Desiree's Entrance-Chapter 5

As Marcus held my hand, I felt the mixed emotions churn inside of
him and knew without a doubt I must gain complete control of Nancy's
mind and soul..pretending to love Marcus would be my only chance to
live again. He had all the right credentials I needed to move in the
upper crust of society, which made him the perfect mate. Being his wife
would allow me to do anything and everything under the sun..whatever
caught my fancy with no questions asked. I could already hear the wild
call, the clear call of the Vampir Familia..in order to partake of the
fresh blood I wanted and needed, Marcus would have to drain this body
of all its blood..if any of her Life Force were to remain after they
married, all of my plans would come to naught. I'd be tainted, no
longer a Pure Undefiled Vampire. I smiled pleasantly, thinking back to
the thrills my victims roused in me before I took their blood and
life..I did enjoy torturing them as they begged for mercy! What a laugh
that they were truly deserving of my skills..no quarter given and
certainly no quarter taken.

We turned around to face Valera, CeCe, Gustav, and last of all, Sher.
The other servants stood near the rear of the room, waiting to hear
what had been decided. " Everyone, I'm happy to announce that Desiree'
has returned to us this very evening. She's now Mistress of Castle
Desiree' and you'll obey her every command or suffer the consequences!
"

Valera, CeCe, and Gustav welcomed me with open arms and smiles of
devotion. " Countess Desiree', we're blessed to have you grace us with
your presence. " Gustav's heavy German accent was music to my ears and
Valera and CeCe had tears in their eyes.

Sher spoke with contempt. " You might have the others snowed with your
pious airs, but God and I have you figured out! You're like a sponge,
taking and taking..absorbing every bit of love and care given to you
and repaying in poisoned emptiness! It's a damn good thing I'll be
leaving for Fredericksburg in two weeks! " Nothing prepared me for the
slap across Nancy's face..stinging pain and tear-filled eyes had never
occurred with any of the other bodies I'd occupied. But of course,
they'd all been dead and weren't able to feel anything, good or
bad.

Sher stormed out of the room and Marcus brought his lips to her
handprint on Nancy's cheek, then tenderly wiped the liquid from her
eyes.
" Everything will be fine. " Nancy's thoughts invaded my territory as
her next three words escaped without my consent!
" Marcus, my love. " Bitterness lay ripe on my tongue. What did the
myth of emotional love have to do with the events in my life? My heart
only had room for needs, wants, and desires..nothing else.

Nancy's body had myriad bruisings, discolorations and numerous bite
marks..her light-filled soul ate away at the dark outer edges of my
mind, causing it to short-circuit. " Marcus, I'm fatigued, in need of
healing rest after what you did last night. "

" Desiree', reliving our wedding night was so wonderful..so
pleasurable..so many abundant variations of Red! " Marcus enjoyed
replaying every minute over and over again in his mind, relishing
deviant thoughts of what had happened in his bed with Nancy, the
virgin.

" Marcus, I wasn't there with you last night..it's one thing to play
God with a woman who knows just who and what you are, but you had no
right to take Nancy's love and innocence for your own when you're
still
married to me! " Flames of rage flickered inside my heart, growing like
a wildfire which couldn't be contained. I had to rid my mind of her as
soon as possible!

" Desiree', my thoughts were centered on you last night. " A smile
played on his lips and his gentle manner soothed me to a certain
extent, but I didn't know why. " Come lie down. "

Marcus walked me to Nancy's room, his mother's quarters! " This simply
won't do..I want to sleep in my own bed, in my own room, surrounded by
my most prized and cherished possessions, familiar things which are
near and dear to my heart! "

He shrugged his shoulders, but walked further down the westwing hallway
to my rooms. Marcus stopped in front of the door, unlocked and opened
it. Everything that'd been in my quarters at Castle Desiree' in
Fredericksburg, was here in the present with me. I walked around,
touching my clothes, my jewelry, my bed, making sure it was real and
not a figment of my imagination. I was estatic and laughed within
myself, making plans to do away with Nancy and take sole possession of
her body.

Marcus interrupted my musings. " Are you satisfied now, Desiree'? "
Nancy threw her arms around his neck, surprising all three of us. He
drew me so close I could feel his heart beating in rhythm with mine! I
quickly disentangled myself from his strong embrace. With a sly grin on
his face Marcus made a demand.
" I've been too long without fresh blood, Desiree' and yours is what I
require tonight. " His face showed nothing but sincerity and he
whispered sweet and low, " Please don't deny me your life force.
"

His eyes glazed with hunger as he watched me slowly undress. Nancy's
night clothes were strange to be sure..not a lacy feminine nightgown,
but a man's red flannel button down top and matching flannel pants. I
left the top three buttons undone and the minute his sharp white teeth
bit into the soft, tender flesh of my left breast to feed, calming
sensations offered me blessed sleep.

**********

I felt a sharp pricking at my breast and let out a loud piercing cry,
emerging from a haunting dream where I'd become an insignificant
nothing, a nobody. In that instant Marcus held me tenderly in his warm
embrace, as salty tears fell down his cheeks " My Darling, I was so
afraid of
losing you. " His voice was raw, his mouth and lips dripping bright red
with blood he'd taken from my heart, his black eyes red-tinged coals of
emotion.

