Chronicles of Darkness: Shadows and Dust

by Andrea F. Thomas

  Helena wrinkled her forehead. "The nobles?"

  "Yes," the police chief continued. "This bastard only kills girls with noble heritage, who are untouched, if you know what I mean. Be that as it may, last night, he killed the baroness Simone de Francois, and her governess, Colette Lescoit. Like I said, I'm on my way to the crime scene. Will you accompany me?"

  Helena nodded. "Of course. I just want to tell my children that I'm leaving."

  "Yes, do that. I'll be waiting here for your return," the chief said, wringing his hands, nervously.

  Helena hurried to her children, who were longingly waiting for her so that they could continue to stroll across the funfair. "I'm really sorry, but you will have to continue without me. I have to take care of an urgent matter."

  Both children attempted to protest, which Helena prevented immediately. "I will explain later. Kyrian, keep an eye on Skylar. In the evening, both of you return with the carriage. We will see each other at the castle. Now go and have fun." With that, Helena disappeared into the crowd.

  "What do you think, Kyrian? Where is Mama going?" Skylar asked, curiosity overwhelming her.

  "I don't know. But I guess it's important."

  Defiantly, the girl crossed her arms. "That is mean. Of course it is something important, and we're not allowed to be present."

  "Little one, we are at a festival and are supposed to have some fun. Mama will tell us everything, I'm sure," Kyrian reminded his sister and dragged her along. "Come on. Let's see if we can't find something interesting. Look, there are musicians and dancers. And, if I'm not very much mistaken, there is a puppet theater."

  At the words 'puppet theater', Skylar's eyes brightened with happiness. "Well, what are we waiting for?" Radiant with joy, she stormed ahead.

  Kyrian followed right behind her.

  During the puppet show, his stomach was making itself known, loudly. He leaned over to his sister and whispered into her ear, "I'm going to look for something to eat. You will stay here, and you won't go anywhere. Understood? Not even when the show is over. You will wait for me, did I make myself clear?"

  Skylar nodded, absentminded. "Uh huh." She was completely engrossed in the story.

  Amused, Kyrian patted her head and left the theater in search for some nourishment. Excited by the play, Skylar listened intently to the final words of the puppeteer.

  "And the moral of our story, may you be a beast or not, real beauty is found within.

  Love is the greatest force on earth. Don't let it run dry in your heart and you will always be able to beat evil."

  The puppeteer bowed on the stage, to the thundering applause of the audience. "Well, my good people. That was the show for today. Thanks for listening."

  Skylar turned to speak to her brother, only to discover that he was no longer sitting next to her. Wrinkling her forehead, the girl let her gaze sweep, unable to find him. "Where could he have gone?" She rose and left the theater. "This is just great. How am I supposed to find him in this crowd? Maybe I should start with the food tents."

  Kyrian was horrified upon his return. Not one soul remained at the theater. "Damn it! I told her to wait for me!" He dashed into the crowd, searching for his little sister."Skylar! Skylar, where are you?" Panic gripped his heart, his eyes darted around, desperately searching for the small blonde head somewhere, anywhere, but it seemed to be all in vain. "Damn it, damn it, damn it! Mama will be furious if something has happened to Skylar. I shouldn't have gotten so distracted by the female dancer. Then, I would have been back before the show was over," he reprimanded himself.

  Frantic, he forced his way through the crowds, asking again and again, if somebody had seen a little girl with long, blonde hair and green-brown eyes. Nobody could help him.

  Finally, he reached a little tent, set aside from the others. A feeling of uneasiness rose inside him. But something seemed to pull him to the tent. Kyrian entered and was surprised. On the outside the tent had looked very shabby and old, but on the inside, it was heavily decorated with carpets, silk and velvet. In the middle, hanging from the ceiling, was a little vessel made of metal, with light, blue steam floating out of it. The air carried the pleasant scent of incense. Most of the room was taken up by a big, round, wooden table. A crystal ball sat on a tablecloth of dark-blue velvet.

  While Kyrian was taking in his surroundings, a voice croaked behind him, "Well, my boy? What can I do for you?"

  He whirled around and came face to face with a wrinkled, old woman.

