Chapter 10 - Accusations
Caroline couldn't believe her ears, so all what had happened was part of some man's obsession with having a successful board game? The whole point in this was so he could learn about the characters and make them be a hit?
What normal person would do that? A light bulb popped in her mind. Liz, her mother, had told her something that might actually be useful in real life
"Is there a computer in here? One that connects to the internet preferably"
Bella thought for a moment and then nodded
"I have a laptop but it's broken... there is a computer in the library though. Why?"
"My mom told me something. I think if we can get to the computer we can call for help"
Bella blinked. she3 wasn't very internet savvy herself but...
"The phones are cut off. Don't we need them?"
Caroline shrugged twisting a blond tendril around her fingers. What did they have to lose? Stuffing the papers in her bag again, the pair of them slowly walked out of it, holding hands like snow white and ruby red.
They went downstairs and slowly stepped into the Tudor Mansion hall. Bella looked at Caroline and whispered
"You check the dining room, I'll check the living room, and we'll tackle the basement together"
"What are we looking for?"
Jesus this girl's mind worked in spurts only!
"The main switch power. The same Mr. Boddy turned off earlier, remember?"
She explained and Caroline nodded. Bella hoped she had seen one before as they parted. She headed to the living room holding one hand against the wall as guide.
Caroline felt uneasy about being alone, but she couldn't exactly say anything - she was supposed to be the strongest. The sooner they got away the better. She entered the Dining room, thankful for being able to see in the dark and scanned the tops of the living room to see if there was a box or something. there was nothing, she couldn't see anything that may even look like it could be connected to the power; that being said, she wasn't sure what exactly she was looking for.
She took one last final glance around her and hurriedly made her way to the living room where Bella was. the brunette human girl was trailing both hands on the smooth wallpaper.
"Nothing!"
She whispered; Bella looked at her general direction and shook her head before going to her
"Nothing here, either..."
Taking Caroline's hand and keeping the other against the walls, she led her slowly down to the kitchen and then down another set of stairs to the basement. that room was big, dark and as soon as they entered it, Bella seemed to know where to go.
On the far end, a large box was on the wall. Opening it, Bella fumbled around until she found a wheel like thingy until a clasping sound was heard and they were bathed in bright light. Their steps were lighter as they returned to the ground floor and Caroline wet straight to the bar to get a drink.
No sooner than the burning liquid hit their throats, the glass door to Caroline's left flung open. Caroline screamed
"WAIT! It's just me"
Edward Masen said raising both hands.
"Where the hell have you been all this time?"
asked Bella; it was strange that no one had heard of Edward for so long. Especially with the mind reading thing his character sheet boasted.
"I've been looking for you guys, I think I found a way out"
He said innocently. Too innocently for Bella's liking
"Oh really, well half of us are dead...er"
she said watching his face intently for a reaction. Edward's face changed
"What?"
The shocked look on his face was convincing but not convincing enough for Caroline who slid on a stool between him and the human. Cold one (whatever that meant) or not, two were better than one.
"So why is that we've all been together and most of us have died, yet you've been alone"
Caroline trailed
"Easy pray"
added Bella
"...and yet you're still alive-ish?"
Caroline finished. Edward shrugged;
"I have no idea?"
he said nervously. Caroline's thoughts were a mess of accusations and he looked at the human but once again no thoughts floated from that one. How to play it?
"Oh come on, do you really think I'm responsible here?"
he asked frantically.
"I found Klaus's body"
"Exactly!"
Caroline interrupted before he could begin complaining about the gruesome sight again
"You walk off and suddenly, he's dead..."
She stated. She had a point. Bella was inching slowly towards the big glass of scotch Caroline had poured her. It wouldn't hurt him but maybe it could buy them some time to get away if he tried to attack them.
If the whiny vampire with the creepy eyes was working with Mr. Boddy, she didn't want to be pray again.
"What's your relation to Mr. Boddy?"
She asked. The character sheet had him dying in 1918, not too far in the past for him to be some sort of ancestor to Mr. Boddy.
"Who?"
asked Edward. Confusion was written across his face.
