Aris Reigns (10 page)

“I'm sorry Jane. It seems an eternity since Aris and I have seen each other.”

“Please, no apologies. I will show myself out. We will speak again soon.” She cast her eyes toward the carpet as she and the white wolf passed through the door leaving the couple alone.

“I hope I didn't embarrass Jane by flinging myself at you. I couldn't help it. Everyone has been very kind, still I've missed you so much today.”

Aris led her to the sofa. He sat, pulling her down on his lap. “I, too, have missed you.” His words were put to an end as she, once again, kissed his thick tender mouth.

Desire rose in her like a hungry eagle stalking prey. She twined her fingers in his thick black hair, her kiss becoming more demanding. His body responded to her demand as arousal coursed in his vampire veins. Still sitting on his lap, she felt the power of his manhood hard against her. Melting into him she longed for him to take her. Gasping for breath, she spoke. “Please Aris, make love to me. I've never wanted anyone or anything as I want you.”

Her plea brought him to his senses. “No, my sweeting.” He shook his head to clear his mind then gently he took her hands in his. “Wanting you this way is torture because it is impossible as things are.” He stood, lifting her to her feet. “I am in torment as you are, yet we cannot make love as human men and women can. I am not a man. It is impossible.”

She wanted to weep. Her body cried out for him, yet she knew if he could control his desire so must she. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths to compose herself then carefully smoothed her skirt.

He held out his hand to her. “Come. There is much to do before we leave for Spain. I must stay focused.” He wanted to take her in his arms once again, but knew he couldn't trust himself. “Our friends are waiting. Shall we go?”

Placing her hand in his, she spoke. “Alright, I understand.” Her lips curled in a playful smile and her voice was a suggestive whisper. “But there are many other things I would rather do right now.” He stared into her eyes, the back of his mouth dry with desire; the silence of the room broken only by the rasping of her breath.

A soft rap on the door jolted them from their trance. “Sarah, may I take your tray?” Jane's question was muffled by the thick wooden door that stood between them.

“Yes.” Sarah opened the door for her friend. “Please come in. We were just leaving.” For just a moment, her eyes brimmed with unshed tears of frustration as she moved into the corridor. “Let's go; our friends are waiting.”

Aris still held Sarah's hand as they walked the length of the corridor. She felt she was in a labyrinth, twisting and turning corner after corner. Richard and Gabriela were to meet them at a dining hall in the center of their Immortal village. Sarah nervously wondered what her companions would be eating, but Aris assured her they were visiting a restaurant that catered to those who lived above ground. She was relieved. She wasn't sure she was quite ready to see her friends drink blood from goblets as she had seen DeMarco and Mariska do when she was held prisoner in their castle in Spain.

Their footsteps echoed as the corridor turned into a narrow rocky tunnel with an incredibly high ceiling. The tunnel turned at ever tighter intervals until, quite suddenly, they stepped into an enormous cavern larger than an American football field. Sarah knew they were
still underground, but it appeared as if the cavern opened straight up to the sky. Late afternoon light fell from above as if a perfect sun shown down onto the cobblestone road leading through the town center. Shops, taverns and restaurants lined the street.

Sarah's eyes found no rest as they darted from one amazing sight to another. She noticed two distinctive modes of dress. One, clothes worn by those Immortals who led human lives above ground and the other, more simple. Softer fabric. Flowing lines. Similar to Queen Akira's beautiful robe.

All of the inhabitants of the Catacombs had one thing in common. An unearthly physical beauty, ageless, timeless. Sarah felt out of place in her human skin with her human flaws, yet everyone smiled and greeted her as they passed. She was a celebrity, the first human freely allowed below ground. One who came below of her own choice to assist in a battle that had little to do with her. She was known and respected in the Immortal world.

“Aris.” A soft feminine voice spoke from just behind them. Turning, they stood face-to-face with Kitsuko. “Hello.”

Aris smiled, returning the slight bow given by his newest commander. He had watched her a few times on the training field and was impressed by her skill and leadership. His respect was apparent when he spoke. “Kitsuko, I would like you to meet Sarah.”

Kitsuko watched as the blond woman released Aris' hand in order to shake hers. A tide of jealousy washed over her at the human touching her general with such propriety. The powerful Immortal warrior had no business being with a human. Especially when Kitsuko grew weak every time she thought of him. When she worked with her troops and he was present, it took all of her control to keep from telling him her feelings. Feelings that were present from the first moment she saw him. Sweet passions that as a warrior she had never believed it possible for her to feel and she didn't know how to deny.

Sarah sensed the animosity brewing in the air between herself and
the martial artist, but didn't understand why it was there. Aris told her about his amazing new warrior, about her speed and authority. He praised her abilities to teach. Sarah had been glad he had someone so accomplished to help him. She assumed such a woman would be powerfully built to have such prowess at battle and was surprised at the diminutive size of the soldier standing in front of her. She hadn't thought she would be so feminine, so beautiful.

