CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
I slept badly as Count Samsidion`s accusation was stirring in my head. According to his story, Gabrelle as the only child left in her lineage and her sibling had passed away with her parents. My mind was whirling to different scenarios. I had initially thought that the Gabrelle was my great grandmother`s sister but that was not so. When I get back, I would have to delve into our family history. I need to track down Gabrelle St. James. Sometimes, the lineage of the past could be confused and there was always that one stray family member that no one could seem to connect with. I was a million percent certain that I was related to Gabrelle. Me, my grandmother and Gabrelle had a common denominator and that was that we had the sight. In my case I am not as powerful as to create an amulet that would was the sunlight off from burning vampires, but I could read a little tarot and perhaps mix a good luck potion. Something as heavy and important as saving a vampire from burning was just not in my circle of accomplishment. I woke up from the bed and walked to the dressed, pouring a glass of chilled water from the pitcher. A sense of déjà vu assaulted me. I drank up and realized that my silly imagination was polluting my mind with scenes that were not there. I had to admit that this century while so backward allowed for me find a peace that I had never enjoyed before. I walked to the huge window, moved aside the heavy silken curtain. I was immediately bathed in silver moonlight. Although I was transported to another century of the same world that I live in, the difference is I am privileged with modern conveniences, but this place offered beauty like I have never seen before. I was so lost in the glow of the moon that I never noticed the Count standing down looking right at me until he called out my name.
"Lady Athena, what keeps you awake at this house." His voice was smooth as a seasoned brandy, and I looked down with a built-in smile.
I laughed, "It is the beauty of the moon that dazzles me so." I blinked, surprised that I had even begun speaking like the ancient. This was like a typical Romeo and Juliet scene.
He kept staring at me. "Indeed, it is a beautiful sight to see." I probably went crimson in the face. I wondered if he thought that I was beautiful but then I dismissed the thought. Even if he looked at me it was his late wife that he would be thinking about. I felt uncomfortable. I did not need any man drooling at me over the memory of a loved one, even if he was a freaking Count. I retreated.
"Well goodnight then." It was such an uncomfortable scene, but I managed to wish him, and I felt suffocated with guilt when he murmured.
"Sleep well, my dear."
What the hell was going on in my head? For the love of God, I was jealous of a woman that was dead, and I was coveting a man that was haunted by the memory of another woman. I shivered and goose bumps dotted my hands. I could only imagine the horror and terror that the Count had to go through. Leaving the Count aside, I could only imagine the last thoughts of Gabrelle. That was such a cruel way to die. As I got into the bed, I felt sweat trickle down my back. It was not an altogether hot night, but I was shivering with heat. My eyes closed the moment my head hit the feather filled pillow and I was peaceful until the dream bombarded my peace. It was a heinous raging inferno; the person was just a caricature, but the pain was excruciating. It was as though I had taken her place to bear the brunt of her pain. A sentence that had been served with no emotions of humanity. Human skin that roasted to an unbearable stench. The cries of disbelief resounded the arena; while some rejoiced there were those that were true to God wretched and writhed in suffering. I was feeling the motions of terror as though I was right there in the pyre with Gabrelle. Her thoughts were transported to her parents, and she tried to forget the burns and that maddening pain. She had somehow known that Count Samsidion was there. She had felt him. I wanted to reach out to her. I needed to ask Gabrelle so many questions, but she did not see me as I was feeling her. She was happy to take the brunt of the clergymen so that her beloved could thrive, and she knew that her pain would not last long. Her reserve was weakening, and she was dying quickly. In death there was no remorse and absolutely no judgement. I felt her talking to me. She wanted me to tell him to forgive and forget her. Embrace his life and concede to newer revelations. She did not directly speak to me, but she made me aware that she knew that I was prying into her life. I wanted to reach out to her, but the fire was scalding. Each time I extended my hand, I got burnt so badly that I had to extract my hand and scream bitterly. I wished that in some way that I could help her, but it was too late. As the fire consumed her, I was in a surreal place of predicament. I felt the fiery rain of fire; I smelled the tarnished wood of deceit; it was my breathing that was desiccated until a fragment so small had choked me. I was walking that path or in this case I was pasted against a stake and reliving the Lady Gabrelle`s nightmare. When I could handle no more, I gave in to the light just as she had. People were waiting but I knew no one. I was welcomed with glee but I my soul fought to live. My attention was drawn back to the body that burnt at the stake. It had suffocated but suffered no more. Just like that my breathing became crippled and I was fighting with the atmosphere to ply me with a shot of oxygen. It was terrifying and heat was consuming. As I coughed spluttered, opened my mouth and tried to grab as much of the free air that I could sustain, my eyes opened to a stunning shock. I was flushed with heat and then I saw at the bottom of the bed a fire was alight waiting to spread towards me. I screamed and with instinctive power, I jumped off the bed and grabbed the pitcher of water. I doused the little patch of fire just in the nick of time as Count Samsidion raced into my room.
