TODAY WE WELCOME AUTHOR, LILIAN ROBERTS, WHO IS SHARING A CHAPTER OF HER NOVEL, 'ARIELLE - IMMORTAL JOURNEY' WHICH IS BOOK 5 IN THE 'RAPTURE SERIES' #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

Chapter 14

On Saturday morning, Arielle was getting pretty excited. It was the day before her birthday, and she was to meet Eva and Gabrielle this afternoon at Eva’s house. She couldn’t wait to get into some of those clothes that represented that special period of time that was so dear to her ever since Sebastian’s beautiful self-walked in her life.

It was four in the afternoon when she arrived at Eva’s, and there was moisture in the air. It looked like it was going to be a wet and cool evening. Gabrielle arrived fifteen minutes later, and they walked into the family room. Eva had acquired, and printed a huge variety of information, and pictures from the Internet, which depicted the female attires of the 16th century era. They sat next to each other, and spent a lot of time looking through those pages. Arielle found some that she really liked, but not exactly what she had in mind.

“Eva, can you manifest the gown the way I want it to look, even if it’s not shown in one of these pages?” Arielle asked, and her gaze met Eva’s.

“I can manifest just about anything you would like to ware. If you can’t describe it in words, sketch it on a piece of paper,” she said.

It had been about one hour, when Arielle realized that Gabrielle, and Eva, had made their choices. She had a clear vision of what the dress should look like. She sketched it on a piece of paper, and wrote the fabric, and the colors, that she chose. Eva took a good look at the three choices, and smiled wide.

“This will be memorable,” she murmured. She stood in front of Gabrielle, closed her eyes and thought of Gabrielle in the dress she chose, and to Arielle’s astonishment Gabrielle was transformed to this fabulous 16th century beauty, wearing the exact same gown she chose from the Internet pages.

The bodice of her gown was a soft silk burgundy color, with an awesome velvet crimson skirt that hugged her body in a very stunning way. It was embroidered all over with beautiful stones, and pearls. Arielle’s jaw dropped in pure astonishment. Gabrielle looked in the mirror, and covered her mouth with her hand trying to hold back a cry of exhilaration.

“Oh… My… you look amazing!” Arielle mumbled, unable to believe her eyes. Gabrielle kept that happy smile, as she walked back and forth a couple times, and then moved over in front of the full-length mirror. They heard her let out a cry of joy, while Arielle watched her bounce back towards them with excitement.

“All right Arielle, you are next,” Eva’s voice startled her, as she watched Eva walk in front of her with a soft smile. She took a quick glimpse of the page Arielle drew, and closing her eyes she manifested her anticipated gown. Arielle had an extraordinary feeling, as she found herself standing in the middle of the room in this awesome dress. It looked more amazing than what she drew on that piece of paper. She heard Gabrielle and Eva cry out in astonishment, and she could tell that her choice was exquisite. She walked over to the full-length mirror, and let out a cry of bliss, as the girl that looked back at her was absolutely beyond anything she pictured in her own mind. The dress was magnificent; the bodice was made out of light blue brocade that accentuated the color of Arielle’s eyes, and hugged her body tightly emphasizing her figure. The neck was a v shape cut low decorated by beautiful sapphire stones, along the edges bringing out her soft pale skin. The skirt was made out of several yards of lamenting dark blue velvet, that hung open in the front disclosing another beautiful light blue silk skirt embroidered with pearls. The edges of the velvet skirt were lined with beautiful jewels. Arielle gasped with pleasure engulfed in silk, and brocade that made her eyes seemed much brighter. The sleeves were flowing down her arms and came tight around the wrist; they made the dress look graceful and very 16th century.

Eva worked to put her immortal self in her gorgeous gown. When she was finished she looked more like a porcelain doll that a real person.

“Eva you look fantastic!” Arielle exclaimed. “I don’t think I have ever seen a person more beautiful that you.”

Eva chuckled, extremely pleased. “Oh, it’s just my immortal looks,” she said waiving her hand dismissively. “But, look at the two of you!” she added, pointing at Arielle and Gabrielle. “You both look unbelievably gorgeous.”

