“Stop, No, let me go,” she screamed as she tried to fight her way out of his grip.
The breath was knocked from her lungs as Andrew threw her to the bed and clawed at her clothes.
“Stop Andrew. Stop, please. You’re scaring me,” she begged as she tried to free herself from his overwhelming grip.
“I need your love Beth. I need you,” he told her breathlessly as he tried to hold her down and rip her clothes from her body.
Beth was overcome by his overwhelming need and want for her. It repulsed her and frightened her. She screamed at him to stop over and over but he wasn’t hearing, wasn’t seeing anything other than his love and need for her.
“Just you. No one else Beth,” he said as he ripped her shirt and her bra off and began devouring her breasts.
“Please stop,” she said in a whimper as she reached to the table for the wine bottle and hit him on the head.
Beth watched in horror as Andrew’s eyes seem to go blank and his body fell limply on top of her. She pushed him off, grabbed the remnants of her shirt and put it on. She ran for the door and left without a backward glance. Beth jumped into her car, started it and floored the accelerator.
What have I done? Oh God what have I done, she thought as the tears flowed down her cheeks landing in her lap. Her hands were shaking; her body was shaking uncontrollably as she drove and cried. When she thought she had driven far enough away she pulled over into the mall parking lot and tried to compose herself.
She nearly jumped out of her skin as a knock came on her car window. “Miss, are you okay?” a man asked.
Beth shook her head. “Fine she said and watched as the man got into his car and pulled off. She jumped again as her cell chimed and Andrew’s smiling face graced the screen. She was afraid to answer. But suppose he’s really hurt and needs someone, she said to herself. This is all my fault, she chided herself. She answered the call to be sure Andrew was okay.
“Hello,” she said quietly.
“Beth, please come back. I’m sorry I made you unhappy. I love you Beth. Come back.”
“I can’t,” Beth said and disconnected the call.
Now afraid and unsure what to do she thought about the golden book and reached frantically for her purse.
“I’ll go see Mrs. Greene. She will know what to do. Where is her address? I know it’s in here,” she murmured frantically to herself as she rooted through her purse. “Yes,” she said as she found the address and restarted the car heading for Mrs. Greene’s house.
CHAPTER 31
Beth parked in front of Mrs. Greene’s house and ran to the door anxiously and rang the bell and waited and waited. She rang again and waited. When no answer came her head bowed to her chest as tears littered the walkway as she made the sad walk toward her car.
“Beth,” she heard a voice call out to her. She turned to see Mrs. Greene standing in the doorway. “Come back, I’m here.”
Beth turned and with quick steps filled with hope she ascended the steps.
“I need to talk to you, please, do you have time?” she asked anxiously.
“I always have time for you Beth. Please call me Gabriella. Come in, Come in. I was about to have some tea. Please join me,” she said gesturing Beth into the house. “My favorite nurse and my favorite person, why are you so filled with pain?”
“That’s why I’m here. I didn’t know where else to go,” she answered pulling her shirt closed around her.
“Have a seat on the couch and I’ll get our tea.”
Gabriella shuffled off to the kitchen to retrieve the tea as Beth looked around and took in the room. The walls were crowded with pictures and paintings save one. A bookshelf lined one wall from ceiling to floor. She went to the case, ran her hand over the spines as she perused the titles, all seeming to have a following in black magic, sorcery, witchery, spells, voodoo, hoodoo and more. Her attention was again drawn to the picture which hung lonesome on a wall of its own.
Beth approached the picture which stood tall on the wall and came to rest on the cellarette beneath it. In front of the picture a golden antiquarian book stand rested without a book. Beth felt as if eyes were beaming on her as her gaze was drawn upward and locked with the brown eyes circled in gold of the woman in the picture. Her attention was drawn away and captured by the sovereign looking man who stood next to the woman facing her with his hand resting leisurely on her waist. His attention seemed to be consumed by the woman next to him. The woman’s attention seemed to be consumed with Beth…
“I see you are enjoying the artwork,” Gabriella said.
“Yes, this is a lovely painting. Who are they?” Beth asked as she accepted the teacup from Gabriella.
“One day soon, at another visit I will tell you their story. Today we focus on your story. What has happened Beth?” Gabriella asked as she gestured Beth to sit.
“I need your help Gabriella. I don’t know where else to turn,” Beth answered as Gabriella’s eyes focused on Beth, prodding her onward.
“I read the book you gave me.”
“How wonderful,” Gabriella exclaimed. “You read it to the end?” she questioned.
“Not exactly,” Beth answered with uneasiness in her voice.
“Not exactly?” Gabriella Questioned.
“I read to the part in the story where Theron fell in love with Zara and only wanted her.”
“Beth, it was imperative that you read to the end. I spoke it more than once. What made you stop?”
“I wanted Andrew to only want me. I felt an unsurpassable need to do what Zara had done with Theron, to claim my Andrew,” Beth admitted with apologetic eyes.
“Beth dear, the deed is overwhelming and unyielding and possibly uncontrollable if it is executed without the full knowledge of the book. The consequences are unpredictable and could be devastating if the deed is executed without knowledge,” Gabriella explained as she sipped at her tea.
