CHAPTER 9
Back in the apartment in Monmartre, Maurice was awakening to his immortal existence. Mondrian took his head in her lap and began to speak softly. “Maurice, Maurice, relax, calm down, take it easy. You and I are one.”
As he opened his eyes to mountains of new experience, Mondrian continued to speak this mantra. She vaguely remembered the terror she felt when Alucard awakened her hundreds of years ago in Roumania and she repeated his words to Maurice. Comforting words, welcoming him to his new life as vampire.
Maurice startled as he adjusted to the wealth of sensations that threatened to overwhelm him. Mondrian wisely directed his attention to his own paintings and Maurice seemed to relax for the first time.
“Maurice, you have entered the world of the immortals. Endless time to paint, to let your creativity reach its full fruition. You and I will live together, my love. I will teach you all that you need to know to remain immortal.”
Mondrian stood and brought Maurice to his feet in front of his framed paintings. “Do not worry, my dear. I have made arrangements for all of your paintings to be moved to your new home. But it is now time for us to fly! Please concentrate; see yourself as bat.”
As Maurice envisioned this, he found himself in the air, batwings flapping, soaring above his paintings! Beside him, Mondrian circled the room twice, pausing at the open window. As Maurice followed her, Mondrian flew out of the window, leading him to her home on Rue de la Roquette.
As the bat flies, it took only seven minutes for Mondrian and Maurice to arrive at her home on Rue de la Roquette. As bat, Mondrian led him through a window left open on the rear of the building. Mondrian transformed to human form and spoke to the hovering Maurice, “Imagine yourself as being in your former body; relax, calm down, take it easy.” In a few seconds, Maurice stood beside her, eyes wide with fright.
“Relax, my dear, we are home. How did you enjoy your flight?”
Maurice stammered, replying, “Unbelievable! Not just the flying. The things I can see! The smells! It`s wonderful!”
“Yes, Maurice, isn`t it? And this awareness is forever. There are many things you must learn about your new life, but this is of primary importance. The sun is your mortal enemy. Each morning, before dawn, you must retire to your coffin until the sun sets. The bottom of the coffin must be filled with soil from your native land. Any deviation from this rule will result in your immolation! Do you understand that clearly?”
“Yes, Countess, I do. But where will I find such a coffin?” Mondrian took his hand and led him down the back stairway into the kitchen. Sitting at the kitchen table was Brian Woodson, her hypnotized servant. Brian immediately stood and bowed, “Good evening, Countess.”
Mondrian replied, “Good evening Brian. I would like to introduce my house guest, Count Maurice. Is everything in readiness for us?” Brian walked to the doorway of the basement and opened the door. “Your instructions have been carried out, Countess. May I escort you?”
Mondrian thanked him and waved him off. “No need, Brian. I`ll escort the Count myself.” Mondrian led Maurice down the basement steps, not bothering to switch on the lights; there really was no need. At the center of the basement were two coffins, both very simply made.
Mondrian sighed, thinking to herself of the years of her escape. Oh, the many coffins she had lay in, always carrying with her the soil from her coffin in Scotland. The worry that she would be discovered, the nights spent desecrating newly buried bodies in order to use their coffins for an evening`s safety.
Ah, but now here she was safe in her own home, with a hypnotized servant to protect her against discovery during the long daylight hours. And now, a brilliant artist as her vampire protégé! Mondrian opened a refrigerator and poured two champagne glasses of plasma, offering the red liquid to Maurice.
“To your future, my dear. Drink fully and I will see you to your coffin." Both drained their glasses and Mondrian took Maurice`s hand and helped him into the coffin with French soil. “This is your resting place, my dear. I bid you good day. I will awaken you after sunset tomorrow.”
Mondrian closed the lid on the coffin and ascended the stairs to the kitchen. After assuring herself that Brian was aware of his instructions for tomorrow, especially in paying Maurice`s landlord and bringing his paintings home, Mondrian bid him good night. She ascended the stairs to her sitting room overlooking Place Voltaire and stood at the window. Smiling, she thought of Alucard.
