Rose Red Revisited - Chapter 3

As Lauren rounded the back of the mound she noticed a small opening almost concealed by fallen rocks.  Despite the warmth of the day she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.   The stairs seemed safe enough, maybe, just maybe...  After a moment of hesitation Lauren descended into the gloom.

The room was large and cooling with a faint smell of damp and age.  At the far side of the room stood a door bound with chains.  Lauren realised that the only way through this door was to find the keystone to fit the heart shaped lock on the wall. 

Lauren surveyed the small room.  Nest to the stairs where she had entered was a large pile of rubble.  Somehow it looked different to the ruins above, like it had been placed there.  As she began to clear the rubble Lauren could see the corner of a white marble plinth.  Fuelled by excitement and anticipation she dug faster.

Afraid to reach out at first, worried that if she touched the keystone it would crumble to dust.  Lauren stood and stared, her breath held.  Slowly she reached out and grasped the stone heart.  It was cold to the touch and as she held it, the stone seemed to vibrate gently as if purring happy to be found.

Gently Lauren placed the keystone in the lock.  The room was lit by a magnificent blue light that seemed to fill Lauren with the feeling of complete calm.  She knew this was meant to be.  The chain across the door dissolved into tiny balls of orange light floating away like petals in a breeze.

On the other side of the door stood a beautiful garden, “the forbidden garden” she sighed.

Lauren worked her way through the delicate maze of shrubs towards the large memorial stone.

Lauren inspected the cold marble.  As she read aloud the name engraved she heard a click.

To her surprise a hole appeared in the grass.  Lauren reached inside and found a small lever.  The lever was stubborn but after some persuasion it lifted.

More clicking and balls of light revealed a small room. Statues of ancient Goddesses surrounded a small chest which glowed with an unearthly light. 

Lauren opened the chest and found it to be filled with relics and golden coins.  She stared at the riches with wonder.  She had found the forbidden garden and this was her parents land so the treasure was hers, surely?  Something inside her fought against temptation.  This treasure was not Laurens to take and she slowly closed the lid of the chest.

There was a rumbling from the wall behind her, as she turned the wall shook, revealing an opening into another chamber.  Lauren squeezed through the small gap, just as she made it through the wall shook again and the opening closed again.

A small lantern provided a surprisingly bright glow to the room around her.  It was obviously a family crypt, but who’s?   Lauren inspected the stones.  Some of the names were unfamiliar but most of them she knew.  She knew this was the Rimbauer Crypt.  Sadly she had not rediscovered her past but at least she now had closure and a place to mourn.  But how would she get out?  The opening had sealed itself and she could see no doors or stairs.

Lauren discovered another switch hidden behind a crumbling statue.  A few clicks later and a stairway appeared, leading her back into the daylight.

Lauren returned to the hotel, confused and tired.  Her flight home was tomorrow and she needed rest.

For the first time in years Lauren enjoyed a dreamless sleep.

Delsin was waiting for Lauren when she returned home.  She told him about the crypt and the strange letter.  Delsin listened quietly letting her talk smiling to himself.  He had missed Lauren and was glad she was home. 

Since returning from France Lauren’s nightmares had become less frequent.  Delsin was staying over much more often and he seemed to calm her.  She was not sure how he would react at her latest news however.  Lauren had discovered that she was pregnant, she knew that Delsin loved her but would he be happy with a child, they had never talked about it.

That night Lauren broke the news to Delsin.  A happier man could not be found in Sunset Valley that night, he was overjoyed.

Delsin then surprised Lauren even further and proposed.  She was so happy.  Everything was going so well since her trip to France, a baby on the way and her boyfriend proposing.  Lauren felt as though nothing could ever bring her down.

Lauren walked through the town, head held high.  She was the happiest woman on earth.

The sound of running water made her stop suddenly, she turned to look at the fountain.  It was familiar, she looked around her.  Where was she, Lauren felt a moment of panic.  Never had she seen this part of town before.  There seemed to be a light on inside the large house, maybe they had a phone so she could call a taxi.  Slowly she walked to the front door and knocked.

Rose Red Revisited - Chapter 2

Lauren found herself dwelling on the past and the nightmares she had been experiencing, she needed to get out amongst real people and get away from the ones in her head.

Being such a beautiful sunny day Lauren decided to visit the park, hoping to meet up with some of the Sunset Valley locals.  She had spent so much time working since her arrival she hadn’t had a chance to get out and visit the town and its residents.

It was at the park that she met Delsin, who it turned out lived just across the street.  Lauren found him charming and hansom and suggested they visit the towns Disco Club – Out Of Control

(The fabulous Out Of Control Disco Club created by kidbizkit)

It was an amazing club.  Lauren had been to plenty of clubs in Bridgeport but Out Of Control had a great vibe that she had not noticed in the Bridgeport clubs.  People were much friendlier here, although she had only been living in Sunset Valley just a few months they made her feel like she had lived here all her life.

Lauren and Delsin danced the night away.  She thought herself so lucky to have found such a good friend.  Secretly she hoped that the relationship would grow to be more than friends. Delsin had stolen her heart and without even knowing it Lauren had stolen his.

You must escape baby girl, I will not let it harm you no matter what the cost.

Things had been going well for Lauren lately, she was in line for a promotion and her relationship with Delsin had been growing steadily stronger.  But the nightmares had seemed to become more frequent.  Disturbing visions of the woman, trying to save her child, night after night.  But from what or whom?  Who were they?  The questions buzzed like insects in the back of her mind.

