Mourner
Ernest Frankenstein was very happy. He was happy because he was alone with a very beautiful young woman, and she was flirting with him. The only reason they were alone was because her father was currently in the lavatories and the other guest, a cousin of his named Percival Beaufort, had fallen asleep on the sofa. It would hardly have been proper for him to invite her alone to his Château, but he had been hoping for a moment like this all evening. He, Helena (for she was indeed the young woman in question) and her father had been playing whist for most of the evening.
Now, their cards lay forgotten on the table and they were whispering quietly, holding hands.
"I must confess I have had...feelings for you for some time," she told him shyly, her cheeks going pink.
Ernest smiled and leaned towards her, and she moved her face towards his. He could barely believe it - surely she was not about to kiss him? A huge grin spread across his face.
They were an inch from kissing, maybe less, when they heard footsteps. Monsieur Brunel was returning. Helena blushed again and giggled, leaning back. Ernest smiled too, even though he was irritated that he would not get to kiss her.
A few moments later Monsieur Brunel entered the room.
"What?" exclaimed Percival, starting up. Ernest laughed.
"Come cousin," he said, "join me in the garden. Monsieur and Mademoiselle Brunel are of course also welcome."
Helena dimpled prettily and took his arm. They headed out to the garden and Monsieur Beaufort followed behind, talking with her father.
A full moon rose, bright and shining above the trees, bathing the walkers in its pearly light.
"Forgive me, cousin," gasped Percival, sounding uncomfortable, "I must return to the Château. It would be unwise for me to remain here."
Ernest laughed, and told his cousin not to be foolish.
"Please," Percival explained, "my company may endanger you if I stay outside any longer."
"What on earth do you mean, Monsieur Beaufort?" exclaimed Helena.
Percival did not reply. He dropped onto all fours instead.
"What is the meaning of this?" exclaimed Monsieur Brunel, "is your cousin mad, sir?"
Ernest did not reply. He was staring at the transformation his cousin was undergoing. His face was becoming longer and more lupine, and his teeth were yellowing and growing sharper. Fur was sprouting along his body, and his hands and feet were becoming more and more like paws. His clothes were ripping off as his muscles bulged and moved. He snarled, and the onlookers saw that there was no longer a man standing in front of them. He had become a wolf.
The wolf stood there growling, gazing balefully at Ernest and the Brunels. Suddenly, he leapt at them.
Ernest reacted instinctively, pushing Helena to the ground and shielding her body with his. He heard yells and snarls, and realised too late that Helena was not the intended target. He leapt to his feet, but could see that there was nothing left to be done for the girl's father. Helena scrambled up, then let out a bloodcurdling scream at the sight of her father being torn apart. She tried to run to him, but Ernest held her back, knowing that attacking the wolf would only provoke it and cause it to kill her too. Eventually, the creature that had been his cousin stopped disembowelling Monsieur Brunel, howled at the moon and ran away towards Lake Geneva.
Helena ran weeping to her father, and Ernest followed her slowly. There was no hope for the man and Helena turned to him, weeping. He put his arms around her and she sobbed into his shoulder. That was when Ernest decided to leave that place, and take her with him.
