by S S Bazinet
Peggy stared at the spiral notebook for a few moments, wondering if she dare read any of it. It was probably nothing too interesting. Elise was probably working on a new romance. Peggy snickered at the irony. A woman who was incapable of common decency was in the business of selling stories about intimacy and love. “So I wonder what kind of make-believe rubbish is going to be in her next book.”
Peggy picked up the binder and read the first few sentences. “Jack and I met when I was barely twenty. By the time I was twenty five, there wasn’t much left of the person known as Elise. The only thing that remained was a hard, outer shell.”
Peggy gasped. “Oh no, this must be Elise’s journal.”
She quickly replaced the notebook on the coffee table and hoped that she could forget what she’d read. It was easier to think that Elise was a terrible person than to reflect on events that made her so bitter. Besides, Peggy was tired. She didn’t have the energy to be burdened by Elise’s problems.
Unfortunately, that burden got heavier when Elise woke up. For an instant, she stared at Peggy with clear, unguarded eyes. It was just long enough for Peggy to see more of what made the woman tick. The information came in a flash of clarity and imagery. Someone had taken a young, fragile girl and crushed her spirit under the heel of cruelty and abuse. Peggy also gleaned something even worse. She could gauge Elise’s bleak future. The woman was a tormented soul who didn’t trust anything or anybody. With her attitude and bitterness, it would take a miracle to turn her life around.
Six
THE MOONLESS NIGHT was a pleasing complement to the evening. Its deep cover of darkness made the sparkle of the city lights of Paris even more beautiful. But Rolphe’s thoughts of beauty were also sparked by Myra. The lovely redhead stood next to him, gazing out her window, enjoying the view with a contented smile. Theirs had been an ongoing affair that spanned a number of years. It had never been too serious until recently. Now, they were not only good friends and lovers, they were establishing a more meaningful bond.
But there was more than having Myra in his life that made Rolphe the most fortunate of men. His good fortune revolved around his friend and savior, Arel. Just the thought of Arel’s upcoming visit made Rolphe’s chest swell with gratitude. He had to swipe a tear from his face when the feeling overwhelmed his emotional nature.
Myra noticed his fluid eyes and reached out for his hand. “What are you thinking about, my great giant of a man?”
What could Rolphe tell her? Could he explain that he’d once been a vampire, a monster who existed on the blood of his fellow humans? Could he share the details of his deliverance from his heinous ways? No, Myra had never known that part of him, and she never would. It would serve no purpose. He wasn’t that monster anymore. He was now a “child of God.” That term might seem outmoded to some, but it was the basis for his new life.
His answer to Myra was simple. “I’m thinking about Arel, the man I told you about, remember?”
Myra nodded attentively. “Of course I remember. He sounds wonderful.”
“He’s more than that. He’s the person I’ll always be indebted to. When I went through what you call my ‘change of life’ crisis, he saved my life.”
“I wish I could have been there for you.”
Rolphe’s heavy brows furrowed. “But you were there for me.”
Myra laughed. “How? We never saw each other during those months.”
“Whenever I phoned you, you were understanding and kind. You never needed explanations. You gave me the time I needed to come back to myself.”
“I’m glad I could help in some small way.”
Rolphe’s face brightened even more. “You were there for my kitten, Dantela, too.”
“I loved having her around. You know that. But I have something else to discuss with you. Come with me. I want to show you something.”
Myra led the way through her dining area to a small lamp table in the hallway. She rummaged around the contents of its drawer and triumphantly withdrew a photo. She gave it to Rolphe. “You mentioned that Arel wants to find someone. I think my American friend’s daughter might be perfect for him. Her mother sent me Claire’s picture in a Christmas card.”
Rolphe sucked in his breath. “Mon Dieu!” With the eye of an artist, he studied the gorgeous woman in the picture. Her dark hair, pale olive skin and nearly black eyes were only part of what made her exquisite. Her features were fine, with high cheekbones, and just enough pouty fullness to her rosy lips. Her body was sleek, but had curves in all the right places. “You’re right about her. But why hasn’t she been snatched up already?”
