CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The pages that were hidden made for an interesting read. Sure, enough grandma had written with a flair of dramatics that only she could decipher but Gabrelle had cracked that code too. Something told her that her grandmother was counting on her own daughter to follow in her footsteps, but Gabrelle knew that her mother was that gentle butterfly who would not delve into any dark webs. Gabrelle was her mother`s daughter but of late she began questioning herself. She had given herself the lecture that she was doing all of this just because the countess had commanded her, and everyone knew that upon this territory no one would dare to oppose an aristocrat. The more Gabrelle tried to convince herself the more she could feel the wet sopping mud on the ground was laughing at the lies that she was spouting. For goodness' sake, she had to just own her rightful thoughts and admit that she was doing all of this for Count Samsidion. The love that was bursting inside of her was driving her mad and the thought of him suffering made her go just weak from imagining it. She made a mental note of the list that she would be needing. It would be best to go and ask one of the servants to go and obtain the ingredients for the ritual. The last thing that Gabrelle needed was people to question her. She went in search of her Count Samsidion who was exactly where she imagined him to be. In the parlor lost in the potent words of a book. He looked up as she walked in and immediately his face lit up the room with a beaming smile.
"Ah, my dear Elle," he motioned her with the gesture of his hand and made room for her to sit next to him. She felt nervous at this new adventure that she was undertaking on her own. What if she failed? She dragged that gnarly thought of her mind and went to sit next to him.
"I have a list of the things that I will be needing to complete the ritual." She told him as coyness was creeping like a red, hot cloth rolling around her neck.
He was immediate and did not want to waste any time. "Let me have it and I shall send one of the servants to fetch it." That would have been Gabrelle`s instinct but she had changed her mind.
"Perhaps I should accompany them so that I may see a little of this village."
His face fell down a cliff that had a length of a ton in height. "That is not such a good idea, Elle." He was being highly strung in his mission to be protective. "I advise against it. These ingredients would be strange. Am I right?" He was checking to see if he was getting his facts straight. Gabrelle had to shake her head in honesty. She could never blatantly lie to Count Samsidion. "We do not want to draw too much attention to you. The local folk will become curious as to who the stranger was living at the castle."
Gabrelle bit her lip. The unspoken words were not uttered but it passed her mind. The people would wonder as to why a peasant girl was garnering the attention of the nobles and then a smart one would put two and two together. Instead of speaking out her worries about discrimination, she just shook her head, forced a smile and spoke.
"As usual you are correct in covering up all the angles." While she knew that he had her best interest at heart, Gabrelle could not help but feel the sting that whip lashed her body. What did she expect in any case? A Count would think her worthy enough to make her his bride. It was all madness because he just needs her for now. Had he been normal he would not have even given her a glance. She straightened her bonnet as Count Samsidion went to get his ink to write up a list. As fast as he left, he returned with the same stride.
"Okay, I am ready." He smiled at her, but she felt no reason to return it. She told him the list of the things she needed, and he was prompt in giving it to one of the servants to retrieve. He got back quickly, and Gabrelle stared hard at him. She had so many questions, but it was not her place. In the end it was curiosity that broke the bank of the river, and her questions were about to flow like water.
"Does your servants know about you and your brother?" It came out rather abruptly, but Gabrelle did not see in what manner could she be sensitive. He did not think about it and his answer was honest.
"They suspect but they never dare question us in the fear of their lives." Truly Gabrelle winced inwardly. Her suspicion was becoming sharp, and she was worried that once she had fulfilled her promise then her sweet life would be questioned as to whether she would live or die.
He had read her mind again and answered swiftly. "We are not murderers Elle. Despite the fact that you think that we kill people as a sport, it is untrue."
"I know that you do that because you are compelled to do satisfy your hunger."
His mood became cloudy. "We never ever get hungry." This was news to Gabrelle, but she fueled her patience to await his explanation which was not far around the corner. "We have a thirst to satisfy and if we are not satiated, our throats grow dry like wood about to burn to a crisp." Gabrelle gasped. She did not expect o get a visual in her head by his mere description. "If we do not feed our thirst we will die."
Gabrelle wanted to snap out and say that was not a bad thing at all, but she knew that she would be acting out of spite. Her feelings for Samsidion were still raced her vein in strength. It was not his fault that he was born to aristocracy.
