Arielle Immortal Resolve (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 8) (9 page)

She gasped, in sheer exasperation. “He then kisses me softly, just before he gets out of bed and walks to the other room.”

Arielle started to sob again and Gabrielle put her arm around her shoulders trying to calm her. “Arielle, he’s going through a very difficult time,” Gabby said.

Arielle shook her head bitterly. She searched through the clatter in her mind in a futile attempt to find sensible words. “I understand what he’s going through,” she finally said.

“How could you possibly understand what he’s going through?” Gabrielle exclaimed making Arielle blink.

“Gabby, I do understand. Are you forgetting about Mat?” she asked, watching Gabrielle intensely. “Did you forget what I went through last year?” she asked.

“Oh—My—Gosh…are you serious?” Gabrielle’s tone startled her.

“What?” Arielle asked, incredulously.

“These two events are completely different,” she said. There was an edge to her voice and immediately her defiance went up.

“How do you mean?” Arielle demanded, trying keeping her expression inquisitive.

“I mean, you were almost violated, and if I remember right, it took a long time for you to get over that. He was actually violated while being unconscious. Can’t you see the difference here?” Gabrielle was watching her carefully.

Arielle’s heart sank, and she pursed her lips, realizing that Gabrielle was absolutely right.

“I know and I’ve been trying to understand the turmoil he’s going through, but, Gabrielle, I miss him terribly,” she swallowed back her misery, and groaned in defeat, overcome with guilt.

“I know. I do understand, but he did say something to Troy that might answer your questions.”

“What’s that?” Arielle lifted her eyes and met her friend’s gaze.

“He told Troy that he feels dirty and not worthy of you anymore.”

Arielle gazed at Gabby in astonishment.

The smile was gone from Gabby’s face.

“Where you eavesdropping?” Arielle asked.

“Yes.” She smiled, sounding rather sheepish.

“God,” Arielle sighed and shut her eyes, more confused now than before.

“Arielle, I think he just needs time to sort things out,” Gabrielle insisted.

Arielle gave Gabrielle a thoughtful look while she pressed on.

“Besides it’s hard to see his point of view if you've never had the same experience. He also did say to Troy that he couldn’t live if he couldn’t be with you. Knowing that alone should make you feel delighted.” Arielle was watching Gabrielle’s face and she was smiling gently, making her feel better and less anxious. Gabby was right and Arielle needed to suck it up and let things unravel like they should.

She knew Sebastian loved her and she also knew he was trying hard to resolve his nightmare. She nodded, smiling, and pushed the car door open. The air was warm but the sky was cloudy, it was a typical Brighton day. They made their way down the ancient winding narrow cobblestone streets. Shopping at the Lanes was like stepping back in time. The buildings were old and beautiful, not showing their 400-year-old age. They spend a good part of the day shopping until they got tired of walking and decided to head home.

***

Eva and Ian called on Sunday to let them know they were home.

“How about coming over, we’d love to see you.” Ian’s voice was happy and relaxed.

Sebastian and Arielle went over around 2:00 in the afternoon; Troy and Gabrielle were already there. Arielle was so pleased to see them back; she’d truly missed their friends.

Eva and Ian’s happiness illuminated their beautiful faces. Arielle gazed at them and marveled at their presence. She was sure she would never get over their flawless immortal splendor. She was sure that beauty was the empire in which all immortals dwelled. She smiled with wonder.

They’d brought wonderful gifts and the story behind them was even more incredible. Two wonderful, large, wooden bowls were called
tanoa
.

“They’re hand-carved from a single piece of Vesi (hardwood) called Yaqona,” Eva explained. “Yaqona comes from the root of a pepper tree. In times long gone, the Yaqona was prepared by the young girls (virgins) of a village, who chewed pieces of the root into a pulpy mass before adding water. After water was added the gritty pieces were strained through a bundle of vegetable fiber, usually the shredded bark of the Vau tree.” Eva finished her story, her eyes glimmering.

