Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 24

 

24.

 

Mary Annabelle Frankenstein, passing the mood to remain in the chamber, decided to take a walk by herself. She had not seen the town, nor had her mother mentioned anything about it. She sneaked off when Howard, the tavern keeper, was preoccupied and walked down the street. She had on her yellow dress once worn by her mother but then fitted to her smaller size. She walked past the shops and, like any curious lady, stopped to look at the colorful items there. She spotted a café and stepped in. She was not without any money, for her father had given her some to use if she ever needed it.

“May I have tea and scones, please?” Mary asked the café operator, who was a lady with the apron on her waist. Mary sat there looking at the street outside. She saw the younger kids with their mother walking by the café.

“My young lady, may I join you?” Mary Annabelle looked to the person who addressed her. She was told to be wary of strangers.

“Watson, Inspector John Watson is at your presence. I am the authority on law and order. I do check on the welfare of anyone in town.” The man stood there by the table. “May I have a seat, please?”

“Sure.” Mary Annabelle nodded. The man took his seat and then asked her name.

“Mary Annabelle Frankenstein. I am …….”

“Frankenstein… Hmmm…. I am acquainted with your father, Victor Frankenstein.” The Inspector smiled. “We met earlier. May I ask why you are alone… here? It is quite safe in this town, but I much prefer to watch for everyone in the town.”

“I was bored. I came out to ……” Mary Annabelle was going to say to look for her mother, but she hesitated. “I was to look at the shops.”

“Unchaperoned? I am …… Not distressed, but allow me to say I am concerned. The town is new to you, and ……” Inspector Watson had his eyebrows squinted. “You are never too careless ….”

“I am not afraid. In the city where I lived, I walked every day by myself.” Mary Louise smiled. “It is not like I am afraid of the Big Bad Wolf or Honest John....”

“From Pinocchio? How wonderful you have read that tale. But yes, there are none here …… if they are, they lurk in the dark corners; perhaps they feared me.” Inspector Watson laughed. “I am a Big Bad ……. Inspector.”

Mary Annabelle laughed at the man. It was then the tea and scones were served, and she took to it with glee.

“Tell me, Inspector. Do you know of Elizabeth Muriel?”

Inspector Watson was stunned for a while and then asked.

“Who is she to you?”

“My mother,” Mary Annabelle replied. “I do want to see her ……. If she were to see me.”

“I ……” The inspector saw the arrival of the father, who was frantic in his search for the lady. He was accompanied by the imbecile named Helsing.

“Mary, are you ok?” Victor rushed to his daughter’s side. “Did he…”

“Absolutely not, Sir. I was merely talking to her as she was new in town, and it is my duty to know anyone new here.” Inspector Watson defended himself.

“I did not mean that, Inspector.” Victor snapped at the other. “I was to say if you ……. Had found her and brought her here. I was …….”

“A misunderstanding perhaps.” Doctor Helsing stood between them. “I am sure the Inspector had the good welfare of the lady. He is, after all, the authority here.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I am honoured.” Inspector Watson smiled at the doctor. Victor had then taken hold of his daughter to leave the café. “Please do take care of her, Sir. I will pay for the tea and scones.”

Victor nodded and walked out of the café with Mary, followed by the doctor. Once outside on the street, he bumped into an unexpected person.

“Elizabeth ……” Victor looked at the lady watching the young lady.  He hugged the younger lady closer to him.

“Mother?” Mary Annabelle muttered out.

“Victor, I did not know you were in town.” Elizabeth looked from the man towards the younger lady. “Is that my……”

“It is not that. She is our daughter, Mary Annabelle.” Victor was upset at the lady.

“Oh! I thought … it was another of your creations.” Elizabeth looked at the younger lady. “Whoever you may be, know this. Victor Frankenstein is a madman.”

“No!” Mary Annabelle screamed out. “He is my father. If there is any madness, then it is you.”

“How dare you ….” Elizabeth shrieked out in anger, but Victor stood in between the ladies.

“Elizabeth, please do not approach…us. We are not together anymore. I will leave now.” Victor led his daughter away. Elizabeth stared at the departing estranged lover and child. She was fuming mad then, and it was then Inspector Watson stepped next to her.

“Hold your fury, Elizabeth.” The inspector looked at the departing child. “We will……”

“Do nothing, William Katt. I will deal with Victor myself.” Elizabeth stared at the other. “I have my……”

“You do, my dear. Anyway, I am to do my task. My deputies are missing… one was discovered though.” Inspector Watson smiled. “Would you be ……”

“I do not ask if any of my members are missing, Inspector. I expect the same from you.” Elizabeth took a step forward and saw the Wiccan near the tavern. She will see the Wiccan for the next action. The inspector saw the Wiccan and looked away. He was approached by Gertrude then.

