Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 39

 

39.

 

Meanwhile, Laurren had transported the ones that gathered around her to the cottage. There was Victor, the Helsing father and son. Rudolf was standing leaning on the rifle with Sven, and there was Mary, who felt confused to be there. Abel was there at the cottage tending to a group of horses, saddled and ready to be ridden.

“I am ……” Lauren collapsed on the ground from the effort. While everyone was trying to gather themselves, Kane rushed at Lauren with the crossbow levelled at the new witch.

“You are a witch! You deserve to die!” Kane held the bow to his shoulders. His right index finger was at the trigger. The shot came, and his aim was off. The iron arrow hit the cottage wall, barely hitting Abel, who was standing there holding the rifle as a clutch to hold himself. Kane fell to his side and looked at the one who shot him. He was shot in the right shoulder from the rear.

“Why did you shoot me?”

“We had enough of the killings, Kane.” The doctor stepped towards his son. He was holding the handgun that he kept in the shoulder holster. “You are……”

“I am doing what is our task.” Kane’s left hand was on his wound. “Have you forgotten your role?”

“No, I have not.” The doctor looked from Kane to Lauren. “She saved us all.”

“We must leave now,’ Rudolf called on Lauren.

“And I think we are to do so.” Doctor Helsing approached his injured son, Kane. “I need to get you to a doctor. Let us collect Abel.”

The Helsing family took to the horse assigned for them and rode off.

“Master, I will take Henry with me.” Mary walked to the cottage. Sven stopped her.

“I will go with you.” Sven told Mary. “We will……”

“No. I will not take Henry far. We will …… I will lie beside him.” Mary looked at her master. “The last years I have been in hiding and trying to be near Henry and… Father. I know this. I will never be the same like … Lauren or Mary Annabelle. I will always be the monster….”

“Do not say that, Mary. You are ……” Victor cut in. “I can … revive Henry.”

“Do not console me, Master. I am a…a creation. Yours and always be.” Mary looked at Victor. “I was given life by Carmilla. You heard that from her too. It was not you.”

“I will never be like Pinocchio. Nor are you Geppetto. That fable is not to be created here. This frame is yours, but not the… soul inside.” Mary sighed. “Mary Annabelle is yours; frame and soul. She is beautiful.”

“So are you.” Victor approached Mary. “Let me help. I can recreate the experiment. I got the generator…….”

“Do not deceive yourself, Master. I am glad to be here… with you and… Sven and Henry. But the journey had to end. Like the tenure of life, I must …… die.” Mary then looked towards Sven.

“I will be with Henry. He will not be alone. We will be fine.” Mary looked at Henry. “We will go away. Maybe to the creek. Henry likes it there.”

“No, I can bury you at the grave where Henry was.” Sven stepped up to Mary.

“It will not be safe. They will find and dig us up. I may not be dead. I will …… fight them, and it will be like now. We must not be found.” Mary looked back at Victor. “We must go.”

“Wait.” Victor looked to Sven. “We have a basement at the mansion. You can hide there with …… Henry. We will seal the entrance.”

“No, Master. They will still find it, and our peace will be over.” Mary sighed. “We will be leaving.”

“Wait, Mary.” Sven stepped to the creation. “What if we bury you with the mansion over it?”

“I do not understand.” Victor looked at Sven.

“I have two barrels of gunpowder.” Sven told Victor. “It was brought by me some years back, when I wanted to …clear some deep-rooted old trees.”

“And also, to load my rifles.” Sven looked at Mary. “I was to protect her.”

“I can collapse the mansion over both of you. They will not dig you up.” Sven looked to the mansion. “It will be your……”

“Yes, bury us. I am contented to be buried with Henry.” Mary looked at Sven. “Bury us deep.”

“Mary, you ……” Victor looked at her and was trying to find the words for her.

“I am already dead. My body is a mixed anatomy of whom I am not to know. It may be my head and brain, but what was my name? It does not matter. All I want now is to be with Henry. He gave me a name.” Mary then carried Henry in her arms. “Let us do it.”

Sven rushed to gather the two barrels, while Victor stood there still stunned.

“It is their wish, Victor… Sir.” Lauren approached Victor. “Let us give …. Them that wish. Get the other horses to the lab. We do not want to spook them. We need to leave fast later.”

Rudolf assisted Sven on the task. They laid the gunpowder at the areas near the basement where it will collapse the mansion walls. Victor had then led Mary to the basement. He opened the heavy door and led her in.

“My father had planned this for… if we ever needed it, it was to hold ourselves inside, but instead of it… it was a mausoleum. I had used the design to build my lab, with the generator and the cold chamber. As a kid, we used to play here or stay hidden from my father. He once locked us in for two days and earned Mother’s wrath.”

The basement was bare of furnishings and held some empty shelves.

“Soon after Mother’s death, my father had this place cleared out. He wanted to bury Mother here, but her body went missing. We never knew why, but now when …… Carmilla explained it; I can understand.” Victor sighed. “You can stay here now, Mary. With Henry by your side.”

Victor took his leave of the basement and met Sven with Rudolf.

“It is done. She is inside.” Victor struggled to say the words. “May she …… No, they rest in peace.”

“Lauren, we must go now.” Rudolf looked for his daughter. “Where is she?”

Rudolf saw his daughter had walked towards the mansion.

“Lauren, we must go,” Rudolf told her.

