“W-w-will there be anything else?” the sweet young vintage mumbled.
She took the waiter’s free hand and placed it on a breast then eyed him wantonly, taking a long slow drag on her cigarette.
He quickly removed his hand and glanced at Jacques suppressing a fit of the giggles.
Claudette smiled seductively at this gorgeous young thing. “Perhaps? What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“F-F-Francois,” he stammered nervously, looking down at her pert breasts.
Claudette pulled her coat together and teased, “What a sweet name for such a sweet boy. You are sweet, aren’t you?”
Francois didn’t reply. He remained a statue, smiling at Claudette with rosy apple cheeks.
Jacques waved to Francois. “Off you go, sweet Francois ... you’ve had your tip.” He blew Francois a kiss. “We’ll call you when we want another round.”
Claudette gave Francois’ behind a sexy pinch before he left the table.
Lucien glanced over his shoulder to see Father Papineau still watching them. “Just look at the holy one ... he can’t take his eyes off us.” He waved to the priest.
“He knows something evil has come to town.” Claudette laughed.
Lucien watched Father Papineau whisper to the old men. They nodded and looked suspiciously his way. They left their chessboards to saunter away as casually as possible. The priest rushed across the square towards the church. Lucien suppressed a fit of the giggles. This was too perfect. All went deathly quiet.
Lucien grimaced with annoyance at Doctor Colbert dashing from his pharmacy and making a beeline for the table occupied by the girls. What’s this? Do we have a knight in shining armor? Lucien watched with barely concealed excitement. He sensed Delicate Rose had not been here. Where could she be? Damn the blood fire!
Doctor Colbert shot Lucien a curious glance then grabbed Monique’s arm. “Come along, Monique.”
Monique resisted, “Leave me alone.”
Doctor Colbert whispered to her, “I don’t like the look of these strangers.” He tried to tug her from the table. “Do not trust them.”
Lucien removed his sunglasses and stabbed Doctor Colbert with a killer glare from his ice-cold blue eyes. “Excuse me Monsieur ... we are scouting locations for Soo-Soo’s next film.” He smiled. “I am the director ... this is our cameraman and may I introduce Soo-Soo’s understudy and next star of the silver screen.” He held out his hand.
Doctor Colbert frowned for a brief moment then shook Lucien’s hand. “Ah ... this is wonderful ... so you have chosen our little corner of the world to make Soo-Soo’s next picture?”
Lucien saw the excited looks on both girls. He smiled serenely. “That is our intention ... and if it’s alright with you, we would like to interview these fine young ladies for minor roles.” He was gratified to see Doctor Colbert exude pride. The trap had been set.
Chapter 39
While the sun relinquished its hold and sank below the horizon, Edouard gazed upon her sublime beauty, blood dripping from her mouth.
Eternal savaged the meat like a wild woman, her hair constantly getting in her mouth. She didn’t seem to mind the blood darkening her glorious tresses. Dropping the bloodless meat she offered her fingers to Edouard.
Edouard had no choice but to lick them clean. He shuddered with delight at Eternal’s power. He grasped her hand, her music filling him with such dark desires. With a shudder of almost sexual completion, he gripped her hand tighter. His heart hammered painfully at the moment he released his seed.
His passion spent, he began to focus on the task at hand – her treatment. “I am going to put you under hypnosis.” A look of terror and unease flitted across her face. “Please tell me what frightens you.” He received an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability.
She almost snarled her reply. “We have no time for silly games, Edouard.”
He knew what she meant and accepted it as the truth. She instilled in him the need to be fully aware of the Eternal Hour, of the trials to come. “I will not let any harm come to you, do you understand?” He smiled. “It will be for only the briefest of moments.”
She shook her head no. “He is so close now ... he is in the village.”
Edouard understood her truth. “He can do nothing to you in here ... do you believe I am your true love?”
“Why do you need to ask, Edouard?”
“Do this for me, so that I may understand your past with Him. You do want that, yes?”
Though hesitant, she nodded for him to continue with the treatment.
