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Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' (Foot prints in the trail)

 

Footprints in the trail.

This tale started off as a simple “let me adapt two tales to make one.” All I did was read the summary of the book, condensed in the opening of this tale. I then read the work ‘Modern Prometheus.’ I started the tale with the idea of a Greek tragedy, with the interaction of monsters and vampires. Vlad ‘Dracula’ Tepes came in on the spur of my typing at the keyboard. He soon became a character to make the tale more interesting.

Chief Constable Lestrade and Watson came in because of my love for the Holmes tales, but I did not add in Holmes, for it would be racking my mind on how the sleuth could fit in. I did try later when I mentioned the ‘hound,’ aka the Hound of Baskervilles.

On the Ripper, this storyline was in a different date year. This was the mid-1800s, and the Ripper was in 1888. I sort of place it in the mentions here and there.

Lieutenant Sharp was my version of Lieutenant Sharpe from the Sharpe series. I have gotten the e-books in the series and watched all the Sharpe movies I could find on YouTube. The characters were well played by Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley, with many of the supporting actors holding their positions on the series. Hakeswill was one villain you would not mind plunging the bayonet into. My salutations to Bernard Cromwell.

How did I end the tale here?

I mentioned in my blog when I was writing this tale, I normally tap the final dot at about 50K words (minimum novel word count), but the tale grew its own wings, and soon I was at 60K words, and still, it will not end. The words and twists whizzed through my mind. I kept at it with whatever free time I had (did my medical tests; long overdue and… well, I am alive here…) and voila, I am done at just tipping the mark at 85K words.

And it will not be the end just yet.

There may be, should be, will be, and surely will be the sequel here.

Mary, the creation, is ‘alive.’

Sven Ducard, as revealed last, still harbors revenge for the death of Henry.

Elizabeth Muriel, aka Mrs. Frankenstein, was deemed insane, or maybe not…. Possessed (hint…hint….)

The Theology Society lost their founding member and may not rest there.

What about the girls who died there? Mere pranks or forming a new coven?

Briggs; he is a predator of the flesh, maybe so.

Beelzebub, the uh-huh factor mentioned in the passages, resurfaced in the end here. Why? Questions that needed to be answered.

The mansions of Frankenstein and Carmilla: are there secrets there in that mansion?

And of course, Victor Frankenstein, creator and son. Well, he is now with Elizabeth and expecting their first child.

Lots of what ifs” and “could it be”s are here.

Till then, tallyho, I am not taking a break. I am to complete my other unfinished tale…. Have you ever wondered who Mrs. Hudson is in the HOLMES series? Well, one day soon, you may know my version of her.

Cheers

27/03/2025 11:55am

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…”

 

 

Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 51

 

51.

Spielberg stood up holding the cane. It was a hard decision for him. Was he to save his daughter or end the saga with the witches? Was he cursed to be associated with the witches? “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! Isaiah 14:12.” Those words swam in his mind. Was he cast by God to be there?

“Rudolph, please.” Lissa called him by his nickname. She once told him Rudolph suits him better in name. She told him that the name means "famous wolf. He was to her the prime wolf that leads the pack. Just like when he led the regiment colors, he was the leader.

“Save your daughter.” Lissa spoke to him. “We came far and wide to be with her. She will carry our legacy, and the coven will be ... established and ... famous.”

“Famous like Rudolph.”

“Spielsdorf, she speaks the truth.” Annabelle added.

“Betrayals are inevitable, but great devastation will come to the one guilty of betraying others. It would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment of betraying one of my dear ones! Luke 17:1-25.” Spielsdorf said while looking at Lissa. “Was I betrayed?”

“Did you ever feel love? We took oaths to cherish, to hold, to …… undergo all the events together. Yes, you left my side earlier, but I carried you in my heart. Did you?”

“Yes, I do. I have always watched over you and Lauren.” Lissa replied. “Love knew no boundary.”

“Did it? You bound yourself here to …… Say it out, Lissa.” Spielberg was angered. “We travelled to find the one who caused you to leave us. Did you ever know?”