“It will not be enough. I need to bury them deep. Lauren raised her arms and called on the spell that will add destruction to the mansion.

“It is done, Father. It will work itself into the walls and then collapse within itself with the explosion. Let us leave.” Lauren turned to approach her father. The horses were already hitched and waiting for them.

“I am not leaving,” Sven said. “I will stay behind to light the gunpowder.”

“Not needed.” Lauren said, and called on the spell, which knocked Sven off his feet.

“Pick him up, and ride now.” Lauren told Victor. “The mob is almost here. And ride hard.”

Lauren stood there and looked at the mansion. She spent some days there, and then it was the final resting place for the creation. And her lover. She raised her arms once more, and the spell was cast. She rushed to the horse that was for her.

“We ride, Father.” Lauren mounted the horse. “We have to get back to our mansion to secure the sister’s mausoleum and then to rescue Mother.”

Rudolf mounted his ride and saw the flames of fire at the windows of the mansion. He galloped off to follow his daughter. They rode for a short distance and then heard the explosion.

“Rest well, Общий.” Rudolf snapped his heels on the horse to ride faster. He was leading the horse on which Sven was laid across.

 

 

 

 

Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 38

 

38.

 

“What you hold there are moonstones.” The silhouette there motioned to the runes in Lauren’s hand. “It was given to the coven generations ago and kept by them for the lunar eclipse festivals. It was handed to your mother for keepsakes, but she was never told of its real existence.”

“It held the connection towards the moon, which circles the world we live in. The moon, as we all looked at the skies, seen by nighttime, holds more than just a sight to behold. The moon is the world’s stabilizer; it maintains the constant rotation of day and night. It creates regulating climate and ocean tides.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” Lauren asked.

“Lauren Spielsdorf, the daughter of Lissa, and the upcoming Wiccan of the Moon coven. You are the chosen one.” The figure looked at the young lady. “You are the most recent member of the coven. The last three had perished physically but kept in their spirit form under the moonlight that rejuvenates them, but with each passing moon, their powers are sapped.”

“This lunar eclipse is a special one. It is unlike the others, though rarity of it has occurred, but this one hover here. A rarity indeed, for it will not be seen by all, but by the few here.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” Lauren asked again. “You should talk to …… Victor Frankenstein, or… that doctor. They are …… experts. I am just a ……”

“A new witch, yet you are to be a powerful one. There will be major issues to come in this realm. The realm needs its protector. That is your task.”

“I only want to be a witch to bring back my mother. That was all I ever wanted.” Lauren sighed. “I have……”

“Lauren, great responsibilities are before you when you are a witch.” The figure said. “It is not your call to ignore them.”

“You are chosen and will be one. The power is in you now.” The figure dissipated, and time flows once more.

“I will kill you!” Brown threatened Mary. He charged at the creation.

“Not today.” Mary’s anger was inside of her head, and she reacted with a solid fist at the witch-man. The fist impacted on the left shoulder, and the sound of bones cracking was heard. Brown fell backwards onto the Menhir there. The structure weakened by the impact was jolted from its foundation. It toppled and fell onto Brown.

When the Menhir fell, the shadow of the moon had declined, and fractions of the sun were seen.

“Stop it, Mary!” Lauren called out to the creation. “It is over.”

Carmilla and Annabelle ran towards Lauren.

“I can feel it in you. You are complete, Lauren.” Carmilla smiled. “We are to……”

Carmilla and Annabelle faded off, leaving Lauren standing there while the sun reclaimed its radiance. She looked at the others. The elderly Wiccan was on the ground barely breathing, and the warlock was lifeless. Stefan and Marcos took to their heels and ran off. Doctor Helsing stood there with his son, Kane, holding the crossbows and looking at Lauren.

Victor approached Mary and looked at her.

“Are you hurt?” Victor asked.

“No, Master. I am fine. I want to go home.” Mary said. “I want to see Henry.”

Rudolf had rushed over with Sven. They were holding the rifles that they had fired at the Warlock. It was then Elizabeth stepped forth and crouched by the body of the warlock.

“William Katt, I am to leave you with the amulet from Katheleen. You can hold it now.” Elizabeth looked towards Victor. “Take Mary Annabelle and raise her. I am to go away… alone.”

“Elizabeth…” Victor called out, but he was not moving towards her. He felt the burden of his love was lifted for the lady till he heard the next voice.

“Mother, please do not go.” It was Mary Annabelle who approached the mother. Lilith, who was still there, stood a distance behind to give space to the child.

“I still need you.” The child looked at the mother. “We can still be together. We can……”

“No, my daughter. I am best left alone. You go with our… father.” Elizabeth turned away. “I got my own demons to take care of, and you do want to be there when I do.”

“Mother, will you ever return?” The child asked.

“Will I? I do not know, but I may try.” Elizabeth looked at Victor. “She is a Frankenstein. Raise her well.”

“Dolores, where are you?” Elizabeth called out to the maid. “I want to go home.”

“She is away, Elizabeth.” Lilith told the lady. “Let me lead you and Mary Annabelle home.”

Elizabeth nodded, and it was then another voice was heard.

“Pathetic souls, all of you.”: The voice came over the yard. It was Beelzebub there, dressed in the dark three-piece suit, with the top hat, and holding a cane as if he were the circus master. “It seems that I missed the party, but I still hold the star performer.”