  She coughed strongly and limped to her chair, where she sat down, moaning and groaning. "Dear God, but my back is aching."

  Kyrian couldn't help but stare at her.

  "What is wrong, boy? Didn't your mother ever tell you that it is impolite to stare? Or is it that a cat got your tongue, or that you have never seen an old woman in your life?" She chuckled, which ended with another coughing spree.

  Kyrian blushed at the old woman's reprimand. "I beg your pardon, Madame, it wasn't my intention to..."

  The old woman waved one of her bony hands. "Bah, nonsense! You are looking for someone. Am I right... Kyrian?"

  He paled noticeably at the use of his name by a complete stranger. "H-How do you know my name?"

  The old woman smiled and winked mysteriously. "Ah, Madame Zynora knows everything. You are searching for your sister, Skylar, is that her name?"

  Kyrian was too amazed to answer, so he just nodded, dumbly.

  "Don't worry. You two will be together again, before the day is over." The old fortune-teller assured him.

  The whole situation scared the young hunter. How could the old woman know all that? "Um, yes... uh... thank you very much, kind lady... I'll leave now... it was a pleasure..."

  Faster than it should have been possible for a crone, Madame Zynora leapt from her chair and grabbed his arm with her narrow, wrinkled hands. "You will sit down, boy. I want to tell your fortune, by the cards."

  Kyrian cleared his throat. "Thank you, but that really isn't necessary. I..."

  The old woman increased the strength of her grip, then pushed the young man to sit on a large pillow. "I insist. I tell the fortunes by the cards for everyone that enters the tent of Madame Zynora."

  Finally, Kyrian relented. 'What does it matter? I'm going to listen what this old, crazy lady has to tell me, before she tries to break my arm.'

  Madame Zynora sat down on her chair, shuffled a deck of colorful, well-worn cards, took two out of it and put them down in front of Kyrian, the picture covered. She pointed to the left card. "This one will show you an encounter in your near future."

  Kyrian turned the card around. It showed the Queen of Cups.

  The old woman coughed so hard, the hunter feared she would injure her lung, at any moment. She raised both arms, calling out, dramatically, "Beware, my boy! Beware the Queen of Cups! She will seal your fate!"

  He drew his brows together. "Why? What will happen?"

  "Turn the other card and you shall see." Madame Zynora explained.

  Terror struck Kyrian and his hand trembled, as he reached for the card. Slowly, he turned it around. His heart skipped a beat or two. Wide-eyed, he sat there, staring at the picture. Death.

  Kyrian leapt from his pillow, and slowly he retreated to the tent's exit. Refusing to believe what he had seen, he shook his head, his heart beating wildly, his hands cold and wet. "No, no, there is no truth in what you said. That cannot happen!"

  Madame Zynora watched him with unreadable, dark eyes and repeated, "Beware, Kyrian Leosol! Beware the Queen of Cups!"

  The young man stumbled out of the tent, trying to clear his mind and to get himself under control again. Blinking, he looked at the sun and took deep breaths. Slowly the horror faded and he continued searching for his sister.

  *****

  At the same time, Skylar was forcing her way through the crowd in front of Notre-Dame. "I'm never going to find him like this. There are far too many people here. Kyrian! Kyrian!" She jumped and stretched up on her tip-toes,
hoping to somehow catch a glimpse of her brother.

  Beside her, a man, in a red-white checkered costume, stalked along on stilts. 'I need something like this. Then, I could overview the whole plaza. Hmm, I need to find a place that's higher than anything else.' Her eyes gazed around and stopped at a wooden pole, where a lot of colorful pennants and garlands, on a rope, stretched across the whole area.

  Skylar grinned. "That's exactly what I've been looking for. Now I will find Kyrian." Dexterously, she climbed up the pole. "The view is great from here."

  A mere heartbeat later, she discovered Kyrian among the crowd. Skylar climbed down, and ran towards her brother. In her hurry to reach him, she tripped over a loose cobblestone and crashed right into an unsuspecting woman, whom she flattened beneath her.

  "Oh Mademoiselle, that... I'm so very sorry. Wait, let me help you up." Skylar hurriedly scrambled to her feet to assist her hapless victim.

