It has been quite a while since I last posted. Sadly it appears I only get inspiration in bursts, but luckily I figured out how I want to end this story! Yay! I think there will only be a few more chapters after this and then the story will be finished. *cheers* However, now that I look at it I should probably go back and edit my first chapters, but considering my track record I doubt that will happen anytime soon. *sweatdrops* I also want to thank the people who reviewed my last chapter; I really appreciate the good reviews and hope you enjoy this next update.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sleepy Hollow and make no claims to their characters. Tim Burton and Washington Irving are their masters.
Witch's Blood
Abduction
* * *
"Who did this?" I whispered. I knew the answer but I refused to believe it.
"You did." Katrina answered.
* * *
"Madness, madness!" I shouted. Ignoring the truth that was plainly before me. I grasped firmly to my denial like a drowning man.
"It was an accident nothing more, just…just a strange coincidence."
"Ichabod you are hiding from the truth. We both know that was no accident. You have a gift, Ichabod, and you must learn how to use it!" Katrina pleaded to me. But of course I paid her words no heed, and began to panic even more. I could feel my hands starting to tremble as I began to pace around the room.
"Katrina you ask too much! I am a man of reason; I can hardly accept the reality of spirits, witches, and vampires roaming around us. Myself possessing my mother's powers is beyond my comprehension!"
"My love you must accept this for every moment of your denial costs us precious time. The undead will have sensed the magic you used here. They will come for you tonight. We must make use of the daylight hours as best we can. We need to move Masbath and ourselves to a safer location." For once Katrina's calm words did not soothe me but only increased my frustration and denial.
"I will not be moved from my own home Katrina! These vampires can't possibly be after me." I protested and stopped pacing around the room. I instead placed my hands on the mantle piece of the fire place and stared down at the shards of the vase on the hardwood floor.
Katrina came up behind me and rested her hands on my shoulders. "Ichabod you see before you the proof of your gifts. Do not deny yourself! Please, Ichabod!"
I could no longer ignore her and my shoulders slumped as I finally gave in to her arguments. "You are right Katrina. I can no longer deny this." I say as I stare down at the broken vase. "No matter how much I long to." I turn around to face her and she cups my face in her hands. Katrina's rich brown eyes are shining with love and comfort ensuring me that she will help me get through this.
"I know Ichabod, I know." She reaches up and gives me a soft kiss that soothes me and eases the frantic feelings within me. "We must leave here Ichabod it is not safe. I fear we must return to Sleepy Hollow. There the charms and spells I have placed will protect us." I nodded and began planning what we would need for our departure.
"I must go and make an excuse to the constabulary before we leave. I shall say that there is a problem with the Van Tassel estate that requires our immediate attention that should convince my superiors."
"That will work, but I think you should get some rest Ichabod. You have been through too much during the night. I shall start packing what we need for our journey to Sleepy Hollow while you slumber."
I wanted to argue and tell her there was no time to waste, yet I could feel the weariness in my body and mind. I would be no help if I did not rest.
"As you wish Katrina. Once again your wisdom protects me. You must promise me, however, that you will rest when I wake."
"Of course, Ichabod. Now get yourself to bed and I shall wake young Masbath. With his help we should be nearly ready to go by the time you awaken." Katrina then gave me a kiss and led me to the staircase. I tottered up the stairs to our room and then collapsed upon the bed. Before I lost myself to slumber, however, the image of fangs came into my mind and I fell into a restless sleep.
Elsewhere in New York
A pair of emerald eyes snapped open in the darkness. "I sense him! The boy is closer than I imagined. A pity the sun is rising. I shall just have to wait until tonight. Then the power that eluded me all those years ago will be mine at last." The lady vampire spoke with an air of triumph in her voice knowing that her long search was about to be completed.
"Oh, Elizabeth. You thought you could escape me by running to the Americas," she let out a short laugh, "but little did you know that I would hunt your bloodline until I had succeeded. Soon, Elizabeth your son will be mine."
With that said the woman let her eyes drift shut, already planning the abduction of Ichabod Crane.
Ichabod's Residence later that day
"Ichabod wake up!"
Someone was shouting at me and pulling me out of my slumber. I opened my eyes to see Katrina's face hovering over me.
"What a pleasant face to wake up to." I murmured and Katrina smiled at my compliment but did not stop pulling me out of bed.
"Thank you Ichabod, but you must hurry. It is already noon and you need to reserve us a coach and talk to the constabulary."
Nodding at her words I quickly splashed some water on my face and pulled back on my uniform coat. Hoping that I was some what presentable, I rushed down the stairs and out the door to complete my missions.
* * *
It was nearing sunset and Ichabod still had not returned. Katrina paced restlessly in front of the window looking constantly for any sign of her husband. She began talking to her self as her worry increased. "Where could he be? He knows we need to leave before night fall otherwise…" A frown marred her elegant face as she saw the last rays of sunlight fall beneath the horizon. Night had fallen and the vampire would be coming. Katrina hastened to where Masbath was frantically packing clothes and other objects into a chest. "Masbath I need you to leave and find Ichabod quickly."