“Lady Elizabeth, I believed you owed me a demon servant. I will collect.” The demon master smiled.

“Lilith, I am coming with you.” Mary Annabelle called out to the maid and rushed towards her. Victor looked at Elizabeth, but she was already walking ahead without a glance at them.

“Lilith?” The demon master was surprised. “I……”

Lilith had turned and walked off with Mary Annabelle to follow Elizabeth.

“Another moment then ……” The demon master smiled. He then turned his attention to Lauren.

“Yes, Lady Lauren Spieldorf, your mother’s soul is with me. Surrender your power to me, and I will return her soul.” The demon master did a curtsy to the lady.

“Never……” Lauren replied in anger.

“Hey, ……. what is your name? Circus master? Or clown?” The doctor stepped forth. The demon master was not to be belittled and handed out the mental blow with the wave of his hand. The blow was deflected by Lauren, who unknowingly called on the shield to protect the doctor.

“No reason to be aggressive, demon.” Lauren stood in the front of the group. “I will get my mother’s soul back.”

“Lauren!” The shout came from Rudolf. He had leveled his rifle at the demon and fired. The bullet impacted on the demon’s chest but did not penetrate the flesh there.

“Pathetic indeed.” The demon master brushed off the gunpowder residue. “When will you mortals stop your persistence to battle me? It gets boring.”

Beelzebub saw then the mass of the crowd rushing in from the building towards the yard. They were armed with crude items like sticks and knives, and there does not appear to be any picnic.

“I cannot say that perhaps an early exit will be ideal for now.” The demon master then called on a spell, which made him dissipate into the thin air.

“That is a mob!” The doctor called out. “We need to leave immediately.”

“Stand close to me. I will get us out,” Lauren called out. She gathered them all towards her and then called on the spell, which cast them off. The mob led by Lydia Poem besieged the yard at the Menhirs.

“They have escaped.” Ms. Poem stood there. She saw the body of the Inspector there, and the lady she was told was named Agathe. There were others, and they were all gathered to the centre of the menhirs. She saw Elizabeth in the distance but ignored that.

“She is dead.” One of those gathered there kicked at the body of the elderly lady.

“They are witches, and what they are not. I will say we burn them here. They deserved that.” An elderly man stepped up towards Ms. Poem. “We had the infestation a decade ago, and it is time to send these to Hell again.”

The mob there cheered the elderly man. Ms. Poem held out her arms to silence them.

“We are not vigilantes or …. Self-justice people here.’ Ms. Poem drew on her legal profession. “We must get the authorities here.”

“What local authorities? That was our local authorities.” The elderly man motioned to the dead inspector. “I say these are not criminals, but demons. And demons deserved to be burned.”

“I…” Ms. Poem was pushed aside, and the gathered there piled the bodies at the center closer. One of them then gathered wood and leaves to scatter over the bodies. A flame was lit, and the bonfire was created. They retreated when the fire became more intense, but it was then the exact punishment for the ones they deemed as demons.

“I say we marched to the Frankenstein’s mansion. It all started from there. We must do the same there.” The elderly man stepped forth to address the gathered. “I say we gather more weapons and march there now.”

 

 

Mere thoughts here.....

I will be honest. I've got three tales unfinished... and with my life schedules now, I am bogged down with work, and with an eye on the third quarter of the year, I wonder whether I shall need to resume my daily excursions on legs or, by golly, be seated on the porch watching my neighbor prune the weeds to find the flowers. (Yes, my dears. Gardens need to be pruned weekly, or behold, the new Amazon spread will appear.)

Or, I may bloody well add my goggles before Mrs. You-do-want-to-name-her, sprayed me with the fertilizers she stored in the night pot and spat at me for ogling (supposedly) at her. "Mrs. You-do-want-to-name, you need to watch your diet. You've got too much potassium in you. Your flower beds told me too."

My wife will comment that I admired my neighbor too much. I will reply that I am doing Newton's Law studies; the pull of gravity can affect the droop...pardon me, the drop. Whoever needs the internet to view this ought to spend time at the garden watching others ... droop over ... it's live view.

"She ought to wear a brassiere." I looked at my wife and smiled; "That is not a cinematic view." 

"You used to watch 8mm at the dark corner. Is that not...?"

"Mine was scrutiny then," I said. "Call it a medical advancement study on Grey's Anatomy."

"Knew that I should not paid for your cataract surgery." My wife replied. 

"Well, you did, for I can see better of you," I said. "I even saw myself in the mirror."

"Was it the beast or the belly you saw there?" She asked.

"No, I leaned over to see if I still do exist? TGIF ....."

"You meant THANKFULLY GOODNESS IT's FUC....." My wife sneered. "Try DIY. And use tissues. I am not wiping the floor after you." 

By then, I had forgotten my desire to argue and focus on the laws of gravity. Mine rose to the occasion...okay, it was half-mast.

Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 37

 

37.

 

“Mother, I hate you.” Mary Annabelle's voice screamed out. “I hate you.”

Elizabeth looked at the young lady standing there. A part of her wanted to reach out to the daughter, but another part of her denied it. She felt a tug at her emotions, but when she looked at William Katt, she felt more anger.

“Mary Annabelle…” Elizabeth’s voice was broken.

“Elizabeth, I am not a monster. I do love you.” Victor looked at the lady who gave him a daughter. “Mary Annabelle is our daughter of love.”

