Aris Returns (23 page)

I became one of the King’s favorite courtiers and rode out with him to the hunt, drinking
sour wine with him in the evenings. I relished
the warmth and intrigue of the court. I spent less and less time in the dark, underground
Catacombs studying, attending the vampire counsel. Richard and Gabriela began to feel
I had chosen humans over my own. They quietly avoided me when I went underground.

I frequented Henry’s court. I watched as his consort, Anne Boleyn, worked harder and
harder to keep him interested. She led him a merry chase for many years, never giving
in to his desires because she was not his wife. It was during that time she called
on me to attend her brother. If I am a monster, she was a demon. She was without conscience.
Nothing mattered to her except her family and her quest for power.

Her sister, Mary, and her brother, George, were her only true friends. I cannot truly
vouchsafe for her sister but her brother was besotted with her. He trailed behind
her every step. He and his friends made up a small court that waited just upon Anne.
They were a wild troupe and George was the most licentious. It was his supposed affair
with Lord Weston that sent her to me for my aid. I was chosen as one of the King’s
favorites and so it was with ease I began to run with George and his friends.

It was at a royal banquet in the company of Anne’s gentlemen that I first saw her,
my Elizabeth. As I told you, she was a lady in waiting to Anne, she was exquisite.
Small waisted, golden haired with a smile that opposed the brilliance of the sun.
Her shy, sweet ways held her always in the background but her gentle beauty outshined
all of the other young maids.

If I may, I will tell you more of my love. You have been told that her cousin, Thomas
Wyatt, arranged our meeting. We three rode side by side on that first early morning
hunt. I remember so well. The King claimed the kill and was in a boisterous mood.
Elizabeth’s face was flushed from the cold air. She smiled modestly when I complimented
her complexion. I asked to sit next to her at the evening banquet. She agreed.

From that day, I was hers. She was constantly in my thoughts no matter my task. Her
blue eyes, her musical laughter, the slight tilt of her head when she was in earnest
conversation. I loved her with a love that is
beyond human understanding. For the only time since the morning in the forest when
I killed the bandits and fed on my first human blood, I hated what I was. I longed
for mortality yet knew it was impossible. I longed to be one with her, to have her
for my good wife. I sensed her care for me. Her touch was tender and longing, her
eyes bright with love.

At last, I could stand it no longer. Early one morning as we walked in the garden,
I held her to me and told her of my deep feeling for her. She returned my embrace
and I kissed her sweet mouth. We promised each other our eternal love. I knew the
greatest joy and the deepest fear I ever experienced. How could I possess her, she,
a delicate human and I, eternal and indestructible? Yet I knew I could not continue
on without her.

Not knowing what to do, I approached Sebastian, telling him of my plight. He said
it was impossible for a human and a vampire to mate. However, there were historical
instances when a human could be made into one of our kind if it was their desire and
with the permission of the counsel. He told me he, too, was in love with a human.
She knew what he was and loved him still. He approached the council for permission
to turn her, to marry her. He waited only for their permission to proceed.

I wondered at his fearlessness in telling his beloved he was one of the undead. Was
she not afraid of him? How could she accept him, his affliction? Yet he said her affection
ran so deep she was willing to give her human life to spend eternity with him. Did
Elizabeth love me with such depth, such conviction? That was when I decided to approach
the council.

One evening as we walked in the garden, I summoned all courage. I asked her to be
my wife.

She rose from the garden bench. She pondered my request as she walked slowly toward
the castle. Turning on the path, she ran into my arms. Her words ring still in my
heart and my mind. “I love you Aris. I would die for you and I will live for you.
I will be your wife and you will be my husband.”

In that moment, I knew joy as I had never known it before and peace that I have not
known since, until this moment, here with you.

Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest and she wondered at the exhilaration she felt at
his words.

I approached Wolsey to petition the Queen to marry my lady. I went below ground to
petition my own royal house.

As you know, I waited weeks in the Catacombs for the decision of the council. Would
they allow the marriage? Would they give their permission to make Elizabeth one of
us? I was plagued with doubts and worries. I could not go on without her at my side.
Sebastian stood a friend to me, assuring me time and again that all would be well,
they would decide in my favor.

At long last, he came to me in my private chamber smiling and with the greatest of
news. I was to bring Elizabeth before the council where they would question her. If
they were convinced she wished it of her own will, she would be permitted to become
one of us. I would be with her and love her for all eternity. My joy was boundless
as I returned to the surface and the palace to plead my case with my beloved.

That was when I came upon Thomas Wyatt. When I asked for her, his face flushed and
he stammered as he answered. My ears refused his words and my mind reeled at the implication.
Wolsey sent her to the court of Spain with the Spanish ambassador. He traded her for
a wine contract to an aging and degenerate courtier of the Emperor. It was then I
learned she was lost at sea, gone from me forever. I raged. I cried out for vengeance.

Thomas settled me in his rooms and there, kept me from the rest of the court until
I found my sanity once more. She was lost. The only person I had ever loved was lost
to me and for nothing more than gold. Wolsey was the second richest man in the Kingdom,
only the King was before him, and yet it was not enough. I seethed. I hated him. I
vowed vengeance. Thomas spoke calming words and soothed me, taking pains to heal my
hurt and in time, I accepted my great loss. I rejoined the
court. I pledged to search forever, human lifetime after lifetime for her, for my
sweet Elizabeth. And I vowed to see Wolsey dead just as my only love was dead, buried
so far from me.

“Enough, Sarah. Enough for today.”

Sarah sat quietly, tears flowing down her cheeks.

#

“Sometimes I feel as if I don’t have a body at all, as if I don’t even exist. And
sometimes I feel so different, alive in a way that I’ve never experienced before.”
He sipped the water she brought to him. “Does that make any sense?”

