Ned did the worst he could do. Even I had not expected it. He had Gabriel thrown in with the Ferals! Ramet told me. “He had Dia witness it! Anton took her out of her cage to see it! She called to him but he had already been turned...”
I was horrified. “He has been turned into one of them?!” I cried.
Ramet nodded sadly. “He is a monstrous vampire now.”
Naturally I pitied Gabriel. I wondered if he knew what had happened. I hope he did not. Still, it was Dia I worried about. I wanted so to be with her. I felt powerless, trapped as I was with Ned and the occasional visit by Anton. How the little monster gloated.
The only thing that pleased me was Ned’s discomfiture after Gabriel had arrived. Yes, he failed in his mission, but he had come. He had managed to find his Dia.
As Ned appeared more furtive and worried I felt like gloating. I felt sure he was thinking of the curse. Even better, I felt sure he was expecting it to happen soon! Of course I never asked him about it, but I didn’t have to. His behavior said it all.
I’ve never had the gift of prophecy—yet I felt certain things would change and change quickly. Ned had taken to drinking more heavily than ever. I related that to his fear of the curse. He’d drink himself into a stupor and because of his drinking he had been delegating more power to that freak son of his.
Anton had never had more control over the sideshow. And because this was so, the beatings had become the horrible focus of the shows!
Ramet told me how the people loved it. “They are disgusting, Justine you should see how they cry for it.”
He happened to mention one on-looker that didn’t. A handsome man he said that seemed quite taken with Dia. “I thought he knew her, he looked upset by her suffering. I saw his eyes pick out Anton and Ned too. He did not look like the kind of being anyone would want angry at them.”
“Being?” I asked.
Ramet nodded. “Yes, I took him for a vampire at first but then I took him for something else, something different...a vampire and not a vampire.”
I had no idea what he could mean and told him. I pleaded with him to tell me as much as he could about this man. “Tell me if he comes again, Ramet. I too feel something is afoot...”
He agreed that he would. Then on a night like many others, with Ned the worst for drink, I had a caller, quite an amazing one as it turned out. He said his name was Eco. He looked quite the gentleman dressed as he was in a handsome frock coat and top hat. He removed the hat at once.
“Madame, I am Eco and I beg to have a word with you.”
He fascinated me. There was something about him—about his face and his eyes. I think he expected to be asked inside. I apologized and motioned him in at once.
He asked if I was sure we would be alone. I told him I was. “My friend is quite inebriated and we will not be disturbed.”
I saw the flicker of a smile. “That is good...”
He asked me my name and I told him. He then began to tell me why he had come. “There is a girl here. One I have known, in fact.” He smiled. “I have known her mother and father too.”
“Do you speak of Dia?”
“Dia, yes.”
I asked him as politely as I could to explain his business. I wanted to know about him but I also wanted to make certain he would not harm Dia.
“First let me tell you about myself...”
“You are vampiric.”
“Yes,” He paused. “But I am more than that.”
He began to tell me the most amazing thing. Truly I have never heard anything like it. “I am the son of a fallen angel and a human mother. My cousin is Dia’s father...Louis Darton. Dia was adopted.”
“Yes, she has told me about this...”
“Dracula was my friend...he created her. He was destroyed.”
“By Destroyers.”
“Yes, that is right. Dia mourned him and was befriended by another...” He paused. “Let me make this short so that we can just focus on what is important. I want to rescue her from this hell. I know how she suffers. I have seen it. I wish to get her away. And you too if you should like it.”
He saw by my face how I wished to leave.
“There is another friend who wishes her forgiveness...for something he did. He is ill and I want the two to meet.”
I showed him to the door. “I am glad you have come,” I said.
He searched my eyes for a moment then he smiled. “I will come again.”
****
It wasn’t until later that night I smelled smoke, the first indication that there was a fire. Ned smelled it too for it instantly sobered him up. I watched as he rushed away to check for damage.
