Aris Rising: The Court of Vampires: AN INFINITY DIARIES NOVEL

by Morgan, Devin

  Sebastian brought news from their spies. Their self-proclaimed enemy outnumbered them. De Flores and Mariska had first tamed them with fear and were now training them for battle. It was only a matter of time before they arrived in London; only a matter of time before the human population knew of their existence. They must ready themselves and go to Spain. It was their only chance at keeping their lives as they were.

  Aris promised her he would return after his meeting with Akira. He would have to go before the Council for a formal trial but Sebastian assured him, under the current circumstances, forgiveness was the only plausible verdict. So he readied himself to leave even as Sarah sat eating a quiet lunch in Lincoln Park.

  “I’m sorry, C. I spaced out for a minute. He won’t be gone very long. This is just a preliminary meeting.”

  “Oh, by the way, Bob is really excited about Carlos’ idea to bring art into the streets. He told Bob he wanted to give something back to the kids in the barrio. I don’t quite know what he means by that, but I think it’s great. These kids have no idea what it is to have someone who cares if they live or die. It can make all the difference in the world to them.”

  “Yeah, I know. He told me he was going to talk to Bob.” Sarah didn’t tell Colleen the real reason the Immortal wanted to develop a mentoring system. It was Aris’ way of paying Carlos back for his great sacrifice, mentoring young men who had no one who cared. Just like Colleen, he wanted to pay it forward. The vampire’s innate goodness made up for any of the wicked things he had done when he was first changed. Love for him welled inside her. In her eyes he was more than a man, more than an Immortal. In that moment she recognized him for what he truly was, exactly what he had been telling her all along. Her soul-mate.

  She longed to explain herself to Colleen. To have her friend know what was really going on in her life, but she knew she would never, ever be able to. It was painful for her. It put a wall between them that Colleen didn’t even know existed.

  “When he comes home, you two will have to come to dinner and we’ll figure out how to get the whole thing started.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure he’ll want to start as soon as possible.” Sarah’s words, just like her life, had a double meaning.

  #

  “Are you busy? Is this a good time to talk?” Sarah’s heart beat faster when she heard Aris’ voice on the other end of the telephone.

  “A perfect time. I just crawled into bed. How are you?”

  “As well as can be expected being on the other side of the planet. And you, how is it with you?”

  “It’s good. Gabriela is doing her best to make up for you being gone.” Sarah laughed. “She’s constantly trying to get me to go places and do things.”

  “Keeping busy is very good and I will return in just a few days. Sarah, I have news; I was able to meet with Akira today.”

  Completely alert, Sarah sat upright in her bed. “What happened?”

  “It brought me great peace to find her forgiving. I was so concerned for Sebastian and what the consequences would be for him for allowing me to continue my existence after the Council had declared me doomed. But she was so kind. She says she feels no human emotion yet sometimes it appears she is more humane than most human beings I have encountered.”

  “So,” impatience rang in her voice, “did she forgive both of you?”

  “She appeared to be joyful to see me once again. She is grateful that Sebastian saved me and knowing I lived disembodied for hundreds of years, she feels I have done penance. She knows the Catacombs is in need of me right now. She welcomed me and will stand for me at the trial.”

  “There is to be a trial?” Her fear for him was clear in her tone of voice. “If there is a trial, can’t they choose to extinguish you?”

  “Yes, however Akira believes the Council realizes the enormity of the uprising in Spain. She believes they will exonerate me and allow me to return in exchange for training and leading an army.”

  “When will this trial take place?”

  “Soon, but first I must return to the states to meet with John Marshal. Tomorrow I meet with the owner of the gallery here in London and we begin making plans for the art showing. I must coordinate the showing with the trial. Akira has given her permission for me to continue with my human life for the time being. So the art show is the next step. It will be the perfect reason for my absence from Chicago. I found a small flat today in London so I have a place to live above ground while I am here.”

  “A flat? How long are you planning on being away?”

  “As long as is necessary. After the showing, I will say I am staying to absorb more of the countryside and prepare for the next exhibit. It will give the Council time to reach their verdict and give me time to choose and train my commanders. Akira is calling as many Immortals to the Catacombs as the Keeper of Records can locate.”

  “I’m frightened for you, for all of you.”

  “Do not fear. We are superior in intellect and strength. Their numbers are greater than ours, but our strength is in our abilities and in our ties to one another. They have no such ties. They war among themselves and kill each other daily.”

  “Yes and that’s what scares me. Murder means nothing to them. How will you teach your Immortals to kill when they are so against taking life?”

  “Sarah, we are peaceful, but we are not cowards. This is a war of defense. We will do all we need to do to protect our coven and our way of life. And to protect the humans that live on the earth above us.”

  “They don’t even know you exist.”

  “Yes, and we intend to keep it exactly like that. Now, sleep well.”

  Whispering into the receiver, she spoke. “Aris, my life feels so empty without you.”

  There was a moment of silence before he spoke. “Your words touch me deeply, Sarah.”