Beth no longer wanting tea sat hers on the coffee table and blurted out, “He tried to rape me…” Her cell rang and she pulled it from her purse and saw Andrew’s smiling face.
“Beth, the man who smiles at you on your phone, is he the one we are speaking about, the one who encouraged your heart to execute the dead?”
“Yes,” she said lowering her head as tears began to well up in her eyes.
“Rape is a serious accusation Beth. Do you think he would have responded in the way he did, had you not executed this deed?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you plan to do? Will you report this to the police?”
“I don’t know.”
“Beth, before you do anything, go home, read the book to the end.
“But why did you give me the book?”
“Read the book to the end; then we can talk.”
CHAPTER 32
Beth sat on the side of her bed, opened the bedside drawer and peered in at the golden book. Her eyes filled with events of the day as she studied the cover. The clock on her table said 8 O’clock. She had a long eerie day and needed a shower to wash away the pain. Closing the drawer, leaving the book inside, Beth stripped her clothing off and headed for the shower.
At the stroke of nine Beth was in her pajamas with the lamp shining on the pages of the golden book, her iPod playing classical music and her eyes ready to read.
After the dance was over, Zara went to Theron and offered him the drink. Theron consumed the drink offered by the lovely Zara. She watched as he walked away after handing her back the glass.
Tears began to drizzle down Zara’s face as the deed failed. Theron turned to see the tears. He ran to her and embraced Zara. “Please my love; do not cry for I love only you. I only want to please you my love.”
Beth flipped the page.
Zara’s eyes filled with happiness as Theron proclaimed his love for only her. She returned his loving embrace and accepted the love he had only for her. Theron gathered her in his arms proclaiming never to leave her side. His declaration filled Zara with elation
.
Theron was true to his word, never leaving her side. He took every step with Zara. He consumed every meal with her. His eyes were always on her; his touch always on her skin. He made love to her endlessly. Zara began to feel overwhelmed by his attention. She was not able to make a move without Theron.
He was there every moment professing his love. Zara began to feel as if she were suffocating by Theron’s smothering love. He never looked at another; he never spoke to another. His eyes only beheld Zara’s.
In the bedroom, Theron felt his need and want for Zara overtake him. He needed her as surely as he needed air. He reached for her, clawed at her as she resisted his advances. He couldn’t stop himself, for his need for Zara was uncontrollable. Zara begged for time alone, but Theron was unhearing. He was fueled by only his need for his sweet Zara.
Please Theron, she pleaded, one moment alone with my thoughts. I need you, he protested, only you Zara as he tried to disrobe her to shower her with his undying love for her.
Theron, please, it would give me great pleasure if you would rest and let me prepare myself for you, Zara pleaded. Theron relaxed and laid back on the bed, closing his eyes, for he wanted nothing more than to please his beautiful Zara. She paced as she wondered what she had done.
Zara returned to find her Theron sleeping. She watched as his chest rose and fell with each breath. She surveyed the strong majestic figure of the man she wanted for herself alone, who lay sleeping peacefully. She desperately wanted to free him from the bondage of her love. She needed to free him so he would be free to love her as he wished.
Zara lifted her hands clutching the knife over her head and buried it deep into Theron’s heart.
“Nooo,” Beth screamed. “Nooo,” as the tears flowed to her bed.
A light tap echoed off her closed door. “Beth are you okay,” her mother asked.
“Yes, I was just talking on the phone,” she lied.
“Andrew stopped by earlier looking for you.”
“Alright, I’ll call him tomorrow.”
Her mother left the closed door as Beth jumped from her bed. She hurriedly threw together an overnight bag and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. She knew as sure as she would take her next breath that Andrew would return.
“Mother, I’m going to spend the night with Lil,” she called out as she headed for her ten year old Honda. She sped off with no real destination in mind as Andrew’s black Porsche passed her going in the opposite direction. Not sure he saw her; she made a quick turn at the next corner and sped down the block. Looking in the rearview mirror she didn’t see Andrew.
Beth drove downtown, parked her car out of sight and went into the Hideaway Hotel where she paid for one night’s stay. She took the elevator to fifth floor, existed with her overnight bag in tow and opened the door to room 525. Her cell rang displaying Andrew’s smiling face. Sadness filled her as she watched his smile with each ring until the ringing stopped and his smiling face faded into a dark screen.
CHAPTER 33
Beth removed the golden book from her overnight bag, laid across the bed and began to read as the words read it to the end, echoed in her mind.
Theron’s eyes opened and held Zara’s. I love you, he said as his last breath escaped. Zara reached over and closed the eyes of her handsome Theron. I’m so sorry Theron. I never wanted to take away your free will to love. I was selfish in my love for you. Please, my love, forgive me, she said as she removed the knife from his heart and plunged it into her own.
If you are reading this, you have completed the quest bestowed upon you. My fate and Theron’s is in your hands.
Beth closed the golden book and stared at it. She didn’t understand; why had Gabriella given her this golden book. It was an awful book she thought to herself. She flipped the book over and saw on the back cover a lone tear amidst the gold. She ran her hand over the tear as the icy feel pricked her fingers.
