Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 27

 

27.

Justine Moritz packed her belongings into the set of cases that came with her over a year ago. Time passed when you were with friends, and the tasks at the uni were fun. She looked at the picture frame of herself with her parents from back home in Belgium. The country is landlocked on three sides, with the northern part, the coastal area, facing the North Sea. The landscape of the country was plainly flat and shouldered on the eastern side by the hills of Wallonia. She was from that part of the country; her ancestors were Romanians who emigrated to the new land. Her parents hardly speak of their past, but little did she know that life was tough then as they were called Trigani or nomads. They detest being called gypsies. They are thought to have first arrived in Europe sometime between the 9th and 14th centuries.

Justine’s family made their home in the Wallachia’ hills and had her education there. It was a free life there, and her regret was knowing the local boy there. He was named Cerge, and they studied in the same school. She held long walks and talks with him with common interests. Their relationship grew when they became young adults. Cerge was received by the family, but the boy’s family detests Justine. They shunned her when they saw them together. Cerge and Justine decided to elope and leave for the isle.

“We will find our home there. There are Roma there.” Cerge told her,. They promised to leave during summer, but it was not to happen. Cerge was found killed in the alley that night. The blame was on Justine; her other lover had killed Cerge. She denies it all, but the Cerge’s family was influential. She was incarcerated in detention. She was traumatized there; the other inmates viewed her as a Tigani and sneered at her.

“I am Tigani. I also learned to be a good Roma.” Justine pursued her education to improve her social standing. It did not win her any friends, but she was saved by the timely contribution of her family to secure her release. Cerge’s killer was never identified.

“Justina,” that was her name given to her by her parents. “You must leave here. We arrange for you to go to the isle and continue your studies there. You will leave by dawn.”

Thus began her passage from the coastal port to the isle. She studied for her higher education and then moved to the university where she was offered the grant to do the research and her eventual stay with the Frankenstein.

“Mummy, I am coming home.” Justine's tears were flowing while looking at the picture.

Her curse was to follow her there. 

“I want to come home.”

Justine heard the knock on the door. She walked towards it to admit her guest.

“Justine, you do not have to go.” It was Elizabeth. “I could talk to the Uni to let you stay on.”

“No, Liz. It is my decision. I am to leave and be…… forgotten of it.” Justine had felt the eyes on her when she was in the cafeteria or the bathrooms. They were avoiding her, but their stares did not. William was the star of the Uni, and she was then the accused who killed him, proven until affirmed as innocent. That was only possible if the killer was captured. Till then, she was the accused murderer.

The worst was the whispers behind her back.

“She is a vampire. I read that the Wallachians are descendants of vampires.” It was the students of the historical faculty. “I read that Romanian vampires were known as moroi from the Romanian word mort meaning 'dead' or the Slavic word meaning 'nightmare.'”

“Strigoi” were also named either living or dead. Live strigoi were described as living witches with two hearts or souls, sometimes both. Strigoi were said to have the ability to send out their souls at night to meet with other strigoi and consume the blood of livestock and neighbors.”

“A person born with a caul, an extra nipple, a tail, or extra hair was doomed to become a vampire. The same fate applied to the seventh child in any family if all his or her previous siblings were of the same sex, as well as someone born too early or someone whose mother had encountered a black cat crossing her path.”

“Does she have that? I have never seen him undressed.” Another cut in. “She is ... very flat.”

The human anatomy was the butt of their jokes.

“Perhaps she was a child born out of wedlock. The breasts were removed then.” The fascination of the ladies was wide. “She does have blue eyes. That is a potential strigoi. The child, breastfed after its mother has weaned it, risks becoming a pricolici, a Romanian vampire with werewolf-like attributes.”

It drew many ladies to fantastical images; most of it was lewd.

“No, Liz. I must go.” Justine continued her packing. Elizabeth assisted her and saw the picture frame.

“Are those your parents? They look …….” Elizabeth reached for it, but Justine stopped her.

“Please do not touch my belongings.” Justine covered the picture frame with her clothes.

