Chapter VIII

Le Poison

Le vin sait revêtir le plus sordide bouge
D'un luxe miraculeux,
Et fait surgir plus d'un portique fabuleux
Dans l'or de sa vapeur rouge,
Comme un soleil couchant dans un ciel nébuleux.

L'opium agrandit ce qui n'a pas de bornes,
Allonge l'illimité,
Approfondit le temps, creuse la volupté,
Et de plaisirs noirs et mornes
Remplit l'âme au delà de sa capacité.

Tout cela ne vaut pas le poison qui découle
De tes yeux, de tes yeux verts,
Lacs où mon âme tremble et se voit à l'envers...
Mes songes viennent en foule
Pour se désaltérer à ces gouffres amers.

Tout cela ne vaut pas le terrible prodige
De ta salive qui mord,
Qui plonge dans l'oubli mon âme sans remords,
Et charriant le vertige,
La roule défaillante aux rives de la mort!

— Charles Baudelaire

Poison

Wine knows how to adorn the most sordid hovel
With marvelous luxury
And make more than one fabulous portal appear
In the gold of its red mist
Like a sun setting in a cloudy sky.

Opium magnifies that which is limitless,
Lengthens the unlimited,
Makes time deeper, hollows out voluptuousness,
And with dark, gloomy pleasures
Fills the soul beyond its capacity.

All that is not equal to the poison which flows
From your eyes, from your green eyes,
Lakes where my soul trembles and sees its evil side...
My dreams come in multitude
To slake their thirst in those bitter gulfs.

All that is not equal to the awful wonder
Of your biting saliva,
Charged with madness, that plunges my remorseless soul
Into oblivion
And rolls it in a swoon to the shores of death.

—

-Are you feeling well? - Mattie asked softly as the carriage strolled down the street.

-Yes…I…I've made it…I'm free…right? -Ororo clutched the black box between her fingers, nervously.

Mattie gently pulled a few strands of milky white hair away from her face and lightly ran the back of her fingers over her cheek, in a motherly caress.

-You'll feel better after changing and sleeping a little…

-Mattie…

-Yes, child?

-He…how did he…I mean…

-He came to me with the letters and asked me what that was going on…I told him…I told him you didn't want to stay there…that you were…afraid…

-You did?

-I'm sorry; I know I shouldn't have…But, yes I did…I…I asked him what was going on…what he had been up to…

-Mattie…

-He didn't say anything…

-Because nothing happened…It's just… I just needed to be away from him…do you understand?

-Ororo… How do you feel about him?

-I beg your pardon?

-I'm old …I've seen just about everything in my life…I know when a woman is charmed by a man…I suppose that made even harder for you to be his "property", right?

-Mattie, please…

-I won't ask anything else. If you don't want to tell me, then don't.

For a long minute all they could hear was the throttle of the horses into the night, as the dark streets of New Orleans passed by the carriage window.

-Mattie…I –Ororo said in a low, strangled voice, barely audible over the carriage noise-…I would be damned before admitting it to him…I'll get over it…I promise…

-I know, my child…I know.

—

-Sir…What's happening? Ororo just…-Etienne asked astonished as Remy caught his cape and prepared to go out.

-She's gone…for good, Etienne…

-But…-After a moment of hesitation the blond-haired man decided to let it be.

-Get the carriage…

Etienne did as told in a hurry, nervous. He didn't remember seeing his master so altered; even if the voice and gestures were as cool and collected as ever, his eyes were sparkling like flames were ready to burst out of the dark orbs and set the valet on fire. It was true, many a time, he had been suspicious of Remy´s odd behavior, but Etienne was never one to let suspicions get in the way of his good judgment; but now, he was starting to get afraid….

He almost felt relieved to drop Remy off in one of those low brothels he went to at times. It was odd enough though, since it had been a few weeks the gentleman didn't go to those place, not with Etienne at least…But still, as Remy stepped out of the carriage and walked in, Etienne felt better, almost as if a menace had just been lifted.

He wondered what Ororo going could have to do with Remy´s disposition. Because he knew that was something connecting both things…Being a servant had taught him to be both discreet and vigilant; and in the past months, in spite of himself, he had noticed things… The strange exchanges of looks, the hours passed in the conservatory, the long silence, the piano playing mellow tunes everyday…There was something there…Not that it was any of his business. He had long ago decided to let the events unfold all by themselves and just keep quiet, ignoring everything. He respected his master, and Ororo had become quite dear to him, so he decided not to intrude. But now…Ororo was gone and Remy was…different…He started to wonder if, maybe his conjectures were correct after all…

—

Why did he come back here? …It was the exact place were he had met Valerie, and he had been the last client of hers… It was risky…Maybe that was the precise reason for him to come…

Remy closed the door behind his back and looked around, examining the room. His eyes immediately fell upon a loud group of men playing cards. The game should be interesting, as all the women in the room surrounded the players as they cursed loudly and boasted about their achievements. He moved over to the almost empty counter and ordered himself some absinthe.

