Chapter Fourteen: An Old Friend

Michael

The darkness descends again. I wait in the loft of the abbey, peering to see whose lights are left lit. Therese's light goes out, then the one in Thomas' room. I see a light farther down the row, and see Therese in the window. Going out into the cold I stand in the dim light where she can see me, she motions me forward, opening the window for me.

Trepidation slows my steps; I do not want to be revealed to anyone. It was only my concern for Therese the evening of Ragache's attack that forced me to meet with Thomas. I pray to God that whoever resides in this room will receive me as well as Thomas did.

Climbing through the window, I see several lamps turned down low. Therese takes my hand and gives me a swift kiss as I straighten up. She pulls me towards the gentleman sitting at the fireside. He stands and gazes at me. There is a look of sorrow on his face. Extending a hand forward, he speaks, "Sebastian Jaeger."

With a shock I recognize him as well, "Rainer Dirnegg?" My hand reaches forward to clasp his. My mind is a flurry of images and memories of this man. "We were professors at Ingoldstadt."

"Yes." He returns to his seat and I join Therese on the bed. "I gave the paper to Astrid to give to Therese. Once I heard what was happening, I had to find you," he pauses. There is a soft knock at the door and Therese goes to open it. Thomas rolls into the room. Therese pushes his chair forward closer to us.

Herr Dirnegg begins in his deep voice, "Victor Frankenstein came to the university eleven years ago. Professor Waldman was assigned to be his advisor. I was his anatomy teacher, and Sebastian was teaching chemistry at the time."

"Victor was a very bright young man, full of ideas and questioning everything before him. Waldman was hard pressed to keep him challenged by his studies, and then he began to drift away from us. It began subtly, but then became frighteningly evident in how his health began to deteriorate. Waldman attempted to draw him out. He notified the board and we were all alerted to ask questions of other students about Victor's activities once he left his classes.

"No one seemed to know how he spent his time. He left the university and secluded himself in his rooms according to what we knew. Waldman attempted to visit him, but was turned away by Victor's claim that he was heavily engaged in research for his other classes.

"When we finally challenged him about his activities in a closed meeting with one of the deans, he admitted that he was pursuing his own line of experiments. The dean told him that sort of thing was generally left to the higher classmen, not the newest students. "Victor rebelled, claiming we were attempting to steal his research. It was at that point we notified his family that he might be making himself ill. Indeed, he exhibited signs of paranoia, and acute stress. Waldman was distressed at how physically wasted he had become. He was losing weight and his complexion looked unhealthy.

"The family sent one of his friends, Henry Clerval to visit with Victor. That proved to be a fatal mistake."

"It began before that," I add. My memories falling into place, "We had several arguments that lead to his being disciplined by the deans."

"I'm afraid what happened will never be fully revealed, but in short, Clerval is the one who seduced Sebastian's wife, Constanza."

Therese

I had not heard this part of the story. "My God. Did he set Clerval on her on purpose? Was it some sort of …"

"Revenge?" Michael states flatly. "His friend and my wife," he looks at Thomas, "I murdered them both when I found them." I hold his hand; I could weep for the man he was.

Herr Dirnegg nods, "He ruined your life, and then brought you forth from death."

"To continue ruining," Michael grates out. Turning to me, hatred harshens his features.

"You aren't that man anymore," I tell him. His expression softens as I mouth, Ilove you.

Thomas

"What now? Does Victor recognize you Herr Dirnegg?"

"He does not seem to. It was years ago," he indicates his countenance, "and I am much changed."

I look at Michael, "I have a plan to get you out of here."

"I go where my husband goes," Therese adds.

"That might not be possible, Therese," Michael tells her. I can see the concern for her in his face. "I can survive the cold, but it will not go well for you."

A look of panic crosses her face. "Michael you aren't going to stay are you? What's done is too far in the past to take any revenge for."

Herr Dirnegg interjects, "I have come to keep an eye on Victor. Astrid will be the remaining proof of his work. Also, we have found where he put Curt's body. If he attempts to follow you, I will sign the certificate to have him committed."

Michael

"You say 'we', who else knows?"

"Elisabeth," he answers.

I am stunned. "Elisabeth knows of my existence?"

"Victor keeps journals-Elisabeth found them. She alerted me after Curt disappeared." He pauses and elaborates for Therese and Thomas. "You see after Victor finished his work," he indicates me, "he fell ill. Elisabeth and his Father came to retrieve him. He suffered from exhaustion and pneumonia and was delirious for quite some time. Once he was well he finished at the school and came here with Curt in tow. Then Astrid appeared, and Curt just vanished."

My head feels as if it will burst. I have believed for so long that my solitary existence was unknown. There have been so many revelations and emotional upheavals in the last days; I wonder how I will survive all of this. Feeling the soft hand of my wife in mine helps me more than she will ever know.