“Yes, it does.” She gazed at the carpet for more than a moment then looked up at his
face. “When Aris speaks through you, it’s as if you‘ve stepped aside to let him through.”

“’Stepped aside?’” He nodded, “Yeah, that’s what it feels like. Like there isn’t any
more of me, only him. It’s weird and scary and, for some strange reason I really like
it sometimes.”

“Like it sometimes?”

“Yeah, like I’m so much more than I have ever been or ever thought I could be.” He
leaned forward in his chair. “Is this guy real or am I just making him up, some kind
of horror story hero in my head?”

“I don’t know if he’s real or not but your deepest mind is telling us quite a story.”
She stood and looked out her window in silence.

“Sarah,” He moved to stand next to her, then took her shoulders in his hands, turning
her to face him. “Sarah, I know this scares you sometimes. I know sometimes you want
to stop.” He released her, stuffing his hands in his jeans pockets. “Hell, sometimes
I want to stop. But right now, I don’t. This is the first time in my life I felt any
kind of curiosity since I was a kid. I want to know what he is, if he really is some
vampire from a past age or just a deeper part of me. I need to know.

“And I’m starting to understand the uncontrollable anger that
grips me sometimes. I don’t know if it’s because I lost a love five hundred years
ago or not but if the vamp can overcome his rage, so can I. I don’t do drugs anymore
and I don’t want to lose it because I’m pissed off. I want to own my life.”

“Of course we’ll keep going. I think you’re right about the anger. But you have to
tell me if you ever feel it’s getting out of hand. I’ve always been honest with you
Carlos, I’m just along for the ride the same as you are. I have no more control over
Aris than you do. And I’m not sure I like that.”

He grinned. “Well, I’m glad to see you out of control over something.” He pecked her
cheek with a quick kiss, then turned on his heel.

As he walked to the door, he looked over his shoulder and winked, “See you next Friday.”

S
arah’s mother held the blue silk dress just in front of her daughter. “This color
is wonderful with your eyes.”

Sarah looked skeptical as she pulled it over her head, “I know you like blue, Mother,
but I think it’s a little low cut for a maid of honor.”

“Honey, it really compliments your figure. Don’t you want to be stunning?”

“Mother,” Sarah let her exasperation show in her voice, “the only one who needs to
be stunning at the wedding is the bride.”

“Are you taking Steve?”

“I haven’t seen Steve in quite a while.” She challenged her mother’s response with
the tone of her voice. “Our free time just didn’t coincide.”

“I don’t understand why you have such difficulty with men, dear. You’re such a pretty
girl. Your grandmother and I would so like to see you settled in a comfortable marriage.
You proved yourself as a career woman with your book. When will you ever be ready
to settle down?”

Sarah turned to face the older woman, a determined look on her face. “Mother, I’m
not trying to prove anything with my career. Why can’t you just accept my work is
a part of who I am?”

Mrs. Hagan’s eyes grew large in surprise. “Why Sarah, I don’t understand your attitude.
I’m only thinking about what is best for you.”

“No Mother, you are thinking about what is best for you. It’s time you recognized
that I am not just a clone of you. Marriage is great but I’m not ready to settle for
a second rate relationship just to make you happy. I’ve done that before and I won’t
do it again.” She pivoted to face the mirror once more pleased with herself to be
finally taking a stand with her mother.

Smoothing her skirt as she stood, the older woman took a tentative step toward her
daughter. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Sarah. I only want the best for you. Let’s
just focus on choosing a dress for the wedding.”

Sarah smiled, grateful her mother didn’t push the conversation as she usually would
have done, proud that she had spoken up at long last. “Yes, I think that’s a great
idea.”

“Do you want to buy your shoes today while we’re already out shopping?”

#

“Miss Hagan, I’m sorry to bother you. Carlos Havarro’s down here to see you.” His
voice grew soft as he covered the receiver with his hand. “And he’s a mess, Miss.
His face is bloody. It looks like he’s broken his hand.”

“What?”

“I told him you didn’t leave his name at the desk but I’ve seen him with you before
and he looks like he really needs some help. What should I do?”

“Send him up. It’s fine.” As she stepped to the living room window to draw the sheer
cream colored curtains, she thought, “What now?”

She placed the tea pot on the stove when she heard a soft, tentative knock on her
door. She opened it, gasping when she saw
him.

“What happened to you?” She took his arm, helping him maneuver to the couch. He was
battered and blood oozed from a wound on his head. He held his hand to his forehead
to stop the bleeding.

Moving his hand to look at his battered face, she winced. “Sit here and I’ll get something
to clean your face. What in the world happened to you?” She spoke as she lifted his
chin to survey the damage.

“I tried to talk to Manu about the scare tactics. Obviously, it didn’t work.” As he
wiped his arm across his forehead to clean the blood, he opened the wound even further.
“I told him about you and what you’ve done for me, how my life is different now. He
wouldn’t listen so I talked louder. I guess the rest of his pals didn’t like my tone
of voice or something because before I knew it, I was on the bottom of a pile of punching
fists and kicking feet. I’m sorry I came here but I couldn’t go to the half-way house
like this. They would have to report it.” His eye was swelling as he looked up at
her. “Can I have some water?”

Embarrassed that he needed to ask, she answered him as she stood, “I’m sorry. Just
put your feet up on the couch and lie down. I’ll get some bandages.” Turning to leave
the room, she added, “And for God’s sake, don’t get up, just rest until I get back.”

Sarah turned off the boiling tea pot. She dampened a clean cloth to wipe his face.
The wound in his head was smaller than she first thought. She remembered she read
somewhere that head wounds bled more than other places and she was glad it wasn’t
a deep gash. She put a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel on his blackening eye
then looked at his right hand. “Can you move your fingers?”