"Last night did you go out to feed." She had to ask because it nagged her incessantly. He laughed; his lips were stained pink this morning. She noticed at times he was parched white and sometimes it was pink. Just like his eye color.
"Would you like to take a walk in the glass house?" He surprised her and she went still.
Then she mustered a courage. "Would it not affect you to be in the sunlight?"
"The glass is thick and all the vegetables and flowers growing in there offers shade." He paused but he was eager to educate her on his way of life. "It is direct sunlight, unfiltered that scorches out skin."
"Did you ever experience that?" She rose and he took her by the arm.
He took his time to respond and then he did. "I was warned never to go into the light, but curiosity got the better of me." He laughed and then shuddered. "Tell a man never to steal a fish from that pond and he is instantly tempted to do so." He stopped to look at her and Gabrelle felt no urge to transcend into a world of depriving herself of his company, so she smiled with boldness, showing of all of her teeth.
"You were tempted, and you took the bait." A bit of him was rubbing off on her because she was gradually starting to express the way he would. "Was it bad?"
"The most excruciating pain known to man." He shuddered. "Just a split second and my hand almost fell off."
Now Gabrelle entered a realm of inquisitiveness. "How did you cure the burn?"
It was easy enough for him to answer her. "It took almost a year of repetitive herbal salves that eventually allow for a healing." There were no scars, but it was clear that Count Samsidion had learnt his lesson. The glass house was built in the castle, but it was in the courtyard. It was wonderful and now Gabrelle knew where all the tasty vegetables in her meals had come from.
"Mother and Thaneus pet project but I must admit," he let go of her arm. "I love coming in here myself. It is the closest I can get to any sunshine."
Gabrelle looked up and it was amazing. She could understand his feelings when he spoke about missing the natural way of life. She needed so bad to ask him many questions, but she was fearful that he may feel that she was invading and prying into his personal space.
"You know you can ask me anything that you so desire, Elle."
She was afraid but she would implode if she did not get it off her chest. "Do you sometimes feel that it was better to be dead?" She was so innocent, untainted and that is what he admires so desperately about her.
"I do sometimes but then I am damned already so even if I do die there is no better journey that awaits this weary traveler."
"Surely you must want something more normal?" She did not carve out any insistent words but even Gabrelle knew that she was excessive in her questions.
He was getting irritated, and she knew that Count Samsidion was a man that had patience in the granary full. She should stop beating him up with disturbing questions.
"I am sorry," He apologized profusely after a while. "It is a sore subject and if I was human, I would use the excuse that I am only human." Gabrelle could not help but feel the stains of mirth encapsulate her and she just smiled. "I have become selfish dear Elle and while my life is a bit tough my inner core tells me that with the amulet it will be much better." His conviction was enough to make her sturdy. They had a pleasant afternoon until a voice boomed in to bring them back to earth.
"Samsidion," The Countess`s voice cut like a heated knife through back. She gave Gabrelle a star that was on the borders of dislike and excitement. Gabrelle did not expect her to return this soon. "I have fulfilled the list by the witch." She was flippant and Gabrelle felt the odd notes of dislike. The countess was not as nice when they had first met. Gabrelle knew that once this ordeal was over then she would have to find eyes in the back of her in case a knife came plunging in.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dinner had been chilly and quiet. It was apparent that Count Samsidion did not appreciate his mother being rude to Gabrelle. It was Thaneus that blabbered on happily while the rest of them sat with dour expressions. The wonderful beef stew that the Cook had so graciously prepared and placed in front of them went cold and Gabrelle felt that it was like dining on cardboard. That night when she went to bed, she had cried until her heart could not break any more and found its contentment. No matter how much she tried to get him off her mind, she knew that she had fell madly and intensely with that one particular vampire. Too bad he turned out to be a Count to a very prejudiced mother. Even though she slept fitfully, Gabrelle had felt her Count`s presence as he watched her sleep. Even though hurt was brewing from her heart, she knew that with Samsidion around she was safe and protected. She rose to a morning as sunlight streamed willingly into the room. If Samsidion was present, then the curtains would be closed. She got up, stretched her arms and stifled a yawn. To her amazement she did have a visitor, but it was not the one that she was accustomed to. It was his mother. It was too late for her to go back and pretend that she was fast asleep.
"You are awake child." She observed the obvious. She was smiling but somehow Gabrelle felt as though it was a forced plastic coating. "The list that you have given MY SON" Gabrelle heard the emphasis placed and the ownership she extended when she referred to the Count. "It is all prepared and ready for you."