“Yes, the coven matters to me… above all else.” Lissa sighed. “Carmilla, in her anger, made me lose my humanity and crippled our daughter, but now she has repented of her errors.”

“For that, all is forgiven, huh?” Spielberg looked towards Carmilla. “You destroyed my family, and now you are asking me to give my daughter……. What? A new life?”

“Yes, Spielsdorf. A new life to her. A new life to all of us. A new life to the coven. Lauren will be the …”… Carmilla cried out.

“No…….” Spielberg shot Carmilla from the concealed revolver. The bullet impacted on the lady’s chest. She was slammed back to the back of the seat.

“Spielberg, you……” Carmilla held up her hands over her wound. “I……”

“Sister …….” Lissa rushed to Carmilla’s side with Lauren.

“I am dying…… I will soon be…… dead.” Carmilla sighed. “The beginning and the end are nexus in the journey of life. Mine will be over. I am glad that Lauren has taken over that responsibility from me.”

“I can save you, Carmilla.” Lauren approached the lady. “I have the means……”

“Silly lady. You have more things to accomplish than to save my life. My journey ends and yours… is soon to take place.” Carmilla smiled. “With my death, the vampire war is over. The coven war is over.”

“No, my love. Please do not …… leave me.” Vlad, still stuck to the wall, called out. “Let me see you once more.”

Lauren released the vampire from the wall. He fell to the floor and then stood up.

“Dignity is mine.” Vlad stood up and then walked towards Carmilla. He went on his knees and took her hands.

“I do love you, Carmilla Karnstein.” The shrieks of the other brides echoed on the walls.

“Vlad, I do it for you, but we were never meant to be. I am a witch, and you are……”

“A lover for you.” Vlad smiled. “I loved you as mine, and not because you are…….”

The echoes of the brides were louder, and then the swarm of bats flew away.

“I need to go. Dead is not my favourite event. I may cry at the weddings, but at death, I have to say…….” Vlad's tears flowed. “I dislike deaths.”

Vlad stood up and walked to the door.

“Lauren, I will be back.” The vampire then dissipated. Carmilla Karnstein took her last breath.

“Spielsdorf, give me the blood jewel.” Annabelle said. “It may save Carmilla.”

“No!” Lissa intervened. “The blood belongs to Lauren. It was to be Carmilla’s gift.”

“She is our sister.” Annabelle cried out. “We have to save her.”

“It is not called anymore. It is Lauren’s.” Lissa looked at the younger lady. “If you give her the blood, you will be incomplete. The paths before you will be…… dangerous if you are not complete. You may lose it all.”

“I ….” Lauren, in the short time, has become a witch when just days ago, she was an invalid on the bedding. Her transformation was intense, and she had not come to grips with her new personality and powers.

“Rudolph, please give her blood.” Lissa begged," “She cannot be…… incomplete.”

Spielberg held hard on the cane. He was unsure of the action to take.

His daughter or her coven?

“I must save her.” Annabelle rushed towards Spielsdorf. The latter had raised the cane and leveled it at the witch. The sharp end of the cane pierced the witch at the throat. The blood from Annabelle spurted out, and some landed on Spielsdorf face. Her form dissipated then.

“Annabelle!” Lissa called out. She embraced Lauren as if to shield her.

“You killed Annabelle. She ……without her powers, she was like any mortal. You killed her.”

“No, Lissa. I did not. I…...was protecting myself.” Spielberg said.

“As you had done years ago. How many innocents died on your hands, Rudolph? Thousands or millions?”

“Lissa, I told you before. I am a military man.”

“No, Rudolph. You are a monster.” Lissa glared at him. “If she stays with you, she will be one soon.”

“I am not a monster. I am …” Spielberg defended his action. It was then he recalled the image of the monster at the lab.

“Yes, the monster dwells with you, yet you could not see it. You cannot, for you are one with them.” Lissa said. “Your monster dealt with the demon that was to attack your daughter. Not that day, but one day soon.”