“No……. I……,” Elizabeth stuttered in her words.

“Why did you bring her?” Elizabeth looked at Dolores. “Could you not just do your task?”

Dolores did not say anything.

“Mary Annabelle, come to me please.” Victor looked at his daughter. “I will … love you. I always do.”

“No, Father. You are as mean as her. I do not want …… either of you.” Mary Annabelle looked at the father. She turned to Dolores. “Please let me leave here now.”

Dolores led the young lady away. She heard the growls from the pack but chose to ignore them.

“Who else is here?” The Warlock looked at the ones who appeared there. “A portal? I am not surprised.”

“The hour draws near. We are almost there, and the victor must be established.” The warlock looked from the sky and then at the Wiccan.

“Do not be arrogant, Warlock. We are …….” Carmilla stepped towards the warlock.

‘The Sisters of the Moon. Charming ……. sisters sworn by oath to protect their coven. We battled, and I lost… once before. Today, I am more powerful. I am a warlock now.” The Warlock turned towards Lauren. “The new one? I was told that there was a new one… one that will hold the power of three.”

“Your name, young lady?” The warlock asked.

“Lauren Spielsdorf. My mother is Lissa, and I am of the coven now.” Lauren stepped up.

“And Doctor Helsing, I presume. You seem to… hop into the most precarious moments.”

“Oui, I am inexcusable for being at the wrong places at the wrong time.” The doctor smiled. “It is a part of my French ancestry in me. Maternal side.”

“And Sven. What made you venture beyond the creek? Oh, I forgot. Your young master is here. And I see ….” The Warlock was stunned. “The creature…… Is that here?”

“She is Mary.” Victor cut in. “Her name is Mary.”

“Nauseous.” The Warlock said. “Do not waste my time. Attack now!”

The shot rang out in the yard. The bullet pierced the warlock on the right hand. The shot came from the building facing the yard, from the upper second level. It was Sven who fired the shot at five hundred yards from the Beldan rifle.

“I aimed at his head but hit the hand.” Sven cursed.

The second shot rang out. It impacted the alpha wolf on the muzzle and split it open. The Alpha sat down on its haunches there.

“I knew I had not lost my skill,” Rudolf roared. “Darn it, my shoulder hurts.”

It was the unexpected that happened. The Alpha was attacked by two other wolves. It was Alistair, the wolf with the scar on the muzzle, leading the charge. It sank its fangs into the Alpha's neck, while the second wolf snapped at the rear hind of the Alpha. It was a tactical attack move by wolves. The pack stood their ground, watching the attack.

The Alpha was not giving up that easily and pulled away with its neck bleeding. It was huge compared to Alistair and the other wolf. It then charged at Alistair, using its mass weight to push the other wolf off its hinds. Both wolves landed on the ground, and the Alpha sank its fangs into Alistair’s front right limb and drew blood from there. Alistair fought back and rolled off from the Alpha and limped to the side.

The other attacking wolf took the opportunity to leap at the Alpha, but the latter was ready for the attack. It turned its body and met the leaping wolf in the flight. It used its mass weight to impact on the other wolf, and both fell to the ground. The Alpha was to give away the opportunity and bite at the wolf on the left ribs at the spine. The force of the bite tore into the flesh and bones, and with a twist of the head, the Alpha exerted a major wound on the wolf. The wolf retreated with the chest bloodied and slunk away.

Alistair was not out of the fight and had leapt at the Alpha from the side, sinking its fangs once more into the neck. That time, its bite was deep and severed the jugular veins there. The Alpha tried to break free, but Alistair held onto its bite.

Alistair did not see the attack from the left when the fourth wolf charged at it. The newly arrived wolf bit into Alistair in the rear left hind and caused Alistair to withdraw. It faced the new wolf and growled. The new wolf was not unknown to Alistair, but he was surprised by the attack. It caught the familiar female scent of the wolf.

Alistair knew the scent.

The female wolf charged at Alistair; though smaller in frame, it used the momentum of its charge to slam against Alistair. Its front paws impacted on Alistair’s head and exposed the neck where the female wolf sank its fangs into the thyroid cartilage located beneath the hyoid bone, protecting the vocal cords.

Alistair pushed free of the bite and slinked to the side while the female wolf stood guard by the Alpha, who was wounded. Alistair and the other wounded wolf then retreated to the woods.

It was deemed over. The pack of wolves howled at the female wolf, respecting her as the new alpha. The female wolf looked from the pack to the witches.

“You will die now, Warlock.” The Wiccan broke the silent moment when everyone else stood to look at the spectacle of the wolves. The Wiccan called on the spell to destroy the warlock.

“Go povikuvam ognot na Hefest. Zapali go suštestvoto pred mene.” (I call on the fire of Hephaestus. Burn the creature before me.” The Wiccan spoke of the familiar spell for the yellow fire, and the flame appeared in a narrow circle, and then the flames flared out as streaks of flame that lashed out like a fiery whip at the Warlock.

The Warlock called on the shield to protect himself, but with his wounded right hand, he could only manage a weaker shield. He was thrown back by the fire whip and landed by the Menhir. He looked to the sky and noted the eclipse of the sun was just seconds away. The sun was seen to be covered by the crescent of the moon. The shadow of the crescent formed in the Menhir circle; it was expanding.