As the acid green liquid was poured on a thick glass, he kept observing his surroundings. A few of the women seemed to grow bored with watching the game and started to wander around. One of them looked his way. It was a young brunette, pale, and probably not very healthy, her looks already too tainted by the debauched life she led. Nevertheless she was beautiful. Lifting the drinks to his lips, he held her gaze shamelessly, reclining his upper torso over the back of the chair, making sure she noticed him. She walked over, and he gestured the bartender to pour a second glass of absinthe, pulling out a chair by his side.

—

Ororo looked over to the boxes pilled in a corner of the room. Mattie had a simple house, but quite comfortable and with enough space for a whole family to live in. Mattie lived alone, but the neighbors and friends always came over, so even if Mattie lived alone there was a very lively and warm feel to the house that put Ororo quite at ease as soon as she stepped in.

Mattie had given her a bedroom close to hers, and got a pair of young boys to carry all of her stuff in. Now, as she prepared to go to bed, Ororo merely gazed at the boxes, where all the clothes Remy had given her, all the books, music sheets…everything packed neatly. All that was hers, all he had given her…everything…Expurgated from his house, from his life…without a second thought…simple as throwing a disposable possession away… In the end that was all she represented to him: a property. When she decided to sell the jewels, she had had doubts. Many a time, she wondered if it was the right thing to do, if she really wanted to be away from him…She wanted to be free, that was for sure, but did she want to be away from him?

But now she saw all those doubts were vain…Remy disposed of her easily, and she should have expected…She was a slave, nothing more. And once she didn't attend to his expectations he disposed of her as he would a broken vase or a wobbly chair…She should be happy it was this way, because of this, she was finally free, to go wherever she wanted, to live her life however she please…He didn't care enough to stop her…

Then why; why wasn't she happy?

—

-She left?

-Yes…Apparently Monsieur Lebeau grew tired of his little toy…-Came the answer, followed by giggles.

-So he threw her out?

-So I heard…

The comments spread all over. Remy could hear the low murmur every time he walked into a ball or a soirée. Even the murder of yet another prostitute, nearby the location young Valerie's body was found seemed to get as much attention as Ororo leaving his house. Oddly enough, this murder was far less announcing than the other two. Remy grinned acidly. Three prostitutes, nothing more…three prostitutes could just be exanguinated one after the other and all people cared about was his liaison with Ororo.

People are just petty like this…

He merely walked, in his calm and elegant pace, examining the party goers, showering the young ladies with attention, laughing inside as their mothers pathetically urged them to get near him and try to get his eyes. Not that they needed much encouragement. Remy knew any of those young ladies would prefer him over the other bachelors available in town, all prematurely old and much too boring.

Remy on the other hand…He had the enough money to charm the parents and enough charm to win over the daughters. It was funny to see how those eager mothers rushed to push their young daughter on his lap, as soon as they heard of Ororo leaving his house. If only they knew what lay beneath the façade of the man they so shamelessly offered their daughters to, they'd probably think twice…

For the sake of amusement, he decided to humor them…Yes, he would flatter those young girls to no end, conquer them, make them want him…all the while unknowing of the fact that they sought the devil…

For he was the devil. A devil not even the purest angel could break…Compared to her all those young doll faces faded…all of them were mediocre, their beauty was a mockery, a bleak imitation, all their mannerisms grotesque, all of them just dust…Dirty, pitiful little grains of dust, compared to a shimmering star. A star that now lay safely in her bed, in Mattie's house, probably having pleasant dreams or making plans. Plans for her future, plans that involved a husband, children, a house of her own, a piano to play…A star brilliant and far beyond his reach, pure, untouchable. As it should be.

The other women…He could play with them…young hearts to shatter, warm bodies to hunt. The satisfaction of his lust, of his hunger; he could get that anywhere, from anyone… But Ororo…his pristine evening star, cold and distant, the only one that mattered, queen compared to others…she was safe.

Away from her innocent eyes, he could dwell in the destiny that had been given him, by whatever cruel God or demon that ruled the world. Now that the angel was safe, he could resume being what he was…a devil.

—

-Oh, my God...-Mattie muttered under her breath.

Ororo lay her cup of coffe down on the table and looked at the older woman :

-What´s wrong...

-One more girl was killed...

-That´s the fourth one! Good God...-Ororo gasped

Mattie shook her head and closed the newspaper, returning to her breakfast.

-You should leave town soon...Now this monster is not just killing prostitutes. This last one was a nurse...This city isn´t safe for a young woman with no family...

-You think it was the same person ?

-What do I know...-Mattie coughed.-But it sure seems like it...So, have you decided anything yet ?

