|
Re: Sweet Dreams
?
Elizabeth had to wonder how difficult it would be
for her to burst into tears. It should not be that far fetched in truth. She had
been through some horrors.
?
But for some reason her heart turned unyielding
after everything that has befallen her. She did not wish it to be so, yet there
it was. She was a changed person, inside?and out.
?
She could at least imitate the motion of blinking,
and trying to swipe away the tears, with steady motions that would normally
accompany tearful eyes.
?
"I just, I just don't understand him anymore. Mary
Beth. Why would anyone, anyone at all would want to do this travesty
to?themselves. Why do they care so much, about rats? And if they do, why
must they destroy them? The whole thing, it is appalling to me. Don't you think
this is against what God intended men to be?
?
Perhaps it is irrational of me. I just cannot bear
it. This endless cycle of pain, and sounds and, I don't even know what to call
it. Victor seems to have inflicted self harm onto his person.
?
You just don't understand. I am so sad for him. Why
being the man he was wasn't enough? Why was I not enough? I know some men take
mistresses, but Victor was never like that. I thought he was happy with my
performance as lady of the house. I went along with him, I let him do his
dreadful experiments and said nothing.
?
I suppose some people would call it my fault. I was
just so hopeful that it would make things better. That he would be content and
move on. That he would become the family man that I remembered. And now, just
look at him.
?
And then there were rumors. Of some young girls in
the neighborhood vanishing. People were saying...I did not believe for a minute
that Victor would do such a thing. Of course he would not. But the very fact
that his science gave rise to such...oh preposterous ideas. I don't even know
anymore if we would need to move.
?
I cannot look my neighbors in the eye now. Some
papers even printed...oh the horror. I know the truth, I know Victor hasn't done
it. But I also cannot blame them for thinking the worst.
?
Oh?God. I think Victor may have mentioned
something.?Being sick, or? something. Do you think he truly
experimented on himself then? Oh God. All this is beyond reason. What do you
think I should do," Elizabeth sadly wondered, encouraged by Mary Beth's
understanding.
?
"So you just think he was too focused on science
and did not take care of himself? Well good. Maybe not good, but better than
what I feared. Thank you, for putting my heart at ease, dear Mary
Beth.
?
Do you think there is any chance the doctor would
talk to Victor? Convince him this science interest is not so good for his
health?" Elizabeth hopefully wondered.
?
She supposed it?should not matter too much
either way. If Victor stopped his self improvements, he would be
weakened?enough to be dealt with. If he carried on, well, he would make an
interesting challenge.
?
In either case, her follow up question was at least
consistent with her dramatic performance. Nobody could fault her for such a
natural seeming desire to ensure the well being of her
husband.????
?
<Mary Beth gave a questioning look, first to the doctor,
then to Abby, then she looked down with pity at the unconscious man on the
litter. ?She then looked at Elizabeth, oh no ma’am, this is not a waste of
our time at all, I’m certain the good doctor here, would agree. Anything at all
that any of you can tell us about him, will help us to form a proper conclusion.
?Perhaps?I shouldn’t say this, she continued, but I have heard that
quite a few who work with science often performed some experiments…, On, on
themselves. She spoke the last two words in a very hushed?tone, almost as
if she were saying them in reverence. Do you know of anything at all that he may
have ingested while in his laboratory? I do not ask this to accuse anyone, nor
do I wish to cast more worries upon you than you already have, but as I’ve said
before, anything you can tell us will help us, so that we may, in turn, help
him.
Marybeth had looked horrified when Elizabeth spoke of Victor feeding some
of the meals to his experimental rats. For her own part, she could not
understand what use anyone would have for the creatures; in her mind, rats were
only good for one thing, for cats, and if there were no cats around,
to?simply be killed.
I’ve heard that some people work so diligently on their scientific
endeavors, that some may take little time for other pursuits, including proper
eating. It is tragic really, unfortunately, such may often be the case, and it
looks as if it may be the case with him.> |
|
Re: Calling on the doctor. Tag: Natari, others.t
?
"A mixture of vampire and human blood...the vampire
would win out and change the human. It's how we're made."
She assumed he knew as much as he seemed to know an
uncanny lot about their kind.
"I would enjoy knowing the future only if I could
change it," she added, mind meandering to that bit of their
conversation.
"Otherwise it would merely be an uncomfortable
burden on the mind if one could do nothing about it and it was
unpleasant."
?
?
