The Tormented Goddess (6 page)

“You do not need to speak of it now.”

Relieved Venus took Edwards hand. “I was terribly worried!” She exclaimed.

“Let's go for a walk.” s
uggested Edward.

The gazing sunshine reflected on the luminescent waters of the Sienna. Gazing down at the magnificent boats sailing under the bridge they walked upon, both made their way into a park. Venus seeing an bench hurried over to sit on it, Edward initially did the same, and sat next to he
r. “You have a right to know!” s
tarted Venus spontaneously. “Though all I am about to say will sound absurd to you, here how it begins: What roams this world is separated into two categories, though both are technically living there are the mortals and the immortals as...”

“...Mr. Dubois?” a
dded Edward.

Venus nodded and continued. “Few of your specie are apparently aware of what this means
.”

“So you're basically saying that we're all going to be eaten.”

“Yes, thank you for expressing your opinion on the matter in such a frank fashion.” Venus stood up but before she had the chance to leave Edward took her hand and apologised.

“Please excuse me, do stay I wasn't trying to vex you.”

Venus accepted and sat once again. “Alright, to continue the usual immortals have to keep their flesh alive by killing mortal, by sucking their life force out.”

“So in addition of being held captive by my female classmate in a foreign country, s
he going to murder Me.” h
e said with a fearful expression darted on his face.

“Don't be ridicules, I am the exception, well
let’s
say I'm the only immortal I know of who doesn't need to feed.”

Edward seemed to relax after hearing the news “I thought Mr. Dubois was rather strange, I presume this explains everything.”

“Loui
s made a pact with the devil.” s
tated Venus.

“Who's Louis?”

“Haven't you made the connection yet, there is no Mr. Dubois. He who you refer to was the last king of France.”

“You can't be ser
ious?” q
uestioned Edward.

“When he was guillotined his spirit was judged to be impure so obviously he went to the underworld. There he made a pact with the devil to be restored in his human form to ride the earth once more.
Of course there is a price to pay, this is why he was to nourish himself upon others, or else his body will degrade and his soul would vanish eternally.”

Edward couldn't help but notice how she glistened with charm as she spoke of the complex horror of the situation. “By curiosity, how did you ever meet him?” Ask Edward.

“I believe I met him, when he was still quite young, yes at his wedding ceremony. At the time I impersonated a princess which I use to take care of till her sweet beautiful death of old age arrived. She cared so much for me and constantly exclaimed that I fascinated her that she took me in as her daughter. Therefor all her lands were ledged to me.” She took a long breath before continuing “Therefor with the title I was invited to the royal wedding, our friendship began and with that I had access to all the royal secrets which passionate me enormously. My unchanging youth became quite problematic after a
while;
they thought I used witch craft or something of the sort. It was my time to disappear, after that I only see Louis in the underworld.”

“Wow, how is that possible, well first of all how did you come to be such.”

“My family, or so I've been told are under a curse to never have the gift of life, which means eventually never to be allowed to die. Since it's involuntary in my case
no packs were made with Pluto
, never wil
l I die till I break this curse.
”

As making their way back to the hotel the conversation continued. Edward eventually asked “How old are you?”

“Where are your manners Edward, since when does gentlemen ask a woman her age? You have to die first before becoming an immortal, as you can imagine my end was rather early.”

“How did you die?”

“You
ask too many questions, it's understandable considering the situation but they seem to become quite impertinent.”

“I'm sorry.” a
pologised Edward.

“My adoptive father's new wife burned our house down with me still inside intending to kill me; I prefer not to speak of that. Let's just say I reached
beyond
a
millennia.”

“That would explain your museum collection.”
s
aid Edward smiling.

“Oh I have much more, they're just elsewhere, one could say that the advantage is that I accumulate a fortune greater then imaginable, but what is wealth when you are dead.”

C
hapter
Seven

Visiting the rest of the city till dawn the two made their way back for a good night of sleep. Next morning on the ferry back to England, sitting on the porch of the first class cabin, they were establishing their presentation strategy on the report. To everyone's surprise grey clouds formed instantaneously on the sky above. Winds were spreading and the clouds began to pour miserably shifting the boat back and forth. The passengers were hurried inside by the staff into the saloon. Sitting on the dry deep
blue
velvet couches Venus watched as the waiter poured steaming hot tea into beautifully decorated cups for the guest. Then all of the sudden the vessel had a sudden shift shattering the cups into thousands of pieces. Venus stood up and made her way towards the gear room, in hope to have a word of
advice
with the captain, but all she managed to hear where the screaming directions instructed by the captain to his men. Venus knocked on the door a tall grey haired sailor impatiently opened it.
“Madame I urge you to go back to the saloon at once, here is not a suitable place for a lady in this weather.”

“Could I please aid you in any way?”
a
sked Venus.