"My dear," panic stretched out of the contours of his eyes, and I assimilated that to him being genuinely concerned and surprised. "What in the name of hell is going on in here?" I was flabbergasted; fear intermingled with panic accentuated me completely and with no hesitation, I spoke the very words that ailed me.
"I think someone is trying to burn me alive." With that I surrendered to the fog of darkness and collapsed right there on the floor.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
This time I did not dream. I was lost in a mist so thick that I could not see my own fingers and toes. I was comfortable and the space was happy. For that I counted my blessings, and my body temperature was even. I wondered how I had gotten there but then lately the chain of events were just balmy and bizarre. My toes curled from the squishy clouds, and everything was just copasetic. I looked around for any form of life, but nothing could be seen. It was perfect and my eyes settled into a peaceful sleep. Although I slept peacefully at the back of my head there was a chanting of words that were scrambled and made no sense. For now, I just chose ignorance and decided to ignore it completely. This relish of relaxation went on for quite a while until my body had enough. I just needed to stretch my legs. I stretched out my legs with languor, jolted my arms to go over my head and yawned boldly and bravely. My eyes flew open. I expected to see myself safely ensconced in my room at my parent's home but instead I was still at Count Samsidion`s castle. The room was different to the one I had stayed in before. This one was plusher; way refined and clearly holding an ambience of male dominance.
"Thank goodness you are awake." Count Samsidion, the vampire, I should add came straight to sit at my bedside. "You had me seriously worried Lady Athena." No doubt the concern was valid but stampeded with an impatient curiosity. "Why did you set the bed alight?"
I was bewildered. I needed to catch all my stray thoughts and gather them in a ball that made complete sense. At first, I thought of the clouds and then boom I recollected the complexities of what had happened before I fainted. This was not at all good.
Denial was ready to fly out of my mouth, but I was unsure as to how that will sit with the Count. I just decided that honesty was going to be the best policy. "That is just it," my argument started off in a mild staccato and then I was interjected with a passion that stemmed from unbelievable thoughts that I had. "I was asleep and dreaming." I decided not to furnish the details of Gabrelle. Then he would truly think that I was gone cuckoo. "The next thing I felt extremely warm, and I awoke to a blazing ball of fire." Even I would not have believed a ridiculous story like that, but it was all I had for now.
"Lady Athena." He tried to be patient, but I could tell that sufferance was baiting him. "Come the morning and I shall have to make the necessary arrangements to send you home."
"Count Samsidion," fire of passion was now bolting out of my eyes and anchoring on my face. I was going to make him listen to me. "Do you think that I wish to stay here in your home and uninvited." I was now feeling the weight of anger. This was all frustrating. "I have told you that I come from a different century." He was looking at me as though I was truly insane. I harried on. "I think that somewhere between the centuries, your Gabrelle find a way to get me here."
Clearly, he was being suffocated by my reasoning but judging from his body language he was not fall for what he deemed to be my BS. I knew that perseverance would be the order of the day and there was just no way that I could walk away now.
"I have no home in this century to go to." He just stared at me, and I knew that I had to optimize my argument. "Think with an open mind Count Samsidion." I needed to frame my thoughts to precision so that I can get him to believe in me. "The clothing that you found me in does not belong to the times of here. My hair that was tied in a fashionable tie that has never been seen before. My shoes were also different." I remembered my cellular phone that was in my pocket and wandered if he had seen it. "I had a modern device in my pocket." I was helpless but I knew that I had to give it my best shot.
