Displaced air in the room swirled gently into a mini dust tornado before falling quietly to the floor again. Lucian’s eyes opened slowly at the sound of a floorboard creaking. He turned his head slightly as his eyes roamed the room. A movement in the darkest part of his bedroom drew his groggy attention.
“Who’s there? Who are you? What do you want?” He demanded.
Lucian kept his gaze on the darkened corner sitting quickly up in bed. His head pounded horribly form the night before. He had tied on a good one at the bar. Maybe he was just dreaming.
“How did you get in here?” Lucian was not afraid, just shocked that anyone could enter his apartment without his alarms going off.
Silently, the figure glided a little closer to Lucian”s bed. HIs eyes widened as features came into view. Long black hair framed a heart-shaped face. Dark eyes rimmed in green gazed back at him. She had the figure of a goddess in a form fitting red dress. He leaned back as she drew closer.
“Don’t you know me Lucian?” Her husky, angry voice floated on the still air. Her eyes flashed as she looked at him.
Lucian was taken back by her anger. He was sure he had never met this woman before. If he had., he would not have forgotten her. His eyes were drawn to her full red lips then back to her eyes. A vague memory tugged at the back of his mind. He shook his head as he reached out, his hand catching a blood stone necklace that dangled across her breast pulling loose one of the stones. With a cry, the woman turned and was gone. Lucian rubbed his eyes and looked around the room once more.
“Dreaming,” he whispered, “I was only dreaming.”
He looked down at the bloodstone nestled in the palm of his hand,. He knew he hadn’t dreamt her at all. The air of the room was redolent with vanilla and roses. She smelled of vanilla and Roses. Once again a memory tried to stir and was pushed back down. What was it that kept him from
remembering?
As he looked closely at the stone, familiarity stirred his soul. He had seen this stone before, he was sure of it. The stone, only as big as the nail on his little finger, was in the shape of a heart. A brilliant red glow emitted from deep within. It pulsed with each beat of his racing heart. As he watched, the glow slowly started to fade, still matching his heart, beat for beat. Lucian wanted to find this woman, somehow she stirred in him feelings that he never had before. Memories, could she exist in that cloud of forgetfulness?
“What the hell is going on?” Lucian asked the room at large, not expecting an answer and not getting one.
Sliding out of bed, Lucian glanced at his alarm clock. Two A.M. and there was nothing for it, he was awake now. HIs head cleared of sleep fog as he took a tour of his apartment. The alarm system was still blinking green. All the doors were locked and the windows were closed tight Lucian called down to the front desk and was told that no one had entered the building or left that night, and no woman such as Lucian described had ever entered this building. Concern edged the man’s voice as he ask Lucian if there was anything wrong. Lucian assured him that everything was fine and hung up.
Lucian started his exercise routine as he thought of the woman. Who was she and how had she gotten in? Where had she come from? She knew his name, but she could have gotten that out of the news papers. He was always getting his picture in the high society page. He could still see those darkened eyes looking at him. His gut tightened as he thought if such a beautiful woman was somehow trying to put him in a compromising position. He shook his head trying to stomp it down in his mind, his hand clutching the stone tightly. It’s glow had long stop beating, if it ever had. It wouldn’t after all be the first time he had imagined something. He thought those days were long gone, maybe it was time to visit his doctor. As for the stone, he could have picked that up in his drunken haze at the bar. He only remembered his buds pushing him into a taxi.
“Maybe I’m loosing my mind,,” he thought to himself. One look at the stone made him think he must have met the woman last night at the bar. He would go there after work to see if the bartender had seen him with her. Her heart-shaped face floated back into his head, eyes so dark they looked like midnight with a twinge of green surrounding them. Strange but beautiful eyes. He had to find her, he just had to find her. He needed to know who she was, where she came form, how she knew him. His head started to hurt from thinking this out and not getting answers. He needed to put it out of his mind until evening
The days work at his Father’s law office had taken its toll on Lucian. The constant battle with Adrian over clients was exhausting. Lucian was already a bear after another lost nights sleep. For two weeks he waited for her return. It did not happen. If not for the stone, he would have pushed it from his mind as a quirk of imagination.
