Datura: Book 1 in the Datura Chronicles

By Catherine Harrop

A Perfect Life …
Alexandra Lasalles lives a perfect life in Sydney, Australia.
This is all about to change.
An inevitable force is coming that will tear her flawless life apart.

The Lasalles Secret …
Alex is given a choice.
A choice to embrace or refuse eternal life.
People will die and people will live because of the Lasalles Secret.

The Power Of Time …
Assisted by Yolande Lasalles, a ghost from the 18th century
They fight for their beliefs and the Datura flower is their weapon
They have one year to win.
Time is power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543918489

Book preview

author

one

Frenetic voices. Piercing sounds. Alex floated in a black abyss as a hard object thrust over her dry tongue and down her throat. She could not inhale enough air and suffocation was seemingly inevitable until enriching, cool oxygen surged into her lungs.

She fought mentally hard against the insidious pull of unconsciousness that waited, like an ugly toad on a lily pad, to invade her brain. She tried to lift her hands to remove the hard plastic object that scratched her throat but her body could not, would not, respond. She heard a man mutter savagely under his breath before she briefly surrendered, like the hypnotic sweet lure of a morphine rush, into the black.

What happened? one of the emergency department’s doctors challenged a resuscitation nurse as he rhythmically pumped oxygen into Alex’s lungs. She’s twenty-two years old and walked in here with a laceration on her leg.

Don’t know, the nurse answered shortly before nodding at the cardiac monitor above Alex’s bed. And now take a look at that impending mess.

Alex could feel her brain wavering between unconsciousness and consciousness, falling into oblivion and climbing toward awareness. It was so very easy to fall and so hard, so very hard, to climb. A celestial light suddenly pierced the black void and a sweet perfume engulfed Alex as she fought hard against the sinister pull of the all-consuming dark; however, the scent persisted, waking her, almost tormenting her in its ferocity. She knew she had to win the fight. Like a slow infusion, the memory of the scent surfaced in her troubled brain. It was the scent of datura flowers. Her mother had loved datura.

The swift realization she did not know where she was slammed into her brain like the plunge of a mallet. With leaden eyelids that would not open, she could sense and hear the presence of tense people surrounding her as anonymous hands hurriedly placed sticky things on her chest as other hands tugged at her limbs and needles simultaneously pierced her skin on either arm. She was aware her upper body was naked, but she didn’t have the energy to care.

Alex felt disembodied and barely human, like an inanimate ragdoll. She desperately wanted to give in again into the life-leaching dark force dragging through her bones, but someone pulled up her eyelids with a rough tug and, in turn, shone a bright light into her eyes. Her head recoiled from the transient glare and she noticed a ghostly formation of a woman behind the frantically rushing hospital staff. The celestial vision had a soft smile on her face and her long auburn hair was so familiar. An angel, Alex thought. I’m either dying or already dead. Suddenly, the haze of befuddled confusion and consuming darkness vanished. Everything seemed so clear now, crystal clear.

Ignoring the cluster of hospital staff surrounding her and with a smooth, swift movement, Alex sat up and flung her long legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangling as they barely touched the floor on the elevated bed. Alex stared unwavering into the eyes of a nurse standing in front of her. The woman flinched and shivered but with a shrug visibly dismissed her uneasy feeling and continued to inject further medication into Alex’s arm as she lay on the bed.

Can the nurse see me sitting up? Which ‘me’ is the real me? Alex wondered briefly before her thoughts transferred to the translucent angel watching the proceedings. She’s definitely waiting for me, Alex decided, before glancing behind her. With interest, for a few lengthy moments, she gazed at her inert human body lying on the bed, surrounded by frenetic people. She glanced up at the monitor on the wall, but she couldn’t read or understand it. They were just squiggly, out of control lines and causing a great deal of angst amongst the staff.

She wriggled her bottom forward and with an effortless jump sprung onto the floor and stood at the foot of the bed beside the translucent woman. She watched the emergency team work frantically on her body. Palpable, vicious tension flew between them and a single bead of sweat rolled slowly down the doctor’s forehead as he discharged another defibrillating shock and yelled more instructions.

