Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 20

 

20.

“Carmilla, is that you?” Lauren sat up on the bedding and whispered. The chamber may be lighted or darkened but to her, it was all the same. Her sights were failing, and with her ailing condition, she was bed ridden most days or nights, it does not matter at all. She got her meals served; taken but not tasted …… “Father, it feeds me, but I am not a fussy person on food.”

Her father had returned, and visited her often. She assumed it was morning, for the heat of the sunlight was in her skin. She will sit up and greet him. A peck on the cheeks was his way of saying I love you. Funny, that was how her mother told her then.

“Your father is a busy man. He has one lover, but many loves for his men. He cares for them more than me. He gives them orders and then the handshakes, but I get the kiss on the cheek and the hugs.”

“Are you here?” Lauren asked.

“Yes, I am. I am seated by the chair next to you.” The other lady, Carmilla replied.

“I can hear you. I ……” Lauren smiled.

“Can I sleep next you?” Carmilla asked. Lauren nodded. Carmilla climbed on the bedding and snuggled next to her.

“You are cold.” Lauren snuggled close to the other. She was comfortable with the other person; the last person who slept next to her was her mother. Father will not do so, but held her hands.

Lauren felt Carmilla’s left hand touched her bosom. She had felt uncomfortable initially, but gotten used to that. It was Carmilla’s request.

“I want to feel your heartbeats.” Carmilla told her. It was not their first time in bed together. It was soe weeks backs. Father was away, and she was lonely. The maids that came to her chamber to tidy up, or give her a wash was formal, and little conversation took place, with the meals served; warm it may be but she had it by herself. It was one evening; the window was opened; forgotten by the maid to close, and Carmilla was there. She must had climbed in and sat herself there. Lauren felt the presence of another but kept her silent. She laid there, listening to the person in her chamber. There was no conversation, and it was only the third visit, not daily but after certain nights, Lauren asked.

“Who are you?”

“Shh…... We must whisper.” Carmilla replied. “I am Carmilla. I lived …… down the hall. My name is Carmilla.”

“Lauren. Can you come closer? I can hardly hear you.” Lauren whispered back. It was to begin a friendship between them. A friendship of whispers in the dark, and sharing of girls talk. And some secrets.

“I like your heartbeats.” Carmilla whispered to Lauren’s ears. “It makes me happy.”

“You have yours too, right?” Lauren lay back with her friend. It was an uncanny relationship and Carmilla stated that she was lonely, left there by her mother, and no one speaks to her. It was the nice gentleman who allowed her to stay. She was still unwell, but the loneliness got into her. Hence, she went out to look for friends. She found it with Lauren.

“I do, but it is different when you hear others.” Carmilla whispered. “It is like …… bonding.”

“Are you? I mean bonded to me.” Lauren snuggles closer. “I do like you.”

“Me too.” Carmilla whispered. The two girls spoke of many issues as most of those at that age will do. They had a sworn oath not to tell them to others.

“Swear to die, we ever tell anyone.” Lauren had declared.

“Me too. Being lonely is already death to me.” Carmilla said. Till death do we part, was the oath taken by lovers. Carmilla departs when Lauren falls asleep.

It was sleep that eluded us on vigilance. Victor woke up that day at the off hour. Off was to Victor a term if he had awakened in the hours before dawn. He slept late but so was his walking hours in the morning. He had looked at his watch, and it was only half past three then. He was still at the working desk in the lab. He remembered last was coaching it to use the hands.

“Grip the ball.” Victor had motioned to the creation. “Not hold it.”

It took a while before the message was taken in, and the result was a flattened ball. Grip strength is a measure of muscular strength or the maximum force/tension generated by one's forearm muscles. It can be used as a screening tool for the measurement of upper body strength and overall strength. The measurement of the force was still under review. Victor got the creation to release the grip, and examined the ball. He was impressed, but was of concern. If the creation was not able to control grip force, it would be damaging. The hour was late then, and Victor called the day’s work to end.