“I am sorry. I just thought, ……”

“Think nothing of it. I will be……”

“I am here to tell you that Victor wants to see you. He is waiting outside the Uni.” Elizabeth declared her visit intention. “I was to……”

“I do not want to see him. His family… His brother’s death is still on me.” Justine looked at Elizabeth. “To them and to his family, I am the monster who killed William.”

“Do not blame yourself. Victor does not believe it so. He had the report submitted and vouched for your innocence.” Elizabeth looked towards Justine. “Give him a chance to say goodbye.”

“I …” Justine struggled to speak, but the words got stuck in her voice. “I will …….”

“Meet him, Justine. He wants to see you. He…… loves you.” Elizabeth uttered the words that even her heart denies.

It was a long wait, and Victor held his patience there. He was to meet Justine, and on being told by Elizabeth, he was upset and remained ostracized at the dorm. He wanted to meet her there, but the dorm was an inconvenience. He selected the spot at the edge of the forest, once their picnic area for all four of them. Then three left with William dead, and soon there will be only two when Justine leaves.

“Hello, Victor.”

“Hello, Justine.” Victor turned to look at the lady who appeared there to meet him. She looked pale but was dressed elegantly. “I am happy you could make it.”

“Elizabeth told me, I was not to come, but she can be persuasive.” Justine stood before the man. “I am …”

“Elizabeth is eloquent in her ways. She is trained by the best in the art of psychology.” Victor was in a rush to praise the other lady. “Oh, I am sorry. I should have let you speak.”

“Thank you. I was to say ……...” Justine was cut off by Victor, who leaned over and kissed her on the lips. His arms went around her. She tried to push him off, but soon her tongue found its way past her lips.

“Justine, I love you.” Victor pulled away from her lips. “I was not sure how to tell you.”

Justine rested her head on Victor’s left shoulder. She could hear his heartbeats then, fast and hard. His arms held her close to his chest, and he kissed her on the hair. He smelled the scent of her beauty on him.

“Please stay with me. I will protect you.” Victor whispered to her. “I will …….”

“Victor, I cannot. It will not happen. I am …… the one who was with William that night. I am accused of killing him.”

“I had submitted the report that vouches for you. You could not have done it. Someone else did.” Victor swallowed his guilt there. He knew who had done the killing, but it was too personal.

“I know, but the matter to the others remains the same until the murderer is caught.” Justine sighed. “I have to go.”

Justine recalled her past and knew that her only avenue was to leave.

“I will go with you. I can do my work elsewhere.” Victor spoke out of turn. “We can elope.”

“No, Victor. Your place is here. You must stand in for William. Ernest needs his brother.” Justine said,. “Your father……”

“Father is away. He took off with the other in pursuit of something I know not of.” Victor said. “My Tata was never much of a father. He cares more for his regiment than us.”

“You must forgive your father. He had served the regiment longer than as a father to all of you. I believe he loves you all.” Justine's tears flowed. She missed her parents.

“Stay with us at the mansion like before. I… could you give me a space at the lab? I want to show you my works. It is there.” Victor did not want to spoil the surprise.

“I am glad, but my head tells me I must go.” Justine sighed.

“What about your heart, Justine? Do you love me?” Victor asked.

“I am… unsure.” Justine pulled away. “Victor, I cannot tell you either. There are too many things on my head. I may …… be in love with you, but then again, I may be …… deceiving you.”

“No, my love. No, Justine. You are not. I know I love you. And…… I will give you time to love me.” Victor reached for the lady, but she stepped away.

“I need time and space, Victor. Please do not pressure me. I am ... fragile now.” Justine's recollection of William that night flashed before her eyes. She was set on it. There was another. That other one was naked. It was obscene. She held her hands over her face and let the emotions take over. Victor approached and held her in his arms.

“Justine, you are not alone. I am here.” Victor breathes in her scent once more. The lady leaned back and felt his kiss on her neck. His kiss was soon to nibble there. It felt like her life essence was being sucked from her. She arched her head to the side and let the breeze caress her flesh.

“Henry!” Justine's memory flashed across her mind. She pulled away and then turned to look at Victor.

“It was Henry. He was there. He was ……...”

“I know.” Victor said. “I knew of it.”