A/N I will be on vacation next weekend, so the next update will be in two weeks. Sorry!
Chapter Nine
Therese
I actually laugh, "You can't mean Thomas would be interested in her do you?"
I get a shocked look from Astrid and Ragache both. "Not fair!" Astrid says, stomping her foot, "Not fair, the prince is mine!"
Ragache grabs my hair, "He will be, won't he?" He twists and I can feel tears come to my eyes. "Stay out of it, Therese." He starts to shove me by the hair, and I go with it, stumbling towards the foot of the bed. I turn completely around and hit him in the nose with the brush. His head snaps back, and a gout of blood runs between the hands he has brought up to his face. Astrid starts screaming. I go for the door; it is my only hope of getting out. The door is locked. I move away, but he catches me by the hair again, and slings me against the bed.
I am on the bed; his knee is on my back. Astrid is still screaming, her hands tugging at her own hair. I hope she screams more, for it is all that might save me from his wrath. He is cursing me, his voice shrill. He pulls me up off the bed by the hair and slams my head into the side of the dresser. The pain is awful but my fear overrides it. My fingers turn to claws as I try to pry his hands out of my hair. I need to get away from him before he hurts me worse.
There are sounds of a scuffle, people are at the door, and I hear several voices around Astrid's screaming. Finally, they untangle his hand from my hair and I sink to the floor. Victor and two orderlies are dragging him out. Frau Radmacher comes to kneel by me, her hands are strong but gentle as she tips my head up. I have blood running out of one ear, a nostril, and shooting pains in the temple on that side. She and a servant get me up and set me on the bed.
People are still crowding by the door. Astrid starts whimpering, one of the servants has gone to her to calm her down. She points at the door, "Edgar is a very bad man." Several people hear her including Victor who has come back, he joins the Frau and asks me if I'm alright.
I raise a shaking hand. "Yes," I say. The Frau's mouth forms a small 'o' of surprise and she starts talking to me in soothing tones. They get me up and take me to my room. She helps me change into my gown and puts me into bed. One of the other servants brings in a cold compress to put on my head.
Victor comes in later; he brings my something for the pain and checks the ear. "I'm sorry, Therese. Thomas is having a couple of the local villagers take Ragache away from here. Evidently Ragache wants to control Thomas, and sees you in his way."
"Astrid?" I ask. "I think he hurt her."
Victor's brows lower, "That bastard. I'll check on her. Take the medicine, my dear. We'll check in on you later." I turn on my opposite side, away from my throbbing head.
Victor
I check on Astrid. She smiles a little and shakes her head 'no' when I ask if she is hurt. She tells me that Edgar twisted her necklace, and I check her throat. There is some redness, but as yet no bruising. I am surprised at how angry I am.
Ragache had disturbed the peaceful order of my sanitarium, and threatened two of the women. Thomas has had a belly full of him and turns him out. Thomas is beside himself with worry over Therese. I tell him he can visit her in a couple of hours when she has had a chance to rest.
This is a setback to my plans. I had hoped to use Ragache's influence on Thomas to keep him here for a while. It would give me time to plan adequately the removal of the Demon.
I glance out of the window at the stable. I do not know if the Demon is there. I am surprised that if he was, he stayed away.
The Demon
I pace the stable loft watching as the dying rays of the sun slide along the ground into the dark of the forest. I must wait until the lights extinguish in the building before going to check on Therese. I heard the screaming and saw them drag Ragache out.
Therese
I wake up and my room is dim. A lamp burns on my dresser and one by my bed. Someone has set a small pitcher of water and a glass nearby. I set up slowly, my head aches. There is a sound, and Thomas rolls forward in his chair out of the darkness.
"How are you, lass?"
I touch my ear gingerly. "I hurt."
"Victor says the blood was only on the outer ear, a scratch when you hit your head. Do you want me to get Victor?"
"No. It will hurt for a while. Can you pour me a drink?"
Thomas turns the chair a little and rolls closer to the nightstand. He pours some water into the glass and offers it to me. My hand is shaking badly, and Thomas is too far away to give me any assistance. Suddenly there is a large hand around the glass with mine, guiding it to my lips.
I close my eyes to drink. Opening them, I see Michael holding the glass. He is kneeling by the bed looking at Thomas, who sits with a stupefied expression on his face. Michael gives him a nod, "Monsieur," he says in his deep voice.
"Whe... Wetherden. Thomas Wetherden," he stammers.
"Therese calls me Michael." For a moment they simply stare at one another.
"You really do have yellow eyes," Thomas says.
"Not by my choice," Michael answers with lift of his brow.
"More, please," I say and Michael brings the glass to my lips again.
Michael asks what happened. Thomas tells him what he knows of Ragache's attack on me. Michael looks away from both of us. I think he is trying to control his urge to let loose the rage inside him. He passes the glass over to Thomas who sets it on the nightstand. He moves to sit on the bed.
Sitting on the foot of the bed in the dim light he looks like some warrior king out of an archaic legend. His long dark hair falling on his shoulders he sits running a thumb along the scar on his face. In the dim light, his eyes glow like molten gold. He places a hand on the blanket over my legs.
I look at the two of them, "If you two can't be quiet, I shall go mad," I say flippantly. They look at each other as if the say I have had my brains addled, but Thomas grins. "I'll retire; you'll be in good hands, lass." He gives my hand a squeeze and rolls around the bed and Michael closes the door behind him and turns the key.