-Not yet...But I´ve been doing a lot of thinking...I guess I´ll head to Haiti. One of the girls that worked in my father´s property is living there. Her husband managed to buy her freedom, now they have a little farm...Maybe I should head there...To be honest I wanted to remain here...with you. Mattie, you´re the closest thing to family I have now...

-But you must go...New Orleans is not a good place for you...I know some people in Haiti, I was born there you, know ? Just came to New Orleans when I was twelve...Maybe you could look for some of my relatives, if you say I sent you, they´ll sure give you somewhere to stay...

-Thank you, Mattie...

—

Etienne held the reins and let the horses calm and stop smoothly. As soon as the carriage was still, he heard as the couple stumbled outside. Remy and a "lady friend". Both looked heavily intoxicated, Remy laughed sharply, saying things Etienne couldn't understand from where he was, and wasn't quite sure he wanted to. The woman she was with was a prostitute; the valet didn't need to be told, he just knew she was. No decent woman roamed the streets at that hour, drinking, wearing that kind of dress and so much make up.

She was so drunk, she could barely walk. Etienne watched as Remy supported her weight and led her into the house. The young man knew Remy entertained himself with women, but he never had brought one home. But that was the second one this week he brought over. That behavior was starting to bother Etienne…Not that he had any say in the matter, but that just wasn't like his master…

He shook his head and decided it was time to go. Remy had given him the night off, and he intended to make the best of the offer. He didn't really want to be home that night. Instead he would go over to one of his friends´ house, drink, talk, and maybe spend the night He was tired worrying about his master's antics. As soon as he took the horses back to the stables, he wondered away…

—

Remy watched as the intoxicated blonde wondered around his room, babbling about the rich furniture and the paintings in the walls…Like a child in candy shop, she was marveled by each chandelier, every chair, every piece of tapestry…He just let her be, enjoy the surroundings, let her be happy a little…

He sat on the windowsill and watched as Etienne left. His eyes wondered over the stars above his head, then back to the lights of the city, faint spots of dirty yellowish light from the candles and oil lamps, their glow almost nothing compared to the thick darkness of the night…He tried to ignore the giggles and naïve remarks of the woman, and concentrated on finding Mattie's house. He knew the direction to it, he had gone there so many times that he could find it from the window of his room easily.

There were no lights in her house.

The two of them should be sleeping by now. He knew Ororo was, she never stayed up late. Remy closed his eyes and tried to imagine her. He could almost see the curvaceous form laying lazily under soft blankets, her tender breast waving lightly with every even, calm breath, her face's pure lines completely relaxed, her full lips parted, maybe with a sigh caused by some pleasant dream, the waves of her hair descending madly all over the pillows like rays of moonlight shining over the hills…She should be a sight to see, a vision to adore…a vision that could make anyone drop to their knees, a sleeping virgin Mary…

-That's gorgeous!- He heard the blonde beam, behind him. Remy turned to see her holding up a necklace, a golden sequence of little links, shaped like tiny grapevine leafs with a single oval, blood red ruby hanging from it. Remy had allowed himself this little dishonesty, taking one of Ororo´s jewels out of the lot, before returning them… He kept it in his room, and countless times he had spent hours holding it in his hand, playing with it between his nimble fingers, caressing each link, his mind wandering away, imagining the bloody ruby as it lay on her smooth dark skin, imagining how it would feel to put it on her neck, taking the time to run the tips of his fingers all the way from her collarbone over to her elegant shoulders, until he could send shivers down her spine by gently wiping away some whips of white hair from the back of her neck.

Irritation built within him, seeing that sacred token being handled by the hands of that vulgar little woman. He was about to tell her to leave it alone, when she decided to put it on herself and look in the mirror.

-It looks good on me, don't you think? - She smiled at him.

-Take it off.-He told her abruptly.

-What? You don't like it? Or does it belong to someone special?

He got up and walked towards her. His eyes narrowed, as he hissed:

-I told you to take it off…

She looked at him, astonished, starting to grow uncomfortable.

-All right, all right…don't need to be upset, mon beau…- She smiled coquettishly, probably imagining her charm would work with him as it did with all the others. She turned back to the mirror and took her time, admiring herself. Instead of taking off the necklace, she looked at him through the mirror and raised both her hands to the clasp of the jewels, purring softly.

-Help me with that?

Remy took two steps forward, until his body was touching hers. She shivered and closed her eyes as his chest was pressed against her back. She relaxed into him, as he pulled her close and started planting warm kisses all the way up her neck; with another little purr she let her head fall back on his shoulder, giving him more creamy white skin to taste. The blonde let out a little delighted squeak, as he pulled the necklace off her neck and raised both his hands to grasp her shoulders and bring her closes.

The woman was so taken by his caresses that once his teeth started to sink into her flesh, she merely moaned, imagining it was some sort of erotic game, until she felt the sharp canines digging hard into her carotid.

But it was too late to scream then…

(Continues…)