By Justin Krielow
PART ONE
Adrienne Delaney stooped over a large sink, putting food down the disposal. She was starting to curse at the disposal's stubbornness when she felt icy hands grip the back of her neck. Her spine tingled and she felt a scream begin to rise from the pit of her stomach. The hands felt cold, wet, dead. The scream that had started in her stomach now burst through her lungs. Her eyes closed as she saw a large hand clamp over her mouth.
"Shhh", a voice said, "What's the matter? I only touched the back of your neck - what's up with you?"
"Oh Don", she said taking air into her hungry lungs, "I-I don't know what I was thinking, I guess this new book just has me freaked that's all, you scared me, your hands were so cold."
He answered her by holding up the cold can of soda.
"I feel so stupid", she said laughing at her own silliness.
"You know, I have never heard you scream that loud, except for that time in Maui". He leaned close to her and began to kiss her soft lips. His hands wrapped around her small waist. "I love you", he said as he gently caressed the side of her face. She grasped his hand and they stood there, loving one another, as though the world were no where around them. Staring into one another's eyes as if they were the only people on Earth. Love - real love - was there.
September 12, 1994
Nipawomsett, Massachusetts
A camera snapped loudly as Donald Gordon ,the hottest photographer in the business, took pictures of the sleepy, small town of Nipawomsett.
"God, you just don't find towns like this anymore"he said to himself.
He began to set the tripod, as he did his camera passed over a large, dark house.
"Wonder who lives there?"He thought to himself.
He continued to shoot the tiny island, all the while his mind wondered back to the large house. Packing up his equipment he walked into town. He spied a tiny antique shop by a Realtor's office. Stepping into the office he saw a man in a cheesy suit sitting behind a worn desk.
"Yeah, Wadda you want", he asked sucking on a cheap cigar.
"Actually, I was curious about that large house I saw, is it vacant?"
"Oh well, sir it is actually, The slimeball's attitude changing considerably, In fact its a good price too?"
"Yeah, yeah, cut the crap how much is it?"
"Umm.. Well one million dollars."
"Well is it in good condition?"
"Great, it was totally cleaned up by the previous owners."
"Fine, I'll take it"
Don pulled out his check book, ready to pay the huge sum.
"Thanks Don, he said as his eyes dropped to the name on the check."
"Its Mr. Gordon, Asshole."
"Of course sir"
Next he walked into the antique shop. He noticed the woman behind the counter. She sure looked a lot like Stella Stevens. He looked around, his eyes falling upon a beautiful amethyst ring.
"How much for this ring"he asked the woman.
"Its two hundred eighty dollars, sir, can I show it to you?"
"Yes, please"
"Exquisite, isn't it"
"Wrap it up, if you don't mind"
"No problem"
He pulled out his wallet and paid, this time in cash.
September 13, 1994
Adrienne Delaney was sitting at her laptop trying desperately to begin a new novel.
She pounded on the desk with her small fist.
She slowly peered around the corner and screamed in horror as she saw...
"As she saw what.., damn"
The phone that sat beside the computer rang loudly.
"Hello", she said gruffly
"Hey what's the matter, baby?"
"Oh, Don, I've missed you, when are you coming back?"
"Soon, I've got something to tell you"
"Yes"
"Well I've bought us a house."
"What?"
"Don't get mad, honey, its a four story mansion that I got for only a million dollars."
"But we can't afford it!"
"I figured it up, and if we sell the condo, we can."
"Wow, when can I see it?"
"Soon, we'll move out here soon
Don and Adrienne were so happy, The night they moved into the house, Don had decided to look around. He saw the mist hovering above the crib, but just figured it was his imagination. The weirdest thing was though was that it seemed whenever he looked in the mirror in the dining room, the picture in the background seemed to be of a completely different woman.
"I must be losing it"he said as we walked out of the dining room. He had all but convinced himself of that when he heard it, a sobbing, that of a woman in pain. He followed the noise, afraid someone was hurt, or in danger. He ran through the kitchen, following the noise when it led to the pantry. Then as suddenly as it started, it stopped and he was alone with the silence.
"Adrienne, pack your clothes, we're leaving!"Don said as he stormed into their bedroom.
"But why?"She asked, a puzzled look crossing her face.
"This place has something really fucked up about it and I'm not about to stand here and put us in danger!"
"Don, listen to me, we can't. We sold everything, where will we go, huh? We have no money! Maybe you were just dreaming or something."
"These weren't dreams, he said through clenched teeth, they were real!"
"Don, calm down, we're staying, we have to."They stayed there that night, it was the beginning of the end of their lives.
October 10, 1994
She screamed as the mask was shut over her face. She looked up as the blade began to swing over her head. It slowly swung back and forth. She could hear the swoosh as it neared her head. Suddenly the mask was off and she felt the air hit her head as the blade swung closer. She closed her eyes waiting for the gripping pain that would surely follow.
She awoke screaming. Don put his hand on her shoulder and began to gently kiss her fears away.
"Its all right."He said soothingly.
He began to kiss her neck, then her shoulders and then he began to make love to her. Life was perfect.
The next day
The kitchen was filled with sunlight as Adrienne poured herself a cup of coffee. She looked out the window at the birds singing and was happy they had moved out here. She turned suddenly to see Don stroll into the kitchen.
"Hey, honey"
"You look tired"she said.
"Well somebody kept me up last night."he said smiling devilishly at her.
"Well, I'm sorry I had a nightmare, you certainly didn't seem to mind much last night."
He sat down at the table and picked up a box on the floor.
Adrienne began to sift through it.
"Remember this."she said holding up a Christmas snowman ornament.
"Yeah, I gave that to you for Halloween one year, didn't I?"he said teasingly.
"No, silly, you gave that to me on the night that you proposed."
"Oh, yeah, that was the night you made me the happiest man alive."
