The Immortal Scrolls

by Kristin Secorsky

“Have a seat,” she said, indicating on the bed. Andy could feel her get nervous all of a sudden.

  “You wouldn’t be more comfortable downstairs?” Andy asked.

  “No, this is fine. Sit down, Andy,” she said with a smile. Andy sat down a comfortable distance away on the bed. “What kind of music do you like?”

  “Just about everything,” he replied.

  “OK,” she said as she thought of something to play. Skye started to strum a song by Pink Floyd. She played pretty well with few errors. When she finished playing Andy clapped softly.

  “That was very good,” he said politely.

  “Thanks,” said Skye, and she laughed. “I am still learning. Would you like to hear something else I was composing myself?”

  “Of course,” said Andy. He was surprised she had pursued a career in archaeology and not music.

  Skye started to play a sweet melody. She had had the tune on her mind for centuries and had never been able to get it just right. But tonight it flowed from her soul.

  Andy recognized it instantly, though it sounded different on the guitar than it did on the lyre. It was the music Araceli had composed for him so very long ago. Andy watched her play with a mixture of sadness and suspicion. He couldn’t let her finish the song before he asked her.

  “Who are you?” he asked quietly.

  Skye stopped playing and sat down the guitar. “What did you say?” she asked.

  “You heard me. Who are you…really?” he asked again, a little louder and with more force. “Where did you learn that music?” He thought at the very least Amara somehow found this lookalike and trained her to be like Araceli just to torment him. Araceli had died in the eruption.

  Skye stood up awkwardly. He could feel her discomfort. “I don’t know what you mean, Andy.”

  Andy leapt off the bed and walked right up to her. He grabbed her forearms gently. “Who are you?” he asked a third time. He stared her in the eyes as if he was trying to peer into her soul. Her beautiful face seemed frightened. He relaxed his grip. Then her necklace flashed in front of him again. It suddenly hit him where he had seen it before.

  “You could be one of the best,” Lucian had said to him. Androcles stared at his dominus. He wore a strange necklace around his neck that looked meant for a woman. It was small, round, and golden with a tiny ruby in the center.

  Andy saw the memory in front of him as if he were there in the moment. He came back to the present when he heard Skye talking.

  “Andy! Andy, are you all right? You are really starting to scare me,” Skye said.

  “Araceli?” he asked, bewildered.

  Skye’s pulse quickened, and her heart start to pound. Andy could hear it.

  He could feel the change in her. He could feel the recognition. But he could also feel her confusion. “Why did you call me that?” she asked shakily. “Why do you look at me that way?”

  When she said that, he flashed back to the guard tower at Araceli’s villa. Skye was staring at him expectantly. Andy decided to alter Skye’s memory her for her own good. She is not Araceli. Araceli is dead, he told himself.

  “You had too much to drink. You will go to bed. I left here after dinner. I am leaving to New York, and I came to say good-bye,” he told her. Skye was entranced. Andy gave her one last forlorn look, and then he left.

  Chapter Ten

  MEDITERRANEAN SEA, 79 AD

  It’s almost the full moon, Father,” said Lucian. “We should head for shore in the next day or two and make our way through the mountains.”

  “We need to get to Britannia quickly,” said Tiberius regretfully. “But I agree. We cannot be aboard during the full moon.” Tiberius looked across deck to Araceli. She was keeping close to the rail. She must be sick again, he thought. Her belly was much more pronounced after these few weeks on ship. She was about five months along in her pregnancy. “What about her?”

  “I’ll look after her,” said Lucian. He had been caring for her aboard the ship the entire time. They spent hours together, talking and enjoying each other’s company. Araceli didn’t have much to talk about because she didn’t have any memory whatsoever. But she asked him questions about himself and the world. Araceli didn’t trust anyone but him, if that. She also didn’t know about the existence of supernatural beings. Lucian didn’t want her to know about him for as long as possible.

  Lucian strode over to Araceli. She looked up and gave him a weak smile.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked her. Her pregnancy didn’t mix well with the rough rocking of the ship, and she had been sick.