Ramet came to tell me Dia was alright. “She is fine,” he said. “There was quite a fire. It spread quickly, but has been put out. I spoke with Dia. She knows Gabriel planned it.”
“Gabriel?!”
As incredible as it seemed, it had to have been Gabriel. He told me then about discarded matches that Gabriel must have known about. In whatever part of him remained that was a reasoning being had decided to immolate himself and cheat Ned out of further torturing him. Ned was in a fury.
“He is insane with anger, but I think he fears the curse even more! There is fear there ... the intensity of which I have rarely seen! And as for Anton, father and son cling to one another—they have never looked more desperate.”
I was glad. But I was even more glad for Gabriel. I asked Ramet if he suffered long.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “He breathed in smoke and was not conscious almost at once.”
“And how is Dia taking it?”
Ramet shrugged. “She is asleep. She screamed so much for him that Ned gave her blood wine.”
I was glad he had. I told Ramet about my visitor. “He will be coming soon to see Dia. I will send for you to bring her up. I think we will all be free, truly free, my friend!”
He bowed. “I am feeling hopeful. For the first time in a long time I am feeling like a bird about to fly from its cage.”
“Ramet! We will fly together ... all of it, we will be like the Phoenix rising from the ashes!”
****
Ned had much to do, despite his anger about the fire and about what Gabriel had done. He was so busy with Anton seeing to the creatures and the damage, I was left alone to await Eco’s next visit which was soon. He waited nervously in the hall.
I sent for Dia. Ramet brought her up. She looked wan and pale. There were dark circles under her eyes. She was mourning for Gabriel. We embraced and I told her there was a gentleman to see her.
If she looked surprised then, she looked shocked when Eco revealed himself. His voice was pleading. “Dia, please hear me. Whatever I may have done in the past, it is now that counts!”
I heard them speaking for some time. Eco was explaining so many things to her. When she realized who he was she sounded better. “And you have come to save us?”
“Yes, to take you from here and reunite you with someone who longs to see you. Fabio...”
Fabio?! It was amazing. I heard her cry out. It was then that I knew just how much she loved him.
They only had a few minutes together before Ned appeared. I tried to distract him but he heard Eco’s voice. “Who is that?” He didn’t wait for an answer but rushed into the parlor. “Who the hell are you?”
When he moved to attack, Eco merely laughed. “This is a long time coming...!” he said.
I watched as his hands encircled Ned’s throat. Then he smiled. “No, it is too easy for you, too fast.” With that said he grasped Ned in a bear hug and broke his back with a loud crack. When Ned lay on the floor, Eco smiled wider. “Yes, that’s right. How does it feel to be powerless?” he asked.
Eco bent over him—I watched his shoulders move. When he straightened up, Ned was covered in blood. Eco spat out his tongue. Justine and I turned away, but Ramet fell to his knees to further mutilate this man he had come to hate with all of his being. Soon, there was little of Ned that was recognizable.
/> “Come ... let us go to the Hall. There is more bloody business to complete this night!” Eco shouted.
Now for the rest of the curse to be fulfilled!
****
We could hear the shrieks of the Ferals and above those, the sounds of whipping. The Ferals were in agony because of their burns, but the Weres and the Wendigo screamed at the sting of the leather that lashed their flesh.
The staff and Anton along with the eunuchs whipped the creatures. One of them pointed toward us. The eunuchs had no fear for they charged at Eco and Ramet. Ramet fought them off as much as possible but being of equal strength, he was not winning. Eco, however, tore the eunuchs’ heads off. When the staff saw this, they rushed away. Eco said to kill them and Ramet did.
That left Anton. How the little man pleaded for his life. How he begged. It did not last long for his head, too, soon lay beside the other ones.
The Ferals, all badly burned, were in agony. Eco destroyed them as gently as possible. “They are beyond their pain now and that is best.”
The Weres and Wendigo understood what had happened and reached out to touch Eco in gratitude. Eco touched them too. Then he said the words I shall never forget. “We will all go to the tunnels. They are vast. Freedom is at hand, hurry!”