My blood flowed through his veins, enhancing my vision into the soul of
a Vampire! It took a short while for his words to sink in, but
undeniable memories flooded into my every cell.

He undermined my thoughts before I could call his actions a
travesty.
" With the priceless gifts of your love, your life force, and your
virginity, you've roused my heart from its empty shell, showing me true
love for the first time in over a century. " Marcus kissed me with an
unquenchable thirst. " I Love You, Nancy, and there's nothing in heaven
or hell that can ever change my feelings for you. "

" Marcus, we've only known each other for a short time..is this how
love is supposed to feel? "

A faint voice from a million miles away said, " Only a hairline
fracture separates the twining relationship of love and hate, but
you've barely begun to pay for your crimes of the heart! "

Marcus hissed in my ear, " Love comes in many shapes and forms, my
precious Lady In Red. You're my possession, my one desire, the high
voltage spark of love in my life. " His overwhelming love and passion
pierced my heart..I was trapped inside his circle of love, a prisoner
with no means of escape. He quickly changed the subject. " Nancy, do
you remember anything about the portrait of my wife, Desiree'? "

" No I don't, Marcus..is there something you need to tell me about the
picture? "

He smirked. " No, my Sweet Nancy, I was entertaining thoughts of
replacing her picture with a new portrait of you. "

The voice of insanity inched a little bit closer. " Marcus was very
wrong in his assumptions..I'm much stronger than he ever imagined and I
won't consent to being replaced by you or anyone else! "

Without warning, Marcus strode to the door and turned the knob.
" Marcus, may I come in? " Sher quietly tiptoed into the room and a
knowing glance passed between them. She looked directly at me. " She
does know, doesn't she, Marcus? "

" Marcus always confides in his sister and they're not even
related by blood! " That thought revolted me.

" Yes, Sher. " I felt perturbed as that cackling voice kept picking at
my mind.
" Would you care to see his mark of possession on me? " Why in heaven's
name was I being so rude..she'd shown me nothing but kindness. " Sher,
I didn't mean those words the way they sounded. " But in a way I most
certainly did!

" It's all right, Nancy..loss of blood can make a person say and do
things that go against their real nature. " She hugged me. " Marcus
loves you and so do I. "

Marcus smiled, exposing his crimson fangs. " Nancy has a vast knowledge
of vampire legends stashed away for rainy days. Here's one that sounds
intriguing..a Vampire can be turned back into human form. The ritual is
begun with these words..
' I, being of sound body, soul, mind, and blood, of my own free will do
offer everything that I am to you. '
On the 13th day the Vampire's humanity will be restored. "

That cackling voice crept towards me on cat's feet.." And if you or
Marcus believe that one, then I'm Marie Antoinette! "

I had no choice in the matter and sealed my fate. " I, Nancy..being of
sound body, soul, mind, and blood, of my own free will do offer
everything that I am to you, Marcus. You have my love, now and always.
" A small outburst of screeching laughter shot holes in my smug
attitude.

Marcus took a deep breath and on bended knee lifted my hands to his
frosty mouth. " Nancy, the love I feel for you burns hotter than the
Sahara Desert at high noon. Will you marry me and become my
guardian angel wife? "

Shades of red swirled and exploded in my mind! He grabbed my waist and
swung me around and around until I grew dizzy, my words spinning out of
control! " Yes, Marcus..a thousand times YES! "

Sher bubbled with delight.

" What are you thinking, Sister of mine? " Marcus listened intently for
her answer.

" Why, the perfect day to become husband and wife is Valentine's Day,
of course. "

That tiny voice plagued me once again. " Valentine's Day..no big
surprise there. "

**********

" Marcus, what in heaven's name are you doing on your knees? " I looked
around and saw Sher by his side, reminding me so much of..I gritted my
teeth before I screamed out her name. My heart filled to the brim with
bitter hatred. The clock on the dresser read 5:30am, one hour before
sunrise.
" Well, Marcus, answer me! "

" Desiree', we heard you howling like a wounded panther all the way
down in the kitchen..Sher and I ran up here to see if you were all
right. " I didn't believe that..Marcus cared nothing for me, and Sher
only cared about herself.
" We found you lying on the floor, curled into a tight ball. " I just
bet my bottom dollar that Nancy had a nightmare and fell off the bed! "
I'm only trying to calm you down and let you know I'll be here for you.
" I looked daggers at both of them. " Desiree', did you
manage to get any rest? "

" Marcus, I'll only speak to you once Sher has left my rooms. There's
no love lost between us and she can see for herself that I'm fine and
dandy. " Marcus helped me up.

" You're so right, Desiree'. I can't stand to look at your face! " Sher
turned around and kissed Marcus on his cheek, then left my bedroom,
slamming the door behind her.

" Marcus, there's not much time left until the sun rises. "

" Desiree', lean back on your pillows and place your hand in mine.."
His thumb traced the lines of my veins, mapping out the flow of my
blood. " I know that being in a strange body means making major
adjustments. " Marcus continued rubbing circles on the back of my hand,
a reminder of bygone days when he courted me. " I only want what's best
for you..
for us, " he cooed in a voice not quite his own.

