Sanctity (2 page)

“Yes, Michael, I do.”

Sixteen hours later Michael turned to me,
“Here we are,” he said and smiled weakly at me. 

I glanced around and saw that we were in a
neat little subdivision.  The street we were on was lined with
houses. They all had well-groomed lawns and manicured flower beds
circling each of the orderly mailboxes that dotted the curbs. 
I followed Michael has he led me along the walkway and to the front
door of one of the brick-faced homes then did my best to stand
directly behind him as he rang the bell.  I was terribly
nervous and shuffled from one foot to the other.

The door swung wide, “Michael?  Oh,
Michael, how good to see you.”  A woman stepped onto the porch
and wrapped him in a loving embrace.  I felt a brief spasm of
possessive jealousy but couldn’t help smiling as she looked over
his shoulder at me. 

Michael was decidedly more reserved and
self-possessed but the resemblance between him and the strange
woman was remarkable.  It was far too striking for me not to
know immediately that she was his mother.  Though her eyes
were blue they were the same shape and set as Michael’s and as she
smiled I could see a merry crinkle in their corners.  I could
tell that her hair was once nearly the same color as Michael’s as
well but was then somewhat grey.  She wore it all pulled back
into a neat French braid that she had folded under just above the
hairline of her neck.  The smile that she greeted me with was
intensely infectious and filled with a happy and curious warmth
that melted my fear almost immediately.

“And who is this?” She asked ducking behind
him to get a better look.

I started to answer but Michael interjected,
“This is Elayna, Elayna this is my mother Margaret.” 

A look of confused recognition flashed in
her eyes and when she glanced back up at Michael I couldn’t help
thinking that she looked angry and disappointed for some
reason.  I pretended not to have noticed as Margaret’s smile
returned and she held her hand out in greeting, “It is a pleasure
to meet you Elayna.” 

I was overwhelmed with a sudden attack of
shyness mostly because of what I had seen in her expression but I
was intent on pleasing Michael.  I took her hand and managed
to stumble out the words, “It’s nice to meet you Margaret.”

“Well, let’s not stand out here in the
cold,” she opened the door and motioned us inside.  She was
still smiling, though somewhat nervously and I wondered what
Michael had said or done to upset her.  I looked up to him for
approval before I stepped into the house and Michael looked down at
me encouragingly, “It’s OK Elayna, follow Margaret.”

Margaret led us down a short hallway into a
bright and homey kitchen.  It was warm and inviting and
smelled of freshly baked bread.  There was an island in the
middle of the kitchen and a bowl teeming with bright, red apples
sitting in the center of it.  The bread was on a cutting board
just beside it and when I noticed it my stomach turned in hunger.
 I was sure Margaret heard it protest as she looked back and
gestured to a raised table tucked into a little corner
nook. 

“Are you hungry Elayna?  Can I get you
something to eat?”

I looked imploringly to Michael and he
answered for me, “She would like that very much.  In the
meantime,” he stretched out his arm as we walked by the island and
grabbed one of the apples.  He half-heartedly polished it on
his coat and handed it to me as we settled into the stools around
the kitchen table. 

Michael sat quietly while I made quick work
of the apple.  After a few minutes of rummaging in the
refrigerator and shuffling around the island Margaret brought a
plate over and placed it in front of me.  It was a simple,
white plate and in the center was a slice of the fresh bread I
could smell as we came into the kitchen.  It was still quite
warm and spread with so much butter I could see it melting into
little pools.  On one side of the bread was an alternating
array of cured meats and some cheeses and on the other side she had
arranged some slices of carrots and red bell peppers.  It was
artfully done as though somehow Margaret believed that making the
food look better would also make it taste better.  I thanked
her wholeheartedly and began to pick at the various
offerings. 

On her second trip by me she placed a glass
of milk at my elbow.  While I cleared my plate Michael and
Margaret made small talk.  He asked her of the weather, how
she had been feeling, if there was anything he could help her with
over the next couple of days. 

