Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 52 (FINALE)

 

52.

The Chief Constable, Lestrade, sat across from the owner of Frankenstein’s mansion. He had so many questions to ask the young man. He was accompanied by the constable and Lieutenant Sharp. Ms. Muriel was in the personal chamber of Ms. Moritz. She wanted to be alone.

“The search was another…… fruitless; it was.” The lieutenant tried to find the word. “I had called it off. My dead men will be sent back to the camp for burial.”

“I will take care of the others.” The Chief Constable, Lestrade, had informed Watson to move the body of Mrs. Muriel to the cold chamber. He had sent words to the Theology Society to do the needed.

“Mr. Frankenstein” The Chief Constable addressed the young man not by his designation as Master of the Mansion. “Please tell us what happened?”

“I do not know how……. I was there and met Mrs. Muriel, who was inquiring about Elizabeth. She was there with me then. She was upset that Liz was there.” Victor said. “Then without any reason, the monster appeared. It attacked Mrs. Muriel and was coming at me when the soldiers appeared. They fired at the monster, but it was unstoppable. It killed them all, but thankfully Sven was not killed.”

“Tea, sirs.” Sven walked in with the tray of cups and pot. He set the tray on the table. “We are short of staff. The new cook is missing, and some of the others have packed to leave.”

“Earl Grey tea, Sir.” Sven poured the tea contents.

“I can attest to the incident. I was there with the soldiers. We fired in turns, but the monster still attacked us.” Sven added that. “I was hit on the head and fell unconscious.”

“There was no blood seen there from the …….” Watson cut in with his observation.

“Yes, we found no traces of blood form the monster.” The lieutenant interjected. “I wondered……”

“If the monster bleeds? Maybe green blood?” Chief Lestrade lent a tint of sarcasm. “Indeed, there was none.”

“I did not see any.” Victor said. “I am familiar with blood. After killing the others, it fled to the forest.”

“We were informed, and a search was conducted. We found a grave, freshly dug out, but no bodies were found.” The lieutenant reported in. “We had continued our search for two days. I just received new orders. We are to return to camp for posting to overseas to Crimea.”

The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont from October 1853 to February 1856.

“Mr. Frankenstein, the case remains unsolved. I have no new evidence. London is impatient with my progress, and I am recalled back.” The Chief Constable was upset. “However, till we get new leads or evidence, you are to remain here and be available for any questioning. Constable Watson will be here to monitor the …… developments.”

“Meantime, the case had been classified as wild animal killing. We are in the countryside, and within the forest, there are bears or wild dogs. Any of those could kill with savagery assumed to be by the monster. Or they are monsters.” The Chief Constable looked hard at Watson. “We shall stay at that assumption.”

“At my home in the north, my uncles told me of the myth of Barghest, in folklore, a monstrous goblin dog with huge teeth and claws that appears only at night. It was believed that those who saw one clearly would die soon after, while those who caught only a glimpse of the beast would live on, but only for some months.” Trust Watson to add the supernatural hint to the conversation.

“Ahem!” The Chief Constable, Lestrade, intervened. “Gentlemen, we shall not speculate on the monster. For all the good it will do, we may get ripped by it soon. We do not have any rippers at large for now.”

“Good day, sir. I got a train to catch back to the city.” The Chief Constable, Lestrade, stood up.

“And myself a long march back to camp.” The lieutenant also stood up. “Thank you for the tea.”

“I have dinner to prepare. All of you are invited to stay back for it.” Sven smiled. He was at odds on what to serve then.

“I may…” Watson saw the expression on the Chief Constable. “I may have to do my patrols in the village.”

“And good day, sir.” Victor stood up and wished the others safe journeys. He took to the chamber of Ms. Moritz. Elizabeth was seated there on the bedding.

“Do you think this chamber will do well for a children’s playroom?” Elizabeth patted the bedding cover. “We could put in …….”

“Liz, are you well?” Victor approached the lady. He sat down next to her.

“I am fine. Can we fuck again? I am feeling the need for it.” Elizabeth looked at Victor. “I am sure Justine would not mind if we do it here. She may learn a thing or more from us.” 

“No, Liz. We must ……” Victor was cut off by the lady. She had leaned over to kiss him. He pushed her off his face. Elizabeth grinned and pulled at the shoulder hem of her dress. She pulled it off her shoulder to expose her bosom.

“You could kiss me here. I like that. One day soon, our child will be doing it. You do not compete with our child then.” Elizabeth grabbed Victor’s right hand and placed it on her left breast. “Our hearts beat there.”

“No……” Victor stood up. “I need to go.”

“No more creation. We have one here.” Elizabeth pats her stomach. “Give us time. It will be created. Then after, we can create another. We can create a dozen if you want.”

“No… I must go.” Victor turned to leave.

“Do not leave me, Victor Frankenstein. The monster will come for me. I am afraid.” Elizabeth cried out. “I am afraid.”

Victor embraced his lover. She leaned onto his chest and hummed the lullaby.

Rock-a-bye baby
On the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall.
And down will come baby.
Cradle and fall

Sven had eavesdropped there at the door and then moved on back to his cottage. He saw the creature seated there near the back door of the cottage. She was looking at the rear of the cottage. Sven had buried Henry there, with the creation’s help, and planted the lilac flowers there.

“How are you?” Sven asked. Silly of him to ask that, but he knew not what to say. He had given the creation new clothes to change into and made her wash herself daily.

“I am fine. I saw Henry this morning. He is fine.” The creature looked at Sven. “He seems to have lost some weight.”

Sven had placed a glass jug there, inverted into the ground, at where Henry’s face was. The creation could look in and see her dead lover.

“Did you feed him?” Sven asked.

“No, I could not……. I did, but that will destroy the flowerbed. I fed the flowers there. It will provide food to Henry.”

“It will, but maybe you should take care of yourself more. Henry will be fine if you are.” Sven approached the bedding. The covers were not folded. “You are to fold the beddings daily. Did you do that?”

“No, I did not. I …” The creature got up to approach the bedding. “I will do it now.”

“And the other chores I told you about. If you do, then you will make Henry proud. He …….”

“I will. I will make Henry proud of me for taking care of you.” The creation began folding the bedding covers. “Sven, please call me Mary. It was the name Henry gave me. I will be a good child for you.”

“Yes, Mary. With Henry in his long sleep, you will be my child. Now, you know the rules. You stay here and do not answer the door. No one will need to see you.” Sven looked at the creation. “You must not ……. Please stay hidden. You are not …….”

“I am not a monster. I am Mary.” The creature looked at Sven. “I am Mrs. Henry Mary Sven Ducard.”

“Yes, you are. You are a part of the Ducard family now.” Sven smiled. “And for now, I will read to Henry. He likes to hear me read.”

“I like that too. Please tell me the tales.” The creature picked up the huge volume and approached Sven.

“Cinderella.” Sven opened the volume to the page for that tale. “Let me tell you about Cinderella. Long, long time ago…”