Saurimonde III

By Amaris St. Hilaire

Safety is but an illusion...

In the search for a young woman who may already be dead, the tragically lovely Saurimonde, along with her handsome consort, Sordel, travel deep within the mysterious zone where she comes under the spell of the powerful high priestess, Na Dag'ma, who, after initiating her into their strange faith, sends her on a quest to find a dangerous ancient relic.

Amid a quagmire of lies, duplicity, and collusion, the veil between worlds becomes threadbare – one existence bleeding into another – as Saurimonde and Sordel wander further into a supernatural web. Upon finding what they seek, will they be able to break free? Or be forced to become the ultimate sacrifice?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amaris St. Hilaire
• Release date: Feb 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310876783

Amaris St. Hilaire

Scarlett Amaris likes playing devil's advocate on the dark side of the moon. She spends a large amount of time tracking through ancient ruins and decoding old texts in the Pyrenees. Her more esoteric work can be found at www.shadowtheatre13.com and www.terraumbra13.blogspot.com. She's also co-written scripts for the anthology film The Theatre Bizarre, the documentary The Otherworld and the upcoming feature films, H.P. Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space, Replace, and Black Gate. Saurimonde is her first novel and she's currently finishing up Hidden Montsegur before getting started on Demon Priest, her next erotic endeavor along with the next Saurimonde story. To read more, visit her blog: scarlett-amaris.blogspot.com.Melissa St. Hilaire likes to bask in the center of chaos watching supernova explosions. She spends most of her time daydreaming, researching, and scribbling. She wrote film and music reviews for The Heights Inc. Her poetry has appeared in the periodicals Shards, The Outer Fringe, and The Laughing Medusa. She co-authored several scripts for Tone-East Productions. Her debut book, a memoir titled In The Now, was released in 2012. Her current projects include a sequel to Saurimonde, a follow-up to In the Now called Medicated, a fantasy series called Kaleidoscope Moon, and a sci-fi epic called Exodus. To read more, visit her website www.melissa2u.com.

Book preview

SAURIMONDE III

By

SCARLETT AMARIS

&

MELISSA ST. HILAIRE

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Scarlett Amaris & Melissa St. Hilaire

This book is available in print at most online retailers.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Landscape with a Calm (Un Tem[p]s calme et serein)

Nicolas Poussin (French, 1594 - 1665)

1650 - 1651, Oil on canvas

97 × 131 cm (38 3/16 × 51 9/16 in.)

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

(Used with permission.)

DEDICATION

For those who still dream awake.

CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright

Cover Art

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Prologue: Until Death Do Us Part

1 All Bad Roads Lead Back To You

2 The Waters Are Never Still

3 All But One Lost In Time

4 Our Mother Of The Prima Materia

5 Do You Want Dominion?

6 No Luck Then I Take it?

7 Blackened Soot Covers Your Angel's Wings

8 Seeing Is Not An Exact Art

9 Safety Is An Illusion

10 I Am But A Shadow Of A Shadow

11 Ashes To Ashes

12 Something Cold, Bright, And Cunning

13 The Great Earl Of Hell

14 Sometimes, You Surprise Me

15 Lux In Tenebris

16 Eden Darkly

About The Authors

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Scarlett: Special thanks to my co-writer, Melissa St. Hilaire, for helping me craft and conjure this beautifully strange tale, and to her husband, Jeremy Graham, for understanding there really is a method to our particular brand of madness. To Amy Gorman & Susan Stratton-Pruitt for being exceptional friends and confidantes. To Michele Bigler, one of my oldest friends, for encouraging me when the night was the darkest. And to all my other friends and family who were there along the way.

Melissa: Special thanks to my co-writer, Scarlett Amaris, as always. To Jeremy Graham for all his generous support and unending encouragement. To my cousin, Tami, for although we walk vastly different paths in life, she's always been supportive of my writing. To M. Caroline Swett, my old college roommate, who is sometimes the only person in the world who seems to get me. To my late friend, Amy Wallace, for although she no longer walks this Earth, she continues to inspire me. Lastly, to everyone else who has believed in me.

PROLOGUE: UNTIL DEATH DO US PART

Shadows from a hundred guttering candles flickered across the walls of the bedroom in the cozy stone cottage. Arching her back in ecstasy, Saurimonde felt Sordel above her, filling every ounce of her being. He seemed larger than ever as she spread her legs farther, willing herself to accommodate him. Lifting her head to face him, she peered into his tawny, jungle cat eyes seeing her own visage reflected back.

He smiled at her as he traced the contours of her face with his fingertips. Pulling her chin up, he lowered his lips to hers. Voraciously, he kissed her, as if trying to crawl inside her skin.

Closing her eyes, she felt her body release a thousand firework explosions shuddering through her.

I am with you always, he whispered, but his voice sounded odd.

Flicking her eyes open, she saw to her horror that the man hovering over her, the man inside her, was not her beloved Sordel. Rather, he was her dead husband, Gilles.

Opening her mouth to scream, Saurimonde made no sound as Gilles clamped his hand down forcefully on her face.

Writhing, she tried to break free, but could not move away.