  “Bad,” she said and laughed.

  “Come on. Let’s go below deck. You should lie down. I’ll find you a jug or something,” said Lucian. Araceli stood up slowly. She was shaky, weak, and dizzy. Lucian decided to carry her. He put his arm around her back and the other under her knee and lifted her.

  “Oh, Lucian, you don’t have to do that,” she said.

  “I don’t mind,” he said. His voice was deep and gruff, but he always spoke so softly.

  Araceli admired his handsome, rugged profile as he carried her below deck. He had dark brown eyes that would flash amber at times. She always thought it was the light playing tricks on her. Normally, Lucian kept his hair short on top with the sides shaved close to the scalp and a smooth face. After a few weeks on ship, he had grown a short beard, and his hair was longer. Lucian walked carefully through the belly of the ship to a small room in the back. The men gave the room to Araceli without question. She was the only woman on board, she was pregnant, and the room had the only private bed in the whole ship. Lucian shut the door behind them with his foot, and then he went and lay Araceli down in the bed. She rolled over on her side and propped pillows around her belly. Lucian poured her a glass of water and handed it to her.

  “Thank you, Lucian,” she said, sounding tired.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied. Lucian felt bad that he couldn’t even call her by her name. He sat down on the edge of the bed, took her hands in his, and began to massage her palms. Araceli closed her eyes and began to relax. He rubbed her belly for a few minutes also. She opened her eyes and watched him thoughtfully for a few seconds.

  “Lucian,” she said.

  “Yes?” he asked.

  “Are you my husband?” she asked him innocently. Lucian laughed. Araceli looked embarrassed and sad. “Is that funny?”

  “No, my sweet lady,” he said. “I only laugh because you are far better than a man like me deserves.”

  “But you don’t know anything about me. How would you know?” she argued.

  “Because I know me,” said Lucian. His hand was resting on her belly.

  Araceli found it curious he seemed so drawn to her belly. He was always touching it.

  “Are you the father?” she asked him seriously.

  Lucian moved his hand from her belly quickly as if he suddenly realized something. “No, I am not that either, my lady.” Araceli looked disappointed. He wasn’t sure if it was because he wasn’t her husband and father of her unborn child or if it was because he couldn’t provide her with any further knowledge about herself. He thought it was more the second. Lucian couldn’t begin to dream she would hold such feelings for him. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “Just that jug,” Araceli said with a laugh.

  Lucian smiled and turned to leave. She grabbed his hand and stopped him. He looked down at her hand in his surprise at how good it felt for her to touch him. They didn’t speak a word. Araceli smiled and let go. When he came back she had dozed off. Lucian set the jug down next to the bed. Then he bent over and kissed her ever so gently on her forehead. He left her sleeping and quietly shut the door behind him. Lucian caught himself smiling as made his way back to the deck. No woman had ever made him feel so good and needed. He felt his beard with his hand. I must look like a beast, he thought. Lucian went to his little spot on the ship where he slept and grabbed a knife out his sack. He sharpened it and carefully shaved his beard
off.

  Araceli was in a deep, restless sleep. It was always the same dream. She dreamt about a man whose face she could not see. All she could see were his piercing green eyes. He would make love to her. Then she would hear a woman’s voice chanting over and over, and the man would disappear. Araceli woke up suddenly. Her lusty dream left her body aching with desire. Nothing I can do about that, she thought. She sat up in the bed and looked around. The candle was still burning. The small room was hot and humid. She felt disgusting. There was some old seawater in the tub that she used to bathe. Araceli was too tired to haul down fresh water, and she didn’t want to bother the men.

