Sanctity (35 page)

My eyes widened in shock but I was unable to
react, it was as though he had me locked in some strange mental
paralysis.  As he loosened his hold and stepped away he wiped
his mouth with the back of his hand.  I watched in fascinated
horror as the cut on his cheek shimmered and healed leaving behind
a flawless layer of skin where the gash had been.

“Oh, God,” I sunk from the stool to my
knees. 

“There is no God, trust me,” he
snickered. 

I looked up as he loomed over me, “Call him;
call Michael.”

“I can’t.”

He struck me, rattling my teeth, “Call
him!”

“I don’t know how.”

“I have waited long enough - bring him to
me!”

I looked to Margaret for some understanding
of what I was supposed to do.  She shook her head
regretfully.

Victor wrapped my hair in his fist and hauled
me to my feet, he was about to hit me again but as he raised his
arm a voice commanded from the hallway, “Let her go or I will drain
you to within a drop of your life and tear you limb from limb.”

As he came into view there was no mistaking
that this was the Michael they had been talking about.  Aside
from the fact that he was long overdue for a haircut and a shave
the resemblance between the two brothers was so remarkable they
could have been twins.  As he stepped into the kitchen someone
stepped from behind him.

“Charlie,” I was overjoyed to see him and
tried to take a step towards him but Victor yanked me back.

“Not so fast,” he held me tight.

Michael was momentarily torn between who to
help first.  He clenched his teeth and ushered Margaret away
from the table ignoring Victor and me for the moment.  He
grasped the blade that was still protruding from Margaret’s
shoulder and gently eased it free.  He made the tear in her
blouse a little wider and revealed the gash beneath.  I
watched with amazement as he severed the tip of his finger and
smoothed the blood that bubbled out over the wound on Margaret’s
shoulder.  It shimmered just as the cut on Victor’s cheek had
and as Michael wiped the blood she lost away I could see the newly
unblemished skin where moments ago the knife had been.

“Charlie, please, help her outside and take
her away from here.”

Charlie looked apologetically towards me and
there was nothing I would have liked more than the reassurance of
having him stay with me but I nodded acquiescence and Charlie
wrapped her arm around his shoulder and led Margaret from the
house.  I heard a car start and pull away.

“Elayna, are you hurt?” Michael took a step
closer.

An image flashed in my mind of Michael
tightly gripping my shoulders and draining the life from me as I
helplessly struggled against him.

He reached out a hand as though to comfort
me, “No!” I cried.  The memory horrified me and I recoiled
from his touch.

Victor found this absolutely riotous, “Oh,
how the mighty have fallen!”  Victor shuffled me to the far
end of the kitchen, getting us several paces further away from
Michael.

“Elayna, please, it’s me, Michael,” I felt
his presence in my mind, sifting through my memories looking for
something, anything that would convince me that I could trust
him.

“You don’t remember me,” he sighed, utterly
distraught, “and it’s my fault,” he hid his face in his hands
before running his fingers through his hair and pulling it all back
and away from his face.  “Let her go Victor, this is between
you and me.”

Something was tugging on my insides and I
took a step towards Michael.

“Elayna,” Victor softly called.

I was torn.  I looked over my shoulder
and Victor smiled at me.  He reached out a hand to me and I
couldn’t seem to resist.  I reached back.  Victor had a
wicked grin as he drew me close.  He watched with intense
satisfaction as a completely horrified expression swept across
Michael’s face.  Victor leaned down and took my lips in
his.

When he pulled back he whirled me about so I
was facing Michael, “Love me,” he tucked my hair over my shoulder
as he whispered in my ear.

“I love you,” I sighed and leaned my head
back against Victor’s chest.

He stroked my neck with the back of his hand,
“Say it again, so Michael can hear you.”

“I love you Victor.”

Michael was beside himself, shaking with
anger, “Elayna,” he commanded.

My eyes went wide.

“Uh, uh, ah,” Victor admonished, “this is
where you belong.”

“Yes,” I breathed, “I belong with you.”

Victor laughed out loud, “I guess they were
telling the truth.  There’s nothing there is there?  Oh,
I knew the time was right.  Look at her,” he waved his hand
from the top of my head the length of my body, “all grown up and
everything you ever wanted her to be but she’s no longer yours,” he
kissed me again.

