Blood of the Pure (Gaea) Read online

  My head blocked completely and everything around me was silent. I knew he was still speaking with that cold persistent smile on his lips, but I could no longer hear him. All tension left my body and I forgot to check if I was still breathing, if my heart still beat, if I was still among the living.

  I followed his movements as he held my right hand and then leaned over my wrist, softly placing his lips against my skin. I screamed and new tears slid down my face, but I wasn’t able to even hear my own voice anymore. I knew I should have felt pain but didn’t. That body was mine but wasn’t. And, when he finally stopped talking, as if that had been the authorization my mind had been waiting for, I closed my eyes and gladly welcomed the cold silent darkness that finally enveloped me.

  Chapter Two

  RII

  – Disruption of the Aeon of Osiris. 1 –

  “I doubt myself and all my senses. I doubt the touch that feels his skin.

  I doubt the smell that captures his scent. I doubt the taste that savors the air around him.

  I doubt my hearing that listens to his melodic voice.

  Finally I doubt even my sight that contemplates his fascinating figure.

  I want to believe these are all illusions but the reality around me is

  undeniable and I can’t stop feeling him everywhere, and at all times.”

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  T

  he alarm clock rang and I took a deep breath, wishing I could simply ignore that irritating noise. I recalled I had to press a button to make it go away and stretched an arm, shivering with the cold outside my warm bed. As soon as silence returned, my arm fell limp beside the bed and I refused to think if I had to get up for school. For the first time in days I’d had a peaceful night, free from dreams that could only be called erotic and I couldn’t help sighing in relief, thinking I’d finally managed to get back to normal.

  Suddenly, the events of the previous night came tumbling back into my mind and I was wide awake, sitting on my bed. I looked around, recalling that picture of devastation and was dumbfounded for a moment, since everything looked normal.

  I was at a complete loss. My ribs still hurt, due to my unthinking sudden movement, and I got up pressuring them unconsciously. The muscles of my legs ached as well, as if I’d just run the marathon. But everything else was exactly the same, like always.

  Everything was intact and in its rightful places. The glass of my window in one piece, the books arranged on the shelves. The bag with my new jersey on top my desk and, besides it, my handbag and the book the nice lady had given me. A shiver went down my spine as I looked at the floor still half panicking. But there was no Circle, no pentagram, no salt. No traces of candle wax, much less candles. No spilled glasses of water and my potted plant was where it belonged, near the window.

  I slid a shaking hand over my face and took a deep breath. Had it all been a dream? Of course, I assured myself. The pain I felt was neither from hitting against walls nor from being tense for a too long. My physical condition had probably been worse than I’d thought and my muscles resented a whole afternoon of shopping from store to store.

  I smiled, making fun of myself. I’d allowed that old woman’s tale to affect me so much that I’d ended up having a strange dream like that. And I tried to stop my hands from shaking.

  “Mari? Are you awake?” My mother’s voice, coming from the ground floor, offered me a new sense of safety; her existence seemed proof enough that I was back to reality.

  “Yes! I’ll be down in a minute!” I answered and jumped out of bed. My legs shook lightly and I forced my muscles to contract and obey.

  When I took off my pajamas, something burnt on my hand, but I paid it no attention. I only really noticed it when, in the bathroom, I rolled up my sleeves to wash my face.

  My heart stopped for a split second and then jumped into a frenzy. The bathroom spun around me and my legs threatened to give in under my own weight. I leaned against the sink, taking a deep breath, and faced my own pale refection as I tried to calm down. When I managed to recover some of my balance and the certainty that I wouldn’t simply drop to my knees, I raised my right hand and turned it slowly. There, over my wrist, a strange symbol had been marked in bright red, almost as if it had been burnt with a hot iron. My stomach lurched and I leaned against the sink once more. Had it been real? Impossible! I countered immediately trying to keep some hint of coherence. My room... I recalled seeing it completely destroyed and now there wasn’t the slightest trace of anything like that. But I also remembered seeing ... him, holding my hand and kissing me on that same exact place. But how could it be?

  I shook my head, putting my thoughts in order, and decided it had all been a nightmare. I nodded confidently. That mark ... it was nothing but a strange burn, I justified. Something I’d probably done last night while cooking dinner and hadn’t even noticed. I was only seeing symbols because I was looking for them. Surely neither Rachel nor Steph would see anything like that should I show it to them. And the thought alone was enough to leave me frozen. With nervous hands, I opened one of the bathroom cabins, knocking down small flasks and cream tubes until I found what I was looking for. With clumsy gestures, due to the sudden panic that now filled me once again, I hurriedly wrapped the white bandage around my wrist. When I was finished, I took a deep breath and stupidly felt as if I’d rid myself of the sole proof able to deny my theory about last night’s events.

  “Mari! You’re going to be late!” Rachel’s voice called me back to reality once again and I washed my face and combed my hair in record time.

  I went down the stairs practically running and when I reached the kitchen, she was already on her way out.

  “Good morning,” I said, catching her before she left and kissing her. She looked at me for a moment and then smiled.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead. How was yesterday?” she asked, obviously curious, and I immediately erased all the less fortunate events from my head.