The warlock tried to move, but it was wounded by the whip.

“Warlock, we can still ……” The dean, who was unprotected by the shield, succumbed to his wounds.

“Perish, Warlock.” The Wiccan gathered power on the shield and struck at the shield. It cracked on the more intense whip and then impacted on the Warlock.

“The eclipse is here. I will garner the pinnacle of power.” The Wiccan stepped forth, but she was stopped by Brown. He grabbed the older lady by the shoulder and tossed her to the side.

“How dare you?” The Wiccan shouted. “I will burn you alive.”

The Wiccan called on the fire spell, but Brown was prepared for it. He had learned on his own the other spells not taught to him. He called on the shield to block the spell.

“Where did you learn that?” The Wiccan, weakened by the blow, spoke.

“There are many we learned without your teaching,” Brown said. He was flanked by Marcos and Stefan. “The change of leadership is now.”

“How dare all of you?” The Wiccan hissed at them. “I was the one who……”

“Rescue us to be your slaves.” Brown smiled. “I was the mute one, but I was not mute in my thoughts.”

“Punish them, Sisters!” The Wiccan called out to Carmilla. “They are ……”

“Sisters, stay out. This is our fight. Do not get involved.” Brown turned to look at Carmilla. “We hold no battle with you.”

Carmilla hesitated with her focus on the shadow of the moon over the sun. It had reached the halfway mark.

“Carmilla, it is not our battle. We are here for the power of pinnacle.” Annabelle told the other. “We must get Lauren ready.” 

“No!” Brown shouted. “The pinnacle is mine.”

The strong man of the coven rushed forth towards the middle of the menhirs. He stood there with his arms raised high.

“Give me the power!” Brown called out.

Nothing happened, but the shadow grew wider and was three-quarters over the sun. Brown stared at the darkening sun and then screamed.

“It hurts!” Brown fell onto his knees and clutched his head with his hands. “Stop the pain!”

“You fool!” The Wiccan called out. “You are not ready for it.”

The Wiccan pushed herself up and staggered towards the shadow. She did not see the Warlock, wounded but determined to stop the Wiccan. He dragged himself up and lunged at the older lady.

“Never!’ The Warlock called out and then crashed into the older lady. They both fell outside the shadow area. Two shots rang out then. The Wiccan rolled over to the side after pushing the Warlock off her body. The latter was dead, having been shot then by two bullets into the back. She turned to look at the shadow of the sun. It was almost complete.

“It is mine.” The Wiccan called out. She felt herself lifted by her legs, but it was from the shadow. She was dragged away and turned to look to see it was Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth! Why?” The Wiccan called out.

“Your reign is over, Grandma,” Elizabeth said. “I am done.”

“You are mad! I am to cure you.” The Wiccan looked at Elizabeth. “You fool!”

It was then Brown, who was in pain at the head, rushed at Elizabeth. He was raging mad inside of him from the pain. He fell the lady and then looked at the Wiccan.

“It is time to die, old lady.” Brown crouched to grab the lady when Mary charged at him. The creation attacked the strong witch man, and they fell into the shadow circle. They wrestled on the ground there. They are matched for strength, and their blows impacted with force with their fists.

Mary had tossed Brown to the middle of the shadow, and she lunged in to grab the witch-man.

“Get off me, monster.” Brown called out when Mary followed through with a fist at her face.

“I am Mary.” The creation took a second stab at the witch-man. “You will not hurt anybody else.”

It was an intense fight. It was then the eclipse was complete and the sun totally blocked out.

Darkness appeared over the yard.

Lauren, who was holding the runes in her right hand, felt the urge then to walk towards the menhirs. She walked on and reached the edge of the dark shadow and looked at the two figures still on the ground. They seem to be unmoving there. She turned to look at the others behind her and saw they were also unmoving.

It seems that time had stopped then.

“Time is the continuous progression of existence. Life exists in concurrence with time.” Lauren was told by Carmilla. “We have events that occur apparently from the past, through the present, and into the future, irreversible by us.”

“Can we halt time?” Lauren asked.

“Not that we know of, but it may be probable if we are powerful enough to do it. I doubt even as witches that we can do it.” Carmilla smiled. “If I could, I would unravel the past to make the future better.”

“You forgot the present,” Lauren said.

“The present, for me, is the turning point to determine the past and future. If you are ever given the opportunity to do that, give it enough thought before you decide. Your past and future are the balance.”

“Come forth, child.” The voice reached out to Lauren. The young lady looked to the silhouette of a humanlike figure there floating above the ground.  There was not much to make out of the figure, for it was glowing with radiance of light. “I am the spirit of Blood Moon.”

 

Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 36

 

36.

 

Carmilla looked at those gathered there at the cottage. She needed to explain the situation to them.

“It was no coincidence that we, the sisters, are here. I was the free, rebellious one. When Annabelle took a fancy to the man who was to destroy us, and Lissa followed suit with the other officer, I was already with one other, another soul with a desire for blood.”

“Count Dracula was my lover, not by force, but by choice. We met, or rather he met me, in an unusual incident. He was fleeing from the High Council then, and being weakened from lack of blood, I met him weak and vulnerable in the woods. He pleaded with me to give him blood, the very essence of his survivor.”

