Immortal Beauty (48 page)

Sasha woke up with a gasp. She reached for her stomach and felt the small, hard bump that was not there yesterday. She did not feel any of the pain of the woman in the dream. She actually felt really good even though her mind was spinning like crazy. She must have gotten pregnant the first night with Taylor. That single glass of cursed water must have accelerated the pregnancy. From what she could tell, she was alright. She had survived the first acceleration and began to hope and pray that if she never touched the waters again that she and her baby would be perfectly normal. The only problem was that all she could think about was how thirsty she was. Now she really had to leave. Taylor must not know that she was carrying his child. She had to protect her baby from the truth about it’s parents. She knew that she was going to have this baby the minute she realized what was happening. At least she would always have a part of Taylor and with any luck it would inherit his good looks and intelligence. She wanted to cry but she knew she was done with tears. It was now time to leave. Time to say goodbye to all that she had worked so hard to achieve. She couldn’t listen to any of the messages on her phone from Celgen wondering where she was and if Celine was with her. No, that was all done with. This baby might be the only good thing to come out of this nightmare. She was hoping Taylor would call soon. Even though she wouldn’t tell him about this new development, she wanted to see him again and etch his face in her memory before she said goodbye forever. She got up slowly making sure she still felt alright and took a long, hot bath. So far nothing unusual and figured the water had accelerated the pregnancy past the morning sickness stage even though she knew nothing about being pregnant. She couldn’t think about it anymore. Wrapping a towel around her wet hair she went to her laptop to check her flight status.

CATACOMBS

Isis and Osiris walked through the darkness without the need for any light. They were deep underground in the catacombs that wove a web underneath Paris. Most of the catacombs were off limits to the public, but many over the years have ventured down to the old Roman quarries. Sometimes they returned and sometimes they did not. The monsters’ mother had prepared them for the task that lay ahead. The guards had driven them in a dark van into Paris where they removed a manhole cover and let themselves down below the city streets. They were dressed all in black, tight fitting clothes that showed how truly magnificent their new bodies were. As they moved the muscles of their limbs and torsos looked amazingly strong and graceful like those of wild leopards. They had been so fascinated by the city that they almost forgot the enormous task before them. It was an alien world they witnessed as they had been driven into the city silently and they never dreamed so many people existed, for they had only known the occupants of the large house in Orleans. This world was dazzling and a little frightening to these children beasts. Soon this confusing world would belong to them and they began to taste a little of the ambition that consumed Celine. Soon they would no longer have to live in secret and there were more brothers and sisters to come. They barely knew their oldest brother who was killed by their enemy. They wished now that Celine had made them promise not to kill the bad people who wanted them all dead. The newborn siblings were thirsty for revenge and the animal nature in their minds was hungry to tear more skin. They would have liked nothing more than to rip out the throat of the man called Taylor who killed Genesis in cold blood. He would undoubtedly try to do the same to them if he were given the chance. Once underground, they disposed of the heavy robes and gloves and began their long journey through the old tunnels that would lead them to the house where their mother was waiting for them. She had shown them old maps from so long ago detailing the route which led to the cave beneath the home. They moved very quickly and had no need to speak as they could hear each other’s thoughts so very clearly. They wondered together if they would be able to hear their brothers and sisters. The dark caverns twisted and turned unexpectedly and if they hadn’t known exactly where to go they would have been long lost by now. Celine knew these catacombs and had used them long ago to avoid the streets of Paris when everyone thought she was dead and had carved a secret opening to the fountain of immortality. Marcus never suspected that all these years she had been secretly hoarding away the precious fluid and had more than he could ever have imagined. The two continued on in the dark for another two hours before they got to their destination and they moved with a swift sense of purpose. They needed to see their mother again for it was true that despite their advanced growth, they were still babies. Isis stopped without warning and lifted her nose into the air. She smelled a human. They had such a distinct and pleasing odor to her, nothing at all like the scent of her brother.

“Osiris.” She reached out for her mate.

“I smell it too. Mother warned us about the people who live underground. She said they could be very dangerous.” Osiris was sniffing the stale, damp air.

“Not as dangerous as we are!” She smiled licking her lips. Soon they were tracking the scent and before too long had a man cornered in a tunnel with no exit.

“Leave me alone! This is my house! Get out! Get out!” He was screaming at them hysterically. The very sight of them caused him to lose whatever sanity he had left. Osiris pounced on the helpless man and ripped out his throat before he had the chance to continue yelling at them. Isis watched in fascination at the speed and skill in which her brother had killed the man. The smell of fresh blood hit her nostrils and Osiris held out his hand to her so she could join him in the feeding. They ate the flesh that was still very much warm and for a moment lost themselves in the visceral pleasure that was so very much a part of their unholy nature.

