Time for a excursion of rest

 That is  the  finale of the Promethus tale ..... for now. There will be a last tale to be written later to complete the saga,  but for now, I have to say I need a break. Please excuse me on this. 

Till then, tally ho.

Cheers

Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 41 (Epilogue)

 

Epilogue 

 

Wandering in the corridors of the Uni, for one who does that, his earlier tasks were not much different from that in any dungeon. The musky odour and the dimly lit ambience lend a feeling that maybe also dead scholars walked the corridors at dusk.

“Professor Jekyl, where are you?” Victor Frankenstein had stepped into the topmost level of the building to seek out his mentor. He had climbed the stairs to what may be referred to as the attic, but in the huge building of the Uni, it was another floor level with several chambers.

“I am here.” The call was answered. Victor made his way to the chamber at the end of the corridor and knocked. He heard the opening of latches, and then the door was opened.

“It is Doctor Jekyll, and I am not a professor, well, at least to my personal ranking.” The man who stood there was not dressed like any academic person but more like a butcher with the apron over the chest. He is the unacknowledged expert on human interaction with science, a new field for which many denied his works, and out of respect, they gave him the rank of professor in the fields of human science instead.

“I will not accept this personification of my knowledge, as my works are above the scientific level in human but of the interaction of I. I am talking of assimilation, transformation, evolution……. As we all did from the primate to our current limited intelligence, which we had utilized to make ourselves, Homo sapiens, but I am looking above it. I am looking at Homo sapiens superior.”

The man was jeered off the podium, but he was retained in his standings with the uni. His works were questionable, but it was the era of discovery, and no university wanted to be second in the listing.

“Pardon me, Doctor.” Victor Frankenstein stepped in. The chamber smelled of dead meat and chemical stench.

“Are you my new associate? Associate Professor Frankenstein. Your reputation……”

“Pardon me again, Doctor. My reputation was over-exasperated with malicious intents by others.” Victor smiled. “I am a man of science, and ……”

“You…… well, claimed to have developed……” Doctor Jekyll was cut off.

“Created a monster, whereas all I did was continue the work of galvanizing.” Victor corrected the other. “I did not ……. Create any monster. I was trying to understand the works of …….”

“Prometheus, perhaps. Our interpretation of that. A branch of that.” Doctor Jekyll laughed. “Short of us cohabiting with the… experiments, we are doing what the boundary of science had been expanded to new advancements.”

“The orgasm in the lovemaking.” The doctor laughed louder. “I do have to admit that I am a selfish lover. For me, I am done, and it is done. I move on. I am one of the obvious. I do not follow but lead to venture into unexplored frontiers.” Doctor Jekyll motioned to his table laden with bottles of chemicals and tubes. “Our body is made of chemical compositions. If we are further understanding it, we need to work on the chemical’s interaction; hence, my work involved human interaction in science.”

“Doctor Jekyll, I am to……” Victor was cut off.

“Multiple orgasm… It may be there, but I must achieve it.”

“Doctor Jekyll, I……”

“To work with me. Two miscreants of the works on the ……. Dead……. Of the three volunteers I had, two died and one was brain dead. I am a madman by their view.” Doctor Jekyll laughed. “Are you to be my next volunteer? No ladies will work with me. They feared I would violate them on the table… or on the floor.”

“Doctor Jekyll, I……”

“Chronic masturbation was mine much earlier. I thought of it to get the specimens.” Doctor Jekyll looked at the table. “I do admit the stains are still there.”

“No, Doctor. I was hoping… well, I asked to be your assistant.” Victor smiled. “I had submitted my application some months back, and it was only last week that I got approved.”

“You are not to the maid, Sir. Nor will I bend you over… and take from you any specimens. I believe that your ……. Presence back to your town of recent days. The newspapers had a good day with your exploits, though you made it to page three instead of the front page. I think the Ripper beholds it gruesome there.”

“What’s so fascinating about a mutilated body? We do that daily at the morgue.” Doctor Jekyll sighed. “I wondered if the mortician ever pays the family for the services he rendered on the dead. The darned man must be a Scrooge. He took his millions there into there … and not a dime paid out.”

“Maybe the Ripper is collecting them…” Victor interjected with sarcasm.

“A man of humor. I am beginning to like you.” Doctor Jekyll smiled. “Do you know that the chemicals in our head make us smile?”

“Smiles are caused by feelings of joy and pleasure when the brain releases good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Key triggers include seeing loved ones, receiving kindness from strangers, enjoying simple pleasures …… Victor smiled.

