Aris Returns (27 page)

Silence filled Sarah’s dark office as she stared out the window and contemplated how
different her life was now from the normal lives of all the people who lived outside
her strange reality.

#

It was late when she got off the train. Her day was long, exhausting. Her thoughts
were always returning to Carlos and the kiss. She worked diligently to remove the
memory from her mind but she couldn’t. The thought of his warm mouth nagged her with
the question of ‘what if?’ ringing over and over.

As she cleared the turnstile, she felt a presence in her shadow. She turned and saw
a tall, Latino man a few steps behind her. He looked angry, his pockmarked face twisted
in a scowl. She left the stairs moving into the street. He stayed close. As she walked
under a burned out street light, he stepped in front of her, grabbing her hard by
the shoulders. She opened her mouth to scream.

“Carlos will be hurt if you make a sound.” His eyes looked her up and down. He smiled
a crooked, yellow toothed smile. “So, you’re the little shrink messing with my boy?”
He held her firmly, but his hands didn’t hurt her.

Her voice was stable when she spoke. “Who are you? What do you want?” She marveled
at how steady her words sounded in her own ears while her body was paralyzed with
fear.

“I want you to lay off. He doesn’t need your help.” His face moved closer to her as
he whispered. “If you don’t back away, somebody is gonna’ get hurt real bad.” The
smile disappeared. His black eyes bored a hole into her blue ones. “You hear me, shrink
lady?”

Sarah nodded, afraid to form words, knowing if she spoke again, she would no longer
be able to control her voice.

“Now, go home. Remember, I know who you are. I know where you work and where you live.
I’d hate to hurt a pretty piece like you, but I will if I have to. Stay out of his
business.” He released her, pushing her away from him. He moved down the street without
looking back. Tears of fear and relief filled her eyes as she watched the tall shadow
on the pavement change as he passed under first one lit street light, then the next.

#

The sun was hot as Sarah rode her bicycle down the path in Lincoln Park. The humidity
was formidable and the blond hair at the nape of her neck curled in tendrils in defiance
of the pony tail she wore. Thin rivulets of perspiration ran down her back, still
she pedaled faster. No matter how hard she pedaled she was unable to outrun her thoughts.

Her emotions ran from fear to outrage to disbelief. Did it really happen to her? Could
he really have meant that she would be harmed if she continued her sessions with Carlos?
She prayed it was only a threat.

For the first time in Sarah’s life, she was unable to formulate a plan. Telling Colleen
was out of the question. Her friend would tell Bob, the police would be brought into
it and Carlos would never trust her again. If the police became involved, she wasn’t
sure he wouldn’t be implicated somehow. One thing she was sure of, Carlos had nothing
to do with any of it.

Telling Carlos was impossible. He would want to protect her. God only knew what that
could mean in his life. He worked so hard to stay out of trouble, she was determined
to help him at any cost, to continue seeing him regardless of the threat. But why?
Over and over, the question rang through her mind. Why was he so important to her?
Why was her own safety secondary to his? Why was his success and freedom the most
important thing in her world? And finally, was it really Carlos or was it a need to
continue speaking with Aris? Questions without answers, all questions without answers.

#

“You look exhausted.” Scowling as he spoke, Carlos slouched in
the chair across from her desk. “What’s going on with you?”

Sarah avoided his eyes, picked up the recorder and stood. “Nothing. I just haven’t
been able to sleep very well the last few nights. It happens sometimes.” She gestured
toward the recliner, “Let’s get started. I’m anxious to hear the next episode in the
‘Adventures of Aris’.” She smiled a half smile as she sat.

“Okay, me too, I guess.” He brushed her shoulder with his hand as he passed her. It
was a casual movement, but it was the first time he had touched her since their kiss.
It unsettled her.

He lay back in the chair. Closing his eyes, he began to breathe deeply. His face softened
in relaxation as he waited for the familiar words that would raise the vampire.

#

CARLOS HAVARRO, transcript, session 16, June 25

After I returned to the palace from York and met with Anne, I sat before the fire
in my retiring room wondering at what I had become. There was a sound at my window
as if a branch scraped against it, but I was high in a tower, no trees nearby. I knew
it was a visitor. I crossed the room and threw open the glass. Sebastian climbed over
the sill. He stood before me, tall and foreboding.

He was sent by the counsel. In the service of the oldest ones of all, he came to tell
me I was summoned. We left the confines of the human court and I was led to the court
of the undead. We descended deep into the tunnels beneath the city. I was certain
that I was called to the council to answer for the death of Wolsey.

“Don’t deny anything Aris. They know.” Sebastian spoke softly and still it echoed
off the damp stone walls.

“There’s nothing to deny”. One step at a time, we continued down.

“The death of Wolsey, Aris. They know.” He forced his words through clenched teeth.
“Richard told you not to do it. He told you they would find out.”

“No one at Henry’s court is the wiser for it. It was accomplished
without any suspicion.” I spoke more lightly than I felt. I knew the power of the
council, the power of life and death. I heard of one such execution. During the time
of my education, I was told of a woman who killed from spite. She was tried for murder,
her sentence was elimination. The tale of her dismembered, burned body was a symbol
of what horror was possible, even for the undead. Only through burning did the vampire
cease to exist. Dismembering alone left the essence, the true being of the vampire,
continuing forever, a lone entity floating through time and space. I knew dearly of
that bleak existence. I feared it. And after losing my sweet Elizabeth, that was all
that I feared.

Sebastian embraced me and spoke with a sad voice. “Good bye my friend.” He turned
and left me to my judgment.

“And so you were executed? Is that why you are without a body now?” Sarah was leaning
forward in her chair so as not to miss one word that he spoke.

