Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 21

 

21.

The forests during dark yields its own sound; the chirping of the birds was replaced by the breezing leaves on the branches, with the specks of illuminance of the moonlight, or darker nights, the flash of the night owls nesting on the branches. The owls may shrill the eerie calls, or it could be the flapping bats that was out for its feast of fruits. It was ironic that many believed the bats were to feed on blood, which they do for those classified as vampire bats. The bats are also known as leaf-nosed bats currently found in Central and South America. Their food source is the blood of other animals, a dietary trait called hematophagy. The other breed feast on fruits.

Spielsdorf was hidden behind the bush, alongside with the Общий and Sven, the other member of the regiment. They had dressed in the dark garbs, to able to camouflage with the dark scene at the forests. They were armed with revolvers, while Sven had with him his old flintlock rifle, the original Potzdam muskets used by the Prussian Amy then in 1835, and was the standard rifle issued to the infantry under the Общий.

The barrel length of the Potzdam muskets varied between fifty-five inches and sixth over inches in overall length, weighed less than ten pounds The stock of the Potzdam was usually made of walnut. Stress-bearing parts of the Potzdam, such as the barrel, lock plate and firing mechanism were made of steel and sling-swivels made of iron whilst other furniture pieces such as the butt plate, trigger guard and ramrod pipe were found in brass. She was a heavy rifle to hold.

On that trip, the men were issued more ammo; silver dust alongside the cartridges in the side bags; believe to blind the vampires when scattered at their eyes.

The old officers of the regiment had roamed the forest at dusk, with Sven the guide for he was familiar with the trails. They travelled without any lamps and relied on the moonlighted trails. They found many peculiar activities in the forest; Daisy the cow was seen roaming the fences of the farm, Corny the Sheepdog was sowing his seeds with Danni, the collier in Derby’s farm; day activities were filled with sheep or Henry who was seen running naked at the creek. Sven was restraint from approaching his care.

“He needs the fun.” The master of the mansion told him.

“And I will tan his buttocks in the day.” Sven was furious but he became calm later, with the bottle of vodka.

That was not all.

“Three is the triple, we are the merriment.” The elderly trio was greeted by the trio of nymphs in the forest. Nymphs they were for they were young and buck naked then dancing round the fire that they lit there. The elderly men crouched by the bush and watched the girls danced. It may be a spectacle to watch but the girls were not of the ordinary ladies; they were before until they were reported missing.

“Madness, Общий.” Sven himself adhered to his faith well.

“No, Sven. It is a coven.” Spielsdorf whispered to Sven. “I have news of it, but this one is small in the numbers.”

“Coven?” Sven was not familiar with that.

“Yes, gathering of the witches.” Общий cut in. “We had encountered them before. Spielsdorf had told me of these activities. The missing girls in the other counties all were in trios, and there the common connection…... the elderly lady with the younger in tow. She was last seen here which was why he rushed here that day, but accident with carriage delayed his works.”

“I am …….” Sven was baffled.

“Do not concern yourself. We will get to the issue soon.” Spielsdorf assured the other. “Right now, we wait for the …….”

“I am here, ladies.” The voice was from the other side. It was the Constable himself. And he was naked. He paraded in with his intention seen protruding at his groin. The three ladies roared out in laughter.

“The lamb is here. The feast may begin. The merry shall rejoiced.” The girls converged on the man, and it was an offending sight to the elderly men, but they kept watched. The constable was lady handled with himself enjoying their ministrations on his body. He was in a trance like behaviour, lost to the echoes of pleasure then.

“He is ready. We will feast on his flesh. The sacrifice of the lamb it will be.” The frame of the constable hovered above the ground, and the girls took their position; one each at the stretched-out limbs.

“Mother is not here. Shall we wait or shall we feast?” The three girls looked at each other. “The call is nigh and we will not wait.”

The girls sank their teeth into the man’s wrist and the one at the leg was at the left ankle. They drew out blood and drank it there.

“I have seen enough.” Spielsdorf rushed out with the revolver drawn. He fired at the girl at the ankle, while Общий fired at the girl on the right. It was Sven who rushed in with the bayonet affixed to the rifle, that he stabbed the last remaining girl in the rear of the neck. The girls fell to the ground, with the dark blood oozing from their wounds.