Things did not improve as the day went on.  The sink broke and flooded the bathroom, the oven caught fire and it was not yet 9 am

Lauren had become quite a celebrity after helping apprehend the Blue Boar Gang with Hank last month.  She found the paparazzi to be very intrusive, just snapping away with their cameras without even thinking to ask for permission.

The postal worker only added to Lauren’s bad day by throwing the post on the lawn.  She calmed as she read the latest update from her parents.  Norman had retired so having more free time they were going to visit Egypt.  Lauren was so happy for them, after spending so many years taking care of her she was glad they were finally taking some time for themselves.

Lauren went to get her keys off the kitchen counter only to find they were missing.  Fearing they had been swept up with the aftermath of the oven fire she had no choice but to search the bin, hoping that the paparazzi would not pay her another visit while she was searching through rubbish.

After finally finding her keys and getting to work, late Lauren was put on traffic and spent the day directing cars away from the latest protest at City Hall.  After work Lauren took her usual trip to the Gym, where the treadmill got stuck on super speedy.  After flying off the end she gave up the day as a bad job and headed over to see Delsin.

Delsin was at home waiting for her visit.  Lauren calmed instantly, always feeling safe in his arms.

Knowing how down she had been of late, Delsin had booked Lauren on a surprise 3 day trip to Champs Les Sims.  Lauren was overjoyed, finally she would visit France and maybe discover some insight into her lost parents.

Lauren only had a few days to get ready for her holiday.  She had done some digging and found out that her parents had owned a villa in Champs Les Sims.  She couldn’t believe her luck, what a coincidence that Delsin should choose that little town out of the whole Country.   Lauren visited the salon for a makeover before her trip.

Brimming with excitement and ready for anything Lauren awaited the taxi to take her to the airport.  She was a little disappointed that Delsin had not decided to come with her, but he was right.  She needed time to be alone away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It also meant that she could try and find her parents villa without worrying about it being his holiday too.

Champs Les Sims was beautiful and Lauren felt instantly at peace.  After spending the first few hours of her visit checking into her hotel and visiting the local Nectary she visited the local library and spent the afternoon checking records, newspapers and local planning applications for some sign of her parents.  Just as the sun began to set and Lauren had almost given up hope she found it.  Planning application for a summer house just a few miles from her hotel submitted by Malcolm Rimbauer.

Filled with excitement and apprehension, Lauren set off to the address on the planning permission.  So many thought were running through her mind, what if they were here, alive?  What would she say?  Lauren slowed as she rounded the turn and closed in on the house.  Nerves had kicked in and she began to wonder if she was doing the right thing.

Her worry turned to confusion once she reached the spot where the house should have been.  Lauren checked the map.  Surely she had taken a wrong turn somewhere.  But no, this was the place and to her dismay the house was nothing more than a pile of rubble.

Lauren picked her way through the desolate building.  The sun was bright and the air still as if holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.  As she climbed to the top of the small hill she discovered two small tombstones.  She knelt to take a closer look.

It felt like a jagged knife had been drawn through her heart as she read the first name and then the second.  So this is what had happened to her parents, but why hadn’t she known and how did she end up lost and alone.  So many unanswered questions that now would never be resolved, Lauren felt suddenly empty.

Amongst the ruins Lauren discovered a small pile of junk, obviously left behind by pillagers who could find nothing of value.  As she slowly picked through the bits of broken vases and old papers she noticed a small envelope, it was still sealed and as Lauren brushed the dirt away she gasped.  In a faded, slanted cursive was written “Lauren”.  Lauren took a deep breath and slowly opened the letter.

To her disappointment nature had not been kind to the words and there was little left that Lauren could make out.  She stared at the page without blinking, willing the marks on the page to move, to become words.  As she gazed intently at the page Lauren noticed familiar fragments of words.  It wasn’t much but it was something.  “within the forbidden  garden beneath...”.  Beneath what?  Lauren sighed, the still air was becoming stifling and there was nothing left here but a shell.  Heavy with disappointment she headed back towards the road.

Rose Red Revisited - Chapter 1

It’s coming again I can feel it.  We need to get her out.

We haven’t been able to leave this house in 5 years how can I get her out without it knowing?  It wants her and I don’t know how to stop it

*Ghostly female voice* Play child, stay with me and play forever.

Stay strong baby girl, stay with mummy.  Please.

Stay away from my child!

Arggghhhh!

*Ghostly female voice* you will pay for your defiance mortals!

Quickly there must be a way

I will find a way.

Lauren awoke with the faces of the woman and child from her nightmare quickly fading from her mind. 

The nightmares had begun after being transferred to Sunset Valley 4 months ago.  They always seemed strangely familiar but she had no idea why.

Lauren was a Lieutenant in the Police Force and had transferred to Sunset Valley to follow her dream of being a DNA profiler.  

Lauren’s partner in the force is Hank Goddard.  They were the best of friends, both in work and out.  Hank was the first vampire that Lauren had ever met, after growing up on Bram Stoker she was pleasantly surprised at how normal they really were.

Lauren lived alone in a small bungalow close to the station.  She had left her parents Linda and Norman Cole back in Bridgeport and missed them terribly.  They were Lauren’s only family after the disappearance of her birth parents Joanna and Malcolm Rimbauer.

The only thing that Lauren had left of her birth parents was a few old letters and holiday snaps.  She couldn’t even remember what they looked like or what life was like before living with the Cole’s.  It was like a black cloud hung over that part of her memory.  Lauren had been told that she had been found wandering the streets when she was 4 and her parents were never found.

This was the only photo she had of them, it had one word on the back – honeymoon.  It looked like they were happy? If only she could make out their faces it might jog some memory.  One day, Lauren decided, she would visit France.