The Tormented Goddess (8 page)

“Never look out the window at night, not when I'm with you at least.”

“Why?”

“That was probably a Duplyreflexion. It would have taken the form of someone you care for and make you follow them until your death.”

“That's marvellous!”

“From now on be extremely vigilant, we are e
ntering the kingdom of fear.”  d
eclared Venus as lighting a candle. Edward nodded in understanding and made his way to bed; reaching for his covers he turned away from the window towards the wall and closed his eyes.

Was it a scream or the whistling of the train that woke him up, all he knew was that he was in the bedchamber alone and that the windows were wide open letting the morning light invade the
capsule?
He got up and tried to shave but the moving train could not stop him from imagining that his blade would slip and slight his throat. Out of his pyjamas he fastened his pants and as he was about to button up his shirt Venus barged into the room. Her eyes seemed to have stared one moment too long making her skin tone rose up with embarrassment, all the sudden she told him “Someone was killed, Meet me in the saloon as soon as you can.” As she left she couldn't help but notice how well built he was, the idea terrified her, he was her friend that was it, was it not? But she had worse to worry about.

Edward continued to button up his
shirt;
it was a scream after all that woke him up. He combed his hair, put on his shoes and placed his wallet in his jackets hidden pocket right on his chest. Out of his suit he made his way towards the saloon, there sat Venus staring out far into the open land. he sat down and poured himself a glass of orange juice; as taking the first sip Venus began to speak
“The victim was a little five year old. Edward they're hunting you down.”

He placed his glass back down on the table and slowly swallowed the remaining ice cold juice sitting in his mouth.
He wondered “I don't understand. W
hy would they be hunting me down? What have I done wrong?” Venus faced Edward and thought to herself that he had done nothing wrong. It was all her fault that he was stupidly risking his life by accompanying her, the guilt felt to strong that she could not hold back her emotions. Edward saw the tears raining down from her golden eyes. Immediately he took out his tissue and gave it to her so she could wipe off her unending misery off her velvet face. Determine Edward spoke out “Venus, I am not leaving you.” At that moment the train whistled again, everyone seemed to think of the same this was it another scream or merely a fragment of their imagination.

C
hapter Ten

When Edward got off the Train once arrived at destination, he posted a letter for his little sister Juliet saying:

My sweet little flower,

Mother and father are probably furious about me running off, but you were completely right my Juliet, Venus us one of a kind. Never will there be another one as her, that I'm pretty sure! Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. I'll write again as soon as I can, since I don't know when we'll come by another post office in the future do not worry. I'm sorry I didn't leave you a better present, but your kindness will always be cherished by me.

From your loving brother,

Edward.

  Since no one wished to drive them to their destination, they had to buy the carriage and horse off of some one. All they managed to find was a wooden sled, but Venus insisted that the horse must be black. Once on the country carriage they drove off by themselves. Edward Commented “Interesting combination, from luxurious first class trains to dirt roads and snow, you impress me Venus.”

“Actually I'm impressed by you; usually someone from your rank would already be terrified to death, literally.” She said with her cheeks rising into a smile.

“Are you trying to say that I'm courageous?”

“Definitely not you're stupid, to risk your life this way, but you're not the first.”

“By not being the first can you be a little clearer?”

“You may not have noticed people consider me relatively attractive, I wasn't named the roman goddess of beauty for nothing. Those people have a ridicules ideology thinking that they should protect me thus they usually end up dead.”

“Not that it's any of my business, I curious to know, well, how many lovers have you had.”

“You're right
it’s
not a very popular question, but I'm sure you're dying to know so
let’s
approximate...” Venus began counting on her fingers “... none!”

“None!” r
epeated Edward unbelievingly.

“Except Dracula, but that's because he tricked me to believe he was...” she hesitated before continuing “...
I prefer not to speak of it now. I know it's difficult to believe, but I never had a real lover. I did have dreadfully many admires, but none of them did I love back enough to consider them a lover.”

“That's wonderful!”
He said sarcastically, thinking in which category he was placed in by her criteria's.

“Wonderful, I've had nobody to truly love for more than a millennium...” Her voice was getting coarser “... Everyone I came to care for has died. Such death I welcome, for even if I wished to settle down my children would grow old and I would have to carry the terrible burden to see them die. This is why Edward I have hardened my heart eternally, for I may not permit
myself
to love until I am restored to a mortal, and thus is my quest.”

Edward seeing the grief she had selfishly could not help but hope that one day he would have a place in her heart.
As he pondered on how to unlock it Venus suddenly handed over the gearing. She reached back for a brown bag of which the content was filled with garlic. Curios Edward asked “What is all that garlic for?”

“Good question! It is to attract blood sucking mortals.”

“Great, but why would we attract them if we are trying to evade them, your logic isn't quite clear.”

