Blood of the Rainbow (26 page)

Sara laughed. “I couldn’t out run you if I wanted to Jared. You just proved that.”

Jared chuckled. “I don’t suppose you could have,” he admitted. “But you could run - if you wanted to - now that you know. I wouldn’t try to stop you.”

“I’m not running….”

“I should have known better. I should have trusted you.”

“So, now do you mind if I read the books?”

Jared laughed. “If you think you’re going to find out more about me, and the thing with my eyes, you’re wasting your time and effort. The answers aren’t in
any
book. You see the transformation, that happens to us doesn’t happen to everyone. Only tribal leaders and very high council members. You remember I told you once I was of royal blood?” He paused, waiting for Sara’s response.

She nodded. “I remember….”

“Well, it’s not just genes that pass it from one generation to the next, and it doesn’t happen to all of us at the same time. Each family - of royal blood - has only one family member that holds the ‘right of transformation’ at any given time. As the torch passes from one family member to the next, the closer it gets to you, the stronger the pull, the more probability you have of experiencing it. Now that Granddad has passed, it will be harder for me to control the change.”

“You mean your grandfather passing has made it stronger in you?”

“Yes, but for now, the ‘right of transformation’ still lies with my father. He will have to work to control his, because the change will be more automatic and natural.”

“How does your mother feel about this?”

“She’s known it was going to happen since before they were joined. You see, we all
know
about it, because we’re taught about it when we come of age. I was told even before then. At least, Granddad
tried
to tell me. I was just too hard-headed to listen.”

Sara was curious. “With this ‘right of transformation’ being passed to your father, will it make it harder for you to control it?”

Jared frowned. He feared if Sara thought he couldn’t control it, that it would scare her off. Jared was wrong. Sara loved him so much, even death couldn’t separate them – only he could do that. Sara wished, whatever was happening to her would go away. She looked down and saw a gigantic tarantula with bright red fur, sitting on her wrist. She screamed and slapped at it.

“Sara, what’s the matter?”

“I don’t know. It looked like a spider sitting on my arm. That sandwich I had for lunch must not have agreed with me.”

Jared looked worried and forgot about their conversation. “You think you have food poisoning?”

“I don’t know. I suppose it could be. I feel really odd.”

He eyed her suspiciously. “Odd – how?”

“Like before, headache, dizzy, upset stomach, but now I’m starting to see things.”

“Like what?” he asked his pupils getting large and black.

“Well, you for instance. You look
really
strange. Like you’ve got some kind of light around you, and your voice sounds strange too. Like you’re far away from me. A few minutes ago, I actually saw you as a vampire, and before that, when you were chasing me.…”

“Ok. How does this feel?” he asked and ran the palm of his hand over Sara’s arm.

Sara drew in a quick breath and closed her eyes. “It’s very… sensual and arousing. Almost like tiny electrical currents playing on the hairs of my arm.”

“And this?” he asked, leaning in to kiss the side of her neck. “What do I look like now Sara?”

Sara looked up at his face, and it had changed dramatically. “You lied to me – you
are
a vampire! Your eyes are red, and you’ve got sharp fangs!” Sara started to pull away from him.

“Sara, have you…
taken
anything?”

“What… you mean like a drug or something?” Jared didn’t say anything; he just kept staring into her eyes. His face was changing again. Sara imagined she could see his canine teeth growing.

“Don’t be silly. I don’t do drugs. Of course, I haven’t taken anything. I told you, all I’ve done was… I had a… a sandwich and a glass of… cola.”

“Sara, I think you’ve taken something – whether you knew about it or not. It’s half past one now. This will only last a little while. What you’re seeing is
not
real. It’s all an illusion. You’re on a trip Honey. We’re going to get back in the car, and I’m going to take you home. You’re safe. Nothing is going to harm you. I’m here with you, and I’ll be here with you through all of this. Just remember, it’s
not
real. It’s all an illusion… apart from the thing with me. Will you do that for me? Come and get in the car with me, and let’s go back to the house?”

“Sure. I’ll follow you
anywhere…
Jared.”

