You May See a Stranger
Part nine – is there more to Lucas than meets the eye? Who is really in control?
When you find your true love...
I woke up to someone knocking on my bedroom door and heard Lucas' voice.
"Are you decent? I've got coffee for you."
I was only wearing the black velvet ribbon round my neck but I retrieved the sheet and pulled it up so I was mostly covered up. He'd seen it all the night before anyway; although as he thought I had been asleep I wasn't supposed to know.
He unlocked the door and came in with two mugs of coffee, handing one to me and making himself comfortable on the end of the bed. He looked very relaxed in old jeans and an unbuttoned white shirt with bare feet and he grinned at me, eyes sparkling.
"So, how did you sleep?"
"Went out like a light" I told him, smiling back. I intended to tone down some of the wilder aspects of yesterday's Charlotte now Lucas seemed to be accepting me, she was far too exhausting! "So, what are we going to do today?"
"Oh? We're spending the day together are we?" Lucas laughed. "You're very sure of yourself." I laughed with him, looking into those beautiful green eyes and letting him feel how I trusted him, how much I wanted to be with him.
"OK" he said. "Get yourself dressed and we'll go and explore Salisbury – we can be tourists for the day." He settled back against the foot of the bed, drinking his coffee and watching me with a challenge in his eyes. I slid my legs out of bed and got up, hanging onto the sheet but not too carefully. I 'accidentally' trod on the edge and managed to drop it just before I got to the bathroom – might as well let him have another look!
I showered quickly and came back out to find the room empty, I hadn't heard Lucas leave but he had left the door open. I dressed in the same short skirt and high heeled boots with a clean t shirt – nice and tight and minus a bra, there was no harm in being a bit obvious. The velvet ribbon had got wet in the shower so I took it off and tied a scarf round my throat instead. I was ready to continue charming Lucas and while it was proving to be as easy as I had expected I had to wonder if I was enjoying it just a little too much. I liked him. I certainly had not intended to and I had found no sign yet of his plans for Herrick. Maybe I could find out more today. I didn't want to be here for long although I wasn't missing Herrick as much as I thought I would and I wondered if he was thinking about me at all.
Lucas and I spent hours wandering around town, stopping for coffee and later for lunch. We chatted about all kinds of things and I knew he was feeling relaxed and comfortable with me. I could start asking some more pointed questions soon.
By mid afternoon we were sharing a bench in the shade looking at the cathedral. Of course we had no intention of going in or even getting too close but Lucas was appreciating the architecture and trying to explain it to me. It was fascinating but I knew that wild Charlotte wouldn't care a jot for the meaning of the carvings and the arches so I was pretending not to be interested and eventually he gave up.
"How about an ice cream?" He asked. "We can't be proper tourists without an ice cream."
He went off to get them and when he got back I curled my legs up on the bench, leaning against him. It was only when his arm settled round my shoulders, holding me close to his side that I realised I had curled up against him in exactly the same way I always did with Herrick.
We ate our ice creams in silence for awhile as I thought about how to start to question him, to find out more about his plans and if he really was a threat to Herrick and everything we planned.
"Is it just you and Matthew in the house?" It seemed an innocent enough opening gambit.
"No, there are three of us, John has been away but he'll be back tonight and you can meet him. We travel together, its company and it's safer for us."
I laughed. "Matthew, Lucas and John. That has a ring to it, it's a shame you don't have a Mark!"
I felt Lucas' body tense and a sudden sadness fill his mind. "There was a Mark, and yes, everyone laughed at our names. He's gone now." I could tell that whatever had happened to Mark, he hadn't met a good end. Lucas shook off the sadness and leaned over, kissing the top of my head.
"Of course there are four of us again now – that is, if you're staying?"
"Maybe, maybe not. I'll see." I put my hand on his thigh. "You'll have to persuade me."
"Somehow I doubt I can persuade you to do anything you don't want to do." Lucas laughed. "Wasn't that the problem with Herrick?"
"I suppose so" I shrugged. "Do you know him?"
"All vampires of a certain age know Herrick – even if it's only by reputation. I met him once many years ago but he wouldn't remember me. Herrick is..."