“I have some things I need to do but I don’t
expect any of it to take very long.  I can stay as long as you
like if there is anything you could use some help with.”

“No, Michael, I cannot think of a single
thing but thank you for asking.”  She took his hand and gave
it a gentle squeeze then turned back to me.  “Are you quite
full?”

I smiled a shameful grin knowing my manners
had taken a back seat while they spoke and I had devoured nearly
every last scrap that had been on the plate.  “Thank you
Margaret.  It was very good.”

“Well, not to be disrespectful, Elayna” she
paused and briefly glanced back to Michael, “but you look like you
could use a shower and some fresh clothes.  Do you have any
with you?”

I looked to Michael, not knowing how to
reply, “I’m afraid she does not.  It was an...unexpected
trip.”

“I see.  Well, I’m sure I can come up
with something.  Why don’t you come with me Elayna?”  She
reached out her hand to guide me away from the table. 

I was clearly nervous at the prospect of
leaving Michael.  “I can show her the way,” he hurried himself
from his chair and drew me away before Margaret could make an
interjection.  “It will give you a chance to find something
for her to wear,” he glanced back over his shoulder.

“Yes, yes, of course,” she said.

Michael led me back down the hallway toward
the front door.  There was a wide staircase in the foyer
leading to the second floor.  We passed what must have been
the family room to our left.  It was quite spacious and
well-appointed with classic yet comfortable looking
furniture. 

As we reached the upstairs landing I noticed
that it was actually a bit of a balcony overlooking the
foyer.  It was decorated with family photos and there was a
round, leather coffee table with two lounging chairs facing one
another.  Michael took me to the right and down the hallway to
a bright and spacious room at the end.  The walls were painted
in a soft sage and the drapes were sheer and white allowing the
natural light from outside to bathe the room in a cozy
glow. 

On one wall was a row of doors that led to
closets, the wall we were facing had two bay windows, side by side
with matching seats built into them.  The third wall was where
the head of the bed had been placed with matching night stands on
each side.  The bed looked to be a queen size and was made up
with linens in varying shades of the sage that colored the
walls.  I took it all in as Michael stood patiently beside
me.

“Do you like it?”

“Very much,” I nodded enthusiastically.

“Good, I’ll have Margaret bring whatever she
finds here for you to change into.  The bathroom is right
outside the door, here on the left.”  I came to the doorway
and he flipped the lights on.

It was painted similarly to the bedroom but
instead of the greenish tint of sage the bathroom hinted at
blue.  There was a glass shower, a garden tub and a vanity
with a vase of dried flowers centered in the middle.  There
were two pedestal sinks one on each side of the vanity with oval
mirrors centered above them.   I noticed a separate
little enclosure where the toilet must have been and cubby shelves
built into the wall with rolls of towels in various sizes and
gentle shades of blue. 

“Feel free to use anything you like; I’m
sure you will find everything you might need and some.”  He
smiled as he turned to leave, “Elayna,” he stopped in the doorway,
“please take your time.”  It was not a request and not a
command but I understood that I should linger as long as I could
and that he needed some time to talk with Margaret alone.

As the door closed behind him I listened to
his footfalls fade down the hallway.  I looked around and
wondered where to begin.  The cubbies that held the towels
also had an array of natural sponges as well as soaps and lotions
and shampoos.  I uncapped a bottle of shampoo and took in its
scent.  It was a little too flowery for my tastes so I put it
back and sampled a few more.  I ended up selecting a shampoo
and a conditioner both in simple white bottles with black
letters.  They smelled subtly tropical and refreshing. 
There was a body wash with a similar scent that I brought to the
shower with me as well, along with a large, round sponge.

I undressed and folded my clothes as neatly
as I could manage and placed them on the floor near the
doorway.  It took a few minutes to figure out how to work the
shower.  There were jets on all sides of the enclosure and
knobs it seemed for each as well as controls to adjust the flow of
water to make it seem anywhere from a downpour to a misty
rain.  There was one large disc of a shower head hanging over
the center and after finding the control for this I turned all the
other jets off and adjusted the flow to a moderate
stream. 

