“Yes, just fine Claire.”
Judy whipped Claire the look of death and Claire swallowed, moving her eyes about quickly, “Good, good. I was worried earlier. What happened to the man?”
Judy let Patrick take the lead as obviously Claire wasn’t about to respect her earlier requests.
“He’s fine…..nothing that you need to be concerned about.” And that was all he said.
But she pried again, “I mean is his head okay?” Claire asked and Judy turned her back to the meddlesome red head, she wanted to go back outside and get the shovel for a second round.
“Yes,” Patrick said and left the kitchen abruptly to check on the crowd.
“You’re pushing it Claire! I told you to drop it. He’s had a rough day can’t you see it in his eyes. Leave Patrick alone for Pete’s sake.”
“Okay, okay. I get it Judy. Jeez.” Claire decided to start on the dishes and Judy left the kitchen altogether, she needed some air.
Everything was peaceful at last as the last person left the Great Hall. Judy was off tending rooms and Patrick sent Claire home early. He tackled the mess alone and though it was a large mess he didn’t mind one bit.
The kiss the previous night lingered in his thoughts as he stood in the exact spot where it had happened, with his stomach turning to knots he leaned over and gripped the sinks edge firmly.
“Why?” he whispered.
The timing of it all was bad. He kissed Alesta before he knew the truth. Maybe he could have been better prepared for a kiss with death if he had only known. Deep down though he knew he was lying to himself. He wanted her regardless of the truth. It consumed him. Every little interaction they had had over the past week played over and over again resting again with the last real encounter. He rubbed his hand under the collar of his white shirt to feel the two pinholes left behind. They were still wet almost like they were waiting to be visited again. He looked at the blood on his fingers and then washed it away under the warm water. If only he could wash away the burden of his feelings, if only for a moment he could just think clearly.
Everything in his life was intertwined in the daily goings on of the Manor and her. There was no way to escape it other than to completely leave. The idea pained him. He didn’t want to leave, he loved it there. It was his real home and Alesta had a hold on him whether he liked it or not.
The cell door was locked into place. Alesta had at least grabbed some food and a blanket for the poor Priest who was going to wake up surprised at his new abode.
“This better work,” Alesta said.
“It will. We’ll wait Ian out, even if it takes days,” the Count said.
“And the Priest, I feel terrible putting him through this. Look at him there. I’ve been in a cell here. It’s a kind of hell I never want to experience again. William was a cruel man and here I am repeating that cruelness.”
“Yes you’re right, but there not much more of a choice here, we can’t kill him. That would be the quickest way to do this.”
A whisper came from a few cells down, “Do it.”
It was Ro. He was slowly coming to, listening to their every word.
Alesta opened the shutter to his cell and looked in. He was laying on the hard floor, still in dried mud, hair just as filthy; face looking dried up and withered from a lack of blood.
“Tell me what you did with those babies,” Alesta said. She felt enraged just looking at him there lying in his own filth.
Ro let out a weak but heartless chuckle.
“We’re going to leave you in here till you do.”
“So be it,” Ro whispered flashing his fangs while hissing horribly.
“You ate them didn’t you? You disgust me.”
That amused him even more.
Nicholas took Alesta’s arm and pulled her away, “Stop. There’s no sense in wasting conversation on him and giving him the satisfaction.”
Alesta pulled away and looked in again, “You’ll never leave this place. I made you. I’ll take it all away.” She slammed the shutter closed.
She looked at Nicholas who was just observing now, “I swear I’m going to kill him. What was I thinking all those years ago? I made a mistake choosing him and now I have to pay the price, innocent people are paying the price. How long must this go on? I just have to get out of here.”
Alesta ran back out of the dungeons leaving the Count behind with just the sounds of her echoing footsteps.
“Patrick! There you are,” Alesta said as she stepped into the kitchen.
“Just finishing up for the night. I’m almost done.” Patrick was cleaning the counter tops off and putting the odd dish away.
They fell speechless, Patrick trying to use his work as a reason not to make eye contact and Alesta watched him wishing he would just give her anything, any sign.
“How’s the Father?” Patrick interrupted the uncomfortable silence and faced her.
“He’s still unconscious. Nicholas is with him now.”