“We will be avenged. We call upon mother. She will seek you.” The girls chanted. The Общий did not hesitate to shoot the next bullet into one of the girls’ faces. It was followed by Spielsdorf. Sven himself having reserved his shot took aim at the face of the third girl.

“They are abominations.” Sven cursed out. Spielsdorf examined the Constable, and found him alive but unconscious.

“Do we leave him here?” Spielsdorf asked.

“Let him be. And these girls too. We are to leave.” The Общий looked around. “We are not seen but the gun shots may be. We must leave now.”

The trio of elderly men took off, and the forest was once again silent. The night creatures were listening then. It did not take long when the figure appeared there. It was a young lady.

“Ashes to ashes. Life to death is the two ends.” The lady said. “We are numbered. The lamb will follow. Neither will be found.”

The forest came alive then, when the carnivals spin the wheel, and traces of the remains were devoured. By then the lady had traced the trail taken by the elderly trio. She saw them took the road back. It was headed to the mansion.

“You had your fill today, old men. I will do mine soon. They will be accompanied.”

Once old folks held a saying that trouble befalls more trouble. The Frankenstein household was in roars when the villagers knocked on the mansion doors.

“Wiliam Frankenstein is dead.” The butler was told and the news spread from the sons to the maids. Alphonse Frankenstein was stunned by the news. He had collapsed at the doorway when summoned by the villagers and then found his feet gave way. He was helped to the library and was allowed an audience with the village head, and the butcher who stood in for the dead doctor. The butcher was admiring the furnishing there while the village head stood before the old man.

“We had report of William Frankenstein found dead at the road leading to the mansion.” The village head reported then. “He was not far from the Uni.”

“I am ……” The father of the dead man was baffled. “He was fine when I last saw him.”

“His body was found this morning. He was, we believed bludgeon and left to die.” The village head looked to the butcher. “Peter here can best describe the body.”

“Yes, Sir.” The butcher stepped up. “Bloody mess. He was ……”

“Please spare me the details. I will have his body sent here for examination. Were the authorities told?” The old man asked.

“The Constable …… he is missing this morning. I sent the wire to the city to one named Chief Constable Lestrade. We have no reply yet but the matter will be handed soon.” The village head replied. “Once Constable Brown is available, he will be here.”

“We will be on our way now, Sire. And our condolences.” Peters bowed to the old man. Both took their leave, and once out of hearing range, Peters spoke to the village head.

“Bloody reception we had. Brought his son back, and not a cuppa of tea offered.”

“Bloody well it will do for the village now. We are cursed with missing girls, and now a dead monster.” The village head cursed. “I am not with the Frankenstein. I was told that they are a family of monsters, and its deserving that their son died like one.”

“Do you think we shall warn the others?” Peters asked.

“I will think so. One of these outsiders comes in, we may be exposed.”

“My condolences, Общий.” Spielsdorf bowed to the host. “He may …….”

“The sins of the father have reached me.” The host sat back on the seat and looked to the portrait. “How many times, I have done the same to others? It was all done in the name of war. And when does war ever set the lines on killing to torture, and even murder. My son today pays that price. Monster which I was, and not monster descend on my children.”

“Do not put the blame on yourself, Общий. Like others, the …… acts we did was on the uniform. It was not our soul.” Spielsdorf looked towards the portrait. “Your actions had saved lives, many lives, and their gratitude to us was to the uniform we wore. We stopped their monsters, but we are not monsters.”

“With Doctor Mitchell dead, I will get Victor to examine the body. I will not let my son be butchered by what his name…...”

It was then Ernest walked. It was a rare event for the last son to be there then.

“Is it true, Tata? William is dead?”

“Yes, Ernest. He was discovered this morning by the road. He was …… killed by someone. I am getting Victor to examine his body. Till then, we will mourn his death here.”

“Find out who killed him. I will personally persecute the killer. I am well versed in the laws of this land, and it will be gallows I will commute on the killer.” Ernest was upset.

“Son, hold your emotions. The time now is to mourn and not anger.”

“Hell will freeze when I have my way.” Ernest stormed out.