CHAPTER 47
Soon, nothing remained of the Circus of Delights. It was only right that the place of so much torture would exist no more.
Ramet called the Wendigo by his name, Arrowhead. “He has suffered more than any other being,” he said.
I had no doubt, for the creature looked ill. Eco and Ramet, each with a torch, guided poor Arrowhead and the Weres down the stairs. I didn’t think Arrowhead would make it, but Ramet half carried him. The Weres were far hardier. There were four of them, two males and two females.
Eco told us about the catacombs under the city. “They have been there for centuries, before the Romans came...”
That sounded alright, but when he mentioned sewers I just stopped. The stench was overpowering.
“You can’t stop, Justine!” Dia pleaded. “We must go!”
I knew she was right. Eco looked pleased when I followed along. Ramet whispered courage which made me smile. Ramet, my dear friend how grateful I was to know him.
Eco led us to a door which opened into a dank, dark tunnel. The farther we went, the less the stink. By this time, Arrowhead could no longer walk at all and had to be carried. Ramet took him in his arms. The poor creature howled when he did for he had so many lash marks on his body.
Soon it seemed that one odor replaced another. There was such a smell of dampness and rot. “From the rivers... The city grew on top of long ago buried rivers,” Eco said.
We raced along one tunnel only to find another. There were vast chambers containing masses of bones. They weren’t arranged in any order, they were just thrown in. Eco said they were from plague victims.
Between the dust and the damp, it was difficult to breathe even for us and we had to rest. Arrowhead was breathing in short shallow breaths. I knew he would not live long. Ramet knew it too. I could tell. Still we pushed on. If we wondered how we would feed, we didn’t wonder long for there was much to feed on.
Eco agreed. “There are many rats as well as eels, mice and frogs. There are even crabs. I have seen some since we’ve been in here. Look, there goes one now!” Ramet showed us with the light of his raised torch. We saw them scurrying up the slime-coated walls. In no time we were sucking them dry. Ramet fed Arrowhead, but he looked to be sinking fast. He moaned and turned his head finally. The poor creature could no longer swallow.
After we had gone a fair distance, Eco told us to rest. Dia and I embraced. I watched her until she fell asleep. Ramet smiled. “You are a good friend to her.”
I sighed. For I felt sure she was thinking of Fabio. The heart, even an un-beating one does not choose where it will go.
I don’t know how long we slept but all I can recall is when I woke, Eco telling us Arrowhead was dead.
“He is beyond his pain,” Ramet said. “He will never suffer again or feel fear. It is a blessing.”
We supposed it was, for the poor creature had suffered so much in his life. Now he would suffer no more. Sadly, he had to be left there to rot. There was no choice. Ramet took him to a corner, and covered him with rubble.
I wept. Whatever monster I had once been seemed to be no more. I had feelings and compassion. How sad to be like that when one is a demonic being. The truth, however uncomfortable, must always be recognized as truth.
The Weres were waiting for Eco to speak. They looked frightened. Eco calmed them. “It is best for you to find your own way. There are great forests and caves—this tunnel I know will lead you away from the city. Follow its course and worry not. Go until you see daylight. By that time you will have reached the vast forest there. You will find creatures like yourselves...”
His voice trailed off as he studied them. They looked at one another—it was difficult to tell if they understood. Their leader did though, for he took Eco’s hand and nodded. “Forest... and live!”
We watched them go, each of us hoping they would make it.
Now there were four of us. “Come,” Eco said. “We have more ground to cover. Our reward is waiting. You will be pleased.” He nodded to Dia as he said that.
I remember wondering why he did. I would soon know.
It seemed we walked far when at last Eco said we had reached our destination. “I know it very well. My brothel was above this place, as well as my home centuries ago. I go there when I have to...”
He motioned for us to follow and we did until we came to a ladder. Eco smiled. “I have planned this for a while. Come.”