“I refused, but I let him drink my blood from the bowl. It kept him alive, and then we parted ways. It was much later when we got together, and never had he taken any of my blood. By then Lissa and Annabelle had their own lives. We had agreed to place on hold our ways. I had my days and nights with Dracula, as you identified with, but to me he was Vlad.”

“Our path took on a dangerous foe: the High Council. They set upon us hunters, for to them the cohabitation between witches and vampires was prohibited.” Carmilla smiled. “We parted ways, and for myself, I was set on my werewolves.”

“Ironic for such an alliance, but the High Council befriended the enemies of our enemies.” Carmilla laughed. “I was ambushed and barely escaped with my soul. Wolf bites are deadly to us too. I sought shelter with Annabelle, and you know the rest.”

“The High Council was tasked to eradicate… witches, among others,” Doctor Abraham cut in. “Their……”

“Their …… accomplishments are …… meritorious at best, but their methods of deployment are questionable.”

“Witches should not exist.” Doctor Abraham was firm on his belief that the High Council was right in their tasks.

“How long… or rather, when have witches existed? And why?” Carmilla looked at the doctor. “Early mentions of witches exist in the Bible, such as the Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel and Exodus 22:18….”

“Which mandates, "You shall not allow a witch to live".” Doctor Abraham expanded her words.

“And so were the Nephilim.” Carmilla argued. “Did they exist then, metaphorically speaking? Or they did. And their extinction was the task of whom? The passing judgment of the living then.”

“I have no evidence to suggest that.” Doctor Abraham said.

“Passing judgement of the living—even the book we all read was the dictation of the living then.” Carmilla looked at the gathered. “Do you know that witches originated from ancient, pre-Christian traditions as healers, seers, and keepers of local, agrarian, and herbal knowledge? It was the later generations that demonized us. The authorities called it mistreatment of humanity and linked us to the practices of the devil and malevolent magic.”

“Yet, the fictional depiction of the witches, as I said earlier, was of healers, seers, and keepers of local, agrarian, and herbal knowledge. They did no harm but provided relief in terms of cure and guidance to the people. What was feared… of them was their influence on society, which was formed within social circles.”

“As societies became more affluent, mark my word …. The ways of the pagan, nature-based, and magical practices were reinterpreted as heresy or devil worship.” Carmilla looked at the doctor. “Metaphysics in learning: who created the devil?”

“How the devil do I know?” Doctor Abraham snapped at the other. “I was……”

“Why did you ……. Meet with Mary?” Victor moved to change the subject.

“I did not…… I was keen on your experiments. When I was not with Lauren, I was in your lab. I was fascinated by your determination to create life. We, as witches, have resurrected dead ones, but they must be recent. Have not done it for a decayed one, but we breathe life into them for a momentary period. When I saw your creation, I was …… I crossed the line here. I gave the creation a part of myself.”

“And was that how Mary came alive?” Sven in turn asked.

“I believe so.” Carmilla smiled.

“You are a witch. You caused all the pain to my son Henry, and he died with it.” Sven burst out. “I should kill you.”

“I did not… know. I saw the …… Henry was infatuated with Mary, but I was not …….” Carmilla defended herself. “Why are you blaming me? Your son ……. saw companionship with Mary.”

‘I did too.” Mary appeared at the doorway.

“Mary… I am ……” Sven could not find the words to say.

“It is okay, Sven. I am a creation and should not deserve any ……. Affection from
others, but we did. Or rather I did.” Mary sighed. “Master, I was wrong.”

“No, Mary.” Victor found himself calling the creation by the name. “Our ……. Affections are, at most times, beyond our control. You can say it was impulse.”

“Impulse is time and force… a physics term.” Doctor Abraham muttered. He saw the others looking at him. “I was also talking metaphysics here.”

“Master, I must go away.” Mary looked at Victor. “I caused too much pain.”

“No, Mary.” It was Sven who spoke. “I want you to stay… by my side. We will go away to a safer place.”

“No, Mary. I can … also protect you.” Victor said. “We can build a safe place. The lab is there.”

“No one is going anywhere.” Carmilla cuts in. “We have an important task to do. An hour from now, the lunar event will take place. If we are not there, we will not survive the night.”

“The lunar event is sought after by many covens and others. It was claimed that it offered the power of a pinnacle. We learned of it only recently; partly due to our isolation, we had forgotten about it.”

“We were focused on Lauren to get her power.” Annabelle cut in. “If we can get that, we can fully complement Lauren as the powerful witch and rescue Lissa.”

“Leave Lauren out.” Rudolf stepped out to stare at Carmilla. “Have you not created enough trouble for……”

“No, Father.” Lauren held out her right hand to her father. “I must be complete. And to rescue Mother.”

“I will shoot anyone who takes my daughter.” Rudolf had grabbed the rifle leaning against the wall and leveled it at Carmilla. “I had enough.”

“You will not.” It was Lauren who waved her right hand at her father and pushed him to the wall. “I will be … complete.”

“Lauren…” Abel spoke out weakly. “You……”

“I will be fine, Abel. You rest here. I will be back for you.” Lauren smiled. “Now, my dear sisters. We got a power to garner. How can we get there in time?”

“I can open a portal through which we can get there.” Annabelle told Lauren. “Who is …?”

“I can come.” Mary said. “Sven, please take care of Henry.”

“No, I will come with you.” Sven looked at Carmilla. “Can you shield my son? From demons and… other witches.”