“Please rest. We will do tomorrow.” That was the last Victor recalled that evening. He looked around, and could not see the creation. He stepped to the cold chamber, and saw the door was closed. He opened it and looked inside. The creation was not there. He stepped out to check the doorway form his lab. The door was closed but the lock was unlocked. He was to reach for it when the door opened.

“Where did you go?” Victor was looking at the creation.

“I was out.”

“How dare you leave here? I told you were to stay here…… inside, and not……” Victor lashed out.

“I was ……. Lonely. I …… uh, went to look for Henry. He was not there. We used to take walks.” The creation looked at its master. “I was …….”

“You could be seen. I had to9ld you not to go out. Not ever even with Henry.”

“I wanted to see Henry. I was ……. Lonely.”

“Come in now, and go back to the chamber.” Victor commanded the creation.

“Master, may I ask?” The creation looked at its master. “Can I have a name please?”

The creation intelligence was improving if one will to consider that the brain in the creation to be inert, but it did pose some queries which baffled Victor.

“Master has a name. Henry too. I would like one too.”

“Let …… tell you later. Go to the chamber now.” Victor instructed the creation. It was then; he began to think perhaps the creation needed some form of reference like a name.

It was then the banging was at the chamber of the dorm. Justine was awakened by the loud banging and put on her dressing gown to open the door. It was William and he looked drunk. His banging had rudely awakened the adjacent chambers.

“For God’s sake, William. What are you…….” Justine was upset at the intrusion. William did not wait for the invitation and barged in. Justine looked at the drunken man, and ordered him to leave.

“This is the dorm for ladies. You cannot stay here.” William ignored the lady and walked to the bowl where he emptied his bladder. Justine felt embarrassed and closed the door. She walked to the table where the jug of water was on it.

“Take a drink of water, William.” Justine offered the jug towards William.

“I do not need that. I want the ale.” William struggled to the nearby chair with his breeches unbuttoned.

“God’s sake.” Justine grabbed a shawl of hers and covered William half nakedness. “You are drunk, and need to go back. You cannot stay here.”

“Back? I am not wanted anywhere. Elizabeth do not want me back. Elaine does not want unless I give her coins. The maids will do bed me unless I have coins. The tavern will not serve me unless I have coins. I have none.” William looked towards Justine.

“You are the only one left. Victor and Ernest are locked in their own chamber. My father …….”

“William, stop it. Your family loves you.” Justine sat on the bedding. “I ……”

“Do you? I do not. I once loved Elizabeth but she jilted me. I ……” William sighed. “I have no one else.”

“William, you cannot stay here. You must leave. It is not appropriate.” Justine looked at the drunken friend. William was to her still a friend.

“Justine, I love you.” It was William’s words then; drunken but true. “I need you.”

“No!” Justine raised her voice. “I am ……”

Justine bit her tongue. She was to say that she was Victor’s but she was not. She liked Victor but love was out of the equation.

“I know you and Victor, but I am better. I do not look at cadavers. I feel for the …. Dead. I hold emotions, and above all, I hold emotions for you. You are the heart in my body.”

“Madness!” Justine called out.

“No! It is not madness. It is love.” William had his voice raised and those words rang in the dorm.

“Get out!” Justine had enough of it. She walked to the door, but William had intervened on her. He held her to the door. His drunken breaths were on her neck, while his body covered her at the back.

“Justine, I love you.” William roared out. “I ……”

Justine had broken loose and stepped back to her chamber. She looked around for something to fight off the man. She saw the jug and grabbed it.

“Come any closer, and I will kill you.” Justine held up the jug before her. William had then approached her, and she swung the jug at his face. It cracked on impact and cut a deep gash to William’s left side of the head. The man staggered from the blow, and Justine in her survival instinct lashed out with her right leg into the man’s groin. In her studies, besides the eyes, the groin was sensitive area for pain. William called out in pain, and then ran out of the chamber.

Justine was in shock, but she had to follow Willian in case he gets more hurt. She rushed out to look for him, unaware that she was still holding the broken jug.