  Chalice sat up and brushed the long, blond hair out of her face. She scrutinized the girl up and down with her dark brown eyes. "Can't you pay more attention to where you are going, child?"

  "I-I'm sorry... I was in a hurry... because... my brother... and..." Skylar stuttered, nervously.

  "Alright, alright. I'm still alive. Nothing happened, except that all my purchases are scattered on the street." Chalice spat, annoyed.

  Skylar knelt down and began to pick up the packages. As she did so, her loose hair slipped to the side, revealing the nape of her neck.

  Chalice gasped and bent over the girl to get a good look at the tattoo. 'Hmm. The head of a lion. I've seen this sign before. But where?'

  She jerked back from her thoughts as the girl, happily smiling, showed her the now filled basket. "See, Mademoiselle? Everything is back where it was before."

  "Skylar! Thank you, God, I finally found you! Where the hell have you been? I was so very worried about you!" Kyrian exclaimed relieved, embracing his sister tightly.

  "Where do you think I've been?" Accusing, she stabbed at his chest with her index finger. "I've been searching for you everywhere! One moment, we are sitting in the puppet theater watching Beauty and the Beast. The next thing I know, you're gone, without saying a word!" Skylar indignantly explained.

  "I told you that you needed to wait for me!" Kyrian retorted, angrily. "I was just looking for some food! But, it doesn't matter anymore." His anger faded, somewhat. "The most important thing is I found you." Then, he noticed the blonde woman, who was looking at them, completely enraptured.

  "Mademoiselle? Is something wrong?" Kyrian asked.

  "Wha... what..." Chalice stuttered, still caught in her trance.

  Kyrian was concerned. "Are you alright? You seem to be a bit confused. Is there anything I can help you with?"

  Chalice smiled sweetly. "No, everything is fine. I think it's just the after-effect of the little crash and fall I took."

  Skylar blushed, embarrassed, hung her head, rubbed her neck and whispered, "I'm really sorry. I didn't do it on purpose."

  Kyrian drew his brows together, narrowed his eyes and looked at his sister. "What have you done, now?"

  "Monsieur, please, I assure you, I'm fine. It was just a little mishap," Chalice interrupted quickly, giving him a beaming smile.

  "Oh, alright. That puts me at ease," Kyrian said and returned the smile. Only then did he notice her beauty and grew bashful.

  "Well, it is late, and I have some more errands to run. Au revoir." She turned to leave, but hesitated when Kyrian asked, "May I ask for your name, please?"

  Chalice flashed the handsome young hunter her most flirtatious smile. "I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours."

  He straightened his back and puffed up his chest. "I'm Kyrian Leosol, new to town."

  "Splendid, Kyrian Leosol, new to town. My name is... Christine. I hope to see you again, soon." She waved goodbye, winked at Skylar and disappeared into the crowd.

  The girl looked at her brother, who was staring after the woman with a silly grin on his face. "Kyrian?"

  "Christine," he sighed. "What a beautiful name... it fits such a beautiful woman perfectly."

  CHAPTER THREE

  INVESTIGATIONS

  "Attention! The police chief has arrived at the crime scene!"

  All policemen present stood to attention, greeting their highest superior with a loud and clear, "Bonjour, Monsieur Dutroit!"

  Unnerved, he answered, "Oui, oui. Proceed, gentlemen."

  The policemen looked on in surprise, while one of them led the chief and Helena to the place of the horrible deed. In front of the room's door, the man cleared his throat and said, "The room hasn't been entered since we discovered the dead women. To us the situation seemed quite... um... delicate. Everything is still untouched, Monsieur le Directeur."

  Impatiently, Monsieur Dutroit responded, "C'est bon. Open the door now. Don't keep us waiting any longer."

  The policeman fetched a long, iron key from his pocket and unlocked the door of the room, which was still dark, because of the closed curtains. A horrible stench, reminding human senses of a slaughter house, escaped from it. Immediately the three of them covered their faces with their arms, to keep from becoming overwhelmed by the smell of death.

  "For the love of God, open the windows, right now!" Monsieur Dutroit panted. "The stench is unbearable!"