I looked at him expectantly but he would say no more. He put his hand under my chin and tipped up my face, kissing my lips quickly and lightly before he stood up and held out his hand.
"Come on, we should go. I can tell you about Herrick but it's not a conversation we should be having here. Anyone could be listening."
Back at the house I met John, he looked very much like Matthew and they were both welcoming and friendly. I was keen to carry on the conversation about Herrick and so I stayed close to Lucas, my arm round his waist. He seemed quite comfortable with me in front of the others, keeping his arm round me and hardly even reacting when I slid my hand in between the buttons of his shirt and over his stomach. As I ran my fingers just inside the waist of his jeans he stopped talking to Matthew and looked down at me.
"I think you're in danger of getting carried away." I looked up at him, trying to look innocent and challenging at the same time which was a stretch, especially as I was continuing to investigate just what I could reach under his clothes without actually undoing anything and I could tell he wanted to get me away from the others. It wasn't that hard to work out – even without being able to read his mind!
"You are definitely going to get carried away!" I smiled, I loved it when Herrick swept me up in his arms and the thought that Lucas might do the same was rather appealing - although it wasn't quite what I expected.
Lucas caught hold of me round the waist and before I could react he had thrown me over his shoulder! My hair hung down over my face and I could hear Matthew and John laughing, hardly surprising, especially given that they were getting a grandstand view of my lacy but frankly rather inadequate knickers. Lucas spun round and headed up the stairs, ignoring my demands to be put down and the pummelling I was giving his backside – the only thing I could do. He headed into my bedroom and threw me unceremoniously on the bed, dropping down beside me in fits of laughter.
I was furious - how dare he? - but then I realised just how ridiculous I must have looked and had to laugh with him. He pulled me on top of him and kissed me and although it lacked the dark passion that Herrick brought it was pleasant, well, considerably more than pleasant and the feel of Lucas' body under mine was tempting me to ignore my reason for being there. Herrick might have told me he trusted me to do what had to be done but this probably wasn't quite what he meant so I reluctantly pulled away to lie beside him. I needed to hear what he had to say.
I leaned on my elbow so I could see his face. "Herrick. You were going to tell me about him."
Lucas grimaced. I think he was regretting starting this conversation but there was no way I was going to let him off the hook. He looked as if he was thinking through what he was going to say and after a minute or so he came to a decision.
"OK" he said and he sat up. "I'll tell you about him but I warn you it's not pretty and you will have to be very nice to me afterwards."
"I think I can manage that." Oh yes, I was beginning to think that being 'very nice' to Lucas was definitely on the cards.
He stood up and stretched. "First, if we have to talk about unpleasant things we have to be comfortable." He reached over and unzipped my boots and pulled them off before grabbing my wrists and lifting me to my feet. He kicked off his own boots and took off his shirt as I wondered quite what he meant by comfortable. His fingers were busy at the waist of my denim skirt and it fell around my feet leaving me in just my t-shirt and a tiny pair of knickers. "That looks much more relaxed" he said with a smile and a sparkle in his green eyes as he piled the pillows up against the head of the bed and settled me against them. I watched him as he undid his jeans and stepped out of them leaving him wearing just black cotton trunks. He moved around the room, closing curtains, turning on lamps as I watched. His skin was pale and I hadn't dreamt that his lean body would have such perfect muscles. He looked like living marble. He was beautiful.
He climbed up on the bed beside me, stretching out like a cat before pulling me close. Suddenly he stopped, holding me away from him, his face stern and cold.
"This isn't right." I took a deep breath – had he seen something in my mind that I hadn't kept hidden? Had he changed his mind about talking? Did he know I was with Herrick? I was running though what I should do, if I should run, when his face broke into a huge grin.
"Don't look so scared! Anyone would think I was about to give you a good hiding!" I raised an eyebrow at that – I had to admit the thought had crossed my mind...