It’s time for us to go now, Alex, the translucent woman told her in a quiet tone.

Alex tilted her head to one side and took a long last look at her earthly remains. Okay, she agreed and immediately found herself and the woman encapsulated in infinite white space. Wow! That was … was so quick.

Alex’s brain resonated with clarity as she slowly turned in a circle and perused her new surrounds. She knew her body could feel physical sensation, but she could not feel her feet touching the floor. Was there even a floor? She looked down at her bare feet and noticed she was wearing her favourite vintage Chanel black dress, which clung like water to her sinuous body. Her forehead furrowed with quizzical lines.

I know this is a really tedious question you’ve probably heard like about a million times before, but where exactly are we? And who are you? You look just like all the women in our family. All the Lasalles women have always looked exactly the same: always have, always will. And where’s Mum and Dad? If I’m dead, why didn’t they come and get me?

The woman laughed. Your reputation precedes you, Alex. Your mother assured me you’d ask at least five questions before I could even introduce myself.

Ecstatic warm happiness flooded Alex’s body: she was definitely going to see her parents again. The warmth, the joy, the relief, was incredible.

She revelled in the information for long moments before eventually focusing intently on the transparent woman. Besides the fact she was so petite, she had the same long wavy auburn hair, translucent pale skin, and a sensual small black spot just under her left eye. She turned her attention to the woman’s clothing and saw a lavish full-skirted azure-blue gown with an intricately woven gold-coloured wide belt.

How odd, Alex thought. Her clothing looks like an era from centuries ago. Why would an angel wear an old-fashioned dress? Where was the ubiquitous halo and wings?

I am indeed a Lasalles ancestor of yours, Alex, the stranger interrupted her thoughts. I died in the eighteenth century. My name is Yolande and I’m here to –

But where’s Mum and Dad? Alex interjected. If I’m dead, why weren’t they the ones to come and get me?

Details will come in time, Alex, and you’re here with me in this place to make a decision: the most important decision of your life.

Cal! What about Cal? I can’t believe I forgot …

He’s fine, Alex, just fine. His injuries looked far worse than they actually are, Yolande pacified, raising her hand. The hospital staff have everything well under control.

But I have to go back and make sure he’s okay, even if it’s just for a second. Please help me do it. Please, Alex begged, her hands clasped together. He looked so badly hurt in the car accident we just had; so much worse than me. I barely had a bit of a scratch but his head was soaked with blood, so take me back. Now. Take me back, she demanded. At first I accepted all this, but now ... Alex’s head swivelled, frantic for an escape, some way she could get back to Cal.

Yolande sighed. I can’t take you back at this very moment, Alex. It’s not the right time, not yet.

Panting, Alex flung her body onto the white floor. But there is no floor, she realised. This space is nothing. Maybe I am now nothing.

Any last vestige of the pervading calm and acceptance left her brain and she clawed at her throat with her hands. Her heart pumped so erratically she could feel her blood coursing through her jugular veins. I mustn’t panic, she told herself. Please God, please don’t let me have one of those panic attacks I used to get. The horror, however, wouldn’t go away and she imagined angst-inducing black ants starting to trudge relentlessly through her veins, biting and infecting every part of her body. Alex could feel her body temperature rise and that overall hot prickly feeling she would get that pre-empted a panic attack. She all too well recognised the feeling, she’d had occasional panic attacks ever since her parents had died.

Yolande bent over Alex and peered into her pallid face. Relax, Alex, relax.

"How can I?" Alex snapped. She closed her eyes and willed her body to return to the hospital, envisaging the scene in the emergency department. She imagined nurses rushing, heard the intrusive alarm of her cardiac monitor, the crying of a sick and fractious child in the next bed, and the insistent ringing of telephones.