Thrill surged through Arielle and Gabby at Eva’s words, and pure exuberance filled the air.

“So…how did I do?” Eva asked, watching her best friend’s awestruck faces. Her voice was filled with enthusiasm.

Gabrielle and Arielle were speechless, beaming in pure delight. They didn’t seem to notice Eva’s question. After a long pause, they began to parade back and forth, in front of each other, stopping here and there in front of the full-length mirror just to stare…unable to believe the striking girls that looked back at them.

Eva giggled. “One more thing,” she called out loud enough to snap them out of their reverie.

They both stopped moving, and turning around they faced Eva with quizzical look in their faces and eyes wide open.

Eva gave them an apologetic glance followed by laughter. “Now that I have your attention,” she said, “we need to be rid of all jewelry, engagement rings etc. It’s a sorority rule for this competition.”

“How about my necklace?” Arielle said, reaching up and placing her hand over the amulet. “I’m not taking it off.”

“I’ll be with you, Arielle, you don’t need that necklace,” Eva said. “The rules of the contest are that we make this as authentic as possible.” Eva furthered convincingly.

They both took their jewelry off and placed it in Eva’s jewelry box. They walked together to the foyer looking at each other and smiling in absolute exhilaration.

“Are you ready to go?” Eva asked.

“Yes, we sure are,” Arielle, replied running her hands over the amazing skirt of her gown, and looking totally mesmerized.

Gabby moved over to Eva’s left and Arielle stood to her right. Eva reached out and took their hands. Arielle thought that Eva was doing something to complete the manifestation.

“All right,” Eva murmured. “Are you ready! Hold on to my hands tightly!”

Arielle smiled, thinking of her mind-blowing dress. What would Sebastian think if he saw her in it? The thought made her giddy.

Suddenly an enormous push literally ripped the air out of her lungs. A blinding flash traveling faster than the wave of an explosion ricocheted across her eyes forcing them shut. A strong swirling sensation tore her consciousness away from her brain. She was utterly disoriented. She wanted to scream but not a single muscle in her body wanted to cooperate. What in bloody hell is happening to me? she started to think, but before that thought had a chance to travel across the waves of her brain, another flash brighter than the first tore right underneath her eyelids and an inexplicable pressure rendered her utterly numb. She was desperately trying to get some air into her lungs, confused and unaware that she was being moved through time and space in nanoseconds.

It was a very long moment of that and suddenly complete stillness. She remained unmoving, while her brain came back to life slowly, releasing adrenaline into her bloodstream. Her heart rate picked up and her muscles tightened shooting a throbbing ache to her temples. A distant noise gripped her attention but she couldn’t identify it. She inhaled a mouthful of air and slowly she tried to open her eyes, but her lids felt weighted and would not cooperate. This had to be a bizarre dream. Her head was throbbing, and her muscles ached. She finally snapped her eyes open and stared in clear dismay, because nothing within her vision looked familiar. She pressed her eyes shut once again and barreled through her thoughts. This is a crazy bloody dream, she thought as panic shot through her once again. A soft voice gripped her attention and she forced her lids open. Wheeling, she turned her attention to the person alongside of her and met a pair of familiar eyes that were smiling warmly at her.

“Eva!” she cried out, as memories of strained emotions seared through her brain and made her quiver. “Wha…what…” she struggled to say, her voice weak but she couldn’t finish. Glancing over Eva’s shoulder she saw Gabby, looking confused and disoriented. Something is just not right, she thought to herself. Lowering her gaze she noted that she was still holding hands with Eva. She frowned and looking up she stared into Eva’s eyes without saying a word. Vast amounts of questions and emotions still scattered about her head.

She seized the moment to take another look around but just as the first time, nothing registered. Shocked and thoroughly baffled she turned to face Eva once again. “Wh…where are we? What happened?” she stammered.

Gabby’s yelping drew her attention and glancing over, she noticed the excited look on Gabby’s face.

She was about to look back at Eva, when Gabby started to jump up and down like a small child clapping her hands and giggling uncontrollably. Arielle’s jaw dropped at the sight, what in bloo…? she started to say, when Gabby began to call out over and over again with overwhelming excitement, “Oh. My. God. Eva! You did it…you did it…you bloody did it!”

