Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 36

 

36.

 

Carmilla looked at those gathered there at the cottage. She needed to explain the situation to them.

“It was no coincidence that we, the sisters, are here. I was the free, rebellious one. When Annabelle took a fancy to the man who was to destroy us, and Lissa followed suit with the other officer, I was already with one other, another soul with a desire for blood.”

“Count Dracula was my lover, not by force, but by choice. We met, or rather he met me, in an unusual incident. He was fleeing from the High Council then, and being weakened from lack of blood, I met him weak and vulnerable in the woods. He pleaded with me to give him blood, the very essence of his survivor.”

“I refused, but I let him drink my blood from the bowl. It kept him alive, and then we parted ways. It was much later when we got together, and never had he taken any of my blood. By then Lissa and Annabelle had their own lives. We had agreed to place on hold our ways. I had my days and nights with Dracula, as you identified with, but to me he was Vlad.”

“Our path took on a dangerous foe: the High Council. They set upon us hunters, for to them the cohabitation between witches and vampires was prohibited.” Carmilla smiled. “We parted ways, and for myself, I was set on my werewolves.”

“Ironic for such an alliance, but the High Council befriended the enemies of our enemies.” Carmilla laughed. “I was ambushed and barely escaped with my soul. Wolf bites are deadly to us too. I sought shelter with Annabelle, and you know the rest.”

“The High Council was tasked to eradicate… witches, among others,” Doctor Abraham cut in. “Their……”

“Their …… accomplishments are …… meritorious at best, but their methods of deployment are questionable.”

“Witches should not exist.” Doctor Abraham was firm on his belief that the High Council was right in their tasks.

“How long… or rather, when have witches existed? And why?” Carmilla looked at the doctor. “Early mentions of witches exist in the Bible, such as the Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel and Exodus 22:18….”

“Which mandates, "You shall not allow a witch to live".” Doctor Abraham expanded her words.

“And so were the Nephilim.” Carmilla argued. “Did they exist then, metaphorically speaking? Or they did. And their extinction was the task of whom? The passing judgment of the living then.”

“I have no evidence to suggest that.” Doctor Abraham said.

“Passing judgement of the living—even the book we all read was the dictation of the living then.” Carmilla looked at the gathered. “Do you know that witches originated from ancient, pre-Christian traditions as healers, seers, and keepers of local, agrarian, and herbal knowledge? It was the later generations that demonized us. The authorities called it mistreatment of humanity and linked us to the practices of the devil and malevolent magic.”

“Yet, the fictional depiction of the witches, as I said earlier, was of healers, seers, and keepers of local, agrarian, and herbal knowledge. They did no harm but provided relief in terms of cure and guidance to the people. What was feared… of them was their influence on society, which was formed within social circles.”

“As societies became more affluent, mark my word …. The ways of the pagan, nature-based, and magical practices were reinterpreted as heresy or devil worship.” Carmilla looked at the doctor. “Metaphysics in learning: who created the devil?”

“How the devil do I know?” Doctor Abraham snapped at the other. “I was……”

“Why did you ……. Meet with Mary?” Victor moved to change the subject.

“I did not…… I was keen on your experiments. When I was not with Lauren, I was in your lab. I was fascinated by your determination to create life. We, as witches, have resurrected dead ones, but they must be recent. Have not done it for a decayed one, but we breathe life into them for a momentary period. When I saw your creation, I was …… I crossed the line here. I gave the creation a part of myself.”

“And was that how Mary came alive?” Sven in turn asked.

“I believe so.” Carmilla smiled.

“You are a witch. You caused all the pain to my son Henry, and he died with it.” Sven burst out. “I should kill you.”

“I did not… know. I saw the …… Henry was infatuated with Mary, but I was not …….” Carmilla defended herself. “Why are you blaming me? Your son ……. saw companionship with Mary.”

‘I did too.” Mary appeared at the doorway.

“Mary… I am ……” Sven could not find the words to say.

“It is okay, Sven. I am a creation and should not deserve any ……. Affection from
others, but we did. Or rather I did.” Mary sighed. “Master, I was wrong.”

