Bird Of Passage

By Deena

For the first time in my obsession with Antonio Banderas I was not going to succumb to my erotic fantasies. I had been given the chance by Virgentrix to attempt the impossible:

I was going to prevent a murder.

The movie "Original Sin" had captured my fancy from the opening pages of the script. Antonio's role as Luis Durand was so filled with fire and passion, anger and love, obsession and torment. If I could only prevent the death of Julia Russell, perhaps she and Luis would have a happy life together.

In order to minimize the impact of my presence, I requested that my appearance be that of Bonny Castle. The setting was where Bonny and Julia met and became shipboard friends. And where Julia met her death. The time was before the murder. I hoped that Bonny had not killed her. That it had been her friend Billy who had done the deed.

When I stepped through the door, I was plunged into a night that was black as the pit of hell. There was no moon, the sky was cloudy and the stars had disappeared from the heavens. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the faint glimmer of the ship's lights on the guardrail which cast hazy globes of light in the fog.

Suddenly I heard a commotion to my right. I rushed forward to see a man and a woman engaged in a life and death struggle. The man held a short handled knife in his right hand and was repeatedly plunging it into the neck of a woman almost his own height. I could hear him cursing.

"Damn you, you scarecrow of a bitch! Let go of my arm! Can your miserable life truly be worth the struggle?"

She wasted no time in speaking but poured all her energy in clinging to his arm like a limpet. I recognized the voice of the would-be murderer as that of Bonny's lover, Billy and surged forward to intervene.

"Stop! Billy, don't!"

For a brief heart wrenching moment their fighting paused. As I got closer I could see the gaping wound in Julia's neck. It looked mortal. Billy turned and looked straight at me.

"Bonny? What the he…"

It was enough of a distraction. With her last remaining strength, Julia grabbed Billy in her arms and threw herself over the railing. There was barely a sound as they plummeted to their liquid grave below. I grasped the guardrail and peered into the ocean depths. There was no sign of the two protagonists. It was as if they had never existed.

I had failed.

Julia was dead.

But perhaps all was not lost. Julia was gone, but Bonny was still here.

And this time there would be no wavering about her feelings toward Luis. How could there be?

Throwing myself into the part, I pounded on the steward's cabin door, screaming hysterically, tears streaming down my face.

"Help me, please help me! There's been a murder!"

Throwing on his jacket, the crewmember followed me back to the mist enshrouded deck.

"Here. It happened here. I was taking a late night stroll. I couldn't seem to fall asleep. I thought a vigorous walk might tire me enough that I'd quickly succumb to slumber. Then I heard a rather loud commotion and came upon Miss Russell and a man struggling fiercely. Her dress was ripped and there was blood streaming down from her throat. I couldn't recognize the man that clearly, so I called out, "stop!" I will never know how, but she was able to grab hold of her assailant and with a last burst of energy threw both herself and him over the side. It was then I rushed over to find that it was too late. There was no sign of the bodies, sir. There were gone."

"My apologies, Miss that you had to see such a thing. Please return to your cabin and we will conduct our own search. I am sure the captain will wish to speak with you later this morning."

I checked the pockets in the long cloth coat and found Bonny's key. After a few mis-turns, I was able to locate her cabin and let myself in. Though she had few garments what there were were rather fine. I stared at myself in the mirror. Bonny was a character in a script, she had no life save that in the film. But the wonderful thing about Virgentrix was that if you chose to do so, you could live forever in the virtual reality of the movie you selected. If I wished to do so, I could truly become Bonny Castle.

Did I wish to do so?

Are you crazy? Of course!

The next day the captain called me to his quarters and I went over once more the incident from the previous night. The identity of Julia's assailant was now known. We would have to wait till we reached port to see if there were any outstanding warrants on the man Billy Downs aka James Thomas aka William Crown. The list of his alias went on forever. He had papers in his cabin with dozens of different names. But nowhere was there the name of Bonny Castle. There was no connection between us. I was free and clear.

"Thank you, Miss for your forthrightness. Though it will grieve her family, at least they will know what happened to her. I shall write to her sister and post the letter as soon as we reach Santiago de Cuba."

"We had become acquaintances, Captain. You know how it can be while you're out at sea. And of course, we were two women alone. Naturally we became somewhat close."

He smiled benignly at me.

"Indeed, Miss Castle, I do remember you promenading on the deck together. Miss Russell looked like she could use a friend. Though you weren't able to save her, at least you could ease the suffering of her family."

As if I had just remembered, I suddenly gasped.

"What is it, Miss Castle?"

"Oh, Captain, we have one more person we must inform of her death."

"Yes? And who might that be?"

"Her husband."

