Preys and Predator Part II; the monster and witches' Chapter 40

 40.

Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Silver Bells And Cockle Shells,
And so my garden grows.

(first published in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book (1744))

The creature sat by itself at the creek. It was looking for Henry. He likes to come there. She sat on the same spot where they lay naked and looked at the birds on the branches. Henry will sing to her the poem of Mary.

“Your name is Mary.” Henry said. Little does he know of the meaning but he was sung that when young.

“Your garden will be …... aplenty of flowers and birds. I will also like your garden. Free to grow and love. I want to be free like them someday,” Henry had said.

“Can I be with you then, Henry?” It asked him.

“Yes, you will be with me. You will be…… Henry Mary… whatever. I loved you.” Henry turned over to kiss the creation. The lips were cold, but to him, the warmth was in the heart. And mind.

Love conquers all.

“Alas, what shall I do for love?

 For love, alas, what shall I do?

Syth is now so kind,

I do yow fynde,

to kepe yow me vnto,

Alas…”

(Poem Henry VIII circa 1509) https://bronasbooks.com/2021/06/03/alas-what-shall-i-do-for-love-king-henry-viii-poem/)

It was the poem, Henry said to her when he made love with her. She felt nothing, but it did not matter. All she cared then was Henry was happy.

Henry did.

“Are you done?” It asked of Henry.

“Yes, I am. You carry inside you, my seeds. You will give birth to my children.” Henry laughed.

“I would like to.” It smiled. “If only I knew how?”

“Do not worry, Mary. Miracles will come to us.” Henry said. Miracles was what she wanted to have. It was a miracle to be …. Living, being loved, and being given a name. Mary was to her very nice.

“Henry, where are you?’ The creature sat up. “I am here, Henry. Please come to me.”

“He will not be.” The voice was behind her. She turned and saw a man there. He was huge and held an axe.

“Why …… Oh my God! Who are you? You are ugly.” The man cringed at the expression. “It does not matter. Do you hold the body of a woman? I can be quick.”

“Who are you?” It asked.

“I am your dinner.” The man dropped the axe and unbuttoned the breeches. “I got your dinner here. Take off your clothes.”

It stared at the man. He was nude below the waist. He was ugly. Henry once told her, ‘Mary, only I can have you. No one else may touch you.’

“Do it, bitch!” The man grabbed the frock and tore it off.

“My God, what are you? My Laurel has a better body than you.” The man cried out in horror at the disfigured lady. “What is offered shall not be refused.”

It did what was its instinct. It lashed out with the right fist at the man’s groin. The fist, with its enormous force, impacted there. The man howled out in pain, and then the creature reached up and pierced the organs there. The man tried to push the lady off, but she held on and pushed him to the back. He collapsed in pain, but the lady was gone.

“Someone lost his birdie.” The voice from the figure leaned over the man in agony. “Sad, but the bird meant a lot to you, dear Wallace. I knew that when Laurel told me, next to his mead, the other meat was his founding member.”

“Help me… please.” Wallace, the woodcutter, revealed the name pleaded. “I need a doctor.”

“Did you not know? Doctor Mitchell is dead. You need the priest for the last rites.” The voice spoke. “I am a priestess. How does it go then?”

"Loving and merciful God, we entrust our brother/sister to your mercy. You loved him/her greatly in this life; now that he/she is freed from all its cares, give him/her happiness and peace forever."  The voice paused there. “I must admit your soul will not be at peace from now on. You will rot in Hell till eternity freezes over. My interpretation does not hold my words on that.”

“Lady, who are you? Why do you torment me here?”

“My name is Lady Carmilla Karnstein. I am ……...” The lady coughed. “I am your deliverance to Hell.”

The lady summoned the predators in the forest to the feast. She stepped away and leaned on the tree trunk. Her body was weakening ever since she gave her last blood essence to Lauren. She did not regret it at all. She was tired of the existence, of battling her own sisters and thwarting the advances of the vampire. She had sought the other blood essence, and upon discovering it, she found a soul to share with her. Her essence was forgotten then.

Love was unusual… …it held the binds that even immortals cannot comprehend. He had seen sisters who sacrificed themselves in the name of love; others died for love, foregoing the coven’s needs for love.