“My friend, Eddie, says her daughter has been studying at a school here in Paris. In fact, she just finished her doctorate in archaeology.”
“That’s an impressive accomplishment.”
Myra sighed. “I’ve only met Claire once, but she seemed very dedicated. Can you believe she does charity work when she has time off? But now, her mother said she’s considering the possibility of a relationship. When I remembered what Eddie said, I thought about your friend.”
“You’re right. They should definitely meet.”
“I called Eddie, and she said that Claire has some time off. She’s free tomorrow night. Would that work?”
“Yes, Arel, Annabel and William are arriving in the afternoon.” Rolphe stared at the photo again with a satisfied smile.
Myra stood back and frowned. “If you keep looking at her like that I’m going to be jealous.”
Rolphe’s eyes narrowed, and he put the photo aside. The woman in the picture was stunning, but she couldn’t distract him from the blessing that stood next to him. “Myra, never say such a thing. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me.”
Myra’s brows arched with concern. “Are you sure? I’m not as young as I used to be.”
Rolphe pulled her into a close embrace. “In my eyes, you’re more beautiful every day.”
Myra laughed. “Flatterer.”
* * * * *
Arel walked around Rolphe’s apartment and noted that it hadn’t changed at all. Rolphe had been diligent in keeping it vacuumed, dusted and tidy. Even the windows and balcony doors were spotless and shiny. In other words, it was just the way Arel liked it. A well-groomed home helped him experience a sense of calm and serenity.
But he wasn’t thinking about housekeeping as he wandered around aimlessly. Every muscle in his body seemed to be readying itself for what was coming. Rolphe’s girlfriend, Myra, was arriving soon, and she was bringing along a friend. The friend was supposedly someone very attractive and a possible match for Arel.
The whole idea scared him on such a visceral level that he couldn’t stop pacing. He traveled a path that went from balcony to the foyer to the living room. But his nervousness was well founded. After his failure with dating Elise, he’d come to London full of hope and expectation. Surely, Annabel and William would be the model couple to observe. Sadly, the couple didn’t seem to be getting along as well as he’d hoped. In fact, his visit seemed to spark a kind of discontent on both their parts. They sat on one of Rolphe’s sofas, looking civil, but barely talking to one another.
Rolphe seemed out-of-sorts too. He sat on the sofa opposite Annabel and William, barely offering any conversation. Every couple of minutes he checked his watch and made a similar announcement. “I’m sure Myra and Claire will be here shortly.”
Annabel finally spoke up. “Please stop fretting, Rolphe. They’re only ten minutes late.”
William seemed compelled to speak up too. “Arel, stop pacing and sit down. I feel like I’m watching some caged animal in a zoo.”
Arel had to agree with William’s assessment. He felt trapped. The situation he was facing could turn out very poorly. What if Myra’s friend was hostile like Elise? Or what if she wasn’t his type, and he was stuck with going out with her?
He stopped next to the piano and noted the bouquet of pink roses sitting astride the beautiful instrument. One flower was d
ecidedly angled in the wrong direction. It was only a small annoyance, but one that Arel intended to rectify. He was familiar with the proper way to arrange flowers. When his heart was failing years before, he’d learned the art because he didn’t have the stamina to do much else. He couldn’t tolerate a second rate job. He reached out for the offending stem just as the doorbell rang. Startled by the sound and what it portended, he grabbed hold of a thorny section. His finger suffered from his lack of attention. When he retrieved it, it was bleeding freely. Small droplets of blood were spoiling the piano’s newly polished surface.
William had obviously been watching him and hurried to the rescue. “Here, take my handkerchief.”
Arel tried to obey, but he didn’t think he could move. When the bell rang a second time, panic seized hold. “William, this is a terrible mistake. I know it. I can feel it in every bone in my body.”