Michael took a step towards us, “Let her go
Victor!”

 “Sorry little brother, no can do,” he
inched us away.  “I thought I would kill her; how else could I
possibly hurt you more than you have hurt me than by taking her?
 I've had a change of heart, though, because now...now I
can envision so much more.”  

Victor glanced at the blade Michael had left
lying on the island.  Before Michael could react Victor
tightened his grip around my waist and lunged for it.  He laid
it against my neck, “How do you manage to get yourself in these
predicaments, eh?  It would be a shame to let her go to waste
but don’t think I won’t do it.”

“No, don’t Victor,” Michael pleaded.  He
held up his hands in submission and stepped back.

“Good choice,” Victor used me to shield
himself as he ushered us toward the door. He sarcastically waved a
farewell to Michael and whirled me out the door and into the
night.

Michael sunk to his knees in defeat.  He
was stupefied and couldn’t think.  He didn’t know what to do;
he kept seeing Victor’s lips on mine and hearing my determined
declaration, “I love you Victor.”

Minutes later Charlie returned, “Where’s
Lily?” he asked.

Michael looked up and was unable to
answer.

“He has her doesn’t he?”

Michael’s lips quivered, “Yes, he took her
Charlie…she’s gone.”

Charlie was shaking his head, “No… no…NO!!”
he screamed.  “You swore this would never happen.  You
promised to protect her and that we would have a life together!”
Charlie pivoted on his heel.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find Lily and I’m going to
bring her back.”

 Michael shook the haze from his head,
“No Charlie, it's too dangerous.  I'll find her.  They
can't have gone far; it's too late.  Where's Margaret?"

“She’s at Lily’s”

“In the trunk, Charlie, there’s a flare
gun.  Stay with Margaret.  Keep her safe.”

Before he could protest or ask for further
explanation Michael was gone.

Victor dropped the blade and tumbled me into his
car then quickly took the driver’s seat.  I was in a heady
delirium and turned myself towards him as he pulled from Margaret’s
driveway.  He was scowling as we raced away leaving the
evening’s events behind us.  My hands were folded and resting
on my lap and after he urged the car into its highest gear he
reached over and took my left in a determined grip.

I squeezed him back, “Please Victor, be
gentle.”

“Of course,” he smiled and brought my
knuckles to his lips while relaxing his hold.

“Thank you,” I smiled.  “Where are we
going?” I tilted my head curiously.

He smiled back, “Not far, not tonight
anyway.”

I drew my legs up as he drove and curled
myself into the passenger’s seat, “I’m sleepy,” I yawned.

“Of course you are,” he raised his hand to my
cheek and I sighed in pleasure at his touch.  “It won’t be
long.  We’ll be home soon and then you can rest.”

“You’re so sweet,” I sighed.

I closed my eyes and didn’t notice the
minutes passing.  I hardly realized it when we stopped and
Victor guided me from the car and helped me into the lobby of an
exclusive condominium complex located in the heart of
downtown.  We rode the elevator up to the penthouse and Victor
offered me his arm as the doors slid back to reveal a spectacularly
well-appointed apartment.

I looked left and right then slowly turned in
a complete circle taking it all in, “It’s breathtaking,” I cooed as
Victor watched me while he shrugged out of his jacket.

“Thank you,” he sounded sincerely
pleased.

I slowly walked towards him and wrapped my
arms around him, “You’re breathtaking,” I tiptoed and whispered in
his ear. 

His lips traced my neck.  I felt a tiny
prick then his tongue as it ran over the flesh from my collarbone
to my chin.  My mind went completely blank when I felt the
pressure of his lips against mine.

“Oh,” I moaned as he pulled back.

He brought his wrist to his mouth and made a
tiny incision.  Part of me revolted at the idea but I felt
compelled and unable to resist the urge to taste him as he raised
his arm.  He placed his hand on the back of my head and guided
it to the droplets that were trickling towards his elbow.

It was like ice until it slid down the back
of my throat then suddenly it seemed to be setting a blaze to my
insides.  I wanted more but Victor eased me away.  I
stood back shivering as the heat expanded inside me.

“Not yet,” he rebuked me.  “Not tonight,
soon, love, soon.”  He took my face in his hands and kissed me
so intimately, so passionately I felt faint.