"Stop it, Alex, please stop it. I know what you’re doing and you must not go back there. Focus on my voice. We’re Lasalles women. We’re strong, Yolande insisted. You need to stay here with me, Alex. Stay with me. Please don’t try and mentally escape; if you’re too agitated in this realm, you’ll return to your body in the hospital and perhaps will not live."

Alex slowly inhaled and exhaled through pursed lips. That’s it, relax, and breathe deeply for me, Yolande soothed. We’ve got plenty of time for the moment.

A minute passed in silence. Can you at least tell me if Cal’s truly okay? Or me? Will I be okay? There, I mean, back where I was? Alex eventually asked, opening her eyes.

Regarding your … being, there is much to discuss, Yolande answered. As for Cal, he really is quite fine; his injuries aren’t as bad as initially thought and he’ll probably be discharged in one or two days’ time.

"Well, I just hope he is indeed okay; that’d be at least one reassuring thing. But just one more thing: When I was sitting on my bed, one of the nurses in front me seemed to know I was there – or something was there. She looked so startled for a second and she shivered. Could she have seen me?"

"No, not seen you as such, but some people, especially hospital staff who’ve been in their job for a long while, start to pick up on things when it comes to their patients. Sometimes they just feel things. Overall, though, she wouldn’t have seen anything.

But this is all about you, Alex, Yolande continued, We need to concentrate on you. You’re here in this realm to make the most important decision of your life. Your human life is in a precarious position and your decision is of vital importance to the outcome of your life. Yolande shook her head hard. I know you’re upset, and believe me when I say I know how you feel because this happened to me once too, but we’re here for a reason and you must make a choice. I need you to listen to me very, very carefully. Are you ready for the decision, Alex?

Okay, then. Hit me. Alex nodded.

You have to make a choice. You have the choice to live or to die.

Right now?

Right now.

Alex rigidly paced as she considered the ultimatum of life or death. This is ludicrous. Positively absurd. She swung to face Yolande. I can’t even begin to tell you how confused I am …

I know, Alex, I truly do know.

On one hand, I want to be with Mum and Dad in heaven and I’d love to have that chance – a chance to be with them again. A warm ache of the thought of her parents filled Alex’s chest. "But I love my life; I have a fantastic life – my career is hot on the ascension and I’m positive Cal is the one and he’s going to pop the question any time soon. We love living together and our life together in our new apartment is running like perfect clockwork. And Marbella; she’s my touchstone in this life, I love her. Plus what about my cat, Mickey? He’d be lost without me and Cal hates cats. And what about my best friend, Lauren? I’d never see her daughter grow up. I don’t know what to do. What to say …"

Alex’s eyes implored Yolande to help make the decision for her. I can’t make this ultimate judgement right now, she thought. I need more time, I need eons of time.

"Alex, if you choose to live, you must know your life won’t be the same – it’ll never be the same. We have a force in our family so many Lasalles women before you have tried to reckon with, to fight, and have inevitably failed. Everything you know of today will be gone."

"What does that even mean? How can it be gone? Alex pleaded, clutching her hands together, her elbows locked. What about my whole life?"

Try not to think of the little things, Alex.

Alex raised an ironic eyebrow. Little? You call those things little? she scoffed. Now I know you’re being ridiculous.

Largely what you are speaking of are material things. Yolande raised her hands. And of course I’m not saying Cal is a material thing, but your intended path with him may not eventuate. Remember, a lot of what will happen will entirely be out of your control.

Yolande tensed her shoulders. Alexandra, I must tell you the truth. I did this to you. I’m so sorry, but I did it to you. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity for you to be at the right place, at the right time to –

"You what? Alex howled, her knees buckling. Why? Why would you do that to us? Make us have a car accident? That’s … that could be premeditated murder."

Please, Yolande implored. I beg you, please allow me to explain.

Alex sat with a thump, brought her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her long legs. She buried her head in her arms and gave one short nod in agreement before Yolande continued: "I did not, I swear to you, I did not cause the car accident, but when I knew you were in a hospital, I utilised the opportunity I’ve been waiting for many years. I’ve been waiting for you to be in a safe place, a hospital, before I made you on the fringe of life and death. You have to be dying, Alex, before I can bring you to this place. I couldn’t do it if you weren’t somewhere where people couldn’t bring you back to life; I didn’t want to risk it. I’ve waited years, Alex, years to do this to you and tell you the truth about our Lasalles heritage."