I cringed and withdrew my hand as I knew his thoughts were centered on
wooing and winning Nancy's heart. " There's no need for that, Marcus.
Please be kind enough to send Valera up to me. " Marcus frowned in
consternation. " Don't look at me as if I were going to murder Nancy in
cold blood, Marcus. Valera can give Nancy an herbal infusion so she can
sleep and stabalize her body. "

Marcus didn't seem pleased with the idea, but that wasn't my
concern.
First and foremost I wanted the pleasured satisfaction of coming,
going, and doing with no questions asked.

Valera came to my room a few minutes later. " Countess Desiree', how
may I be of service to you? "

" You have excellent credentials, Valera. Your vast knowledge of how
herbs act and react on the human body are a plus..concoct a potion to
keep
Nancy sleeping for the rest of the day, making her weak, while
increasing my strength. " Valera was the one person I could always
trust to do what was right for me.

" Yes, Countess, I know exactly what's required. I'll return shortly.
"

Tiredness settled in, making it difficult for me to think straight.
Without knocking on the door, Marcus marched in, carrying an elaborate
silver tea service on a matching ornate tray..if I remembered
correctly, a wedding gift from my Uncle Joshua. He set it on the
nightstand by the bed. " Valera has other duties to perform,
Desiree'..she said the tea will help you sleep and the cookies will
give you additional strength. " He was very charming.

" Thank you, Marcus. " I actually appreciated what Marcus was
unwittingly doing for me.

Valera always came through with flying colors..I was immune to the
dangerous ingredients that were added to the refreshments, while Nancy
would succumb to the effects they produced and be driven insane! My
lips curled into a huge smile and my heart tingled in anticipation as I
ate and drank. Included in the tea mixture was Aconite, also known as
Wolfe's Bane by some..Belladonna, the Deadly Nightshade..and Hemlock,
which the old folks called Poison Parsley. The Aconite and Belladonna
mixed together would give Nancy the sensation of flying..strange
stingings would occur in her arms and legs and she'd experience
horrifying hallucinations. As an extra added bonus, the Hemlock would
give her vertigo. Valera baked the cookies with Henbane, known in some
circles as Stinking Nightshade, a powerful sedative and muscle relaxer.
Just a wee bit too much would cause delirium and convulsions..a perfect
combination to get the job done right!
" Marcus, I'll see you when the sun sets..he sat by my bed until I
drifted off into a deep dreamless sleep.

**********

When I woke, the sun was a vivid yellow, scattering bright light into
every corner of the room. Sher stood over me, looking concerned.
" Nancy, you've been out of it for most of the day. I was beginning to
fear the worst! "

I sat up and stretched my arms above my head. " I've never felt better,
Sher. Staying in bed all day has done wonders for my aching muscles. I
feel stronger, bursting at the seams with energy! " I threw off the
covers and bounced out of bed.

" That's good. I was uneasy about the exact amount of herbs to put in
your tea and cookies this morning. " I gave her a questioning
look.
Sher's eyes darted around the room, seeing phantoms where none existed.
" I must explain and can only hope you'll believe and heed the truth of
my words. " She described how Desiree' had possessed my mind and body,
hoping to do away with me. Her voice trembled as she told me what
Marcus had done in order to keep me safe. " The first herb I used was
Angelica to ward off the evil which Desiree' brought into this world. I
steeped the roots to make holy water and to that I added Betony, also
known as Bishops Wart to drive away devilish spirits. I mixed Avens,
called Herb Bennet to the cookie dough..it smells and tastes like
cloves and has the ability to protect those who ingest it. And to keep
the good spirits surrounding you, I used dried Juniper Berries in the
icing. Marcus and I are the only ones who know about this. "

" Yes, Marcus and Sher..and you and me! " A slight stab sliced my
heart.
" Secrets aren't meant to be kept! "

" I'm sure you've no reason to lie, but this is an awful lot to swallow
in one sitting, so to speak. " I paused and collected my scrambled
thoughts.." Sher, the last thing I remember clearly was Marcus asking
me to be his wife. " I laughed nervously. " Was that a dream or
reality? "

" As real as it gets, Nancy. Do you recall your answer? " Sher
asked.

I didn't need to think of what I said to Marcus. It would always be the
same, no matter when or where. " Yes, a thousand times YES! He wants us
to be married on Valentine's Day. "

" We've less than two weeks to prepare for your wedding to my
brother..the main obstacle is Desiree'. She's brazen, self centered,
and shallow and will attempt to do away with you completely, using your
body for her own
hellbent pleasures! "

" One way or another my boots will walk all over you! " A small red
flag in my psyche, but I paid no attention to it.

Sher hugged me close. " I don't want to see that happen to you, Nancy.
You've made my brother very happy and that in turn makes me happy!
"
Her laugh was filled to the brim with angelic joy. " He told me that
your love has given him wings to fly to heaven and beyond. "

" To heaven and beyond..I wonder what that feels like? "