"I wanted to show you this"He said as he pulled out a set of blue-prints. "I'm going to turn that upstairs bathroom into a darkroom, what are you going to do today?"
"I think I'm just gonna go exploring"
Don got up and walked out of the kitchen brushing his lips against her cheek as he did so.
Getting up from the table she walked around deciding first to explore the kitchen. The large pantry door stood ahead of her. A light string bobbed around her head and she pulled it flooding the room with light.
"What a lovely rug"she said kneeling down to feel it. When she rubbed her hand over the soft material she felt an indention in the floor. She lifted up the rug to reveal a trap door. Pulling with all her might she still couldn't get it to budge.
She threw the door closed and decided to look upstairs. She walked up the spiraling staircase, taking in all its beauty. It was green marble with small indentions. But when she peered closer she could see horrible, grotesque faces looking up at her, seeming to stare into her soul. Then the first one spoke.
"Get out"It said in a rugged voice.
She blinked once, twice but the face stayed the same. Not talking.
She pushed the door open, a premonition of danger making her stop in her tracks. She pushed the door open anyway and gasped at the large canopied bed with the wine colored bed spread. Running a hand over the soft material she decided to lay on it. The sheets seemed to envelope her and her eyes closed, as she felt her self fall into slumber. Suddenly she was awakened by a pulling on her hair. She tried to move but couldn't, large, decayed hands seemed to rise from the bed and pull her down. They clawed at her face and covered her mouth. She tried to scream but a hand clamped over her mouth and she felt warm blood fall into her mouth from the hand. She closed eyes as she slowly began to fall unconscious. She sat up, feeling her face. Nothing was there, it was all a nightmare, a horrible, horrible nightmare. She got up and ran from the bed that now seemed to look more like blood than the wine it had previously resembled.
The room across the hall seemed so much safer, with its pastel colors, and sunny windows. She noticed the large portrait over the fireplace,
"She's pretty"She said to herself. A small vanity stood in the corner, Adrienne opened the drawer and began to read the beautiful letter:
Gaston,
My love, how I have missed you. I long for your gentle touch and sweet caresses. I know you love me and wish for you to be here. I fear for my life here. Carno, he is mad I tell you. He goes into violent crazes and I swear, I fear for my life. I fear he has killed his other wives and may kill me! I hope our plan works, I love you and miss you my angel.
Love,
Marie
She replaced the letter and walked up the stairs to the third floor, where her and Don slept. Bright sunlight streamed through the door to the Conservatory. A large dome ceiling was made out of glass. A large easel stood in the corner, light brush strokes graced the canvas. A pot next to the easel caught Adrienne's attention and when she looked in it she saw a green apron lying in it. Reaching cautiously into the pot, she picked it up. A large, faded, gold H was in the corner of it. It was splattered in blood. She ran her hand over the spot and saw that some of the spot came off in her hand. She threw the apron back into the pot and walked back into the hall.
"I need some air"she said and walked down the stairs and out the door.
A large barn was stood out and she tried to pull the doors apart. They wouldn't budge. She walked back into the house and looked around the large living room. Two large locked doors led into a theater. She walked down the hall and found a door.
"Wonder where this leads"she wondered aloud.
She walked out the house and to their BMW and drove into town.
The sign said Bob Thompkins' Real Estate but Adrienne had already hear of this guy from Don. He said the guy was a real jerk. She walked in ready to ready to talk to the asshole.
"Yes?"he asked, still sucking on his cheap sugars like he was giving it head.
"There's a locked door at the end of the hall, where's the key?"
"I have no idea what your talking about, in fact look in the file if you don't believe me, toots. You know you look pretty good, sweet cheeks, why don't you add a little bounce to your walk?"
"If I wasn't a lady, I would whip your ass right here, now where's the file?"
"Here."he said throwing the file at her.
"What's this?"she said pulling a key from the small manila folder.
"Whatever, just take it."
"A pleasure!"She yelled as she stormed out his office.
She drove home, thinking about the incident on the bed. No it wasn't an incident, just a nightmare. But why could I still taste blood in my mouth, she thought to herself. She pulled into the driveway and walked down the hall. Pulling the key from her pocket, she opened the door and saw it led to a library with a vast array of books on the occult.
A ray of light shone through a crack in the fireplace. Pushing the bricks with all her might, Adrienne still could not get it to budge. Spying a desk in the corner she shifted it around and found a letter from some guy, who called himself Carno. It asked for a book that taught to use dark arts. A black onyx cat stood apart from everything else. She lifted it up by its neck and the body fell off, revealing a letter opener. The letter opener broke through the cheap bricks. They crumbled into the room behind. She ducked her head and walked into a chapel that lay behind. A stain glass cross threw multi colored light across her face. An alter stood in the back with a large book over a box. She pushed the book off and lifted the lid off the box. A green mist slowly rose above her head, and made its way upstairs.
It flew quickly past the room with the red canopy bed, past the pastel room, that had seemed so happy, and stopped finally at the last door in the hall. It went through the key hole and saw it's inhabitant.
Don was working on his new dark room when he sensed a presence he turned suddenly and screamed as it slammed into his body.
Adrienne heard the screams and ran upstairs. Throwing the door open she found Don lying on the floor.
"Are you all right?"she asked, running to his side
"Yeah, I think,"
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
"Well, are you ready for dinner?"
"Yeah I guess."
I think I'll have your head for desert. He thought to himself.
PART TWO
Things became different the next day. Don became almost a different person. He was moody, self absorbed, and aggressive.
"Adrienne"
"I'm in here"
"Adrienne, where?"
"In here, in the bedroom"
"What are you doing"he asked staring into her eyes?"
"Well, I'm starting my new book, honey"
"So what,I thought I told you to buy drain cleaner, now did you do it?"
"What, I would have remembered something like that!"Adrienne said staring into his crazed eyes.
"This is just like you, I bust my ass for you and you don't do anything but sit on your butt like your doing now! But, he snarled, next time you need something, don't come crawling to me!"He said as he stormed out of the room.
