Immortal Beauty

by Thomas McDermott

  Once she got back to her apartment she was filled with a new resolve and a new energy born of anger. She opened the curtains and the windows letting the cool air fill her small apartment. Her dream was dead now. It had lived for such a short time and she couldn’t believe it was ending with such bitterness. She missed her apartment and saw sadly that her plants had missed her too>She began to water them when she was suddenly hit with a wave of nausea. She swat down and put her head between her legs. She felt as if she were going to be sick. Maybe it was anxiety or the release of all the tension from the past week. After a few minutes it passed and she got herself a glass of water. Water. She broke out into a sweat remembering that she had grabbed a glass of water from the opulent table that morning.

  “Oh God!” She moaned to her empty home. How could she be so stupid? Maybe that’s why she felt sick. She calmed herself and reminded herself that it was only one glass. What harm could there be in that? She regained her composure and yanked her suitcases out of her closet. She knew there were flights back to the States everyday from Paris and at this point she didn’t even care where she landed. She had no interest in going home and had always wanted to explore the west coast. She would look into flights to L.A. or San Francisco after she packed. She ripped her clothes from their hangers and began to throw everything on the bed. She couldn’t pack fast enough. She was through with all this weirdness that had claimed her whole being. She tried not to think of Taylor and reminded herself that she would be with him in the morning. Suddenly her stomach convulsed and she fell to the floor gripping her abdomen in pain. Something was seriously wrong and she lay there crying out as the convulsions racked her body.

  “Taylor!” She cried out in pain. She lay on the floor and cried and heartache until the spasms subsided and the pain went away.

  Taylor sat on his bed in the big house and tried to think things through. A part of him wanted to run away with Sasha and find this new life she was looking for, but he knew that running away never solved anything. He had run from his visions his whole life and now that he had found the true source he was filled with a sense of great relief. No longer did he have to wonder why he was so different from everyone else and finally there was a place where he belonged. A new world with no more secrets and no more lies, yet it was filled with dangers unimaginable. He would rather face the danger head on than try and build a false sense of security somewhere else. He was sad Sasha was leaving but he was also happy that she was getting out of harm’s way. It no longer what mattered to him, he knew who he was and knew that all that mattered now is that Sasha would be safe. He wondered again what was going to happen to Celine. They would have to decide quickly. Marcus asked that they all meet again on the terrace in about an hour and Taylor was looking forward to the meeting. He needed resolution. He needed to know what they were going to do to the woman who was trying to kill them.

  Dr. Marchand looked down at his sleeping patient. What he would give to study her in more detail with more elaborate and sophisticated equipment. What would her DNA look like? What was going on in the cellular world of her body? What would the water do for a man like himself at the end of life? The beautiful creature stirred in her sleep. He ran to her side and checked her pulse. It was getting stronger! She had taken a huge dose of cyanide and survived without any intervention and now her body was beginning to heal at an incredible rate. She truly was no mere mortal. The sedative running in her veins was obviously enough to keep her quiet but the old doctor had a theory that her body was able to adapt quickly to any pathogen. Soon, these drugs would have no effect on her. He knew she would awaken eventually. He just had no idea when. He had to let Marcus know that it couldn’t possibly be very much longer. He would leave in another minute. He found that he could not stop staring at this sleeping beauty who was really a monster.

  Celine listened carefully. There was a man in the room with her and she dared not open her eyes until she was alone. She was in the house! Everything had gone according to plan. She knew that the others would never let Taylor go. She knew they would come to his rescue and the minute she heard Osiris call out from the woods, she knew the time had come. Her plan had gone flawlessly and for just a little while longer she would have to pretend that she was still sleeping. The important thing was that she was home. She could barely contain herself but knew that it was crucial to appear helpless for a little while longer. She reached out with her mind and concentrated with all her willpower until she found what she was looking for. Her children. Her mind formed the words:

  “Children. Come to Mother. The time is now.” She repeated the words over and over again silently, not stopping until she reached them.

  “We’re coming mother. We miss you!” She could hear Isis, who was the stronger of the twins. She was much like Celine.

  “I missed you too my darlings.” She allowed herself to fall into a light sleep. She would have to gather her strength for the moment she would need it most. All the while the doctor watched her, bewitched now by this creature who was twitching and moaning softly in her dreams of a perfect world.

  That night once Sasha had finished packing she sat with a cup of chamomile tea and looked out of her living room window to the Eiffel Tower. She was feeling much better now, but the nausea continued to come and go. She wondered if the water affected the others this way but had no intentions of finding out. She would call the airlines in the morning and try to get the first flight out that she could. What she really wanted to do was walk around the streets of Paris on such a cool and calm evening but she was afraid. She was afraid Celine’s monsters were out there waiting for her and she was afraid of getting sick again in public. So instead, she contented herself with a view of the tower and a cup of vanilla tea. She sat in her favorite blue cotton pajamas with her feet up on a chair and pretended on last night that everything was normal. It was upsetting enough that she was leaving her life behind and it was made worse because of the way she felt. She sat there for along time in silence and decided it was time to try and get some rest. It was only nine thirty but she was tired. She left her cup on the table and crawled under the covers hoping that she wouldn’t be plagued by nightmares. Just in case, she left the light on.