“Nicholas?” Patrick used a tone. “He’s a vampire too?”
“Yes.”
“And….what’s
the story there? I hate to even ask……never mind. I don’t want to know.” Patrick turned away from her and focused on the sink wringing the wet rags.
The running water was stifling hot and steam billowed up. Patrick unknowingly held his breath.
“Patrick! Breathe!” Alesta took a step closer. “You’re neck, it’s bruised. Let me take a look at it.”
“I canny do this.” Patrick slammed the rag down into the sink. “It’s too much. All of it. Vampires! I…..I…..” He shook his head as if to try and rid himself of his feelings. “It’s all I can think about.” He turned to face her. “You! I can’t stop thinking about you, about our kiss and then the dungeon. I want more. I wanted to give you everything in that moment. I…..I must go…..got to just get outta here.”
He pushed passed her and went outside into the cold early spring night.
“Patrick! Don’t!” She caught the door before it slammed shut and watched him with her night vision, seeing his hot blood pump through his body on the cold blue background.
She instantly felt hungry.
“Oh hello there! How are you?” Judy entered the kitchen.
Alesta whipped quickly around, “I’m fine Judy.”
Alesta watched Judy’s blood pump through her skin exposed parts, face, neck and arms, hers a little more irregular than Patrick’s, she could sense the higher pressures in her hardened old arteries.
Judy noticed the strange look that Alesta was giving her and decided to ignore it, “I’ve got to get some tea and a couple other things for the guests, do you know where Patrick put the kettles? I don’t see them.” Judy was buzzing around looking on the shelves and in the places they should have been.
“No. I don’t know Judy.” Alesta strained to turn away and did. “Maybe in the pantry?” She turned her focus back to the outside but there was no sign of Patrick.
Chasing down a victim was part of a vampire’s instinct, but Alesta had controlled these instincts for years. Everything seemed to be slipping tonight though as Alesta became more and more emotionally upset. She undid her tight wound hair and shook it around her shoulders and unbuttoned a few of the buttons at her neck.
“I’m hungry,” Alesta said following Judy with wild eyes.
“Oh! I found them. He shoved them all the way in the back,” Judy called out from the pantry.
Judy however was not paying attention to Alesta. Judy pushed past her to answer another call from one of the guests asking for some dessert. The sound of Judy’s heart quickened with the added stress and Alesta found it that much more enticing. Alesta snuck up behind Judy focusing only on the back of her lightly wrinkled neck and all of its sweetness.
“There. Finished with the first order.” Judy picked up the silver tray and turned, just missing Alesta. “Oh dear! I’m sorry I didn’t know you were behind me. Will you excuse me?” Judy tried to scoot past.
“Yes.” Alesta moved.
It was a very good thing that Judy left. Alesta, realizing what she had almost done, freaked out. She needed solitude, needed to hide. She was feeling out of control, rule number three she repeated to herself, never eat the staff, but she had already broken that rule with Patrick.
“Jesus!” she whispered.
Chapter 11
The old under ground ball room, grand and opulent in design, was just the place to escape to for Alesta, completely desolate. No one would find her there, not even the Count. She paced around the marbled floor soft in step admiring the sculptures and art that had been placed around its perfectly circular edge with a randomly large gold encrusted mirror peaking out here and there. Why get all dressed up if you can’t see yourself? She remembered William’s statement from so long ago. The words almost lingered there in the air.
The large space was so old and so unused that she hadn’t bothered to update the electrical. The gasolier chandeliers hung there in bronze and crystal dullness, slightly tarnished to the dark hues looking a little forlorn.
“This place needs a lot of work,” Alesta said as if asking its permission to make improvements.
Only her own voice answered her back.
She moved to the exact center of the ball room and looked directly up picking up her skirt with one hand and twirling in a circle. The painted heavens, slightly faded above looked down at her, the battle between good and evil and there she was in the middle of it all, the great discourse right at her hands. She raised them into the air as she spun quicker and quicker, then stopped to watch the room spin and everything look like a swirling fancy mess.
A sigh came next and she plopped herself into the dusty floor.
“Oops, my dress,” said so playfully, but she just didn’t care.
“How did I get here? Right here? How did I let myself fall in love with another human?”