"Fine, I'll go to town and get your got-damn drain cleaner" Adrienne spat back venomously.
She closed her lap top and stalked to the dresser, clenching her fist in anger at his sudden lack of compassion for her.
She dug around in the dresser until she found what she was looking for, a five dollar bill. She walked down the stairs to past the dark room, wondering what Don was thinking.
"Who does she think she is, doesn't she know that when I tell her to do something, she does it, well, we'll just see "Mrs. Adrienne Delaney, novelist"huh yeah we'll just have to see about her!"He walked back to his collage,
"Soon it will be done, and she will see it. I'll make sure of it, the nosy bitch."
Adrienne steered the BMW into town, pulling it off to the side. She walked into town and to the hardware store where she asked Harv for drain cleaner.
"Well let me see here, he said looking back on the other shelves, this'll do the trick. He said handing her a cylindrical container, but you be careful with that, that's sulfuric acid."
"I know", she said playfully rolling her eyes.
"That'll be four-seventy five"
She handed him the five dollar bill and put the last quarter in a help the helpless can.
A bell tinkled as Adrienne pushed the antique store door open.
"Oh hi, can I help you?"A pretty middle aged woman asked.
"Yes, I'm Adrienne Delaney I just-"
The woman put her hands to her mouth and said:
"Did you say your name was Adrienne Delaney, your not a writer are you?"
"Yes, I am"Adrienne said taken aback by the woman's reaction.
"I just loved your book blue moon rising, I couldn't put it down for weeks, can I have your autograph?"She asked flinging a pen at Adrienne.
"Sure"Adrienne swiftly signed it and thanked the woman.
"Do you have any questions?"
"Yes I just moved into the old Carnovasch estate and I was just wondering if you can tell me about it?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Well, tell me about Carno."
"He was a world famous illusionist that was respected and incredibly wealthy."
"Did he have any children?"
"Yes, I think he had a little girl Sofia was her name, I think. He also adopted a little boy named Malcolm, he's still alive, he's a hundred and ten I think. But as for Sofia, she drowned when she was only two, tragic isn't it?"
"Yes, Adrienne said.does Malcolm live around here?"
"Yes, he does right outside of town, he could probably answer more of your questions than I can"
"O.k., thanks"A large jewelry case stood in the back. Adrienne walked over to it admiring a large silver-looking cross that stood by itself.
"Oh, Lou how much is this cross?"
"A lovely piece"isn't it.
"How much, Lou?"
"Cheap, considering its rarity. I could let it go for eight thousand."
"that's more than I have right now thanks."
Adrienne left the shop, tossing a good-bye over her shoulder to Lou.
She walked back into Bob's office, seeing him with a perky blond. He put his head in her necklace, laying it on her breast. She giggled foolishly as he called her pet names.
"Where's the bubble?"He asked in his best baby voice.
"Here"she said.
Adrienne watched as she blew a bubble and he popped it with his tongue.
"Can't you see I'm with a client"he said not bothering to remove the necklace that he still shared with her.
"I can see that, your even worse than I thought"she said as she walked out the realtor's office.
Adrienne drove back to the house, with the drain cleaner. She noticed the once locked carriage house doors now stood ajar. Tentatively, she opened them and peeked inside. A small sound in a stall caused her to walk inside.
The hay ruffled above her and she walked into the stall.
"Who's there?"she called. no answer. A sharp yelp burst from her throat, as something fell on top of her.
"Oh Spazz, she said lifting the old cat up.
He showed his protest by jumping out of her arms, and running out the door.
"what's the matter?"She said at the odd reaction from the cat. Then she heard the door slam. Don stood there, hovering over her.
"Look at this shit!, he screamed as he kicked over the dishes Adrienne hadn't noticed until now. Goddamn vagrants!"
"Don, calm down, they're probably gone, she rationalized, besides I have something for you."
"Yeah, what is it?"He snapped
"Here's your damn drain cleaner you were so hung up on!"She said as she thrust it at him.
"Yeah thanks, he sneered as he walked out the barn, and I better not get my hands on those vagrants or it'll be their asses"
Who in the hell do they think they are? Coming onto my property and using my barn without permission! that's okay, they'll pay for that they'll all pay big time!
"You are right Don the voice rationalized. The whores been leading you on the whole time, she probably fucked all those damn vagabonds You must make her pay, the way Carno made each of his wives pay. Carno was strong, you must also be strong like him, but be careful, the bitch is plotting against you."
"I know he said, but we'll see about that, we'll just have to see about that."
"Leave her alone, she did nothing to you!"Don said. "Why do you want to hurt her, she would not do something like that."
"Shut up, you little twit!"It said forcing Don back into the darkest corners of his mind.
Adrienne pressed her ear to the door to see what Don was doing.
"Who is he talking to?"she wondered.
She rapped the locked door hard and called his name.
"Don"
"Yes,"he rasped
"I'm getting worried, are you coming down for dinner, we can maybe have some pasta, a little vino, what do you say, you can help me make it"
"Yeah whatever, call me when its ready"he said as he slammed the door on her face.
Chapter I 1888
"Hortencia, darling"Zoltan Carnovasch called in a sing-song voice.
He snuck behind her and put his hands on her hips and kissed her softly on the lips.
"I love you"she sighed.
Their baby Sofia sat on the oddly shaped couch, playing with the old cat that stared at her. It purred softly as she moved her gentle hands over its coat. Carno knew he was talented, and his magic tricks were way before their time, but that wasn't enough. He had always wanted real magic, not just illusions. He was overjoyed when the letter from his friend Jeremiah arrived. It proclaimed to have found "Real magic". Whether true or not, Carno was on his way to England, to meet Jeremiah and buy the book from him.
He held his bags, one in each hand and kissed Hortencia good-bye as he boarded the train. He waved to Sofia, and then he was gone, on the way to England to meet Jeremiah.