  She dreamed of ancient Rome. She was wealthy an happy and her lover was home from the campaigns. They were having a party. They lay around a table laden with all manners of fruits and vegetables and assorted meats. The air was heavy with incense. She was smiling at her love as he was telling a fantastic story about a witch and her mysterious temple in the hillside. They were all fascinated. He told of the sacred waters she was guarding and made them all laugh out loud at his impersonations of the witch chanting and raving and screaming at them to leave. They were spellbound. Every once in a while his best friend would chime in with a detail his friend had forgotten or murmur something like: “Yes, that’s what happened next.” They were all getting drunk now and at the end of the table her gorgeous warrior clapped his hands together and two nearly naked slaves came into the room carrying a large vessel that was obviously weighty. It was the water of the sacred temple. They had brought it home secretly not wanting to share it with anyone else. Together they made a pact of secrecy. Together they agreed to drink the waters to see if it brought health or wealth or eternal beauty. They raised their goblets, laughing and joking all the while. They drank and found the water so delicious they continued to drink it as if it were fine wine. At first it was just delicious then it happened. They all began to feel a little light headed and a surge of energy pulsed through the group. They agreed to another glass, then another and another. They no longer felt drunk. They felt fantastic. She felt as if she could run through the streets of Rome all night long and never tire. That night they made love many times and it was more incredible and more intense than they ever had before. It was in the morning that the illness came She was sick to her stomach and began to have convulsions. They all began to worry that the water was poisoned but everyone else was fine. They were b
etter than fine and they all felt stronger and that their senses were sharper and that they could see more clearly. Only she was affected in an ill manner. By that night the true horror made itself obvious. She was pregnant, and from the looks of it, she was about three months pregnant and it had happened overnight! The water was doing something to her body and rushing the baby through. She didn’t know if she would survive the pain as she lay in bed crying and holding the hand of her frightened lover.

  Sasha woke up with a gasp. She reached for her stomach and felt the small, hard bump that was not there yesterday. She did not feel any of the pain of the woman in the dream. She actually felt really good even though her mind was spinning like crazy. She must have gotten pregnant the first night with Taylor. That single glass of cursed water must have accelerated the pregnancy. From what she could tell, she was alright. She had survived the first acceleration and began to hope and pray that if she never touched the waters again that she and her baby would be perfectly normal. The only problem was that all she could think about was how thirsty she was. Now she really had to leave. Taylor must not know that she was carrying his child. She had to protect her baby from the truth about it’s parents. She knew that she was going to have this baby the minute she realized what was happening. At least she would always have a part of Taylor and with any luck it would inherit his good looks and intelligence. She wanted to cry but she knew she was done with tears. It was now time to leave. Time to say goodbye to all that she had worked so hard to achieve. She couldn’t listen to any of the messages on her phone from Celgen wondering where she was and if Celine was with her. No, that was all done with. This baby might be the only good thing to come out of this nightmare. She was hoping Taylor would call soon. Even though she wouldn’t tell him about this new development, she wanted to see him again and etch his face in her memory before she said goodbye forever. She got up slowly making sure she still felt alright and took a long, hot bath. So far nothing unusual and figured the water had accelerated the pregnancy past the morning sickness stage even though she knew nothing about being pregnant. She couldn’t think about it anymore. Wrapping a towel around her wet hair she went to her laptop to check her flight status.

  CATACOMBS

  Isis and Osiris walked through the darkness without the need for any light. They were deep underground in the catacombs that wove a web underneath Paris. Most of the catacombs were off limits to the public, but many over the years have ventured down to the old Roman quarries. Sometimes they returned and sometimes they did not. The monsters’ mother had prepared them for the task that lay ahead. The guards had driven them in a dark van into Paris where they removed a manhole cover and let themselves down below the city streets. They were dressed all in black, tight fitting clothes that showed how truly magnificent their new bodies were. As they moved the muscles of their limbs and torsos looked amazingly strong and graceful like those of wild leopards. They had been so fascinated by the city that they almost forgot the enormous task before them. It was an alien world they witnessed as they had been driven into the city silently and they never dreamed so many people existed, for they had only known the occupants of the large house in Orleans. This world was dazzling and a little frightening to these children beasts. Soon this confusing world would belong to them and they began to taste a little of the ambition that consumed Celine. Soon they would no longer have to live in secret and there were more brothers and sisters to come. They barely knew their oldest brother who was killed by their enemy. They wished now that Celine had made them promise not to kill the bad people who wanted them all dead. The newborn siblings were thirsty for revenge and the animal nature in their minds was hungry to tear more skin. They would have liked nothing more than to rip out the throat of the man called Taylor who killed Genesis in cold blood. He would undoubtedly try to do the same to them if he were given the chance. Once underground, they disposed of the heavy robes and gloves and began their long journey through the old tunnels that would lead them to the house where their mother was waiting for them. She had shown them old maps from so long ago detailing the route which led to the cave beneath the home. They moved very quickly and had no need to speak as they could hear each other’s thoughts so very clearly. They wondered together if they would be able to hear their brothers and sisters. The dark caverns twisted and turned unexpectedly and if they hadn’t known exactly where to go they would have been long lost by now. Celine knew these catacombs and had used them long ago to avoid the streets of Paris when everyone thought she was dead and had carved a secret opening to the fountain of immortality. Marcus never suspected that all these years she had been secretly hoarding away the precious fluid and had more than he could ever have imagined. The two continued on in the dark for another two hours before they got to their destination and they moved with a swift sense of purpose. They needed to see their mother again for it was true that despite their advanced growth, they were still babies. Isis stopped without warning and lifted her nose into the air. She smelled a human. They had such a distinct and pleasing odor to her, nothing at all like the scent of her brother.