He had mellowed a degree. "I will have to admit to myself if not to you that the circumstances of your arrival are rather strange." It was a good start. "You look exactly like her, but you seem to have a strange structure about you." I broke into a grin. He was talking about my modern residual that was built in me. "The only fathom for me would be that I cannot connect you to Gabrelle."
I nodded my head sincerely. "That is driving me nuts too."
"Nuts?"
I chortled again. "Insane." I offered up an explanation.
"How do you explain the fire?" He was not letting go.
"You are undead Count." I had to give it my all. "You of all persons in this crazy mixed up world should know about the element of mystery." I had him there and he just nodded, perplexed and ready to listen to more. I narrated my dream and told him that I had went through what Gabrelle had endured. I left out the gory details and I assured him that she was in a happy place. He seemed relieved but the pain was evident. I wanted to reach out to him; If anything, just to comfort him but in his world a show of affection as considered to be a crime if you were not betrothed. Then again Count Samsidion might not be too impressed considering that he still carried a burning bright torch for Gabrelle who apparently may or may not be my relative.
"Are you saying that you have no means of getting back to your home in the future?" I was so glad that he was seeing things my way and I shook my head.
"Unless if you count on me jumping back into your lack." It was a wry deduction, and something told me that if I had not completed the task that brought me here then even that mode of transportation would lead me to the bitter end.
"Then that should be your destination first thing in the morning." My mouth was agape. What the hell was wrong with him? Did he not listen to what I was saying. He was a hardheaded, stubborn imbecile that was pissing me off in such a big way. I groaned. There was just not reasoning with this foolish man.
"Very well," I ground out my irritation. "I will present myself first thing in the morning to be drowned."
His lips set to taut frustration. "You are the most unreasonable female that ever had to walk this earth."
I just exploded. "Me unreasonable." I had enough of the Count. He was never going to accept my truth. "I will leave first rise of the sun." It was a losing battle and frankly I was sick of defending myself. I turn on my side and covered up with the blanket hoping that he would get the hint and just go away. I ignored him and soon my pretend sleep dropped me in total darkness until the sun had risen. I awakened to a mood that was dark. That man infuriated me something bad that I so wished to knock him hard on his head. I rose from the bed and to my surprise my original clothing were neatly set at the foot of the bed. It felt good to put on my comfy clothes. I guess it was time to go home. I walked down the stairs and once again Deja Vue sprang into action. Everything about the castle felt so real and I was taken back that this notch of melancholy bombarded me as I made my way to the door. Realistically I was down to the point of no care as to whether I would drown or not. I had the sneaky feeling that gran was protecting from above the clouds.
"You are ready to leave." Count Samsidion had sneaked up upon me and wait did I hear a strain of regret regrouping through his tone of sullenness. I truly wanted to ignore him, but my good manners came as a boulder in my way of rudeness. I turned around. Damn he was one fine masterpiece of vampire.
"Yeah," I muttered and walked briskly towards the door.
"Will you not have a spot of breakfast then?" Why was he stalling when it was apparent that he wanted me out of the castle?
I was going to make light of the situation. "Nah, I will catch some when I get home." I could hardly believe my ears. I was being all casual and I was not even afraid that the lake might eat me up in one gulp.
"Gabrelle," He called out to me.
"Yes." I did not know where that came from, and I felt a heat rush up my neck. This was so humiliating to be mistaken for a woman that was no more. Before he could amend, I had to cover up my mistake. "Are you confused Count Samsidion?" It was clumsy but it was the best that I could do on such short notice. I then gave a silly laugh to brush of my heated embarrassment.
"Forgive me," he bowed being the gallant Count that he was. "Lady Athena allow me to accompany you."
I wanted to deny his request but being petty now seemed a trite ridiculous. I just shrugged. "If you so wish."
