Curse of Stigmata (The Judas Reflections) (23 page)

“Don’t think of the obvious, I’ve no interest in your body, although I have to say it’s very desirable, as are your deep blue eyes.”

“What do you want from me Rachel? I’m leaving tomorrow, can I please have this day in peace?”

“From the moment I saw you, I knew it would change everything. I was tired of drifting and found my way to Paris where I met a rich merchant thirty years my senior. He would tell me how much he loved me and showered me with jewels. His name was Bertrand Fournier. Having heard of a rich European traveler of Spanish and Arabic origin named Emmanuel Ortiz who paid vast sums for the rarest coins he began searching and found your coins. But, I couldn’t let Bertie sell them to anyone so I killed him by poison.”

“I don’t understand why my coins would carry such importance to you, enough to kill your husband. What did he ever do to you to deserve such a fate? Tell me, Rachel, were you born evil or did you become this way?”

“The coins are not important. You are. It is the game of death I desire, the thought of you coming after them firing up my senses. I hoped and prayed your people would trace the coins to my next abode in the mountains, and it worked. You came. I desire to be caught and burnt to a cinder, even though it won’t end my immortality. I don’t understand why, when I’ve committed a bad act, I have second thoughts and run away. With money, your coins and plenty of jewels in my possession, I escaped Paris and fled to the mountains where I met Isaac and spun him a sad story. How I was tracked… the rest is irrelevant, like how many others I’ve killed.”

Rachel was an immortal with a death wish so strong she’d resort to killing in the misguided hope of ending her suffering. But she failed to see no matter what she did, her time on earth was set. Maybe now, in Madagascar with Juan, and with John’s spiritual guidance she’d calm her evil ways and settle down.

“Please don’t harm anybody else,” I beseeched her. “It’s futile. Look at what you’ve caused so far, wasting lives and getting nowhere.”

I’d heard about how aggressive and cold-blooded the early Judaeans were. Rachel had changed very little. She was, I concluded, a natural born killer and if Juan were mortal, I’d worry. Perhaps, in spite of the dysfunctions between them, it was a good match after all.

“Here,” she said, putting her hand between her breasts and pulling out a small envelope. “Open it now, what’s in there is important.”

I couldn’t feel any coins, but curious, I tore it open to reveal two letters, one written in French and the other in Spanish.

Rachel had confessed in writing to the murder of Isaac, explaining I had admitted to the crime to save her soul. She demanded I was to be exonerated. She also confessed to the murder of her husband Bertrand and another. An artist in Paris called Pierre who refused to paint her portrait after she allowed him to bed her. Both letters were signed and dated.

“This is a very decent thing to do. It means I can go back without worry. Even Dario will have to take your confession as sound.”

Before I could stop her, she leaned over and kissed me firmly on the mouth. It didn’t go any further; using all my willpower, I pushed her roughly away.

“No. I won’t make love with you and dishonor a worthy friend.” I surprised myself with such a comment coming from a man without morals when it came to bedding women. Whether I loved or hated them and even when their husbands were asleep in the next room, I was unfazed, until now.

What in God’s name was happening to me?

“Well, well, you’ve become quite the gentleman. I can only imagine the passion we would ignite together with so much hatred between us. Instead, I will be nice. The game is over Judas… here’s the other coin,” she said, dropping the glowing coin slowly into my hand as she smiled sweetly.

Immediately, the powerful tingling that would be followed by reliving my ultimate betrayal commenced. I forced myself to deposit the coin into a pocket in my trousers.

“Why now, Rachel? Why put me through so much misery and how it is possible I never sensed the coin with you this morning?”

“Don’t ask me why, maybe you’re too full of wine still. I told you the game is over and it is. For over a thousand years I’ve been trying to change… it’s difficult. As you said to me countless times, once a thief always a thief, and of course in my case a murderer and liar. I’ve sinned in the eyes of God many times, pretending to be Christian, Muslim, Catholic, and even a Pagan. When I met you, I wanted
you
to be the one who would help me. Instead, I’ve helped you to learn how important it is to be honorable.”

“What of the stigmata, was it trickery?”

“No, It began soon after my crucifixion and will remain my penance.”

With another light kiss on the lips, she was gone, leaving me with a precious coin and I couldn’t be happier. To celebrate, I enjoyed an early breakfast and a small whisky to dull the shock. The inn was already full of hungry pirates including Captain Chivers.

“We set sail tomorrow at eight in the morning, sharp,” he instructed. “Get someone to load your trunk, don’t forget the rum you promised and adequate funds.”

It was typical of greedy pirates to charge large amounts for travel expenses and expect you to supply extras, like rum.

“Of course Captain, you can count on me,” I replied, knowing the only thing on my mind was to set sail for Europe and home. I wanted to put Madagascar and all what happened behind me.

“We’ll be making a small detour around the Cape, something I need to pick up beforehand. Then, we set sail for Europe after a few other stops.”

I knew exactly what he meant. They were not finished pillaging and plundering a ship or two and my time spent on board would be longer than the journey here. If I had any sense I would find another ship, its bow pointed straight for home. But I preferred the exhilaration of witnessing a great sea battle, with the roar of cannon fire ringing in my ears, even if it did deafen most around me.

“I have some articles for sale, if you’re interested,” the Captain remarked.

Would I be? Yes, of course. I needed to turn a profit in these difficult times, to foster my interests for the future. Maybe even contact the Rosicrucians to see what they had to offer.
If I do wrong then God strike me down now!
I asked, but nothing happened as I boarded the ship per instructions. We set sail on schedule for the Cape, with my story ending as it began, on a ship heading to adventures unknown.

Except this time, I was alone with two blood coins in my possession, some strange new memories and a mind full of fresh ideas.

“So, where are you off to this time?” Captain Chivers had come from behind with a firm slap on the back, the Madagascan shoreline fading in the distance.

“I’m not sure,” I confessed. “I’ll go where the wind takes me, and, as long as Rachel doesn’t follow, I’m happy.”

“You do know I violated the pirate code by allowing her on board.”

“I was surprised your crew didn’t kill her once they discovered she was here.”

We had plenty of time to discuss the finer points of all too often violated codes of pirate conduct. I hoped that with each nautical mile taking us further away, talk of Rachel would diminish, becoming nothing more than a dim and distant memory. In the meantime, I decided to give more thought to the ideals of the Rosicrucians.
Seek and ye shall find
the bible said. Finding Rachel had changed everything, including me.

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