Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 4

 

4.

Alphonse Frankenstein, an old man from the northern central continent, emigrated there to build his home. He has amassed his wealth accumulated as a member of the dvoryanstvo or the nobility family. He emigrated soon after the death of the old man and built his mansion across the channel. He also changed his name to that used there. His past was to remain as memories then. When he arrived at the new home, he had his young wife, and they raised a family there: William, Victor, and one younger son named Ernest. Life was balanced, and with the two sons inheriting his ambitions in science, he was contented.

“Science will be the new frontier of humanity.”

A vision that was not shared by the youngest son, Ernest. He was into more scholarly subjects like laws. He diverted to the knowledge of laws, and that agitated the father, but the old man recalled his dying love’s words.

“Ernest is more of my son. Let him do what he wants.” Annabelle died shortly after Ernest learned to walk at the age of three. It was a disability from birth; the youngest needed the assistance of the crutches to hobble around, but his brilliant mind was to read the different sets of volumes.

Alphonse had no desire for more lovers in his life, but he held a social circle of friends to indulge in companionship over a glass of wine or tea, as the locals preferred it during the warm hours.

“I am sorry for being late, Tata (Father in Russian).” Victor rushed to his seat at the long dining table, laden with dinner meals. The meals are prepared by the three-kitchen staff and served by the three maids overseen by the butler, Sven.

“You are just in time.” The Tata announced. The family members picked up their cutleries to do dinner, while the maids attended the sons; the Tata was served by the butler. Sven had served the family for many years and was the personal valet of the old man. He stood tall above the heights of the children and was the earliest to wake and the last to rest in the household.

“Children,” Tata set down his fork. It was the signal for the children to do the same and listen to the father.

“I am expecting a guest from the far away. He is an old friend and will be staying with us for a while. I will expect the best from all of you.”

It was not a request but a command as if he was addressing the old regiment back then. The silence was there, with the children looking for the cue to resume dining.

“Who is he, Tata?” Ernest was one who asked.

“Общий, or General the rank you familiar with. His name is Spielsdorf, Rudolf Spielsdorf. He was the major then and my adjutant. After I left, he was promoted to colonel and retired as general,” the old man explained. Sven had then stood at attention to the words of the old man.

“So, he took over your regiment.” Ernest added. The portrait of the general hung over the fireplace, the only remembrance of the past. The old man forbids any other mementos of the past from being seen at the mansion.

“Ernest,” William looked to the youngest one. He knew his father did not like to talk of the past.

“It is okay, William. Ernest is just himself.” The old man picked up the fork once more. He let Ernest speak out while he maintained a tight rein on the other two sons.

“Sven, can I have an extra piece of the meat? I am hungry.” The old man asked his staff. The meat was served while the others were busy with their own plates.

“Spielsdorf will be traveling with his daughter. I could not recall the name now.” The old man sighed. “Sven, do have the chamber prepared for the visit.”

“And William, I do not want you to intrude on the lady’s chamber.” The Tata made it clear to the eldest son. “You will be a gentleman and stay as one throughout the visit.”

Victor sniggered at the remarks made, and William kicked out with his left foot under the table.

“Victor, your lab will be locked at times, and there will be no discussion with anyone here on the works.”

“Can I stay in the lab? I got a few….” Victor was cut off.

“You will sleep in your chamber and eat here. You may go there to the lab during your working hours.”

“The Uni is on a term break, and I have …”

“The matter has been agreed.” Tata snapped out.

“What of me, Tata?” Ernest asked. “I have many…”

“You may discuss, but nothing on politics and government. And above all, to the three of you, nothing on my younger days. I forbid it.”

“Da.” All three nodded.

Soon after the dinner, in the quiet library, the Tata was served his black tea by the butler. He has been drinking that for years and felt that it made him strong. But, alas, his lover, Annabelle, detests the tea.

“Общий, your tea.”

“Speak Sven. I have feared nothing in my life. I was the General.” The General leaned back on the high back chair facing the fireplace. His portrait loomed above on the fire place; painted in the month he was to retire as General. It showed him then in his uniform with his ceremonial sword. the sword held a bejewelled hilt with the dark red piece on the top. Soon after he married Annabelle who was fifteen years younger than him. It was not an arranged marriage but one of love. Annabelle’s father was a merchant and somewhat did not like the suitor but he relented to the marriage. Willaim came soon after, and then there was a lapse of two years, before Victor was born. It was Ernest who was much later after eight years, and it was a forceful event. They had argued on the getting the third child; Annabelle refused for she felt that the realm was not peaceful to raise the children.

“The nation is still in turmoil.” Annabelle spoke out. “The Tsars and the … serfs are two extremes.”

“Konstantin was a fool. He should have been Tsar after Alexander. His foolish act to renounce the throne created the turmoil. Nicholas was not ready yet.” The man defended the realm. It was his responsibility to preserve the nation. “Those Decembrists deserved death.”

A secret society of liberal revolutionaries, nobles, and military officials organized a conspiracy to replace the Russian Empire's autocratic regime with a constitutional monarchy, and they sought to seize control of the government and implement a regime change. It created the threat that Nicholas was usurping the throne from Konstantin. The Society members marched to the Senate Square to prevent the loyalty-swearing ceremony and to rally additional soldiers and officers to their cause.

This group of rebels, although disorganized due to indecision and dissension among its leaders, confronted troops loyal to Nicholas outside the Senate building in the presence of a large civilian crowd. A standoff ensued, and soon the loyalists eventually opened fire with heavy artillery, scattering the rebels. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, rebellion leaders were sentenced to hanging, many other participants were imprisoned, or exiled to Siberia. These individuals became known as the Decembrists or dekabristy.

One of the exiles was Annabelle’s father.

“It is over, Annabelle. I love you. And I want to hold another child in my arms. Ours is my request. I want a girl. Will you give me one?”

“I do not want any more children. I am ashamed.” Annabelle looked at the man she wedded. “If you want one, get it from another. I have enough of childbirth.”

“You must. I am your husband. It is the obligation of the wife to give birth to my children.”

“Then take me and be done. I am tired.” Annabelle looked at him. “Take me like those whores you meet at the clubs. I will not resist.”

“Annabelle, please do not think of me as that. I love you.”

“Get it over now. I am tired.” Annabelle turned her back to her lover. “Give yourself the child you wanted. Be it a girl or a boy, I cared not.”

It was not a girl but another boy, and Annabelle cared for the third child when her health permitted her then. Ernest was not fine then. He could not walk like any others.

“Sven, I do fear the wrath of my lover. She died soon after Ernest, and never a day did she blame me for his legs. She told me she was not ready or willing, but I insisted. I could have stopped, but I did not.”

“You did give the child love and …” Sven stood there.

“I did because I owed it to Annabelle. She disliked me for the fate of her father exiled to Siberia. I saved his life from the execution, but she said that Siberia was hell towards her father. She told me that I will pay in hell for my action, but before that I was to be tormented by my boys. Why am I cursed at that? Was it that that was why Ernest could not walk properly?”

“No, Общий (General in Russian.), you have not been blamed. It was your task to quell the rebellion. Ernest is a... He was... It was fate. You cannot blame yourself.”

“No, I do. It is called the sins of the father. My son must atone for it.”

“It is not fair to Ernest. William and Victor are still your children. They do not ...” Sven held a soft spot for Ernest.

“Not yet, Sven. Not yet. They may one day bear it all. The Frankenstein of their generation will pay for my sins. Grave sins.”