“I will call you Rose and not your true name.” Edouard asked her in his gentle lyrical voice, “Keep your eyes on my hand and imagine you are floating on a warm sea.” He waved his hand gently up and down in front of her face like the rise and fall of waves. Rise and fall. Rise and fall.
“Upon a gentle rolling sea
You find yourself floating,
As you rock back and forth
Between the sighing waves,
Your dreams take you
To a time before when all,
Was at peace and tranquil
All your troubles and strife,
You no longer crave as
You close your eyes and,
Wake up new and alive
Born again beside the sea.”
Edouard lifted her arm and let it go. The arm dropped to her side without disturbing her sleep. He turned to the door when he heard the peephole scrape. He had to be careful or Henri would find him out. To that end he decided to get her to reveal his name.
He spoke ever so gently. “Can you hear me, Rose?”
She slowly nodded yes.
“What is the name of the one you fear?”
“You know his name, Edouard.” She seemed to be struggling with her fear.
He swallowed nervously. His stomach squirmed at her struggle to keep his name a secret.
Henri quietly entered the room and walked up to Edouard. He looked at the blanket covering the window and whispered in Edouard’s ear. “This is not normal, Edouard ... she is holding back.” Henri went to remove the blanket.
Edouard stopped him with an arm to the shoulder. “I know what I am doing, Henri.”
Henri stood by the wall, listening with arms folded. He nodded for Edouard to continue with the treatment. His stern glance told Edouard he was treading a thin line.
Still in a deep trance, Eternal acknowledged Doctor Vernier’s presence. “Hello, Doctor Vernier.”
Henri looked puzzled at Edouard, whispering, “How could she know I’m here?”
Edouard shrugged to Henri then turned to Eternal. “I need you to trust me, Rose.”
“Rose only existed in the memories of others. E ... we ... I trust you with my life now, Edouard.”
“We shall be eternal.” Edouard could not help himself for that phrase escaped involuntarily. He glanced at Henri who gave him a peculiar, puzzled look. With a shrug he proceeded into the embrace that was Eternal. “I am here to protect you but I must know who you are afraid of?”
Eternal shook her head in fear and shuddered. “Lucien and ... and The Count.”
Edouard saw the strange look of recognition on Henri’s face and frowned.
Henri nodded for Edouard to continue.
“Is Lucien your husband?” He had to ask something even if it was so banal.
“No ... he’s nothing to me ... he’s ....” Eternal abruptly stopped.
“Is he your lover?”
She hesitated to answer this question. She seemed to struggle internally. “Lucien hates me ... he hates us all.”
Edouard was horrified by this answer and its implications. He continued, “Do you love Lucien?”
She shook her head no. “You know I only love you, Edouard.”
Edouard noticed out of the corner of his eye the look Henri was giving him. He was in real trouble now. He boldly proceeded. “And this Count ... who is he?”
She squirmed in fear, forcing a reply. “
Lucien and The Count are as one. Lucien is the last surviving member of the Duponts.”
Henri gasped and went pale with shock.
Edouard turned from Henri back to Eternal.
“He allowed The Count entry. He was a suitable host for evil to dwell. The demon came from the book ... his book of blood and now he is here with his evil followers to hunt my blood and take it for eternity.”
Edouard was troubled by this remark. He glanced at Henri and saw confusion etched upon his face.
“What to do you mean by a host?” Edouard asked.
“A vile demon from the dark place resided within the pages of the blood book and it chose Lucien as its next host. He was ripe for the taking.”
Henri shook his head with dismay and whispered to Edouard, “What nonsense ... ask her about the murders?”
Edouard nodded his head. “Can you tell me what happened at the chateau?”
She shook her head ferociously. “No I can’t ... I wasn’t there ... Rose was.”
“Will you let Rose answer?”
Eternal quivered like a leaf on a wind-blown tree.
Rose cried frantic tears with warm, brown eyes and hair of chestnut brown. She looked to Edouard as a lost child to a stranger. “He slaughtered them like animals.” She became more desperate. “His need to kill is unending.”