Jared softly laughed. “I know that, but right now, I just want you to take my hand, and come with me to the car.”

Sara followed Jared to the car and got in. It was incredible; everything was so full of detail and texture. Even the steering wheel. It sparkled like black glitter.

Jared got in and started the car. Even the engine sounded unusual, as if she could almost taste it.

------------

On the trip back to the ranch, every so often, Jared would remind her that time had passed and that it was ok, trying to make her feel safe. If he knew how aroused Sara was and how much she wanted him -
he
wasn’t safe.

Sara’s insides were burning as if she was in heat, like some kind of wild animal, begging to be free. She wanted Jared! She needed him, and if she got the opportunity, she
would
have him! Jared would
not
leave her seething with desire as he had in the past. Sara would make sure of that.

Jared talked to Sara as they drove back. “Sara, I’m going to put on some soft music for you to listen to. It’s probably going to sound a lot different than you’re used to. Ok? I want you to listen to it, and remember when the song finishes, time has passed, even if it doesn’t seem that way for you, Honey – time is still moving forward.”

Sara looked at him and smiled. “Sure, ok.” She didn’t care if time was moving or standing still, as long as he was with her. The music started playing. He was right, it was different, fuller, and deeper; it had never sounded so beautiful, all the notes and scores were inside the car with them, whirling around them like winding rainbow vines.

Sara could hear every individual instrument of the orchestra, playing in union. The notes were like colors. She could taste them on the tip of her tongue. Overcome with the experience of the music, she started crying. She could actually feel her tears sliding down her cheeks in slow motion, frozen in time against her skin. Time had no meaning for Sara.

“Sara, why are you crying? Are you afraid? What do you see?”

“No, I’m not afraid. The music is just so beautiful. I’ve never heard it with such clarity. I can taste the individual notes. I can hear the bows sliding across the violas. I can see the blues and greens as they radiate from the strings. The sound is so sweet and pleasant. It smells delicate, like a purple snowflake.”

“Sara, think about it. You can’t
see
music or taste the notes. There’s no such thing as purple snowflakes. What you’re experiencing is not real. Enjoy it if you wish, but remember, if it gets frightening, it’s not real. It’s two o’clock now, time is still moving forward and you along with it. Even if it seems like forever for you, don’t be afraid. This
will
end. You
will
be normal again.”

“I’m fine,” Sara insisted as she glanced at the red flashing numbers on the digital clock in the dashboard. It seemed to take an eternity as it changed from one number to the next. Sara felt as if she were being pulled into the clock. She was seeing individual dots of light, rippling and changing, growing taller and taller until they were towering over her like angry giants. “The clock!” she gasped in terror. “It’s angry at me! The numbers are dripping blood and are tall as trees.”

“Sara, the clock is the same as it’s always been. Just dull, grey numbers, changing from one to the next as the seconds pass. Look - it’s five past two now. The numbers aren’t getting bigger. If they seem that way to you, it’s not real. It’s the drug, playing tricks with your mind.”

Sara clenched her teeth.
He thinks I took drugs. He thinks I’m some kind of junkie.
“I didn’t take anything!” she cried, tears streaming down her face again. “I can’t believe you would think that. I don’t do drugs Jared. You know me, you’ve been around me - it’s not me!”

“I know you wouldn’t take drugs, but you’re showing all the symptoms of someone on an acid trip. I know it’s not your fault. Someone has deliberately given this to you. I don’t know how, but I don’t want you to worry about it now. We’ll sort it out later. It’s not important now. Just remember, not everything you’re experiencing is real. We’re almost home, by the way.”

Sara looked up as he turned down the road to his parent’s house. The sign above the drive looked like two giant trees about to fall on the car. “Watch out!” she screamed and held her hands up to shield her face.

“What - what is it?” Jared asked, concerned as he tried to keep one eye on the road, and the other one on Sara.

“You didn’t see the trees falling over on the car? It’s like they were leaning out, trying to grab the car with their arms, and their fingers had horrible sharp claws. They would have ripped right through the top of the car!” Sara was adamant.