  “Osiris.” She reached out for her mate.

  “I smell it too. Mother warned us about the people who live underground. She said they could be very dangerous.” Osiris was sniffing the stale, damp air.

  “Not as dangerous as we are!” She smiled licking her lips. Soon they were tracking the scent and before too long had a man cornered in a tunnel with no exit.

  “Leave me alone! This is my house! Get out! Get out!” He was screaming at them hysterically. The very sight of them caused him to lose whatever sanity he had left. Osiris pounced on the helpless man and ripped out his throat before he had the chance to continue yelling at them. Isis watched in fascination at the speed and skill in which her brother had killed the man. The smell of fresh blood hit her nostrils and Osiris held out his hand to her so she could join him in the feeding. They ate the flesh that was still very much warm and for a moment lost themselves in the visceral pleasure that was so very much a part of their unholy nature.

  Sasha’s flight was on time and she sat by the phone like a pathetic thing waiting for Taylor to call. The call never came and she looked again at the numbers she had scribbled on a pad of paper. Her plane was leaving at seven thirty the following morning and she was all packed. All that remained was to see Taylor one last time before it was all over and done with and she wondered if everything was alright over at Rue Raynouard. For a brief moment she was tempted to go to the house to see if everything was alright as little fears crept into her mind. What if Celine had woken up? What if they were all dead? What if? What if? She forced herself to straighten up and resist the temptation to return to that crazy world she had so narrowly escaped from. She thought she might as well clean up the place one last time for lack of anything better to do. Her mother always cleaned when she was worried about something. In a little while she realized she was starving and turned off the vacuum in search of something in her tiny Parisian refrigerator. She found some cheese and some bread and stuffed herself. She ran her hand over her stomach again to make sure there were no changes. Everything seemed the same as it had been this morning and she swallowed some milk with a sense of relief. Now she was beginning to get angry. The very least Taylor could do was call her before she left his life forever. Maybe that was it. He couldn’t say goodbye again and she knew she felt the same way. It would probably be too hard. This might be best after all. She did not want to become like the others, living endlessly through the ages watching everyone you love fade away while they remained fresh and young and ageless. She didn’t know how they did it or why. Maybe like most people they were afraid of death. It didn’t matter now. They were part of her past and they only thing she was beginning to regret was not being able to tell Taylor just how very much she loved him one more time.

  Celine opened her eyes. She did not expect the emotions that arose from being in the house again after all this time. The doctor had his back
turned to her and she looked around longingly and lovingly at the familiar furniture and draperies. She had never slept in this room before and decided she would make it her bedroom once this mess was all settled. She loved the way the light came in from the corner room on the second floor. She could smell the flowers through the open window and wished for a second that she and Marcus were together again and that this was just another day in their long stroll through eternity. This house was not filled with only bad memories and she was struck at how happy being here made her. This was where it all began and this is where it would finally end. She sighed heavily and sensuously flitted her eyelids open and shut. The doctor dropped his notes and spun around. The beautiful patient was awake! His heart beat more quickly than it had in twenty years and he was startled at how very green her eyes were. He wasn’t expecting the alien, preternatural glow that lit her eyes from behind, making her seem possessed; terrifying. He remembered suddenly something he had heard years ago as a boy in a church sermon. He was told that evil was not dark and ugly but bright and beautiful and seductive. If this was evil, then the minister had been right. He tried to regain a little of his composure and made a courteous nod to the woman who was now staring at him with the most helpless of looks.

  “Please help me.” She whispered in a trembling voice that resonated like music.

  “Uh..um yes Miss. I will do everything in my power to help you.” He coughed and tried in vain to sound professional. “You have been unconscious for some time now. You had cyanide in your blood system. Anyone else would have died from such a thing.” He tried not to smile. “If I believed in God I would say it is a miracle you are with us here today.” He knew he sounded like a foolish old man but he didn’t know what to say to this creature. Marcus had given him strict instructions to notify him of any changes and promised him that he would not engage her in conversation no matter what happened. He knew then that the seduction of evil had begun and he was losing ground quickly. He had to get Marcus now. “I will be right back Miss. I’m going to get Mr. D’Alessandro.” His voice cracked and he moved toward the door.