V
As he opened his eyes to mountains of new experience, Mondrian continued to speak this mantra. She vaguely remembered the terror she felt when Alucard awakened her hundreds of years ago in Roumania and she repeated his words to Maurice. Comforting words, welcoming him to his new life as vampire.
Maurice startled as he adjusted to the wealth of sensations that threatened to overwhelm him. Mondrian wisely directed his attention to his own paintings and Maurice seemed to relax for the first time.
“Maurice, you have entered the world of the immortals. Endless time to paint, to let your creativity reach its full fruition. You and I will live together, my love. I will teach you all that you need to know to remain immortal.”
Mondrian stood and brought Maurice to his feet in front of his framed paintings. “Do not worry, my dear. I have made arrangements for all of your paintings to be moved to your new home. But it is now time for us to fly! Please concentrate; see yourself as bat.”
As Maurice envisioned this, he found himself in the air, batwings flapping, soaring above his paintings! Beside him, Mondrian circled the room twice, pausing at the open window. As Maurice followed her, Mondrian flew out of the window, leading him to her home on Rue de la Roquette.
As the bat flies, it took only seven minutes for Mondrian and Maurice to arrive at her home on Rue de la Roquette. As bat, Mondrian led him through a window left open on the rear of the building. Mondrian transformed to human form and spoke to the hovering Maurice, “Imagine yourself as being in your former body; relax, calm down, take it easy.” In a few seconds, Maurice stood beside her, eyes wide with fright.
“Relax, my dear, we are home. How did you enjoy your flight?”
Maurice stammered, replying, “Unbelievable! Not just the flying. The things I can see! The smells! It`s wonderful!”
“Yes, Maurice, isn`t it? And this awareness is forever. There are many things you must learn about your new life, but this is of primary importance. The sun is your mortal enemy. Each morning, before dawn, you must retire to your coffin until the sun sets. The bottom of the coffin must be filled with soil from your native land. Any deviation from this rule will result in your immolation! Do you understand that clearly?”
“Yes, Countess, I do. But where will I find such a coffin?” Mondrian took his hand and led him down the back stairway into the kitchen. Sitting at the kitchen table was Brian Woodson, her hypnotized servant. Brian immediately stood and bowed, “Good evening, Countess.”
Mondrian replied, “Good evening Brian. I would like to introduce my house guest, Count Maurice. Is everything in readiness for us?” Brian walked to the doorway of the basement and opened the door. “Your instructions have been carried out, Countess. May I escort you?”
Mondrian thanked him and waved him off. “No need, Brian. I`ll escort the Count myself.” Mondrian led Maurice down the basement steps, not bothering to switch on the lights; there really was no need. At the center of the basement were two coffins, both very simply made.
Mondrian sighed, thinking to herself of the years of her escape. Oh, the many coffins she had lay in, always carrying with her the soil from her coffin in Scotland. The worry that she would be discovered, the nights spent desecrating newly buried bodies in order to use their coffins for an evening`s safety.
Ah, but now here she was safe in her own home, with a hypnotized servant to protect her against discovery during the long daylight hours. And now, a brilliant artist as her vampire protégé! Mondrian opened a refrigerator and poured two champagne glasses of plasma, offering the red liquid to Maurice.
“To your future, my dear. Drink fully and I will see you to your coffin." Both drained their glasses and Mondrian took Maurice`s hand and helped him into the coffin with French soil. “This is your resting place, my dear. I bid you good day. I will awaken you after sunset tomorrow.”
Mondrian closed the lid on the coffin and ascended the stairs to the kitchen. After assuring herself that Brian was aware of his instructions for tomorrow, especially in paying Maurice`s landlord and bringing his paintings home, Mondrian bid him good night. She ascended the stairs to her sitting room overlooking Place Voltaire and stood at the window. Smiling, she thought of Alucard.
V
posted by V | 2:53 PM
1 Comments:
Chilling...a vamp hotel of sorts. The new vamp and tutor have much to do.
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