Aris Returns (12 page)

“Don’t be a fool,” she chanted softly. “Don’t be a fool.” She convinced herself it
was just Carlos’ vivid imagination and the current fascination with vampires; his
subconscious playing tricks on both of them. “It’s just his imagination. Don’t be
a fool.” Soon the mantra had a soothing effect on her thoughts. She was able to breathe
easy once more.

When she was fully composed, she began to bring Carlos back to real time, a time where
all she had to deal with was a young gang member and her hardest task was helping
him stay on parole.

#

Sarah placed the remnants of her half eaten dinner on the bottom shelf of her refrigerator
then sat down at her computer. She had plenty of time to finish her latest vampire
research and still get to bed early.

She was stunned when she glanced up from her work to look at the clock. “Three in
the morning. Good grief.” She yawned and stretched then stood up, pushing the chair
back under the dining room table. “I’ve got to get some sleep.”

Turning off the living room lights, she stepped into her bedroom. “I have to be up
at six. I’m going to keel over before tomorrow is through.” Crossing to the bathroom,
she passed her tall mirror. Stepping in to get a closer look, she cringed at her tired
reflection. “Heavens, I look like one of the undead myself.” She had circles under
her eyes and her skin was as dry as parchment. “Too much coffee.” She brushed her
teeth then pulled a hair brush through her hair.

She was already wearing her pajamas so she climbed into her bed, pulling the comforter
close around her shoulders. Her intention had been to go to bed at eleven. When she
checked the clock the first time, she still had twenty minutes left to research vampires.
When she checked again, it was three a.m. “I am out of my mind. It has finally happened.
I don’t sleep. I don’t eat. I am obsessed by a five-hundred-year-old vampire and a
twenty-five-year-old gang banger. What the hell is the matter with me? I know I have
finally lost it. There is no one I can talk to about this. No one. Not if I don’t
want to lose my license, be classified insane and committed to an institution. What
the hell am I going to do?”

A soft voice inside her head said, “Just go to sleep Sarah.” And she did.

#

Sarah was dreamless until just before dawn. As the pitch black night sky began to
brighten to a timid gray, her sleeping conscious mind stepped aside, allowing her
subconscious to conjure images of a time long past. She watched herself, being a part
of the scene yet somehow outside of it.

The otherworldly indigo sky above her was filled with thousands
of brilliant stars shimmering their enchantment. Her creamy satin slippers reflected
their starlight as her feet skimmed over the lush green grass beneath them. She was
floating, weightless yet with human form. Her gown was of the finest blue satin, the
color of a clear summer afternoon sky. The skirt and peplum were sprinkled with hundreds
of tiny, creamy pearls sown to form flawless rosettes. Tall walls of lush green foliage
lined the narrow path on either side of her. A lover’s labyrinth? A royal English
maze perhaps?

Compelled to move forward, she glided slowly at first, then faster. She was drawn
by an unseeable force so overpowering her will was ineffectual against it. The towering
walls of the maze grew even higher until they obliterated all light from the heavenly
bodies above. The air grew heavy, moist and dank. The unyielding bodice of her dress
bound her so tightly, she felt she would suffocate. Her heart hammered in her chest.
Her vision grew dull as her world began to spin. Like Alice in the fairy tale, she
spiraled downward into a never ending chasm and amazingly, still like Alice, she was
more questioning of her surroundings than she was fearful. The deeper down she descended,
the slower she fell until, at long last, her feet touched gently on an ancient stone
floor.

She found herself in a corridor reaching to infinity in either direction. Golden sconces
lined the time worn walls; the beeswax candles shuddered in a draft casting unearthly
dancing shadows on the floor and ceiling. Spring water seeped through a few crevices
in the enormous rocks sweetening the fragrance of the air. She stood stock still,
unable to move left or right.

