The Man and the
Witch
Author's Note:
An inspiration
from Bram Stoker's "Lady in the Shroud". Need I suck more of your
blood to make you feel it?
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I never thought
that one day I will be staying back in the old castle perched over a low cliff
overlooking a small bay. It's my inheritance as the last of the family who
survived the war. A gift not of love but of family tradition that I am needed
to continue to administrate the wealth of the family heirloom which unfortunately
includes this castle in its will. If not for the former, I would not be
standing here on this balcony looking at the incoming drift of the mist from
the sea.
"Master
James, you must come in. The coldness of this land is not of that in London or
Glasgow." My two previous place of abode of my young and then adult age.
Jenkins is the caretaking of the Castle and has been in his family care for
four or three generations now. He is in his sixties and yet he chooses not to
procreate the next generation for reasons he never disclosed. But despite his age,
his bones still permit him to mount the steps and walked the corridor of this
place without much of a complaint. But my family faithful servant does not wait
for my answer as he pulls me in and closes the Victorian glass doors.
Victorian design
in an old castle? Surely, Jenkins. This is out of place in this castle and only
this room." I walked towards the glass of whiskey set by the older man for
me alongside a beautiful crystal glass bottle. I took a swig of it as I looked
to my servant who is latching the glass door now.
"Aye, a
refinement which your father did for your mum's stay here. She was of the
London society and she vainly needs the feel of her old scene when she married
your father. So without hesitation, your father took to task on the works. They
are brought from London at great expanses but your father's love for your
mother would have spared all the pennies for her comfort. Her favorite room was
here as she will knit her scarfs for your father while waiting for his return
by boat from his trips to London." I remembered those scarfs she did for
my father as it was her only pleasure then besides waiting for him. He does tend
to lose them at sea or where he was, as he is clumsy with his things. I remember
when I was young, Mother used to rock me by the cradle as she knit. It was not
long after that we moved back to London on the news of my father's untimely
death at sea. It never crosses my mind then that all my forefathers have perished
at sea including my father.
"Jenkins, you
been with us all your lifetime. Tell me more on the rumors I hear from the
local folks; 'Lady of the Sea'. Indulge me please, Jenkins."
"Bah! Those
are words of the idle chatter. I would strongly be asked you to refrain from
partaking in these talks. All it does is to bring the weird and curious to the
place." Jenkins looked nervous as he moves to collect the things to take
to the kitchen. "I best be going for my bed, and you too, Master James.
The weather may be chilly but the bed is warm and comfortable."
My good servant
has left me now. At last, I am free. I unlocked the window latch and pushed
open the window. I took my glass of liquor and take my seat by the window. My
wait may be short as the clock chimed its bell.
You waited long,
James?
"No, I just
sat down. Jenkins was the one who kept me waiting for him to finish up. But he
is gone now and you are here." I stood up and embrace my newly found love
since I came here three months ago. She is my new love, Georgina or better known
as the Lady of the Sea. She is dressed in her white gown and her long hair
braided to hang over her shoulder. She is not of us but a sea witch who resides
in the nearby bay overlooked by the castle.
"I do miss
you very much, Georgina." It was painful for me, as I have known Georgina
when we were young. She used to play with me by the Bay in the evenings before
I am called back for supper. We grew up together then and it was to be a
painful day when I asked to return to London with my mother on the death of my
father. I bid her goodbye that evening and I promised I will come back for her.
But now with the death of my mum, I am free to come back and reclaimed my
inheritance. But Georgina and myself are all grown to adult and yet she answers
my call when I came to the Bay. I saw her float up from the water and laid her
dainty feet on the sandy beach at the Bay. She was the most beautiful lady I
have yet to see and I knew then I was in love. Initially, we will meet and talk
about the old days and then on the current day. But as we complete our talks on
the days, I find myself asking her more about her coming future.