Edouard probed further, “Was Lucien looking for E ... for you, Rose?” He almost let slip her real name.
“Yes ... no ... I cannot say ... no ... it isn’t time.”
Edouard probed further, “You must tell me, Rose, you’re life depends on it.”
Henri groaned. “Must you use such a dangerous tactic?” He glared at Edouard.
Edouard was oblivious to his presence as the sweet darkness enveloped him. She had returned. He was back with the woman he loved. Her instant surge of power possessed him. “You are Eter ....” He stopped short of giving her name.
Eternal replied, “Yes, I am for you, Edouard. We shall be eternal.”
Henri gasped, pointing. “Her eyes and hair ... they have changed color.” He gave Edouard a curious look. “This is not possible.” For the first time Henri looked lost. He staggered back from her as if she was dangerous.
Edouard stepped over the edge and plunged headlong into the abyss. “I am taking you back in time. Back to the day you were born. Do you remember your birth?”
She smiled and said, “It was the sacred day of all days.”
Edouard’s skin tingled all over. He was intrigued, “Go on.”
She smiled with eyes closed. “I was brought into this world from the dark place at the sixth hour on the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year.”
Henri coughed. He fell backwards against the wall and slumped to the floor.
Edouard turned and tried to help Henri.
Henri waved him away. He got shakily to his feet and breathed deeply. His face was bathed in sweat. “No ... it just cannot be ... Lucien’s mother told me of her fears for Lucien and Rose.” He gave Edouard a look of outright defeat. “She insisted this servant girl, Rose, was possessed by a demon.” He coughed in anguish. “During one of our after-dinner discussions, just a few days after the murder of Lucien’s parents, Father Papineau confided in me his fears when Lucien’s mother brought Rose to his church for confirmation of her doubts. He told me of an exorcism performed in Busson’s barn but had lost track of the baby’s whereabouts but she had been named Rose. To believe in such religious nonsense as possession ... well that’s the realm of the church.” He gave Edouard an apologetic shrug. “Continue, Edouard ... you’re making good progress.”
Edouard turned back to Eternal. “Rose, I am taking you back further in time to the dark place. Tell me, what is the dark place?”
Eternal grimaced with fear and trembled. “It is the cold oblivion where I and others like me are condemned to infernal torment to fight the demons that dwell there and prevent them from escaping. It is described in your religious offerings as hell ... but it is not hot ... so cold and unforgiving. She sent me there ... I had mused her for so long that she became deranged on my poison and sent the crowd into delirium. I had no time to make good my escape with you, my true love. Robespierre’s secret police captured us. Robespierre used my blood. It drove him mad and we were sent to the guillotine for our troubles. Oblivion followed.”
“Robespierre? Dear God ... who was she ... who was the woman you had mused?” Edouard knew before she revealed the name.
“Marie Antoinette, of course.”
Henri coughed, shaking his head in disagreement.
Edouard looked irritated at Henri. “You spoke of musing Shakespeare ... have there been many others?” He was transfixed by his own curiosity.
“There have been so many.” She seemed to be remembering a particular musing. “Ah ... the great alchemist! He floundered in obscurity until he tasted my sweet muse. Leo was so single-minded in his desire to take all my knowledge.” She sighed with fond memories. “But even the maestro succumbed to my poison. Such is the way of the muse.”
Henri stared aghast at Edouard. “I do believe she is talking of Leonardo da Vinci?”
“Were you Lucien’s muse?” Edouard asked, not sure whether he wanted to know the answer.
Eternal growled her displeasure. “Never! He found me by pure chance. Some might say it was destiny. I’m sure he would. Once The Count discovered who I was and what I would become he imprisoned me in the Great North Tower.”
“Why would he do that?” Edouard saw her reluctance to answer. “I am taking you forward to the time you spent in the Great North Tower.”