Lucian took on most of the pro-bono work in the firm and it was a bone of contention between him and Adrian. It was not an unusual argument between them, just the same thing on a different day. He did not have to work for Adrian, his mother had left him comfortably off. He wouldn’t be able to afford what he had now, but he could survive. It had crossed his mind a few times when arguments like this cropped up.
“You’re a top-notch Lawyer, Lucian. You should be showcasing your talents not giving them away for free. I don’t understand you, boy.” Adrian Alexanders frustration was evident in the tone of his voice. He stood in front of Lucian and only came to Lucian’s shoulder.
Adrian wasn’t a small man but next to Lucian he might as well have been a midget. He moved away from Lucian so he did not have to bend his neck to look up at him. Adrian’s face always turned bright red when he got angry, and he was very angry at Lucian.
“I don’t know what your mother would have thought of your behavior. Out all night drinking and god knows what else you get up to.’”
It was Lucians turn to turn red with anger. It was one thing he had in common with Adrian.
“NEVER talk to me about mother.” Lucian look coldly into his Father’s eyes. “I will do what I can for the poor, Father!”
Adrian was unfazed by Lucian’s anger. “For ten years you have helped the poor, Lucian, I’m sure you will continue no matter what I say. I need for you to step up and start acting like an Alexander.” Adrian paced his plush office as he preached to Lucian, “I didn’t spend all that money on your education for you to continue to throw it away.:”
Lucian got ahold of his temper, his face slowly losing the glow of anger.
“You knew long ago, Father, that this was what I wanted to do. It’s a little late now to air your complaints.” Lucian kept his voice low and even “You wanted me in the business and here I am. That should be enough.”
Adrian snorted at Lucians response. “ I have groomed you from birth for this, boy, so don’t get on your high horse with me. Without all this,” Adrian’s arms encompassed the company, “you would have nothing, be nothing. Just remember that when you drive your fancy cars and dine with your socialite women. All of this gave you all of that..”
Lucian wondered if life would be so bad without his Father’s money. He did not voice his thoughts outlaid, he had enough of this shit-storm for one day. At thirty-four, Lucian still felt like a kid in short pants where his Father was concerned. It was the end of a very trying day, all he wanted to do was go home. He would sleep tonight, no drinking himself stupid. Lucian was not giving up on finding the woman. The bartender told him he was with his friends that night. He had not seen a women such as Lucian described. Now, he just wanted to go home and unwind.
“Are you listening to me Lucian?” Angrily Adrian threw the envelope in his hands on his desk. “You will take the Lester account and you will do them the service they deserve from this firm. I am done arguing with you about this. Go home Lucian, come back on Monday with a change of attitude.”
Lucian knew when it was time to shut his mouth. He’d take the Lester case but he didn’t have to like it.The entire family were rich morons. Won some state lottery, or so they say. One of Norman Lester’s daughters signed away her fortune to some organization and wanted the Alexander firm sue them. He would try, but he knew that chances were pretty much nil. He would try to convince them to drop it, but he knew it would be useless. It wouldn’t be the first time one of Norman Lesters daughters got themselves into a bind and Lucian figured it wouldn’t be the last time. Lucian glanced at his Father and headed for the door his mind already somewhere else.
Adrian watched Lucian leave. He knew he was hard on Lucian, but it was time for him to step up and take on some of these important cases. Adrian knew Lucian could get a fur coat out of a donkey if he set his mind to it. Lucian was brilliant. Adrian thought back through the years to a time when he almost lost the boy. He grimaced at the memory and prayed Lucian never found out what Adrian had done.
Lucian stood with his hands stuffed into his front pockets as he gazed out on Central Park from his penthouse balcony. Christmas lights were strung across trees and bushes. It looked magical and whimsical with the horse drawn carriages lined up waiting for their first slay ride.
Lucian had never really taken in his view before and wondered at his mood to do so now. It was a festive night if one were in the mood for it. Lucian wasn’t. Two long weeks had passed without another visit from the mystery woman. Each night he hoped she would appear just to be disappointed. It was driving him crazy. She was on his mind constantly, no matter what he was doing. His dreams now led him down a road he didn’t know, into the arms of the Lady he had never met but yet he knew her.
