Aris Rising: The Court of Vampires: AN INFINITY DIARIES NOVEL (15 page)

“We do not call them marriages. They are different in many ways from the mating of humans. There is a deeper bond as we all share the venom of Akira, a sameness that runs inside all of us. We are more sensitive to the desires of one another. There is no jealousy, no anger, no misunderstandings because of it. We do not bare children so our households are just two, the male and the female.
We work, we play, we socialize. We create bonds that you would call friendships. Our mutual existence is rich and rewarding.”

Sarah felt the color rise in her cheeks. “Umm, you don’t reproduce you say.” How the hell does a person ask a vampire how they have sex? She wasn’t quite sure but she had to know. The feelings stirring inside her for Aris pushed her forward. “But you do share physical intimacy?”

“Oh yes. We experience human desire and release yet it is a great deal more. The venom speaks through our coupling. It flows between us, our life essence becomes one. The intensity is so great a fragile human being could never survive the exchange of the mating venom. It is truly impossible to describe in language the ecstasy, the bliss of the joining.”

“I guess that gives me the answer,”
she thought.
“There’s only one way to be with Aris. I just can’t think about that right now.”

She spoke as she stood, taking her empty cup to the kitchen. “I’d better get dressed if I don’t want to be late for my appointment with Bonnie.” She turned to face her new friend. “Will you ride along with me?”

“Yes Sarah, one of us will be with you until this situation is resolved. Do not worry. You are safe.”

“Safe,”
she thought.
“But am I safe from my own desire?”
Hurrying to her bedroom, she put the question from her mind as she began dressing.

#

Gabriela sat in the lobby glancing through a magazine as Bonnie took Sarah back in time.

SARAH HAGAN, transcript, session 5

The rushes beneath my feet let off a lovely, fresh scent as my riding boots bore down on them and my long blue velvet riding skirt skimmed them. As I hurried through the great corridor to meet my cousin,
Thomas, I drew warm gloves onto my chilled hands to shield them from the frost of the dawning day. The heavy fog was just beginning to lift and the sun to make its first appearance as I made my way down the palace steps toward the handsome young man who waited without complaint in the cold. His powerful black stallion, not nearly so patient, pawed the ground and snorted great puffs of steam from his flaring nostrils.

“Thomas, how handsome you look. Have you set that silver feather in your cap to catch some unsuspecting maiden?”

He laughed as he answered, “no, sweet Elizabeth, to charm no one save you.”

“Dear cousin, I am thusly charmed.” I returned his affectionate banter as my groomsman assisted me in mounting my perfect white hunter. The saddle trimmings captured the blue of my riding clothes exactly. “And what of this man I am to meet today? Who is he?” I asked because it was expected. I felt no interest in any man since losing Diego and coming to court except perhaps the tall, blond Adonis appearing out of nowhere at the royal banquet.

We walked our animals slowly while Thomas held the reins in a tight hand, his stallion pulling at the bit, ripe for a swift run. “A friend and a favorite of the King.”

“But his name?”

“Aris.”

I was puzzled. “Aris? That is all?”

“He came to us from a foreign court and that is the singular way he wishes to be called.”

“So Thomas, tell me of him.” Not truly caring, I feigned interest to please my cousin.

“He is courageous and a man of honor.”

“Of course or he would not be in service to the King, but is he tall and of fair countenance?”

Chuckling my companion answered, “Yes sweet Bess, he is tall and very handsome although somewhat reserved with the ladies.” He hesitated
but a moment. “Or so it seems.”

Sincerely intrigued, after a moment I spoke. “Tell me more.”

“Rumor in the court has it that several of Lady Anne’s maids-in-waiting have approached him yet he has responded not at all. No one knows why as there is no doubt of his virility. He is a champion of the joust and has won many great battles in foreign lands.”

“How rare for a courtier to not take advantage of every opportunity for a liaison. I do look forward to meeting him.”

“The time is now. He approaches.”

