Delivered to Eternity, An Alesta the Vampire Book

by Yirak, Laura

  “Walk with me now, away from here, we don’t want anyone to over hear.” They both started off towards the waters edge, “I’ll tell you. I was a boy. It was before I became a vampire….. We were child hood friends and it became that much more as we grew up together. Her name was Mora. She was so beautiful, so innocent, so….. It was one night we were outside taking a walk around the Castle. We were surprised by something, something dark, but I couldn’t tell what it was. It was the same night I became a vampire. It was William. He had been jealous of our love and everything that it stood for. I tried to pry him off of her, but he was so strong, I didn’t know the thing that he was. I guess he had only been a vampire for a few weeks and consumed by his new-found powers he took the one thing from me that…..” James stopped for a second, “He killed her there in front of me and then he made me what I am now, vowing that I was his one and only brother, not to be had by anyone else. I remember still as if it just happened.”

  “What? My God…..” Alesta was shocked. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Do believe it.”

  “And how are you both so close now?”

  “I’ve been waiting, waiting for my revenge.”

  “All these years, all this time?” Alesta didn’t know how to take James’s confession, for all she knew it was a trick.

  “The time has come Alesta. He knows that you want to kill him.”

  Alesta stepped back, “No, I, what?”

  “He’s setting something up. He hasn’t told me the details yet, but all I know is that he has no intentions of you existing past the ball.”

  “No……” she went quiet then spoke quieter, distantly, she stopped walking “I can’t believe this.” She became louder, frustrated, hands at her head. “After everything he has done, I…..I…..” Alesta felt the anger come boiling up to the surface again. She stiffened her arms by her side and clenched her fists. It was just as well someone was next to her as she thought about swooping in on William and having a bloody hay day.

  “Relax, relax.” James tried to calm her down, but he could see it in her eyes, the hate, her eyes were red now instead of that brilliant blue that they always were. It was rare to see a vampire’s eyes turn to fire.

  “I’ll help you. We both have a common goal. We both desire the same thing, the death of William McKenzie.” He took her hand in his and held on tight, but it barely touched her anger.

  They returned to the manor a long while later. Alesta had to walk off some of the fury and James just supported her in her needs. They agreed to help one another, but Alesta still wasn’t sure about James. At this point she couldn’t just believe the only brother of her husband, but maybe what he said was true, maybe he was going to help her. It was the only choice she had with such short notice.

  Coffins of different shapes and sizes had been dispersed to designated guest rooms in the underground and throughout the manor rooms. Alesta walked about the rest of the night making sure that the servants were on top of all the guests’ requests. William had had all the guest windows blocked from daylight and enough food to keep up with the special needs crowd. All that meant was that the dungeon was full with vampires.

  The Tootson twins and William were nowhere to be found, which was perfectly fine with her as she wanted William distracted for the time being. She went to their room to search for anything out of the ordinary.

  The bed sat perfectly made, it looked like nothing had ever happened there, so empty with not a single crease. It disgusted her as she looked at it and tried not to remember. She moved her hand up close to one of the heavy, solid posts, but dared not to touch it and swore to have it burned at a later date. The rest of their belongings looked not a bit out of place. She opened all the drawers, checked the large dressing room and even looked in her golden coffin, but everything was as it always had been. The air around her smelled stale, she wrinkled her nose as she closed the doors behind her and waved her hands at her face just to feel a little movement.

  The large open space of the ballroom seemed to help with the claustrophobia she had been feeling. It was empty, but a buzz filled the air like it was waiting for something big, everything sparkled in her night vision, different shades of blues, to the darkest to the brightest as she looked up at the crystal chandeliers. She remembered William tipping her back before he took her off to a new hell. She shivered although it was not cold.

  “There you are!” A whisper came from behind her, she turned to see James. “I’ve been looking for you, seems that William is not around.”

  “And neither are the Twins,” Alesta said with contempt. “I have not seen them anywhere, but I have not really wanted to. My self control right now has dwindled to nothing really and I can’t seem to shake the awful memories.”

  “Well maybe I can distract you a little.” James offered his hand, “May I have this dance?”

  “Here now?”

  “Why not?” he asked.

  The vision flashed again of William, “No thank you, not this night.”

  “Oh, come on, look at it all.” James spun around with such speed that his coat tails whipped behind him. “You’re stunning in that gown, almost glowing; you’re the sun missing in the heavens above us.”

  “Thank you,” she smiled, “but please, no dancing, the sun doesn’t dance.”

  “Sometimes it does. It depends on your perspective. Pleeeeease???” he waited for a response. “No??? At least I tried.”

  “You’re very good at it. Do you miss her?” she carefully asked holding his eye contact.

  He waited to answer and finally did, “Yes. Every woman I have been with since cannot fill the void that she left behind. Maybe one day I will meet another who can compare. I thought it would happen…… I swear I thought I could meet someone and fall in love once every life time. It hasn’t happened. I think at least for me she was it.”

  “I’m sorry that happened to you,” Alesta said.