Sasha’s flight was on time and she sat by the phone like a pathetic thing waiting for Taylor to call. The call never came and she looked again at the numbers she had scribbled on a pad of paper. Her plane was leaving at seven thirty the following morning and she was all packed. All that remained was to see Taylor one last time before it was all over and done with and she wondered if everything was alright over at Rue Raynouard. For a brief moment she was tempted to go to the house to see if everything was alright as little fears crept into her mind. What if Celine had woken up? What if they were all dead? What if? What if? She forced herself to straighten up and resist the temptation to return to that crazy world she had so narrowly escaped from. She thought she might as well clean up the place one last time for lack of anything better to do. Her mother always cleaned when she was worried about something. In a little while she realized she was starving and turned off the vacuum in search of something in her tiny Parisian refrigerator. She found some cheese and some bread and stuffed herself. She ran her hand over her stomach again to make sure there were no changes. Everything seemed the same as it had been this morning and she swallowed some milk with a sense of relief. Now she was beginning to get angry. The very least Taylor could do was call her before she left his life forever. Maybe that was it. He couldn’t say goodbye again and she knew she felt the same way. It would probably be too hard. This might be best after all. She did not want to become like the others, living endlessly through the ages watching everyone you love fade away while they remained fresh and young and ageless. She didn’t know how they did it or why. Maybe like most people they were afraid of death. It didn’t matter now. They were part of her past and they only thing she was beginning to regret was not being able to tell Taylor just how very much she loved him one more time.

Celine opened her eyes. She did not expect the emotions that arose from being in the house again after all this time. The doctor had his back turned to her and she looked around longingly and lovingly at the familiar furniture and draperies. She had never slept in this room before and decided she would make it her bedroom once this mess was all settled. She loved the way the light came in from the corner room on the second floor. She could smell the flowers through the open window and wished for a second that she and Marcus were together again and that this was just another day in their long stroll through eternity. This house was not filled with only bad memories and she was struck at how happy being here made her. This was where it all began and this is where it would finally end. She sighed heavily and sensuously flitted her eyelids open and shut. The doctor dropped his notes and spun around. The beautiful patient was awake! His heart beat more quickly than it had in twenty years and he was startled at how very green her eyes were. He wasn’t expecting the alien, preternatural glow that lit her eyes from behind, making her seem possessed; terrifying. He remembered suddenly something he had heard years ago as a boy in a church sermon. He was told that evil was not dark and ugly but bright and beautiful and seductive. If this was evil, then the minister had been right. He tried to regain a little of his composure and made a courteous nod to the woman who was now staring at him with the most helpless of looks.

“Please help me.” She whispered in a trembling voice that resonated like music.

“Uh..um yes Miss. I will do everything in my power to help you.” He coughed and tried in vain to sound professional. “You have been unconscious for some time now. You had cyanide in your blood system. Anyone else would have died from such a thing.” He tried not to smile. “If I believed in God I would say it is a miracle you are with us here today.” He knew he sounded like a foolish old man but he didn’t know what to say to this creature. Marcus had given him strict instructions to notify him of any changes and promised him that he would not engage her in conversation no matter what happened. He knew then that the seduction of evil had begun and he was losing ground quickly. He had to get Marcus now. “I will be right back Miss. I’m going to get Mr. D’Alessandro.” His voice cracked and he moved toward the door.

“No! Not him! He’s the one who tried to kill me and now I’m his prisoner! How could you be a part of something so monstrous?” She struggled against her constraints. “Look at me!” She was crying now. “Do I look like a patient or a hostage? Please just let me go.” She was sobbing now. “I just want to go home!” Her helplessness was beginning to wear at the old doctor and he knew he was in trouble. His mind told him to run but his legs would not obey. He was fascinated with Celine. If she was trying to manipulate him she was doing an excellent job. A part of him wanted to believe that she was really the victim here and caught up in come cruel game of the invisible rich and that he would be the one to rescue her. He could truly be saving her life. Hadn’t he heard the other strange house guests murmuring about taking Celine’s life? Marcus seemed like he was against it yet they were openly discussing murder. He was sinking now. If he released her he knew it would be the biggest mistake of his life. He was sweating and realized just how close he had come to untying her wrists and ankles. Marcus had warned him about how manipulative and intelligent she was. He had known Marcus his whole life. His father was a doctor also, and like himself, he took care of the ageless man of mystery in the house on the hill. Marcus’ existence was a family secret and this old man came so close to betraying generations of loyalty. Marcus had given the doctor’s family everything they could have ever dreamed of and he had almost thrown it all away because of a beautiful woman. It was the oldest story in the world. He was suddenly ashamed of himself and hurried to open the door.