His russet hair caught the candlelight, and his face was set in a snarl, as his fingers clenched, digging deep into her skin until she felt her flesh tear and blood gush forth.

His hand closed over her nose, shutting out her breath. She gasped for air as the tears fell from her eyes.

Until death do us part, he said, growling in the manner of a maggot-ridden dog.

She tore at his face, struggling to free herself.

Her lungs burned. The darkened edges of unconsciousness crept into her peripheral vision until all was black. She was dying...

***

Sordel awoke to find Saurimonde thrashing about in bed beside him.

Gently nudging her awake, he asked, Another nightmare?

Slowly her eyes blinked open. She recoiled away from him as soon as she did so.

Confused, she glanced around the room to get her bearings. Sordel?

It's me. I'm here. You're okay now.

Tears fell from her eyes as she threw her arms around him. Oh, thank the Goddess. It was only a dream.

He stroked her hair as he held her close.

Nestling into the crook of his shoulder, Saurimonde breathed in his scent as she willed the dream away. Calm down, she told herself. Gilles is dead. You killed him – and he isn't coming back.

You should get some more sleep, murmured Sordel. You're overly tired. Too much has happened.

She pulled away from him, shaking her tangled golden mane of hair. No. I've hidden for long enough. It's time to face reality again. I don't know how I'm going to explain everything that has happened and explain away so much death... She took a deep breath. But I have to. And I have to go back to the manor house and try and make things right.

I'll go with you.

Stay here with your aunt. She needs you right now. The situation is complicated enough and if we show up together – it's only going to become more complicated.

Sordel's brow furrowed. I'm trying to do the right thing here and you aren't making it easy.

I know, and I'm sorry. She leaned forward, kissing him on his full lips. Trust me and let me do this. I'm a lot stronger and more capable than you think.

He stroked the curve of her breast. I know how capable you are. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here right now. I'd be in some hellish otherworld with my father.

She put a finger to his lips. Don't say his name. We don't know where he's gone.

He gently bit her finger in response, and then licked down it farther. Stay a little longer?

She smiled as a shiver ran through her. I know I'm going to regret saying this... but sex isn't going to solve our problems right now.

Can't blame a guy for trying. He brushed his finger against her hardening nipple.

Stop! she said, feigning, then laughing. Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she reached for the dress Elazki had loaned her, which hung over the back of the chair. Pulling it over her head, she stood up.

Sordel laughed. The dress barely came to her calves and it hung on her curves in all the wrong places. I'll wake up Elazki and see if she has something that might fit you better.

Don't do that. She needs to rest. She's been through a lot. Saurimonde glanced down at the dress, sighing. It'll be fine. It's early and if I leave now there shouldn't be anyone around.

Sordel got up, his naked skin prickling in the cool morning air as he wrapped her in his arms. I'm coming over tonight, no matter what you say, he whispered in her ear.

I'll be waiting... she whispered back.

After kissing him one more time, she stole out of the bedroom and out through the front door of the cottage.

1 ALL BAD ROADS LEAD BACK TO YOU

A mist rose off the ground in patches in the early morning sunshine. The land was beginning to warm and the promise of a premature summer hung in the air. Saurimonde decided not to go the shorter route to the manor house because it would take her through the heart of the village and into the cross hairs of too many prying eyes. Instead, she took the route which led to the river first, through the forest and the gardens to the stables.

The forest buzzed with early morning insects as the sunlight began to dapple through the dense boughs of the looming pine trees. Saurimonde breathed in the musty scent of the forest floor; one part tree sap with another part dirt and decay. Looking around at how serene and beautiful it all seemed, it was hard to imagine she had nearly lost her life, and the life of her beloved Sordel, only a few nights before in a nearby wood, strikingly similar to the one she walked through now.

The path opened before her, and she knew the river lay around the next turn. She didn't need to hear the rush of the water to know it was there. Even though she was human again, there was a part of the river, which had been her home in her demonic form, that would always be with her. There was a connection which would never be broken. Now Elazki and Sordel will be a part of the connection as well. All of them had been ensnared by the dark glamour of the deep waters, and their lives forever changed. She dared not think more deeply on the subject. None of us are safe yet and, in all likelihood, we may never be safe.

As she rounded the corner, she spied a large figure sitting by the river's edge staring into the depths of the rushing current. Her heart sank at the sight of her old friend, Thome. He looked similar to a giant, gray bear patiently waiting for a salmon to swim in his path as he sat there. Saurimonde stopped. She thought about retracing her steps and taking the other route, but before she could make that decision, Thome turned his head, catching sight of her. His face was haggard as he held up a hand in greeting.

Saurimonde approached him, trepidation marking her every step.

Don't worry none, murderess. I'm not going to hurt you, he called out to her.

I didn't think you would, answered Saurimonde with a confidence she didn't feel.

A look of disgust crossed his coarse, simple features as he spat out, There's been enough killing thanks to you. Like carrion, death follows you wherever you go.

Stopping a few feet away from him, she placed her hands on her hips. I get that you're angry, and rightfully so, but it's not all my fault.

