Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 22

 22.

 

Brown saw Victor Frankenstein take the direction towards town and chose to follow. Marcos was left there to observe the mansion. He was surprised that the man he was tailing took off from the road and into the woods.

Victor had no intention to return to the town but was in search for Mary. He knew that the only person—ironically, then he thought of the creation as a person—who may assist him in fighting off any demons or witches. He had seen it in action and gave it some thought.

His creation wanted a mate.

A unique request, but was it not what Adam asked of God then.

“I am not God,” Victor mumbled to himself. “How could I create a mate … when I am unsure how it was created?”

Victor reflected on himself. He was lonely after the death of his brothers, and Judith. He thought he found love with Elizabeth, and the child was their blessing, but he was wrong. The mother decided to leave the child and him. He thought hard on it. He left his creation without checking if it was…… alive or perished. He took to the city, and never looked back for ten years. While he was in the city, he ignored the queries on the creation or even scant words of it from the rumours. He was done with the creation as Elizabeth was with Mary Annabelle, and yet he returned.

“I must be mad.” Victor mumbled to himself while he looked at the trees and bushes. Familiar sights to him from his younger age, but during then, it was like a new scenery.

“Mary ……” Victor called out. “Meet me. Do you want a ……, Henry?”

His voice reached beyond the trees, and unexpectedly, Victor found himself meeting another.

“Hello, Mr. Frankenstein. My name is Inspector John Watson.” The figure appeared from behind the tree. “We ……”

“Have I seen you before?” Victor looked at the man. He was in the woods and a distance from the road.

“You may have. I was the constable then, Watson. I replaced Constable Brown, who went missing. Under Inspector Lestrade.”

“Oh, I cannot truly recall, but you did look familiar.” Victor smiled. “I am surprised to… see you here.”

“Oh, small town here. Not that small like when you left here ten years ago.” The Inspector smiled back. “I do take long walks in the ……. woods and heard your voice.”

“Was it Mary you were looking for?” Inspector Watson asked. “Who is Mary?”

“Oh, that was ……. Not whom I was looking for. I was singing an old song. ‘Mary had a little lamb.’ I sing it to my ……. Daughter. We …….”

“Yes, you arrived yesterday. With the young lady. I was told.” Inspector Watson smiled. “The town is still small. Words get around fast. Will you be staying long? The mansion……”

“Lots of questions, Inspector.” Victor smiled. “I……”

“A peculiar habit of my profession. My apologies. Please do wander on.” Inspector Watson smiled. He watched the man take back to the road. He then took off on his own trail; to find a member of his coven. It was not too far when the Inspector came upon the golden oak tree.

“Golden Oak, I can tell you have something to tell me.” The inspector looked at the oak tree. It was from the ground; the roots sprouted out, and then the remains came out. The inspector looked at the remains and then sighed.

“Two of them. I wondered who they are.”

“One is yours, William Katt. And the other mine.” Wiccan Agathe appeared there. She was with two others: novice witches.

“Finally, the Wiccan reveals itself.” The Inspector looked at the other. “How many years was it? Ten or more……”

“Ten years, Warlock. We were both not that ranking, but you took over my town. My coven dispersed ……”

“Why, Wiccan or ……. Was it Mildred of Eastwick then? Why the change of name?”

“Nothing unusual. As Mildred, I was not ready to battle you. I am now Wiccan, and Agathe is my maiden name. Unlike you, I reverted to my real name and not retained a …… nickname.”

“William Katt held a history here, while John Watson was a refreshing new start.”

“Like you, I was in search of others to enhance my powers.” Wiccan Agathe smiled. “The ones who bids their time, will win in time.”

“So, who is here? Besides my own.” Inspector Watson asked.

“Mine is Jae, a young aspiring witch. And yours?”

“Mine is Allen. A fool but obliging to listen to my commands.” Inspector Watson studied the remains. “Mine was killed by …….”

“A demon, I could tell.” Wiccan Agathe said. “Looks like they are back.”

“And yours was … by an Enforcer.” Inspector Watson looked at Stefan. “Not him. He does not look like he is ready.”

“Why are you, Warlock?” Wiccan Agathe moved the subject matter.

“A spell was cast near here. I… and you probably did, sensed it. If it is not ours, then another coven is here…. Or nearby.” Inspector Watson looked at the Wiccan. “It is …….”

“The event is near, Warlock. You knew of it. More covens may turn up. Whoever can harness the power then will be a Lord of the Covens.” "Wiccan," Agathe said. “I am not surprised if you had done this.”