When he arrived at his hotel everything seemed fine, but the air had an evil aura to it. He went to his room and unpacked, his room next to Jeremiah's. He heard talking between Jeremiah and another person, curious he pressed his ear to the wall.
"I can't sell it to him."
"You must, you weakling, you pathetic excuse for a man. He is much stronger than you, plus with the sum you will charge, you will be able to retire. Now listen to me you will sell the book."
"But he is my friend, I don't wish to plague him with this horrible disease!
"Will you just shut up, and do what I tell you, before I have to take my rage out on your daughter."
"You wouldn't!"
"Watch me."
"Fine, I'll do what you ask of me"
Carno could stand no more, he pulled away from the wall and lie on the bed. Soon he was enveloped in horrible nightmares.
"Zoltan, big brother, take the book, it can do no harm, and it will give such great power. Your wealth will triple and you will be even more respected. don't you want that big brother?"
"Yes Katya, I miss you so. I love you, why did you leave like this? Tears spilt down his rough, unshaven cheeks.
Jeremiah stood above him. His eyes staring into Carno's closed ones.
"Yes, Zoltan, sleep. Sweet dreams."he walked out of the room, just as Katya began to slip away from Zoltan.
When Zoltan awoke, he was alone in the room, and his pocket-watch read 8:35. he put his cape on and went to do his show.
That night Carno met what was to be his new assistant. She was a pretty, young thing by the name of Marie. They would perform a new trick tonight, a horrible one, one that could take his career careening through the stars. But his heart wasn't in it and the audience could sense it. His voice sounded as though he were reading from a script, and his actions were mechanical. His mind just kept wandering back to the dream, back to Katya.
His mind went back to the time, when he was only eight years old, a young Italian boy new to America. His mother had just given birth to his baby sister, Katya. But even though Katya lived his mother did not. And he was lost without her. He could not speak the language, and he had to raise this poor child alone. He remembered the way she would put her small hands on his face and say
"Big brother, love you"and kiss him. Just seeing her could rip him out of a bad mood. Then something terrible happened.
One night as Carno lie asleep on the floor next to Katya's crib. She turned over and began to suffocate in the sheet. Carno never heard her and she soon died, ending what should have been a wonderful life.
Carno closed his eyes and shocked back a sob that threatened to enter his throat. Just thinking of her made him want to die. He packed up his cape and hat, and headed back to his room.
When he got there he heard voices inside his room. He quietly entered his key into the door and pushed it open. There stood Jeremiah, Marie, and a new stage hand he had hired named Gaston. Marie held a champagne bottle in her hand and began to pour glasses for them all.
"To two great magicians"she said, laughing.
"Illusionist"Jeremiah corrected her.
They talked talked for an hour or so, laughing at things that happened during the show, and gossiping, but not a second after Marie and Gaston left, Jeremiah flew to the door and bolted, it, expelling from his cape: the book. It seemed to speak to him, saying so many different things, and in so many different voices. All of them seemed to have the same message:
"Stay away"
But there was one voice that overpowered the rest, and it screamed at him,
"Do it, take the book, go home, and become wealthy beyond your dreams. Then all of a sudden they stopped and Jeremiah looked at him.
"Why Zoltan, you look as though you've seen a ghost"he remarked.
"No, he said, just tired."
"Well I do we believe that we have some business to take care of, don't we?"
"Of course"
Jeremiah lie the book on the bed and looked his friend in the eye.
"My asking price is five thousand dollars."
Zoltan stared at the book, it seemed to breathe, pulsating up and down. The book burst open suddenly and flipped through pages, landing on a certain one. A line lay there under the name Jeremiah Woodsoner. Zoltan Carnovasch was suddenly scrawled there on its own. Blood flowed from the signature and onto the mattress. Soaking the comforter and sheets. Then it stopped and where his name had been scribbled a few moments ago, new words were there:
Stay away!
Chapter II 1888
Somehow, Zoltan had passed out in the hall and remembered nothing from the night before. He met Jeremiah outside of his room.
"Jeremiah, will you sell me the book?"he asked
"I thought you didn't want it the way you burst out of the room last night."
"What?"Zoltan asked puzzled.
"Well I was talking to you, then all of a sudden you ran out of the room and vomited all over the rug.
"Must've been the champagne, anyway, I'll offer you four thousand for the book."
"All right"Jeremiah said. He seemed happy and sad at the same time.
Zoltan pulled out his wallet and counted out the money. Jeremiah walked into his room and got the book.
"Be careful"Jeremiah said as he handed him the book.
"I will."Zoltan said before shaking his hand good-bye. He walked into his room and found Marie there, packing his clothes.
"All ready to go,sir"she said.
He carried the book onto the train. And looked across at Jeremiah, whose train was also departing, and waived. Jeremiah gave a sad heartless wave, and faced the seat ahead of him. He looked at Marie, put his hand on top of hers and asked:
"Are you ready to go?"
There was no time for an answer, as a large sound rocked the car. Zoltan looked out his window and saw on the tracks across from him a turned over car, that was engulfed in flames. It had exploded killing Jeremiah.
1994
Adrienne sat on the shore, staring into her husband's eyes. The picnic basket between them She reached over and put her hand on his.
"I love you"she said
"I bet"he retorted.
"what's that supposed to mean?"She asked pulling her hand away.
"what's that supposed to mean?, he mimicked. I'll tell you what it means! It means I know about you and all those men, you disgust me."he said
"I don't know what your problem is but, honey, what's wrong? Don had begun to rub his head furiously.
"I just have a headache, he said as he got up. I'm going lie down"
After he left, Adrienne noticed something behind a tree. It ducked behind it again and ran to the barn. Adrienne followed, trying to see who it was. She pushed the door open and there were two people there, a bulky teenager, and an old woman hanging from the hay-loft.
"Help"she hollered.