Dia and I cried for our ordeal was over. We climbed up and emerged onto an ordinary looking street. Dia asked if it was Southwark which would have meant we had passed under the Thames itself!
“Yes, and make no mistake. I had checked the route myself. I knew there were neither breeches nor flooding in the tunnels,” Eco stated.
We emerged into a familiar world for it was twilight. The street was quiet, although Eco had us walk through alleyways as a precaution. “The less people know, the better it is. You never know where you are with humans,” he said. At last we halted. “We are here.” None of us could get over it.
“You may think it looks like an ordinary building.” He smiled. “But it wasn’t. It was full of lusty vampire wenches. That was my first brothel. I have had others, but I am most fond of that one. I still stay there on occasion. An acquaintance of mine keeps it off the market.”
It looked alright. Yet, it was empty and all empty houses are sad.
“There are rooms upstairs...”
Eco had more to say, clearly and if I wondered why he was staring at Dia, I did not wonder long. “Dia, Fabio is there, but he may be dying. He tried to destroy himself.”
CHAPTER 48
What a moment that was. Dia let out a sob. I watched as she rushed up the stairs. It was obvious she still loved him. Whether that was right or wrong, I felt I had no right to judge. Eco followed her. He glanced at me and I knew what he was thinking. It has to be her choice.
Ramet agreed. “Even our un-beating hearts know love or fondness. We certainly can understand regret.”
Ramet and I spoke quietly until Dia came back to us. She looked afraid to tell us what had transpired. I wanted her to know I understood.
“We know, Dia,” I said.
A long look passed between us, whereupon Dia smiled. “I will see Fabio now, there is much to say,” she whispered.
****
She was gone for quite some time. Ramet said the truth could never be denied, at least not without consequences.
“They will be reconciled then, if he survives,” I said.
Ramet agreed. “We become our fate...Justine.”
I thought of Gascoyne when he said that and began to cry.
“Come,” Ramet finally said. “Let us go to see what has happened.”
Eco led us to the room. Dia was by the bed. Fabio turned and smiled at us. He looked weak—very weak indeed.
Dia motioned us inside. “I have forgiven, Fabio. I have given him my blood.”
I nodded. “Then it is right.” Dia looked surprised by my words. “If he is truly sorry, then you were right to forgive him... I have regretted much in my existence, Dia. I left those I should not have left. I have much I regret.”
“The mistakes we make,” she answered.
Standing there, I felt punished for every wrong I had ever done, for every act of wantonness and evil.
Dia interrupted my thoughts. She was speaking of Fabio. “He came so close to the abyss because he was so consumed with hatred for Dracula. It drove him to do what he did. When he brought me to his castle, I was still mourning Dracula and he couldn’t stand it.”
“And you will always love him.”
“I will always remember him because he is my creator. That can never change, Justine. Eco says we are bonded.”
I thought of Gascoyne. Ramet was watching me with a strange look upon his face. I sighed and Ramet nodded. “Creation is the strongest of all vampire bonds.”
Ramet took me in his arms to comfort me for I had given way to my emotions. I was allowing myself to think of Gascoyne once again.
****
We waited until Fabio was fully recovered when we knew we would leave. It pleased me to see how happy Dia looked. “It is a feeling you have forgotten,” I said.
She agreed. Ramet and I left then. “Well, the time has come, my dear,” I smiled, “as they say in those romantic novels, for us to part.” I paused a moment to get a hold of myself. Ramet had to steady me.
“I hope you find love, my friend.” Dia’s eyes shone with tears. “For I cannot think of anyone who deserves it more than you.”
We embraced. I tried to speak but I could not, my emotion had stopped my tongue.
We left then, but not before Ramet took Dia’s hand and bowed. “Miss Dia, I have known many beings throughout time, and I must say your friendship is the most treasured. I will always be your servant.”
“You will always be my dear friend, Ramet.”
Eco led us outside. “May you never know anguish or suffering.”
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