Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 7

 

7

The mansion was filled with rushing figures with the arrival of the guests, and there were many events then. Victor found himself in his lab when he was to receive a guest of his own.

“Silvus? I thought we agreed to meet only at the Uni. Why are you here?” Victor was surprised and agitated by the presence of the janitor.

“Had to come over. It was fresh. The body parts.” Silvus had arrived on a wagon. “It will be ideal for you.”

“Pardon me. What do you mean, fresh?” Victor looked over Silvus’ shoulder. “Did you kill someone?”

“No, guvnor. Someone else did, and the body parts, or rather the ones they found, were sent over. The doctors there had checked and concluded the cause of death. We are full in the morgue. And the holidays were days away. They asked me to dispose of it, and I thought of you.” Silvus smiled. “I could do with some coins.”

“Silvus, I … I need to see the body parts.” Victor stepped aside. “Bring it in and lay it on the table.”

It was done, and the wrappings were undone. The body parts were covered with sawdust, and beneath it was the ice. It was an expensive item then, as the ice was harvested in huge blocks cut from lakes and ponds in the cold region and shipped by barge or railroad.

“We had a shipment of ice this week.” Silvus smiled. “I took some home to chill my drinks.”

It was chilling to know that Silvus used the ice from the morgue for his drinks.

“Nice place.” Silvus looked around. “You got the cold chamber too.”

Refrigeration was rare then. In the past years, the artificial creation of ice was with the plates immersed in water with a refrigerant of ammonia or circulated brine. Ice formed on both sides of the plates. This approach provided ice without any air bubbles and used potable water. Another approach was the can ice system. The system required distilled water to prevent air bubbles in the ice. The Frankenstein used the latter model.

Victor ignored the man while he examined the body parts. He removed the sawdust with the brush, gently not to damage the flesh encased in ice. He found himself looking at a decapitated head and the complete torso without the limbs. It was a lady in her late twenties.

“Amazing…” The flesh was intact and still coated with blood. Victor took a sample of the blood with the specimen plate. He inserted that into the microscope.

“It is still alive.” Victor was into his works. “The cells are there.”

“Move it into the cold chamber now. We must preserve the parts.” Victor rushed to get the gurney to move the body parts. He then moved to adjust the thermometer to lower the temperature there. The weather was cold then, and it assisted in the refrigeration.

“My coins, Guvnor.” Silvus stood there with his hands held out.

“Yes. I will pay you but not today. I do not have any coins with me here. Will you be alright to receive the money tomorrow? I can pay you then.”

“Bo can do, guvnor. I need the coins, or I will take the body parts elsewhere.” Silvus shook his head.

“Please do not do this to me, Silvus. I have been paying you as per your request. Can it …?”

“Sorry, guvnor. I need my coins now.” Silvus was insistent.

“Okay, can I pay you in other means?” Victor struggled to think of the alternate payment mode. “Perhaps my watch then? It is gold plated.”

Silvus had seen the watch at the waistcoat of the doctor. He knew it was valuable, but pawning the watch was not his usual mode of getting his dues. He had pawned other things that he collected from the dead: the odd gold tooth or the wedding ring. He has his pals who will give him a good return.

“I …” Silvus drove a hard bargain.

“I will add to that… this piece.” Victor held up the golden chalice. It was his father’s and somehow ended up there. It could have been while he was drinking.

“It is ancient. Probably dated back to the days of Christ. It may be the chalice that Christ drank at the supper table.” Victor held up the chalice. It was more of the chalice from their previous home, the treasure booty of the old war, and kept as theirs for some years.

“I do not know.” Silvus shook his head. Victor pressed on.

“Take it all. Sell it if I cannot pay you the coins by tomorrow. I will not deny you of that.” Victor removed the watch from his vest. “They are more than the coins I will pay you.”

“Okay, guvnor. I will hold onto it till tomorrow sundown.” Silvus accepted the exchange.

It was also an exchange then between Elizabeth and William. They were at the boathouse by the creek, a distance from the accident. They were seated there by the jetty, a distance apart.

“William, I want to be ... serious with you on our friendship.” Elizabeth had her legs dangled off the jetty.

“Have I not been with you, Liz?” William looked at her. “You are my ….”

“William Frankenstein, if you do not listen to what I am to say, then I am leaving this … jetty.” Elizabeth snapped at the other. “I am not like the others. I am not Lauren or Abigail. I am Elizabeth Muriel.”

“I know this, Elizabeth Muriel. And I love you.” William declared his feelings. “I may have been a scoundrel before, a …... flirting bastard with ……. What was her name? Abigail and Lauren, or whoever, but I am not now.”

“Do not give me empty promises, William. My father will …”

“General Ian Winston Muriel will have my head severed by saber.” William mimics the removal of his head. “I shall then walk in the corridors of the Frankenstein mansion without my head.”

“Be serious, William.” Elizabeth frowned her expression. “I am …”

It was then William leaned over and kissed the lady on the lips. His arms went around her waist, and then the right hand climbed up to her bosom. His right hand had then fondled her breast and squeezed it hard. There was a moan from the lady, but it was uncertain whether it was the squeeze or the deep kiss. The lady had responded. William then pulled away.

“Elizabeth Muriel, I do love you. How could I make you know that?”

“I …” Elizabeth was embarrassed that she did not fight off the kiss. It was a betrayal of her feelings.

“If I could salvage back my ... virginity and offer it to you, I would.” William made the sign across his head.

“William Frankenstein, do not mock me.” Elizabeth stood up and stepped back. “I am not like them. I have my ……”

“Chastity? I know that.” William had joined her from the rear and held his arm around her waist once more. “I truly valued that. I swear if I could reverse time, I would have waited for you.”

“But you did not. You took it on with…”

“It was Charlene. I …...”

“Who is Charlene?” Elizabeth pulled away and then faced the man. William shuddered at his memory then. Charlene was his first, paid for with coins and thrice his age, and God forbid, demonstrated to him the vice of debauchery acts that one could do. He did pay for the extra turns.

And to Doctor Mitchel for the mercury, arsenic, and sulfur for three months and sublimed thoughts of being a monk for life. Doctor Mitchell prevented him from taking the oath. He was declared healthy, although he did not complete the dosage of medicine given.

“Elizabeth, I love you. I cannot ...”

“How many were they?”

“My memory was vague. Perhaps Abigail but not Lauren.” He feigned ignorance or memory lapse, but with Lauren, he never made it to core. She was hirsute; ‘Am I looking at the dark tunnel?’. He had not proceeded with caution. In cricket, it was not a ‘howzat.’.

“I had a bad fall before.” William did some years back and suffered from migraines. “There were moments of my life I had not remembered.”

“William Frankenstein, I …”

“Say you love me and all is forgiven.” William smiled.

“No, I was to say, I will remain a virgin till our wedding, if that will take place, or wedded to Peter Parker. Till then you will cherish my love or be without it.” Elizabeth looked at the man she loved.

“Peter Parker? Golly me, he held no serious responsibility in his life. Why do you torment me, Liz?”

“By next summer, we can be engaged and married by autumn. That will be long enough for you to consider me seriously.” Elizabeth stated her terms.

“But what of me?” William motioned to his groin.

“Thy release will be by thy hands.” Elizabeth took off from the jetty. William stood there looking at the departing lady. He felt dejected by the exchange. He looked to the creek and grinned.

“Perhaps the fishes will like to flavour some tadpoles.”