"Many of us would work with...your police officers
if it afforded everyone a bit of peace, but many would not trust it.? Many
would fear they would try to kill us and I think some would...because humans are
no better than us. Many of them kill and harm one another because it is, sadly
and for some reason in their twisted nature...We are not ones to easily trust so
it may work for a while until someone, human, vampire or both ruined
it."
?
She gave an almost sad smile.
"This is why world piece will never happen either,
much as it would benefit all."
I'm friends with the monster that's under my
bed. I get along with the voices inside of my head. |
|
Re: Sweet Dreams
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
"Ah, your observation is more accurate than you
know," Elizabeth eagerly accepted the woman's assessment, deciding? on the
spur of the moment to add more evidence to it as well as cast doubts on Victor's
sanity.
?
"I was so concerned for Victor lately. Abby here as
well, I think. It was plain to see how he got...overly enthusiastic about his
scientific experiments.
?
Please, don't think me one of These wives. I was
not craving his attention to such a degree than anything taking away from our
time together I would treat poorly.
?
On the contrary. Some time ago Victor swam, we
walked a lot together. He was in good shape. With or without me he did very
valuable things with his time and for his health.
?
But his interests became...less natural lately.
Almost every day something would explode in his laboratory. I would hear him
laughing out loud. Surely it would be the sign of his pleasure, I would tell
myself. It could not be anything else.
?
After all, at other times Victor was perfectly
himself. Only sometimes he would lash out. Verbally mostly, but yesterday, even
physically. It was probably my fault. He commented on how irritating I have
become of late.
?
Well, I would not tell you any of this, since this
is but an ordinary day in the life or a very average woman. I would not trouble
your mind with such. Only you see, dear Doctor, dear Mary Beth, Victor's
irritation was not the only thing.
?
He did start eating less. He would tell Abby which
meals to?prepare, and it would seem like things were normal. But then I
would notice him bringing the meal downstairs, into his laboratory. and never
touching it.
?
Either he was feeding some of it to his
experimental or rats, or I don't know what. I am forced to resort to guessing,
and I should stop. I know I could sound like a hysterical woman. I am not worthy
of your time,.?Truly, I am sorry.
?
What I meant to say was that Victor?has been
undergoing?changes lately. I could not hazard a guess as to what
kind.
?
His physique seemed to follow in the way of his
temperament. Sometimes incredibly strong and fast, sometimes, he needed help
getting to bed.
?
I think he mentioned taking some sedatives, it
could be something else. I am only a poor woman, what do I know. I do not wish
to waste your time. Only to let you know what was going on with my dear
husband.
?
How he hasn't been himself lately," Elizabeth
concluded mournfully, making Abby stare at her mistress losing the confidence in
front of strangers.
?
Abby never saw her mistress like that and could not
account for the change. Some of what her Mistress spoke did not match exactly
what she witnessed herself, but she did not dare contradict her Mistress and
lose her job.
?
Besides, the Master of the house was acting strange
in some manner. If Abby could get her wish fulfilled, she may have wished for
both the Mistress and the Master to get some help, but even such a considerate
offer, she could not bring herself to voice.
???
|
|
Re: Sweet Dreams
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Ludwig's mind was?still reeling from
being?introduced to the new maid servant Bethany. She was charming, funny,
and despite?his unassuming position, friendly towards him.
?
He never?thought, and perhaps it was too early
to think now, but his thoughts began taking a hazy radiant glow, ever so mildly
detached from reality.
?
Distractedly confirming his orders with "yes
Mistress," Ludwig proceeded to follow them.
?
With a grunt that for him alone indicated
satisfaction with job well done,?Ludwig hoisted the body onto the
litter.?
?
"Of course M'Lady," he?confirmed, beginning to
move faster.?It?occurred to him that the litter?may have been
heavier than the man who did not appear to add?much weight,?possibly
to be expected based on his slender stature.
?
In Ludwig's opinion most gents were close to
emaciated, and lacked any brawn to speak of, with the possible exception of
Master's colleague Doctor Sudow who according to rumors was stronger than an
ox.?Wondering if he got distracted again and if MaryBeth's baleful glare
was directed at him, Ludwig moved even faster, while offering another
apologetic?confirmation, "I am on it
Mistress,"???????
|
|
Re: Sweet Dreams
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Elizabeth wanted to be angry, but it was difficult
to be angry with somebody who was nice to you. It just didn't feel as
satisfying.
?
"I remind you, fees are irrelevant. Aside from the
treatment and the inconvenience fees, we can cover every expense possible,
including the need to hire a real expert," she allowed herself a little
jab.