  “I’ve begun to realize that until now, I have seen you as a combination of two beings, Carlos and Aris. It was painful to lose Carlos, and frightening to know you were now alive. I could not imagine being anything more than your friend. I thought the price was too high to pay for more, but being away from you and having time alone to think, I have come to a different conclusion.”

  He waited in silence.

  “You are Aris, an Immortal soul. And I love you.”

  His voice was soft, warm, when he spoke. “I will hold you in my arms before the week is out.”

  “Good night.” She hung up the telephone and for the first time in months, felt complete.

  CHAPTER 45

  “So Gorgeous is setting the world on fire.” Maggie placed the steaming cup of morning coffee on Sarah’s desk then sat in the chair across from her.

  “I don’t know if he’s doing that, but he’s had a wonderful reception in London.”

  “He’d have a wonderful reception any place he goes as long as the women have eyes.”

  “Maggie, give him a break. He’s more than a pretty face.” Sarah laughed as she tasted the coffee, stopped, and poured two more sugar packets into the cup.

  “Yeah, I know, but it sure helps to break the ice. When is he coming home?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon. He has a meeting with John Marshal on Friday and they’ll decide all the logistics. John has really taken a liking to him.”

  “Yeah, well Carlos is a definite commodity for business, isn’t he? He’s talented, good looking, has a sordid past and has become incredibly articulate. What’s not to like? He’s changed so much since he started coming here,” Maggie shook her head as she spoke. “It’s hard to believe he’s the same guy.”

  “A near-death experience would change anybody, don’t you think?” Sarah always became uneasy when anyone spoke of the changes in Aris. He managed to appear to evolve gradually for her friends, however, the difference in his personality, even his appearance, was noticeable. He looked older, wiser, more worldly.

  “Yeah, I guess it would. I mean he always seemed to be a good guy. There’s just something so much more about him now.”


  Sarah pulled a file from her drawer. Opening it she laid it on her desk, signifying the end of the conversation. “Well Maggie, there is so much more now.”

  Maggie began to speak,then thought better of it as Sarah shuffled through the file, beginning to make notes for her next session.

  #

  Back in Chicago, Aris toyed with a curl in Sarah’s hair as he spoke. “There are Immortals arriving at the Catacombs daily. They come from all over the globe to stand for their brothers and sisters. We are a fearless breed, but I worry for them. They have never felt the stake or experienced premeditated killing. They are innocents.” The couple sat on her sofa, her head on his shoulder, the evening summer breeze blowing gently through the open sliding glass door.

  “Can you teach them?” Her concern for him and his family was apparent in her tone.

  “I can teach them the use of weapons and the strategies of war, but to teach a peaceful people to kill is something I have yet to do.”

  She sat up, looking in his eyes. “But you’ve been a soldier, a warrior both as human and as Immortal. You’ve taught battle strategies before.”

  “Yes, but only to humans. Humans are driven by fear. They can kill one another because of an innate foreboding of death. Our kind has no fear; we have always lived in peace and can never die if we abide by the law. They have no understanding of suspicion and doubt. I despise that I must be the one to teach them such ugly concepts and yet I must. They must understand that they can be touched by the evil of the world.”

  “The more facts I learn about the Immortals and knowing Richard and Gabriela, I am so drawn to enter the Catacombs and really understand your way of life.”

  “No human may enter the Catacombs unless it is for the mating ritual. It has never been done in all of our history.”

  “I understand, I just meant I wouldn’t be afraid. I want to know more about you, that’s all.”

  “Just know I love you.” He kissed her gently drawing her head back onto his shoulder. He hadn’t mentioned her declaration of love since his return from London. She wondered if he ever would. “Now tell me, what has been happening with our human friends while I have been away.

  She snuggled into his arms and began to share the day-to-day life of the long two weeks without him.

  #

  Richard had returned from London with Aris. He and Gabriela had gone away for the weekend while Aris was in Chicago and able to keep watch over Sarah. There had been no further visitation from the unknown intruder, but the Immortals were not ready to give up their vigilance in caring for their human friend. She was always within the sight or voice range of one of them, never without their protection.

  She wondered if they left the city to feed. It was something they never discussed. Her relationship with the vampires felt so normal to her, she forgot they drank blood. She wondered where they found the animals that supplied their need then immediately put the thought from her mind. Knowing them, she was sure they took animals from the wild. Their gentle souls would never steal someone’s pet. How would Aris ever be able to teach these beings to kill? Knowing he had been a great warrior in battle made her rest more easily, but she still worried about him and his Immortal family.

  They sat on the breakwater, watching the sun rise over Lake Michigan. The city was just beginning to come to life. They had plans for a full day. Packing paintings to ship to London, making sure all of the small details that were always so important in the long run were complete; their list for the day was so long they decided to begin at dawn with coffee at the lake.

  “Do you think you’ll be gone more than a month?” Her sadness at his traveling was apparent in her voice.

  He smiled as he hugged her. “At least a month. It will be difficult for me as well, however, I have no control over the Council. They will see me when they are ready and they will take as long as they wish to make a decision. Akira will do all she can to move it forward, but even as they deliberate, I will begin training.”