Instead of replying, William wrapped Arel’s finger with the kerchief.
“William, are you listening to me?” Arel gasped. He was sure his lungs had stopped working too.
William gave him a look of irritation and moved away, issuing whispered orders. “Stop imagining things. Just relax and enjoy the evening.”
Before Arel could obey, Rolphe was escorting two women into the room. He paused a few feet away from where Arel was standing. Smiling broadly, the tall, robust man stepped aside and gestured to his guests. “Arel, I’d like to introduce you to Myra and Claire.”
Arel’s eyes flickered their way over to where the two women were standing. He nodded to the first woman, a pretty redhead, and let his gaze continue on. As soon as he saw the second, younger woman, he stepped forward. He heard himself uttering a polite, but husky-voiced, “Nice to meet you,” greeting as he stuck out his injured hand. William’s make-shift bandage fell away, but he didn’t notice. He was mesmerized by the gorgeous woman who was staring back at him.
As soon as the woman saw Arel’s bleeding finger, she came forward. “What happened to you?” she asked as she took his hand in hers.
“A thorn,” Arel muttered back. He knew he should say something more meaningful, but he couldn’t make himself do anything but admire the woman named Claire. He was sure the term, love at first sight, applied.
* * * * *
William watched the interaction between Arel and Claire with a scowl. Arel was right about his fears. William had the same reaction as soon as he saw Claire. It wasn’t that the woman wasn’t a ravishing beauty. Rarely had William seen a more stunning example of the feminine. Almost as tall as Arel, the enchantress had thick, silky, nearly black hair. It was pulled back to expose her elegant neck and flawless, Mediterranean complexion. When she entered the room, her body was fluid and graceful, like that of a model, ready for the runway. But none of her physical qualities could override the feeling of apprehension that had hold of William.
Annabel reached over and took his arm, pulling him towards her. “Why are you making that face, William?”
William replied in a whisper. “Don’t you feel what’s happening?”
“What’s happening?”
“The making of a disaster.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either, not yet.”
As William was speaking, Rolphe approached the couch with Claire in tow. He smiled as he made the introductions.
“Annabel, William, let me introduce you to Myra’s talented friend, Claire.”
William stood up at once. He tried his best to be courteous, but having Claire so close boosted his anxiety. When she extended her hand to him, he found it difficult to move his arm. He finally managed a polite shake.
Claire seemed unaffected by William’s uncomfortable state. She nodded back and then began to talk to Annabel. Soon, both women were discussing something that Claire had said. William excused himself and quickly joined Arel on the other side of the room. Arel looked animated and happy as he chatted to Myra.
William cut in with a forced smile. “Sorry to interrupt, Myra, but Arel has a call waiting for him in the other room.”
Arel hesitated. “What call? I didn’t hear a phone.”
“It’s one you need to take,” William insisted. He latched on to Arel’s arm, guided him towards a back bedroom and closed the door.
Arel turned to face William with a curious smile. “What’s this all about?”
“You were right about this woman, Arel. She’s bad news.”
Arel laughed. “Elise was bad news. Claire is the person I’ve been dreaming about.”
“You’re letting yourself be seduced by her beauty.”
Arel’s face lit up with a faraway kind of glow. “She’s like some kind of resourceful goddess.” He held up the finger that had been damaged by the thorn. “Do you know she had a bandage in her purse?”
“Arel, you’re not hearing what—”
Arel gave William a curious look. “You’re really worried about me.”
“This isn’t about me worrying. This is about that feeling you had in your bones—”
Arel reached out and gave William a gentle shake. “That was just my nerves. Everything’s fine.”
William was about to reply when Arel’s eyes locked on to his. They were bright, penetrating pools of focus that shut down William’s mind in an instant. Caught in a time warp, he floated in space where control seemed beyond his grasp. He knew his only recourse was to pull himself out of Arel’s grip and look away. As he came back to himself, his jaw stiffened with a tinge of resentment. His own powers were lacking in many ways. He wondered if they’d ever match Arel’s.