A cold wind had Lucian returning to the living room. He poured himself a Bourbon on the rocks only to then turn around and set it on the mantle. He had not lit a fire this night and he stared into the ashes as if they had the answer to his questions.
Cold air whipped snow through the double doors on to the oak floor. Lucian didn’t acknowledge the fury outside at first. The banging of the balcony doors brought him around. He walked over and closed them before getting a dustpan to scoop up the snow.
He did not turn on any lights, the darkness of the apartment matched his mood.
He stood once more by the balcony doors., wondering what to do with his life. He looked back. on it and the only outstanding thing he seemed to do was go to college. He had spent most of his nights with loose women and lots of booze.
Lucian looked at the glass of bourbon on the mantel and realized that he felt no desire to drink it. He wondered if there was ever a time in his life that he was happy.
Suddenly, a light warm perfumed breeze caressed his cheek. He looked up, something was different about the darkness, almost electrical.
Nothing moved but Lucian could feel the presence of another and smelled her wonderful perfume. Vanilla and Roses gently floated on the air. He remained very still so as to not startle her. It wasn’t easy waiting her out when all he wanted to do was touch her, to feel her delicate skin against his.
“You don’t know me but still you wait for me. Why is that Lucian?” The soft throaty voice whispered form the shadows across the room.
Even though he knew she was there her voice startled him and he took a step back. How the hell had she got in again?
She did not move from the darkness. He could feel her eyes piercing him. Lucian could not make out anything but a darker shadow. He heard the fury in her voice and wondered at it.
“Who are you? Why are you here? How did you get in? If this is some kind of elaberqte joke, it is not in the least amusing..” He tried to make his voice stern but it lacked conviction. He reached to turn on the light.
“Don’t do that. If you do, I will be gone.”
Lucian’s hand hesitated at the switch and dropped to his side. A shadow detached itself from the darker shadows and she moved closer. She was not close enough for him to see her.
The whisper of silk came to his ears as she moved a little bit closer.The smell of her perfume surrounded him making him slightly dizzy. She smelled so wonderful, he could drink her in all night,
A small, pail hand rose out of the darkness and caressed his cheek, restrained fury behind it. She had to be up on tip toe to be able to reach his cheek. Lucian would not have been surprised if she had hit him.
Then she was gone, the place where she stood, empty. Lucian let a curse leave his lips as he reached out to where she had been moments before.
His heart felt as though it had been ripped from his chest and he did not know why..He slammed his hand into the wall as more curses left his mouth. Lucian grabbed up the bourbon and finished it off. He poured more then put the glass down. To hell with it, he grabbed up the bottle, tilted it to his mouth and drank.
Two O’Clock had come and gone as Lucian drank himself senseless. Blurry eyed, he looked around the living room before falling back unconscious on the floor. His dreams were of a young girl with gypsy eyes laughing excitedly as they tumbled onto the bed.
She slipped out of the shadows and walked quietly to where Lucian lay on the floor. How many times had she done this in the past two months? Each time she had come, he was out cold from his drinking. Strange that in those months he never brought a female to his apartment. She did not find any pictures of women except a small black and white one that he kept on his bedroom stand. It was of a beautiful woman laughing as she held her pregnant belly.
As Arabella gazed down at Lucian, a lone tear traveled down her cheek. She brushed it away and looked sadly at Lucian. She looked at the red stone that lay on his chest, pulsing to his heart beat, laying as though it were forgotten, forgotten just like her.
The fury left her body.”By the gods, what am I doing.” She questioned her self. Arabella watched his chest rise and fall as he slept. His beautiful black hair spiked in different directions, making his face look boyish, like the boy she once knew. An ache that she felt before made tears start in her eyes.. She never got that man out of her blood, she knew she never would. She needed to shake this obsession. Her heart cried out for an answer. Why did he leave her? Had he stopped loving her so easily? Anger was the only weapon she had to keep the pain away.
“How could you forget me Lucian? You will never forget me again when this is done.” Arabella sighed sadly. As she turned away from Lucian. the darkness parted and Arabella stepped through leaving behind the scent of vanilla and roses.
Lucians dreams caused him to call out. “Bella … Bella, where are you?”
