The House on Blackstone Moor (The Blackstone Vampires) (26 page)

“But Rose,” he said this as he walked to my side. “My dear, you have a second chance, my love—do not throw it away. Take it and live as you were meant to. Why condemn yourself to damnation?”

His words were loving words yet they hurt my heart, for they were painful to hear and more difficult to consider. “But Louis, the children…”

“I know you love them, and they love you—” he began to move toward the door. “That is no reason to stay.”

“Where are you going?” I asked. “Please don’t leave. I couldn’t bear it!”

He stood there as if battling with himself. “But I must.”

“No, you must not.” I rushed to him and we embraced. I nearly cried out from pain for he hugged me most ardently.

“Rose, my Rose.”

He swept me up in his arms and carried me to the bearskin in front of the fire. “My darling—let us have this time, for we may have no other…”

I tried to disagree, to tell him he was wrong, but his lips were on mine so I could not speak.

There we were in front of the fire, our clothing discarded—two naked beings united by the hungry passion we had for each other, bonded in spirit and in love.

Bonded, indeed.

*

We made love for hours, passionate and wild and sweet, too.

It was near dawn when we lay in the peaceful loving bliss of our coupling that Marta burst into the room. She looked terrified. “Sir, please! Come at once, there is…”

Louis knew at once. “He has come. Eco is here.”

“Tell him I am coming, Marta
.”

He helped me to dress. “You might as well come too, for he would certainly find you if you did not.”

At last I saw him, Eco, the monster of evil. He stood in the hallway not far from Marta. His pose was casual and threatening all at once, for he did not take his eyes off her as a snake would not look away from its prey.

At last he shrugged. “I don’t think she likes me.”

Marta cried out something in her language which only made him laugh. His laugh was sharp and loud and mocking. Then he said something back to her which made her tremble so badly, she had to sit.

“I think I’ve upset her,” he said looking first at Louis and then at me. “Ah! Louis. What have we here? What have you been hiding from the world, eh?”

As he sauntered toward me, Louis moved in front of me. “Whatever this is, it is just between us.”

Eco allowed himself to be blocked from my view but he leaned over in order to see me. “You see how it is, how it has always been? I try to be his friend but really, it is impossible.”

“Why have you come?”

He began to pace. “Why, indeed. Well, I did wish to tell you things, the first of which is how sorry I am about the coven. Poor Eve, I do miss her for I did so enjoy her.”

I felt Louis’ body tense, taut like stretched wire.

“Yes, Louis.” Eco laughed.”You really should watch your temper. Why don’t you practice the precepts that your lunatic father adheres to, where is it, in Tibet, where he lives—doing penance for his support of Lucifer? Tell me, does he still ring bells and chant worthless rubbish?”

“Leave him out of it.”

“There you go again. Whenever I attempt to make any conversation, you squelch it and me, too. That is so unkind, rude really. Didn’t your father teach you any manners?”

“He taught me better than yours did, for yours is still in league with Satan, is he not?”

Eco had by now moved some distance so I could see his face. He was eyeing Marta. “You’re a gypsy so why are you here? Have you brought some curses with you? Are you intent on destroying evil?”

“Only yours,” Marta replied. “For it is the only evil I do see here.”

“Is it indeed, now that is interesting! I think there is quite a lot of evil about the place, or didn’t you notice? Perhaps you weren’t here long enough.”

“I know evil when I see it.”

Eco sniggered. “Are you referring to me? Surely not, or you shall hurt my feelings.”

“Get on with it,” Louis said.

Eco shrugged.  “I have come really to offer you a proposition. It is an idea that I have had along with a business associate of mine. We thought your clubs could be spread out as it were, introduced to places that are natural sites for that sort of specialized entertainment. We were thinking of Paris and New Orleans, possibly New York and Cairo, too. There are always human beings to pay off, to entreat one way or the other—I think it might be wonderful, what do you think?”

“I think it a foul idea. “

Eco was by this time sitting rather grandly, languishing on one of the hall chairs. “You didn’t always feel that way. You know what went on in those clubs of yours. You even took part once or twice. Why, I remember a wild orgy of blood and depraved sexual union that Eve dragged you to. Truly, it was really something to behold. There was the most exotic sort of communal participation, as it were.” Now grinning at me, he went on: “Being feasted on by three or four vampires has proven to be quiet an aphrodisiac. One wouldn’t think so, would one? Would one, Louis? You didn’t know I was there watching you enjoying it, did you?”

“I was not there willingly.”

“Oh yes,” Eco snapped his fingers. “That is right! I forget! There was that drug that I gave you, it clouded your thoughts and paralyzed you, didn’t it? Well, it didn’t paralyze you completely for you still pleasured quite a few women and you did enjoy it. I think I saw a flicker of enjoyment in your eyes, Louis, I honestly think I did.”

“You are more repulsive than ever.”

Eco feigned hurt. “Now you see, that does wound me. Sticks and stones, Louis!”

Louis didn’t answer that but urged Marta to take me from the room. “Go to the kitchen, both of you.”

But I would not leave and said I would not.

“That is good,” Eco said. “For I wish to tell Rose something I think she should know. It’s something Bannion told me. Oh by the way Louis, he is on his way here. He should be here shortly. He is the business associate I mentioned and as such he wishes to discuss the club expansion idea with you. He is quite the natural businessman, you know, the adventurous sort who is not averse to using any sort of rites or supernatural help to further his success. Devilishly clever, don’t you think?”

At last Eco stopped and gazed at me again. “I understand he has been your doctor. I do know about your tragedy, my dear. Do permit me to offer you my condolences.”