  The policeman hurried to carry out the order of his superior. Forceful, he pulled the curtains aside and unlocked the windows. The warm, red light of the sinking sun couldn't even attempt to veil the horrible scenario, which spread out in front of their shocked eyes. Helena felt sick to her stomach, even though she had witnessed many revolting things in her life.

  Monsieur Dutroit articulated what the huntress merely thought. "Mon dieu! What kind of monster is able to do something like that?" Three pairs of eyes gazed upon the poor soul at their feet. This first look was enough to have them turn away, to flee from the cruel image. The police chief went to the window that had been opened. His whole body was shaking, and he couldn't bear to turn around again. "I've never seen anything like this in all my years as a policeman," he choked out of his dry throat. "Just what is becoming of our beautiful Paris? What is happening to make cruel things like this possible?"

  The other policeman fled the room. Sounds of retching and spitting could be heard. While Helena pulled out a handkerchief to protect her somewhat from the smell, Monsieur Dutroit untied his neck kerchief and wrapped it around his mouth and nose. "These young fellows today," he snorted. "They can't take anything. Well, I guess it is understandable."

  Both turned to the body. "This has to be Colette Lescoit, the governess. At least, I think it's her, ensuing from the rest of her clothes. Not much more to say, I think... she's been completely gutted..." Stunned, he leaned forward to look at her head. "There is not much left of her face. It looks like she got run over by a cart."

  Helena was more interested in the governess' throat and any marks left behind, although she couldn't detect any traces of bites on the twisted neck. The huntress tried to fit the puzzle pieces together, but everything seemed confusing and disconnected. She noticed that the governess still had her heart, even if it lay outside of her body, on the blood-soaked carpet.

  The police chief interrupted her thoughts. "Are you looking for anything in specific, Madame?"

  Helena shook her head. "No, no", she answered, embarrassed. "If you allow me, I would like to have a look at the baroness."

  Monsieur Dutroit nodded. "According to the report, she is in her room, lying in bed. Also, her body has not been as horrendously battered."

  Helena opened the connecting door and stepped into the room, examining it. She carefully searched for any clues that would lead her to the culprit. Through the door, she could hear Monsieur Dutroit talking harshly to his men, "Oui, I looked at her and you can carry the body away. By God, what are you doing? Cover her with a sheet! I don't want people to make a big fuss about this. Also, I would like to know, how it was possible for the press to know a
bout this, before we were informed. It was supposed to be top secret!... What?... Then put it in a bucket! I want everything taken for further investigations! And, damn it all... do something about this abominable stench!"

  Compassionately, Helena looked at the bloodless female on the bed. "Simone de Francois. Poor child, so young and beautiful. You didn't deserve such an early death. Your life had just begun." Gently Helena brushed the hair aside and uncovered the dead woman's throat. There she found the typical bite marks she had been looking for.

  The huntress remembered Bernard's words and repeated, "In the silvery light of the moon you seem like innocent angels." She paused, regarded the dead girl and then added, "You all would be angels in garden Eden indeed, if he hadn't betrayed you." Slowly Helena lowered the girl's nightgown a bit. Her face hardened as she saw stitches in the place where once a heart was beating. "Neatly cut out," she whispered. "Just as I thought."

  Now more determined than ever, Helena made it her one objective to track down the vampire as quickly as possible. Concentrating, she looked around the room. "Everything in here seems to be untouched... but the parlor looks like a battle field. Clearly, two different signatures. Bernard told the truth. They work together."

  Helena glanced at the little basin, her blurred reflection stared back at her. "Hmm... Water mixed with blood... but nothing that refers to the vampire's whereabouts. It's no use. I need the names and addresses of all noble girls, who live in and around Paris. For that, I must have Monsieur's Dutroit's help," she mumbled thoughtfully. "Hopefully he won't get suspicious." It was a risk the huntress had to take. "Alright, I need to hurry and warn my children. We have to act quickly. The vampire and his companion must not detect our presence here."

  Sighing, her thoughts turned to the impending discussion with Kyrian and Skylar. "They will not like being instructed to not leave the castle after dusk. Until I have clarity of the vampire's hideout, I will not subject them to any danger."