CHAPTER 34
In the morning Beth checked out of her safe house and headed for Gabriella’s. She needed answers and knew Gabriella had them. She parked her car in the driveway and watched as the front door opened and Gabriella stood waiting for her.
“Good morning Beth. I have been waiting for you.”
“How did you know I would come?”
“I knew Beth. Come in. You see I know you better than you know yourself. I knew you were the one from the moment I met you at Midtown University Hospital.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you want me to read that book and what does it mean that her fate is my hands? Who is she?”
Beth again felt the eyes on her. She glanced at the painting of the man and woman which stood tall on the wall.
“That painting interests you? It calls to you to look at it; to see?”
“Her eyes seem to watch me. It’s unnerving but intriguing,” Beth replied.
“You see Beth, anyone else may have found it scary, but you find it intriguing.”
“She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and he is just as handsome as she is beautiful. I feel a sadness when I look at her,” Beth said.
Gabriella gestured toward the painting saying, “This is my great, great, great grandmother's sista. The story you read is hers and now yours. The only difference is you have not freed the man you love from his bondage.”
“I just don’t understand. Why would anyone use that deed?”
“Ask yourself, if you had read to the end would you have executed the deed or would you have found another way? The deed is selfish. It is overwhelming to the deed holder and the object of the deed. The outcome of the executed deed is unpredictable. Love should be free not forced.”
“How do I undo it? Please Gabriella, I don’t want to kill Andrew or myself! Zara killed him! How do I undo the deed?” Beth pleaded.
“Beth, you hold the control. You just can’t see it. Their fate is in your hands and so are yours and Andrew’s. You were chosen.”
Beth gaped at Gabriella unblinking. “Why have you done this to me Gabriella?”
“What do you think I have done to you Beth?”
Beth sat on the overstuffed black couch and thought. She didn’t have an answer.
“Why did you execute the deed without finishing the book?” Gabriella asked.
“I wanted Andrew to love only me. I didn’t want him to ever cheat on me again.”
Gabriella took Beth’s hands in her own. “You wanted to force him to love you the way you wanted? You wanted control over him? You wanted to bind him? Is that not selfish, Beth? What is love to you?”
“Two people who are devoted to each other and are faithful within the relationship.”
“But Beth, how do you obtain that devotion and faithfulness you seek, through trickery, magic?”
“I guess I never gave much thought to how; more thought to just having it.”
“Think Beth, how? How could you have obtained Andrew’s faithfulness and devotion without the deed?”
Beth began to mull over the question in her mind, flipping it over and reassessing it. Her mother’s face and words presented in her mind, enclose your marriage in a fortress armed with love, trust, honesty, respect and most of all forgiveness. None of us are perfect. Someone may one day befall a weakness. That’s when forgiveness comes in. If your marriage is strong, you will be able to forgive. She saw Lil’s face and heard her words spoken at the hospital; Life is too short to be angry about something that can’t be changed. I love my father and he loves me. He is and always will be my father Beth. I’m grateful to your father for giving me life twice but he’s not my father. Beth you have to stop living life so rigidly. Live a little and stop worrying and trying to change the course of life. If it is meant to happen, it will. I will never believe I was a mistake. I was meant to be here and we were meant to be sisters.
Beth’s thoughts were interrupted by Gabriella’s voice, “How will you precede Beth, with more trickery and magic or with your heart?”
Beth looked at Gabriella with
eyes pleading for an answer. “If I decide to seek help to break the deed, where would I find it?”
“For the help you seek, you would have to pay a visit to my sista in New Orleans. She can help you with what you seek.”
“Why not you? Why can’t you help me?”
“My sista is one of the most highest of the High Priestess…”
“Like the Priestess in the golden book?”
“Yes Beth, like her. I am more like a guardian. You want to know how to undo the deed; I can only tell you that the power lies within you. Should I inform my sista you will be making a trip to seek her help; or will you take the advice that your mind locks in its basement waiting to be retrieved and acted upon?”
“I will make the trip to see your sister. I think I need her help.”
“The help of potions and spells? Is that really the type of help you need Beth?”
“Yes, please let her know I will be coming.”
Gabriella scribbled her sister’s address on a paper and handed it to Beth. She placed the paper in her purse and headed for the door. Gabriella stood watch in the door as Beth walked to her car with renewed hope. Beth leaned over and inserted the key into the lock of her Honda when she heard a horn blow followed by the slam of a car door.
“Beth, I’m so glad I have finally found you. I love you so much. I missed you every moment I was apart from you,” Andrew said as he wildly embraced her as if he had not seen her in eons. “I will never leave your side.”
“Andrew please, let me go. People are watching us,” Beth said as she tried to struggle from his grip on her.
“Let them watch. I love you. I need you. I can’t live without you. You’re the only woman for me,” Andrew replied smothering Beth with his affections.
Beth looked around noticing the eyes from the windows and doors observing the interaction between the two lovers who stood beside the red ten year old Honda.
Mistake Page 11