  “Oh, it was good. I tried on lots of clothes and ended up buying a new jersey,” I reported with a smile and she nodded pleasingly.

  “But you must have come back tiered. You went to bed so early,” she noted in a complaining tone. I was sure she’d hoped to find me awake so I could tell her all the news in detail.

  “I’m sorry. But we walked all afternoon. My legs still ache.”

  “Uh, you’re lacking exercise, young lady!” she criticized. “And by the way, thanks for dinner. Today I’ll be back earlier. And you’ll have to tell me everything!” she added, looking down at her wristwatch. “I have to go.”

  “See you later,” I told her and Rachel kissed me on the forehead.

  “Have a nice day, dear,” she wished me and almost ran to the door.

  I took a deep breath and allowed my fake smile to wither away. I looked at the toast that awaited me and I didn’t think I’d be able to stomach it. Momentarily, I’d forgotten the reason behind that indisposition and decided I wouldn’t think about it any longer. Besides, my time was running short and so I put together all my things and left the house.

  I kept my mind in complete silence as I walked to school. The sky seemed clearer than the day before, suggesting it might not rain. The air, on the other hand, was still cold, but there was almost no wind at all, which made it easier to endure the low temperature.

  This would be a day like any other, I decided. I’d have Philosophy first period and then History. Next I’d have lunch in the cafeteria with everyone else, like usual. The subject of conversation would most likely be the afternoon we had spent together. I’d leave them earlier to spend some minutes of pure bliss, watching my love from afar and I’d make sure he wouldn’t even notice my presence. Then I’d go to the library and start on my homework while waiting for Steph and Joanne, who would still have one more class, so that we could return home together.

  Establishing an order of events left me much calmer and I was feeling quite pleased with myself when I finally reached the scho
ol gates.

  “So, it’s in this kind of place you spend most of your time.”

  That voice paralyzed me instantly and my arms forgot the things they were supposed to be holding. From afar, I heard my books falling, and the ground escaped from under my feet. My heart was beating desperately, leaving me deaf, my breath uneven. My legs shook and I was certain they would end up giving in.

  Slowly, I turned my head towards the voice as I assured myself I couldn’t have heard it, and froze completely, suddenly empty of all arguments that might help me deny it.

  I saw him calmly sitting on one of the lowest tree branches, right beside me. He leaned slightly towards me, his long hair floating gently with the cold breeze, his gaze fixed on me. A soft smile of amusement touched his thin lips and I couldn’t help thinking that a bit more and his immaculately perfect, porcelain-like skin would end up cracking.

  “Mari! What are you doing here? You’ll be late!” I heard Steph’s voice and, although I wished I could run away, or at least tell her to do so, I couldn’t move a single strand of hair. I felt a warm hand holding my arm and the sharp fear I felt made me dizzy when he turned his gaze towards Steph. “You OK? Feeling sick?” she asked me, sounding worried. I stopped breathing when she raised her head trying to see what I was looking at. He laughed and the sound of his laughter was deep, almost warm, even though his eyes had become even sharper, colder and crueler.

  “No need to worry,” he said. “You’ll end up giving yourself a stroke, which would be a waste, after I decided to spare your life. Wouldn’t you agree?” I had no voice to respond. In truth, his voice simply ran through my central nervous system and I wasn’t fully aware of what his remarks meant at first. “She can’t see me. And I believe it would be best to answer her before she calls on someone to help you.” That sarcasm again.

  “Mari!” I forced myself to look away from the tree, swearing I would never look at it again, and faced Steph, who was trying to shake me out from my stupor.

  “I’m OK, Steph,” I replied, but my voice sounded as unreal as a robot’s from some science fiction movie.

  “How’s that you’re OK?! You’re white like a piece of paper! And you’re shaking! Did anything happen?” she asked, looking at the tree once again, and I shook my head wishing she would stop doing that.

  “I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep all too well. And I probably caught a bug or something,” I fibbed and bent down to grab my books. Steph helped me gather my things and took a deep breath, glad that I’d returned to my usual self.

  “You were just standing here, looking at that tree.”

  “I thought I saw a cat. But it was nothing,” I replied without thinking and his chuckle froze me again, my body too tense.

  “You sure you’re OK? If you’re not feeling right, maybe you should go home. Or at least go to the infirmary and get some rest,” she suggested, genuinely worried, but I refused her advice once again.

  “It’s nothing. Let’s go. We’re already late.” I tried as hard as I could to change the subject, and sighed in relief when I succeeded.

  We ran inside, as I forced myself to only look forward without turning back to see if he was still there or if I’d been delusional. We climbed the stairs as fast as we could and entered the classroom with a river of apologies for our tardiness.

  I sat at my desk and opened the notebook so it would look like I was paying attention, but my mind stared blankly at the empty lines. My wrist burnt and I closed my hands in two fists demanding some measure of control.

  There was no escaping, I thought. Either I was going crazy or that creature really existed ... in the same world as Rachel, Steph, Michael and everyone else.