?
Now that was almost pleasurable, considering that
she was going to be generously spending Victor's money. Oh the delicious irony
of it all.
?
If anything dulled her sense of thrill, it was the
doubt that perhaps she has given him too great of a dose. She thought his
superhuman body would simply work through it. Who knew the end to all his
endowments would come so quickly, she certainly did not.
?
It would not have been that bad in itself either,
only that could ruin the plans of her dear Keres. And then her nightmares could
come true. The nightmares of the indefatigable Captain...what was it, Duncey,
Dance, whatever, chasing her all around. The horror of it, that she just knew,
she could never escape, any more than Victor could escape his
destiny.
?
Dr Van Hoff skeptically regarded his unconscious
patient, then, the belligerent young woman that was presumably his spouse, then
the servant girl. Finally his wondering look settled on Mary Beth.
?
"A good idea my dear. My house has all the
conveniences worthy of a true gentleman. And of course, visitors are always
welcome. If you'd like to send your girl with us, or come yourself, to check on
the progress, my Lady," the doctor?spoke dubiously, privately deciding that
a harridan like that would never deign to visit a medical facility no matter the
need.
?
"We would of course spare no expense, my Lady. Our
patients are always our top priority," the doctor offered a long practiced
speech, though his main curiosity at that point of?time was if he was going
to eat some mutton tonight or if his staff was going to surprise him with a good
old country meal?that was secretly his favorite.
?
"I think we might need Ludwig, Mary Beth. Have him
carry out our dear patients with all the honors and dignity worthy of his
station, "?Van Hoff ordered.
?
For some people he would have gone out of his way
and might have carried the patient himself, but this house made him feel
positively disinclined to do so.
?
"How long would you estimate the treatment would
take," Elizabeth wondered, losing some of her aplomb as she pursed her lips,
agonizing over her decision to test the waters.
?
She really did not wish to sabotage the plans of
the Tenebrae. Could she make good on it, could the party still be done, would
Victor be all on time, or should she run for her life. So many questions
unanswered, so much agony to look forward to if she failed.
?
"He will be in top shape within a week," the doctor
offered distractedly, not truly sure of any such?thing but finding the time
frame to be ideal for being usually close to the truth as well as reassuring for
the family of his patients.??
|
|
Re: Sweet Dreams
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Abby was afraid of everything. Her Master passing
out so suddenly, the strangely forbidding doctor who had entered the house, even
his equally removed female assistant.
?
She had tried to answer Mary Beth's questions as
diligently as she could, but her fears for her continued livelihood, her desire
to be anywhere else but that this strange place, made her stumble in a few
places and restart her tale several times.
?
Until Elizabeth got tired of it all and sternly
informed the doctor of everything that has transpired. Once she would be
welcoming, hospitable, meek, apologetic. But as Victor had acknowledged, things
have changed. And she did deserve better. Much better than him.
?
The doctor nodded a few times, frowned a few more,
too many, to Elizabeth's taste, and then proceeded with his investigation of the
unconscious body.
|
|
Re: The exchanging of unbelievable information, Henry, Rena, Leti, Oliver
?
Rena bit her lip in concern, not having an easy
answer for Henry, and understanding all of his reasons for needing one. Leti and
Oliver watched on, expressions interested and confused at once as they obviously
found the topic fascinating as well as entirely foreign.
?
?
"Well right now I'm unable to dream...and that
can't be good. It certainly isn't normal.? A consequence of time travel
hardly seems likely but I didn't believe in time travel so..."
Rena gave a helpless shrug, glad she was the only
one who thought she was losing her mind.? The rest seemed certain enough
that she was not, so she'd hold onto that.
?
"We haven't discovered a way to kill someone who
can body hop...If we could perhaps stop him from doing so and then destroy his
body..."
She shrugged.
"As for your remembering, I could try to hypnotize
you. I've read about it, and at least it'd be safer than the potion of a
stranger. Sill, though, I'm not sure that he needed you to know, so if he did
come into your room in a dream, using your dream, you may have nothing to
remember.? He could've had you dreaming about something else or not even
see him. Depends on how careful or careless he is."
She sighed.
?
"I don't know if it's anything we can spare time
worrying about at present really.? Anything there was to see, he's seen it
and didn't steal anything so...Killing him and keeping you safe are my main
concerns currently," she told Henry.