"No, it's not right that you're still wearing more than I am!" He grabbed the hem of my t-shirt and pulled it over my head, throwing it on the floor. It left my hair tangled and over my face and I lifted both hands to try and sort it out. He put out his hand and ran his fingers over the scarf tied round my neck, checking the knot that had been hidden under my hair as if he wanted to untie it. I held my breath for a moment but he left it – I had tied it in an intricate knot that Herrick had taught me, it looked extremely complicated and if you didn't know the secret it was impossible to undo. Lucas didn't know the secret. I shook my hair back and he pulled me against him, his arm round my shoulders and my head nestled rather comfortably against his chest. I would have preferred to have been able to see his eyes but this would do just fine.
He took a deep breath and I could feel him collecting his thoughts, putting the story in order.
"So. Herrick.
"Everyone knows of Herrick. He's been around a very long time, over 150 years but it isn't enough for him. He wants to be one of the Old Ones; he's desperate to join them. He's clever and cruel, there's a darkness about him but if you are unquestioningly loyal or useful then he is the best friend you will ever have. Until he isn't. And then you won't have a worse enemy. Those he turns against don't tend to live very much longer.
"He believes that vampires are the natural leaders of the world, that we should have absolute control. In his view humans are here only for our pleasure and convenience. He has grand plans – he always had but now they include death on a scale you could not imagine." He paused. "Above all he wants power, power for himself. He has to be stopped."
I could feel the emotion behind Lucas' words, a repressed anger and a deep sadness, something that seemed to have been part of him forever. There was a lot he wasn't saying and I needed to know more – there was a secret. I could feel that hidden knowledge glowing in his mind.
"I think you know him better than you said." I didn't look up at him as I spoke but I felt his body tense and knew that his mind was fighting old memories. It was a long time before he answered.
"Herrick made me."
I gasped. It was the last thing I thought he would say. He got up, so quickly I hardly saw him move. I don't think he had intended to tell me and I searched for some kind of reply but there seemed nothing to say. He paced back and forth across the room for a while before coming to a halt, standing in the centre of the room with his back to me. He stood completely still and I wanted to go to him but everything about his posture and his mind said to keep away.
I was horribly torn. I was here to do a job, to protect Herrick and what we had, to neutralise a threat. I had not imagined that I would feel anything but contempt for the man who wanted Herrick dead. I didn't think I'd care.
I had to try to comfort Lucas – partly because I hated to see his pain and partly because I still needed to know more. I put my confusion aside. I had to deal with what was happening here and now. I would worry about what next later.
I got up and put my arms round him, standing as close as I could behind him, my face against his back. It was like holding a statue but I hugged him hard, feeling the tension in his body.
"Talk to me. I want to understand."
For long minutes we stood together and I thought he would never move but I felt his body slowly relax and he turned and hugged me back, lifting me off my feet and holding me close.
"I'll try" his voice was resigned. He knew it had to be said.
He sat on the floor, cross-legged and I sat in front of him, mirroring his posture, our knees almost touching. This time I could see his face and read the truth of his story in those unearthly green eyes.
"My family owned land and a chateau in France. Nothing grand or important but it had been ours for many generations. I was the only son, the only child, of my parents and so the estate would come to me on their deaths. Herrick spent a lot of time in France at the end of the 1920s and he befriended my parents and me. We had no idea what he was or that it was our land he wanted. As I said – he can be the best possible friend.
"He offered my parents help with their affairs, he told us he was a lawyer, and they took the help he offered. Why wouldn't they? I was still effectively a child, only 20, and my inheritance needed to be protected. Herrick drew up the papers and not long afterwards my parents died in an accident. Of course I know now that it wasn't an accident. I wasn't old enough to hold the land in my name alone but Herrick had appointed himself my guardian until I was of age and I still saw him as a protector. He guided me, helped me through the grief and the bureaucracy and once I became an adult, when I was 21 in 1931 he helped me take up my inheritance. He even drew up my will.
"He was patient. He waited six months before he killed me and inherited everything I owned."
I couldn't doubt his story – it sounded so like Herrick. What I didn't understand was why Herrick hadn't told me this. I ran back over our conversation, he had never explicitly said he had never met Lucas but it was certainly what I had understood. What was he playing at?
I was still curious about one thing.