“Say it again, tell me who you love.”

“I love you, Victor.  I love you.”

He took the collar of my dress in his hands
and tore it from neck to navel then folded it back.  I
shrugged out of it and let it fall to the floor then reached for
Victor’s shirt and slowly, methodically unbuttoned it.  I
wanted to take my time, to appreciate the moment and have it be
memorable and loving because that was the only way I had ever
experienced it.

 Victor was looking
down at me as I tugged his shirt from his pants and eased it from
his shoulders.  I tried smiling up at him but quickly lost the
expression because there was something dark and foreboding lurking
in his eyes.  I didn’t want to see it and wished that I hadn’t
because suddenly I was filled with hesitation.  My body was
begging for Victor to take me but my heart was
screaming 
NO
! 
NEVER
!

I think Victor sensed my reluctance and
before I could protest or discourage him in any way he had my legs
wrapped around his waist and my back against the wall.  For
half a moment I fought against him but as soon as I felt him inside
me my resistance melted into demand.  My arms went around his
shoulders and my legs constricted into a vice-like grip. 
Everything was forgotten except the need for fulfillment.

When it was over tears rained down my cheeks
and it was impossible for me to recognize with any certainty
whether they were tears of bliss or utter remorse.  Victor was
heaving against and at first he didn’t notice them.  When he
raised his head and saw how distraught I was his eyes went wild
with anger. 

He seized me by the throat, “You will love
me!!  You will!!” and he latched onto me and drained me
mercilessly until I could no longer stand on my own.  “Oh,
God,” he screamed when he realized what he was doing, “No, no,
NO!!   Not like this!” he bent down and with the
gentlest, most wistful of caresses kissed me.  He made another
incision on his arm and held it to my lips. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered over and over
again, “I’m so sorry, Lily.  Please, please forgive me,” he
begged.

He stopped before it would be too much and
brushed the hair back from my face tucking it behind my ears. 
“Please,” he insisted as he studied my face and feared the
worst.

I opened my eyes but I was too weak it seemed
for anything else.  He scooped me up and brought me to the
bedroom then softly placed me on the bed and tucked me beneath the
covers.  He kissed each of my eyelids then abruptly stood up
and began pacing the length of the room. 

The hours had gotten away from him and as he
berated himself for what he had done he was torn between staying to
ensure I would be alright and rushing off to rest.  Ultimately
he knew there was nothing more he could do and when the first of
the morning’s rays struck him, he took one last glance at me and
rushed from the room locking me in as he left.

I slept through the morning and well into the
afternoon all the while dreaming of Michael.  I imagined he
was looking for me; driving, it seemed, as best as the roads would
take him in circles starting from Margaret’s house and spiraling
outward.  I felt like he was calling out to me over and over
and over again and his voice was like the little tendril I always
imagined that kept us connected through all the years of knowing
one another.  I wanted to reach out and grasp it and pull it
close to me but it was so elusive; sometimes feeling oh-so-close
and others drifting further and further away.  I tried calling
back but every time I did I was filled with the dread of Victor
hearing me and my voice seemed to come out in a completely
inaudible whisper.  

When I finally woke that afternoon I was
covered in sweat.  My skin was on fire and my throat so raw
and dry that I couldn’t swallow.  I had no recollection of my
dream as I sat upright, squinting at the sun.  As it streamed
through the windows I kicked the covers off and I felt possessed
with shame as I realized that I was naked.  I wrestled one of
the sheets from the bed and wrapped it around and around
myself.  I made my way to the windows one by one and drew
their blinds half-closed.

I began to shiver and shake as I made my way
to the door.  I tried the handle only to find it locked from
the outside.  I tried each of the other doors in turn – the
first two led to what seemed his and her walk-in closets. 
Only one seemed to be in use and as I looked around I decided to
drop my sheet in favor of a crisp linen shirt that fell to the
middle of my thighs.  With trembling fingertips I buttoned it
up and my heart filled with regret as I recalled what I had done
and with whom I had done it.  I choked back the tears that
swelled in my eyes then I resumed testing the other
doors.   It was a huge relief when I found the bathroom
and could finally soothe my throat with some water from the
tap.