"Mr. Boddy, the person who owns Tudor Mansion?"
said Caroline sarcastically. Edward looked at both of them
"Look...I don't know what to say, but I'm not a killer..."
said Edward, his voice began cracking, as though he was under enormous amounts of pressure.
"Save it!"
said Bella; he walked to the door and opened it
"We have a way out of here now. You can explain yourself to the cops. I don't know how things are n your world, but in the real ones we put murderers of humans behind bars"
Caroline stayed with Edward. She didn't trust him one bit
"It's over Edward..."
"I swear...I"
Caroline shook her head
"Save it!"
she growled
"Come here"
Bella called out. Caroline grabbed Edward's jacket and pulled him through the living room and into the hallway. She then walked through the small door which leads into the library.
"So this is where you found the information"
she said as she looked around. She released Edward and he stood firmly still in front of her
"And here's the computer"
said Bella and he switched it on. Caroline caught Edward glancing at the open door, so she flung it shut
"Don't even think about it..."
The computer loaded and Caroline sat down and clicking and tapping at the keyboard
"Listen...you're both making a huge mistake..."
Edward shook as he spoke seeing utterly lost. Suddenly Bella began having doubts. Either this guy was one hell of an actor or he was about to piss himself scared.
"Are we?"
Caroline taunted without taking her eyes of the screen and the browser she had opened
"Yes..."
said Edward, trembling and quivering
"I haven't...I swear... I couldn't kill anyone...I'm...I'm not a killer..."
"You're a vampire; killing is part of the process"
Caroline said as exasperated as Bella was earlier. For a moment, Bella felt sorry for Edward. Caroline saw it in her face
"Shut it"
She ordered him and a clattering noise was heard
"What was that?!"
asked Edward. Bella looked at the ceiling
"It sounded like it was coming from upstairs, it could be Carol Lockwood"
She mused but Edward was fast to open the door and ran to the hallway. lying on the floor was
"Klaus?!"
gasped Caroline who had abandoned her work and followed Edward. She rushed to his aid, the Doctor was moving - he was alive!
"W...w...I was...attacked..."
he said, the words were struggling to leave his mouth. Bella joined them. hadn't jasper said he had been staked? Didn't stakes kill vampires or was that just on TV?
"Take it easy, you're going to be alright..."
Caroline helped the light haired man to his feet.
"What's going on? I saw the Reverend...he's...dead..."
said Doctor Klaus, the confusion was sweeping through him and came out in his words as he spoke.
"We'll explain later, just hang on in there..."
Bella slipped under his other arm and both women supported him inside the library and set him on a plush armchair.
"Edward..."
"Thank god you're alright my friend..."
Edward responded. Bella's eyes went from vampire to vampire as Caroline leaned forwards and into Edward's face
"Don't talk to him, you have no right!"
She barked. Bella continued his clicking and typing on the computer.
"What's going on?"
said Doctor Klaus as he got to his feet
"Why the hostility towards Edward?"
His speech had cleared up.
"Long story short, this freak has been on a murderous rampage... He's the one who attacked you"
Caroline accused over Bella's cautious tone.
"Why Edward...that's very horrible...indeed"
said Doctor Klaus, his voice had changed; Caroline looked at Doctor Klaus who now was holding a gun.
"Oh my god!"
she gasped as he held up the revolver towards Professor Masen.
"What are you doing?!"
A pull of the trigger late and Edward Masen fell to the floor. Some sort of transparent liquid began pouring out of his head where the bullet had pierced his skull.
Bella gasped and saw as the gun pointed towards her. Another pull of the trigger and a hissing sounded behind her. The computer screen was destroyed.
"You can't be Mr. Boddy... who are you?"
Bella asked. Klaus grinned at her
"My how big have you gotten little Isabella"
He taunted. Of course. Vampires don't age and if the "Mr. Boddy" of her childhood was one he'd still be young. And kinda cute. And insane.
"The better to eat me now?"
She asked. Caroline went to her and the two held hands again
"Yes, but not yet! I like my humans as dessert"
Klaus/Mr. Boddy said as he held the gun towards Caroline