Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 34

 

34.

It was late afternoon when Elizabeth approached the mansion gates, but she did not go in. She felt the anxiety inside her. The guilt of the sins that was in her. She knew of Justine’s murder. It was sanctioned by the committee, and with the departure of Esquire Irwin, Mrs. Muriel elected her to the committee the day before the murder.

“Hear! Hear!” The call was made. The expression "hear, hear" originated in the British Parliament in the late 17th century to show support for a speaker, evolving from "hear him, hear him" and becoming a form of verbal applause. 

They gathered there looking at the founding member, Mrs. Muriel.

“I have two matters to announce.” Mrs. Muriel smiled. She seldom speaks but tells them of her words. “With the departure of Esquire Irwin, I am electing Ms. Elizabeth Muriel to the committee. She will hold in accordance with the terms of the committee.”

“The other matter is about Ms. Justine Moritz. All of you are aware that Ms. Moritz was a suspect in the murder of William Frankenstein and was released upon lack of evidence. We have funded Ms. Moritz’ research, and thus she may be considered our beneficiary. However, her conduct with William Frankenstein is deemed unacceptable to us. We ……,” Mrs. Muriel looked at the gathered. “We are founded on the principle of purity in our ways.”

“Purity in our body and soul, purity in our mind and thoughts.” Mrs. Muriel recited the core principles of the Theology Society. “We find the lady had failed that test.”

“Aunt……” Elizabeth uttered but was cut off.

“Mrs. Muriel. I am addressed as Mrs. Muriel in the gathering.”

“My apologies.” Elizabeth nodded. “I was to …….”

“We are aware that Ms. Moritz was a good friend of yours, but her actions may not be allowed. She may or may not kill William Frankenstein, but to lure the man to the dorm was shameful. He may have escaped her enticement and ran out. In which she pursued and then had him killed.” Mrs. Muriel spoke of her words.

“I …….” Elizabeth was about to say something, but again she was cut off.

“William Frankenstein is a nice man. He was your …… well, soon-to-be fiancé. He was polite, but I saw in him the lustful thoughts that day in the living area. He was disrespectful then. In our home, he was to do that.” That remark brought gasps to Doctor Judith Landis, who was seated there. She was married to one named Doctor Eddie Landis, a lecturer in the subject of law. They have two children, two girls who lived their lives devoted to their mother.

“Imagine that, Landis. A purely deplorable act it was.” Mrs. Muriel laced the action with additional adjectives. “If your …….”

“Spare me the thoughts, Mrs. Muriel. My children are brought up pure.”

“Absolutely, we cannot have a monster in our home.” Mrs. Muriel looked at Elizabeth. “William Frankenstein, like his namesake, is a monster. If Ms. Moritz had done the deed for us, I am sure one of us may. Purity in our body and soul, purity in our mind and thoughts.”

“Ms. Moritz had committed a sin. We cannot allow sinners to walk among us. I was told that she is taking measures to leave. She wants to escape retribution. That is not allowed by us. She may do the same act elsewhere. Another pure soul may be drawn to her lair, and God knows what may happen.”

“Purity in our body and soul, purity in our mind and thoughts.” They gathered there and chanted.

“In the name of God, we claim her soul for justice for all.” Mrs. Muriel set the condition then. “Purity in our body and soul, purity in our mind and thoughts.”

“Purity in our body and soul, purity in our mind and thoughts.” They all nodded.

“As the committee wishes, it will be done.” Mrs. Muriel nodded.

It was her sin not to defend Justine, and perhaps it saved her life that day, but Elizabeth was overwhelmed by the committee to look out for others and not herself. She was upset that William died, but then Justine baffled her. Why was Justine with him then, and in her nightdress? It was unexplained in her mind. She knew that, or rather believed that Justine did not like William, but it was Victor. She saw them together; love has the signs that can be seen, but she was found next to William.

‘William, you promised me to stay celibate till next summer. I had been too, for us, but did you?’ Elizabeth had that thought. She had heard of William the Stud among the ladies, but the past could be forgiven. It was like confessing at the church, and the sins lifted. He may have confessed, but did he lift himself from his sins?