I stifled a gasp as he swung from his horse and took the bridles from our hands. Standing before me was the golden god who captured my attention at the King’s banquet. Powerfully built yet lithe with a strong jaw and fascinating blue eyes, his golden curls tousled beneath his Imperial cap, the soft tuft of hair on his chin begged to be kissed. Surely any woman would succumb to his potent charm.

A groomsman handed each of us a stirrup cup to ease the chill. He bowed to me. “Mistress Elizabeth.” Then to my cousin. “Thomas.”

And that is how I met him. Aris.

Sarah smiled as memories flooded her mind.

The courtship began. It was glorious. Long walks along the frozen Thames. Mulled wine beside the fire. Banquets. Hunts. Masques. And always as if I were the only maid in the realm. How could one not grow to love such a man? The ache in my heart left by the loss of my dark gypsy was slowly, meticulously healed by the attention and caring of this beautiful knight of King Henry’s.

My cousin had told me true of the rebuked attentions of the other maids. There were stares full of jealousy and words of scorn spoken secretly behind my back. I knew yet I cared not. His presence brought me joy in a way I never dreamed possible.

Then one afternoon as I walked in the snow-kissed garden dressed warmly against the winter’s chill, he appeared. He walked beside me silently for some moments. Taking my hand, he turned to face me. It
was then he pledged his love and devotion. My heart soared as a great bird, its wings taking it higher and higher toward the warmth of the sun. I responded in kind, unable to restrain the declaration of my undying adoration. He gazed into my eyes as he asked me to share my life with him, to become his true wife. Tears poured down my cheeks as I uttered the only word that I could speak. “Yes.”

He kissed away my tears of joy and held me gently. We were silent for some time, wrapped in our love and each other’s arms. Soft white snowflakes began to fall gently, adding to the scattered powder on the ground. It was only then that he led me into the palace, our moment of solitary joy ending as we joined the courtiers. A secret smile filled my heart as I thought of my life to come with this gentle man.

G
abriela and Richard had taken the evening to be alone in their hotel so it was Aris who watched from the shadows across the street from Sarah’s apartment. She was dressed beautifully in evening clothes as the taxi pulled to the curb. He knew she was meeting a man and his un-beating heart ached in his chest. The pain tore through him as he hurried down the sidewalk. The evening traffic moved at a snail’s pace, making it easy for him to keep the car in sight. His two vows, to keep her safe from the phantom vampire and to never intrude in her human life, battled within him. He would watch her only until she reached her destination. Unable to endure seeing her with another man, a human man, he would turn away as she stepped from the cab. He would not spy on her as she joined his rival. But was it truly a rival?

She had not seen fit to tell him of the man. He took that as in his favor. Perhaps it was of no importance, simply a friend, a colleague with whom she shared time. Yet, if it was of no importance, why did she not tell him? Why did she keep their meetings secret?

His human nature roared inside of him. His desire to set upon the other male, rip him to shreds, take him out of her life, fought constantly with his deeper integrity. Her choice would be her
own. If he lost her, it would be his destiny to be alone throughout eternity. Perhaps that was his final judgment, his personal hell for being what he was. Could he withstand the loss of her? He was comforted knowing that through his great love for her, he could withstand anything this world put before him. He hurried on down the street, her silent protector.

#

DeMarco stood just outside the doors of the opera house so handsome and dignified in his evening clothes. Sarah exited the taxi and waved to him. Once again, he was there, waiting when she arrived.

“You look beautiful, Sarah.” His eyes glistened as he watched her walk beside him. Heads turned as they entered the building. She knew they were a striking couple. “We have plenty of time before the house lights go down. Would you care for a glass of wine?”

“Yes, that would be nice.” He slid her coat from her shoulders and took it to the coat check. She waited for him apart from the crowd milling around the lobby, watching all the women try not to be too blatant with their appreciative stares. He really was amazing to look at.
“Such a gentleman,”
she thought. She hoped that would remain true when she told him she was seeing someone else as well. She could tell by the way he looked at her and touched her he was ready to take their relationship to the next level. She enjoyed his company enormously and found him more than physically desirable, yet she was held back by her deep attachment to Aris. She felt DeMarco had a right to know.