She was startled by a faint sound behind her as, without warning, large warm strangely
familiar hands gently wrapped around her shoulders. “Do not be afraid. No. No, you
must not turn around, be still”

A tremor ran through her. Even though she was distressed, his voice awakened a longing
in her that was new and enticingly frightening.
Her senses stirred. A feeling of deep warmth flooded through her.

“I will do you no harm.” His voice was low, caressing. He stood close behind her and
as he spoke, his breath stirred her thick blond curls like a tender breeze of soft
warm air. His hands slowly traced her arms as they slid down to encompass her waist.
His fingers moved to the front of her blue satin stomacher where they touched, forming
a “v” on her soft belly. Heat began to seep through the fabric of her gown into the
core of her very being. Heat and a fire that raged. She felt faint, unable to catch
her breath.

“Breathe, my beauty, you must breathe.” His palms, resting on her hips, gently pressed
her into him, into his awakened manhood.

Her breath came then. Hot. Raspy. Again she attempted to turn to face him. He held
her fast. His lips brushed the nape of her neck sending burning threads of fire into
the deepest part of her. Her very being was consumed by her need. She felt the caress
of his sweet gentle teeth against her flesh. She whimpered in pleasure.

“Please, please,” she whispered, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

The bites grew more and more demanding. She begged, weeping with desire. “Now. Please,
now.”

Long sharp fangs sank slowly, sensuously into a vessel at the nape of her neck. Glorious
waves of feeling swelled inside of her each time he drew from her until her body abandoned
itself, surrendering to the flame that consumed her. She cried out as a deep shudder
convulsed her.

Sarah was panting as she bolted upright in her bed. Her sheets were wrapped in a corkscrew
around her perspiring body. She brushed the hair from her eyes with her fingers as
she looked out her window at the city at dawn. After some long, deep breaths, she
sighed and smiled as she leaned her head back on her pillow. She whispered a soft
moan as she reached her fingers to softly and gently massage the back of her neck.

S
arah always enjoyed having a girl’s night at her apartment. She delighted in finding
new recipes to cook for her friends. Sometimes they were great and sometimes not quite
edible, but she happily embraced the opportunity to experiment.

“Look Sarah, I don’t know if I’m ready to get married and have kids. It’s not fair
the way Bob’s putting the screws to me.” She reached across the table to spear a piece
of tomato and a slice of cucumber from Sarah’s salad.

“C, if you want salad, there’s a whole bowl on the kitchen counter, stay out of mine.
And this marriage and baby stuff is between you and Bob. There is no way I would even
think of sticking my nose in here. It’s just too personal.”

“Some therapist you are.” Colleen rose from the dining room table, picked up her plate
then walked to the kitchen. “Want some more wine?”

“Sure. Sounds good. No work tomorrow. Yeah!”

“By the way, about work, Carlos came into my office yesterday on time for our meeting
and wearing a belt, if you can believe it. He’s even more articulate and was talking
about a book he is reading. What the hell are you doing to him?” She brought the wine
bottle back to the dining room, topped each of their glasses then placed it
on the table between them.

“Just the usual mumbo jumbo. He simply is a really good subject for hypnosis, the
brighter someone is, the easier it is to work with them.” Sarah felt a little bit
uncomfortable. She wanted to tell Colleen about the whole situation including her
misgivings and her concern about the vampire saga but she couldn’t. Her professional
code made it difficult to talk about him at all.

“I mean he’s really changing. Funny thing is he wants to. He’s been talking about
taking some night classes, about doing something with his life.” Colleen twirled her
pasta into a huge roll on her fork then stuffed it in her mouth, talking the whole
time she chewed. “Where’s Bonnie? I thought she was coming for dinner.”

“She called just before you got here. She had to finish some client notes before she
left the office.” As if at a signal, there was a knock at the door.

Bonnie looked frantic as she entered the apartment. She rushed across the living room
and closed the drapes, speaking as she moved. “I found a parking place out front.
While I was parking, a guy was standing across the street staring up toward your window.”
Her frightened eyes darted back and forth between Sarah and Colleen. “Sarah, he didn’t
move. He just stood there like a statue. He scared me so I told the doorman to keep
an eye on him.”