Arel seemed to understand. He studied the rug with downcast eyes, clearly wanting to demonstrate his desire to look out for William’s welfare too. “We’re both still learning. But your wisdom is never lost on me. I’ll remember what you said to me earlier.”
William hesitated, still struggling to clear his muddled thoughts. “What did I say?”
Arel’s gaze turned boyish and sincere. “You told me that we need to relax and enjoy the evening.”
William rubbed at the throbbing pain that shot through his brow. “Yes, I guess I did give you that piece of advice.”
“But I’ll go a step further. Let’s both forget about everything but the prospect of a new adventure, one that centers around a lasting relationship with a partner. What do you say?”
William suddenly felt tired, too tired to argue. “If you think that’s what will make you happy, I won’t stand in your way.”
Arel turned to leave and offered a final look of appreciation. “Thank you, William. I’m lucky to have a brother like you.”
After they returned to the gathering in the living room, William began noticing things about himself. He was slumped in his seat. If he had his notepad, he’d add other details. His physical vessel felt sluggish and worn. Observing himself was a practical tool he’d used ever since Arel had passed on Michael’s blood. At first, his observations were meant to help him cope with the drastic changes he went through. Presently, an examination of his physical and emotional state felt useless. What good did it do him to note his downward spiral when he couldn’t reverse it?
For months, he’d been working to keep his mind busy and hopefully balanced. It was a moment by moment struggle. He tried not to think about the past, a glorious past. When he’d been in the world that Arel had created, he’d never felt more challenged. On the other hand, he’d never felt more alive and fulfilled. Now, everything exciting was behind him. He was living Annabel’s ideal life. He was slipping into that fatal existence that people called normal. It was such a suffocating thought that he knew he needed to go out on the balcony and get some air.
* * * * *
Rolphe threw back his broad shoulders as a wave of happiness took hold. Mission accomplished. Arel and Claire appeared to be totally at ease, even blissful with one another. The match was definitely a good one, and it was all Myra’s doing.
When he looked around the room and saw his red
headed sweetheart talking to Annabel, he was doubly grateful. They seemed to be enjoying each other’s company too. That left only one person to check on. Where was William? Rolphe did another quick sweep of the room and frowned. Then he noticed someone standing on the balcony. That someone was leaned forward on the rail with his head down.
Rolphe let out a groan. “I was afraid of this.”
Ever since the episode involving Arel’s alternate world and its dramatic conclusion, William didn’t seem as happy as Rolphe thought he should be. Interacting with William the past couple of hours confirmed his fear. Instead of celebrating his amazing triumph in the face of a terrible challenge, William displayed little enthusiasm about anything. His eyes sometimes went vacant, with none of the spark that he’d had when he was happy.
When Rolphe tuned into William’s energy, he was more concerned than ever. William wasn’t coming back to his powerful self. Quite the opposite was happening. He was drifting into the dangerous waters of despondency.
Rolphe knew he had to act quickly. Minds like William’s and Arel’s were too powerful to be allowed to stay in negative states for very long. The tricky part would be gaining William’s trust. Rolphe’s track record with the man was a rocky one. They had cooperated when Arel’s life was at stake, but that was an extreme circumstance.
As Rolphe approached the balcony, he hoped he could strengthen their bond. For starters, he paused after he quietly opened the door. He didn’t want to startle the man with his presence. “William?” he called out in barely a whisper.
William jerked around and returned a scowl. “Dammit, Rolphe, Arel is right. You’re always sneaking up on people.”
Rolphe didn’t think he’d acted inappropriately, but he held his tongue. William had good reason to still be angry with him. Before Rolphe’s transformation back to his benevolent self, he’d tried to kill William, not once, but twice.