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my
bed. I get along with the voices inside of my head. |
|
Re: The exchanging of unbelievable information, Henry, Rena, Leti, Oliver
开云体育"I was worried about it," Henry Hyde somberly nodded. "I do have this feeling?now that some event?took place in a dream. It may be because of the dream I had myself, that left some disturbing feelings inside of me. I feel as if I need to remember something, to find something, but cannot pinpoint it. It is as if a part of me knows, and yet I do not. All this strange talk of dreams must be getting me confused. And yet, I wonder. If I was of a mind to recall something I have forgotten, how would I go about it? Perhaps I should visit another alchemist since I am unable to find the original one. A kind of a draft could help with memory, I wager.?
As for dreams used as a doorway into my house, the very thought is as frightening as it is conceivable. Don't suppose I or my staff could do much about that. How do you stop such an intrusion? I would pay dearly to have the needed privacy. Given what I shared with present company, I may pass for?a sharing man. But that is a more a matter of choice and the trust I choose to place. That dream fellow who would accost me, I do not trust, and for his presence in my life I do not wish. There is only one conclusion possible. Sooner or later, he must be gone, the final way, once and for all," Henry repeated for emphasis.
?
"Usually to solve a problem I like to address its very source, but again I am confounded, as I do not know where this fellow begins, or how.?Yet. I?do intend to find out," Hyde menacingly considered. ???
?
|
|
Re: Sweet Dreams
开云体育Abby remembered too well the voice of the vicar. Since she was a child it was always there with her. The demanding voice, the gauging voice. That one that cautioned her and inspired her to be better. She was becoming increasingly tired of not being quite good enough and having to be punished for it. "For the righteous shall inherit the Earth, but you are not righteous, are you,?" the vicar had wondered and Abby wanted to apologize?from the bottom of her heart only to see there was?not going to be forgiveness. She must have done something again. She did not mean to, but she had. She?must have broken?a sacred law, because she felt like she has been an evil child again.?Despite all her prayers, the?unholy noises never stopped and now, who knew. Perhaps the evil demons were readying themselves to collect her Master's soul. Abby started feeling in her heart that his hour may?have been upon him and she had to pray for his soul as well, because it needed all the help it could get.
?
"Oh you don't have to thank me, my dear. I am here. I am always here for you," Elizabeth reassured, pasting a patronizing smile onto her face. The kind she felt Victor himself had showered her with when she lacked confidence. Before she met Keres. She was here for Victor, she supposed. To study him like a bug. To understand what made him?the way he was. If that was possible. To watch him suffer and likely to watch him be healed too. For she was fairly certain, a man with his endowments would not go easily. She would bide her time, she knew better than to betray her intentions. Until she did her duty and accompanied him to the party Keres had promised her.
?
"The doctor's footman was a stubborn man, but you know, my special gifts can be good for something. My ability to persuade, I impressed upon him that I needed the doctor soon, and the young man became awfully accommodating, lack of sleep notwithstanding,? Help will be here in no time," Elizabeth added, her explanation of her subtle threats somewhat modified lest it alerted her poor servant. Coded language shared between them. Understanding between husband and wife, as if they could be still called one flesh. Although there was that much commonality, they were both super human, she supposed. How ironic that of all the experiences they should have shared, that was the only one they could both relate to, Elizabeth sadly?considered? ?
??
?
?
|
|
Re: Sweet Dreams
开云体育Abby has been having difficulties sleeping ever since her mistress was back. She did not know why, unless perhaps the element of uncertainty she has begun hearing, was exacerbated with the return of Elizabeth Frankenstein. If she were being honest with herself, in the way she really wished to avoid being, the sounds coming from the basement were already stretching the boundaries of her credulity. She would have quit a while ago, but she had nowhere to go.?Her?parents informed her of this before, and more than their words, she has been struck by the helpless expressions of her four younger siblings down in the village.
?
After all, it could always be worse,?the Master could have beat you, her father suggested.?Or worse yet, he could have a roaming eye, her mother helpfully added. And they were both right. She has had no damage done to her person. Only this unbearable idea that something untoward was plaguing this house, that the sounds did not originate with a human body entirely and the Master may have become moodier and somber than ever before.?Of course the Master was a scientist. Of a rational bent. He would never have struck a bargain with those demons of the abyss. She wanted to believe that firmly. She stuck to this through?all the sounds. Through all the bizarre happenings, and things being moved from their proper place by a mysterious agency. Even through the implausible return of her mistress from the brink of death. She could not have been truly dead. That had to be a vicious rumor, even if it wad firmly believed by several servants. Things like that did not happen. There were no vampires or ghouls or ghosts or...or anything, Abby firmly told herself. Only pranks of mean spirited people who wanted to laugh at the new girl around town. Yes, that had to be it, she decided, but her sleeping mind was only partially convinced, contriving a number of implausible creatures and horrid things they sought to do with her own body.