  Araceli propped a chair in front of the door and then removed her stola. She had only one gown when she came aboard ship, but she found a drawer full of gowns, oils, and other things for a woman. Lucian had told her they belonged to his father’s second wife, but that is all he would say about the woman. She stepped into the small, oval, wooden tub. The water was cool, which felt good on her hot, sweaty skin. Araceli ran the sponge all over her body. She soon got chilly and stood up out of the tub. After drying off with a spare cloth, Araceli began to rub her body with jasmine-infused oil. She combed her wet hair and then braided and twisted it up and out of the way to keep her cooler. Then she slipped on a cooler gown she found in the drawer with the woman’s things. It was most likely meant for sleeping since it was short, sheer, lightweight, and hooked around the neck. Araceli didn’t care how revealing it might be because she was so hot in the little room. It’s not like I’m going on deck, she thought. When Araceli was done, she was wide awake and couldn’t fall back asleep. She wondered what Lucian was doing, but she didn’t want to go bother him. Instead she grabbed a small stringed instrument and quietly plucked away.

  Lucian heard Araceli calling for him no louder than a whisper in the wind. He was on deck watching the pale crescent moon disappear behind the clouds. “Lucian, come to me,” she said and giggled. He looked around and saw her standing in the middle of the deck. They were all alone. Her long, dark hair was blowing gently in the wind. Araceli smiled and reached her arm out to him. “Come,” she commanded him again. He walked slowly to her, his body full of desire, and enfolded her in his arms. She looked up at him with her sky blue eyes. “Kiss me,” she whispered. Lucian leaned in, his lips slightly parted. Araceli shut her eyes and waited for their lips to meet. Then the full moon reappeared from the clouds. He felt his body begin to change. Lucian yelled in pain as he tried to resist the change, but he couldn’t hold back. Araceli screamed as she watched him make his transformation into a wolf.

  Lucian woke up from his nightmare and looked up at the moon. He had shaved, bathed, and then fallen asleep on deck. The cool night air hit his face as he stood up. A few of the men were awake on watch while the others slept in shifts. His father was asleep not too far away from him. Lucian slowed down his breathing and calmed down when he realized it had just been a bad dream. Not all of it was bad, though, he thought as he remembered Araceli. He felt desire stirring in his loins and tried to ignore it. He went below deck to check on her. Lucian heard her plucking away softly on the small lyre-like instrument that he didn’t know the name of. He knocked softly on her door.

  “It’s Lucian,” he said and waited for her to respond.

  “Come in, Lucian,” she said.

  He opened the door, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him. “I couldn’t sleep,” he said as he stood there awkwardly.

  “Nor I,” said Araceli. She smiled at him and patted a spot on the bed next to her. “Sit. Keep me company.”

  Lucian walked over and sat down. “You look like you are feeling better. Took a bath, I see,” he commented. His eyes drifted lazily over her abundant bare skin.

  “Yes,” she said, touching her wet hair. “I can’t wait until we are on shore again. It’s hard to feel clean after bathing in seawater. The salt dries out my skin.” Araceli ran her hand over her arm. Lucian watched with desire. Araceli could feel his eyes on her.

  Lucian didn’t know what possessed him to do so, but he leaned over and licked the length of her bare upper arm and stopped at her shoulder. He inhaled deeply by her neck, smelling the jasmine oil. “Salty, yes, but you smell divine. What is that?” he asked.

  Araceli was frozen and stunned. Lucian’s face was inches from hers. His eyes were closed. “Jasmine,” she said in barely a whisper. She waited for him to make a move. Her heart was racing, and her breaths were shallow. Unexpectedly, Lucian stood up quickly and walked to the door. “Lucian, wait!” she called after him. Araceli stood up and walked over. “You don’t find me beautiful at all?”

  He was shocked at her question. Of course he found her beautiful. “You are the most beautiful creature my eyes have ever beheld, my lady,” he said as he gazed longingly into her eyes.

  Araceli narrowed her eyes quizzically. “What’s the matter? Are you repulsed by my body?” she asked him with her hand on her belly. Her face was sad and confused.

  “No,” he said with a soft chuckle. “You are even lovelier to me.”