"I'm coming"Adrienne said
The old woman swung her feet around, trying to find a place to rest them, so she could pull herself up. Adrienne could only see the booted feet that seemed to be a part of the hay loft. She grabbed the first rung of the ladder and began to ascend up to where the old hag lie caught, screaming her lungs out.
A large pulley lie on the side of the hayloft, just out of reach.
"How can I get it closer?"Adrienne wondered.
She found a pitchfork wedged in a corner and pulled it out, using it to get the pulley closer. She strapped it onto the old woman and told the boy to pull. He gave one hard tug and she came flying out of the hole, airborne.
"Cyrus, heeelp!"She screeched.
"Sorry, ma."he said and let her down.
She pulled her ragged red ski cap off of her head and began to beat him with it, causing dust to fly everywhere.
"You good for nothin' son of a-"
"Hhhhmmm"Adrienne covered her mouth and began to show signs she was still there.
"Oh, sorry"Was all the old woman could say as she put her cap back on her head.
"Is okay ma, he said, staring into space. 'Member that time you called me a no good piece of sh-."
Harriet rammed her hand over his mouth before he could get the rest out.
"Huh huh, yeah kids say the darndest things don't they."
Adrienne put her hand over her mouth trying to suppress a laugh.
"Anyway, the way I see it you need us."
"Need you? How, may I ask?"
"Well you and your hubby can't keep this big place up by your lonesomes, now can you."
"Well I guess not, but I don't know."
"We'll work for nothin'! Just room and board, please don't throw us out in the cold I-"
"Ma?"
"Yes, Cyrus"She asked sharply.
"Well it really isn't cold out, and I'm 'kinda big so I doubt she could toss me very far, and besides you really aren't that small no more and-"
"Cyrus shut up!"She screamed.
Adrienne could no longer stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks as she fell against the wall laughing insanely. She put her hand on her forehead and tried to stop from embarrassing herself.
"Look Harriet, no one has made me laugh like that in weeks, so that just got you two jobs."
She looked back at the both of them and walked out of the barn, giggling at their antics.
"I like her"Cyrus said.
"Oh shut up, oh lady!"Harriet yelled.
"Yes"Adrienne said
"Umm this is what I got caught on if you want it so no one does the same."Harriet pulled out a large nail and handed it to Adrienne.
"Thanks"Adrienne said.
Ever since Adrienne had seen the locked door, her curiosity had been uncontrollable. Now she could finally see what was behind the locked door. She took the nail and aimed it at the hole. One blow with the hammer caused the key to fall out of the hole and onto the carpet. She slid the newspaper under the door, and grabbed the key. She pulled it out and pushed it into the doorway, hearing the click as it unlocked. She pulled the door open, and was hit with a feeling of sickness, as a dank smell hit her nostrils. A loud, sad sob seemed to come from the walls. Adrienne turned and looked around her.
"Hello?"she called.
"Please, help me."
"Who's there?"
"Me"
Suddenly a woman dressed in old clothes appeared before her, she wore a floral dress, but something was wrong with it.
Adrienne walked forward to get a closer look. Then it was all clear. Her head was ripped completely backwards, turned disgustingly backwards, making her stumble and fall.
Adrienne fell backwards and out into the hallway. On the stairs lie the decayed remains of a body. It began to fade and disappear.
Adrienne ran from the hall and into their bedroom, where she found Don lying on the bed. He had a wash cloth on his head and his boots off.
"Yes?"He said sharply.
"How ya feelin"she asked
"Fine, now go away."
"Fine."
"She didn't do you a thing."Don said
"Yes she did. She pried. Its not a woman's place to do that."
"Please leave her alone, I'll do what you want."
"You'll do what I want anyway!"
"I can stop you. I have the book, I read it while you sleep. I know how to destroy you! I will do it."
A blow struck Don in the stomach. He doubled over in pain, wondering what caused it. He looked up seeing his fist clenched.
"Now do you want to be a good boy?"it asked
Adrienne pushed the door open. She didn't remember closing it. Her breath began to get faster as she went up the stairs. It went onto a landing, that had a small door. She pushed the door open, and saw it was a small, plain room adorned with nothing but a plain bed and a small dresser. A book lie on top of the dresser.
The Vampyre. The word was flamed across the book's jacket. She grabbed the book and looked out the window. A small building stood by itself in the woods, almost completely shrouded in trees.
Adrienne parked the car and walked to Malcolm's house, book in hand.
When Ethel opened the door, Adrienne was ready, she pulled the book from under her arm, and thrust it at her.
"Look, I've found this in the attic, and I want to ask Malcolm about it."
"Fine, I'll see if he'll see you."She slammed the door on Adrienne, and was gone, for about five minutes.
When she returned, she bore a grim look on her face, and she said:
"Malcolm will see you now."
Adrienne brushed past her, into the spacious living room. Malcolm sat in a large chair by the fire.
"How is everything"he asked
"Fine, I guess."
"And the house, is there any thing-. He broke off at this point as if to think of a better word. strange happening?"
"Well no not really,- but about you and-"
"And your husband, how is he?"
"He's fine, but I wanted to ask you about the-"He cut her off then, giving a waving gesture. Indicating for her to leave.
"I- you must go, it is time for my rest."He waved her away., making her swallow all the questions she had.
Ethel showed up, standing over Adrienne. Adrienne thought of fighting the large woman, but when she looked over the large woman, she realized what a mistake that would be. The woman stood over six feet tall, and weighed over three hundred pounds. Adrienne walked out of the house, angry that she had made no progress. She drove into town, maybe that moron could tell her when she'd be getting a phone.
When "Bob Thompkins' Realty"came into view, she stepped out of the car. Her anger had come down somewhat since leaving. This certainly wouldn't help.
When she walked in, he was once again puffing on a cheap cigar.
"What do you want, sweet cheeks?"