Morning found Lucian lying on his back on the wooden floor snoring loudly at the ceiling. A groan left his lips as he rolled to his side. Curses poured out as he sat up and held his head. For just a minute his dreams swarmed around him like a child’s merry-go-round, then they were gone.
A thousand jack hammers pounded in his head making him nauseous. Swallowing hard, he tried to capture the dreams as they turned to smoke. The harder he tried to remember the harder his head hurt.
He knew she had been there, that was not a dream. He didn’t even have a name to call her by or find her with. Lucian knew it was hopeless, but he wanted her to come back no matter how much she hated him. He felt a stirring in his chest that he believed he never felt before yet it was so familiar. He had no clue what the emotion was. With a sigh, he pushed the feeling as far away from him as he could.. He had to find her.
Lucian went about finding Aspirin for his pounding head then set his apartment to rights. He had a housekeeper that came in twice a week but he did not want her to see what a wreck he made of the living room. It was a matter of pride, he supposed. He had to hurry before the cook got there. She was due at any moment. Lucian rushed around, attacking whisky bottles and scattered snacks. He looked at the snacks wondering when he retrieved them from the cupboard.
The desk called up to let him know he had a visitor. Lucian wondered why cook didn’t come up the back stairs and use her key as usual. Instead, it was Adrian.
It was the first time Adrian bothered to visit Lucian’s apartment in the years he lived there. Everything in the apartment had belonged to mother. She left everything to him when she died. Adrian thought it was still in storage.
Lucian could do without seeing him today. “Hello Father, what are you doing here?” Lucian asked in a cold, unemotional tone. He straightened a cushion on the winged back chair for his Father to sit on. He continued to clean up the apartment. Adrian sat on the edge of the chair. Lucian raised and eyebrow and stared at Adrian.
Adrian looked around at the torn up room then back at Lucian. “Must have been quite the party last night Lucian. You look worse than the room does and it looks pretty bad.” Adrian’s lips thinned into one of his disapproving smiles as he looked at broken glass in the fireplace. “Is there anything left of that set of Waterfords? They were her favorites you know.”
Lucian wasn’t in for a sparring match today, “What is it you want, Father?” Lucians tired voice brought derision to Adrian’s face. Adrian didn’t speak right away as he studied Lucian. It seemed as if Adrian had never taken a proper look at his before. Shaking his head as though he had been in a tranced, Adrian started to speak.
“I came here to tell you that you will be taking Second chair to Maryellen on Monday. I knew if I tried to call, you would not have answered. Is that good enough reason for you?”
Lucian was not happy and Adrian knew it. It was Adrian’s punishment for Lucian messing up the Lester case. In his own defense, Lucian had only told them the truth. He told them that they didn’t have a leg to stand on and would waste more money on lawyers and court costs then was worth it. They would only loose anyway. Offended, the family stomped out of the conference room.
Adrian would hear all about it at the practice that day. As soon as they saw him coming his staff ducked and did their work, not glancing up even once.
Adrian knew Lucian could not stand Maryellen’s ‘Bird like ways,” as Lucian had once complained.
Adrian dropped a thick folder on the coffee table as he rose up out of the chair.
“I expect you to do a good job, no, make that an exultant job, Lucian. Don’t mess this one up or you will be doing your practice in back alleys.” With those parting words, Adrian left without even a good-by, but then, Lucian was use to his Fathers rude treatment.
Adrian walked out the door without closing it. Lucian rose up to close the door. His Father was too use to others doing that for him. Lucian sighed as he continued to clean up his apartment his mind not on what had transpired with his Father, but on the woman. It was driving him crazy that he didn’t know her name, The last time she came he could have sworn he saw a slit in the darkness, full of light beyond. Shaking his head, he knew that wasn’t possible.
Lucian decided it was time to see his doctor again. For years after his accident he thought and saw things that were not there. His doctor assured him that, in time, it would pass.. It had, or so he thought, but now he wondered. Lucian reached into his pocket and took the heart out. No, it was as real as real could be.
When Esther came with his lunch, Lucian showed her the stone. “What do you think of this little trinket, Esther?”
Esther looked down into the palm of his hand. “Why that is quite beautiful Master Lucian, where did you get it? It looks like something I saw a long time ago, but I can’t place it.”