Gabrelle felt queasy at the mere thought of dabbling in the waters of darkness. "Contessa," she began rather tattily. "I am not sure that I am the right person to do this." Her concern was founded on the fact that she did not know what the spell meant. "A spell that is crafted by a witch can only incanted by a Bonafede witch." Gabrelle shrugged. I do not believe that I can give it the justice it declares." She was glad that she had gotten that over her heaving chest. The countess needed to know that she was a straight shooter that had no intention of lying to her.
To her surprise the countess laughed a zesty mirth and clapped her hands, as the diamond ring danced in dazzle at the subtle rays of the sun. "Exactly why you are the one most suitable to perform the magic." A wave of surprise compounded over Gabrelle allowing her to spiral into a bath of confusion.
"I just told you that I am the most unfit to do so." She submerged her humility to trade places with honesty and she was badly flailing at that too.
"You silly, silly girl." The countess gorged on the golden opportunity to dis at that Gabrelle. "It is precisely why you are the chosen one." This time she smiled with incredulity and accuracy of the moment that was of demand. "Which better witch can I ask for but the only one that has the beholder of the spell`s blood running through her vein." Gabrelle gasped, bewildered and outraged at the same time.
"I am nothing like my grandmother." Her protest fell upon deaf ears.
"El contraire, dear, I would say that you are everything like her." The countess was hounding her into submitting into a craft that she had no idea about neither did she relish into the black wars of witchcraft. "Grow up child." Countess Arabella stuck a knife into her. "If anything, do it to please my boys." She was ready to walk out of the door when she suddenly turned and sneered a cold flaring of her nostrils. "I will see in dungeons in a stride. Today it will do you some good to forgo any breakfast." She stormed out and Gabrelle thought that the joke was on her because she did not harbor any pangs of hunger ever though the haul would be outstanding in every morsel she chewed. She had only her old clothing to dress into and the there was no lady in waiting to bring her a tub or a dish of steaming water to clean up herself. She was understanding the rituals of the rich. Bite into a person, humiliate their poverty and use them for everything. Then they can be spat out and buried with the rest of the vultures that threatened their kind. In Gabrelle`s case she wondered if she would live to see another day. She thought of Count Samsidion whom her heart belonged to and Count Thaneus to who she had feelings of fondness as a little sister would. They were both counting on her, and she would be damned if she did not try her utmost to help them. Her hair smelt slightly of soot, and she wished that she had gone out in the lake and washed but then she was reminded that the rain had stolen her plans. She got into room known as the dungeon. Lamps were already lit and in the middle of the room a giant pot sat awaiting her presence to bring it to life. She bit her lower lip, causing an inward yelp. This was crazy; utter madness but she needed to try. All the utensils were laid beautifully over material that she guessed were classy and pricey. The countess had made the stone into jewelry that sat at the end of sleeve. It was not ostentatious. It had an abandoned classy look that would never have anyone fighting over it because of its simplicity. Gabrelle had to admire her ingenuity and mildly curtseyed in her honor.
"Ready?" Her body nearly jumped off her skin as Count Thaneus spoke from behind her. She turned to see that Samsidion had joined him followed by the countess. A huge angry existence within her body wanted to speak a blatant lie and inform the countess that her presence was not necessary and that she would only be a disruptive force during the ritual, but her conscience would not allow her this role of evil vindictiveness.
"I am ready." She surprised herself by determining that tone of confidence, only this time there was no stutter in her poise. She was going to give it her all. Only if she fails then will she be ready for the wrath of the countess. She marched on forward, ignoring the crackling on her feet from the mud on the floor. Nothing would distract her, and no stumbling stone will grind her to fear. She started off smoothly and astonished herself that she had practically visioned the spell in her head. That was the attribution of the many times that she had read it.
"I call upon the sister of Galeta, Opium and Rosetta to take upon this gift and transform it to the highest calling of magic so that the sun might clear and shiver in fear." She hoped that she was saying it correctly or better still she hoped that she had converted the transcribe correctly. Nothing amazing as she had hoped happened. Instead, the pot looked heavy and filled with useless debris. Again and again, she incantated and every time she had let herself down. It was a revelation when Count Samsidion stepped forward and took her hand.