"Why did he make you a vampire? He could have got your land if he had just killed you?"
Lucas shrugged.
"Because he could. Because it entertained him. I suppose it amused him that I would see him living in my home, enjoying everything I cared about. Trampling all over the memories of my family.
"He never needs a reason to be cruel."
His head dropped forward and he closed his eyes, I could see flashes of memory in his mind, feel how painful it was even after all these years.
"I couldn't stay and watch him destroy my home, selling our treasures, trashing the rooms with wild parties, killing the people who had served us so faithfully. I left, I had no idea of what I was – it amused Herrick to leave me clueless about how I should live. I found older vampires who helped me and I kept wandering, all over Europe. I saw it as my role to help others who were new to our world as I had been helped. But everywhere I went I heard tales of Herrick and his cruelty, heard about his plans. For many years I've been looking for the chance to stop him. Now he is planning to massacre the human race I have to do something."
"Are you sure you don't just want your revenge?" His head came up and his eyes met mine.
"Of course I do but I could have had that years ago. This isn't just about me."
I had doubts about Herrick's plans myself, I was convinced it was madness and would never come to anything but I couldn't tell Lucas that. He was clear about his intentions and had a zealot's fury which made him very dangerous.
"What would you do afterwards? What would be your way for us?"
"Some kind of peaceful coexistence." Lucas' eyes glowed and he leaned closer to me. "Why must it be them or us? Why not both? There has to be a better way."
I wanted to laugh at his naivety, humans would never accept us, not when our reason for being was their blood and inevitably their death. At best we should stay hidden, protected by our age old networks.
Another question occurred to me.
"What happened to your home? Does Herrick still own it?"
Lucas managed a crooked smile.
"He got bored with it. I heard he lost the estate in a card game during the war, probably deliberately. Herrick doesn't lose."
We sat in silence for a while, both deep in our own thoughts. I had a lot to think though. Technically my job was done – I knew Lucas was a genuine threat so I could leave, let Herrick know but... Was I really sure he would do it? As he said he could have killed him many times before so why now? I had to be sure. Maybe I should stay a little longer.
Lucas stood up and took my hands, pulling me to my feet and putting his arms round my waist. He bent his head and kissed me and as my arms went round his neck he lifted me up, falling back on the bed so I landed on top of him. His hands slid down my back, holding me hard against him as he grinned up at me.
"You promised me."
Did I? I searched back through my memory, what had I promised Lucas? I had no idea and I pulled a puzzled face at him. He laughed.
"You promised me that if I told you about Herrick you would be very nice to me!"
So I was.
I was very nice to him.
I woke in the early hours. Lucas was holding me tight in his sleep and I carefully edged away without waking him. I dug around in my bag and found my cigarettes, I needed to think and I couldn't think properly while Lucas was so close. I pulled on Lucas' discarded shirt and ran downstairs. I knew Lucas was strict about having no alcohol or smoking in the house although once they were outside his people could do want they wanted. The front and back doors were locked and so were the windows and I didn't feel comfortable breaking his rules. I wandered back upstairs and on the landing I realised I could feel a cold draft coming from a half open door. I pushed it open to find a small bedroom and – thank goodness! – the big sash window was wide open. I climbed up on the window sill and lit a cigarette, enjoying the cool night air on my skin and looking out at the stars.
It was Lucas' room, it smelled of him and his presence hung in the air. I looked around but there wasn't really much to see – a single bed, carefully made up with a sheet and blanket, a small wardrobe and a chair by the head of the bed instead of a table. I threw my cigarette end out of the window and got down off the sill to open the wardrobe – it was almost empty, just some jeans and shirts. I looked on the chair by the bed and smiled to see the velvet ribbon I had worn round my throat when I arrived - I hadn't missed it.
The only other item was an old, battered leather bound book. I picked it up, it was in French and the print was tiny. There was an inscription in the front in old fashioned loopy writing and in French – I knew a few words but hadn't a hope of working out what it said. I flicked through the pages and a photograph fell out. It was old and creased and the edges were torn, the image was hard to make out but the figure in the centre was Lucas. The couple with him must have been his parents. I turned it over and on the back was a faded pencil sketch of Herrick.