  “Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I know that, but…..”

  “You are too kind and too caring. How did you manage all these years with my brother?”

  “It’s his charm. You have it too,” Alesta said. “I was young. I was swept away by it. I enjoyed it. The first century was brilliant, fabulous, I can’t say that I regret it, but he tires. He’s insatiable. I couldn’t keep up with him and after a while I just stopped trying.”

  “Well I don’t blame you. I think he’s found what he’s looking for in the Tootson Twins.”

  “Don’t remind me of those two. Lord.” Alesta wanted to leave and James led her away from the echoes of the ballroom.

  They settled down in a parlor room close to the long stairs down to the ballroom, it was a holding area for guests before they settled into an exciting evening of dancing, it was a larger room therefore and everything in it was colored in golds and silvers giving just a little appetizer of style before the big event. Alesta sat down on one of the long velvet silvered benches and crossed her legs under her thick petticoats. She was very good and not showing an ounce of skin, she noticed James looking for a glimpse of something.

  “I don’t think he’ll do it at the ball,” Alesta finally said after a long moment of silence. Their thoughts had gone to other places for a moment or two as they knew time was running out with dawn approaching. “What should I do?” she said.

  “I think you’ll have to just follow my lead. I’ll see what I can get out of him. I wish he were here. I swear…..that man is never where he is supposed to be. It’s always a surprise with him. The whole thing makes my stomach churn.”

  “You’re telling me, I’m sitting here like a lady, but I don’t feel like one. I want to bring down havoc.”

  “I’d like to see it in that dress.”

  They both laughed, it was exactly what they needed.

  “And what do we do after it all?” Alesta asked

  “Well you’re coming with me to Spain,” he said.

  Alesta let the commen
t go as the more he brought it up the better it sounded.

  “Well, I can feel that it’s time to go to bed,” Alesta said. “I’m away now.”

  “No kiss goodnight?” James thought he would at least try.

  “Another time dear James.” Alesta took his hand as he helped her up and she left him there in the parlor room.

  As far as he was concerned she didn’t want to know where he slept, just as long as she had her coffin to herself, for all she knew it was her last time in it.

  Chaos was the only word to describe the hours before the event. The evening had come quickly and Alesta had not slept well, she felt even more tired watching the hands buzzing around the halls and all the last little bits and pieces fall into place. The manor was full of guests as many more had arrived and there were still more to come. It didn’t even look as if there was enough room for them all. She decided to open up the under ground early and let the extra guests wait in the parlor room.

  She sent in appetizers to keep them all occupied before the big feast. She knew William had planned something extraordinary, but he hadn’t told her anything about it as he wanted it to be astonishing, is the word she thought he had used. Whatever it was she didn’t particularly care as she browsed around the crowds looking for William and James, but they were not around. She decided to get dressed instead.

  The dress was the blackest dress she had ever seen, big, bouncy with a black choker. It was an impressive gift. It hung there ready to be worn. Alesta carried it over with her and hung it beside the large dressing room mirrors. She removed her nightwear and adorned the just made black silken petticoats. Her maid laced up the bodice tightly so that it was hard to breath, and then Alesta began the application of her rouge. She made sure her lips were red as red could stand and the maid slicked her silky and smooth hair up. She made sure to take her time as the more time she had alone, the more time she was away from all of it. The dressing room was a prefect hiding spot or so she figured till William finally entered.

  “Where have you been?” she asked.

  “About…..preparing…..entertaining……of that sort…..miss me?” he stood with an unassuming expression.

  “You may be excused.” William shooed the maid away.

  Alesta watched him, as hard as it was, went towards him slowly and gave him a slow long kiss, then looked him in his fake eyes, but they were closed as he had obviously enjoyed it. It made it that much worse to do when she almost pulled away but he held her close to him not letting go. She didn’t want to struggle or show any sign of her true feelings and he grasped her knowing all the while that she was pretending. It satisfied him to have the control.

  “I must finish getting dressed,” Alesta finally said.

  “And I must as well.”

  He let go and she immediately turned away from him thinking of her long elegant sword she had hidden long ago behind her many dresses. It was a prefect time to use it. She walked towards the place it was hidden and stopped to ponder the idea a little more.

  “Looking for something?” William knew.

  “Um, my choker?” Alesta said innocently deciding it was a very bad time to act. The guests, mostly in his favor would notice his absence. It would be hard thing to cover up with the hundred or so vampires around, inquiring.

  William pointed, “It’s on the floor there.”

  “Oh! Thank you.” She bent over, picked it up and put it on.

  William admired her shape, “You should go as is.”

  She ignored the comment. The dress was a little more difficult to maneuver into being so big, “Can you button me up please?” and he did roughly.

  It was utter satisfaction as she admired herself in the mirror. The little seamstress had done a very fine job. It was by far her favorite. She almost forgot about William there in the same room as she looked at the sheen, it was like liquid smooth black midnight, perfect for a vampire and a vampires’ ball.

  “Stunning…..just as I ordered.” William was a little jealous as he mostly preferred the attention.