“No. Although murder was punishable by death, Queen Akira, stood for me.

I entered the chamber, bowed then knelt on the cushion in front of her. She sat on
her throne still as a sculpture. When she finally broke the silence, she demanded
I explain myself, her beautiful voice hard as stone. I felt the deepest fear at her
displeasure yet my words were confident when I replied. When I finished speaking,
she rose, taking all who were judges at my trial into another chamber. I was left
on my knees before the thrones. There I waited while my fate was decided. My mind
escaped into the timelessness of the vampire void.

A soft shuffle of fabric brought my attention to my surroundings once again. She stood
unmoving in front of me, at last touching my shoulder. I raised my eyes to meet hers.
She rebuked my rebellion. Her cold short words cut to the very heart of me. I recoiled
at her anger. Her condemnation complete, she stood in silence. I waited for my sentence.
And, to this day, I know not why, I was allowed to go free. I believe if Khansu had
been present, my fate would have taken a different direction.
The truth to that, I will never know.

After a time of silence, she dismissed me from the council chamber. Sebastian walked
with me down the long corridor to the stone staircase. I praised the devil for my
fortune, promising myself I would never put myself into jeopardy again for any one.
Not even the King himself.

I returned to the palace, to my rooms, climbing the outer wall of the tower so no
one was the wiser I was gone at all.

“And now Sarah, you have knowledge of a great deal of my existence.”

“Yes, but you had a body. You had a human body that you inhabited and now, you don’t,
at least not one that belongs to only you. How did that happen?”

“And that Sarah my sweet, is another story.”

And she knew the vampire had left the session. She sat quietly for a few moments then
brought Carlos back to real time.

#

Sarah now made sure she left the office long before dark. Her run in with the frightening
stranger was a warning well taken. Just as she went through the turnstile, her cell
phone rang. She was surprised to see it was Carlos.

“Hi.” She was careful not to sound too eager. They hadn’t spoken outside of session
since the incident and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

“Hi.” She heard him take a deep breath as she crossed the street. When he spoke, he
stammered. “Look, I . . . Silence as she waited for him to finish his sentence. “I
want you to know that what happened at your apartment will never happen again. Your
friendship means more to me than anything.”

“I understand. Me too.” She smiled, “God, I feel so much better just talking to you.”

“I know. Lately, since . . . well, you know, I don’t even feel like I’m at the session.
It feels like it’s just you and the vamp.” He took
another deep breath. “And I don’t like it. So, let’s just be what we have been all
along.”

“Friends?”

“More. Family.” His words were soft and sincere.

“Sounds good to me.” She entered her apartment building, waving at the doorman as
she crossed the lobby. “I just got home and I’m getting in the elevator. I’m going
to lose you in a minute.”

“You’ll never lose me.” She was left with empty air waves as the elevator door closed.

“I
s Miss Hagan in the office today?”

“This is Miss Hagan. Isabella?” She asked into the receiver.

“Yes, Miss Hagan.” The voice on the other end sounded frightened and desperate.

“Please Isabella, do call me Sarah. What’s the matter?” She controlled her anxiety
when she spoke. “What’s happened?”

“My son, Javier, didn’t come home last night. This morning I found him drunk and drugged
on my front lawn. I got him to his room while my husband was taking a shower. I shut
his door and pretended he was there all night.

“After my husband left, I went to his room. He was being sick in his bathroom. I helped
him to bed. He is there now, sleeping.” She held in a sob. “Sarah, what can I do?
I don’t know what to do. I know those bad friends of Carlos had my son.”

“They are no friends of Carlos, Isabella. Stay with Javier and I’ll have Carlos talk
to him. Everything will be just fine. We’ll take care of it.”

“I hope so, Sarah, I hope so.”

#

“I just told him, they weren’t my friends and that he should hang with guys in his
class and not these older guys. We talked
for a long time. I think he understands.” He picked up his coffee mug, draining the
cup. The new young waitress at Saul’s filled it immediately with a big smile, but
Carlos didn’t even notice.

“Sarah, I don’t know what to do. I can’t go back. I just can’t but I can’t let my
brother be hurt either.” He placed his elbows on the table and rested his head in
his hands. After a moment, he looked up. “What should I do?”

“I think it’s time we talk to Colleen. I won’t do it unless you say it’s okay but
she is on your side.” To buy time to think, she took a bite of toast, chewed and swallowed.
“So is Bob.”

“That isn’t the answer. The cops will just make them mad, then who knows what they’ll
do.”

Sarah pushed her breakfast away, signaling the waitress to take her plate. “Colleen
can help us. I know she can.”

“No, I don’t want the cops involved. Not yet. As my shrink you can’t tell them anything
if I don’t say it’s okay, right?”

“Carlos,” she began to speak.

“No Sarah, it’s a done deal. Are you ready?” He stood holding out his hand to help
her from the booth. He picked up the check. “I got this one.”

#

The drive to Starved Rock State Park was beautiful. The recent rainfall made the trees
and the grasses along the road so green they were almost blue.

The car windows were down and the breeze ruffled Colleen’s spiked hair, making it
look like the dark fur of a forest animal. It was a perfect day for a hike, warm but
with a breeze and almost no humidity. A classical song Sarah liked was playing on
the radio. She tried to remember the name of the composer but she couldn’t recall
who it was.

As she turned her head to ask Colleen, Colleen spoke first. “So what’s up with Carlos?”
She kept her eyes on the road, waiting for
her friend to answer.

“Nothing. And I guess everything. You know we do sessions regularly. I think we’re
making progress.” She watched her words. She wondered how much Colleen really knew
or guessed. “No, I know he’s definitely making progress. He’s doing everything possible
to keep his life clean.”