Edouard saw Henri shaking his head no and giving him a warning look but the damage had been done. He turned and stared in utter horror to see Eternal’s skin grow sallow with age and her scratches returning, oozing blood. Her hair lost its sheen. She gasped as if being choked. She repeatedly flinched in agony. He could hear the crack of a whip.
Henri shoved Edouard’s shoulder. “For God’s sake man, bring her out of it, now.”
Edouard nodded his head. “When you hear me clap three times you will wake up feeling refreshed. You will remember what you have just spoken.” He clapped.
Eternal awoke and looked into those soothing green eyes. She became immediately frightened, looking about the darkened room of damp stone.
She reached out with desperate hands. “Please, don’t let him take my blood,” she begged. “He is close ... so very close.” She slapped a hand to her mouth. “He’s in the village right now searching for me.”
“How can you possibly know that?” Henri asked rather sternly.
Edouard left his chair and reached out to her but faltered when Henri gave a warning cough. He couldn’t take his eyes off her terrible transformation. She looked so old and haggard. What had he done? He looked desperately from Henri to Eternal.
“I know many things Doctor Vernier ... I know how much you suffered during the Great War of the demons ... how you sacrificed sleep to help those possessed by a new sickness you assumed I have ... but you were helpless then as you are now.” She whimpered and shuddered. “I can feel his hate.”
Henri looked genuinely shocked at her revelation. He went as pale as chalk paste.
“I won’t let him take you, Eternal.” Edouard became tearful at his terrible mistake. “I promise you,” he implored, hoping that might placate her for uttering her true name.
“No,” she screamed with hands to her face. “What’s the point now ... you have revealed my true name to a stranger ... he will know where to find me.” Eternal cried forlornly. “He is using his mind to search for me right now.” Eternal concentrated. “Rose ... Rose ... Rose!” She cried in defeat. “It’s no use, Eternal won’t let her back in. She is gone!”
Henri grabbed Edouard’s arm and gently pulled him away from her. He whispered to Edouard, who nodded his head dejectedly.
“You must rest now,” Doctor Vernier said in a softened voice. “Doctor Clavet will see you
later this evening.”
Eternal listened at the window, “But you don’t understand. He always finds me. It’s his destiny to rule as once before ... to inflict his reign of death and destruction.”
Henri shook his head with dismay. “How can he possibly know where you are, Rose? No one outside the institute knows you’re here ... except Busson.”
Eternal stared in terror at Henri then to Edouard’s look of desperation. “My true name has been spoken. That is all he needs to find me.”
Henri nodded to Edouard to leave. The two doctors walked to the door, Edouard rather reluctantly.
Henri frowned and turned to Eternal. “Do you believe you are a vampire?”
“Yes ... yes ... yes!” Eternal looked at Edouard with utter desperation. “You know what you must do, my sweet Lancelot?”
Edouard jolted stiff. Before him appeared the round table. Twelve bold and true knights raised their swords and paid their respect to King Arthur. Arthur spoke their destiny, “Go forth and return with Eternal ... my Grail!” The knights’ swords kissed as one.
Lancelot saw the desperation in Arthur’s eyes, as if all was lost.
Edouard gave a furtive glance to Henri then smiled reassuringly to Eternal. “I promise with my heart, flesh, blood, bone and sinew, I will not let this Lucien harm you.” The Lancelot in him was not so sure.
Edouard’s mind swam in the dark waters of Eternal’s power. He was cloaked in the darkness that descended upon her thoughts. Her instincts told him the time was so close, for her earthly soul was rapidly relinquishing its hold like a fading light at the end of a long tunnel, allowing Eternal’s inner self to flourish unabated.
Edouard shivered when her grip tightened upon his conscious mind. He looked sadly at her while Henri knocked on the door. He heard the sound of the bolt snapping open. His heart nearly broke apart. A moment later, Nurse Marteau opened the door.
Edouard flinched at Eternal’s perception of the nurse’s demonic appearance filling his mind. “I’d prefer it if Nurse Collette tended to Eternal.”
Voracious Vixens, 13 Novels of Sexy Horror and Hot Paranormal Romance Page 35