“Yes by safely making your
way down back to the saloon.” t
hat moment the cap
tain called his sailor for help. B
oth holdi
ng the steering wheel they tried to battle
the storm with all t
heir might, but t
he force driven by these two man reflected in their shattering red faces
was indifferent in comparison to the force of the channels waters
. Venus hesitated to go back, then all of the sudden she charged into the action, changed the speeds of the steam engine.

“Sirs move aside.” She commanded.

Thinking they had a heretic fool loose in the command room the captain and his sailor jumped to restore the ships speed, but to their surprise the ship seamed to float on heavenly calm waters. They turned their heads around to find
the
young woman steering the ship. Though the storm roared outside nothing could be felt from within. The two
men
looked at each other,
and then
the Captain stated in a query voice “There's nothing like a woman's touch.”

Once arrived on the banks of the British soil Venus let go of the steering wheel and made her way down the ramp. Edward was at the bottom with the suit cases, seeing her he waved and exclaimed loud enough for her to hear “Where were you? I've been searching for you.”

Venus approached him. “I was only steering the boat.” Edwards hat was about to lift in the sky when Venus caught it right off his head.

“Oh, only
...
.” Inside the carriage Edward asked Venus. “
…
I was wondering, Venus would you accept my invitation to my sister's wedding on the 28th.”

“I would be delighted.” She replied.

“Only this time I'm afraid
there
won't be any souls for supper.” The cheerful climate continued till the end of the ride. Venus wished good bye to her friend as her carriage made its way down the stone pebbled road.

C
hapter Eight

Days past, the wedding approached. After their classes Venus cordially made her way back to her hotel. This was a particularly chilly afternoon. Edward again ran after Venus and handed her an official invitation to his sister's wedding. The envelope had her name inscribed in a beautiful calligraphy. As leaving Venus Edward said
“I truly hope you'll be there.” He tilted his head and ran off.

Venus continued to walk down her usual path. This time she spotted a beautiful cloth exposed in the front window of a boutique. It inspired her, thus she rushed in elegantly and explained to the tailor what she wanted. The whole work shop came to life, scissors snipping away, needles threading, not too long after her starlight gown began to form. After paying the shop keeper she opened the door, as stepping outside a strong breeze blew her hat off her head, the wind lead her to a gloomy cemetery. Holding her hat firmly in her hand she was about to turn around when suddenly the air seemed to have dropped instantly multitudes below the freezing point. The Angel statue began to crumble, a female voice slithered in Venus's ears.
“Your time is ticking, the path you seek will be revealed in Transylvania.” It then disappeared into silence leaving Venus alone exclaiming her old lovers name at the tip on her lips “Dracula!”

The wedding day arrived; all were gathered in a grey stone church where the ceremony proceeded. Victoria walked down the alley with a deadening expression invading her face, though it was hidden by a veil her misery resonated loudly within the walls of the stone building. And when came the moment to say “I do!” Every eye observed the poor rich girls every move waiting to see her fail. Her nightmare came to life, she was be wedded.

At the reception marvellous music calmed the atmosphere. Everyone with their champagne flutes gave a toast to the newly wed. Juliet went to greet Venus asking her “Do you like weddings Miss Venus?”

“I ce
rtainly went to many of them.” r
eplied Venus standing tall with the posture of a prima ballerina.

“I find th
em rather boring, and tiring.” s
aid the little girl with a yawn, adding “I wanted to tell you, that your dress is breath taking. My mommies dress smelt horribly, and I had to sit beside her
throughout
the whole ceremony.” She then sniffed Venus and smiled stating “You smell like roses, that's ironic, Edward got you a bouquet of lovely red roses. Oh no, don't tell him that I told you, it was meant to be a surprise.”

“Don't worry Jul
iet; it's between you and Me.” s
aid Venus in a reassuring voice.

“And he's giving them tonight before you leave under the shinning full moon, how romantic!” Gasped Juliet all excited. Looking left and right she spotted
“The cake.”

“Is that boring?” a
sked Venus.

“Are you joking I love weddings. Race you there.”

“I'm afraid that running is not quite becoming,
especially
at my age.”

“Alright then, just don't tell!”
Juliet raced towards the lovely towering patisserie at a gay rhythm.

“Tell what?” Asked Edward pondering what his sibling might
have
spoken of.

“Nothing.” g
lared brightly Venus with a smile.

“Sh
e told you about the flowers?” a
sked Edward.

“How did you guess?”

“When say something to Juliet, it's a matter of seconds before the words out. Would you care to dance?”

Venus agreed and walked with Edward to the dance floor. The music began; Edward took her hand and placed his arm around her waist. Their footsteps danced to the lightning speed of the waltz. In the heart of the dance Venus broke the silence and began to speak with Edward. “Are you ready for the presentation, next week?”

“I have to admit I'm slightly nervous.”