Alex looked up. But if you can make me dead, why couldn’t you make me alive again, regardless of where or what I was? None of this makes sense.

It’s so complicated. I’m new to this and –

Oh great, Alex huffed, Heaven sends me a newbie. You’d think I’d be worthy of someone with a little more experience.

Please, Alex, please listen. Yolande waited a few moments until Alex nodded acceptance once again. As I said, it’s complicated. Each present-day Lasalles woman who experiences what you are now going through is allocated a new spirit guide that appears to the present-day woman in ghostly form. We’ve all experienced your exact position, albeit it may have been hundreds of years ago.

So you’re not an angel, you’re more like a ghost. Okay, I accept that. But why wait until I’m in a hospital to do this … Alex waved her arms around her, … this thing?

I do have some power, but my power is initially limited; it’s like that for all the spirit guides in the beginning. You could look at it like a journey you and I have to do together: we’re both new and we both have to learn. And I was worried; worried I didn’t have the strength to bring you back, and if you were in a hospital, I knew they could probably bring you back if I failed.

Alex stared at Yolande for a long moment, processing the information. Probably, huh? How very reassuring, she answered in a sarcastic tone. Okay, so we’ve done that explanation; how about you tell me what’s going on?

Our Lasalles history is so complex and I need hours to explain. That amount of time, however, we don’t have right now, but I will in the future, I promise. In short, all of this is about a curse on the women on the maternal side of our family. I know your mother and your father died when you were eleven and it’s tradition you must be seventeen before any Lasalles woman is told of the curse. We’ve lived with that curse for almost seven hundred years.

Alex’s mouth dropped open. What? So who is … is doing this?

Marbella. Yolande gritted her teeth, preparing for an onslaught of disbelief, Marbella is doing it. She is doing it because she has eternal life.

Marbella? Heat flooded Alex’s face as she swiftly stood. "As in my great aunt Marbella, my only living relative? Are you serious?" Alex screeched. This can’t be happening, she thought. I can’t grasp this bizarre stupidity.

I know it’s hard, Alex, but –

"But she is human. The most wonderful human I know. Without her I probably would’ve jumped off a bridge by now. Somehow, and I don’t know how, she lifted me out of the depression I periodically had for years after Mum and Dad died. She spent countless hours counselling me and did a much better job than any of those grief therapists she also sent me to. She cared for me, looked after me, fed and clothed me, and paid for my private school and uni fees. This is insane. Pure and utter insanity."

I understand your confusion, Alex.

"Confusion? You have no idea. Absolute zero."

There has always been frantic denial from every Lasalles woman who has been confronted with the fact that Marbella is indeed a bad, no, an evil person. No woman ever believes it at first; I know I certainly didn’t. Initially, when I was in your position in the eighteenth century, a terrible tragedy occured, something that could’ve been prevented if I’d believed Marbella was evil, but because I didn’t believe it, the tragedy happened and I was guilt-stricken for the rest of my short life. Like you, I thought she loved me.

Yolande remained silent for a few moments, allowing Alex to process details. Go on, Alex eventually prompted in a cold tone.

There are so many intricate details and you’ll learn of those in the future, as I said. Let me just tell you that the decision you must make in the here and now will either cease or continue the family curse. I can’t begin to tell you how much it pains me to say this, but if you choose to die, the curse will be negated, wiped out. If you choose to live, however, the family curse will continue.

I … I don’t understand any of this. This is seriously crazy. Alex rubbed her forehead hard. "Are you really telling me I am the one who must decide if this so-called curse continues or stops? That it is my choice?"

Yes. I am so sorry to say it, but yes.

What’s this curse, anyway? What’s it about?