I put the photo back in the pages and left the book where I had found it and retreated back to the window ledge, lighting another cigarette. What was I going to do? I should really contact Herrick and tell him what I had found out but I didn't want to. I had to admit that Lucas was getting to me and despite his plans for Herrick I was drawn to him and I was starting to care for him. Could we have a future together? Could he be better for me than Herrick? I would be safer, I was sure of that but what Herrick and I had was different. Lucas did not appeal to the darkness that was such a part of me; he would never hurt me – even if I begged him to! I'd tried some of the tricks that Herrick and I took such pleasure from on him and he made it clear that they had no appeal. He was caring and considerate – was it enough? Was he strong enough to challenge me and be my equal? Somehow I doubted it. Herrick and I fit together, two halves of a whole; we were the same and whatever I wanted to believe I knew that Herrick was in my heart and soul. Lucas had a goodness and a kindness to him that was alien to me and one of us would have to change if we were to stay together. I suspected that neither of us was capable of that change and truthfully I would hate to see Lucas become like me – damaged and spoiled.
In any case, if I confessed the truth to Lucas about who I was I doubted that he would ever forgive me.
In the morning I would call Herrick.
Back in my room I kissed Lucas awake, running my hands over his beautiful skin, tracing the outline of his muscles, learning every contour. We would only have this one night and I wanted to remember every minute.
We didn't sleep again but as it started to get light I felt increasingly worried and I didn't know why. There was a melancholy that came from my knowledge of what I was going to do, that I would tell Herrick about Lucas but also a growing sense of danger. We were talking, chatting about nothing really; entwined together just enjoying being close and the feel of each other's skin when we heard a door slam and what could have been a muffled cry.
Lucas was on his feet immediately, pulling on his jeans and throwing his shirt to me to put on but he hadn't got to the door when it opened and Herrick walked in. Lucas stopped in his tracks.
"Good morning Charlotte. Bonjour Lucas. It's been a very long time."
Lucas was unmoving, speechless and I wasn't any different. What was Herrick doing here now? Herrick smiled; the cold smile that made me shiver and I pulled Lucas' shirt round me, fastening the buttons.
John followed Herrick in, his face had changed, the open, friendly expression had gone and his face was blank. He took hold of Lucas' arm and pushed him down on a chair which he placed in the middle of the room, taking a length of rope out of his pocket and tying his wrists behind him. Lucas didn't even struggle; he just looked at John with a question in his green eyes.
"Matthew?" He asked softly and John didn't reply, he just took a bloodstained stake from his pocket and handed it to Herrick. It was clearer to me now; John was one of Herrick's spies. So why was I here? What would Herrick gain from this?
I shivered again; I had to be very careful.
Herrick stood in front of Lucas, their eyes met but neither spoke. He took off his coat and carefully hung it over the back of another chair but he kept his black leather gloves on. That always meant trouble.
"Charlotte, my dear. Come here." His voice was soft but there was no way I could disobey and I got up and walked over to him. He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me up and down, my legs bare under the hem of Lucas's white shirt, my hair tangled and he looked over my shoulder at the messy bed and he laughed.
"I see the condemned man got his last request. I'm sure it was a hearty repast - Charlotte is a woman of extraordinary talents." I looked at Lucas and saw a flash of pain in his green eyes and I wanted to say sorry, to try and explain but there was no point. Herrick gathered up my hair and pulled it back away from my face, putting his hand to the knot on my scarf and undoing it so it fell. He turned my face to Lucas so he could see the puncture wounds in my throat, making sure that the matching marks on his own wrist were visible between his glove and his sleeve. Lucas knew exactly what they meant and Herrick kissed the marks before reaching into his jacket and producing my jewelled choker. He fastened it and put his arm round my waist, holding me at his side and I leaned against him. Whatever attraction I felt for Lucas could no longer compete – being in Herrick's arms felt like home. I was only complete when I was with him.
We faced Lucas together and Herrick smiled his most charming smile.