Gabrielle and Arielle were filled with wonder listening to the story behind these beautiful pieces of art. The three girls beamed with excitement. They were together again, and decided to take a walk out in the garden, talking nonstop. Gabrielle and Arielle wanted to know all about Eva’s honeymoon and look at the amazing photos of their trip. Eva went on and on about the wonderful time they spent in the amazing beach house they’d manifested in Nadi, a small island in Fiji, with serenity and the most beautiful beaches she’d ever seen.

“How was the honeymoon?” Arielle asked, chuckling.

“Unbelievable…” Eva replied with a long sigh, a sparkle in her eyes.

“What do you mean?” Gabrielle grinned.

“I mean that Ian and I will never have enough of each other. I could never explain to you in simple words how amazing is to be an immortal, how it’s changed our lives.”

Gabrielle and Arielle knew that immortality would have to remain a mystery for them.

“What else did you manifest?” Arielle asked, curious.

“A yacht,” Eva replied in a very calm voice.

“You manifested a yacht?” Arielle exclaimed.

“Sure, why not?”

“I guess no reason at all; I’m just so amazed how you do that.”

“Well Sebastian and Troy can do the same thing so it’s nothing unusual for immortals. We were determined to visit some of the islands of Fiji and enjoy everything we could as long as we were there.”

“Any encounters on the yacht?” Gabrielle asked in amusement looking at her intently. Her eyes glittered, lips quivered, as a wide smile made her face glow.

“I never had encounters like that with Ian. It was almost like they were out-of-body experiences. The intensity, the desire, the wonder of it all was nothing I ever dreamed growing up.” She was smiling and gazing away, looking mesmerized. Arielle closed her eyes as the memories of her encounters with Sebastian rushed in. She felt a sting behind her eyes while intense sadness spread across every fiber of her body.

“We’re really happy for you, Eva; the wedding was incredible and it sounds like your honeymoon was even more so.” Gabrielle’s voice made Arielle open her eyes and she saw Eva studying her intently. She knew her distraction didn’t escape Eva’s notice. She touched Arielle’s shoulder.

“What’s up Arielle?” her gaze puzzled.

“Bloody hell,” she muttered, grinding her teeth. She didn’t want to ruin the moment with her personal issues.

“What’s going on?” Eva repeated and Arielle wished she had a bit more control over her emotions.

“There’ve been a few snags in my relationship with Sebastian,” she said through clinched teeth.

“Are you going to explain or do you plan to make this a guessing game?” Eva was now frustrated, glancing between Gabrielle and Arielle.

“Something happened at your wedding,” Arielle said, anxiously trying to suppress all the details her head was summoning against her will.

“At my wedding?” Eva exclaimed unable to keep the surprise off her face.

“Yes. Annabel showed up,” Arielle said through clenched teeth. Eva stiffened.

“Annabel?” she shrieked.

“Yes; we don’t know exactly how long she’d been there but I noticed her at the end of your reception,” she murmured, rubbing her hands together nervously.

“What happened?” Eva demanded.

“We were on our way to the parking lot and had stopped to talk before we went our separate ways, when I noticed her and a man standing inside the Club entrance glass doors.” Arielle was now a little nervous reliving Annabel’s loathsome arrival all over again.

“What did you do?” Eva asked again while a strange frigid sensation swept through her body.

“I fell apart, totally horrified and Sebastian took after her like a wild animal. She has to be pure evil, otherwise I just can’t understand the magnitude of hate she’s been carrying for centuries now against Sebastian,” she muttered, as Annabel’s face took over her mind and made her shiver.

“She doesn’t hate him, Arielle. She loves him and she doesn’t want any other woman to have him. She’s trying to hurt him through you because she knows that this time Sebastian’s really in love.” Eva was grinding her teeth, fists pressed against her body.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on her miserable body. I’ll rip her to shreds. I’ll never forget that cold disgusting laughter outside the locked door in St Jean De Luz. She left us in that room to die and she’ll pay.” Her voice shocked Arielle to the core; she’d never heard Eva talk that way before.

“You haven’t heard the best of it!” Gabrielle chimed in.

“There’s more?” Eva’s eyes widened as she watched Arielle’s face darkened. She braced herself expecting the worse but Arielle was unable to withhold her emotions, and as she started to talk she choked on her words and broke into sobs. Eva glanced at Gabrielle first then put her arm around Arielle.

