Free Mortal Desire by Alexander Bryn

feel it too?
    I opened my eyes to the loud sobs of Mrs. Rossetti. She had her hand on the small white coffin and wiped away her tears with a white handkerchief. I removed my arm from Sarah and stood behind Mrs Rossetti, and placed my hand on her shoulder. ‘She is at peace Mrs. Rossetti, and with all of the other dogs that you have owned. You will see her again one day. Life is good.’ I kissed her head and stepped away from her, grabbed two wine glasses and handed one to her and raised my glass. ‘To Selena, the four legged bouncy companion that made life easier to live,’ I said in a quiet voice, and clinked glasses with her.
    ‘Thank-you my dear Henry,’ she whispered, trying to hold in another sob.
    I walked away as another of Mrs Rossetti’s friends approached, and stood at the hand rail overlooking the city. I breathed deeply and took a small mouthful of red wine and swallowed, enjoying the trail of warmth it left as it travelled to my stomach. I felt the warmth of her too. Her proximity was close.
    ‘That was a lovely ceremony ... how did Selena die Henry?’ she asked.
    ‘Her boyfriend murdered her.’
    ‘What, Mrs. Rossetti’s boyfriend?’
    ‘No, Selena’s boyfriend. Apparently he had a savage streak that nobody knew about. He overpowered her with his size and strength. He clenched his strong jaws around her neck, flung her from side to side and it was all over in the blink of an eye. Poor Mrs. Rossetti was so distraught as she knelt next to Selena’s lifeless bloodied body. It broke my heart. I hope that she buys herself a new puppy. She so loves her dogs,’ I said while I looked into my wine, the redness reminding me of the dog’s blood that I had smeared over my uniform and hands: the blood that saved me from the three immortals.
    I looked up into Sarah’s eyes to see a tear falling. I wiped it away with my thumb, and she looked away from me. She was so beautiful; her creamy white skin and the heart shape of her face.
    ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad,’ I whispered.
    ‘No, Henry, it’s okay, really.’ Sarah looked up into my eyes again and lingered there, sending fire throughout my entire body, and another feeling, like an adrenalin rush. I wanted to hold her close to me. But I didn’t.
    ‘Henry, let me steal your girlfriend away from you for a moment. I will return her, I promise,’ said an enthused Mrs. Rossetti as she touched me on the arm.
    I smiled at her, ‘She’s not my gir—’ I started to say, but Sarah had placed her finger to my lips to stop me saying anymore, and smiled at me. When they walked away arm in arm I lifted my finger and touched the tingling sensation that lingered on my lips where Sarah had touched me.
    The red thread ...
    In the end it was a whole hour before Mrs. Rossetti returned Sarah to me. I knew where she was the whole time that we were apart though. My eyes found hers every few minutes, devouring the sight of her; her energy, her aura, her presence.
    But … she was the forbidden fruit ...
    My eyes were closed when she sat next to me on the garden seat thirty-eight floors above ground level. But I knew that she was there because the red thread was tight, pulling me closer to her.
    ‘What do you see Henry?’ she asked in a soft mellow voice.
    I breathed out like a human, and kept my eyes closed.
    ‘I see the wings of angels wrapped around dying people as they breathe their last breath. I see the candy store selling healthy candies. One statement is true, the other is not,’ I said, and opened my eyes and smiled at her.
    She stared at me in disbelief and then punched me in the arm. ‘Liar liar pants on fire!’ she whispered as a slight smile played on her lips.
    ‘The night is escaping Sarah. It is time to go. You know what happened to Cinderella,’ I whispered into her ear. I wanted to smell the strands of her red hair, and breathe in the scent of her pure warm blood that circulated throughout her body mixed with life giving oxygen.