?
At first, Abby even believed through the haze of her sleep that a monster was talking to her. But no, that was only the Mistress, summoning her?back to do her duties, and sounding, only mildly put off, Abby supposed. "Yes Ma'am," she politely mumbled, took a few moments to ready herself to be presentable and then approached Elizabeth.
?
"The Master is feeling ill? No Ma'am, I have not done anything unusual today. Just regular course, what Master always liked," Abby responded cautiously. She may have wished to be free of this pressure, to work elsewhere where there where no terrible sounds. but not to be accused in the process of poisoning her?superior. That?kind of accusation would never just blow away, she knew.
?
"Well Victor, it seems our staff has not changed anything in your menu, so I simply told the serving girl to go fetch the doctor and agree to pay the inconvenience fee for a?late night visit. Help would be here before you know it,"? Elizabeth cheerfully reassured her husband, feeling a little surprised by?how the staff regarded her. As if in their eyes at least she was already guilty somehow. Elizabeth did not like it one bit. If those old fashioned fools already thought of her as the poisoner, she might just show them what it would be like if she really were guilty. Unlike them, she could defend?herself and live on the street if need be. Keres and Cylas had taught her everything she needed to know and if the time has come to implement her knowledge, she was?very ready. ?????????? |
|
Re: The exchanging of unbelievable information, Henry, Rena, Leti, Oliver
?
Rena looked suddenly pensive.
?
"What if someone used the dream realm to break in.
If he used you, came through by touching you while you were sleeping. Did you
drink in the past week or take any sleeping draft that could make you sleep
especially hard," Rena asked Henry.
?
?
Oliver starred for a moment as though she were mad,
trying to process the dream business. She had explained it briefly but it was
still a lot to take in. Leti didn't look far behind in the confused department
but she was more curious at this point than skeptical.
?
?
"And if 'e did sneak in through a dream to go in
yur private notes, how'd he get out of yur house then," Leti asked
Henry.
?
?
I'm friends with the monster that's under my
bed. I get along with the voices inside of my head. |
|
Re: The exchanging of unbelievable information, Henry, Rena, Leti, Oliver
开云体育"Traps?" Henry repeated incredulously. "Of course I set traps. With very stern instructions to the staff to not open any of them for three months, under the threat of dismissal and?terrible reference. For most servants, it is?the most terrible kind of termination. I even told Poole himself basically the truth. That dangerous people were coming after me, and that nobody was to?open the drawers, because the experiments I kept inside might kill any interloper. He understood, They all professed their understanding. I even tested them subtly later. No traps have been sprung. No traces left. Perfect crimes may belong in a novel, but not in real life. Not when I am the invested investigator. No,?it was uncanny..." Hyde spoke uncomfortably.
?
"A well trained thief is capable of stealing the money. And a better trained assassin might be able to sneak in and kill. But otherwise, I don't know what kind of training it would require to escape detection in my house. The staff is fairly vigilant. If all of them were put to sleep at once, well, I would have found some traces of a sleeping daft. I have tested them for it as well. I suppose I could not remove the possibility entirely. But to get past the servants, they would still need to know exactly what to look for and not waste any time on questioning them, lest I catch them in the act. A lucky guess could take them to my room, but what kind of?luck would allow them to bypass all the traps, to break in undetected, to get out without evoking any suspicion? Perhaps it is possible, but whoever gave?such an adept of evasion such precise instructions still knows too much for my taste. Even if they are her Majesty's own agents, I could only rest easy if I have something to blackmail them with in return. Or to dispose of them entirely. Nobody should have hold over me. Nobody," Henry repeated, reassuring himself with genuine determination?evident in his voice.
?
"Ah yes, I keep forgetting about Victor. We shall wait to see what he knows. Unless we need him for more than one day in a row, the next night, we shall go and converse with Reynolds. I think I may have had a cautionary dream. It's not that I believe in superstitions, but something tells me I must act quickly, there is a sense of urgency to my desire to handle it, and I do trust my instincts, as unreliable as they may seem to those who do not fully know me," Henry grimly added.
?
?
?
|
Ishamael Moridin
Hugin