“I am……” Spielberg looked at the cane he held.

“The witch shall not be complete.” The voice reverberated in the mansion. “I am the Supreme One.”

Spielberg felt force on the cane, and he gripped it harder with both hands. Lissa pushed Lauren towards the father.

“Take the cane, Lauren.” Lissa called out. Lauren jumped over the table, kicking away the feast there. She leaned forward to reach her father.

“Father!” Lauten called out," Spielberg heard her call and rushed to the table. He felt himself held back by some invisible force, and Lauren sensed it. She grabbed the athame, the carving knife on the table, and called up the spell. It propels her forward to her father, and with the knife, she slashes at the invisible force holding her father.

Spielberg felt the force was off him, and then he moved towards Lauren. He pushed out his left arm towards her. Lauren grabbed the cane and swung the head of it towards her. She jabbed the cane with the blood jewel into her chest, and then she screamed.

Her screams echoed in the mansion, and the stillness prevailed.

“Lauren, are you good?” Lauren, lying on the table, looked at the face of her father. She looked pale then.

“I am ……fine.” Lauren pushed herself and then got off the table. “It was a ……. Where is Mother?”

Lissa was missing.

“It took her.” Lauren said.

“Who?” Spielberg asked.

“Beelzebub.” Lauren said. “Master Ernest Frankenstein summoned the demon. The portal door is now open. The demon took the mother. We must find her.”

“How?” Spielberg asked.

“I do not know. I was with Carmilla, but I must learn from Mother or Aunt Annabelle. My …… training was …… not complete.” Lauren looked at the father.

“The blood jewel is an empowerment, but the training was to help me use it……fully.”

“Oh, God. What have I done?” Spielberg sighed.

“We must find Mother. The war is not over.” Lauren looked at the contents of the table. “I need to find the means to complete my training.”

Lauren called on the spell to rearrange the contents on the table. She picked up the wand and cauldron.

“Carmilla told me of the ancient books here. There are some at the other mansion. Aunt Annabelle entrusted it to Ernest. We need those too.” Lauren looked around the mansion.

“We also need the help of the undead.”

 

Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 50

 

50.

A gunshot to the chest can damage vital organs like the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels, potentially leading to severe bleeding, respiratory issues, and even death.  Added to the single shot, multiple shots will do more. Blood will splatter out when the arteries are severed.

That was the mortal.

The undead or monster may not feel that.

“Arghh……” Matthew felt the grip on the left shoulder blade. The collar there was the first to snap, and then the shoulder was pushed backward by force and yanked to the left. The joints at the shoulder gave way, and the flesh was torn.

Matthew fell into blackness then from the intense pain. He never felt the second grip by the left side of the head that pulled the cartilage at the spine apart. He was tossed like a broken doll to the side, alongside the three others who were dead from various dismemberments by force.  

Sven plunged the bayonet into the monster at the right ribs but drew no blood. He had fired his rifle, and there was no time to reload then. He was out of practice with the bayonet attack. The monster turned towards him, pulled the bayonet out, holding the barrel, and tossed the rifle to the far wall. It paused in the attack and looked at Sven.

It then swung out the right arm at Sven’s head and propelled the man to the side. It did not want to kill Sven.

“Monster!” The last of the soldiers charged at it with the rifle levelled at the back of the monster. It pounced on the charge and grabbed the rifle off the soldier. It turned the rifle around and plunged the bayonet into the soldier’s chest.

“Stop! Stop it!” Victor called out.

The creature turned to look at its master. It stood there, with the wounds on its chest; its left forearm had a deep cut, and there were six bullet wounds on its chest, but not a single drop of blood was seen.

It had killed the soldiers but not Sven. It recognized Sven as the guardian of Henry.

“Go back to the chamber now!” The master called out. “Do it!”

“No, I am not. I am leaving now. I want to find Henry.” The creature ran towards the door. Victor called it back, but the creation was gone. He turned to look at the dead bodies there.