  I refused the torrent of questions that flooded my brain, filling my head with hows and whys, and took a deep breath just to make sure I still maintained control over myself.

  If I was going crazy, well, there wasn’t much I could do about it. But on the other hand, if he was real, what should I do? The question echoed inside me without a proper answer and panic began taking over again.

  I told myself I had to be able to think straight. I made myself recall everything that had happened the day before. The strange store, the old woman, the book. Nothing special about any of it. Sure, the old book had a strange title, but still, it was only a book.

  I’d picked it up thinking about putting it away and, instead, had opened it.

  I bit my lower lip.

  Why in hell had I opened that thing when I’d practically swore to never read it?

  But the real problem was in what I’d idiotically decided to do next. I’d allowed myself to believe in this childish idea that all my problems could be solved with a simple Magical Spell. I’d allowed my pain due to Michael’s indifference to speak louder than my better judgment.

  I dropped my head on my arms, feeling too tired, and sighed deeply. In flashes I recalled parts of that ritual — The Circle, The Nine Angels and those strange words.

  My heart jumped. Those words! Now that I thought about it, I remembered that the spell hadn’t even been finished. There had been a few more lines left to read. And, according to what was written on the chapter about Protection Circles, once a ritual was over, the Circle had to be undone. I’d never even arrived to that part. The windstorm had interrupted me and destroyed everything. With a strange irony, I couldn’t help thinking that the symbols I’d written with salt hadn’t done much in terms of protecting me.

  I remembered the nothingness that had become something, and then ... him!

  Had he said something about me being able to break a Seal? Could he have been speaking about the Seal that had kept him away? And if so, did it mean I was the one who had set that ... thing free?

  If I had set him free, maybe there would be a way to send him away again, or lock him away, or whatever. All I had to do was rebuild that Seal. Maybe I could look up for an answer in the library or on the internet. Maybe I’d find something that could help me, I told myself, too aware that I was simply trying to keep my wits about me and trying to avoid despair.

  And then? He had decided to kill me. And I remembered thinking I would certainly die. For a moment I recalled his expression of surprise as he held his hand protectively. Change of plans, he’d told me. I couldn’t understand why, but decided to leave it at that, since I already had too much to think about. He’d also told me something about a Contract. He’d fulfill my wish and I ... I ...

  I stood up with a jump and the chair fell backwards with a loud bang. I couldn’t breathe and suddenly sensed a wave of anger I didn’t know I could feel burn my stomach.

  What the hell was that?! Who did he think he was to decide on something like that?

  “Miss Mariane! Is there something wrong?”

  I raised my head, remembering where I was, and the anger that heated the blood in my veins went icy cold just as fast. My cheeks blushed, since I’d become the center of attention, and I tried as hard as I could, but still couldn’t find something smart to say. To my relief the sound of the bell filled the air and everyone started dragging chairs as the teacher shouted his last instructions about a homework assignment.

  With a sigh I gathered my things. Maybe if I could simply ignore him, I wondered, although I had little faith that this last plan would work. He didn’t look like something that would eventually get tired and go away if I pretended not to see him. Quite the opposite. He looked more like he would probably do something terrible if I were to anger him.

  I found Steph near Joanne and we went together to our next class.

  I tried as hard as I could to listen to what was being taught. I didn’t want to be questioned about what was being said and find myself unable to answer. Something like that would make my friends worry and, regardless of my problem having a solution or not, this was still my problem. I’d been the one to create it and I’d have to be the one to deal with it.

  When the bell rang again, I’d started to feel like myself once more, with a certain measure o
f courage burning inside my chest, for which I felt particularly proud. What was the worst that could happen anyway? Well, he could probably decide he wanted my Soul after all.

  We went down to the cafeteria, talking about our plans for the weekend. Steph had been invited to go to the cinema by some guy from the arts department, but she still hadn’t given him an answer. Joanne was trying to convince her to go. We were almost at the cafeteria’s door when I made my decision. Steph also stopped, noticing I wasn’t following them anymore, and turned back the few steps keeping us apart.

  “Mari? What’s wrong?” she asked, again with that worried tone, watching me closely. I faced her greenish eyes which seemed to surprise her.

  “There’s something I have to do.”

  “Something? But ... right now?” she insisted and I nodded. She stood quiet for a moment, as if studying me or trying to guess what was making me act so strangely, and a smile lit her face as her eyes grew bigger. “Are you going to talk with him?” she asked in a soft murmur, even though it was obvious she was excited by the idea. I stared blankly at her for a moment, trying to make sense of what she’d just asked. Right then my mind was so set on what I’d decided that it was hard to think of anything else.

  “Oh,” I whispered as I understood who the him was and a sharp pain drove into my chest. Yes, it had been all because of him, all because I’d been stupid and weak, and tried to cheat. But, even so, all I had to do was call forth his image in my mind and a warm feeling washed over me, making me feel foolishly happy. “Yes,” I answered, aware I was deceiving her but at least not lying.

  “Oh, but that’s great!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down. I couldn’t help smile at her happiness. “But you should eat something first, you know?” she added, always trying to take care of me, which gave me a warm feeling.