Forever Young The Beginning (16 page)

“
Yes.”

“
I’ll have to sing softly
lest the Bad Man hear me. He can hear and see very well, but won’t
bother with us if we’re quiet.” She then sang sweetly in the dim
light and gradually the fear and trembling left Juliet. Celeste
seemed to have the voice of an angel. After a while, Juliet learned
some words and softly sang along with Celeste. They talked about
different games they liked to play, then sang some more
songs.

Much later she got drowsy and began to
drift off to sleep. Celeste rose and walked over to her, and sat
beside her. She put her arm around Juliet and held her. As Juliet
began to spiral down into sleep, she wondered how it was that
Celeste had known her name. Or maybe she had told her, and then had
forgotten?

“
Ian?”

“
Yes.”

“
Let’s go and hunt for our
breakfast. Wait here, I must return to the house to get something.”
She stood and dressed at vampire speed and vanished down the
stairs. It couldn’t have been two minutes when she returned with
her wide-brimmed hat, tan colored riding pantaloons, a pair of very
well made outdoor boots, of a type which lace up the front for a
firm fit. She wore a loose fitting dark gray blouse, and had her
rucksack. Ian had already dressed, but wasn’t wearing his boots and
socks.

They stepped out into the dusky
pre-dawn dewy grass and ran at vampire speed for the tree line
across the pasture. Cosette adjusted her speed to allow him to
catch up, and they ran until they came to the second stream not far
from the rock spires. They stopped near it in a thicket and froze.
She signed for silence. The minutes slipped past, and a faint
rustling came to Ian’s ears. A buck stepped into the clearing,
walking to the edge of the water. Warily it looked about, then
lowered its’ head for a drink. Cosette leapt from the undergrowth
and landed astride the hapless buck. She reached around its neck in
a blur of motion and taking its head, she broke its neck
instantly.

Standing above her kill, she said
“Bring my rucksack Ian.” As he handed it to her, she said “Bend
down now and get its scent.” While he took in the scent of the
deer, she took a length of rope from her rucksack and quickly tied
its two hind legs together. Then she effortlessly slung its carcass
over one of her shoulders and in two leaps was under a large
Sycamore with a large low-hanging branch. Turning to Ian she
indicated a place on its’ neck saying “Take the knife, and cut
here, deeply.” She reached into the bag and produced a copper bowl
with a pour spout fashioned on one edge. As the deer’s blood ran
into the bowl, she walked to the stream and washed the knife, and
then wrapped it in a towel and stowed it in her
rucksack.

Ian said “I see hoof prints here, more
than were made just now.”

She replied “Yes, we vampires must be
observant of such things. Go now and smell around the hoof prints
and see if you can identify the scent.” He did so and immediately
could smell the deer scent. He looked up at her and nodded. She
said “You’ve memorized the smell of deer, Ian, just as you did with
the scent of that rabbit. You’ll be able to remember and identify
both forever now. Each thing that you identify after smelling it
will be something that you can recall for as long as you
live.”

“
That
is…amazing.”

“
It makes our existence
easier to hunt where humans can’t observe us. Best really to hunt
at night, but I knew no one would be here. This is Marie’s estate.”
She walked over to Ian and kissing him she drew back and said “Good
morning love.” Then, tipping her head to one side “Shall we
dine?”

She offered the bowl to him so he
drank half, and then handed it to her. She drained it, and then sat
it beneath her kill to catch more blood. Ian felt the familiar
surge of energy. Rummaging in the rucksack she produced two
packets. “Come, love.” She walked to the stream and squatting next
to it, cupped both hands and taking water, repeatedly rinsed her
mouth. Then she looked at him and nodded towards the stream. When
he was done, she took the two packets and took a pinch of lilac
blossom and chewed it, allowing it to sit in her mouth for some
minutes. Ian, after rinsing, did likewise, his packet having the
clove and cinnamon which Marie had prepared for him.

“
Shall we bathe,
Ian?”

“
I was just thinking that
very thing.”

“
Follow me then.” and she
set off downstream.

“
What of our
kill?”

“
We’ll return for it. Marie
will love to have fresh deer’s blood, and we’ll roast the venison
for a tasty stew, maybe tomorrow.”

She leapt across the thirty five foot
span of water to a clear place on the other side, then out to a
flat rock in the middle, then again to another clear place on the
opposite shore some forty feet distant, and so on, just leaping
from place to place instead of picking through the vegetation
alongside the stream. Ian followed, slipping into the stream twice,
but keeping close behind her. Within a quarter mile, he heard the
sound of a waterfall. They came to it shortly, and Cosette was
already naked when he arrived. It was no more than twenty feet
high, and shaded by great overhanging sycamores with myriad vines,
as was the pool below. She dove off the falls as he removed his
clothes at vampire speed. In seconds he was diving in behind her.
They swam and cavorted like two dolphins.

There was a low slung sycamore that
grew nearly parallel to the surface of the water. She suddenly shot
out of the water and landed on her feet, turning and beckoning to
him. He reached the place where she had jumped out and putting
everything he had into it, he flew clear over both her and the
tree, crashing into the undergrowth on the bank. She threw back her
head and squealed with laughter, a sound he’d never heard her make
before. Laughing at himself he jumped into the water and tried
again, this time landing squarely on the tree trunk beside
her.

“
Let’s dry ourselves.” She
turned and leapt across the stream to land upon a flat rock and
leapt from it to a long stretch of long grass which was growing
along both sides of the river. She ran along the length of it at
vampire speed, turned abruptly and sprang across to the other side,
he following. They reversed direction along the other bank then
repeated that about eight times. Then they were dry.