Yolande drifted a little closer to Alex. "It’s about the continuation of eternal life. If you choose to live, Marbella will attempt to ensure you live eternally. You have no idea of her power, her strength, and she will use that strength to hurt you.

And it’s not just about eternal life, either, Yolande quickly continued as she saw Alex open her mouth to spew forth further denial. Every Lasalles woman who refused Marbella subsequently died because of her refusal and cannot go to heaven – or a place humans on Earth call heaven. We don’t go to hell, as some people call it, but it’s not your idea of heaven either. We call it the ‘other realm’. The best way to explain it is like it’s between worlds; we’re not harmed, feel no pain, but we can’t continue to your idea of heaven. We’re in a place similar to this. Yolande lifted her hands, embracing their empty surrounds. "It’s like the old story of the sins of the fathers, excepting in our case it’s the sins of the mothers – the fault of the women in our family who did accept eternal life. If, however, we refuse the offer of eternal life, we are subsequently killed and then go to the other realm. We have been stuck in that realm since this all began in the fourteenth century."

"I’ve heard of nothing of this, ever. I don’t believe you at all. Maybe you’re just a nightmare. Through half-closed eyes that venomously pierced the ghost, Alex strode the few remaining paces between herself and Yolande and breathed hard into her face. Marbella has been like a mother to me and never mentioned anything like this. She loves me, utterly loves me; she tells me everything and she’d never, ever force me into eternal life or anything I didn’t want to do. As for your other realm, I don’t believe you. You must take me back to where I was. I demand it! Now. Do it now."

"Alex, this is the truth and Marbella will play you like a game if you choose to live. She has played you your entire life, Yolande replied in a harsh tone, ignoring Alex’s vindictive body language. But this is no game; this is a complex decision that has far-reaching consequences. Remember that: A complex decision that has far-reaching consequences. Marbella always uses that line and she inevitably will with you, too, so try and remember it. Other people could, and undoubtedly will, die if you choose to live. You’re an intelligent woman, Alex, and I need you to make your decision and meet that challenge with strength."

Alex stumbled backward as she listened to Yolande’s hard tone of conviction. Tremors shook her whole body. Strength. Right. Got it. Actually, I don’t get it. I feel sick to the very core. I’m sure this is just a fabrication in my head because I’m unconscious.

Calm, Alex, calm. I need, I truly need you to believe me and make the choice. If you choose to live, you’ll be responsible for all the Lasalles women remaining in the other realm. If you choose to die, however, we’ll be free to go to what you call heaven and you will be with us.

No! Alex shouted, flinging up her hands. "Absolutely no. Don’t try and make me make do this. I have my whole life ahead of me: my life with Cal, children I could have with him, my career, everything."

One last thing, Alex, Yolande responded, purposefully ignoring Alex’s denial. The datura flower is the fundamental core of us; through datura, you’ll be able to communicate with me.

I know this is not true, I’m dreaming, I must be, Alex whispered. But if it’s true, she continued in a louder voice, you actually expect me to learn to communicate on top of everything else? Can’t you, I don’t know, appear like you’ve just done? Excepting the next time, with a bit of luck, you won’t try and kill me, Alex finished in a sour tone.

"I promise faithfully I will never do this to your again, Alex. Never. But you need to learn to create your own power and strength and believe in that power. You need to find some datura and use your senses: your sight, smell, and touch. Hold the flower in your cupped hands, feel it, let the scent wash over you, and – "

Alex’s back stiffened. Oh, come on, Yolande, this whole thing is complete and utter rot. I feel like my head is about to explode and now you’re sprouting some ridiculous garbage about communicating with datura flowers, like we’re witches or something.

We’re not witches, Alex. Yolande smiled with wry amusement. We’re far more complex than that. If you make the definitive choice to live, and you wish to continue to do so, you must believe in datura. Believe in datura and believe in us.

Alex stuck out her jaw. Okay. Whatever.

Yolande gazed into Alex’s flushed face. "This is important, Alex, and I implore you to listen carefully. You must believe in datura. Hold the flower, let the scent wash over you, and focus on our Lasalles heritage, your ancestral women, myself and your mother, Carys."