“101 Medicine. I smiled when I spurted out. I will say, here are my millions.” Doctor Jekyll laughed and then shifted the subject. “You ignited their interest in you… these professors and what not, but with no available positions… the others will not touch you with a ten-foot pole, except mine…. Seven, to be exact; they placed you in or with me.” Doctor Jekyll smiled. “The Theology Society has an influence on who is who in the Uni. I do wonder if they hold any gangbang at all.”

“The Theology Society?” Victor was surprised.

“Yes, the Theology Society. They are the Uni's main sponsor and one of mine. They may be named that, but their real interest is the works of ours. They liked to be the ……. To explore will be the better term, the new frontier.”

“Welcome to my lab, Associate Professor Frankenstein. I need your services to work on the physiology of my chemical interaction. Viola, we may create a new breed of human.”

The new creation amounted to new findings, and Lauren Spielsdorf approached her father, Rudolf, who was watching the mansion where his daughter was before they left to battle more demons.

“It looked bad.” Rudolf sighed. “Maybe we should not have……”

“Left, Father?” Lauren looked at the mansion that was in ruins there. The demons may have left them when they took off, but Beelzebub had returned to damage the mansion soon after.

“The demon master took out his wrath on the mansion. He could not get my power and decided to showcase his anger here,” Lauren said. “We cannot do much here. The mausoleum is buried under the rubble. Our only task is to battle Beelzebub and rescue Mother’s soul. Once that is done, I will return here to rebuild the new coven.”

“Coven …… Lauren, have we not suffered enough?” Rudolf was upset.

“Father, my fate is with the coven. As were her mother and her mother.” Lauren looked at Rudolf. “You wedded a ……”

“A witch? No, I did not. I wedded a lovely lady who gave birth to you. I did not…….”

“You cannot deny the lineage, Father. I am who I am.” Lauren sighed. “I have to hold the……”

“Why not Annabelle or ……. Carmilla?” Rudolf asked.

“Annabelle did not have a daughter. Carmilla was without any children. It may be preordained to us. I am to be the next leader. I am …”

“You are my daughter. I do have a say on the matter.” Rudolf looked at her.

“It may be so, in my growing… behaviour, but I am grown. I am ……. I have been …….” Lauren looked away.

“Cursed?” Rudolf was upset.

“No, not cursed. I am blessed. I hold the means to ……. I can call on spells, which are now inside of me. I do not know how, but it is inside of me now. I can suppress the demon master. I can make this a better place.” Lauren said.

“Then leave me out. I am to battle the demon my way.” Rudolf turned to leave. “My inner demon too.”

The cries of Lauren did not stop him, and he mounted the horse to ride away.  She saw Sven had followed the father, and she was alone.

“Sisters, I will be back.” Lauren mounted her horse. She saw then the short figure standing at the side.

“Hello, Lauren. I am Rumpelstiltskin. I am a distant cousin of Beezer. You may not know him, but he is ……. Dead, as in perished.” The figure looked at Lauren.

“The reason I ……” The figure jumped to the side when Lauren set the spell of fire there.

“Hold on! I am not your enemy, nor did I mean you any harm.” The figure rubbed the dirt off his clothes. “You are powerful, witch. And these clothes are expensive. It is not like I have a lady to weave the cloth for me every day.”

“Who are you?” Laurne asked.

“Rumpelstiltskin. Normally, I hid my name and waited for the others to name me, but I will make an exception here.” The figure approached Lauren. “Both of us hold a grudge against Beelzebub.”

“Yep, he is the clown master you met. I was in the attic of the third building, but I was weaving the spinner then. Good help is rare nowadays.” The figure sighed. “Anyway, Beelzebub… the demon expelled my distant cousin. He was then in the service of one named Elizabeth Muriel.”

“I told him not to do it, but he was a distant cousin, so I did not try harder to convince him. It may have reduced the related cousins at the gatherings, but fewer persons meant less to share.” The figure smiled. “It was not that they were taller than me, but their girth doubled my waist. I had to rush for my meds.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Lauren was getting agitated.

“Hold your horses, lady. I am here to offer my assistance to you. I have a score to settle with Beelzebub. And I know where I can find him. No three wishes to call for there. Call it pro bono assistance.”

“Pro bono?” Lauren asked.

“Yea, in Latin that means for the good of the public. I am no attorney but a good inhabitant here.” The figure did a cutesy towards Lauren. “Shall we ride, my lady?  You will not be alone from now on.”