“I got your message, Warlock.” Gertrude said.

“Jeeves is missing.” The inspector turned and walked with Gertrude following. “Allen is dead. The Wiccan of Eastwick is in town. We need to prepare ourselves for war.”

“Are they here for the event too?” Getrude asked. The Inspector stopped in his walk. He turned to look at the lady.

“Were you up to your desires?”

“Yes, I was. I had the Helsing kid with me. I learned much from him. He is a member of the High Council, and here to investigate the town.” Gertrude smiled. “I have my abilities.”

“Most obvious. I know the Helsing are here for a purpose, but to know whom they are affiliated with gives me purpose. I have heard of the High Council, and to know they are interested in this town makes my task more interesting.” The Inspector smiled. “Call the others to meet. We have much to do.”

“I want the worship site preserved.” The Warlock reminded the witch.

At the tavern, Elizabeth met the Wiccan in the chamber. The latter was accompanied by Stefan and Lilith.

“Wiccan, the demon……” Elizabeth was about to say.

“I barely knew. The demons are our foes and, at times, our friends. They do not have much we can sense unless we are focused on it. And that makes them an uneasy foe.” The Wiccan said. “The demons are not alone here. I can sense others in the area. They seem to be converging on Frankenstein’s mansion. There is a witch there, a powerful one but still in need of training.”

“Can we do anything for ……” Elizabeth resumed her request.

“Do not get emotional with the demon of yours. It will devour you just as easily.” The Wiccan cautioned the lady. “I am unsure but suspect the damages to the demon were not by another but…”

“The creature. I heard it is back,” Elizabeth called out. “Its master is back, and it will reappear.”

“Whatever, our task is the event. Stefan, find Brown and Marcos. Get to the preparation.” The Wiccan gave the instruction.

“What of Jae?” Stefan asked.

“Jae is dead. He was killed by a demon. He will be respected after the event.” The Wiccan then looked at Lilith. “I need you to be with Elizabeth for now. She could need some company. There you will remain hidden, but do your task to protect Elizabeth. Bring her before the hour of the lunar event.”

“Wiccan, what about ……” Elizabeth could not bring herself to speak the name.

“Mary Annabelle will be fine. Go home now.” The lady was told.

Just as Mary Annabelle was told when she faced her father in the chamber.

“I am putting you on the coach back to the city. You will stay with the Wilshire’s till I return. I will……”

“I am not leaving, Father. I saw Mother today and will meet her again. I have …….”

“You have nothing to ask of her, nor has she anything to talk to you about. You will leave tomorrow.” Victor was stern in his voice. “I have other work to do.”

Victor took leave of his daughter there and told the tavern keeper that she was to remain there till she leaves on the next morning coach.

“I will not stay in tonight. See to her safe departure.”

“Yes, guvnor.” Howard smiled. “I will have my eyes on her.”

Howard saw the man take his leave. He wiped his hands on the apron and then proceeded to the kitchen. He took the rear stairs to the next level and went into one of the chambers.

“You are lucky to be alive, young man.” Howard looked to the figure on the bedding. Kane opened his eyes and tried to move. His body felt strained by the weak muscles.

“She drained you well.” Howard smiled. “I am surprised a member of the High Council appointed hunters is so …… gullible to the charms of a witch.”

“I …… I ……” Kane found his voice was weaker than his muscles. “Who… are you?”

“I am Howard, the tavern keeper known to all who come to the town. The Merry Men is a good place to put over.” Howard smiled. “My other role is the Keeper of the High Council. I have been here for some years and kept an eye on the town. As of late, I have seen many guests like your family arrive.”

“If you are …… How come the others do not know of you?” Kane managed to find his voice. “How were we not informed?”

“I am a keeper, and not a hunter. One of my skills is the ability to keep hidden. I hold no real skills at hunting but to keep an eye on the tasks. Your family is not alone besides the Frankenstein and Spielsdorf. There is the Eastwick coven and the Creek Circle. Add to that the arrival of demons…. Or soon to be more.” Howard smiled. “Over the last two days, the town has gained undue recognition.”

“Why? Was it because of the ……” Kane asked.

“Not really, not the Frankenstein, but they have an influence on the gathering. More to it, the lunar event is taking place, and the apex of it is here… near this town, at about an hour after high noon.”

“Lunar event? The blood moon?”

“Total eclipse of the sun by the moon. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. This is a super lunar event. It happens only a few years apart. It may last a few seconds then. The sun is already starting to be covered as we speak.” Howard told the other. “It is tomorrow at noon.”

“I must warn my father.” Kane struggled to sit up.

“No, you will not.” Howard punched the other in the jaw. Kane fell back and was unconscious.