“I can, but we need to move ……. Him inside here. I can build a shield over the cottage,” Annabelle said. “Abel is here and needed protection. The others too…”

“Madness prevails here, but… my impulse; time with distance… Whatever it may be, say I am coming along. I got to stop them before they can come here.” Doctor Abraham cut in. “Abel, where is your crossbow?”

“I have it, Father.” Kane appeared at the doorway holding two sets of crossbows. ‘You need me there too.”

“I am staying,” Victor said. “I got to fix the generator. There must be other ways for me to safeguard this place.”

It was agreed then, and the men went to dig up Henry. He was not buried deep nor with a coffin, but a shroud wrap was all he had. He was carried to the cottage and laid there. Mary crouched down and swept the dirt off the face.

“Henry… it is me, Mary.” The creation bowed its head. It was then Lauren saw the necklace on Henry’s chest. It was the runes that she was looking for.

“The runes…the stones that were my mother’s. Henry has it.” Lauren stooped to pick it up, but Mary slapped her hand away.

“It is Henry’s. Do not touch it.” Mary looked up at Lauren.

“Mary, can Lauren borrow it? She may need it to fight the others.” Carmilla asked. “It will be returned to you after that.”

“The body is well preserved.” Victor interjected with his scientific observation. The doctor leaned forward to look.

“Well-preserved corpses, or mummies, are not a new discovery. Some bodies were preserved by extreme cold, acidic bogs, or intentional, like the Egyptian mummies, sophisticated, and… yet-to-be-discovered embalming methods.” Doctor Abraham's mind flirted with his academic learnings.

“The area here can be… considered as bog lands. I had examined my shoes and the soil there.” The doctor looked around and saw the glares on him. “I was just saying from… my research.”

“Frankenstein, back me here.” The doctor looked at the associate professor.

“I ……. Never mind, Doctor Helsing. We got other tasks to focus on.” Victor shifted the subject matter.

“Lauren…” Rudolf, recovering from the mental push against the wall, looked to his daughter. “You may need this.”

It was his service revolver: the Colt Navy Revolver with the iron cartridges.

“Shoot them in the head.” Rudolf smiled weakly.  “That is the way to stop the madness.”

“Shall we go now?” Carmilla looked to the gathered.

 

Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 35

 

35.

 

The Warlock approached the Dean at the Uni yard. He looked at the menhirs and smiled. The hours were drawing closer, and all was ready.

“Warlock, what has happened?” The Dean saw the injury at the left leg.

“Werewolves.” The Warlock replied.

“I did not know that there were any.” The Dean said. “If there were ……”

“Round up the members to protect the site. I do want any more surprises.” The Warlock then sae the arrival of members of the Theology Society led by the Lady Alice Burnett and legal adviser Lydia Poem. He approached the two ladies.

“How may I ……” The Warlock was cut off by Lady Burnett.

“We are here to stop this …… worshipping act.” Lady Burnett stared at the Inspector. “We will not be intimidated.”

Without a word, the Inspector grabbed the lady by the neck and pulled her upwards. She struggled in the grip but the Inspector was holding on. The lady gasped for breath and then went still. The Inspector tossed her to the side, and faced the legal representative.

“Leave now!’

“He killed her!” The legal representative screamed out. “The Inspector killed the Lady Burnett.”

From the side of the buildings there, more ladies appeared and walked towards the Inspector.

“You are warned!” The Inspector called out while the ladies gathered behind the legal representative. “I will have all of you arrested.”

“Murderer!” The ladies chanted. “Murderer!”

It was then the Dean saw another group approaching the Menhirs. It was a group of ten men and eight women led by Howard the tavern keeper.

“Stop there!” The Dean shouted, but the group kept on approaching. He then snapped out the spell to stop them.

“Go povikuvam ognot na Hefest. Zapali go suštestvoto pred mene.” (I call on the fire of Hephaestus. Burn the creature before me.” The Dean himself a witch spoke of the spell of yellow fire, and the flame appeared in a narrow circle, and then the flames flared out as streaks of flame that lashed out like a fiery whip at the group.

“He reveals himself!” Howard called out. “We shall do the same.”

The newly arrived group roared out in unison, and then their appearance changed. They shed their humanity look to that of the werewolves. With their new identity, the group of werewolves rushed forth on their four limbs, with the fangs revealed.

“Oh, God! They are …….” One of the witch apprentices was brought down by a werewolf before the other could react. The apprentice was set on by two others, while the others charged at the other Warlock’s group. Carly the Mortician

“I do not fear you.” The Warlock turned to face the attacking werewolves.

“How did they change ……” The Dean and Carly the mortician stood by the Warlock side.

“This pack knew of the spell that allowed them to change by will, and not by moonlight alone. They are not as strong, without the moonlight but still deadly.” The Warlock said. “Strike at them.”

The Warlock called on the shield to protect him and the Dean.

“Do not leave me out!” Carly called out and the werewolf dragged him down. He seen dragged to the rear and set on by two other werewolves.

“Run!” The others were apprentices or junior witches stood no chance on the werewolves.

“Run, ladies. They are animals.” Lydia Poem the legal representative called out. She had then pulled out a revolver from her handbag, and fired at the werewolves. The shot impacted on the werewolf at the head, and it went down onto the ground.

That shot directed the other werewolves to attack the ladies.