“Victor, what was that?” Elizabeth had witnessed the carnage there. “Who was……?”

“Are you okay, Liz?” Victor came to his senses. He approached the lady, but she stepped away. She was holding the wound at her waist. The bullet grazed her there.

“Did you create that?”

“Yes…… No, I did not create it.” Victor shook his head. “It was here.”

“What in tarnation happened here?” It was Chief Constable Lestrade who stepped into the lab. He was alone. “Who …… What happened here?”

“The monster killed them.” Elizabeth said. “It was hiding here.”

“Was that the monster I saw fleeing to the forest?” The Chief Constable Lestrade stammered. “Oh God. I sent Watson after it.”

“You must stop him. He will be killed.” Victor called out. “Stop him!”

“Victor Frankenstein……. I was to see you…… What am I to do now?” The Chief Constable, Lestrade, was confused. “I …”

The Chief Constable, Lestrade, saw the dead lady. He turned and threw out his stomach contents. Victor was then running past the officer to pursue the creation. Elizabeth tried to call out, but she felt no sound from her voice. Z

“I must call for a search now.” Chief Constable Lestrade found his voice. “Ms. Muriel, please stay with …… Please go to the mansion. Stay there.”

“Mr. Sven! Are you fine?” The chief constable approached the man lying on the floor. Sven was not hurt except for the gash on his forehead. He was breathing then but unconscious.

“In the name of God, what happened here’?” The Chief Constable, Lestrade, looked at the dead soldiers.

Constable Watson, in pursuit, had the better sense to keep to the road, watching the treelines for the monster. He had a glimpse of it and then met up with Lieutenant Sharp. The officer was leading the men back to the camp upon receiving the recall order.

“Lieutenant, the monster is in there.” Watson stopped before the officer. “It is in there.”

“Hold your horses, man. Take a deep breath and tell me slowly.” Lieutenant Sharp halted the column march. Watson composed himself and then explained what he saw.

“Men, deploy in a straight line and deploy forward. We have a monster to catch. Make lots of noise so that we can lure the monster out.” Lieutenant Sharp gave the order. He then turned to the constable. “You will walk with me.”

“Are you armed, man?”

“No. I have only the …… I left my baton at the church. It was …….”

‘Well, grab a branch then. Thick one. We will search now.”

While the search was mounted, the creature was at the creek. It felt the wounds on its body. It felt nothing except the loose skin and flesh. It felt no pain there. It sat down and looked at the mound of grass.

“Henry, why do they want to …… hurt me?” The creature looked to the grasses there. “I did not do them anything.”

“They tore your shirt. I will mend it later.” The creation touched the torn fabric.
“I have not done that. You could teach me.”

“Henry, you taught me many things. I learned them well. I could learn how to mend your shirt.”

“Henry, am I stupid? You say I was sometimes. I do not want to be stupid. I want to be like you. Please come back and teach me.”

“Henry, why would you not speak to me anymore?” The creature swept the grass there. “Are you still sleeping?”

The creature heard the callings of the soldiers in the forest.

“Henry, there are more of them. They are calling me. I do not want to see them. They are bad men.” The creature looked towards the noises.

“Master wants me back in the cold chamber. I do not want to. I want to be here. I want to be with you.” The creature sat there. “We can leave now. I will find you a new place to sleep. Can we go?”

“Where? I do not know. Your chamber may be a good one.” The creation, knowing not how to smile, nodded. “Let me get you out. We will then leave.”

Victor took to the run. He was still hurt by the beatings and had to stop to catch his breath. He heard the noises made by the search party. He had to find it and take it to the lab. He knew that the creature will go to the creek. It held no knowledge unless it was taught to it.

The creek.

Victor reached there.

There were the soldiers there.

“Whatever was there, it was dug out.” Lieutenant Sharp used his left boot to move the dug soil. The dimensions of the dugout resembled that of a grave. He was familiar with the dugout of the soldiers, or trenches, as named by others. It was not deep enough, but there were the sights of the maggots.