The breath Lucian didn’t know he was holding, whooshed out of his mouth. For a moment, he was stunned. Not only was it real, but she may have seen it before. He felt something like love for the old women. He jumped up and hugged her.
“If you remember anything Esther, would you please let me know?” Esther nodded her head as she wondered at Lucian’s laughter. Shaking her head, Esther continued on into the kitchen to clean up, set up tonights dinner and go home.
Later, Esther could hear Lucian singing while he shaved, not a good combination but he seemed to be doing ok. She almost started singing herself. In all the years that she had know him, it was the first time she had seen Master Lucian smile little alone sing.
Lucian stared at his face in the mirror. He was not a bad looking man. His curly hair was always a mess which gave him a boyish look. People tended to underestimate him because of his looks. Lucian’s bright blue eyes had a hardness in them that came from years of dealing with Adrian. He smiled as he thought of the woman. He had to find her, his Lady of Dreams.
Arabella Brennan threw herself onto the king sized bed. It was minutes before her anger burned itself out. All that was left was her sadness. She carried her emotions deep for years, not letting anyone see her pain. Having found him, it should have eased her somewhat, but it didn’t.
“Mom, can I come in?”
The boyish voice and timid knock brought her out of her darkness. Arabella wiped her tears and fluffed her hair. She put a smile on her face and answered, “Yes, of course, Lucas.”
Arabella looked with pride as her twelve year old son entered the room. His dark curly hair caught the rays off the table lamp. Blue eyes looked at her as he crossed the room and sat on the bed. He looked just like his Father
.
“Whats wrong mom? I heard you crying.” His sweet childish voice comforted her.
Arabella ruffled Lucas’s hair as she drew him into a bear hug. He smelled faintly of her bubble bath and she grinned. The one thing Lucas loved was his bubble bath. It was homemade with vanilla and roses, something her mother had taught her. It was her favorite. And Lucas loved it as long as it was not a school night. No way was he going to school smelling like that.
“It’s nothing baby, I’m juste fine and your sweet smile makes me happy.”
Lucas jerked back and stiffened his shoulders. “No you’re not! I heard you crying, I heard you last night too. I’m not a baby anymore. Is gramps okay”? Fear had entered his eyes. His gramps was the best.
Green eyes locked with blue, Lucas held his breath. Arabella felt a twist of guild as she realized she had made her son worry unnecessarily.
“Of course he’s alright. He’ll be here bright and early tomorrow so you both can go camping for two weeks, just like he promised. Two weeks should do you both some good.” Arabella smiled at Lucas. His shoulders sagged with relief as he frowned at Arabella.
“Then why were you crying?” Arabella smile faded. She looked closely at Lucas and realized how quickly her son was growing up.
“You know, Luke, sometimes even moms get sad . Crying is just a way to get it out of our system. It’s hard sometimes, working with the kids that I do. I love my job, but I sometimes cry for those broken ones.”
Lucas searched her eyes for a moment longer before he nodded. Silently, Arabella heaved a sigh of relief.
“Cook said to tell you dinner is ready and she is headed out the door. “
Arabella ruffled his hair again before she stood up, taking Lucas with her. “Is it that late already? You go ahead and go down. Let Thorn out before we eat. I’ll be down in a minute, I need to freshen up a little.”
Arabella listened to Lucas whistle for the wolf hybrid as she walked to her bathroom. Thorn had been a god send to her when she was young and later when Lucas came along. Arabella looked at herself long and hard in the mirror. Time had not been unkind to her. She was only twenty eight though some days she questioned that. Her long black hair curled randomly around her shoulders and down her back. Long lashes framed brilliant green eyes. Her pale complexion attested to her Irish ancestry. Small lines were starting to show around her full lips. All in all she felt she was still a fine looking woman.
Arabella eyes opened wide, “What the hell am I thinking? She question herself, “ I do not want Lucian Alexander. ‘But you just came from visiting him, again,’” her mind told her.
Arabella stepped back from the mirror angry at herself. She searched for years before she finally found him. She was not going to fall into that trap.
“Mom come on, I’m starving.” Lucas yelled up the stairs. “Theres mashed potatoes just the way I like them and the meatloaf is going to get cold.”