Arielle’s mind wondered again, as Gabby’s words were suspended in the air until Eva’s restrained voice reeled her back. “Calm down Gabby, you’re scaring Arielle.”

You’re scaring Arielle? Eva’s words slumped into Arielle’s brain waking up every nerve in her body. Arielle pressed her lips together and straightening up she took another careful look around.

They were standing in the middle of a poorly lit busy street that didn’t look familiar at all. She was sure that they were not in Brighton any longer, but where in bloody hell? She didn’t finish the thought because a wide range of intense emotions made her feel disconnected from her surrounding.

Astonished she looked back at Gabrielle, thinking she would explain, but she was wrong. Averting her gaze to Eva she was surprised to find her smiling in utter bliss.

“Eva where are we?” Arielle whispered, totally stunned. She kept looking around in sheer perplexity. She was too scared to make any assumptions or jump to any conclusions. The street looked that of an old city that had been built hundreds of years before their time. Happy people were buzzing around them shouting in French, dressed in outfits of a different era.

Arielle squeezed Eva’s hand, and started to say something, when she was suddenly yanked aside by Eva’s strong arm to avoid being trampled by a couple of carriages that rode right passed them. Eva’s strong hands held Gabrielle and Arielle steady as their jaws dropped, and they both felt completely dazed. They were in utter shock; left utterly speechless one more time. Arielle dragged in a gasp.

“Eva where in bloody hell are we?” she finally muttered finding her voice again.

“Happy Birthday, Arielle,” she heard both Gabrielle and Eva, say in unison with ecstatic voices. Their wish seemed to go by unnoticed because Arielle’s mind was too occupied in trying to grasp her surroundings. “I don’t understand. Where are we?” Arielle asked again completely out of breath.

“We’re in Calais,” Eva said excitingly.

“Calais, France?” Arielle, shrieked.

“Yes…” Eva’s voice pressed on with a hint of humor. “This is the calendar year of our lord fifteen hundred,” she announced, laughingly waving her hand vaguely, her voice that of an MC in an important celebration. A bright smile was touching her lips.

“Fifteen hundred?” Arielle screamed as her breath hitched, and she felt Eva’s hand softly pressing hers.

“Keep your voice down,” she said feigning scolding.

“But…how…?” Arielle couldn’t find the right words to ask the questions that were burning her thoughts. Eva turned to face her. She took her hands in hers, and piercing through her eyes she explained in a few words where they were, and how they got here.

“We are here for the sole purpose of attending the annual Gaulle ball.”

Arielle was watching Eva in utter disbelief that was slowly being replaced by excitement. The feeling that was taking over her was that of complete fascination, that was waking up every nerve and every fiber in her whole body.

“Are you saying that we are here so I can meet Sebastian before he became an immortal?” she asked utterly intrigued.

“Yes, that’s the whole purpose of the gift,” Eva chuckled.

“And what do I say?” she asked. She felt fretfulness taking over her.

“You are forbidden in telling him anything about our present lives, and the fact that you know him at all. You are here to observe, and interact if you wish, as someone that he just met for the first time.”

“Oh…My…God… how am I going to be able to treat him like a stranger?” pure panic shot through her.

“That’s exactly what you have to do, Arielle. You can’t alter history or you’ll jeopardize our lives, and the ability for us to get back to our lives as we know them. Do you understand?” Eva was watching her carefully. “If you can’t do that you must tell me right now and we’ll not even bother to do this.” Eva’s face was serious. Arielle hesitated for a short moment, and gathering her wits, she muffled nervously. “No…no…I— I can do it.” She took another slow glance around, staring at the people around them who were chatting enthusiastically and laughing. She leaned closer to Eva, and pressed her hand. “I can’t believe it,” Arielle said, in a hushed voice. “Are we going to meet his family?” her eyes fixed on Eva.

“Yes, Arielle, that is exactly what we’re going to do,” Eva said calmly.

“Further more, we’ll meet Sebastian, when he was a simple mortal,” she said gleefully. “What do you think about that?”