They are the larval stage of flies, appearing as small, worm-like creatures that feed on decaying organic matter.  They are commonly found in places with decaying food, garbage, or dead animals and are part of the fly's life cycle. He had seen these flies when they reached the trenches previously housed by the others. The dead bodies rotted there, and regardless of their affliction, they are always given a burial, whether singular or in mass. The call from that was not to distress the men, mostly the new recruits, or to make space at the trenches. He saw then the man who was standing there.

“Who are you?” The lieutenant asked.

“Who? Oh, he is Victor Frankenstein.” Watson identified the newly arrived person. “He is from the …….”

“Frankenstein. I read the report. Why are you here?”

“I was walking here. This is part of my estate. Why are you here?” Victor addressed the officer.

“Walking, huh? Some dressing you have on.” Victor was dressed in the dressing gown he had put on leaving the mansion. “Well, we are in pursuit of a monster. I may suggest you return to the mansion.”

“I think you have my men posted there to patrol the mansion.” The lieutenant looked at Victor. “Did you see them?’

“Men? I … I left by the side gate. They may be at the main gate.” Victor replied. “I will be going back now.”

“Sir, did you meet the Chief Constable at the mansion?” Watson asked. “He was heading there.”

“I…… No. I did not.” Victor turned to leave. It was then the military officer asked the constable to follow Victor back.

“I have no need of your service here. Please escort the man back to the …… mansion.” Lieutenant Sharp had a tone of envy there. He had not lived in a mansion; his largest abode was the barracks. His other abode was the common chamber in the basement of the public house.

Unseen by the soldiers, the creation had found the abode of Henry. It settled the dead lover on the bedding. It then sat there by the side. Henry lived in the small cottage next to the stable with Sven. It had never been there, but Henry showed it: the outside of the place. It was sparse with the furnishings, but it held memories of Henry.

“God, what a stench!” It was Sven who came in. “Who …… Oh my God! What are you?”

Sven was sent back there to freshen up, and holding the rifle, he had stepped into the cottage.

“My Henry…….”

Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 49

 

49.

The journey was fast, or rather, the father and daughter only woke when they arrived at the mansion. They disembarked from the carriage, and for the first time, Lauren looked at the huge mansion. The drive unloaded the baggage and then took off.

“It looked huge.” Lauren said.

“Yes, it is……. Wait, you can see it?” Spielberg looked at Lauren.

“I think so.” Lauren smiled. “Since last night before supper. I was ……unsure. Was it a dream or ... real?”

“Can you see me?” Spielberg asked.

“I think so. You look older.” Lauren reached out with the right hand to touch the father’s face. “You have a smoother chin.”

“Oh my God, you could see.” Spielberg wept in tears of joy. “I …...”

“I did when I said the carriage was waiting for us. It was a gift from Carmilla.” Lauren looked at the father. “Are you glad?”

“I … I do not know. I meant I am happy you can see, but how and why baffles me.” Spielberg embraced his daughter.

“Shall we go in, Father?” Lauren led her father.

Soon they were back at the dining hall, and the table was laden with food and drinks. There were also the witches’ items in front of Carmilla: a mini-pentacle, or paten, a disc-shaped altar consecration tool with a sigil, or magical symbol, engraved or inscribed upon it. the athame, the carving knife, black-handled and usually inscribed in the Theban alphabet. It is used to direct energy for the casting of magic circles, controlling spirits, and other ritual purposes. There was also the wand, symbolic of the element of air or fire. It can be made from any material, including wood, metal, and rock, and Wiccan wands are sometimes set with gemstones or crystals. It was to summon certain spirits with whom it would not be meet to use the athame. And not to be missed was the chalice, or goblet, ritually in use as the symbol of the element of water.

The palm-sized cauldron was at the side of the items. It is often used for making brews like oils and incense-burning and can be used to hold candles. The fire is often lit within the vessel, and the flames are leaped over as a simple fertility rite or at the end of a handfasting. If filled with water, a cauldron can be used for scrying. It plays a large role in Celtic magic in a similar fashion to that of Cerridwen's cauldron.