Eva started to talk then paused, looking for the right words.

“Arielle, we don’t have to talk about this right now,” she said softly. She had a strong feeling she already knew that recalling the details was extremely painful for Arielle. Eva turned her attention to Gabrielle and casually changed the subject giving Arielle time to regain her composure.

“How are you doing with the wedding plans?” Eva asked Gabrielle.

“I’m completely ready,” she replied and chuckled in excitement.

“All that’s left is to walk down that aisle and marry that beautiful man.” Her eyes were brilliant, filled with eagerness and desire.

“Did your gowns come in?” Eva asked, glancing between the other two women.

“They were delivered last week and it all seems like a dream,” Arielle murmured, gazing at the deep blue waters. They’d walked to the end of the property, admiring the ocean that stretched in front of them like a huge mirror as far as their eyes could see. The waves rolled to the shore and retreated, forming multicolor ripples as the ocean was bathed in the sunlight. The smell of salt filled the air. They watched the seagulls gracefully circle above the water waiting for a chance to feed on unsuspected fish.

“Gosh, what a sight!” Arielle murmured, not sure if she thought it or said it aloud.

“Yes, I was thinking the same thing,” Eva whispered, answering her unspoken question.

“We’re so fortunate to live by the ocean,” Gabrielle muttered, contented.

A comfortable silence fell between them and Arielle took a deep breath, trying to imagine what it would be like, to be married to the man she wanted more than anything in the world.

“I’m not going to believe we’re getting married until the moment I stand next to Sebastian at the altar,” Arielle said aloud with a sigh.

“Arielle, Look at me!! Look at my life!!” Eva said. “The last two years of my life have been literally unbelievable. I actually died, brought back as an immortal. Who would ever believe that? It all seems like a dream but it’s utterly and amazingly factual.” She exhaled and smiled.

“If I were given a chance again I’m sure I wouldn’t change even one second of the last two years. My life is utopia and Ian is my knight in shining armor,” she murmured in her musical voice.

“I’m so happy for you,” Arielle said, with a soft smile.

Sebastian’s rejection flooded her thoughts and she tried to hide the ache. Eva noticed her expression because nothing escaped her immortal friend.

“Are you ready to talk about it now?” she asked a warm smile on her beautiful face. She rested her hand on Arielle’s arm.

Arielle glanced cautiously at her watch and sighed as the smiled faded from her face.

“Are you in a hurry?” Eva asked, with amusement

“No,” she replied with a soft chuckle. As soon as she decided to talk and the words came out, she reassessed and remained tight-lipped.

“Oh, come on!” Eva exclaimed, “Since when do we have secrets between us?” she pressed on.

“It’s not that at all, I’m just a little nervous bringing back the whole story,” she pursed, and taking a deep breath, recapped Sebastian’s ordeal in extreme detail. When she got to the point of the physical assault, Eva’s body stiffened as she unsuccessfully tried to hold back a cry of dismay.

“That’s inconceivable!” Eva exclaimed. “How’s Sebastian taking it?” she asked watching her carefully.

“Not very well.” Arielle continued the dramatic story of the outcome and how the guys went to help both Troy and Sebastian, seeking vengeance only to fail again.

There was silence for quite a while as the three women stared out towards the ocean, listening to the waves break with a soft murmur over and over again.

“What’s the issue with you and Sebastian?” Eva asked, knowing that there was something more tormenting Arielle.

“He feels dirty and doesn’t touch me anymore,” Arielle said, sadly. Eva’s eyes widen in shock.

“I’m having a hard time believing that he doesn’t want to touch you,” she said, her face compassionate, surprise in her eyes.

“Well it’s true. He’s rejected me for three weeks now.” She bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood and winced.

Eva frowned and proceeded to take up for Sebastian. Unfortunately there was very little she could say that would make Arielle feel wanted. Eventually she gave up and instead stood, gazed down at Arielle for a moment, and then she turned around and gazed out toward the ocean.

Arielle’s emotions surged and she was fighting off tears but knew she had to talk to Eva.

Chapter 6