"Yes, Ma'am. I'll find him." Masbath said after shutting the chest. He was about to race out of the door when Katrina halted him. "Masbath wait! Take this pistol and stake with you. It will be the only way to defend yourself against one of the undead. If you are attacked shoot the vampire with your pistol. It will not kill the vampire but it could give you enough time to pierce the creature's heart with your stake." Masbath pocketed the stake and hid the pistol behind his jacket so as not to look suspicious.
"Is that the only way to kill them Mrs. Katrina?" Masbath asked wanting to know all he could before he was faced with one. Katrina seemed hesitant to answer his question when she spoke. "No, young Masbath. There are two other ways to destroy a vampire. One is to expose them to the light of the sun and the other is to….to sever their heads." After saying this Katrina winced and looked into Masbath's face hoping she did not inflict bad memories of the Horseman upon him. However, Masbath only nodded at her and set his jaw determinedly. "Very well then, I'll go find Mr. Ichabod." Masbath then turned and headed out the door standing out against the white snow that covered the streets.
Katrina turned away from the window and continued to pack the few remaining items that were left. At last she turned to the only thing left in the room to pack. Katrina lifted the white bundled object and placed it carefully into the last unpacked chest. She was about to seal it when she heard the sound of glass shattering upstairs. Katrina could feel a darkness in the air and whirled around to see that the sun had already set.
Before she could do anything a hand reached over and clamped around her mouth preventing her from making any noise while an arm snaked around her waist and pinned her arms to her sides. Katrina struggled but to no avail. The hands only sunk deeper into her flesh causing her to whimper in pain. "What have we here?" A feminine voice asked in a taunting tone. "A little white witch all alone? Mistress will be very pleased to see you. Not only will she have Crane but you as well." Katrina shuddered as the woman behind her began to laugh.
"Now tell me girl, where is Crane? I know this is his home. I can feel the linger of his power in the air." The hand was removed from Katrina's mouth but reached down to grasp her throat instead. "I…I don't know. He left hours ago and is not coming back." Katrina gagged as the hand tightened more around her throat. "You're lying to me little witch. I can see that you were packing to leave somewhere probably with Crane. Well, if I can't find Crane then he will just have to come to me. Yes, my Mistress will enjoy having the boy come to her on his own and he will with you for the bait." Before Katrina could say anything she felt herself being hit on the back of the head and knew no more.
* * *
I hurried out of the Burgomaster's office after finally having been seen. I could not help but feel frustrated for he had kept me waiting for hours while letting other constables in to see him. I glanced down at my pocket watch and realized that it was already past sunset. Katrina said the vampire would come right after sundown. I felt my stomach clench in fear realizing that Katrina and Masbath would still be home waiting for me. I began to run to the exit when a sudden commotion drew my attention and I saw a constable trying to restrain someone. I hurried over and was astonished to see that it was young Masbath.
"Release him! I know this boy he lives in my household." The other constable did so albeit reluctantly and I pulled Masbath along with me as I stormed out of the constabulary. "Masbath what are you doing here? Has something happened?" I asked him frantically while we both ran quickly back to our home. "No Sir, but Mrs. Katrina sent me to find you. She was afraid something had happened to you." Masbath said breathlessly. I knew I was setting a hard pace for him to keep up with but I could not help but feel a deep foreboding that urged me to run even faster.
After what seemed an eternity Masbath and I finally reached the front steps to our home. I could tell already that something was amiss with the absence of light in the windows. I drew my pistol and noticed Masbath did the same. Letting this pass for a later time I drew Masbath in front of me and slowly entered into the parlor. The only thing that met my eyes was the packed chests awaiting the coach to Sleepy Hollow. "Katrina," I called out, "Katrina answer me!" I became anxious and separated from Masbath telling him to search for any signs of Katrina. I climbed up the stairs and into our room looking for my wife but was greeted with the sight of a broken window and glass shards over the bed. "No…" I moaned and began to realize that the vampire had already come. "Sir, I've found something you'd best look at!" Masbath's call startled me and I raced down the stairs to him.
"What is it Masbath? What did you find?" I asked him frantically praying it would not be Katrina lying with her eyes open unseeing… "Here Sir, I found this letter on the mantelpiece." Masbath passed a small white strip of paper to me and I began to tremble with both relief and fear after seeing what was written there.
Crane,
If you want to see the little witch girl again you'll come alone to 514 Central Park tomorrow night. My Mistress can't wait to meet you Crane, I would not keep her waiting otherwise she might have the little witch for dinner…
Elaine
"Katrina…" I felt myself grow faint and then collapsed down onto the ground with Masbath's cries echoing in my ears.
To be continued…
A/N Wow, peers back at the chapter. This is the longest one I've ever written. I don't think I'll ever write something this long again. Well, I hoped you guys enjoyed this and thank Pirates of the Caribbean for getting me into a Sleepy Hollow mood. Seeing Johnny Depp as a pirate got me into wanting to watch him in his other films again so I cracked out my Sleepy Hollow VHS and popped it in. I'm now in the process of looking for his movie Nick of Time in my video collection. *grins* Oh and one other thing I have no idea about addresses in New York so I completely made up that one in the letter. So please don't hang me for it. Well, that's it so be kind and please review!