Facing it was Carmilla.

On the right side of the table were Annabelle and Lissa.

“Mother?” Lauren looked at the figure that resembled her mother. She rushed towards the figure.

“Yes, darling. It is me.” Lissa replied. “I am here.”

The mother and daughter embraced there next to the table before they sat next to each other.

“Sit down, Spielsdorf.” Carmilla invited the man to the table. “Please be seated across from your family. The food and drinks are real. You may induce them. My other guest had arrived.”

There was a whiff of wind, and the guest arrived.

“Lady Karnstein, I am pleased to see you.” Vlad ‘Dracula’ Tepes appeared at the other end of the table. His brides were not with him. “You looked……”

“Pale? I am bloodless, if that is what you meant.” Carmilla smiled. “I made my peace with the sisters. We are no longer at conflict.”

“I am glad.” Vlad ‘Dracula’ Tepes lowered his guard. “Please forgive me. I was only wary of us meeting here ……alone.”

“Shed your oafish behavior.  Do be seated there.” It was the voice of Annabelle. She was motioning to the other end of the table. “We are to talk.”

Vlad took his seat there and faced Carmilla. They are a table length apart and a table width from the ladies but still a distance. He saw the mortal taking the seat on the other side of the table. He sensed no hostility there.

“Vlad, I have called my peace with the covens. You may have sensed it. I am dying.” Carmilla looked at the vampire.

“I could cure you. I offered you immortality.”   Vlad leaned forth on the table.

“I am aware of your cure, but do not forget I had it……unknowingly, but the witches held an elixir to the vampire’s lust.” Carmilla smiled. “I should have studied that before we meet.”

“Then it would have been …… just physical interaction between us.” Vlad smiled. “I have to be discreet in the presence of the ladies, more in particular the young innocent ones.”

“Well, a f…… Ok, we will be discreet.” Carmilla saw Lissa staring at her. “As I was saying, Vlad, our union cannot be done. It is not that I am dying now, but I held no love for you. I do, however, love one other.”

Carmilla stared at Lauren.

“I had given her my real love and my blood essence to revive her life force and…… her sight.” Carmilla smiled. “Yes, my dear Laure. This is me, Carmilla, your friend.”

“You are beautiful. As I had imagined then, and now seeing you told me I was not wrong.” Vlad looked towards Lauren.

“I……”

“Hold your lust, Vlad ‘Dracula’ Tepes!” Lissa cried out. “You…”

“I held none, mother of the child. My love is for Carmilla… only her.” Vlad smiled at the child’s mother.

“Just in case you changed your mind, Lauren is different.” Annabelle looked towards Vlad. “Have you heard of the Power of Three?”

Vlad felt the tingling on his spine.

“The power of three is universal and is the tripartite nature of the world as heaven, earth, and waters. It is human as body, soul, and spirit... It is a symbol of the unity of body, mind, and spirit. Also, three is the number of perfections, or completion.” Lissa explained.

“Lauren holds ours. She is the Three.” Carmilla smiled. “Vlad, you are no match for her.”

“I……. I meant no harm to her. I shall take my leave then.” Vlad stood up and turned to the door. “However, she …….”

“Do not tempt me, Vampire.” Vlad heard the call and found himself stuck to the wall above the doorway, face facing the stony surface.

“I am the Three.”

“Oh God!” Spielberg looked with dismay at his daughter. She stood there next to her mother with her right hand held out.

“How …….” Spielberg looked to Lissa.

“It is our legacy, my love. For us to protect Lauren, we have imparted our powers to her. She will be more powerful than all of us combined; with our power, she will head the coven now.” Lissa looked to Spielsdorf.

“Lissa, she is our daughter. How could you do this?” Spielberg cried out to his lover. “For God’s sake, she is……”

“Father, I am well. I knew of my existence and my role to the coven.” Lauren looked at her father. “When … during the accident, I was given the vision of my existence. Mother had told me I will need to learn. For me to do it, I was to see myself. I was given a new vision. I had years to prepare for Carmilla. She saw me at the mansion and recognized my role. She felt drawn to me, like a sister, which I never had then. We confided and slept together, dreamt in unison…….”