Victor Frankenstein, the younger brother devoted to his work, was he for her. Without Justine and William, she was unsure of whom she could relate to. Her adult life was to the trio; they spent hours of merriment together. She felt that William was for her, but then of late, she felt otherwise. She shifted her feelings and asked her aunt to go for a trip. It was a bonding journey for her to be with her aunt and share their relationship.

The journey was good, no goading by men or shifting glances at men; only the chats with her aunt and the other members of the Theology Society. She was a member of the society for a very long time, but never had she partaken in their activities before. She met and spoke to many members, and their enlightened views gave her many thoughts. As a student of psychology, she dissected the views, but overall, she was taken in.

She was pure inside; there were sins committed, but nothing that a good wash of the hands and the confession before bed for forgiveness had not sufficed for. In her studies, it was called cleansing of the mind.

Soon, her mind was to tell her that he may not be the man she could find love with.

“Ms. Muriel, are you coming in?” It was Sven who saw the lady standing at the gate. “It is near dusk, and it is cold. I could admit you in by the door.”

“Yes…. No, Sven. I was just passing by. Where had you been?”

“Looking for Henry. The poor lad had been missing for over a week now.” Sven sighed. “He is a good lad, but his mind is……”

“I am sure Henry is fine. Maybe he went out on a trip.” Elizabeth smiled. “Did you ask Victor?”

“Yes, I did. He was not sent on any trip.” Sven looked around as if Henry may appear. “His things are in his chamber.”

“I could not speak to Victor. He is a…….” Sven looked at the mansion.

“Hello. Liz. Why are you here?” It was Victor. It looked like he took a stroll in the forest. “I was taking a walk. Good for my back.”

“I …” Elizabeth struggled to find the reason to tell Victor.

“Master Victor, do you know where I can find Henry?” Sven cut in.

“No, I am unsure. I was looking for him and took the walk to find him. I had not seen him around.” Victor looked at Sven. “Did you send him out?”

“No, Master Victor. I will not do it without informing you.” Sven looked at the young master. “Without the Tata and Master William, you are the master of the mansion. I would have asked you for permission if Henry was to go out.”

“Liz, may we talk in the mansion?” Victor shifted the subject. “I am thirsty.”

Elizabeth nodded and followed Victor to the mansion.

Adherence was another word for following. The previous hours before dawn, when Spielsdorf heard the lady speak of herself as a monster, he was unable to accept her admittance.

“Carmilla, you……” Spielberg was cut off.

“Whisper, Spielsdorf. You may wake her up.” The lady leaned towards the man. “She is sleeping.”

“Leave my daughter alone. Your war with Lissa and… the vampire has nothing to do with her. She is ……”

“Innocent. I can agree. I will not harm my sister’s daughter despite our differences. I do love Lauren.” The lady smiled. “We are in love.”

“Stay away, witch!” Spielberg hissed out. His voice was low, but the message was clear.

“Father, are you there? Did you call me?” Lauren had spoken out. Spielberg rushed to the bedding and held his daughter’s hand.

“I am here, Lauren. I was dreaming and spoke out.” Spielberg assured the young lady. He turned to look at the witch, but she was gone.

“Father, I had a dream of Mother. She approached me here on this bedding. She told me to be brave.” Lauren smiled. “She looked beautiful.”

“Am I beautiful?” Lauren asked.

“Yes, my dear. You are the most beautiful lady I have ever met.” Spielberg kissed his daughter’s hand. “Princes will bow towards you, and they will kiss your hand like me.”

“Am I brave too?”

“I……. Yes, you are. You are braver than I am.” Spielberg smiled. “Your mother is proud of you.”

“Why do you tell those lies to me?” Lauren’s voice woke Spielsdorf then. He found himself at the seat by the window. He looked around and could not see the witch, and he saw Lauren asleep on the bedding. The sunlight was seeped in past the drawn curtains.

“Lauren…….” Spielberg sighed.