It was a question she couldn’t answer then and there.
“What is wrong with me?” Alesta placed her hands over her face she didn’t want to look at the heavens anymore. “I’m a vampire! I should stay with my own kind.”
Thoughts of Ian came, then Ro. Those outcomes had been disastrous; everything about what happened to them was her fault, two human lives that had been ruined. She started the whole ordeal with them and here they were haunting her years and years later and then Patrick on top of it all. The timing couldn’t have been any worse. She lay there and thought back.
Weeks had passed since Ian’s death. The weeks had been dawdling and Alesta found herself watching the water much and ignoring William. It was fine because he always had other things and other women to entertain himself with. The rents had to be collected and debts kept in order. It was fun for him to put the pressure on the lower classes who owed him something. All they wanted was a roof over their heads, some food and little land to work, their lives so simple in design. Some of the women paid off the debts in other ways. It always disgusted her.
It was one dreary evening that he finally had the gall to bring it all up again.
“Your propensity for human desire is detrimental to the both of us.” William took a sip of blood from the crystal wine glass and sat it down on the table in front of him with a reverberating clang.
“Excuse me,” Alesta said from all the way at the other end of the table in the Great Hall.
“Yes. I’ve been thinking as you have been. My dear you have not said much in weeks. It’s on your mind I know it is. I guess what I have to know is why did you do it in the first place? Anger me so like that; force me to punish you again. I’m mystified. Am I not exciting enough for you?”
“William.” Alesta raised her brow no longer feeling hungry.
“Is it not enough everything that I have provided for you, a name, a title, lands, and what I consider to be a stirring and privileged life?”
“William. I didn’t intend for it to happen. I let you have your other fancies.”
“Now, now, we’re not discussing me. We’re discussing you. You know that I don’t care for those women as I do you. They are just toys. You actually seemed to have feelings for this Ian character. I saw it when you held him there on the beach. I watched your face. It bothers me. He was after all only a human.”
“You had your revenge, now can’t we just drop this whole thing. I tire of you and this.”
William stood up and slammed his hand on the table firmly, everything rattled in the room just a little. “I want to know Alesta. What makes you tick? Why him? A stable lad of all people, why not one of our other vampire friends. What is it with the humans that draw you in?”
“They’re alive.”
“But they are our food. They are below us.”
“They are not. It is everything about them that fascinates me. I want to be like them. I’m just dead inside.”
“How can you think that? We live forever. It is a gift.”
“It wasn’t my choice. I want to be like them. Being close to them, makes me feel again. That and I just liked the way Ian looked at me.”
“So it’s all about the atte
ntion.”
“Perhaps.”
“Sometimes I feel you don’t notice me anymore. I want to be desired. I am here, you are there, we’re together but…..”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know. What do you give to the woman who has everything? You are spoiled.”
“See, I open up to you and you are cruel.”
The candles in the room seemed to dim a little as the conversation did. William glared at her with his dark eyes, brooding away as he always did. He was insulted at her candor, but he asked for it. “Let’s have a large celebration in honor of our marriage.”
“What?” Alesta wasn’t expecting that response. “Celebrate. We’re almost at our ends wit and you want to celebrate. You played the most horrid of games of revenge on me and you want to have a party? That is just like the GREAT William McKenzie!” she shouted, “Unbelievable! You’re so stifling mad.”
“Isn’t that what drew you to me in the first place. I’m spontaneous, charismatic and most of all never a dire bore, the complete opposite of your dear old Count.”
“Oh! Incorrigible.” Alesta got up from the table.
But it was decided, when William got an idea in his head there was no stopping him. The arrangements for the vampire ball began and Alesta had to go along with it. She had no choice, she knew that William was tiring of her and she of him, it was only a matter of time before it would all end.
“Right, move that one a little to the right and…..stop, stop…..perfect! Now the rest I want spread out evenly around the edges, but not all facing exactly the same way. I don’t want it to look so structured. A little chaos is good.” William pointed at the smoothly carved statue of the nude female that he had ordered and the workers he had just found in amongst all those indentured, these ones owing a bit more than some of the others.
“What do you think Alesta?” William looked pleased with himself.
“When you said party I didn’t think you had something so grand in mind.”