“Coming, I’m coming.” Arabella yelled back.She looked down at her black pants and black silk blouse. They would have to do. No time to dress for dinner tonight.
It was mid summer in the Colorado Rockies. Arabella’s property sat on thirty acres of prime forrest far away from people. It was just the way Arabella liked it. Spending time with damaged children could take its toll. The land the two story cabin sat on was deeded to her in her dead parents will. Her parents died in a fire when she was five years old. She didn’t remember a whole lot about that night. Pretty much all of the cabin had burned down. All that was left was the land, her and Thorn. The insurance money helped her build the cabin when she turned twenty one.
Arabella grinned as barking commenced outside. Thorn only barked at people he liked and he just loved Jack. Jack was Arabella’s adoptive Father and she loved him dearly.
“Grampa’s here mom. Hurry, we got to get to the lake before the fish stop biting..” Lucas’s laughter could be heard above the engine of the old truck. She could not tell what they were saying but she could see that it made Lucas happy. Jack always made Lucas happy. Maybe after two weeks roughing it Lucas might calm down a bit. Lucas was all enthusiasm with a great joy for life.
“Hi sweetie, how are you doing?” It was a standard Jack question. He did not like her living alone up here with a young boy. The cook came in, sure, but about all she could do to stave off danger is to hit them with a frying pan. He also worried about fires. Fires were famous in these mountains. Arabella and Jack took great care to keep the trees and such far away from the cabin. Jack would worry anyway.
“I’m just fine and dandy Jack, how are you:?”
Jack let out a gruff laugh at the ritual. Arabella’s strength amazed Jack and made him proud of her at the same time. She fought hard for the life she lived and she let nothing get in her way. Life had not been kind to his girl.
“Well I am pumped and ready to go camping with this young man here. Are you sure you won’t change your mind and join us? I make a mean camp fire breakfast.” Lucas grimaced as he waited for Arabella’s answer.
“No Jack, not this time. I’ve got a lot to do around here and a few patients I need to see,”
Jack frowned at Arabella, “Those patients are not going anywhere. You need some time to yourself Ari.”
Arabella sighed, it was the same argument Jack always gave her. “She’s a little five year old girl, Jack. I think I am close to a break through for her. I can’t just walk away, it could undo everything I have accomplished.”
Jack shrugged his shoulders and gave a sad laugh. “I know you need this Ari,. I get it, I really do and you have done wonders for those kids. You rarely take time for yourself, can you blame me for worrying about you?”
Arabella hugged Jack close. He might not be blood but he was all she had except for Lucas. Jack and Nancy adopted Arabella after her parents death.
“Can we go now gramps? The fish will be asleep by the time we get there.” Lucas’s voice changed the mood. Arabella and Jack laughed. There was too much seriousness on such a beautiful day.
“Yeah, we can go now slugger. Hop on in don’t dilly dally.?”
Lucas looked at jack a confused expression on his face, “What’s dilly dally gramps?”
Jack laughed, “Hop in, I’ll tell you all about it on the way.”
Arabella waved at them as the truck trudged down the driveway, popping and crackling a bit. She knew she would get lonesome for Lucas, she always did. The time away would do the boy good though. Thorn pushed his head up into Arabella’s hand and gave a slight wiffle.
“I know boy, I’ll miss him too. I guess you can come to the clinic with me. Then we’ll go to the ward. The kids just love when I bring you, you old softy.” Thorn smiled with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. He loved the kids as much as they loved him,
“Quit smiling and get a move on.”
Thorn jumped into the passenger seat of Arabella’s jeep. As they moved down the mountain, Thorn hung his head out the window, letting the wind blow the wonderful smells that filtered through his snout, He could smell his pack off in the distance shadowing the Jeep. They would stop soon. The pack never left the mountain. Only Thorn did that.
Thorn’s pack was not large by any means, but recently, three females and two males had been born. It was growing larger each year. Soon the elders would make way for the younger males. The pack would take care of their elders. Thorn was content with his life, his pack, his humans. He had the best of both worlds.
Arabella glanced at the wolf from the corner of her eye. He was black an all muscle and she adored him. Thorn was a raging storm if anyone would try to harm her or Lucas or the home. His begginings were as delicate as Arabella’s. Their bond was unbreakable.
