Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 18

 

18.

The elderly lady stood there by the tree trunk, using the shadow there to conceal herself from the prying eyes. She had failed not once but several times for the mistress. She feared for herself if she was to fail once more.

“You are early, my servant.” The voice came from above, an elderly lady high up on the branches. “Do not look up.”

“I am here, mistress.” The elderly lady's voice was quivering. “I did not know there were others.”

“You are getting careless. I have lived my existence in the shadows. When Vlad knew me, she knew me as the countess with a hidden past. He knew of my family's past but was unsure. My lineage of fore kept our existence within the family only. He has suspected that I am a witch, but our coven was family-knitted. We did not invite outsiders.”

“Vlad’s widow, Justina, was his second wife, but he took her for his primary love. He had married Corvinus’s half-sister, but he truly loved Justina. She told me herself when we met then. She was so much in love with him, and it hurt me. It still does, for I was in love with Justina since we were young girls.”

“Justina was my first love. Soon after Justina married Vlad, my family moved away to a safer place. The wars with the Turks have ravaged our homes. I lost touch with Justina, but the events were to unfold when I was to meet Vlad once again. He was estranged from his wife and became a martyr to the cause. People flocked to his side, and foes fled for fear of death.”

“Undead death was the curse.”

“I was not his foe, but an ally. An ally that needed his protection. He approached me and declared his protection over me, but there was a condition. I was to be his. He had needed brides, but I declined. I am who I am, and no one shall own me. I told him no, but he was not giving up. He then offered me an alternative.”

“Be with me with the gift of immortality. I offered you that, and you will stand beside me as an ally. I then confessed to him about my heritage, and he nodded.”

“I know. He said to me. I have battled witches, sorcerers, and what else. They opposed me, for I am a deviant. I am not. He was just like them with the knowledge or skills of something new. He detested them, but he felt that if he could not be a part of the coven, he would join with mine.”

“It was unspoken in my coven. I deferred my ply, but the hunts on us were wide and far. I lost many of the coven. I approached him for protection, and he offered me one last chance.”

“I was to be one like him, but as his ally and not a bride.”

“I agreed. I was a fool. I was not to know that with his gift, I was beholden to him. It was not an ally, but a seduction of my innocence. He had me for his lust. He wanted a child to carry his name. His brides were barren, and I was the chosen one.”

“Due to my lineage, I held on to the challenges to his seduction. I was weakened but without any resistance. His seeds were expunged by me through my blood. He found himself at a loss and confronted me. I told him of the spells to repudiate the seeds of his inside me. He was furious, and we fought. I expelled him from my life and began to live my own. I was to become the vampire witch and form new covens.”

“I turned a curse into a cure, but I was restrained by my affliction. I found my need for blood was ravenous. Vlad found me at the mansion, and we went at each other’s jugular. He was the king, but I was still the mistress in my realm. It was unforeseen that we had the audience of two mortals. Vlad got me on the acts, and I fled.”

“Fleeing was to return, but Vlad caught my essence then. I was to flee without my soul but my heart beats remains.  I had the mirrors to escape, but it was not total. I have been looking for my heart since then.”

“My mistress …” The elderly lady meekly voiced out.

“Silence, Servant. I had you among others to assist me. Our journey may be ending. I found my heart. I will get it back, but you are a loss now. A loss of trust, and your worthy ends now. Return to myself.”

The elderly lady felt her soul drawn from her vessel. It was pulled out by the mistress, and the vessel shell fell to the ground. The mistress lowered herself to the ground.

“Vlad had his way, but we have ours. The coven knew the spell to pull the soul. I will store the soul in me till a worthy one can be found.” The mistress was in the form of one named Carmilla.

Carmilla looked at the discarded vessel, survived by the dead skin cells.

“You were loyal, Stephanie. Rest well for now. Go back to the mansion. I am to end my quest soon.”

A quest it was for Elizabeth. She took it with her aunt to visit some faraway lands, but to her it was a quest to get away. She used the trip to search within herself for her soul. It was ironic that she, a trained psychologist, needed therapy. She was, after all, a living person.

According to psychology, "love" is a complex emotion characterized by strong affection, intimacy, commitment, and passion, often involving a deep connection with another person, where feelings of care, trust, and desire are present, with the brain releasing chemicals like dopamine that contribute to feelings of pleasure and reward when experiencing love.

Was it love when she was with William? She felt herself able to utter the words, I love you, but did it carry her feelings? Was love mere words? She knew that during then, many marriages were arranged by convenience or paternal callings. Princes and princesses were betrothed by their kings and queens. The solemn vow of ‘I do’ was merely words, or to some, brave words to say then. The solemn vow is a serious promise made to someone or something, often in prayers or towards God, and most times in a formal setting.  It can be made to oneself or to others. That was followed by the consummation of the couple, which was feared by Elizabeth.

“I do not fear sex.” The lady whispered to herself. “I can … enjoy it.”

There were some boys before William, but she never went all the way. It was kisses and some touching, but she stopped them if they went further down. It was the same with William, but okay, he did explore further. As she did, but they were grownups then, but she did not yield her chastity. She knew it hurt William, and he had a bigger ego than his tool, but she was adamant about being chaste to the last day.

Elizabeth did once confer with Justine; a girl’s talk. She mentioned that she was unsure of William and whether he will be faithful like Victor.

“Victor? I think you got it wrong. Victor is devoted to only himself. He held no other feelings at all.” Justine had laughed.

“He must have. For you, for instance. He seems close towards you.” Elizabeth hit the point forth.

“No, we are friends. Working colleagues, but lovers, I will say nay. If we do have sex, he will measure, weigh my body parts, and complain if they are not perfect.”

The ladies laughed, but Elizabeth pressed on.

“He could be your mate.”

“Nay, I am also in love with my works.” Justine smiled.

“Were you ever in love?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, once. I was in love with ……. Swear it will never be mentioned this ever again.” Justine looked hard at Elizabeth, who nodded.

“It was a boy when I was in Belgium. We were younger then, but we went apart.”Justine lied.

The boy died then, mysteriously, and she was packed to the uni. She never knew why he died.

“Okay, I will not tell Victor.” Elizabeth laughed. “I may let it out as flatulence. Am I a monster to say that?”

“I do not think so. If you are one, you are a lovely monster.” Justine mimics the monster. That was also how Elizabeth felt about her feelings towards William. Her thoughts shifted to Victor.

“Nice……” Elizabeth smiled. He was flattering when he was not at his work, but he was a total gentleman when it was towards the ladies. She may have another choice after all. He was not a monster.