“Stop it, Lauren.” Spielberg called out. He looked towards his lover. “I cannot……”

“Accept it, my love. Lauren is a witch, not made but born. Annabelle has three sons, no daughter….  Her lover wanted a girl, but she knew if she did, there would be……. She did not want it. She loved her sons; there were two then, and then the last was a son too. She felt he was not ready.”

“Yes, I was not. My love, your Общий; my Alf will never accept it. I was not ready for him to raise a daughter. He was a monster in his own life. He killed many innocent lives, including some of my own kinsmen.  He raised two of them in William and Victor. I saw it in them, the brutality in their ways, and when Ernest was born, I refused to let them raise the last son. I nurtured the last son. It was unforeseen when Ernest, who was to be a scholar, took up my skills. He found the cauldron first and was playing at it. Soon, he learned to read and found my books. I knew he was not my daughter, but he inherited her in him. I indulge with him, unknown to Alf. He was good, but he was not a daughter. He had the ailment of movement, and it was one method to cure him, but I failed. I died not long soon after.”

“Witches!” Spielberg sighed out.

“Yes, we are. Our coven required daughters. Spielberg, I love you.” Lissa pleaded with the man. “I never meant to …….”

“Hurt me? No, you did not. You destroyed my life.” Spielberg looked at Lissa. “We never should have met.”

“It was our fate, and she is our legacy.” Lissa looked at Lauren. “You hold something that she needs. Please hand back the jewel.”

Spielberg looked at the cane in his left hand. The jewel there glowed. He wanted to toss it away.

“Lauren needs it to complete herself. Please give it to her.” Carmilla said,

"Spielsdorf, you may hate us, but do it for your daughter. Her journey has just started, and to survive, she needs that. Do it for Lauren, please.”

“Hey, someone please free me.” Vlad called out.  

Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 48

 

48.

“Father, are you upset at me for making you look for Carmilla?” Lauren asked the father when they stopped for the night at a tavern. They had reserved their accommodation and took their supper at the hall. They were seated by the window while Spielsdorf kept his back to the wall and eyed the surroundings.

“No, I am not.” Spielberg looked to the kitchen and was wishing they were served. He was hungry then.

“Then why are you quiet since we …….” Lauren looked at the father. It was then the meals were served, and the conversation was kept aside. She resumed shortly when her father took to smoking the pipe.

“Well, it is like having the meals. They are different times for different meals. Our conversation was to be after supper.” Spielberg looked around the tavern hall. He was eyeing the patrons there while his left hand was in the left-hand pocket of the coat. He was wary of strangers then.

“And …...” Lauren waited for the reply from her father.

“I have no objection to your request. As a matter of concern, I want to see this friend of yours. What is her name again?”

“Carmilla. She never told me her full name.” Lauren replied. “She told me to see her at the mansion. She said you knew its whereabouts.”

“I may……but……” Spielberg felt at a loss to explain Carmilla Karnstein.

And Lissa.

They are interrelated there.

“Father, could we not be …… rash to each other there?” Lauren asked,"

“Why do you say that? I have not … We are not there yet.” Spielberg looked at his daughter.

“Carmilla told me yesterday before we left the mansion. She …….”

“She was there? Why did you not tell me?”

“She appeared to me in my dream. She told us she was dying and needed us to hurry.” Lauren explained. “We need to get there fast.”

“We will, Lauren. The journey needs some days of travel, and …….”

“Carmilla said she can offer us a carriage that could reach there by dawn.” Lauren looked to the outside. “I think it’s here now.”

Spielberg looked outside the window. There was a carriage there.

“She said it is safe to travel in it.” Lauren said. “I will collect our things from the room.”

It was decided then, and Spielsdorf had his view of the carriage interior. It looked comfortable.