"I do, I do," He was an eager beaver and while I was secretly pleased that he was accompanying me, I was also disappointed that he did not ask me to stay. Why in the hell would I expect that? My brain was speaking all kinds of languages to me. It was not as though I had any future with this man, or I will not be able to survive in this century. We walked in silence, and I was not surprised because we had basically nothing to speak about. It was a fine day. I allowed myself happy thoughts and I decided that I was happy to go back home. My parents must be worried sick. I could almost smell the pancakes and picture the glistening pool inviting me in to cool down. I pictured my family sitting around the fireplace, snacking on popcorn as the cold air whipped from the outside and through the tiny opening of creaky windows. I missed them like crazy and somehow being with my peeps will take away much of my other painful meanderings. The Lake was beautiful; serene and soft waves of silvery water welcomed a swimmer. If anything, it would be a perfection for lovers to stream a boat. I looked at Count Samsidion. I was barren in loss, and I guess it showed vividly. I shrugged; I knew I wanted to cry but watching him void of emotion, I restrained myself from letting the tears fall. I just shrugged. It was time. Without telling him goodbye I took a step into the water. I walked and walked but never turned back. It was not necessary for him to see the pain in my eyes and just for the record, I did not know what was wrong with me. My legs were getting shorter, and the water was almost at my neck. It most certainly was time. I allowed myself to sink. The water consumed me, and I closed my eyes expecting a whirlpool to suck me in. There was nothing. Then I saw Gran and she looked at me disapprovingly. I opened my eyes. It was not a dream. Gran was right there, and she was shaking her head. I tried to smile but she did not return it. Something was most definitely going wrong. I needed to make amends but under water, I could not speak to her. She did not want me to go home. Just as I was in a decision to resurface, the portal opened and the whirlwind formed a tunnel, almost sucking me in. I was not afraid and I swam towards the portal. As I was just about to enter the opening, I felt a pair of strong arms grab me from behind and encircle me in a firm clasp. My eyes closed but I did not try to resist because I knew those arms could belong to only one. I was being pulled in a backward stroke. I closed my eyes and savored the moment and then I saw something right there in my mind. The stone Kante. The fire of Gabrelle. The clay of Samsidion and Thaneus and the heart of Athena. It was clear to me. My mission was set out for me and all I needed was to find a way to execute. I had seen everything in the water. It was a gush, but it seemed too unreal. I needed to digest this deformity that had just rocked my boat. I felt Count Samsidion rise from the water and carry me onto the land. It felt good. I spluttered as he lay me to the ground. My eyes opened to breathe into the brilliance of his dark eyes. The redness had milked down to slashes of charcoal.
"What is popcorn?" He was grinning. The had read my mind.
What came next would be a sight I shall never forget in my life. I had softened. I swallowed my spit as the hard lump at the base of throat canoed away. If my hands were not wet, they would have been sweating.
"The day has arrived when the Lady Athena is at a loss of words." He was teasing me, but I was lost into enjoying the sight of him. Every singly memory had arrived. The good, the bad and even the ugly. I wanted to reach out to him and hug him, but I strayed off fear from being rejected. He was waiting for me to reply, and I did.
"Popcorn is the kernel of dried corn." I was no Wikipedia and google was so far away, but I needed to give him some compensation as he had saved because he was curious about popcorn. I wore my serious expression as I made my grand declaration.
"Lady Athena?" He was concerned and I had to set the record straight.
"I am Gabrelle St. James."
