Chapter 36 Pretender

Chapter 36 Pretender
Third Person's POV

"The list is full," Madame Ingrid grimaced upon seeing the list of names of the new students on the scroll.

"I just hope you're making the right decision, Lord Constantine." she added and rolled it back.

The man stood up from the parlour and walked towards the window. His paces are slow and careful. He drew open the curtain and looked outside. Eyes like predator.

"The sea is calm. Do you know what that means, Ingrid?" he asked and smirked.

"That Guillaume is not around... he is lurking in town. It is almost sunset. This is his time." she answered.

"Any news in town?" the Lord questioned.

"Well, the town is going mad. Say the night prowler is after youngsters. Killing innocent people. Young girls." the lady answered.

"I heard the new students are not from this town. Then that would be much better. No disturbances. No suspicions." Lord Constantine uttered with a sigh of relief.

When Haugen Manor released their official statement of enrollment for new students, the young rich girls from different towns— cities even, are psyched. They are looking forward to stepping a foot inside the prestigious mansion and learn to be a bride, without even knowing one already exists, pretending to be a servant.

"I still cannot understand why you wanted to continue this school where in the first place, you were the one who decided to cancel the enrollment." Madame Ingrid crossed her arms and took a nice cup of tea. A red, bloody tea in an antique fine china.

"Haugen needs news, Ingrid. And besides, it will shift the attention of Guillaume. Trudy has been harmed enough, and I would not allow that... not anymore." From the window, he looked towards the direction of the young lady outside. She is mindlessly enjoying the gloomy weather. It is the coldest season of the year. The skies are gray and the wind is blowing her long wavy hair.

"Oh, speaking of Trudy, where is that girl?" Ingrid raised her brow and looked at the cuckoo clock.

Constantine smiled upon hearing that girl's name and continued gazing outside. They are watching her gets on her knees to pick indigo wildflowers. One goes into her woven basket. One goes in again. Until it gets full. "How did you know... that she was the one?" asked Ingrid, eyes not leaving Trudy. Her grip on the curtain tightens.

"I have been half dead for a hundred years, Ingrid. But when I first saw her, just like this... she was wearing her maid uniform, picking wildflowers, for a short moment, I felt alive. I knew it was something that I could not escape. It was real and confusing," he scoffed, finding his sudden burst of emotions.

"Why am I even telling you this, you probably would not understand me." he continued.

"You are such hypocrite, Constantine. I was once in love too... but he was taken away from me." the woman confessed. Her voice got a hint of yearning and anger.

"Where is he now?"

"Somewhere safe and thriving." she claimed.

"In heaven, as what humans call it?" he confirmed. Madame Ingrid did not answer, instead she smiled her usual cunning smile.

After their discussions, Lord Constantine headed back to his lair and drew all the curtains down and sent Obsidian to call Trudy back to the manor. Her playtime's over and now is the time to review the new schedule of the girls. From the list of new professors and subjects---- to room assignments and curfew.

Gertrude ran back inside the mansion like a little girl, her bare foot are soiled, every footstep leaves a mark on the shiny floor. "Constantine needs me?" she asked Lila and wandered her eyes, looking for his man.

"He is probably back inside his room. Madame Ingrid just left the parlour."

"Thanks, Lil." she ran again, up the staircase, her right hand is holding on the railing, while the other is carrying the basket. Some petals are being scattered along the steps as she bounce off.

The hall of the left wing darkened, her heartbeat became faster and loud. "Constantine? I'm going in..." she told him behind his door.

"What have you been doing, Gertrude? I was waiting for you..." a voice send shiver down her spine.

"I know, I am late, but may I please come in now? I still need to take a bath." she answered, brows furrowed.

"You may come in."

She turned the knob, the door creates a creepy creaking sound. She got in and looked for him. "Constantine?" He was just here. He was talking to her. But the room was empty. No sign of him.

"This isn't funny. You sent Obsidian to me and now that I am here, you left?" she continued talking to him, as if someone is listening.

"You knew I was waiting for you, Gertude. I have waited and waited to destroy the life of your beloved man..." her eyes widened upon hearing the terrorizing voice. It was not Constantine! It was evil. A pretender in the dark.

"Show yourself! You cannot do this to me, not in here!" she screamed and got conscious of her movements.

His laughed echoed. "Stop it! You are not real... t-this is just in my head... an illusion." she closed her eyes and covered her ears, collapsing down on the floor.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" she chanted and curled up in her seat, hoping he would come to rescue her.

"CONSTANTINE!!!" At last, she screamed his name. And like magic, the evil voice disappeared.

"Gertrude? You scared me!" Heavy footsteps scurried towards her direction. When she heard him, the real him, her legs unwrapped and ran in his arms. With tears in her eyes, she burrowed her face on her chest and inhaled his scent of Earth and decay. "Where have you been! Don't ever leave me! I was so scared, you---" she panicked and banged his chest.

"What happened? Did he do something?!" he kills with the way he stares.

"Guillaume... he made me open your door. We were talking... I- I did not know he was pretending." Trudy said out of breath.

He placed a chaste kiss on her lips, tasting the salt from her teardrops. "I am sorry. I am sorry that you have to suffer because of me. But this will stop. Come now, let's get you cleaned up."