The two females acknowledged each other, but the greeting was without warmth or welcome. Turning to face Aris, Kitsuko smiled. “I look forward to seeing you on the training floor.”

Aris lifted his hand in farewell as she continued on her way.

Sarah reached for Aris's hand once more, “Very attractive.”

“Who?” Sarah motioned behind her at the retreating figure. “Oh, Kitsuko? I had not noticed, but I will be more aware the next time I see her.” He laughed and kissed her softly then continued toward the restaurant.

Café tables lined the walk-way. They chose one situated beneath an awning. Filtered light shining through the soft golden fabric created interesting shadows on their faces.

“Richard and Gabriela are going to meet us here. As well as someone else who is looking forward to meeting you.”

“And who is that?”

“Henry.”

“Henry?”

“Yes, the Master Keeper of Records.”

“Isn't he in charge of the Infinity Diaries?”

“He is.”

“Aris, you've never explained, why do the Immortals keep the Diaries?”

“It is a part of our science. The Master Keeper is deeply involved in the process of human evolution and evolution of the spirit. Queen Akira came to earth originally to study the behavior of its' inhabitants
and has been collecting information since her arrival. When the Keeper joined the Catacombs, he joined in her research and devised the Diaries. The Queen finds humans baffling in their habits and their emotions, how they continue to destroy their own kind for power and for pleasure. No other mammal on the planet does that. She has spent millennia striving to understand your species. In his human form, the Keeper was equally interested in humanity and was grateful as an Immortal to join in Akira's research. It was his scientific knowledge learned as a human combined with the alchemy Akira shared that made it possible to find a way to collect the information. It never occurred to either of them the Diaries would be used for other than science—to be used for evil purposes.”

Sarah stopped mid-step. “Wait, I don't understand. If the Master Keeper of Records is so important, why would he want to meet me?”

“He is intrigued by your soul-chart. Remember, he had to reconstruct it after DeMarco stole it? He finds you intriguing.”

“I'm not sure if I should be flattered or nervous.” Sarah thought about her past life and wondered if she liked sharing it with an unknown undead.

“Flattered would suit the situation.” Aris took her hand while they waited for the rest of their party.

“Aris, as I understand it, the Diaries contain the soul-chart of each human from its inception to its culmination, the journey from one incarnation to the next. But where does the soul come from and where does it go?”

“Ah, Sarah.” He smiled. “The eternal question and the basis of our research and of the Diaries. What is before and what is after human life?”

They sat silently as her mind worked to absorb everything he had just told her. A gentle wind ruffled the blond curls around her face, bringing her back to the material world of the Catacombs.

“Did you feel that breeze? The temperature here is perfect. Is it like
this in all the Catacombs?”

“No. Some areas are covered in snow and others are desert sand. We have created different environments to suit our moods.”

“And it's all here? Underground?”

He nodded his head yes just as Richard and Gabriela reached their table. They greeted their friends warmly.

“Sarah, how do you like our Catacombs?” Gabriela gestured with her hand indicating all that surrounded them.

“I am awed by what I've seen. I want to learn everything I can about the science that runs this place.”

“Well,” Richard grinned as he spoke. “Here comes the one who can help you with that.” He stood as a tall, white-haired man approached them. He was dressed in a dark business suit and wore an old fashioned black Homburg hat on his thick shoulder length hair. Dark green, round glasses covered his eyes.

Removing his hat, he greeted everyone at the table. When it was time to meet Sarah, he removed his dark glasses as well. She was stunned by the strange color of his eyes (neither green nor brown but something in-between) and the tenderness of his gaze.

“So, at last, I meet Sarah Hagan.” He stared at her a moment before he spoke again. “I must say, you are quite what I thought you would be from your description in the Diaries.”

Sarah flushed at his knowledge of her past with Diego. But his reassuring way and gentle tone soon put her at ease. She realized Richard was telling Henry how interested she was in their way of life.

The Master Keeper of Records leaned toward her as he spoke. “Sarah, please come to visit me in the Hall of Records any time. I would be honored to answer any questions that you have.”

“
I wonder,”
she thought
, “if you can answer the ultimate question--why I feel so at home here beneath the earth with a city full of the undead? I wonder if there is anyone anywhere who can answer that question.”

CHAPTER 13

T
he four vampires sat around the heavy wooden table, full goblets of rich red blood in front of each place. “What are you saying, Ricardo?” DeMarco stood, leaning menacingly toward his general as he spoke.

His voice held an unspoken challenge. “I am saying you need the Queen and her soldiers if we are to win this war.”

DeMarco leaped to his feet, sweeping the goblet from the table with his arm. He shouted, “Do you dare to tell me you have not been doing your duty?”