Alone was not in the thoughts of Mary. She had lain beside Henry in the basement. She closed her eyes and heard the explosion. It was deafening, but she felt assured. She held onto Herny’s left hand and waited for what was next.

Nothing.

Nothing happened.

Mary opened her eyes and saw the crisscross of the beams over her. The two beams had an overlay over their bodies. It shouldered the layer of flooring that would have buried them but created a burial chamber for them.

“Henry, we are together now.” Mary said.  

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the tale

 

At 67,230 words, I am closing the chapter on Modern Prometheus III. The Modern Prometheus" refers to a creator whose ambitious, pioneering efforts—particularly in science or technology—result in unforeseen, disastrous consequences, mirroring the Greek myth of Prometheus, who was tortured for bringing fire to humanity. 

When I embarked on this tale, I did not imagine that I would be doing a sequel, and now that it is done, I find myself stretching to do another.

How did we end up here?

I spent a lot of time writing about the master, the mistress, and the others, like the Spielsdorf. Mary was mentioned in some words. Then came the new characters, Helsing and the Warlock, the Wiccan. I gave a relevance to the other characters, sort of explaining them from the previous tale. Sort of putting life like their origin into the characters.

One major idea was to have Mary ‘die’ with Henry, and that took some time to write…… It was like sex; you need to build up to it, the orgasm… hahahaha… Or have yours and turn it over to the side.

And then came the battle at the lunar eclipse. It did not occur to me about the lunar eclipse earlier, hence my earlier blank thoughts on how to consolidate the characters to that town, besides Victor’s return to see Mary; ten years was a long time. The runes were the power token, and the idea came to assimilate it to the Blood Moon.

Fine, the next sequel……. Hidden in the recess of my mind, but some new characters came alive in my mind just in recent days.

This tale is based in the late 1800s, where certain tales took place.

Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Ripper

The Helsing is not done yet with the High Council on their failure.

What of Abel and Kane or was it Cain? In the Bible, one died.

Beelzebub, the villain, was mentioned casually but will need to be brought to the fore.

Rumpelstiltskin, the comic relief. Why this character? Honestly, I do not know.

And……

Merrlyn, or Merlin, is my favourite and always the dark horse. Wherever there are demons, I like him to be there.

Before I lay off my fingers on this tale.

Elizabeth Muriel and Mary Annabelle: mad mother or insanity in the family

Lilith—who is she? Which? Or more.

Dolores, growling and the wolf pack

And Brown, I removed his death from beneath the Menhirs.

On the orbit, the Theology Society; Ms. Poem is taken from the LYDIA POET character, who is really my character.

Elementary, Holmes? I doubt so…….

Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 40

 

40.

 

Ms. Poem stood there at the window of the Uni building for the legal fraternity. She was looking at the yard, where the incident took place. The menhirs were removed, and the burnt area was covered with planks, while flower pots were laid on top of it. Students and members of the faculties were seen rushing from the yard to their respective work areas.

It had already been two weeks since the incident at the yard. She recalled there were several bodies laid into the bonfire.

The dean and the mortician: an odd couple indeed. Some of the other faculty members are unimportant to be named.

The inspector was one, and there was an elderly lady.

The fallen menhir was raised, but nobody was beneath it.

“Madame Dean, are you ready to address the newspaper on the incident?” The trusted aide of hers asked. “I could tell them ……”

“No, Alice. It is time to unveil the truth,” Ms. Poem said. In her mind, the truth was how you tell it—cunningly—to the ones that will listen. She is a member of the legal profession.

Her thoughts went back to Elizabeth. The lady had remained secluded. The newspaper had hounded her, but she refused to see them. She was attended by Dolores and the new friend, Lilith.

“I will ensure she gets her privacy.” The new inspector arrived to take over with five constables. He was posted by London.

“Thank you, Inspector Queens.” Ms. Poem smiled then, when she felt that matter was settled.

“Richard, Richard Queen. I am of service.” The tall frame of the Inspector stood to attention. They had met outside at Elizabeth’s house. “I was brief on the situation.”

“Have you ever dealt with monsters and … witches?”

“Yes, Ms. Poem. In my line of work, I had seen many types of …… monsters and … demons will be how I described the others. I will be retiring in some years to come and will take my son, Ellery, with me.” The Inspector smiled. “Far from here.”

“The tropics? Or Europe. Italy is nice.”

“Not for Ellery. He will be fine perhaps in …… New York. There are monsters there, but they are…… human-inspired. I capture them here, and one day, maybe Ellery will do the same there.” The inspector smiled.