"Believe in yourself." He had a forceful manner that ejected as a gentle breeze that gave her an admission into the imagery of floating into the clouds. As she closed her eyes, he left her clasp to fall loosely with ease. She sucked in a chunk of breath. She willed herself to clone an image of her grandmother and then she felt a breeze take flight in a dungeon that was not equipped to receive the wind. She heard a clear chant whispering in her ear and together she calculated the speed of the secondary voice and she allowed for her voice to revive the spell. Upon the third one the wind walloped and sent her in a whirlwind that some places would later on call a twister. The spiral had found the pot and so began the dance of mantra.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
It was a phenomenon that none of the witnesses especially Gabrelle
would ever forget. Smoke was gathering and reaping rewards of enlarging the circle. Gabrelle had galloped into a world of the unknown and soon she began a chant of words that were unrecognizable to her but was permeating into her very sphere. She unhooked the ties that held her hair and soon strands were flying in every direction. There would be no need to read the book again because everything was painted in her mind. It was as though she was born to do this, and she commanded the presence with the might of her craft. The entire atmosphere took to a metamorphism. The stone walls shook and the floor vibrated. Her hair was blown to the back of her head. Apart from Gabrelle who had her feet firmly planted to the ground, the other three had to hold onto to something solidly structured for support. This was it. The Gods of witches and wizards had heard her calling and it was an amazing experience for Gabrelle as she the next incantations came naturally. The order of the ritual did not need further instruction as she was pushed into an orbit that sent her canoodling into the dimensions of precision. She felt the wrath of the earth shatter her being and envelope into a destination that she would have deemed possible. Her tiny hands held power never in her wildest dreams and her eyes engaged in an enlargement that she never thought possible. It was as though she was owning this world and beyond. For now, the sky was her limit but a responsible haven. She carried on the rituals and when she had begun her faith was perished because she had questioned that amulets may not be bewitched but now, she felt the mighty fire in her soul. A fire that consumed her, engulfed, never to burn but empowered her. The ritual ran into hours and the cauldron bubbled in furious fervor. Gabrelle was lost into the phantom of darkness and her confidence booster was high up in the clouds. The smoke around the big pot was mighty and puffed with madness. As times decelerated, the smoke started to exhale out into the open until it was diminishing into nothing. Eventually there was not a breath of smoke to be seen and Gabrelle bent to peer into it. The miracle was that the pot was empty and eventually all the was left was two cuff links and a neck chain holding the stone encased in a locket. She gasped as the fuming air escaped her lungs. Her hair dropped to position, the wizardry shaking, and shuddering stopped. A calamity dropped into the atmosphere and the current situation was restored to normality. Gabrelle was thumped back to earth; the witch in her was gone and she blinked as tears rolled down her eyes dropping into the pot. She retrieved all three amulets. They were wet from her tears, and she handed each cuff link to each of the brothers. They took it and any uncertainty that they harbored was lost because of the visual that they had just engaged in. The countess stood, her mouth ajar and this told Gabrelle that she too had thought that she would fail. In silence they all made their way to the parlor. The light was not so bright, but it stood in dull splendor.
Gabrelle felt that the snow breaker should come from her. "Both of you can pin the amulet anywhere on your clothing and go out to test its value."
Count Thaneus gave a sharp bark of mirthless laughter. "Are you serious?" His question to Gabrelle was normal but the witch in her silently rebelled by the audacity of his insult. She stared hard; all of her courteous manner had been scrunched in the holly of the smoke. She wanted to scratch his eyes out, but it was Count Samsidion that would be the one to excel in bravery. He pinned it on his sleeve and said,
"I am the eldest and it will be me that takes the plunge into proof of the sorcery."
Gabrelle was comfortable and she shook her head in encouragement. She was proud that he had stepped up. The countess was not comfortable, but she knew that it would have to be tested.
"I am going straight out." Count Samsidion declared, his bravery impressing Gabrelle.
The countess was quick to counteract. "No, my son." She was feeling pained, and this told Gabrelle that she denied that the spell had worked. It seemed off late, Gabrelle was being tested and thoughts from nowhere popped into her head with wild anger and disagreement.
Gabrelle needed to step in and adjust to the new authority that she possessed. Her temperament hand changed so vastly and quickly. "If Count Samsidion enters in this phase with reluctance it will anger the sorcery Gods." She knew she was selling a fact and not a fable. Count Samsidion was poised, and he shook his head in agreement.