Alex felt a swift pang stab her chest. Not my dad at all?

No, not your father. Andre was not of our blood. This is all about the Lasalles women.

All about the Lasalles women, Alex repeated with a slow nod. Okay, I think I’m beginning to grasp this. Maybe. She started to pace once again but quickly stopped. Oh no, she moaned. I just realised: does this mean my mother is in the other realm but my father is in heaven, that they’re not together?

Yes, Alex. I’m so sorry, but yes.

I still don’t believe you; I won’t and I don’t.

We must leave soon, Alex; our time is almost up. Have you made your decision?

Alex turned her back on Yolande, her shoulders taut. The ensuing pause of silence consumed the space as tension between the two women grew. Alex’s brain screamed the desire to get away from this farce, this nightmare, and return to Cal and the normality of the real world.

You said the Lasalles women are strong; I certainly know Marbella is, and so am I, Alex eventually spoke, her rigid back turned away from Yolande. "Whatever you claim about Marbella now, I know she’ll sort out this ridiculous travesty of lies and invention. I know you’re just a unconscious nightmare and you’re obviously misguided if you think Marbella is the enemy; she’s been my touchstone since I was eleven years old. So yes, my answer is yes. I want the truth. I want to live."

Very well, then. Yolande nodded. "Despite your disbelief, Alex, I need you to remember the importance of datura, it is absolutely crucial you do so. I need you to believe." Yolande smiled softly and with the heightened scent of the datura flower drifting throughout the air, she slowly faded.

That’s it? Alex yelled, intrinsically aware she was now alone. She swiftly swung her body to where Yolande had been standing. I say ‘yes’ and that’s it? No more explanations? she called to the empty space. You can’t leave me here. How do I get back? This is madness, Alex wailed as the soft spoken words, Remember datura … datura … datura … reverberated throughout the empty space.

Alex flung her body to the floor, but could not feel it. She stared at her surroundings of infinite white space. No walls, no ceiling, just engulfing white space. She opened her mouth and screamed but no sound emanated from her throat. Her mind slowly dulled to an encompassing black.

Alex felt nothing.

two

The day after her discharge from hospital, Alex crossed her ankles, leant back on her elbows, and idly circled a glass of sauvignon blanc. Surrounding her, a public park with profuse foliage and lush green grass bordered the harbour on Sydney’s lower north shore. She closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the glistening blue sky, inhaling a deep breath of fresh ocean air. She recalled the mental angst she’d experienced throughout her hospital stay as she’d remembered time and time again the dream – or not really a dream as such, but the nightmare about her ghostly ancestor. Despite her repugnance, vivid images of the angry altercation kept whipping through her memory until she thought she’d go mad.

Her mind turned to the medical team and how they were utterly baffled as to why she’d had no residual trauma from the countless episodes of her fibrillating heart after she’d been subjected to every pathology test and scan under the sun. She had begged the doctors for an early release, but their forceful arguments had her eventually submitting to their demands that she stay until they were sure she was not on the verge of a relapse.

She thought it ironic that she was the one that mandatorily had to stay almost a week in hospital when she’d merely walked into the Emergency Department with a deep cut on her leg, whilst it was Cal who’d been the one who’d been rushed into one of the Resuscitation Bays with what was thought was a potential head injury, but it had just turned out to be a deep laceration on the back of his head. All the myriad neurological testing and CT and MRI scans they’d done on him were one hundred percent perfect and he was free to go, albeit he was experiencing severe pain from the deep laceration and felt very sorry for himself.

My poor, beloved Cal, Alex thought to herself before her thoughts focused on the present. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled fondly at her Great Aunt Marbella sitting beside her on their picnic blanket.