  Araceli bit her lower lip gently and then moved closer, positioning herself between the door and Lucian. She looked up into his dark eyes. “Kiss me, Lucian,” she commanded in a shy whisper. She sounded to him just as she had in his dream. He leaned in slowly and kissed her gently on her lips. She wrapped her hands around his neck and parted her mouth. His tongue found hers, and he kissed her more aggressively. It was close to the full moon, and his more animal side was starting to show. Araceli did not seem to mind as she kissed him back with equal force. He slid his hands up and loosed the clasp of her gown. It dropped to the ground, and Lucian backed her up against the door. He removed his tunic and pressed his naked body against hers. He was hard and muscular. She ran her hands over his chest, then down his back to his firm buttocks. She watched him seem to melt with her touch. Araceli smiled at him playfully.

  Then Lucian made some sort of growling noise and bit her neck and sucked it. Araceli arched her neck back. Lucian grabbed her by the back of her neck and kissed her passionately. Suddenly, he broke away and looked at her to make sure this was really happening. Araceli gave him a lusty look and grabbed his hardness with her hands. To her surprise he was large and thick. Lucian made a low moaning noise as she moved her hands gently up and down. She felt his fingers slip inside her, and his thumb caressed her nub. She moaned with pleasure as he teased her with his hand. Lucian removed his hand suddenly and grabbed her wrists gently. He raised her arms over her head and held them with one hand. Without taking his eyes off hers, he lowered his body for a second and entered her when he rose. Araceli gasped and he covered her mouth with his own. Lucian let go of her wrists and grabbed her around her waist. Her arms dropped to his shoulders. She moaned louder as he thrust himself inside her faster and faster. Then he grabbed her buttocks and lifted her up in the air. Araceli wrapped her legs around his waist, and Lucian moved deeper insider her. Soon Araceli cried out as she climaxed. Her cries excited him, and he moved faster and faster. Lucian groaned loudly as he spilled his seed inside her. His thrusting turned into little jerking movements that continued to slow down until he stopped moving all together and let out one last groan.

  “Lucian,” she whispered. He kissed her again.

  “I have nothing to call you,” he said as he traced her lips with his thumb.

  “What?” she asked, confused and breathless.

  “You need a name,” said Lucian. “Let me give you a name.”

  “All right,” said Araceli, smiling.

  Lucian thought for a moment of a name that was similar in meaning to hers. “I will name you in the language of my mother’s land, Britannia,” he said. “I will call you Skye because your eyes are the color of the sky on a perfect day,” he said.

  “Skye,” she said, pronouncing the word in this other language. Even with everything she had lost, she still retained her ability to speak Latin and Greek. This language was neither. “I like it.”
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  Lucian was still holding her tightly, pressed up against the door. When he realized, he let go of her slowly, and her legs drifted to the floor. His hands drifted to her belly. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked.

  “No,” she answered.

  “Good,” he said. Then he walked over to the tub and dipped a cloth in the water. He cleaned himself off and climbed into her bed.

  Skye walked over and got into the tub once again. She sponged herself off and climbed out. Skye dried herself off quickly and shyly and then joined him in the bed. She lay with her back to him. Lucian curled up right next to her and put his arm around her. She ran her fingers through his, and he kissed her shoulder. Skye became drowsy with the gently rocking of the ship and soon drifted off into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  HERCULANEUM, 79 AD

  Androcles walked through the ashes and ruins of Herculaneum. He escaped once Amara’s ship reached the shores of Egypt. There he found a ship captain and used his new powers to control the man. They sailed to Herculaneum at once. Androcles knew he couldn’t stay long if Amara was searching for him. She had tried to command him to return to her, but he was able to resist his maker’s orders. There in Herculaneum he found what had once been the ludus. The villa was destroyed. He walked to the gladiator cells. Rubble blocked the entryway. Androcles threw it off to the side and went below. Androcles found Araceli’s bracelet lying on the ground of the corridor. He picked it up and wept. Androcles put the bracelet in his sack and walked to his old cell. He had written his story, their story, on some unused scrolls he’d found on the ship. He decided to bury them here with her. Androcles chiseled a block out of the cell wall. Then he hollowed it out. Inside he placed the scrolls and then slipped the block back into the wall. He sealed the cracks with dust and dirt from the floor. Then Androcles walked out of the cell and out into the courtyard. He threw the rubble back in front of the entryway and walked away forever.