Chapter 48 Pretentious Snake
The following night, the full moon climbed higher. The silhouette of the distant leaves of the trees are dancing, rustling with the cool and whispering breeze. The moonlight's reflection on the water sparkles. From the parapet, the sea looked like crystals. No night insects hum. No birds cried. Even the waves seemed to hesitate, as if waiting for permission to breathe.
The girls are having a lovely supper in the banquet. The head mistress' hands are clasped together, waiting for the perfect moment to speak up. "How was the lecture in homemaking, Anamaria?" She wasn't even concern, she was just looking for an icebreaker to lessen the silence in the table.
"Well, uh, as usual, Madame. The professor taught us human relationships, you know, communication and development and such." the girl answered politely.
"Very well. And what did you learn about it? Nora Lane?" Ingrid's eyes pierced on the other.
"What is this? A silly recitation?" she teased but later got serious when she realized the woman was not kidding. Her face straightened. "Uhm, I learned that we should forgive and forget. To sustain relationship. Especially those that are important to us." Nora Lane answered.
"Good... good," the head mistress mumbled.
"I guess you ladies are dead serious to be one of the Lord's bride, huh?" she added.
"Well, of course, indeed, Ma'am. We figured that Clarina's loss must not affect our performance." Sylvia, the oldest, speak up for them.
Ingrid's eyes has a glint of celebration and raised her goblet, nudging the other to follow. "To the future!" she acknowledged.
"To the future!" all the girls chanted and drank from their goblets.
Ingrid licked her lips, not letting a drop to waste. Slowly, a grin was forming on her lips as the girls collapsed and hit their faces on the wooden hard table, loosing their consciousness. "To forgive and to forget." she mumbled and cackled like an insane person.
Ingrid stood up behind Mary Kate's body and took the cup from her hand, inspecting it. "Hmm, clean. Nice job." she patted her head as if she could hear and feel her.
"Now, sleep, little rats. But do forgive and forget about this." she mocked and turned a blind eye.
Below them, far below, beneath stones and bricks, Guillaume laughed
It was not a sound meant for human ears. It is escaping the walls, reaching through the floor where Gertrude stands still. Fortunately, she did not hear a single sound.
She was in the bath while the cold splashing sound water from the shower running down her long, wet hair, down her chest, to her hips, to her legs. Her eyes are shut gently, hoping that the water will wash away her fear.
She felt a cold breath on her spine, making her shiver. She looked around, but it won't go away. Her eyes squinted when she started hearing voices but not in her head... this time, it's real. And it's near.
She ended the bath and quickly dressed up to ran towards his room. It is the only place she could think of safety. In his room. In his arms. "Constantine!" she blasted the door open.
But no one answered. No one could. Because it was dark empty. "Constantine! He's here! Please!" she wandered around, praying that she could find him.
Her breath hitched when she heard a low growling sound. She does not know where to gaze, trying to be alert around the danger. "Gertrude..." a hollow voice summoned her.
She covered her ears, folding her knees on the ground. "You're not real!" she shrieked.
"I can hear your thoughts, Gertrude. Constantine is not the hero that you think he is. He is a cold-blooded monster like me. He cannot save you. Only I can save your mortal soul... so, come, or many lives will end too..." The voices follow her, infiltrating her mind. As if they are beside her very sensitive ears, whispering like a demon to bite the apple.
"Get out, get out, get out. Get the fuck out!" she chanted, nonstop.
"Gertrude! Trudy!" she came back to herself when she heard Constantine's voice. And all of the sudden, her eyes became like a river, with her tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. She couldn't even grasp a word to speak, with her dried and crackling throat.
"Constantine! Why did you fucking leave me?! Why?! I t-thought you're gone!" she sobbed.
He brushed her hair with his palm and whispered, "I am sorry. I was not able to protect you again." he apologized.
"I heard him... we'll be all dead!" she panicked and grabbed his collar.
"No, listen to me. Stay with me, Gertrude... you are stronger than this. Believe in yourself. I did not marry you for nothing." he uttered, leaving her speechless.
"Are you calm now?" he asked and cupped her chin. He helped her stand, arms enveloped around her waist, supporting her.
"Let's go to my fortress, shall we? You have to rest." he instructed.
"But we cannot afford to lose another minute! Guillaume is playing with us right now!" she resisted.
"I know when he will attack. Not here. Not in my land." he sounded confident like he has nothing to lose.
He grabbed her arm and dragged her someplace where the voices echo and fear crawls like a soul-sucking parasite, preying to an innocent flesh and bones.
"What is this place? Where are we going?"
"Ingrid's place..." he answered solemnly.
"I thought we're going to the basement?"
He moved toward the stairs, each step echoing with a finality that made Gertrude's breath hitch.
"I know. This is my fortress..." Her eyes widened when his voice changed into deep and wet rasps.
It was not Constantine anymore...
"HELP! AHHHH-----" She dropped to her knees, scratching her knuckles when his eyes started to change. They are burning red. His white skin slithering with cracks and scars. His fangs gotten so sharp and inviting.
"You... All along, it was you? Where is Constantine?! Where is he?!" She felt so disgusted, feeling so much remorse. Guillaume smiled devilishly, satisfied with her every tremble and faint looks.
"He gave me you."
"You are lying!" She was about to take her tracks back when the door to Ingrid's blasted open and sucked her in like a prisoner.
She tried to scream, but no sound came. She heard a familiar footsteps inside. "Madame Ingrid! Please, help me!" she managed to utter but all she received is a simple cunning smile. She had seen that smile before. But today, it felt different.
"Helga, bring her to the chamber where the rest of the girls are."