"I concur with Lady Gabrelle. This is a do or die situation."
Countess Arabella gave out a strangled cry. "My son…"
This is when Gabrelle knew that she had to intervene. "Contessa, I fail to see the plied fear when you were the one that had pressed me against a wall summoning all kinds of fear within me." Gabrelle smiled sweetly but her claws were coming out. This was definitely the new and improved her.
"But" the countess was stumbled because she had no accurate comeback to contradict Gabrelle`s reasoning. It was clear that she had awakened a beast inside of the young healer.
"There are no buts Mother." Samsidion had taken the proverbial bull by its horn. "All this arguing and the sun would soon be gone." Gabrelle peaked out of the window, and she shook her head.
"Forget it, the sun is too mild for us to assess the strength of the amulet." She gave Samsidion a soft look. "We can test it at first rise." She then gave the countess a stare, but this was one with darkening thunder. "I think that I have earned my meal, Contessa. I find myself ravenous." Her stomach took to the cue of grumbling. The countess looked guilty because she had denied Gabrelle any food from the morning.
"Of course, child. You have certainly earned the right to some good nourishment." Gabrelle felt a knife of putrid hatred turn in her tummy. Her mind was made up. This was the last time that the countess would walk her spiked feet over her. She will lash back. They followed the countess into the dining parlor and Gabrelle was not disappointed by the bone broth and the melt in the mouth pigeon. She was going to miss this royal treatment once she was back in her tiny and humble abode. It did not matter because home was where her heart was. After her meal was eaten and digested Gabrelle opted to turn in for the night. She knew that she was safe because the amulet was not tested. In the case of it being rejected the countess was going to need her to repair the mistake. It was no surprise the Count Samsidion followed her shortly. She was already under the sheets, and she was astonished when he chose to lay right beside her. It felt good as his hands took hers in a clasp. They lay silent for a while until he spoke.
"I want you to know Elle that you mean everything to me." He broke his speed of words and Gabrelle just listened. "Should I disintegrate, it would never be your fault."
"Have you so little faith in me Sam?" She was crushed by the lack of his trust in her. If yesterday he had said that to her, she would have probably broken down in tears and begged him not to take the leap into the sunlight. But now she just felt the pangs of gnarly hurt. "When I have given my soul to be placed in a labyrinth of darkness for your survival then you will still doubt me."
He squeezed her hand. "Do not misread my intention my love." He was crying inside that he had hurt her. "I feel the need to express my feeling of love toward you." Gabrelle felt bad and decided to tuck her arrogance away.
"Let us familiarize ourselves with possibility and faith." She was calm and her tone probed only gentle longing. She knew that he was smiling because his words fell smoothly with no badored and Gabrelle shut her eyes. She was also in pain because she knew that after tomorrow, she would no longer be welcome at the castle. The thought of being separated from Samsidion left her feeling empty. She wondered if she should voice her fears.
"No one can separate us." He had heard her thoughts. "It has taken me years to find you and I will not allow for any interference."
"Even if it is your mother that is interfering."
"Especially if is my mother." He ground out. His passion flared to an intensity that told Gabrelle that she was safe in his love. He was not finished. "Mother needs to understand that I am a grown man that harbors a taste of his own wants and desires."
Gabrelle had a change of heart and placed herself in the countess`s situation. "It is a difficult task being a mother," The objective was that she had to see both the faces of a coin. "She just wants what is best for her children."
Then he confessed. "Do you know that she wanted us to convert her so that she could be forever with us." Gabrelle could swear that he was disgusted but she said nothing. Some battles were just not hers to fear of fight. Her eyes were drooping, and she fell into a sleep as Samsidion voice droned further. Her dreams were still and there were congratulatory smiles from faces that she did not recognize. She was at peace. Her mother was back, and she pried into Gabrelle`s eyes. "It is your destiny." She was smiling and Gabrelle was lost in love. There was more excitement of butterflies forming a halo over her head. As she was rested her grandmother came to her. "The game is not over child. A war fit for the strongest is afoot." Gabrelle reached out for her and in a flash, she took a dagger and plunged it into Gabrelle`s heart. She screamed and jumped off the bed; sweat streaming down her back. Just in the nick of time another scream left her blood flowing cold. Count Samsidion was screaming with all his might from outside. As she looked through the window the sun had arrived in a bulb of beauty.