"Look Mr. Thompkins, if you don't quit calling me these insulting names, I'm gonna shove my foot so far up your ass, you will be able to quench your thirst with the sweat from my knees!"
"I understand, he said, prying her fingernails off of his shirt, but uuggh you did come in here for something, and I just wanted to know what it was, ma'am."
"that's more like it, now when will I be getting my phone?"
"Well, Miss Delaney, he will be coming out tomorrow, is there anything else?"
"Thank you"
When Adrienne pulled into the drive way, she was unaware of Don, lurking around. When she got out of the car, he pounced upon her.
"And where have you been all day?"he asked accusingly.
"Where have you been, I might ask. In town "
"None of your business, honey"
"Well I tell you what, you take care of your business, and I'll take care of mine!"
"We'll just have to see about that"he said as she walked off enraged"
PART THREE
Adrienne stood, still in her night gown, in front of the bathroom mirror. Taking out all of her frustrations on her hair brush. She pulled her hair back, brushing each strand when Don stalked in. He lay his hand gently atop her hair. He had begun to stroke it, when Adrienne spun around and pushed his hand away.
"Leave me alone"She said and continued to brush her hair.
He ignored her and continued to gently caress her hair. She dropped her hands as if in surrender to his advances. He moved her hair back, and gently nibbled on her ear. He left a soft trail of kisses down her neck, leading up to her mouth. She finally gave in, and returned his kisses. He kissed her softly, gently fondling her breast. His kisses became harder as he gripped onto her. She tried to push him away, but he wouldn't budge. He grabbed the bottom of her soft nightclothes, and moved her against the wall. He pulled the nightgown up, and began to force himself onto her. She tried to scream, but he had shoved his hand over her mouth. His breaths came shorter and shorter as he pushed against her harder and harder. Then it was over.
The bathroom's hanging light threw shadows everywhere, and Adrienne Delaney, one of Newsweek's top picks as the next great american novelist, sat against the wall, degraded. Her tears, now in a small puddle, fell onto the cold floor and reflected the harsh light. Adrienne sat up, still a little dazed, and walked to the toilet and threw up.
She had somehow made it back to their bedroom and passed out on the large rug.
Its asleep. Was the first thought that crossed Don's mind. What he had done to Adrienne, his only love, sickened him. He tried to get up without waking it, and make it to their room, where Adrienne lay.
She lie on the floor, a large rip in her nightgown, where he, no it had torn it. He walked to her, and brushed some hair from her face. He shook her, trying to wake her.
"Adrienne, wake up you have to-"
Then as fast as it had gone it was back. What are you doing? It asked
Then Don was gone, and he dropped her head on the hard wooden surface of the floor. Leaving her alone once again.
When she awoke, sunlight was streaming into her eyes, an ironic twist, considering the early morning's events. She got up, and looked at the clock.
"10:00 already"She stumbled to the dresser, and got dressed.
She was about to go downstairs when her eye caught something in the conservatory. The painting.
"Who's working on this?"She wondered aloud.
She left the conservatory still in somewhat of a daze. Everything that was happening so suddenly was just so over whelming. She hung her head in her hands and cried. Cried for herself, cried for all the horrible deaths brought on by this thing. But most of all she cried for Don, who was now so distant and hurtful. Their love was now so strained. She remembered all of the happy times at the lake. She and him were so happy then. It seemed that their love could help them through anything. It would make them persevere. But now the vows they had said so lovingly, and the sweet kisses and tender love-making now seemed to mean nothing. She backed away from the wall and walked into the bathroom.
Everything seemed to come back in slow motion. She was pushed against the wall once again, hand over mouth. And she could feel him inside of her. Pushing and thrusting. It hurt so bad. Why was he doing this. His breaths came shorter and shorter as he began to reach orgasm. His body tightened up and then it was over. She stared at the wall where it happened. A tile, shattered, from when he had thrown her. It had fallen onto the floor and was now smashed into dozens of pieces. She could see pieces of herself in the shiny slivers of plaster. She threw her head down and began to vomit all over her shoes. When she walked down the stairs, Harriet was waiting for her patiently at the bottom.
"I forgot Harriet, I am so sorry."
"Aw, hell that's all right. I ain't been waitin' long."
"Well I'm sorry. Anyway I want you to sweep the floors, wash the dishes, make our bed, clean the bathrooms, dust, and empty the trash cans."
"All right, will do. Anything else"
"Uhh, yeah I found these tarot cards in one of the upstairs rooms, would you like them?"
"Hell yeah I want 'em. Dem dere cards is right purdy. But ders an old saying, if someone gives you tarot cards, you must give them the first reading."
"Really?"
"No, but I really wanna give you a reading."
"All right."Adrienne said after a brief hesitation.
She went into the top room, and stared out the window. Malcolm's bed hit her shin, and she moved it to get a better view. Outside was a building, a small green building off into the woods. But there was no way to get there. She left the room looking for Cyrus to help her.
When she went into the bathroom and Harriet was in there scrubbing on the odd rectangular thing that had seemed to be a bathtub.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Harriet, shoot."
"What the hell is this?"
"I think its supposed to be a bathtub."
She turned back to the wall and the blood stain was now gone, obviously washed away by Harriet. The tile that had brought back this morning's horrors was no longer on the floor. But Adrienne could see where it had been.
Harriet caught her staring at the spot non the wall, and grabbed her hand. Shocked out of her own thoughts Adrienne pulled back.
"Hold on, Harriet said. Damn, girl. You got some real problems. This here is your life line. But there's this strange other line crossing it. It means that there could be a struggle for your life. And you might not win."
"that's enough"Adrienne said ripping her hand from Harriet's grasp. She walked out the bathroom and outside to find Cyrus.
Cyrus stood outside over a large wood pile, splitting it in half.
"Umm Cyrus?"
"Huh?"
"Could you show me how to get to that little building out there."
"Oh yeah, I go there all the time."
"Well could you show me how to get there. I can't jump that far." She said in a condescending tone.