“Haven't you heard that garlic repels evil, of course you haven't mortals are so
ignorant?
Well
it’s
completely the opposite, with the smell of garlic here and there...” as she spoke she threw cloves of garlic on the ground
“... they'll believe superstitious mortals are camping out there thus making them a perfect feast. Hopefully we will fool them, thus with the distance we will cover they'll leave us alone.”

“That's intelligent, wh
ere did you learn to do that?” a
sked Edward.

“Merlin taught me!”

“You're kidding?”

“Yes I am, he taught me a great deal more.” She said with a smile.

After reaching the deep country side a mysterious village appeared engulfed by mist all you could here were the villagers shutting their windows under the new
comers’
noses. “They're certainl
y very welcoming around here!” t
hought Edward aloud.

“These people are quite accustom
ed
to such traditions, don't blame them. They must
have
suffered so
much;
it's for their security, who knows we may be predators.” Exclaimed Venus hoping that Edward would understand what those villagers must live through, constant fear.

They stopped at an inn; Venus got off leaving
as
Edward
watched
over the sled. She went to have a word with the innkeeper but the old woman denied
seeing
them, screaming them to leave. The old woman's voice was muffled from behind the safety of her door, by this hour no one could come in
or
out. The night was young.

“A very elegant lady
…
”
E
dward exclaimed in a mocking tone.

“Edward the sun is setting, and the fearsome nightmares
of the night are commencing.” r
eposted Venus with the voice of an angle of another hemisphere.
“If you want to live through the night, we must get you to safety.” She looked straight into the setting sun and decided
“There is
nowhere
safer than by the side of the enemy, trust me with this. I am taking you to an old friend.”

“Another one!”
s
aid Edward referring to how disastrous meeting the last king of France was.

“She's exclusively vicious, so never wonder off anywhere without me. Promise me!” She ordered. Edward nodded in agreement therefore Venus reminded him. “Hold your promise this time.”

An eye breaking view of the
villages’
cemetery gave them Goosebumps from head to toe. Multiple thousands of graves invaded the landscape. No wonder this was the non-forgiving land of fear. The horse fought the weight of the sled up the hill and once they cornered the
all-seeing
tree, they could finally see the breathtaking gothic medieval fortress. “Don't make a noise, and hide under this.” She instructed as throwing an ice cold heavy quilt over him.

Venus got off the sled and rang an ancient massive bell at the front
gate;
it seemed instantly after that a pale looking young woman appeared at the gate.
“Who may you be?”
s
lithered the woman.

“Florence, is that you?” a
sked Venus.

“Oh, Venus it has been such a long time...” Florence Looked around to see if
there
were any one else around.
“Why are you here?” She asked in a frightened delighted tone.

“I was invited for a ballet.” r
eplied Venus.

“I thought Vlad was still frightened by you.”

Venus had an amused expression on her face when she heard Florence's reasoning, but then Edward sneezed
,
triggering Florence to locate him instantly thanks to the proximity of his sent. Her friend approached him slowly when suddenly Venus grabbed her arm and said “I have a favour to ask of you.”

“So
he's not a present I assume.” r
etorted Florence.

“I have a tendency of never br
inging that kind of presents.” a
nswered Venus.

Florence took off the quilt from Edward centimeter by centimeter. She observed his every move then declared to them “I have to warn you I am sometimes unable to control my hunger.”

“Florence you are a dear friend to me.”

“One can simply not control their nature, am I frightening you little man?

“If anything happens to him I
'll deal with you personally.” w
arned Venus.

“Follow me!” Replied Florence coldly.

The carriage was driven to the doors of the castle, Florence showed them through one of the numerous uncharted roots hidden throughout the walls, toward the guest chambers they went
, t
he more discrete the better. What Venus meant by dealing with Florence referred to her liaison with Count Dracula. Long ago lived an immortal young man
, he
finally managed to
seduce
the incarnation of Roman beauty
.
A
t
a tender moment the bit into her neck, only to realise that she was beyond immortality
.
Venus cannot defy gravity nor cast enchantments but the gift she possesses (besides not being able to die, which she considers a curse,) is that all immortals who seek to feed on her flesh and soul are condemned to die. As Dracula began to
drink
from her, his immortal spirit was coming to an end. It was only Venus's love for him that saved him from his fate, for the love she had for him was purer then snow and stronger then
crystals. Consumed
by the demoniac trick her love committed, she departed for her unending journey to restore tranquility to her soul. It enraged her so much that she never permitted herself to love again.

Exhausted from caring their luggage through all the spiral stair cases Edward dropped them to the floor once they arrived, to his amazement they entered a vast room lit by hundreds of red candles.
Edwards’s
heart pulsed wildly, tempting Florence to approach him. With the light of the burning candles she could clearly see his face, all tender and innocence, but strong with handsome features. Florence got closer “You are very young...” said she as running her index onto his neck “Aren't you afraid, you heart beat is so irregular I could dance to it.”