Both Sarah and Colleen jumped from their chairs. As Colleen hurried to the window,
she grabbed her bag, pulling out her cell phone. Sarah was already peeking through
the opening in the drapes. She saw Carlos standing in the shadow of the awning in
front of the building across the street.

Colleen snatched the curtain from her and looked out. “What the hell? I’m calling
Bob. I can’t believe it; he looks like he’s on drugs again.”

Sarah grabbed the phone from her friend’s hand. “No. No police. He wouldn’t use. I
know he wouldn’t. There’s something else
wrong. I’m going down to see him.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Bonnie blocked her way. Ignoring their words, she pushed
past them. “No guys. He wouldn’t hurt me. I’m going to see what’s happening.” Colleen
and Bonnie exchanged a look of surprise, amazed at the reaction of their normally
passive friend.

She grabbed her trench coat, putting it on as she hurried down the hall. She spoke
as she pressed the elevator button, “Don’t call anyone. I can handle this.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest as the elevator doors opened. She raced across
the lobby. “It’s okay Ralph, just a friend in trouble. Be right back.” She tried to
smile as she made for the door.

The traffic slowed. She ran across the street. As she approached Carlos, she noticed
his eyes weren’t blinking, he hardly appeared to be breathing.

“Carlos.” He didn’t move. She spoke louder. “Carlos.” Still he didn’t move or acknowledge
her. “Might as well try to bring him back,” she thought out loud. “Carlos, one. Two.
Three. Four. Five. Eyes open, wide awake.”

He shook his head several times. “Where the hell am I? Sarah? What are you doing here?”
He shook his head again. “Where am I?” There was fear in his voice as he spoke.

“You’re fine. Carlos, you’re fine. You’re outside my apartment.”

“How did I get here? What am I doing here? Sarah, what is happening to me?” His eyes
locked on hers and she could see panic just below the surface.

“I’m here and we’ll figure this out together.” She glanced up at her window. Bonnie
and Colleen were glued to the glass. “Wait here. I’m going to clear out my company
so you can come upstairs to my apartment. You can stay until you feel better.”

“You’re not afraid of me?” He looked at her with sad eyes.

“No, of course not. You’re fine. You’re just fine. Now, don’t move.
I’ll clear them out then come down to get you.” She hugged him quickly before hurrying
across the street.

#

“Was that Colleen Stevens I saw leaving?” He sat at the dining room table while she
cleared the dishes.

“Yes. She and another friend came for dinner. Are you hungry?” She paused before she
removed her plate of uneaten pasta.

“No thanks.” He had his elbows on the table, his head buried in his hands.

“How about a glass of wine?”

“No thanks, I haven’t had a drink since rehab.” His voice was muffled.

She placed the plate on the table. She touched his shoulder gently. “Carlos, everything
is alright. We’re in this together.” When he lifted his face, his expression was like
a frightened little boy. “I won’t leave you. I’m here.”

He stood, wrapping his arms around her. It wasn’t a romantic embrace but a necessary
one. She held him for what seemed like a long time. His breathing slowly returned
to normal.

Reluctantly, he pulled away from her arms. “I guess I’d better go.”

“Listen, why don’t you stay here tonight? I’ve got a guest room. The bed is comfortable.
You are more than welcome.” She just couldn’t see him spend the night at a half-way
house in his present condition. “I’ll have Colleen take care of the people at the
half-way house tomorrow. Don’t worry about that.”

“Are you sure?” His voice was soft as he spoke but the meaning was clear. “I won’t
bother you.”

“I know you won’t. It’s sort of my fault that you’re having these experiences anyway.
Carlos, I don’t want you to feel you’re on your own.”

He smiled.

“Come on. I’ll show you the guest room. There’s a shower too, so if you’d like to
clean up before you go to bed, you won’t bother me.”