“Step in, Mr. Spielsdorf. The ride will be long, but we will make it smooth for you.” The driver spoke to the man. The driver was dressed in the dark suit and bowler hat. He spotted the thick moustache with the sunken set of eyes. The father and daughter took to the carriage and the drapes were drawn over the window. It was a smooth ride, and soon they were asleep.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found;

I was blind, but now I see

.'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear?

The hour I first believed

When we've been there ten thousand years

Brightly shining as the sun

We have no fewer days to sing God's praise.

Then when we first began

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found;

I was blind, but now I see.

I once was lost, but now I'm found

;I was blind, but now I see.

‘Amazing Grace,’ originally written by John Newton in 1772

Earlier at the lab, Mrs. Muriel stared at the man who had taken her niece to his side. Her niece had taken to standing between her and the man.

“Step aside, Elizabeth. He does not deserve your mercy.”

“You cannot shoot him. Aunt. He is…” Elizabeth looked to the man she had covered herself.

“He… We are to have a child. I am carrying his.”

“All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body; Corinthians 6:18.” Mrs. Muriel muttered then. “You have……”

“I did not. We did not. We are in love.” Elizabeth cut in. “It is just that we took the vow before ourselves then. We had sinned in not telling God that we were to do it, but the deed done bestowed upon us the child. Our child.”

“That is not a child. That is a …… Nephilim. A consummation between the …… monster and you.” Mrs. Muriel holds on to the revolver quiver then. “You consummated with the monster. How could you? All my years of upbringing, and yet you…….”

“I love him, Aunt. He loves me.” Elizabeth cried out. “We did it for love. Our love is a paradox. I studied it. It is a …… encompassing both the desire for self-fulfilments and selfless devotion and the simultaneous expansion and effacement of the self.”

“Grand words, Elizabeth. But within these walls, they mean nothing. You are a …… bitch, and he is the monster.” Mrs. Muriel held up the revolver at her niece. “I condemned you to …….”

Mrs. Muriel had a glimpse of the figure that emerged from the chamber nearby. Her sight was distorted by the monstrosity that appeared there.

“God protect me. What is that?” Mrs. Muriel called out. She aimed her revolver at the monster there. Victor saw the threat to his creation.

He rushed over to protect the creation.

Elizabeth saw the elderly lady aimed at her right side.

She felt Victor had rushed towards them.

She had to stop the elderly lady.

She rushed towards the elderly lady.

Mrs. Muriel saw from the corner of her eye that her niece was rushing at her.

She turned to look.

Her arms swung to the front, and then the shot was heard.

“Elizabeth!” Mrs. Muriel cried out when she saw her niece fall backwards. The revolver in her hands was fired. The bullet had impacted Elizabeth on the lower chest.

“No!” Victor stopped in his rush. He turned to look at Elizabeth. She was hurt.

“You shot her!’ Victor looked towards the elderly lady. “You killed her!”

Mrs. Muriel saw the anger in the monster. She knew that he was the cause of it. She levelled her revolver at the monster. She pulled the trigger, and then it was confusion.

A huge frame stood over her. It took the bullet in the chest, but the front limbs reached for the elderly face. It gripped the jaw of the elderly lady. Its grip was hard and powerful. The jaw came apart on the grip.

Mrs. Muriel was tossed to the left by the creation. In its hands were the fragments of the broken jaw.

Mrs. Muriel dropped the revolver and held her hands over her face.

It was painful, but the pain was short-lived when the creature clubbed the elderly lady in the head. The clasped fists smashed the cranium of the lady. The force was so hard that the fragments of the cranial pierced the soft brain tissue.

“God, I can see you. It is I, Anne Muriel. Your devoted servant. Purity in our body and soul, purity in our mind and thoughts.”

God was forgiving.Not Man.

“What are you?” It was Sven who appeared at the doorway. He was holding his rifle. At the side of him, the five soldiers had joined in.

“Raise the rifles!” Matthew called out to the soldiers with him. He was trained to kill or be killed.

“Fire!”