“You have nothing to add, sir.” Chief Constable Lestrade looked at Victor. They were all gathered at the mansion on the request of Spielsdorf. He relented, and his tea was not forthcoming. He had Watson lock the lab’s door.

“I have nothing to say, Chief Constable.” Victor sat there with one new guest, Elizabeth Muriel. She had heard of the commotion and found Victor at the library. He was seated where the Tata used to be seated. Elizabeth stood by him on the side.

Tea was served then by the maids.

“Ms. Muriel, your aunt was anxious about your whereabouts. The Chief Constable had started off the conversation. “I will send words to…….”

“Not needed, Chief Constable. I will return home after this …… discussion.”

“Mr. Spielsdorf, please……”

“Chief Constable, I have said my piece. I was with Victor and had wanted to see him on Lauren’s condition.” Lauren was then back in her chamber. “I walked in and saw Ernest on the table, and the maid was at the corner. They were dead.”

“Dead?” The Chief Constable raised his eyebrow.

“Obvious. I have been a soldier and am familiar with the sight of death.”

“People just don't see things like that." The Chief Constable looked at the man. “On the contrary, your experience was not of the many. I accept your statement.”

“Do jot that down, Watson. One day you may write a tale out of it.” The Chief Constable smiled. “Jake Watson, parish constable and author.”

“Sir.” Watson had his pencil out.

“Yes, back to us. What did you do then, Mr. Spielsdorf?”

“I placed Lauren on the bedding and asked Victor. He told me that there was a fight between the maid and Ernest. He was then crushed by the wooden cabinet, and the maid got shot by Ernest’s revolver. And……” Spielberg looked towards Victor. “He had Ernest on the table to save him.”

“Most informative. Tell me, Mr. Spielsdorf, how did the maid get her legs severed?”

“I do not know. She was …… without her legs when I arrived.”

“Je vois (I see in French).” The Chief Constable smiled. “Pardon me. I have been learning French since last month. Now back to the maid. You came, you saw, and …… no legs, huh?”

“Yes. It was.” Spielberg nodded.

“How did the bodies end up in the furnace?” The Chief Constable asked.

“We wanted to hold the body somewhere. The furnace was the place.” Spielberg replied.

“There was the cold chamber. Were you aware of it?”

“Cold chamber?” Spielberg looked towards Victor. “No, I was not aware.”

“I was told that Victor does his experiment with the cadaver and keeps his work there.” The Chief Constable smiled. “How convenient.”

“Chief Constable, if you are implying that Victor is a murderer, you better be more supportive with real evidence, or I will have the city side made known of your blundering ways.” Elizabeth snapped at the Chief Constable. “The Muriel’s will not let that …….”

“Noted, Ms. Muriel. Well noted, Ms. Muriel.” The Chief Constable held up his hand in defeat. “I was not implying but asking my questions. We will proceed on.”

“Mr. Frankenstein……”

“Victor will do, Chief Constable. Mr. Frankenstein is looking at us from there.” Victor motioned to his Tata’s portrait. “He will not look well to us, after having lost two sons in the time since you arrived.”

It was a veiled threat at the Chief Constable.

“May his soul rest in peace. I will find his son’s murderer……soon.” 

 

Foot note explainatory

Mary’s Rhyme

Like many nursery rhymes, it has acquired various historical explanations. One theory is that it is a religious allegory of Catholicism, with Mary being Mary, the mother of Jesus, bells representing the sanctus bells, the cockleshells the badges of the pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and pretty maids are nuns, but even within this strand of thought there are differences of opinion as to whether it is lament for the reinstatement of Catholicism or its persecution.

Another theory sees the rhyme as connected to Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), with "how does your garden grow" referring to her reign over her realm, "silver bells" referring to (Catholic) cathedral bells, "cockle shells" insinuating that her husband was not faithful to her, and "pretty maids all in a row" referring to her ladies-in-waiting – "The four Maries"

 

King Henry VIII poem

King Henry VIII wrote some poems in his spare time. Or to be more precise, lyrics, as most of his poems were also designed to be sung and played. Some of the lyrics were collated in the Henry VIII Manuscript circa 1522 along with other court composers of the time. They reveal that during the early years of his reign, young Henry’s court was one of lively fun and courtly pleasure. (https://bronasbooks.com/2021/06/03/alas-what-shall-i-do-for-love-king-henry-viii-poem/