"Okay"He ran past the house to where the path had washed out.
When Adrienne got there. Cyrus stood next to the large tree. He put his hands on the rough bark and began to push. His face turned red and his lips into a snarled grimace as he threw his shoulder into the tree. His efforts were rewarded when he heard the snapping of the roots. It fell over the gap making a good size bridge.
"Thanks Cyrus"She said.
The rough, worn trail threw dust up under Adrienne's feet. She closed her eyes as a bright light invaded her pupils. She was briefly reminded of the Poe story she read in junior high. The one about the light falling on his vulture eye and felt her blood run cold. A small round lens piece lay in the middle of the path. She picked it up an placed it in her pocket.
It had a large glass ceiling, that was cracked in most places. Vines snaked over the dark brick, as if daring her to enter their dark lair. She brushed a couple out of the way as she entered the one roomed building. She scanned the room, seeing dead plants everywhere. And an odor invaded her nostrils, the same one she had smelt on the bed...death. She bent down and picked up a trowel which had fallen on the dirt floor. A flash came to her as if a memory, and she was there. In the same place but it was as if she were in a dream. She turned suddenly, sensing someone there. and there was. A woman, dressed in old fashion clothes, bending over a plant holder. She held the exact same trowel in her hand that Adrienne did now. The woman turned, as if startled to the doorway. A well dressed man stood in the door way, and she recognized him. It was the man in all the large paintings around the house. What was his name? Carno.
"Zoltan what are you doing here?"The woman asked.
"I came to see you Hortencia Darling."He rolled his eyes as he said the word darling.
"Well go, leave me to my plants."
As she said this he picked up the trowel she had dropped on the table. He ran one finger down the side of the blade and felt a sharp pain as blood dripped from the wound. He grabbed her face, smearing blood all over her white cheek. She screamed and backed away, but it was too late. He grabbed her collar and plunged the knife into her chest, sending blood gushing her chest. Her head twitched rapidly and he threw her against the wall making her scream in pain. Tears ran down her face as he jumped on top of her, ignoring her pleas for mercy. Then he did the most awful thing imaginable. He began to shovel dirt down her throat. Making her eyes roll up into her head. He looked down one last time before exiting the building.
When it ended Adrienne was alone once again in the room that had seen so much death. She dropped the trowel and ran away, away from all the pain and sorrow, but what she really was trying to run away from was herself. She didn't want to stay here in this horrible place, but she had no choice, Don was her husband. She sat on the bank of the river and cried to herself until she heard a low rumble of a truck. She got up to go back to the house, when something fell out of her pocket, the lens piece! She screwed it into the telescope and looked up. A large room was next to Malcolm's. That could only mean that the wall was false. There was another room. She walked back into the building timidly and saw something new. A pot, larger than the others aside. She stood on her toes to get a glance in it, when it crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. Inside was something Adrienne had never seen before. A decayed body. It looked oddly familiar that's when Adrienne realized it was the woman. The dress she had worn was now weathered, but the blood blossom was still on the bodice. She jumped back, but felt a kind of sadness wash over her. One for a woman that died so young. She pushed the hair back, and lay it on the table. She walked out of the room a little happier knowing that she was -at least she thought- with her baby she had lost.
Adrienne had just pulled open the main doors when she stood toe to toe with one of the biggest men she had seen in this small town. He stood six 'five and was all muscle.
"Hi"Was all he said.
"My names Adrienne, and yours"She said fishing for his hand.
"Oh, uh Mike, say this is a really creepy place ya got here."
"Thanks a lot"she playfully shoved him as though they had been the best of friends.
"Well I'm almost done here."He bent down and continued installing a phone jack.
Adrienne ran up the stairs, trying not to look at the faces. She had almost reached her room when she heard a violent screaming. She ran down the stairs fearing for Don until she saw what lay at the bottom.
"You stay away from my wife"Don said, stumbling from his drunken state.
"What?"A startled Mike asked.
"You heard me, you stay away from her, now get out!"He slammed the door hitting Mike on the back.
Please leave her alone! Don screamed.
"Why should I ?"It asked
Because she hasn't done you anything! Why must you hurt her, I love her and I won't allow you to hurt her any longer!
"You won't allow me? YOU won't allow ME? It mocked him by laughing in a childish fashion. You don't seem to understand that you have no control over me. You can't harm me.
Yes I can I can kill myself, then where would you go? You would be forced back from wherever you came.
"Then I'd move onto your wife and then to your unborn child. Oh you didn't know that did you Don? Well that little attack you did the other night has made your wife pregnant, she doesn't know yet, but she will, soon."
Then he began to sob. Fighting it long enough to at least mourn for his wife. He tried to hold his hands down, but to no avail, they continued to chop.
Snip, Snip. Pieces of photographs fell to the floor as he pasted pictures onto the wall, finishing his collage.
Chapter III 1888
"Woman... woman!"
"In here Zoltan."Hortencia called. She put the baby down that she had been so lovingly nursing.
"Where is my red tie, that I always use when I go on."
"I've already told you, the servants put it in your second drawer."
"Well its not there"
"Well look harder."She said, he had been very rough with her ever since he got back from England. She had thought it was from losing Jeremiah, one of his closest friends. But lately it seemed, that it wasn't grief he was feeling, but...anger.
"Listen woman, you have been making me very angry spending all your time out there in that damned green house. I built it for your enjoyment, but you are supposed to take care of my needs first, mentally, (he licked his lips and smiled then) and physically. He ran a rough hand over soft cheek.
"Your insane"she said and ran out of the room with Sophia in her arms. She had almost made it to the door when he grabbed her causing her to stop suddenly and almost drop Sofia onto the hard floor.
"Listen woman, I am already going to Marie for my physical needs, I have no use for you. I can kill you and no one would ever know, we are in the middle of nowhere. Your screams would never be heard."He sneered.