"Husband? What on earth do you mean? I was not aware that Miss Russell was married!"

"Perhaps husband isn't quite the right term. She had revealed to me that she was journeying to Cuba as a mail order bride. Her fiance will be meeting her at the dock"

"My word, this is quite extraordinary."

"Captain, would you mind if I told Senor Durand of Julia's death? I feel that perhaps I could break it to him more easily than you. Coming from a friend of hers it might be less difficult for him to hear."

"Miss Castle, would you consider that? I don't wish to impose but it would be decidedly awkward for me. I would consider it a great favor if you could."

"Not at all, Captain. I wouldn't have offered to do so if I would have felt uncomfortable."

The Captain granted me the privilege of checking Julia's cabin for any correspondence from her intended. Luis' letters were all kept in a sandle wood box on top of the dresser. His picture was among them. I gazed into those beautiful eyes and smiled. Soon. Her little canary was also given to me to take care of. I liked the bird.

Finally we arrived at our destination. I made sure that I was at the railing looking down as we docked. I could see him standing gazing up at the ship's passengers, eagerly scanning the crowd for Julia. I had already arranged for a porter to bring my bags off the ship. Now I directed them to be brought near by where Luis' curricle awaited. Hurrying down the ramp, I pushed my way past the slow moving crowd.

"Senor Durand, Senor Durand," I called.

He looked towards me quizzically.

"Senorita?"

"Senor Durand, I'm a friend of Julia Russell."

"Miss Russell? But where is she?"

"Please, senor, sit down in your carriage. I have some tragic news to convey."

I followed behind as he seated himself in the open carriage. He cocked his head and quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Well?"

"Miss Russell and I became friends during the journey overseas. Feeling the need of a sympathetic ear, she told me all about your arrangement. She wished my opinion as to whether two people, basically strangers, could be happy in such a situation. I assured her that if there was honesty between the two that it might be possible. Her mind was eased. Then, only a few days before we reached port a horrible incident occurred. She was attacked. She and her assailant both were drowned. I was a helpless witness to their deaths. I am so very sorry, Senor Durand. Julia is dead."

He was stunned. A blank expression came over his features as he tried to absorb the terrible truth.

Suddenly her caged bird trilled.

"That is hers, is it not? She had told me that she was bringing a little companion to help her pass the hours on the voyage. His name is.."

"Destiny." I looked directly at him. Slowly he tore his eyes away from the little caged warbler and actually looked at me.

"I am an oaf. I haven't even asked you your name."

"Bonny. Bonny Castle. I must admit Senor, I feel as though I already know you. Julia told me so much about you."

"Did she?"

"Yes."

We stood for a moment simply looking at each other.

Suddenly he asked.

"But where are you staying? Are you here for long?"

"I am thinking of relocating to Cuba. I recently came into a bit of money and decided to see the world a bit."

"But this is wonderful. You must let me show you around. Please, as a way of thanking you for the gentle way you broke the news of Julia's death to me. It is so hard to think of her dead. I hardly knew her other than through her letters and now she is gone."

"I would love for you to take me… in hand, Senor Durand." I looked up from under the lush lashes of Bonny Castle. My tongue slipped delicately out to moisten my lips. Luis seemed mesmerized.

"Come, senorita Castle."

"Bonny."

"Bonny. And you must call me Luis."

"Luis. I feel this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?" I asked.

"Perhaps more than a friendship."

EPILOGUE:

It is two months now since I took over Bonny Castle's persona. And one month since Luis and I have been married. I relive in my mind that first night of our marriage.

He let me go up ahead of him to our room. I lit candles all over. The cage with Destiny was placed on its own little stand. He warbled cheerfully.

My long black hair was unbound and reached the small of my back. I had chosen to wear a negligee of gossamer white lace. The planes and slopes of my body gleamed through the delicate openings.

An impatient brisk knock announced Luis' presence. He strode into the room like a conqueror.

"Bonita," He breathed.

And then there were no more words spoken as throughout the night he pleasured me over and over again, his lips worshipping every inch of my body. We were so swiftly overcome with passion that it was as if we were mindless creatures thrusting and sweating in the huge four poster bed. Our bodies were slick with sweat and lust. The room reeked of the musky odor of desire. I lost count of the times that he brought me to climax with his mouth and his flesh. The sheets fell to the floor as we moved vigorously in the throes of mating. Over and over, he told me he loved me, desired me, wanted me more than life. And I told him the same. As dawn filled the room with a rosy radiance we finally fell asleep, entwined in each other's arms.

And it's been like that every time we make love.

Perhaps Julia was meant to die after all. Perhaps I was Luis' Destiny all along. No matter. I am his destiny now.

And forever.