"Will you be alright?"
"I'd guess I shall be."
He moves to the window, he must have come in that way. I sit up, loathe to be alone I ask, "Will you stay with me a while?"
He turns to me, and comes back to the bed. After several adjustments of pillows, arms and legs, I lie on my side spooned up against his body. I wake sometime later, and he gets me another glass of water. We drift off again, my last thought is that I like the way this feels.
The Demon
We lay for a moment; I feel her body twitch and I can feel her limbs go totally relaxed. At the very last, she gives one small sigh and I know she is in the world of dreams.
I shift my arm off of her because as I relax, I do not want the weight of it to disturb her. Lying as we are, her head is under my chin, the soles of her feet rest against my leg. She smells of soap and lavender. It feels so wonderful to hold her, to know that she feels safe in my arms.
Therese
My dreams are a jumble of images. I stand next to my Mother as she teaches me to make bread. Turning, I leave our little house and go to the barn where a boy awaits me. He takes a ribbon from his pocket and tells me 'Happy Birthday'. I leave through a door into the sunshine. My friend waits outside; we giggle and talk while I wait for my parents to leave the church. I hear my Father say my name.
I open my eyes, and Michael is there. "Therese, I must go," he tells me. Dawn is painting my window a burnt gold. He brushes my cheek, and then goes to the window to leave.
I lay awake for a while, then go back to my dreams.
Victor
I have another addition to the sanitarium, Herr Dirnegg. He is an Austrian landowner who is suffering from consumption. He knows that it is only a matter of time, but has come here in hopes of extending his last days as he no longer has any family to care for him.
I recommend he sits in the conservatory when the sun is bright. The warm moist air should help dampen his coughing fits. Interestingly enough, I pass through, and Astrid has come out of her room. She stands at the end of the hallway, shyly peeking at the man.
I stop to ask her if she needs something. She shakes her head once, and says 'no'. It is an automatic reaction for her. Waiting a moment, she will tell me what she means. "That man, where is his wife?"
"He doesn't have one, Astrid. He has no family left in the world."
She looks very serious as she turns to gaze at him. Something about the man has interested her, enticed her away from her dresses and her jewelry and her hair. I wonder what goes on in her mind. Is she simple through and through, or is there an intelligent mind locked in that bony prison, struggling to be free.
Therese
My head aches for a number of days, but I get back to making my rounds with the staff. I am shocked to find Astrid in the hall one day, motioning me over to her.
"What is it Astrid?"
"Can you get me a book," she asks.
"What sort of book? Do you want a story book?"
She nods once and says 'no', but then says, "Yes, please."
I go to Elisabeth and ask to borrow one of the children's story books for Astrid. She fetches a book for me, a slight frown on her face. I fear she knows about Victor and Astrid. It must be so disheartening for her to know her husband finds more allure in the bed of a childish woman than in the arms of his wife. I wish I could reassure her that I think he loves her.
Victor
I am on my way through the conservatory when I see Therese looking in the room. She turns to me and points, I approach slowly and taking a look I see Astrid sitting on a chair near Herr Dirnegg. She is reading a story to him in what appears to be fluent Austrian. Apparently not all of her mental powers have been burned out.
The Demon
Therese leaves her light burning in her window. I go to check on her and she tells me of Astrid's new interest. "I am happy for her. She needs a purpose to her life."
She asks me, "What do you think Victor will do with me if I stay here?"
I can feel my heart sink in my chest. She is still deciding her future, and not necessarily a future with me. "I do not know, Therese. I cannot guess what thoughts he has been entertaining since this peace began." I pause to think a moment. "As I told you, Victor left a journal of his work leading up to my rebirth. He seems taken with the idea that every thought he has must be written down. He's probably assuring that his name will go down in history for his accomplishments. Perhaps you can find his current journals."
Therese
"I don't know. Victor does have an office space with his medical books in his library, but I never see him writing things down."
Michael teases me, "There are a lot of things you don't see, but that does not mean they are not happening."
"I have an idea. Thomas will do it for us. I will keep an eye on Victor, and Thomas will not be questioned by anyone if he is looking through Victor's books."
"Can we trust Thomas?" he asks.
I smile at him, "Thomas once asked the same question about you."
He concedes, "All right, if your friend Thomas is willing to help us. The more he knows, the easier it will be to protect you from Victor."
"It's not me I worry about, Michael. He has tried to kill you. He is probably going to try again if he thinks he can keep me here without you."
"Therese, I want you away from here no matter what happens. We cannot help Astrid; she could not leave and survive. I want you to leave with me, or with Thomas is anything should happen to me. Will you promise me that?"
I feel a sadness inside. I want desperately for him to be safe as well. Why can't Victor just leave us alone?
I am not sure of my decisions, but I know he is right. I must leave soon. Every day we delay increases the chance that Victor is scheming to separate us. "I promise, I will get away from Victor."
Michael places a kiss on my forehead, "I love you," he says softly.
My emotions are running high as it is with this talk of danger and leaving. With his simple profession to me, I feel a warmth uncurling inside me. I lean into his arms.
We sit side by side on the edge of the bed. Our lives are not simple. My choice is mine to make, but I feel like the linchpin that keeps the wheel on the wagon. If the pin is pulled, our lives will spiral off, directionless and in dire danger of being destroyed.