It was then she
told me that she waited for me for this day when I would return to be her
friend. She said life in the Bay can be lonely at times as most of the other
sea witches have left or become Sirens. But she waited for me and I have
fulfilled my promise. I remembered the new pledge I made on that evening to
serve and cherish her as my life partner for the days to come. She looked at me
and I told her that the pledge is sincere and real. I would seal my pledge with
her as I would seal my lips on her.
It was our first
kiss and more was to come when we meet nightly at the chime of the clock. From
the sandy beaches of the Bay, I brought my life partner to the walls of my castle
and towards my room. There we consummate our love with the passion of a lifelong
wait.
James, I think you
ought to know. I may be with our child
"Oh, my love.
It's the sweetest words that I heard today and I hoped to hear more about
it." I hugged her closer to me as the child is the testimony of our true
love.
But James, there
is something you need to know. Our child is not any child but a child of both
worlds; yes and mine.
"I see no harm
in there. It's still our child. I would love the child as if it's of any
world." But what she had to say make me cry with sorrow.
In my world, the
child at birth is given to the Queen for her to take care of as her subject. I
cannot defy my Queen. Please understand.
"No, it can't
be. I am his father and I shall be his master of where he stays. How can your
Queen decide for my son? Even my King cannot decide for me." I stood up
and walked to the window. I looked at the Bay and I mumbled my curse at it. How
can they do this to us? We are in love and our love is the child that has been
conceived. I will not be allowed this. I turned to face my life partner who was
to lay on my bed but she is not there. I turned back to the window and I see
her floating outside.
Forgive me, James.
But the Queen rules me. The child will come back to your world when ready.
Farewell, my love.
"No, you
can't leave. I beg of you...." But she is gone. I took my coat and I left
the castle for the Bay. I held up the lantern to light up the water.
"Georgina,
please come back. I love you and I cannot bear to without you. How can you do
this to me now that you are also with my child? Are you as heartless as the
stories I heard?" I sobbed on my knees as the Bay water comes in with the
tides. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked over. Its Jenkins.
"Master
James. It time we leave. She won't be back. It's the way of their life. They
used you as they had many of us before. They need us to pro-create their kind.
We are the fools to sway by their beauty and charm. Come home, Master James.
You are still young and you may one day forget her."
I looked at the
older man who is pulling me to go home. To what? An empty castle? An empty bed?
And an empty life? I would prefer to die than to live in misery. I got up to my
knees and want to join her in the depths. But the world went dark and that was what
I know.
"You awake,
Master James." I opened my eyes to see Jenkins looking at me as I laid in
bed. It's morning and the back of the head hurts. I reached for it with my
right hand and felt the lump.
"A prerequisite
of the needs at that time. If I had not clobbered you then, it would be a wet
grave for your body and soul. I would suggest you take this chicken soup and
refresh your body. She is gone and would be forever. But you are here and you still
have to live on." Jenkins pulled me to sit against the bedhead.
"You knew
then, Jenkins." I took the spoon offered.
"Aye, Master
James. But nothing stops them from doing it to your family for generations now.
Your dad was one and so was your granddaddy. Now you understand why your mum
took you back to London. But it runs in the family, You Baldwin's got to do
your donation for them before you do for your own family. And we Jenkins has to
be good with the club for that one special night. You can be called it a curse
or as my family calls it; a long time employment benefit. So sleep after your
soup. Then we can go to the village and rouse up some eligible lasses for your
pickings."
"You must be
joking, Jenkins. I just dump mine to Georgina and you asked me to do to
another? Have you no integrity or shame." I am startled at the simplicity
thinking of my servant. Surely he does not think I am a stud in the barn.
"Shed no
tears for her. She got what she wanted. Now you do your bid to get the
Baldwin's going, and by George, my son would find his training at the club not
wasted. Anyway, besides your family fortune, you got some more fortune down
there to contribute to your new love."
Somehow then
chicken soup did not taste as good as before. The poor hen was slaughtered for it.
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