  “Will all the Immortals go into battle?”

  “All who wish to. We fight for our race.”

  “We spoke last night of the ancient wars you fought and the weapons you used hundreds of years ago. What weapons will you use in Spain? You told me a long time ago, a vampire must be staked. Does that mean hand-to-hand combat?”

  “Hand to hand. Knives and swords. Arrows. The Keeper of Records has ancient texts describing weapons brought by the Immortals to earth when Akira and Khansu first arrived. Even now they work to forge them. In appearance much like your ancient swords and arrows except these are forged through alchemy, a secret known only to the Keeper of Records. Each step in their making is accomplished by a different company of workers. No one group has any inkling of what any other group does. Once created, the weapons can never be destroyed. They have a mystical power that only Akira is able to bestow. Each weapon will always return to the hand of its owner. The creation of Nalyd weaponry is a long, tedious process.”

  “What weapons does De Flores have, do you know?”

  “They, too, work in secret. Our fear is De Flores found the texts when he worked in the Records Hall. If they are able to reproduce them, ours will still be more powerful because of Akira’s gifts. We do not fear them, Sarah, nor should you fear for us.”

  “How can I control that? I sit here in the middle of a modern world with planes and cars and computers while you fight an ancient war with weapons from another planet. Even saying it makes me doubt my own sanity.”

  “You must doubt nothing. You must believe in us. We have no choice but to win this battle.”

  It was as if someone turned up the volume on a radio as the teaming city came to life behind them. He stood, reaching for her hand. “Come, it is time to go. We have a full day ahead of us. If we want to spend the evening with Colleen and Bob tonight, we best begin.” He helped her to her feet and they walked slowly down the breakwater toward the street.

  CHAPTER 46

  As always, Colleen checked the baby monitor before she closed the door to the nursery. It was the evening before Aris was to leave for London and the four friends sat around the coffee table, comfortably discussing the upcoming art show.

  “How many paintings will you show, Carlos?” Colleen sipped her lemonade as Bob refreshed Sarah’s wine. They had all grown accustomed to Aris’ full glass of water sitting in front of him. He had never touched alcohol in front of them and no one questioned him about the water he never drank. It simply was there in case he wanted it.

  “There are thirty-two for this show plus a lot of pencil sketches and ink drawings.”

  “Why don’t you tell them what a big deal the gallery is making of you?” Pride rang in Sarah’s voice as she smiled at Aris seated beside her.

  “It’s not such a big deal.”

  “Oh yes it is.” She turned to Colleen and Bob. “There’s a chance some of the people from the royal house may make an appearance at the gallery. Because all the paintings are of England and a lot of them of the English aristocracy from past times and from the present, the royals have taken a notice. There’s a chance this guy here may even meet the Queen.”

  “Come on Sarah. Don’t make more of it than it is. I’m proud of it, of course, but it’s just a simple art show. I’ll be happy if anybody shows up and doubly happy if people buy my work. John Marshal has invested a wad of money in this.”

  “It’s because he believes in you.”

  Bob slapped Aris on the shoulder as he crossed the room toward the kitchen. “We’re all proud of you. You’ve come a long way.”

  “Carlos,” Colleen leaned toward him, a question in her voice. “I’ve been wondering, how can you paint dead kings and queens of England? Are you guessing what they look like?”

  Sarah drew in a long breath of air as she turned toward him.

  “That’s pretty easy, C. I just study all the past paintings of them. Since the only visual record they had then of their families was paintings, they made sur
e there were a lot of them and done by the best of the best artists. I just study them and put my own slant on them.”

  Sarah relaxed again. He always knew what to say and it always made sense.

  Bob came back into the room with a pitcher to refresh his wife’s glass of lemonade. “Well, we want to buy one now, while we can still afford it.” He laughed.

  “How about I just do one for you as a gift? A special painting of your own little royal family.”

  Colleen jumped off the sofa and hugged him. “Carlos, you are the best.” She beamed as he kissed her cheek.

  “It’s the least I can do for all that you’ve given to me.” He wrapped his arm around Sarah as he kissed the top of her head. “You’ve given me a life that I never knew was possible and I am eternally grateful.”

  As time progressed, Sarah became more and more aware that her personal eternity had been laid out for her five centuries past. She smiled. There was no defeating destiny.

  CHAPTER 47

  “How was your day?” As always her mood lifted as soon as Sarah heard Aris’ voice on the telephone. He had only been out of the country for little more than a day, yet she missed him desperately. She faced her office window, watching the city come to life before her. She arrived at the office early to catch up on long overdue paperwork. Gabriela sat in the outer office waiting for Maggie.

  Maggie enjoyed having Gabriela join in her work. She introduced Gaby to internet shopping and chocolate chip cookies. Sarah knew Gaby really didn’t enjoy eating human food, but she never let on when Maggie brought her sugary treats. Sarah’s freezer was stacked with the sweet chocolate loot she took home from the office. It was an unending supply of goodies for their girl’s nights in.

  “Sarah? Are you still there?”