Haunting Ground - Unknown Azoth.
Chapter 1 - Escaped.
Debilitas cowered in fear before his master. Riccardo was furious, his arm rose over Debiltas.
"You let her get away? I cannot believe this! You shall be punished, Debilitas!"
Debilitas hugged into his knees in fear, whimpering. Riccardo furiously slapped Debilitas across the face before locking him in his small cabin.
Fiona had escaped, Hewie too. Riccardo's plans were ruined. Fiona being the mother of his child was no more. He walked back into the castle, slumping down on a seat in the music room. He began to grow deep in though, frustrated and disappointed in his creation for letting her escape.
"I must find her... I will not let her get away from me!"
He knew this had ruined Lorenzo's plans too. He did not care about him though. The quicker he died the better Riccardo would say to himself. Riccardo gazed over at the sculpture he had made of Fiona. He knew he could not give on his plan. His dream. This is all he ever wanted.
"I guess we should keep a low profile for now... no doubt the girl has told someone about her ordeal..."
Riccardo sighed, shuffling off down the hallway. He was tired. Very tired. Yet he did not wish to sleep. He had too much on his mind. He peered through the door to the kitchen, Daniella stood there cleaning up.
"I'm going for a drive. Do not let Debilitas out till I get back."
"Yes master." Daniella bowed to him as he left. Riccardo had no idea where he was going. He didn't care. He just wanted to get away from Belli Castle for now.
"Come on, Sarah! We'll be late!"
A young woman ran downstairs. She had darkness about her. So pale, so quiet.
"Sorry... I'm here now."
She grabbed her suitcase and followed the man outside the door. Sarah was leaving home to live with her uncle. Her parents were gone and she had no one else to look after her. Even though she would live with her uncle, she still felt so alone. She was born in Scotland. Her accent was strong yet she talked slowly and quietly. Her uncle lived down in England where they were now. He owned a small store in the middle of nowhere. He said the money was good because of certain regulars. It was nothing she cared about. She knew her uncle would make her work in the store. She was 19 after all and did not even have a job yet. Sarah pushed her suitcase into the back of the car and then sat beside her uncle. It would take a few hours to reach his house. Sarah began to rest her eyes. Her uncle looked over at her, a concerned look on his face. Then he began to leave the hotel Sarah was staying in.
Sarah woke up. Gazing down at her watch she noticed 2 hours had passed. Her uncle smiled at her.
"You slept long! Mind if I put the radio on, hun?"
"It's your car!" she smiled back, trying to put on a brave face for him.
Sarah's uncle put on the radio. It was the news.
"A young woman with the name, Fiona Belli has reported to the police that she was kidnapped by strange people. She said she was taken to Belli Castle. She managed to escape thanks to the help from her dog, Hewie. The police are already investigating the area."
"Would you believe it? Belli Castle is like a few miles from the store! One of the guys from there is one of my regulars! He usually stocks up once in a while! He seemed like a nice chap to me!"
Sarah listened curiously.
"Belli Castle... I'm a Belli you know!" she laughed. Sarah's fathers surname was Belli. She did not know much about him as he died before she was born. Being brought up without him was difficult.
"I know, dear. That Belli Castle does look rather old and creepy though! I wouldn't think you would be related!"
Sarah felt the same. It would be strange if something like that happened to her. A family she never knew about. She found the idea exciting especially the idea of the castle being old and creepy. She always loved watching horror movies late at night and longed to wish something scary would happen in her life. Her life seemed boring. Nothing exciting happened.
As they were approaching where her uncle lived, they noticed a few police cars outside. Sarah's uncle parked the car and approached the police officers outside his store. Sarah got out and grabbed her suitcase.
"No sir. I haven't seen anything odd around here in a long while! It's just a store after all!"
"Let us know if you see anyone suspicious. Thanks for your time."
The police officers left as Sarah walked up beside her uncle, her arm grasping his. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Come on then! I'll show you about the place then we can get dinner!"
Her uncle's house was above the store. It was real handy for him as he always wanted to have his own store since his wife died. He never had a child. Sarah was the closest to a child that he had and he promised his sister that he would look after Sarah no matter what.
Her uncle took her free hand and showed her around the house.
Riccardo woke up. The sun blinding his eyes. He was parked out in the middle of nowhere. Scratching his head, he peered through the car mirror. He had not seen his face for so long since Daniella had a habit of smashing the mirrors at the castle. He sighed, tracing his finger across the scars on his face; his skin was cold and leathery. Riccardo hated what he was. A clone. A creation. He longed to be more... He made a "humph" noise as he started up the car. He could only think about Fiona. Where was she? What was she doing? He had longed to touch her. Make her his own. His eyes shut with pleasure as his mind wandered. The image of him between Fiona's, legs. Fiona gasping, begging for more. He had to have her. She was the only Azoth left. Or so he thought...
He drove down the road. The road was silent and Riccardo was deep in thought.
"I should go buy a newspaper...Maybe Fiona will be in it. Can buy Debilitas a small something too to keep him happy..." Riccardo smirked to himself. He wasn't much of the caring type but he did not want Debilitas to hate him. That could only cause him to stand up for himself. Riccardo did not want that. He wanted Debilitas to be dependent on him and no one else. He reached the store he regularly used for stocking up food and other various things. He walked in silently, peering around for the items he needed. He took one of the local newspapers. There it was.
"BELLI CASTLE MYSTERY: POLICE FIND NO EVIDENCE OF KINDAP"
Riccardo's raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"They must have been to the castle already... I guess Daniella must have cleared their suspicion." he let out one of his deep chuckles. He was free to look for Fiona for now. Riccardo took the newspaper. It would give him something to read back at the castle even though he was usually busy working. A young girl came out from behind the counter. Riccardo gazed at her curiously. He had never seen her before. She was beautiful. Her face looked so gentle and full of life...just like Fiona's. He grabbed some chocolate bars, still gazing at the young woman. He knew Debilitas would appreciate the chocolate. Slowly he walked up to the counter; the woman looked slightly frightened by his appearance. His brown hood was up. He never wore it down in public. Riccardo had too much to hide underneath.
"Hello, Miss. I'll buy this thank you."
It was Sarah. Her first day working at her uncle's store and her first customer was Riccardo. Not that she knew anything about him and what he had done. But he was a strange costumer. Sarah shyly packed his bought items for him. Riccardo watched, admiring her shyness and how lovely she was. What was it that he could feel from her? He felt something different from her. The same feeling he felt from Fiona.
"It couldn't be..." he thought.
"Fiona is the only woman with Azoth...this girl can't have Azoth too." Riccardo shook away the thought as Sarah gazed up at him. Her eyes were hazel. Not bright like Fiona's. But they were full of life just the way Fiona's were when Riccardo first gazed upon her.
"Here you go sir. £3.50 please."
Riccardo ruffled around in his pockets looking for his wallet that he had. It was old and leather. Reminded him of himself in an amusing way. He took out the money he would need while another customer entered the store. It was a police officer.
"Shit."
The police officer curiously looked Riccardo up and down.
"Say aren't you one of the Belli folk?"
Riccardo grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
"I must go. Goodbye miss, sir."
Sarah and the police officer both watched him leave. Sarah gazed down at the counter soon realizing Riccardo had left his wallet.
"Sir! You've forgot your-"
The car was gone.
Sarah sighed, putting the wallet under the counter. She knew he would probably come back for it. The police officer leaned over the counter.
"I'll have 6 donuts, hunny!"