The sun on my face feels truly sublime after being held like a prisoner for a week or so. I can almost feel the vitamin D sinking into my skin, Alex finally spoke. And thanks for the delicious delicacies in our celebratory picnic, Marbella, it’s a huge change from hospital food. Although to be honest, it was surprisingly good, she told her aunt, who, seemingly lost in thought, ignored her rambling conversation. Knowing you were coming back from Europe yesterday and that I would see you today kept me sane and centred. Cal is hopeless when it comes to illness – not that of course I really was ill and it’s him that’s unwell, but I didn’t tell him about that ghostly nightmare I had because it felt so … so private – either private or I temporarily lost my mind.

I can’t tell you how good it is to see you too, dearest. I missed you, Marbella finally responded. Still no side effects from your so-called heart condition?

None at all, and I should be able to go back to work on Monday; just as well really, because my boss is getting a bit ancy. We’ve been at watershed for weeks because that French company is still attempting their takeover and the whole staff have been practically manic with stress – although we all internalise it of course, and are our usual graceful selves.

Marbella nodded in silent agreement as Alex lifted her head, her mouth twisted with amusement as she gazed at the flourishing green leaves and profuse white bell-like flowers of the datura tree that gave them shade from their fair skin. "How ironic we’re sitting under a datura tree. Alex grinned at her aunt. And now that lunch is done and dusted, it’s time I told you more about my nightmare and the whole datura thing."

Yes, Alexandra, it is indeed time, Marbella answered in a quiet voice.

And I can’t wait to tell you more about it. Alex tossed her head and ran her fingers through her long hair. The whole thing was so ludicrous and –

Ludicrous, my darling Alex? Marbella interjected. "I think not. And before you go any further, it’s time you’re told the real reason why I’m in your life."

What on earth do you mean? Alex smiled. There is no real reason: you were the only person left in our family after Mum and Dad died and you’re my aunt, or rather my great aunt; not that you look a day older than someone in their thirties. Your body is to die for. I’d do anything to know of your secret to eternal youth and beauty. Don’t the Irish have a fable or some type of place they go to if they –

"Alexandra, do stay focused," Marbella interrupted in a cold tone.

Alex felt a frisson of unease and the smile dropped from her face: her aunt never spoke to her abruptly. She glanced at the datura tree above them and unconsciously shuddered.

"Alex, you did not have a dream, or a nightmare, as you so often refer to it. You did indeed have a real experience and, as much of what Yolande told you was a despicable and vile lie, one thing she did tell you is true: the women in the Lasalles family can have eternal life."

Alex’s jaw dropped. Unable to assimilate her aunt’s words, she focused on Marbella’s long hair and wondered why she’d always styled it so straight and blonde, almost ice blonde, when all the Lasalles women had long, auburn wavy hair. She obviously had an amazing hairdresser because she would be well and truly grey by now, she thought.

Marbella took a meditative sip of wine and gazed at Alex’s blank expression. You don’t want to think about it or believe me, do you, Alex? But we’re not a normal family and haven’t been for centuries. The Lasalles women do indeed own the gift of eternal life.

Alex shook her head hard. This whole thing is some elaborate joke, right? Have you been taking too many Class A drugs this week? You know I you told to lay off those. She nudged Marbella with her shoulder and giggled at her joke. Her aunt never took any drugs, not even paracetamol. Truly, Marbella, the whole thing with Yolande was some sort of cerebral aberration when I was unconscious, that’s all, but for some reason you’ve decided to go along with it, which is all very strange.

"It’s only understandable you think that, Ally. It’s always been a huge shock for each and every woman, but we can have the spectacular gift of eternal life. The Lasalles women who’ve chosen to join us belong in our group we call The Xanda."

Truly? Alex scoffed sarcastically.

Truly. Marbella nodded slowly in agreement. I also know you wonder why I look so young to be your great aunt, but the truth is I’m not your grandmother’s sister; I was born in thirteen-hundred and thirty-three, Marbella continued despite Alex’s snort of amused derision. I know this seems farcical, but you must have faith in me, Alex. We love each other; we’re all the family we have.

Alex swiftly grabbed hold of Marbella’s hand, staring hard into her face. "I know we love each other and always will, but have you any idea how