"So. Lucas. I have a proposition for you. Instead of killing me – which, to be honest, would be terribly inconvenient – why don't you come to Bristol. I hear you do wonderful things with newcomers and I could do with a decent primary teacher." He laughed. "Seriously though. Why must it be you or me? Let's see if there is a better way. We could work together. We could even holiday together - I know of a wonderfully quaint old chateau."
Lucas spat out a stream of French, fast and venomous and I was surprised when Herrick replied, just as fast and fluently, and although I didn't understand a word his voice kept that terribly reasonable tone. They exchanged a few more sentences before Lucas shook his head.
"Never!" He spat at Herrick who shrugged.
"Oh well. Worth a try. Back to plan A then."
The smile had gone, his face was hard and cold and he let go of me, putting his hand on my back and pushing me sharply towards Lucas. I almost fell and had to put my hands on his shoulders to save myself, our faces almost touching. I looked into those wonderful eyes and tried to speak to his mind.
"I'm sorry."
"I understand" I heard his voice in my head, softly and gently. "I forgive you."
I was pushing myself back upright when Herrick called my name and as I turned he threw something to me and I caught it without thinking. It was the stake. I looked at him in horror but his face didn't change. I had to do this; I didn't want to think about what would happen if I didn't and I remembered Lucas' words about loyalty. Herrick was testing me. I couldn't fail. I couldn't disappoint him. He took pity on me in one way – he sent John away so there were only the three of us in the room. Only Herrick would watch me kill one of our own for the first time.
Lucas smiled at me although his eyes were clouded with regret. I reached round to untie the knots that held his wrists and I heard Herrick step forward as if to stop me but he didn't. Lucas stood up and took my face in his hands; he leaned close and whispered in my ear.
"You have to leave him – he will kill you too." He kissed me just once, very gently. "If you care for me at all do it quickly."
He took my hands and brought the stake up to his chest; he closed his eyes for a moment and then put his hands on my shoulders and looked at me and nodded.
I pushed hard on the stake; I felt his skin tear, the blood started to pour out, staining my hands and splashing onto my face. I kept pushing, hearing his bones cracking and breaking, pushing hard against the resistance of his flesh until I felt his heart break. His beautiful green eyes had never left mine and I watched as his skin cracked and faded and he drifted into smoke.
The stake dropped to the floor. I wiped my bloodied hands on the front of Lucas' – my – shirt. Herrick came up behind me and put his hand on my back but I walked away. I couldn't talk to him now. I picked up my bag, abandoned everything else and walked out of the room and out of the house.
Of course I went back to Bristol with Herrick. What else could I do?
When I got outside John was waiting in Herrick's car and he ran round to open the back door for me. I suppose I looked a bit conspicuous in the street wearing nothing but a bloodstained white shirt and a very expensive necklace.
I sat in the back of the car, my head tipped back and my eyes closed. Herrick didn't speak at all on the long drive back. He knew me well and he knew I needed time and that I would come back to him. He hoped I would come back to him.
I wanted to think of nothing – not of Herrick or Lucas or the horror of how I had killed him. I forced away the thoughts as they came and eventually, surprisingly, I slept.
I only half woke when we got back to Bristol and I let Herrick wrap me in his coat and carry me through to our rooms. I kept my eyes closed; I still had no desire to talk to him. He laid me carefully on our bed, still wearing the bloodstained shirt and the way he gently pulled the covers over me and smoothed back my hair was exactly as Lucas had done. I turned away from him and I heard Herrick sigh as he left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
I waited until I was sure he had left before I got up. I found my bag by the door where Herrick had left it and searched inside for the leather-bound book that had been by Lucas's bed. I slid the faded photograph out from between the pages and looked at it for a long time before putting it back in exactly the same place. I took off my shirt, the blood had dried now but it still smelled of Lucas and I carefully wrapped it around the book and tied it closed with the velvet ribbon that he had taken from me. I hid the small bundle in the back of my wardrobe, Herrick would probably find it but I didn't care.
I got back into bed and I slept although my dreams were vivid and troubling. I dreamed of a life with Lucas, the life we might have had in another world and another time.
A fantasy.
I already had the life I deserved.