CHAPTER FORTY
I was still shivering as I bathed and sat near the fire in Count Samsidion`s bedroom. My admission had not even stumbled him, but it drew out an anger that had caused his hissing furiously at me. He then scooped me and carried me to the castle barking orders at the servants to draw me a bath. I seriously do not know why he could not come to the terms that I not only resembled her; I was Gabrelle. It was in my fate, and I had seen it so clearly. Surely, he understood that we had reached the lake in the early parts of the morning, but we had survived under the water for most part of the day. If this was not magic, then I did not know what was. It was now a ripe afternoon and I walked to the long mirror that stood on the other side of the room. We were one in the same. She had the Victorian look, and I had the modern but given the opportunity to have my hair done like hers we were doppelgangers, but I knew for sure that I was the reincarnation of Gabrelle St. James. All those miserable years of suffering with dreams that had crushed my spirit, it was the universe telling me that I had belonged to another. Every boy or man that entered my life in the prospect of love had me feeling like he did not belong into the circle of my being. There was a time when I had questioned my sexuality and thought that I was bi but now my head was clear of questions because answers had presented themselves. It was a unique way that the universe worked. I did not know how to react. A part of me was afraid, I had to pinch myself to understand the reality of this situation. The wrath of Count Samsidion would be a challenge that became a must for me to beat. If I was being honest, I would rave that I never felt ecstasy in inside of me but today I was born with it. I went back to the fire and the hearth was blazing. The warmth rejuvenated me, and I was ready to face him. There was a light tap on the door and I knew that it was not my Count. I bade them an entry and it was a servant followed by two strong men who picked up my bath to empty it. The made was laden with a tray and once I pulled off the cover, I was greeted by a thick broth, fresh bread and cheese. My stomach was instant in growling as the juices coagulated in veneration to the wonderful broth. One dunk of the bread and I was in love with the chicken broth. Succulent, flavorful and just plain down delicious. I wolfed it down quite easily and downed a glass of milk that accompanied. The lady in waiting smiled at my appreciation and as she gathered my debris she enquired if I needed anything more. I was more than satiated and my belly hummed with much appreciation. It was as though he had waited for me to settle down before he waltzed in as though he owned the place. Wait a minute, he did own the place and thinking about that brought an instant smile to me lips. Count Samsidion strode into the room, his coat trailing behind him also in a wisp of ownership. His hair had dried from the ordeal of the lake, and it was swept back in a neat ponytail held tightly by a silver ribbon. His face was a mask of nondescript, but I was unafraid of him. Whatever he threw at me, I would take it. He walked to the window and peered out his hand bent to rest on his lower back. It was always his favorite thing to do. That is to look out of the windows. He had told me that it made the world look small from above the castle. I got out of the bed and went to talk to him.
I whispered his name, "Sam!" He said nothing but kept his gaze focused on the hypnotic view. I reach out and touched him on his wrist. He flinched and that hurt me.
"Talk to me please." My words slurred upon burden because I could feel a heaviness between us.
He turned to me and rubbed his eye. "It cannot be. I watched her die."
I knew that to make myself more believable, I would need to assert myself so that eventually he could see the reality. "I am here my love."
"Even if you are her, then if you are reborn, you would be just a babe or a miracle in your mother`s womb."
I smiled at him. For this I had a befitting reply. "That is why I tell you that I come from the future." He shook his head, and I took his hand and squeezed it. This time he did not brush me away. That was positive.
"You are in denial." I was gentle because I knew that I had to take baby steps with my husband. Then I remembered a pivotal point that would work at my advantage. I clicked my fingers in excitement. "Do you remember when you came to get me from under the lake there was an opening." He took a moment and then he shook his head.
"It was rolling around ready to suck you in."
"Yes, and if you go now, you will never see it. It was my portal to go back home but I am not ready yet."
"I cannot understand how you could be her." He was still trying to wrap this craziness around his head. "How is this possible?"
I blinked my eyes, then opening them up and savoring his sight. "Even I am baffled but I do know that you have plagued my dreams." He turned a surprise look and I had to enlighten his curiosity. I needed to give him an in-depth explanation. "I thought that Gabrelle was my grandmother`s great aunt but then you told me that she had no close relatives. I was so puzzled as to how I fitted in and being her doppelganger." I swayed my shoulders.
"Doppelganger?" I laughed forgetting the century that he came from.
I inserted a clarification. "It means a look alike."
He nodded amiably. He seemed to have softened to my temperament.
I had to move forward. "It was under the water that I felt safe from fire that I understood who I was, and I remembered my life with you." I smiled at him with encouragement, but I could tell that he was not 100% convinced. "Do you remember that evening when you took me out to the woods, and you carried me up the tree to enjoy the fruits." He blinked and looked at me. There was a new aura of awakening in his wonderful eyes. In his narrative of Gabrelle, he never mentioned that. For me little bits were coming to my memory more like a frisson of an animation, but it was there. Gabrelle in me was alive and while I did dream about my ordeal, for now I did not want to hurt myself further. I went closet to him and wrapped my arms around his. This time he did not fight me and reciprocated.
"Gabrelle. My Elle." His whisper was a rasp that was caught in his throat as the emotion was thick. "It is really you, my love. You have come back."
"Yes, my love and I do know that the reason that I am back my love is that we have to get them back. Make them pay for the torture that I had endured.
He did not a second invitation. "Your wish is my command dear love."