Tears ran down her face, and she slammed the door of what was now her room. When he had gotten back he had forced her to take another bedroom. She slammed the door behind her and twisted the lock on the door. She had almost fell into a deep sleep when she heard something. A scraping sound.
Scccrrratch. She opened one eye suddenly, seeing a trap door open in the wall. She closed her eye, pretending to be asleep.
He leaned over to kiss his baby girl. It was asleep now.
"Oh what I have I done? He cried. I love you so much, how could I have put your baby life in danger?"He wept in his hands, until he felt it. A sharp tug on his ear. The pain grew more and then he felt blood run down his face. It was ripping his god-forsaken ear off! He hears the tearing of flesh as a chunk of bloody ear fell off into his hands.
He ran into his theater, it was his place to be alone. He remembered the ritual the whole, horrible thing...
When he returned home, he was still very much shocked by the death of his friend. He spent many days in the chapel praying to a God which lately didn't seem to be around. Then on the fifth day of prayer and solitude he uttered the last words of Zoltan Carnovasch and began a new life of death, and mayhem. He said to himself:
"God give me the strength to be able to do this. And don't let my soul be lost. In your name, Amen.
He started the ritual in the chapel. And it finished twenty years later.
"CONSUMITE, FURORE, LASTOME, CANDROE!"He had summoned it. At first nothing happened, but then a high pitched whistling noise rang in his ears and he could feel the power pulsating in his veins. Lightning flashed around him causing a manical laugh to burst from his throat.
"I can't believe I did it"He said. I can't be- Something grabbed his throat and the voice started in his head.
"Thank you mortal. Now I have entered this world and you are my slave! I feed on fear. I thank you for releasing me now I must start. I think I will start with that woman and child. I think they will do. He laughed to himself. And he could taste the warm blood on his lips, flowing easily down his throat. Warm, rich, beautiful blood. He closed his eyes seeing his skin glow a ghostly white. He stared at his hand and began to gnaw at his wrist, sucking all the blood from the wound. When he realized what he was doing he fainted into a pile on the floor.
What he did that night was something he would never share. He stared at the piece of ear in his hand. Is this what he had to look forward to, killing himself, piece by piece. How could he protect his wife and child? There were so many questions. He got up and went to the theater, his theater. As soon as it had gone to sleep, it was now fully awake, Zoltan was pushed back, and he was no longer allowed to speak.
"That damned child!, he screamed. Where is its mother?"
"In her green house, I think sir"Becky, there last faithful servant replied.
"No damned surprise!"He stormed out to the green house, still in his crimson, velvet robe. He stood in the open doorway, staring at her as she stooped over her plants.
"Hello Hortencia, Darling"he said rolling his eyes as he said it.
"Go, leave me to my plants!"She said.
He walked out the green house, feeling satisfied at his deeds.
When he returned to the house. Sofia was screaming as if she knew what he had done. Her wails rang loud in his ears as he ran to her in her crib. He looked down at her, seeing the dribble that ran down her face, and smiled. She cried even louder, waving her small fists in the air, as if trying to ward him off. And when he looked down into her eyes. He suddenly realized... she knew.
Then only one thing can be done it it said.
"No, please no, you've taken my wife already today, please don't hurt my baby girl. She's all I have left."
But it was too late, his body was already staring hungrily at the small child. He placed one hand on her head and started to smother her, when Becky walked in.
"Sir what are you doing!"She cried.
"I was just playing with my baby girl."He shouted.
She walked to the crib, and grabbed the baby.
"Its time for her feeding. And since her mother isn't here, I'll give it to her."
"You'll do nothing of the sort!"He shouted into her face.
He grabbed her wrist making her almost drop the baby.
"Its down into the cellar for you"He cried, and pulled her toward the doorway.
"Please sir, no!"She screamed. She put the baby in her shirt and held it tight as he dragged her kicking and screaming down the first, second, and third set of stairs. The latter going toward the basement.
It was dark. And it was unbearably cold. Those were her first two thoughts. But then she remembered the baby. She had tried to hide it away. But she couldn't move to see if it was still there. Her hands were manacled to the wall by this horrible chain. She tried to pull it but it would not budge. She was a prisoner in the house she had once loved and loathed at the same time. She no longer loved the house, or Carno for that matter. Becky sighed and put her head down. She looked down to see that the baby was gone, Sofia's little sailor hat that she had worn with her dress now lay on its side, in a puddle of mud. A rat had begun to paw through it, searching for some kind of food. When it didn't she stretched her foot out and kicked it away. It went flying onto the floor screaming, and scuttled away. Becky sat there in despair and had almost drifted off, when she heard the high pitched wail of Sofia. Somewhere outside. She screamed out loud:
"No, don't hurt her you monster!"
But it was too late, the child's body lay face down in the lake she had so loved in life.
Chapter IV 1892
The doors opened and Carno sailed in with his new bride, a woman named Leonora. She had long black hair, and a beautiful singing voice. But she talked so much. It was worth it he said. He closed the door behind them, then suddenly turned on her.
"Do the dishes and empty the trash."He ordered.
"What! I have also just gotten back if you haven't noticed and I am tired to. So don't tell me-"
He slapped her, making her head spin around.
"I am going to bed, you will have everything done by the time I awake. And one more thing, you talk too damn much. Just shut up!"
"don't you dare tell me to shut up."She said.
"I will tell you whatever I want."
"I am NOT one of your whores I am your wife!"
"I know, your too ugly to be one of MY girls!"
She ran from the room, sobbing into her hands. But the next morning when Carno awoke, the dishes were done.
She had only been there two weeks and now he had tired of her. It wasn't her, it was her incessant blabbing all the time, day and night. He had even gone so far as to put her in the third floor room, but she STILL talked. She would never shut up!
If it wasn't to him, then it was to the animals. Or to the plants, or to the gotdamn furniture! He slammed his hand down and walked out of the room, vowing to do something about her.