“No, Mary.” Victor found himself calling the creation by the name. “Our ……. Affections are, at most times, beyond our control. You can say it was impulse.”

“Impulse is time and force… a physics term.” Doctor Abraham muttered. He saw the others looking at him. “I was also talking metaphysics here.”

“Master, I must go away.” Mary looked at Victor. “I caused too much pain.”

“No, Mary.” It was Sven who spoke. “I want you to stay… by my side. We will go away to a safer place.”

“No, Mary. I can … also protect you.” Victor said. “We can build a safe place. The lab is there.”

“No one is going anywhere.” Carmilla cuts in. “We have an important task to do. An hour from now, the lunar event will take place. If we are not there, we will not survive the night.”

“The lunar event is sought after by many covens and others. It was claimed that it offered the power of a pinnacle. We learned of it only recently; partly due to our isolation, we had forgotten about it.”

“We were focused on Lauren to get her power.” Annabelle cut in. “If we can get that, we can fully complement Lauren as the powerful witch and rescue Lissa.”

“Leave Lauren out.” Rudolf stepped out to stare at Carmilla. “Have you not created enough trouble for……”

“No, Father.” Lauren held out her right hand to her father. “I must be complete. And to rescue Mother.”

“I will shoot anyone who takes my daughter.” Rudolf had grabbed the rifle leaning against the wall and leveled it at Carmilla. “I had enough.”

“You will not.” It was Lauren who waved her right hand at her father and pushed him to the wall. “I will be … complete.”

“Lauren…” Abel spoke out weakly. “You……”

“I will be fine, Abel. You rest here. I will be back for you.” Lauren smiled. “Now, my dear sisters. We got a power to garner. How can we get there in time?”

“I can open a portal through which we can get there.” Annabelle told Lauren. “Who is …?”

“I can come.” Mary said. “Sven, please take care of Henry.”

“No, I will come with you.” Sven looked at Carmilla. “Can you shield my son? From demons and… other witches.”

“I can, but we need to move ……. Him inside here. I can build a shield over the cottage,” Annabelle said. “Abel is here and needed protection. The others too…”

“Madness prevails here, but… my impulse; time with distance… Whatever it may be, say I am coming along. I got to stop them before they can come here.” Doctor Abraham cut in. “Abel, where is your crossbow?”

“I have it, Father.” Kane appeared at the doorway holding two sets of crossbows. ‘You need me there too.”

“I am staying,” Victor said. “I got to fix the generator. There must be other ways for me to safeguard this place.”

It was agreed then, and the men went to dig up Henry. He was not buried deep nor with a coffin, but a shroud wrap was all he had. He was carried to the cottage and laid there. Mary crouched down and swept the dirt off the face.

“Henry… it is me, Mary.” The creation bowed its head. It was then Lauren saw the necklace on Henry’s chest. It was the runes that she was looking for.

“The runes…the stones that were my mother’s. Henry has it.” Lauren stooped to pick it up, but Mary slapped her hand away.

“It is Henry’s. Do not touch it.” Mary looked up at Lauren.

“Mary, can Lauren borrow it? She may need it to fight the others.” Carmilla asked. “It will be returned to you after that.”

“The body is well preserved.” Victor interjected with his scientific observation. The doctor leaned forward to look.

“Well-preserved corpses, or mummies, are not a new discovery. Some bodies were preserved by extreme cold, acidic bogs, or intentional, like the Egyptian mummies, sophisticated, and… yet-to-be-discovered embalming methods.” Doctor Abraham's mind flirted with his academic learnings.

“The area here can be… considered as bog lands. I had examined my shoes and the soil there.” The doctor looked around and saw the glares on him. “I was just saying from… my research.”

“Frankenstein, back me here.” The doctor looked at the associate professor.

“I ……. Never mind, Doctor Helsing. We got other tasks to focus on.” Victor shifted the subject matter.

“Lauren…” Rudolf, recovering from the mental push against the wall, looked to his daughter. “You may need this.”

It was his service revolver: the Colt Navy Revolver with the iron cartridges.

“Shoot them in the head.” Rudolf smiled weakly.  “That is the way to stop the madness.”

“Shall we go now?” Carmilla looked to the gathered.