Arielle was silent, trying to imagine Sebastian as a mortal. She drew a deep breath and exclaimed. “This is extraordinary!” Eva and Gabrielle laughed out loud. “This is the kind of dream that fairy tales are made of.” Her voice dropped to a mere whisper.

“Arielle, Eva did a little research and found out something very interesting about Sebastian. Do you want to hear it? ” Gabrielle said.

“What?” She gazed upon her two best friends inquisitively.

“Well, he is a Marquis, and if that isn’t enough he has inherited the whole Gaulle fortune,” Gabby said excitedly.

“Rubbish?” Arielle said and laughed aloud. “Do you really expect me to believe that? Because if that’s what you’re thinking, save it.” She laughed again, and rolled her eyes in total disbelief.

“Arielle, your fiancé is beyond rich, he is mega rich,” Gabrielle pressed on.

“Oh…get out…that is bloody crazy,” Arielle said and broke out into a hearty laugh. Neither one of her friends laughed with her. Gabrielle turned away from Arielle and faced Eva.

“Eva, tell her,” she pleaded.

“That’s absolutely true. Sebastian is a Marquis,” Eva said in a low voice.

“You are serious? Aren’t you?” Arielle stood utterly still, gazing between Eva and Gabrielle.

“Well, he doesn’t want us to know about this, so he didn’t say anything, so lets keep it that way, all right?” That was Eva’s supple sweet voice.

Arielle’s head was spinning, She thought she knew everything about him. She knew he was rich, but she never knew how rich. She never knew he held any titles and he never talked about himself in that way. Eva’s voice got her out of her dreaming stage. Eva was ready to move to the next step of their adventure. She looked at Arielle and Gabrielle with an easy smile fixed on her lips.

“All right here are the invitations that I manifested and I’ll manifest a carriage to take us to the estate. Are you both ready?”

“Yes…” Gabrielle and Arielle exclaimed in pure delight as she handed them each an invitation. Arielle tried to read it, but it was twilight already and the faint moonlight spread a light gray sweep over the poorly lit streets, making it impossible to read. She moved a few feet away, stood under a lamppost and took a closer look at the invitation. It looked like it was handwritten in French in beautiful calligraphy.

“Why is this handwritten?” muttered Gabrielle, in sheer surprise.

“That is the way invitations were written when it came to high society,” Eva stated, chuckling.

Arielle held it closer and ran her finger over each word that caressed her soul with incredible warmth.

M. et Mme Marcus Gaulle

Invitez-affable vous cette année de notre seigneur

quinze soixante-quinze à la nuit annuelle de gala,

D'A du plaisir et au plaisir

Au château Risban

32 rue Brassese

Calais

“What does it say?” Gabrielle asked, looking at Arielle. Arielle walked back and stood next to Eva and Gabrielle, and started to translate to her friend in a low voice.

Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Gaulle

Affably invite you this year of our lord

Fifteen seventy-five to the annual Gala,

A night of pleasure and enjoyment

At the Chateau Risban

32 Rue Brassese

Calais

Arielle was now deep in thought, when Eva’s voice startled her.

“Arielle!”

“What?” she said, and flashed her a smile.

“I just wanted to remind you about the portals and the fact that we need to stay close so we are in agreement when we have to leave. We have now used the portal of five in the afternoon to come here, and we will have to leave at exactly five tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh… but what about the guys back home?” Gabrielle said.

“Won’t they wonder where we are?” Arielle said.

“No, of course not. Time here is just a fraction of the time back in our century and calendar year. Even if we were to spend a couple of days here it will still be a matter of minutes in our time,” Eva spoke in a matter of fact tone.

“Wow!” Arielle exclaimed. “I just can’t even begin to imagine how that works, but I am very excited to be involved in this adventure.” Gabrielle was beaming with enthusiasm.

“How are you feeling, Arielle?” Eva asked again gazing at her intently.

“I’m a little nervous, but otherwise just as blissful as Gabrielle. I’m not sure how I’ll ever be able to thank you for something so amazing!” Arielle murmured.

“Are you ready to do this?” Eva asked, her expression very serious indeed.

Arielle and Gabby’s eyes were glimmering with excitement. They lapsed into silence waiting for Eva to make the next move. Arielle closed her eyes not quite believing what was going on.

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