I scrubbed myself from head to toe
thoroughly enjoying the sensation of being clean again.  The
water felt so nice splashing against my skin that I became
adventurous and started experimenting with the other jets.  I
had never had a massage before and could only imagine that with all
the water coursing over my back, shoulders and neck that it must be
somewhat similar.  I sat down thinking to enjoy it for a few
minutes.  I closed my eyes and rested my head on my knees and
before long I was picturing Michael and Margaret and felt as though
I was overhearing the conversation they were having in the
kitchen.

“Michael,” Margaret began her voice
imploring as she studied him.  She waited several moments for
an explanation. He tried to hold her gaze but he couldn’t bear the
way she was looking at him and turned away.  “I was under the
impression that Elayna was a young woman,” she continued. 
“Michael, please…” 

“I know.  I’m sorry I didn’t tell you
everything.  I didn’t think you would understand.  Please
don’t imagine the worst; it is not, it has never been, like
that.”  Michael paused, “I do love her though, I can’t help
myself,” he took a deep breath, “not as I am now,” he hung his head
regretfully.

“But you have done something to her, haven’t
you?”  Margaret took a step to where he was sitting and placed
her hand over his in a gesture of comfort, “Oh, I know, I know she
is not like you, I know she is still…still a girl.  But she is
very much changed, isn’t she and you are responsible.”

“I had no choice,” his jaw clenched. 
“You know who she is and what she means to me.”

“But why?” Margaret persisted.

“I couldn’t let her… Victor…" Michael took a
deep breath, "Victor tried to kill her," the words rushed out.

“Victor?” Margaret was taken aback at the
mention of the name.

“I haven’t had the courage to tell her yet
but he…he killed her mother and father.  They were close
friends of mine and of course Elayna, I told you about her, how she
has been,” he sighed, “helping me.”

“Oh, Michael, no, no.  Victor…why, why
would he do that?” she shook her head confusedly. 

“Why else but to hurt me?  He has never
forgiven me, for telling you and Dad, or for not telling you and
Dad, what he had done.  I’m not sure which but he blames me
for losing you both, he always has.”

“But why her family and why now?  Why
after all these years?  I thought he was done punishing you
after…after he changed you.” 

“I don’t know Mother,” he shook his
head.  “Maybe because for the first time since any of this
happened I have been happy; resolved anyway to make the most of
this…life.” 

Michael turned back to Margaret, “He must
have been watching me for some time.  He knew where I lived,
knew my routines and when he came to me Victor said that he knew
how I had changed and he praised my…my self-control.   He
led me to believe that he was ready to change, too, and that he
came to me because he wanted my help.  It was all a lie
though! He wasn’t alone and before I realized what his intentions
really were he and another, the two of them; they were just too
much for me.”

“I tried to keep Elayna out of my thoughts!
I knew I needed to protect her, I couldn’t let Victor know that she
was the reason I could live the way I do.  I couldn't let him
know how important she was to me.  I kept hoping that he would
be satisfied with whatever he planned to do to me and let her
be.  He knew I was friends with her family though and it was
clear that he intended to take me there.  After he… after they
…they took so much from me and I was so weak.  I couldn’t stop
thinking about her and fearing for her.  Somehow she must have
sensed that there was something wrong and when we got to their
house, Elayna called out to me.  Victor, oh, God,” Michael hid
his face in his hands.  “Suddenly Victor seemed to know
everything in that instant and he understood how much she meant to
me.”  Margaret took a seat beside Michael as he continued his
explanation.

Somehow I was seeing the events that Michael
relayed to Margaret; remembering them and the images were filling
my mind.  I pictured myself that night slipping from my bed
and running to my balcony.  I heard myself calling out to
Michael and felt like I was reliving the moment as it
happened.  I remembered opening the balcony doors and finding
him there; his look of unimaginable helplessness apologizing to
me.  As I stepped toward him, though, Victor stepped from
behind him.   When I screamed Victor struck me so hard I
flew backward a number of feet and lost all sense of myself and my
surroundings.