Not your fault? He shook his head in disbelief. You killed my boy. You killed your niece. Your husband has never returned. Elazki and Sordel are dead thanks to you, and now my eldest daughter is missing which is probably your fault, too.

Elazki and Sordel are alive.

Glaring at her, he said, I don't believe you. I saw their bodies.

I know what you think you saw but you can go and check for yourself. They're at Elazki's cottage right this exact minute. Saurimonde pointed in the direction from which she had come.

And my daughter?

Which one? The May Queen? Saurimonde asked. The last time I saw her she was with you as you led her and her friends off of the mountain.

I put Celyn to bed and she was gone the next morning. I figured you had come to get her to finish what you'd started, murderess.

Saurimonde shook her blonde hair as she stared hard at Thome. She knew he had no reason to believe her, but she was telling the truth. I don't have anything to do with your daughter's disappearance. In fact, this is the first I've heard of it.

All bad roads lead back to you, Saurimonde.

I know I've got a lot to account for, Thome. There's no denying that fact, but the truth is Sordel and Elazki are alive. Go check for yourself. I have no clue where your daughter is.

I will go and check for myself and if you're lying to me again, I'll find you, and I'll kill you.

Raising both her hands in front of herself, she said, Fair enough. I'll be at the manor house. You'll know where to find me.

Saurimonde continued on her way, only stopping at the edge of the rocky shore, where the forest path started. She turned around. Thome was still staring at the water. She thought she saw his lips moving, but in the glare of the rising sun, she couldn't be certain.

Walking up to the hidden gate in the cypress trees, Saurimonde couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. She'd been in almost exactly the same situation a couple of weeks earlier while dressed in Elazki's clothes. Her attempts to sneak into the manor house that day undetected had been in vain. In actuality, as she cast her mind back to it, that was the start of a horrible chain of events.

She opened the gate and ducked through. The manor house stood before her looking as solid and stalwart as ever with its imposing grace. In the bright sunlight it was hard to fathom that another one of its recent occupants was dead. Three gone now. Saurimonde bit back a bitter laugh. The notion wasn't funny. The notion was horrible. What is wrong with me? she thought. Their deaths were nothing to laugh at. Sighing, she opened the side door that led to the servants' staircase. There was no one about yet, which was a blessing.

Sitting on her bed, she took off Elazki's frock and exchanged it for one of her own. The dark chestnut color was severe, but it suited her fair hair and golden skin. She looked around the room. Nothing had changed in it and yet everything had changed. There was no time to muse of what the future might hold because the first thing she had to do was damage control.

Saurimonde knew Loreley's body would never be found and there was no one left who would even know that she was missing. Already, it was as if Loreley had never existed at all, nor her daughter Mariel. But some of Loreley's possessions were still in the house. It would be easiest to dispose of them and tell everyone she had left with Guilhelm to go after her daughter who had run away with Thome's son to another town.

Lies and more lies, Saurimonde thought as she walked toward Loreley's old room. Will they ever stop? Inside, Loreley's trunk of clothes was neatly packed. Looking around she noticed nothing of Guilhelm's remained. Saurimonde wasn't surprised, but the thought was disturbing. He had come back to the house. Then it occurred to her. He could still be here. She looked around in alarm. Wait, she reasoned with herself. Don't panic like a child. You don't do that any more. Think. Why would all of his stuff be gone if he's still here? The logical answer was he wasn't there. She had more pressing matters to attend to, such as how she was going to get rid of Loreley's things. Burning them would attract attention, but was more permanent. Hiding them seemed more practical but there was always the fear of discovery – and then, explanation. She had to decide quickly. The servants would be up and about in a short while.

Another idea came to her. She would hide some of Loreley's clothes and tell the servants that Loreley had left quickly with Guilhelm after having gotten word about her daughter. They had decided to act with haste and travel lightly so that Mariel could not run any farther. Then, she could burn Loreley's things at a later date and pretend that she had them sent back. It would work.

Grabbing an armful of dresses from the trunk, she slipped down the hallway. Choosing the spare room that was closest to her bedroom, she went inside and opened a large, wooden chest full of dusty, old rugs. The dust made her sneeze as she pulled them out. Underneath the rugs were some of her own clothes wadded up into a wrinkled ball. She scratched her head. How had that happened? she wondered. She pulled them out and replaced them with Loreley's frocks, set the rugs back on top of them, and shut the lid.

Saurimonde nearly jumped out of her skin when she turned and saw Sorgina standing in the doorway. She had heard neither footsteps, nor the door open, and yet there the woman stood.

Sorgina stared at Saurimonde in her usual regal, yet baleful manner. Her burgundy hair was braided into an intricate pattern and her golden eyes looked predatorial in the sunlight.

You are an idiot, spat out Sorgina. The two of you are both fools.

What are you going on about now? And who let you into my house? asked Saurimonde.

I need no invitation from anyone ever, but you can always tell me to leave. Sorgina raised an eyebrow. You truly have no idea of what you have done?

No. Saurimonde shook her head. I've survived. That's all I know I've done.

You've let the devil's comb – the golden comb – go missing. If it gets into Bazak's hands... I don't need to tell you what might happen.

Saurimonde's face blanched