He bought their drinks as she found a quiet place near an exit door for them to sit.

“Have you seen
Madam Butterfly
before?” His voice was soft and as she leaned closer to hear him more clearly, his fragrance floated on the air. It was strangely familiar to her, yet she couldn’t quite place it.

“No, I haven’t, but I’ve wanted to for a long time.” She decided it was a good moment to talk. They had the whole opera together for him to digest her news before they separated for the evening. She hoped it would be time for him to accept the situation. She didn’t want to lose him from her life, but she knew she had to be honest with him. If she thought about it too much, she wouldn’t tell him.

“DeMarco,” she began. “I feel I need to tell you that I am also seeing someone else. It’s someone I’ve known for a long time and I have feelings for him.” His jaw stiffened as he turned toward her giving her his full attention.

“Yes?”

She could see he wasn’t going to give her any help with her confession so, a bit disconcerted, she plunged ahead. “Of course you and the time we spend together are also important to me. Very important. You have brought a whole new element into my life and I’m very grateful. I just need a little more time before we move forward any further.”

Her deeper thoughts were along a much different line.
“Am I crazy? I haven’t had sex in at least a hundred years and this hunk is sitting here right in front of me like candy in a candy store
.” She was aware Colleen would never let her forget it if she knew.

His face froze and he was silent as she told him of his rival. She wished she could read his mind. When he finally spoke, it was with a forced smile. “Sarah, I am rather old fashioned myself. Please, don’t worry. There is plenty of time for us to get to know one another more fully and I am happy simply sharing time with you.” He touched her hand lightly. “You don’t mind a kiss once in a while, do you?”

Blushing, she cast her gaze at the floor. He lifted her chin and looking into her blue, confused eyes, kissed her gently just as the house lights flashed signaling the patrons the opera was about to begin. Taking her elbow, he helped her to stand. She was glad he
did, because her knees were weak at the feel of his thick, silky lips on hers.

As they moved into the theatre, his thoughts were in a completely different vein than their conversation had been. “
I will have her. She will not be taken from me by another. She is mine.”

“S
o what’s up with the men in your life?” As they sat on Sarah’s couch, Colleen unconsciously rubbed the pregnancy bulge that was now obvious through her sweatshirt.

“What do you mean ‘what’s up’?”

“Come on kid, don’t be coy with me.” She looked at her friend, disbelief registering in her eyes. “Don’t tell me, you’re still the only divorced, semi-virgin in town. Don’t you know it’s illegal to be seeing two such gorgeous men and not getting any action?”

“C, it isn’t about action, it’s about commitment.”

“Honestly hon, I don’t know how I can be best friends with such a freak. What in the hell is wrong with you?” She spoke through her laughter, but Colleen’s question was sincere. Sometimes she just couldn’t figure out how Sarah’s brain really worked.

“First of all, I’m not a freak.” She paused a moment as she thought then answered. “Well, maybe I am, just a little. I just want to be sure before I sleep with DeMarco that it isn’t something I’ll be sorry for? I don’t want to step into something that may hurt him later on. Or hurt me for that matter.”

“DeMarco? What the hell about Carlos? He’d be all over you in a second if you gave him the slightest indication you were willing.
I can’t believe you two haven’t done it yet.” She shook her head in mock sorrow. “That poor guy.”

“Come on, C. He and I have talked about it. He knows it’s something I don’t take lightly. He’s also young and been through a lot. I’m not even sure how I feel or if it could work anyway. And maybe it’s just because I haven’t been too active lately. It’s sort of come to mean something more to me than it does to most people.” She thought,
“And as a human, I’m not quite willing to be ripped limb from limb for an orgasm with Aris.”
She giggled nervously at the thought of making love to him.