Taking him by the hand she led him to
a place of deep shade and green grass and a thick carpeting of
violets. Then sitting, she pulled him down beside her. She pushed
him back onto the grass and they made love there. He thought it was
like paradise. Her presence, the beauty of the place and the sound
of the waterfall were enchanting. They lay together afterwards, she
taking his hand and kissing it as he stroked her hair tenderly with
his other hand.

“
Ah lass, never have I been
happier than with you.” Cosette laughed her lovely throaty laugh,
then murmured “And I, with you, my love.”

After a bit, she said, “We must
return. Marie and the others will have eaten by now. Besides she
wants us all to go horseback riding today.” She got up and in three
leaps, was atop the waterfall and dressing at vampire
speed.

When he was dressed, they leaped and
sprang here and there back to their kill. She wrapped its head
although the bleeding had stopped, securing the rag with the rope.
She took several copper flasks from her rucksack and poured the
blood into them. Rinsing the bowl, she put it in the rucksack and
they were about to set off, Ian carrying the kill.

He collapsed and she quickly came to
him, holding a flask so that he could drink. He felt revived in
some ten minutes. During that time his bones ached and he had some
aching in his upper mouth. He asked her about it and she replied
“Likely that is because your venom glands are growing.”

“
Venom glands?”

Yes. They’re needed for helping us to
digest human food that we can safely eat, as well as for initiating
a human to cross over.” The pains passed and he rinsed his mouth
out and again shouldered the kill. They bounded away, heading for
the chateau.

Eduardo Vasquez arrived at his home in
Barcelona. He stepped out of the carriage to greet his wife and
daughter, Alandra. The servants were all lined up standing behind
Alandra and his wife. He hugged and kissed his wife. Alandra came
and hugged him, kissing his cheek.

‘
Papa, I’m so glad you’re
home.”

“
As am I Alandra, as am I.”
He was tired after all of the traveling, and truth to tell, he was
tired of being Ambassador to France. He knew that he couldn’t
resign though for bringing shame to those who had supported his
appointment, not the least being the King himself. He resolved to
enjoy his two months stay here and just ignore all political
happenings if that was possible. He hoped not to be summoned to
Madrid soon.

At supper that night, he noticed a
despondent air about Alandra. She was impeccable and polite, but
the vivaciousness had left her. She seemed…..hollow. It was
puzzling to him.

Later, after supper he told his wife
his observations regarding Alandra. She then explained that Alandra
had met a young Scottish sailor among the crew of those who had
rescued her. She had been despondent ever since arriving home for
worrying over whether he had survived the recent storm. At that,
Ambassador Eduardo remembered the letter from the young man that he
had brought with him. He quickly got it and went to his daughter
who was outside looking towards the incredibly blue Mediterranean
from their terraced portico. The view was simply stunning from the
Vasquez villa. She sat on a low stone retaining wall, her legs
drawn under her, elbows resting on a higher portion of the wall and
her lovely face cradled in her hands.

“
Alandra, I’ve brought you
something.” Turning she took it from him. Opening it she
read:

Dear Alandra,

I hope this letter finds
you well and happy. The entire crew and I are alive and well in
Marseille. We’re now going to be making repairs to Tico. I can’t
stop thinking of you. I hope to see you, maybe when we leave
Marseille. I’ll try to persuade Angus to stop at Barcelona for a
day or two.

All of my love,

Ian

“
Oh Papa! Read it to me,
please.” He read it to her then folded it and handed it to her. She
said “Papa! Ian is alive, he is alive! She suddenly was radiant,
like a flower opening to receive light. She hugged him and twirled
around twice, before noticing that he was looking somber. He handed
a folded newspaper to her.

“
What is this, Papa? It
looks like a newspaper from Marseille.” She read it and learned of
the newspaper’s account of her rescue by the daring and courageous
crew of the merchantman ship
Elsie’s
Cloud
. She hugged the newspaper to her
breast and beamed radiantly, then noticed that her father wasn’t
smiling with her.

“
Papa, what is it?” He
handed her the other newspaper detailing the attack of a mysterious
wild beast on one Ian McCloud of the merchantman ship
Elsie’s Cloud
and his
subsequent disappearance. She visibly wilted and paled so quickly
that he was alarmed and reached out to steady her. That she was
stricken to her soul was plain to see.

Hating himself he gathered her to his
arms and held her as she sobbed hysterically. She couldn’t be
comforted, collapsing even as she sobbed. He caught her and carried
her into the villa.

On the terraced portico with the
stunning view, the only sound to be heard then was the wind in the
trees and a songbird singing, blended with the sound of weeping
coming from the villa.

Ian walked in to the dining room and
all at the table greeted him. Angus said “Laddie, I canna stay here
too long or I won’t fit into my britches!” There followed a chorus
of “Aye.” from Armando and Li.

“
Remember that we are all
going riding this morning. Marie has over four thousand acres here
and wants you to see as much of it as you can while you’re here.”
Lowering his voice he said “We can talk more freely when away from
the servants.” The three nodded in understanding.

After breakfast Marie led everyone to
the stables. Ian said “Before we ride, I’d like to show you
something.” Picking up a saddle blanket he said “I want you men to
watch and I want Marie and Cosette to peek out at me from time to
time from behind this barn. I’ll wave this blanket each time I feel
them looking at me.”

He walked a hundred yards out and
stopped with his back to the barn. Soon he felt a prickling and
raised the blanket. It stopped. Again it came and again he raised
the blanket. It stopped and he lowered the blanket. There were two
more repetitions. He walked back to the group and all were
amazed.

“
I thought that it was
Cosette looking at me the third time and Marie the other three
times.” Marie’s hands flew to her cheeks as her mouth dropped open
even as Cosette smiled.

Angus said “By Heaven, I wouldn’t have
believed this if I hadn’t seen it!” Armando was flabbergasted too.
Marie came and hugged Ian and said “this is a rare talent unheard
of in vampires.