“Doctor..wait! Please!” The doctor turned to look back once more and his fate was sealed. Celine was staring at him and this time she didn’t look so helpless. Her eyes were lit up with rage and the beautiful, helpless victim had been replaced by a demonic vixen who was less than pleased at being denied by a mere mortal. “You should have helped me.” I would have shared everything with you.” She lied to him and he could feel a tightening in his chest. There was no more air in the room but she did not seem to be affected one bit. He was so old and his heart had been worn down by life itself that it was very easy for Celine to end his life with the tiniest of effort. She smiled as she watched him struggle and lose his grip on the door handle. He swore he heard a laugh as his head hit the ground. He knew his heart was no longer beating and for a few seconds he was still conscious and in those few seconds he saw the leather restraints fly off her limbs of their own accord. The I.V. she tore out of her arm herself and she sat up defiantly. She was no longer interested in the doctor. He saw her stand and walk to the window to look out at the beauty that lay below her. The sight of her standing at the window thus was the most beautiful thing the old man had ever seen. She was an angel smiling down on all of creation, and then he was gone.

Celine carefully peaked out to see her lovely gardens. Soon she would be walking about them freely. She took the phone out of it’s antique cradle and spun the rotary dial, frustrated at the slowness of it. She remembered when it was the latest technology and considered the utmost in modern luxury. The phone rang one time before someone picked up.

“Sleeping Beauty has awoken.” She whispered.

“Egyptian Gods are in their tombs.” It was the reply she most wanted to hear. She carefully hung up the phone and ran to the closet to search for something suitable to wear. She knew she had a few more minutes before someone would come up to the room where she was held a willing captive for such a short time. She lifted the doctor’s body onto the bed where she had been restrained and lay him down where he looked peaceful. There was a soft, unexpected smile on his lips. Celine closed his eyes and stared at the lines on his face, wondering what it must be like to grow old. How horrible it must be to slowly fade away like a flower. She shuddered at the idea and left the body to its own fate. She was too busy to be thinking of such things. She had to get to the cavern below without being seen. It wouldn’t be easy but soon there would be a diversion and she just had to wait for it. After an eternal fifteen minutes passed by she heard the old doorbell chime it’s lovely tune. She wanted to get as close to the door in the great room that led to the caves below. She crept down the hallway after changing into a woman’s suit that looked like it was from the seventies. It was far too drab and frumpy for Celine and she detested the maroon color but she had no choice. She hated to be unkempt and unfashionable at all times. Even now, when it was the last thing in the world that mattered, her vanity would just not let it go. Well, she would have to pass a few more rooms to get to the staircase. At least Sasha had good taste in clothes in this lifetime. It was something Celine noticed right away and something she never forgot. If things had been different, she was sure that she and Sasha could have been friends. Sasha was under the impression that they were nothing alike. They were more alike than Sasha would ever know. None of this was important either but Celine could not stop thinking about Sasha. She knew that they both enjoyed killing. She had seen it in Nyoirin’s eyes and she could see it in this new incarnation that was far more spectacular than the vulgar barbarian, or the helpless mistress Helene at the time of the Revolution. She could sense someone coming before she heard the efficient footsteps of the maid. She slipped into one of the rooms and decided to take this time to look for something more fitting to wear on the day of her revenge. She opened to closet and to her delight found modern clothes that were perfect for what she had in mind. These must have been purchased for Sasha as Celine noticed all of the clothing had never been worn. She chose a lavender dress that clung to her body with no frills or ornamentaion. The neckline plunged to a perfect point and the skirt stopped mid thigh. She threw off her horrible shoes and replaced them with knee high black leather boots with a mid spiky heel. Glancing in the mirror she reminded herself of when she was in the 1960’s. If she had more time she would do her hair, but was satisfied with the curly mane that reached out in every direction. The contrast of the red hair with the lavender color could not have been more dramatic. She couldn’t wait to see Marcus’ face. She noticed the glass bottles on a silver tray on the vanity and picked up one of the lovely perfume containers and applied the scent generously to the vein that was throbbing wildly in her neck. It smelled of figs and lily of the valley. She was instantly transported back in time to when she really was in love with Marcus. When she had been more human and more vulnerable. For a moment she stared at the reflection and had no idea who this stranger was. Time was beginning to melt into one long thread in the mesh of memory and desire. She roused herself and left the room stealthily and headed to the grand staircase that she had not seen in over three hundred years.