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Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 35
(The Valley Of Temples.)The next day, Opal, Doug, Buttercup, Moonstruck and Bruce, were all shaded by umbrellas going up the road of the hill, to the temples. They stopped now and then, like the other stream of tourists, to look over the ridges at the steep drop of the pregnant countryside. Rose bushes and low shrubs ran along the roadsides that cars drove on to get to this heritage location and the fruit trees were blossoming. It was like stepping into the era of ancient Greece. The twelve-meter wall was chipped away by the axe of time, a large stone fortress that trees squeezed themselves into and grew from the curves of the rocks. Other trees and stones were thrown about on the dusty ground, scattered like toys on a kindergarten floor. Opal walked right into an oval gap in the wall and smiled at Doug's camera.******************The well-preserved temple of Concordia towered over them from a raised base. Like all the other temples, it turned its eyes eastward.The limestone col
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 36
(A Birthday Gift Gone Wrong.)It was their last night in Sicily. They had gotten what they had come here for. Opal kept the three stone tablets in her suitcase and thought of it no more. Tonight was Moonstruck's night. Today was Moonstruck's birthday.They had gone out into the town and ordered a chocolate cake from the bakery. Moonstruck loved chocolate, she was always munching on a Hershey bar every chance she got.The top of the cake was of white chocolate with brown chocolate dripping down the sides and colourful sprinkles around the bottom, set in a silver tray.Sixteen candles cast bright light upon Moonstruck's face.Sixteen was the age every girl dreamed of. The age when make-up was allowed, the leash of parenting was loosened, dreams drew closer to fulfilment and one walked the tight ropes of feeling like a woman and knowing you were not quite there as yet.Moonstruck spent the day at a spa, Doug's treat. While everyone else went out to get presents for her. Moonstruck go
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 37
(Sail your way into my heart.)"Leaving so soon."Hercules sneaked up behind Buttercup at the airport.She turned and was surprised when she saw him there, his suitcase balancing on the foot of his jeans.Earlier Hercules had seen the group dragging their bags out the hotel's front door. They hailed two cabs and instructed the driver to take them to the airport. Hercules had rushed to his room to pack, all the time hoping that he would get to the airport before they left.**************************He was out of breath, but he tried to appear as cool as possible.The two teenagers were at the water fountain lapping up the squirting liquid. The other man Hercules had seen Buttercup with and the pregnant woman, were talking to the lady at the counter, an impatient line behind them.Buttercup was just about to sit in one of the plastic chairs when Hercules came along."Didn't expect to run into you."She ran a hand down her long floral dress and sat. "These unexpected meetings."Hercul
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 38
(Love Is Crazy.)It was a brilliant first night at sea.The sky covered their heads and reminded Opal of a black sheet she sat in bed under as a child and read by flashlight countless novels, when the household had gone to sleep.The light of the moon was close and dusted her face with glowing fingertips, as the flashlight once did.The water cantered, splashed and rolled in waves around the sides of the yacht.Moments later a huge wave curled itself into monstrous shapes, rising up and opening like a paper fan before the boat. Almost like a flick of the hand, the fan snapped closed and the wave relaxed into the ocean.Opal yawned as she held on to the side of the upper deck, she whipped her hair to the side with a dash of her head and from the corners of her eyes, she saw Buttercup walk the back of the yacht. Buttercup had not seen Opal. She stood where the propellers spin the water into a sudsy strip. She transformed, spread her wings and soared.********************** Now it was j
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 39
(Freedom.)Another day at sea. Hercules put the pack of cigarette back into his shirt pocket and stood beside Doug.It was sunny and the wind smelled like that headless fish that they had in a box within the kitchen.Saltfish it was called.Buttercup was below cooking up a storm and Doug had already told him that Buttercup's cooking was a trap."A good trap or a bad trap?"Hercules had asked him.Doug had smiled."You will taste for yourself."Doug had replied.Hercules had lit a cigarette and watched as Doug walked over to Bruce. Bruce sat in a chair by the side of the boat in jeans shorts, no shirt and a broad hat. He looked every bit like a relaxed tourist.He had a fishing rod in his hands and though he had cast a line hours ago, he had caught nothing."Fish ain't taking the bait?"Hercules heard Doug say.Bruce shook his head to indicate no."Maybe it is not the right bait."Hercules kept on smoking. He watched the sails puffing its white chest out.*******************************
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 40
(The Antidote.)Jatray flew down the stairs. Sometimes she wondered why they were there, if she never physically climbed them. Yet she loved this old house. She was comfortable here to be herself. Of all her properties, this was the only one, where all her staff were Vampires. Here she kept the old ways, where Vampires stick to their own clan. Here she could be nothing else but a Vampire.She walked over to the shoe stand and laced a blue sneakers to her feet.She decided to take an evening walk.She went out the back door and towards the park.The trees made her think of strip dancers on a pole. They were almost naked as fallen leaves came winding down the bark, settling as discarded clothing on the ground.She came to the open iron gates of the park and sat on a wooden bench, observing a child's birthday party in full swing.Two portable, folding tables were loaded with refreshments and snacks. The cake was shaped like a racing car. Five candles stood in the blue icing top, that slan
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 41
(Stepping Over The Threshold.) Jatray stood under a tree that glanced over the fence. There was an electrical post beside the tree and it curled its branches around the wire. The tree had green blossoms and colonies of black berries sprouting. A blackbird sat on the electrical wire that ran through the limbs, it pecked at a yellow blossom and dropped it towards Jatray. A gift perhaps, from one blackened soul to the other. Jatray lifted to the sky.She was following a scent. The lure of passion fruit and melon. Jatray had returned to the park twice but Izzy was not there, however her scent had imprinted on Jatray's senses and she wondered if the woman was alright.Now, three days later, the scent had led her to a stone house settled on green pastures. Jatray came down behind a tree and watched Izzy hanging out the last shirt in her laundry basket on a line, with clothespins from her apron pocket. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, picked up the basket and went inside.
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 42
(Married To The Devil.)The palm trees were close and the leaves weaved over and under each other, like the dry straws used to craft a basket. So were Jatray's thoughts woven in despair, as she lifted Journey from the back seat of her car and the girl's head rolled back and slanted over her elbow.Jatray knew as she carried Journey down the path.Izzy followed behind her and Jatray's sharp ears heard her teeth crunching nervously into each nail.Kimmy opened the door as Jatray approached. "Good evening."She said. There was curiosity hidden behind her eyes.Which was understandable, because she wasn't accustomed to seeing Jatray bringing strangers here. Especially, holding one so close."Good evening Kimmy. Can you put some tea on, something extra sweet to calm the nerves?"She looked at Kimmy and Kimmy nodded."Also get the First Aid Kit and meet me upstairs.""Surely."Kimmy replied.Jatray didn't fly up to the second floor as she did sometimes. It was not a human thing to do. Ins