“Argh……” A lady screamed in pain when the werewolf bit into the left thigh. Suddenly the roar of the wolf’s leader was called, and the werewolves withdrew to surround the Menhirs.

Eighteen werewolves faced the Warlock and the Dean. One was dead from bullet wound in the head. The leader of the pack, the Alpha stepped to the fore. The wolf was huge and its fangs seen, stood there.

“You cannot speak like yourself now, Howard.” The Warlock looked at the wolf. “But I know of your needs. And whom you are now. I knew of your scent for a long time, it was faint and I was unsure. I thought you may have an appetite for wolf meat ……. Or dogs. I never ate your pies. I kept my distance from your true self; it was always Howard the tavern keeper I spoke to.”

“Owoo ……  I am surprised that you grew a pack here, and drew yourself to be here today.” The Warlock smiled. “I wondered how Martha must have felt.”

The Alpha growled at the Warlock.

“The lunar event could not be missed by you.” The Warlock smiled. “Are you game for a battle with me? I do not think you could win. Yes, you hold the numbers but I have the spells to terminate all of you.”

“Not necessary.” The Wiccan approached form the rear of the wolves. She was with her coven, Brown, Stefan, and Marcos.

“I could aid them to remove you.” The Wiccan smiled while she stood to the rear of the wolves. The pack of wolf’s parted the passage for her to face the Warlock.

“The Alpha does not know me, and nor do I need to know him. We are all here to get the power of pinnacle. Only the fittest will survive.” The Wiccan smiled/ “And in this battle, we will be the fittest to remove all others till we stand alone.”

“I am impressed, Wiccan. You have ……” The Warlock looked to the high noon sun. The clouds were seen parting there on the sky. “An hour or less perhaps……. More than enough time to remove you.”

“You are short of the quorum of five, Warlock.” The Wiccan smiled. “I, however have the number.”

“Four is my count, Wiccan.” The Warlock smiled.

“You forgot your daughter, William.” The Wiccan smiled. It was then Elizabeth arrived with Lilith.  Dolores was also there with Mary Annabelle. “She is my …… No, she is not the fifth. Lilith will stand for the fifth.”

“Why did you bring Elizabeth?” The Warlock was surprised. “She is not a witch.”

“Never will be, but she can view your death today.” The Wiccan looked at Elizabeth who was holding onto the amulet at her chest. “Today, you will be cured of the pain in you. You will not have the oppressive behaviour that inside of you. Once I acquired the power of pinnacle, I will cure you. But before that cure, you will need to cleanse your mind of William Katt.”

“For your mother’s soul to rest forever.” The Wiccan sighed.

“I ……” Elizabeth was stunned to said anything. “I am ……”

“Your tendency to anger, and the desire to kill, and inflict sufferings are not of yours, but of your mother’s soul inside you. She died with her good side of the soul, but her bad soul lingered inside of you. That is why till today, you wake up and your first thoughts were of her. She remained a curse in you because of your father. He knew it too, and all this time, he wanted to help you but like me, we are powerless to do so, till we can hold the power of pinnacle.”

“Consider it like an exorcism towards you.” The Wiccan turned to look at Elizabeth. “Your aunt through the works of hers at the Theology Society will work for you, but it was not the approach. You needed a witch remedy to remove the curse.”

“Stop it, Agathe. You caused it all. You cast the spell upon her to spite me and Katheleen. You did not want us to be together but your curse was to be on our daughter.” The Warlock shouted. “Katheleen told me, and she was no witch. She died trying to protect our child. I took on the care when I knew Katheleen had died. I could not do much to help then; I was powerless and for her sake. I kept my distance while watching her grow to adulthood. It pained me to see how she covered her inner self, but I had to bide my time to cure her. She left town soon after, and in my pain, I had to stay on. The coming lunar event is a rare one form the others.”

“I was glad when she did return, and I offered her my aids. She knew who I was but was convinced to let me be there……. As a protector.”

“Sentiments, William. I must admit your relationship with Katheleen was …… not sanctioned by me. She rebels on being a witch but got herself onto one. I was furious and ……. Cursed her. I regretted it but it was too late. I sought out Elizabeth and tried to cure her. Eventually, I got her back here, for this event today.”

“Hey, William …… Agathe…… do not speak as if I am your …… object to roll around.” Elizabeth heard it all/ “I know I am ……. Cursed. Cursed from leading a normal life. I am the daughter of witches…… I never felt at ease since young.” Elizabeth stepped up towards the Wiccan. “I was …… given the opportunity to be good. My aunt gave me anchor to God. I was never to be anchored. I confess my sins to William, and like me, he was a free spirit. He did not want to be in his father’s shadow, and wanted to be free.”

“We were in some ways, but the ……. Our relationship…… we were to elope, but the curse took its path for me. He was killed by the monster, and I was left alone. Do you know my loneliness led to my nightmares? God could be help me. I had to seek my own salvation.” Elizabeth looked at William. “When the opportunity to leave town, be it so to be together the only other surviving Frankenstein, I took the ……. Path.”

“Mary, my daughter was never meant to be. I left her with the father, and returned here. Not for only myself but to be near William. I had been to his grave some days, but not anymore.” Elizabeth tears rolled down her cheeks. “I took my anger……. My pains on others. I am imprisoned the man to torture; I befriended a demon to carry out my anger. I am a monster myself.”

“No, you are not.” The voice was from Victor Frankenstein.