“Is that how you view your life, Sir?”

“Ms. Poem, I will not deny that as my true existence. I am the third generation of law enforcement. My father was a bobby ……. A peeler they were also named then... walking the port area of London. His father was a Frontier Officer on the Indian continent, managing relations with tribal leaders, using the Jirga (tribal council) to settle disputes, and conducting military expeditions if necessary.  We are bred to do enforcement.”

“What of the daughters?” Ms. Poem asked.

“None. The family heirs were all lads like my son.” The Inspector smiled. “I will be doing my task now.”

That was the brief dialogue of their meeting.

“Madame Dean, I thought you wanted to know.” Alice had not stepped from the dean’s chamber. “I got news of…… Elizabeth Frankenstein. She sold the house and moved to the Frankenstein’s … or rather the cottage there.”

Ms. Poem nodded. That will need some investigating later. On that day, she had arrived at the mansion and saw the massive explosion that collapsed the mansion. The whole structure was in ruins. They could not dare to approach it, for fear of further collapse. They then returned to the town.

“There is a letter for you.” Alice handed the letter over. Ms. Poem studied the seal on it. She knew that seal well and opened it to read the letter.

“Madame, we received your report. Congratulations on your new rank. We summarize that the issue is resolved and admit it is inconclusive as such. However, we have taken remedial steps to correct it. You may focus on the task there, subdue the euphoria of the monster, and suggested that you also pursue your legal academic learning.”  

“Excellentia in operibus.”

At that moment, the Helsing family was in the monastery near the ancient Hadrian's Wall. Abel was treated by the monks there, expertly taught in the healing arts going back to the age of the Picts. Kane had shut himself in the library, immersed in the works there. He had refused to speak on the incident at the cottage.

“I am concerned about Kane.” Doctor Helsing took to his solitude with the elderly monk there. “It was my mistake to bring them along. They are not ready. Not yet.”

“I doubt anyone will ever be ready, Doctor.” The monk said. “The tasks we do are unique. We hold no commandments on how we are to serve, but we trust our instincts here.”

“I have, as my family had done. We served the High Council, but… could we question their motives? Never had.” Doctor Helsing sighed. “I lay my life, my son’s life, for them.”

“Motives are self-motivation,” the monk said. “We hold no motive here in this holy place. We only seek salvation. This monastery is built over a Pict sacrifice temple.

“The Picts?” The doctor smiled. “I had not met any. I had met the nomadic tribes and some rare settlers like the Veps at the steppe, but….”

“Do you know the Picts once before held their beliefs on forms of polytheistic, nature-based paganism before converting to Christianity around the 4th century? What made them do so?”

“Persecution? Or was it salvation?” The doctor said.

“These walls existed long and may hold the tale for it, but it will not tell.” The monk looked to the walls of the monastery.

“Was I right to ……. Forego the monster?” Doctor Helsing changed the subject. “You may know of my… encounter with the monster?”

“Monster? Our mind definition is …. Truly fixated on what we do not know means it shall be called …….” The monk was cut off then.

“Unbelievable to many?” Doctor Helsing chuckled. “I have seen many unbelievable things.”

“Did the Romans then? They viewed HIM as a demon and crucified him. Yet he lived on in us as the son of God. Not every action of ours is determined by …… it was an act then of our soul. Our inner soul tells us what was needed. Was it wrong, or right? That we may know when we faced HIM. The unbelievable becomes believable.”

“You are not any monk.” Doctor Helsing smiled.

“Nor are you any man. Please accept our ……. Disbeliefs here.” The monk took his leave of the doctor.

“Your name, sir?” Doctor Helsing asked.

“Merrlyn the Old.” The monk replied. “Some called me Merlin. I have lived a long time.”

“For a while, I thought you said Merlin of the Round Table.” Doctor Helsing chuckled.

“Oh, that fabulous wizard. He is an inspiration, but I hold my own.” Merrlyn smiled. “I do have a wand.”

“Нека ѓаволот почива во пеколот (May the devil rest in Hell.) Merrlyn waved his right hand and then laughed. “I must admit my incantations are for children at parties. I have not pulled a dwarf from my long hat, but a rabbit I had.”

“You are a magician, Merrlyn.” The doctor smiled.

“An uncertain magician who roams the dark passages of this monastery.” Merrlyn laughed louder. “Where the demons may be interned before leaving for Hell.”

 

 

 

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.”