“Hang on Honey, we’re here. I’ve just got to park the car. Do you see the time on the clock now Sara? It’s quarter after two. It might seem like hours to you, but it’s only been about half an hour since all this started. I need you to remember, this is all going to pass, and what you’re seeing is illusions.” Jared lifted Sara into his arms.

Sara felt as if she had been carried above the clouds. What she was seeing might not be real, but what she felt for him was, and right now, it was driving her insane with desire. The very smell of his skin. The way his body moved against hers.

Sara turned his face to her and kissed him like a starved leech, determined to drain the life from him. She grabbed his shirt on either side, flinging it and popping every button. Jared’s shirt gaped open, blowing in the breeze.

Jared’s animalistic instincts kicked in like a raging bull. His eyes were two burning balls of crimson desire. He couldn’t resist Sara, even in this intoxicated state. He kissed her back, devouring her, tasting her like melting chocolate.

Sara opened the button on his jeans, rubbing his throbbing erection.

Jared ran his hand under her shirt and slid it under her bra, cupping her breast in his hand. He came to his senses and realized what was happening, when he started unzipping her jeans.

Shit!
“Stop! Sara - hang on a minute,” he said, panting for breath, struggling to regain control. “Remember what I said about the things you’re feeling. It’s the drug. You don’t want to do this,” he said, moving her hands away from the zipper on his jeans.

“What are you talking about, Jared? I want this! I want you. Don’t you want me? Can’t you feel the need inside both of us?”

Jared smiled. “Oh yes, I feel it, but we’re not going to do anything about it. I’m going to take you upstairs to the bedroom.…”

“Good idea. It might not be polite to do this in front of your family.”

“Sara, that’s
not
what I meant. You’re not making this easy for me. If you only knew how hard I’ve fought
not
to do this, and I’m not doing it now! You don’t know what you’re doing. It’s the drug.”

That hurt Sara’s feelings, and she started to cry again. Jared didn’t want her. He was ashamed of her. He thought she was a drug addict, and he didn’t love her anymore. Sara was getting hysterical and started to squirm. “You don’t want me, so just put me down!”

“Honey, you know that’s not true. I do want you, just not this way.”

“You don’t love me, do you, Jared. You’re just afraid to tell me. I’m not good enough for you. It’s ok, I understand. Why could someone as magnificent and beautiful as you like a worm like me?”

“Sara, that’s
not
true. I
do
love you, and I
do
want you, and you
are
good enough. Now stop saying things like that. It’s not you talking – it’s the drug.” Jared pressed his lips to her temple and kissed her.

Sara heard the faint sound of voices in the distance and Jared’s voice started drifting in with theirs.

“
Jared! What on earth happened to her? What happened to her clothes? What happened to your clothes?
”

“
Sara did this
.
She’s on a trip Mother.
”

“
A trip – but how? What did she take?
”

“
She didn’t take anything. I think somebody gave it to her without her knowing.
”

“
Will she be all right?
”

“
She’ll be fine, once it wears off. She might be a little sick to her stomach and may still be a bit dizzy and incoherent, but if it’s what I think it is, it will wear off, at least by morning if not sooner.
”

“
What can I do to help?
”

“
Just make a good, strong pot of coffee for me. It’s going to be a long night.
”

Sara was vaguely aware of being laid on the bed. The texture and feel of the bed was so overwhelming. She wrapped her arms around Jared’s neck, kissing him passionately again. “So what are you going to do with me now that you’ve got me here?” she teased.

Jared sighed. “I’m not going to do
anything
. I’m going to sit here in a chair beside your bed.”

“No!” Sara protested. “I want you to lie here with me, and I do
not
want to sleep. I want to enjoy every inch of your body. I want to feel it, inside me,” she said, trying to take off her clothes again.

Jared coughed. “Sara, I’m not going to make love to you. Not when you’re like this.”

“Then you don’t want me. You don’t love me.”

Jared growled. “Oh yes, I do. I don’t
have
to have sex with you to know I love you. And I don’t
have
to be inside you to know I want you. There are higher levels of love than sex Sara.”