"You must leave," Herr Dirnegg says. "I am sorry that we have had such a short time together," he pauses glancing at Therese, "Michael."

I shake hands with him. "Thank you, Rainer."

His hand grips mine, harder. "Thank me in your first letter once you are free of this place."

I understand his unspoken worries. Until Therese and I are far from Victor, neither of us is safe. I tell Therese to take Thomas to his room, that I will join them there.

Rainer Dirnegg stands, shoulders slightly stooped. His hair was dark as I recall him. It is now nearly white. "I understand you have the consumption."

"Yes. This will be where I will be buried. I'll take care of Astrid. Victor should never…"

"Victor should have stopped after I was born." Before this man, who remembers me as the man I was, I feel ashamed. "All of this is because of me."

"No. All of this is because Victor denies everything. Like a spoiled child, he refuses to accept that there are repercussions for his actions. You asked for a companion, you asked for no more than any other man ever would. That is why Elisabeth sent for me. She has seen how his mental process is breaking down by his journal entries. She hoped you would go away and leave Victor to us. She fears you, Michael."

A year ago, she should have. But I took my future in my hands and decided to return to the humanity that Victor denied me. I slowly let go of the jealous hatred I held for them, and bid my time waiting for my wife. "I told Victor I'd kill her." A pained surprise registers in his eyes. "For years I only knew I was a murderer. Like any child I listened to my parent and became what he told me I was."

"But you have this under control?"

"The rage is a demon unto itself. I will be fighting to harness it for years. But I have my wife now."

"Be careful, Michael. She cannot be your conscience."

"No, she can't. But her love gives me so much. I am a man again, not a demon." We are quiet for a moment and I step forward, "Do you wish to know what waits on the other side?" He must, it is a fear that all men carry.

His eyes become glassy with unshed tears. I place a hand on his shoulder, and whisper in his ear.

Thomas

While we wait for Michael I ask Therese, "So how was it?"

She looks away from me and blushes, "Thomas!"

I laugh and grab her hand, "I'm just teasing you, lass. Really, I'm happy for you both." She giggles and still blushes. It is wonderful to make her laugh; her days ahead will not be so easy.

Michael arrives, and I have Therese bring me the envelope on my dresser. "I wrote out the days and destinations of my trip. I plan to take a train from Geneva on the twelfth. From there I'll be traveling across France to Le Havre where I'll catch a ferry to England." I give a copy to Michael, I know he can read.

"I think it would be best if the two of you leave unexpectedly. If you slip away you will have a lead on Victor." I hold up a hand, and add, "Whatever route you take, I don't want to know, nor should anyone else. I've left enough days between the destinations in France that you can catch up to me and we can continue by train. Here is some money to get you started," I hand Michael the envelope."

They sit side by side, Therese holds his hand. "Thomas has something else for you," she tells him.

She goes to the dresser and brings the spectacles over to him. Taking them gingerly in his hands, he opens them and slides them over his eyes. I tell him,"I bought them from a man who makes them for the blind. The lenses are extra dark." He looks around the room, and at Therese who is smiling.

"Can you see my eyes," he asks.

"Not at all," I reply. "Now all you need is a white cane, and your loving wife to lead you to the train."

Therese

The rest of the night is ours. We go to my room and lock the door. From behind me, his hands move over me and he kisses my neck. I lean back against him, letting the fierce fire from his mouth kindle my own.

He turns me and leads me towards the bed. As the back of my legs brush against it, he lifts me back onto it, and kneels before me. His hands move up my thighs and he pulls aside my underclothing, sliding his fingers over me.

Michael

She gasps and I plunge my tongue into her mouth. I am so ready for this I can barely slow down. I flip her skirt out of the way and free myself, moving between her thighs, pulling her soft body down to mine. She braces herself on one arm, the other around my neck and moans into my mouth.

Raising her knees, her silken thighs wrap around my body. "More," her soft voice calls to me. I gladly give my wife what she asks for. Switching rhythm, she cries out, and relaxes back onto the bed. Grasping her waist, I fill her completely.

We collapse on the bed, spent. My head rests on her stomach until her hands circle around my neck. She sits up, and I slowly undress her. A supplicant before an altar, I worship every inch of her flesh with my mouth. She is everything woman and I am completely hers.

Therese

I could not have asked for a better lover than this man. Languid, I lie under his ministering hands and kisses until I can endure it no more. I want his passion again and show him.

We lie together later. "We will go to France?"

"Not by the same route as Thomas."

"But we will go with Thomas to England?" I look up into his eyes.

"We will go to England if it makes my wife happy," he replies lightly. "You should start gathering things up you could carry with you."

"We aren't leaving on the train?"

He smoothes a hand over my cheek, and kisses my forehead. "We need to be able to move quickly. They may think they watch over Victor, but I know he doesn't sleep. As Thomas said, it is better is we slip out.