  His tone made her smile, “I’ll take your compliment, but I wouldn’t speak too soon, the same woman who made this did yours to match.”

  The heavily pleated kilt and long sleeved shirt matched hers perfectly, all black, the two would be the obvious stars of the ball.

  “I can’t wait. I’m going to request you to be by my side now till it begins,” he said.

  Alesta went along with it knowing his intentions, “Of course.”

  It was all up to James now she thought and she hoped that he was telling her the truth. The stakes were large, too large.

  “Lead the way William. I think it’s time we made our grand entrance!” She was a little excited now. It must have been the dress.

  William took Alesta’s arm on his and escorted her down the long red velvet adorned stairs to the underground ballroom; crystal wrapped candles flickered upon the walls sparkling the way. Alesta held up her dress as she took each step making sure not to fall. At one point her heel caught on the bottom edge of the gown and she had to stop to undo it. William assisted her and they continued down. The trip seemed so long and from the width of the hallway, one wouldn’t expect the scale of the surprise ahead. They stopped before the closed red door.

  “Everyone inside?” William asked the perfectly poised door man.

  “Yes your Lordship! Everyone except…..”

  “Let me guess…..My dear brother?” William responded.

  “He was here, but stepped out…..Your Lordship…..he said he would be right back.” The doorman looked and sounded nervous.

  “Well I don’t want to keep everyone waiting. I like to start on time so we will,” William said and Alesta nodded in agreement, but she couldn’t help but wonder where James was and what he was doing.

  Considering that everyone in the ballroom was technically dead, the place seemed alive. The gowns were in tones of whites, blacks and reds as well as the suits and kilts, the dress code had been explicitly set in the invitations. It was all William’s planning, the colors of life, death and blood to connect the two. Music floated on the air from the live orchestra and they were very alive, they got the odd look from the odd vampire, wanting for just a bite to eat or maybe a little something to parch their thirsts, but the players played and though afraid, didn’t show it.

  Dancing had not commenced yet as the main couple hadn’t arrived, the vampires mingled around, some sat around the edges at tables and the odd sofa and some sat above at the opera-like balconies, looking up and down at the views. There was a lot to take in. It was thrilling for most of them hadn’t been together in over a few decades and there was much to catch up on.

  Vampires usually kept to smaller groups in general and there was no central leadership in their culture. Each was left to his own as to how to hide in a world filled with humans. General customs had developed over the ages and were passed by word of mouth only from maker to made. Therefore as humans had many differences between societies so did vampires. This particular group had mainly originated from the British Isles and so they were happy enough mixing with their own.

  However vampires did not hold the same prejudices as humans did, for instance the religious conflicts between the Scots, English and Irish didn’t hold the same meaning once one from one of the countries became a vampire, all that didn’t matter as all vampires were the same. They were dead. Political conflicts between vampires therefore were personal ones and not the ideals held by human nations.

  James had not joined the group yet and William who was anxious to start gave the doorman a nod to open the red door. The crowd and orchestra stopped as the glorious hosts stepped in to the large room. Not a pin drop could be heard.

  William led his way to the very center of the large room and Alesta rustled beside him, she let him do all the talking.

  His voice boomed out, “Welcome all! Thank you for coming this night, the night of our marriage celebration. Alesta and I have been married now fo
r several centuries, a glorious several centuries. It’s been too long since we have all been united and I am grateful that all of us are finally here together.” William stopped as he noticed James enter the ballroom, “To beginnings and endings!” The crowd clapped, the Tootson twins looking extraordinarily happy, “I want to begin the ball now with the first dance as I don’t want to keep you all from the festivities!”

  The orchestra started the soft Scottish melody and the crowd spread out and around the couple in a large circle. William looked Alesta directly in the eye, took her gloved hand in his bare hand with his other on her waist. She felt a little nervous with all eyes upon her including her husband’s, but she let him lead and played along with every step, turn, and twirl. She decided to focus on the music and moved her thoughts to other places.

  It was James all dressed in white who finally caught her eye, he had placed himself above at one of the balconies alone, he sent her a wink. She looked away quickly hoping William hadn’t noticed her wandering eyes. She gave her husband a warm smile and he returned it. The dance continued till William finally tipped her back and held her there at the last note. The crowd clapped and he bowed and she curtsied.

  That was the signal for everyone else to join in. The Scottish songs continued and the dancing commenced. James kept away and Alesta excused herself from William to take a seat at one of the side tables, she just wanted to sit.

  A waiter came by as she watched everyone, “A drink my Lady?”

  “Yes please.”

  He sat a glass of the purest blood in front of her, still warm; she sipped on it seeing that William had already acquainted himself with one of the twins who was dressed in a bright white tight fitting gown. Alesta didn’t particularly care at that moment and enjoyed the slight sweetness of her drink. It was from someone young, she could tell. As she finished the last drop she looked up to see James offering her a hand.

  “Care to dance?”

  “Yes. I would.” Alesta took the offer and at the start of the next song, a slower song, they mingled into the large crowd.