This was too much for Louis and he grabbed hold of him, but Eco shrugged him off. “I don’t know why you always resort to fisticuffs. You know we are equally matched. It is so foolish and totally without reason to try and engage one another violently. Really, you never seemed to have learned that!”

Louis turned and looked at me. I couldn’t stand how upset he looked. “I shall take you and Marta into the kitchen myself.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Louis. I have brought my children.”

“You did what?”

Eco nodded and clapped his hands. “Come to me, my children!”

Suddenly, there were loud snapping sounds, as if a great swarm of birds were descending on us.

And there they were, his children—grey, horrid looking vampiric creatures  that flew and darted throughout the hall cackling and spitting, diving low and soaring up again just to taunt us.

Louis tried to catch them but they avoided him.

“See how unafraid they are. They know only too well you can kill them, yet they are brave, aren’t they?”

“You are nothing more than a conjurer,” Louis snapped.

Eco sighed dramatically. “I suppose that is true, for they are not really from hell as such.” He looked at them and nodded. “They are my creation—so like children.”

Louis said nothing. He was watching the monsters as they moved toward Marta. Suddenly, they attacked her.

She tried to cover her head, as it was her hair they were after, pulling it and shrieking happily as they did.

“Get them off her, Eco.”

Eco bestowed a princely nod and ordered them outside. “I will obey. Wait outside my loves, for you may welcome Dr. Bannion. Dr. Bannion, the Dartons’ pimp.”

I could see Louis seething with anger, but he did not take the bait, for to do so would have brought the monsters to attack us once again.

It was a stalemate which was only broken when a great cry went up from the vampires—and Eco smiled. “They welcome him, for he must have arrived. Is that not lovely?”

*

Bannion came in with two low women. The most common I had ever seen in my life. They hung on him since they looked too drunk to stand on their own.

As for Bannion, he looked different, slack-jawed and bloated. He looked dissipated as if he had enjoyed all manner of vice.

At last his eyes fell on me and he grinned. “Ah Rose, how do you fare here?”

“It’s none of your business, sir.”

“You cut me to the quick. Please, do not be like that. I have some grave news to impart. Marsh Asylum is no more
. T
here was a great conflagration and well, sad to say every single lunatic burnt to death!”

He’d crushed me with a single statement. “My friend?” I asked weakly.

“Yes, sadly even your friend Grace Poole perished.”

I nearly fell to the floor, but for Louis holding me. “It was for the insurance money, is that why you did it?”

Bannion shrugged. “That, and I was tired of the place. I wish to be involved in more exciting business ventures!” He turned and smiled at Eco. “Far more interesting and lucrative too, I should imagine.”

I barely heard him for I was reeling from the terrible news.

“Yes, it must be a terrible shock for you, Rose. You have my deepest condolences.”

Louis was still comforting me when Bannion went on, “It seems you have benefited much from my referral, Rose.”

Louis began to move forward. Eco stopped him. “Please, let us talk like gentlemen.”

This was too much and Louis laughed. “Go back to hell, Eco.”

Eco gently admonished him. “Now, Louis. Do not be rude. Dr. Bannion has something to tell your governess. You are his governess, aren’t you, or has your position changed? As a matter of fact I bet you have assumed many positions, for the mistress is gone now.”

Bannion snorted. “That reminds me! I am sorry, Eco told me. It is awful. I understand the Retributionists were responsible. That is what Eco said.”

Suddenly Louis lunged at Eco. “Did you have a hand in that, Eco? Did you?”

“You mean did I direct them here? That is for me to know and for you to find out.”

Just as Louis attacked Eco, Bannion spoke. “Please, do permit me to go on. I have some rather important news to impart, news I think Rose would like to hear. Rose, you were a delight, by the way. I do know what she’s like Louis, for I did bed her. We ought to discuss it some time.”

I cried out as Louis left Eco and flew at Bannion, but before he reached him, Eco spilled the contents of his flask on him. “Oh, I am sorry, how clumsy of me!”

Louis was not deterred but his movements had become slow and awkward.

Eco explained why. “You won’t be able to move now, it is mistletoe and you know what it does to the benefits of wolfbane—you do still drink that tea, don’t you? I do as well, but I lace mine with infant blood. It gives it such a special tang.”

Louis began to groan, for the potion was taking effect.

“Yes, that’s right Louis, just listen, for soon you shall be unconscious. Not too long, just long enough. Meanwhile, you shall hear what Bannion has to tell you—for aside from having intercourse with this fair blossom in Marsh… go on Bannion, tell them.”

I stopped breathing for I knew I was going to be told something dreadful, something so horrible it might destroy me.

He hesitated for a moment and stared hard into my face. I shall never forget his words, or his grinning lips. “I knew your father, Rose. I knew him for many years. He let me watch sometimes. And sometimes he let me do more than watch…”

I sank to my knees and called for Louis, but Louis was beyond helping me, although he was still conscious. All he could do was look at me and cry, because he couldn’t even speak.

Had there been someone else?
I tried to recall those horrible times. And then suddenly, I seemed to remember something in the shadows. Something silent and menacing, a figure of a man, perhaps? “I thought I dreamed it,” I murmured.

“But you didn’t dream it. It was real, Rose. It was very definitely real.”

I tried to hold my ears, but his voice droned on—loud and unstoppable. “And so bringing you fully up to date, we have that most recent occasion when you went away to your aunt’s. I waited outside for his deed to be done, Rose. Oh, yes. I knew what he was going to do. He was so pliable, like putty in my hands. It was quite exciting, for I knew I should have you. I counted on it, not realizing of course that others would foil that plan.” He gave Louis a disdainful look.

“No!” I screamed. “Lies! It can’t be true.”

I kept on screaming, not so much for myself but because I saw that Louis was unconscious, for whatever had been in that flask had made him so.