“I do not perish the witches of the coven except it’s Wiccan, for the leaderless members can be mine.” Inspector Watson smiled. “You would have done the same.”

“Let me at him.” Stefan rushed at the Inspector but was thrown back onto the tree trunk by the latter with the spell.

“Foolish of him.” Inspector Watson looked at the Wiccan. “I do not wish to hold battles with you. We have another threat here.”

“More than that, Warlock. You tend to ignore the creature. It lurks around here.”

“The creature has been… non-existent for many years.” Inspector Watson snapped back. “I will focus on the covens that have arrived.”

“You are still narrow-minded, William Katt. It may be your downfall.” Wiccan Agathe smiled. “Your coven here is under threat too.”

“As you have killed my member? Or maybe Jeeves too?” Inspector Watson confronted the Wiccan.

“Our battle has yet to be resolved. We need to counter the new coven here.” Wiccan Agathe replied. “Conserve your energy for that. The event drew near.”

“We will leave now.” Wiccan Agathe turned to leave with her members. Inspector Watson stood there looking at them, and then back to the remains. He took on the spell that created a flame over the remains and burned it all.

“Who is there?” Inspector Watson's instinct told him that he was not alone. He looked around at the trees and felt the movements on the trees displayed signs that the spirits in the woods were protecting that one who was hidden there. He was not ready to battle the woods spirits yet.

“I will return.” Inspector Watson then turned to leave. The roots of the tree were returning to the ground with the ashes of the remains. It will be their nutrient there.

Victor at that moment stopped in his tracks when he saw the chaise pulled up next to him on the road. It was the doctor who met him at the tavern.

“Hello, Doctor Helsing. Are you meeting someone?”

“No, Master Frankenstein. I was just riding around.” Doctor Abraham smiled. “Care to join me if you are in town?”

“I …… Okay. I am to go back to the tavern.” Victor took the offer and climbed onto the chaise. “Are you familiar with the use of electricity?”

“Me? I will not deny that I am a man with scientific learning. When I spoke to you on the works of galvanising, I was ……. Should I state that as experimenting with it”? Doctor Abraham smiled. “Why do you ask?”

“I am……” Victor was struggling to find his thoughts, and Doctor Abraham cut in.

“Animal electricity, or shall I say tissues from the living, held that in it. ‘De viribus electricitatis in motu musculari,’ the provocative theory, set the world of science abuzz.” Doctor Abraham assisted there. He knew something was in the conversation. “Alessandro Volta disputed it, but it was debatable. As I debate with you on your ……. creations.”

Both men laughed.

“What if…” Victor drew on the subject. “If… assuming that I will resume my experiments, perhaps you could…”

“Assist you? Yes, I could. I am to state on the record, I am not a true inventor, but assistance could suffice here.” Doctor Abraham laughed. “Like Pinocchio to what his name … Geppeto.”

“You are not a wooden construct, and I am not …” Victor smiled.

“No, but Pinocchio was a construct and came alive soon after.” Doctor Abraham laughed. “He had a Godmother.”

“Look, Doctor. If you do not take this seriously, I may be ……” Victor sounds stern.

“No……. No……. It will be an honour to work with you, Associate Professor. How… when do we start?”

“Soon. I need to ……. Do you know how to assemble a generator?” Victor asked.

“I have some skill sets there. Perhaps I could.” Doctor Abraham smiled. He did have a hand in assembling electrical parts, a side hobby of his when needed to repair the electrical machines. “I worked with Nikola Tesla for a while.”

Abraham’s work with Tesla was on the command of the High Council, who felt that Tesla’s work was on some projects involving energy rays. He was a futurist in the view of many but troubled by his experiments. Abraham was then younger and attached himself to Nicola as an apprentice.

“What did you do then?” Victor was amused that the doctor was experienced in various fields.

“Oh, experiments and most failed but the man himself, Nicola Tesla, younger then was always looking forward.” Doctor Abraham smiled. He reported his findings to the High Council and was taken off the task.

“And how did you get into metaphysics?”

“Well, metaphysics had relevance to electrodynamics. It explores the fundamental nature of electric and magnetic fields, questioning if they are real entities or just mathematical descriptions, their relationship to reality, and how concepts like space, time, and reference frames affect them …….”

“Doctor Abraham, you are the man I am looking for.” Victor laughed. “Now, let me share with you something personal.”

“The creation?” Doctor Abraham uttered.