Secret Of The Crest by Demetra Gerontakis Page A

your friends or have you been dumbstruck by our appearance?’
       Giorgio looked at the rest of them but his eyes were now fixed on Cassandra.
       ‘Yes, of course. How rude of me’ Gregor replied with a tone of agitation in his voice. These hypothetical friends were in reality ghouls who drank of humans and not of animals. In the past, Gregor and Giorgio had had a falling out on the matter. He knew that Giorgio was restless when it came to feeding and could find no logic in a moment of hunger. 
       ‘This is my cousin Sam and his fiancée Sarah. Her sister, Rebecca and my fiancé Cassandra’ Gregor said. They all greeted.
       ‘Good heavens Gregor, I never thought you were the marrying type!’ Giorgio said reaching out to lift Cassandra’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
       ‘It is my pleasure to meet you. I’m sure you will make a lovely wife. He always did have good taste.’
       Then he reached over to Sarah and Sam and at last he took hold of Rebecca’s hand, kissing it softly.
       ‘You, my dear, are a vision of beauty. I am fortunate to be making your acquaintance. Are you also attached to a fiancé somewhere?’ he asked. 
       Before Rebecca even thought of answering Gregor jumped to answer.
       ‘Of course she has her fiancé back in England and he will be coming this weekend. Now how, could you possibly think such a beautiful woman would remain unattached and free? That’s silly’ Gregor added.
       Gregor’s tenants had no idea why he kept going on and on lying, but they went along with whatever he said. 
       ‘Oh really, that’s too bad, I could have been a great companion for you, but perhaps in another life!’ he said staring into Sarah’s eyes like a mad man.
       ‘Aren’t you two together?’ Cassandra asked in a nervous voice while taking Gregor by his arm and holding his hand tightly as to prove that what he had said was indeed true.
       ‘Thankful I am that we are not!’ snapped Elizabeth. ‘Giorgio and I are cousins. We both lost our families at a young age and have been together ever since. Seems like forever actually.’
       Every one tried to make civil conversation. Sam took his turn.
       ‘Do you live here?’
       ‘No, not anymore. We moved away years ago but visiting is like a ritual, we do it every year. Visit friends, relatives and our old family home in the woods. But how is it that Gregor has not told you about us? We have been in his life more than his own relative have.’
       Cassandra took on the question.
       ‘Gregor and I have more important things to discuss than who our friends are. Right baby?’ she said looking straight up into his eyes and pressed her body tightly on to his demonstrating a supposed love for him.
       Gregor nodded with a smile affirmatively.
       ‘Anyway, it was very nice to have met both of you but we really must be going. Grandmother is expecting us to help her with the chores and supper. We wouldn’t want to upset her. Perhaps we will meet again.’
       Cassandra pulled her bag up to her shoulder and started to walk toward the exit of the cave.
       ‘Come on Rebecca.’
       ‘Yes, let’s get started, love. It’s a good, long way back.’ Elizabeth stared as they all started out of the cave and then spoke.
       ‘Perhaps we could get together for a drink before we leave again.’ Her eyes poured all over Sam and Gregor.
       ‘We will keep that in mind and try to work out an evening within the coming week’ Gregor replied. ‘I will call you and let you know. Your number is the same right?’
       Giorgio looked at Gregor with a look of   question. He really didn’t trust that he would call them.
       ‘Our numbers are the same, old friend. And we will be expecting your call. If not, we’ll come visit you at the inn.’ His words, Gregor knew were a threat. 
       Walking down the mountains, Rebecca broke the silence. ‘Okay, I don’t know if you are all with me on this