Chapter Twenty: Purging Flames

Victor

I wander downstairs. The housekeeper has started making breakfast. Apparently the woman is not without wits. She sets out a plate of Raclette, the melted cheese, pork, and potatoes the mountain people are fond of. It rests heavily in my stomach. The second cup of coffee she brings me is weak.

I start going through Ragache's desk, and find the map I was hoping he would have. The sanitarium sits near the south end of Lake Geneva. It would be easier for the demon to lead Therese away to France. It's a short trip to the border, and they would arrive at the railway at Saint-Julien-En-Genevois. They could not be seen by common folk, the fiend's yellow eyes would give him away.

Leaving by the Lake and going north would lead them to Lake Neuchátel. The mountains are steep, but the mulattieres-the mule drivers-use passes. Again, I ponder the question of how the demon will travel unseen. Once they enter France, I will not be able to find them unless I know where they entered the country and where they are bound.

The route south is the only way he could hope to by pass humanity. In that direction, his travels would be slowed by Therese. They would be going over the glacier itself as it slowly winds between the mountain peaks. It is called the Ice Sea.

I pace the room. Once Ragache returns, we will go to the Sanitarium. It is time to fetch Elisabeth's body.

Thomas

Frau Radmacher and Herr Dirnegg are stunned that Michael has returned, but relieved that I will be able to leave. "And what of you?" I ask.

Sitting mute, with empty eyes they make no reply. "Victor," I say it for them. "Things will start happening once Victor returns, or is captured."

The Frau nods. "You must leave."

"He'll be back soon." Herr Dirnegg taps tobacco into his pipe and lights it. "Although the snow impedes the spread of decay, Victor must return soon for her."

The Frau's face melts, a tear rolls down her cheek. "No."

Smoke wreaths around his head. "Yes. He loves her too much to let her go."

"That's what Michael said." I stroke the Frau's arm. "Don't worry. We will not let Victor do it."

"What can he hope? Her children would not take her back. We've all seen her body!" The tears flow freely down her cheeks.

"He is beyond hope," the Herr tells her. "He has lost what reason was left to him."

I get my things packed.

Michael

The day passes slowly. Although it is dry today, the air is sharp with the cold. People stay to the buildings, and I sit napping against the bole of a tree.

The guard I see is new. The local constable has assigned men to watch out for Victor's return. He could claim I killed Elisabeth, but witnesses heard and saw him in the stable with Astrid and that man.

The faces of the women return to my mind. Elisabeth was a lovely woman, devoted to her family and Victor. I wonder at what horror she must have felt as she witnessed the side of him that has always been turned to me. It sickens me to know her last moments were of fear and betrayal.

And Astrid? Like Bette, she was never really prepared for this. She recoiled in horror from me, when I would have cared for her. She fled to Victors arms and became his lover. Perhaps that is the only way she knew how to love.

Victor hired an assassin. How like you to hire someone else to pull the trigger, Victor. You would not soil yourself with killing, or take the risk when someone else would do it for you.

Victor

Ragache arrives. The housekeeper hustles to the door to warn him that I am here. He takes his time before entering the sitting room.

He draws himself up. "You are wanted by the law, Victor. They say you killed Astrid and Bretelle."

"Astrid killed Bretelle. I need to bring something back from the sanitarium. I need a wagon, and help." He starts to speak, but I cut him off. "You want Whetherden, don't you?"

I can see the piggish gleam in the man's eyes. No matter what I ask of him, he will balk, until I promise to hand over Thomas. "We go tonight. You make this trip with me and we shall get Thomas."

I see speculation going behind his eyes. I'll help him take Thomas. The man was Therese's confidant. She probably told him something about where they hoped to go.

Taking a wagon, I stop it along the road in the trees and tether the horse. Night is falling, and the guard has gone into the sanitarium. Perhaps he is fed in the kitchen.

I go to the stable and begin looking for Elisabeth. The tarp is nowhere to be found and I panic. Surly they would not have buried her so soon. If they have I will go to the village and find the grave.

Methodically I work my way through the building, and finally outside. It is full dark and I dare not strike a light. Moving carefully, I find a hump in the snow. Brushing it aside, I see the tarp.

I work my way back to the wagon. Once it is full dark, Ragache will arrive with a coach and a promised helper.

Michael

He has come at last. I watched him searching for the body. Curiously, once he has located Elisabeth, he goes back the way he came. I follow along, lost to his vision in the trees. He sits on the wagon; he must have aid coming. I pause at the edge of the trees, and dart into the underbrush. It is time to find a weapon.

Going back towards the sanitarium I gather up the traps that Victor had set. Picking up one by the chain, I pull up the stake that secured it to the ground. I wrap the chain around my arm and pull of the stake, dropping it into my pocket. I take up the trap and carry it with me.

Victor

I hear the approaching wheels, but hide beyond in the trees. A coach pulls up and a man gets out with a gun. Ragache follows, leaving a driver to sit with the horses.

"Well?" Ragache glances around the road.

"First, we get the tarp to this wagon." I instruct the fellow with the gun. I turn back to Ragache. "Once that is done, I'll go into the sanitarium with you for Thomas." Looking at the three men I tell them, "There is one guard from the village. He's in the main building right now, and we need to get to the far side of the stable to pick up the tarp."

"No." Ragache looks at his two companions. "We can have Deider watch the guard while we get Thomas into the coach, and then I'll help you with your tarp."

He has indicated the man with the gun. Although I have the rifle and my Father's pistol in the wagon, I could not hope to shoot all three of these men. Ragache has played his trump card. "Very well," I reply affably. "We will get Wetherden first."

Ragache moves towards the coach. "Deider will accompany you, Victor. If you have any trouble from the guard, he will take care of him."

I get up onto the wagon. I pull the wagon in behind the coach as we approach the sanitarium. I'll let Ragache have his way. He doesn't know I have a pistol or that I can use it.

Thomas

We are in the dinning room when one of the younger servants comes running in. She speaks to the Frau who indicates the kitchen, "Get the guard," she says.

Eyes turn to me. It has to be Victor. "Stay out of his way," I warn them. "Whatever happens, let Michael know, but stay clear of Victor."

The Frau wheels me towards the hallway. The outer doors open. My cousin stands to one side of the threshold.

"Greetings, Thomas."

I remember now why Edgar was never one of my favorite cousins. There has always been something self-serving in his attitude. "Cousin," I reply, attempting to sound surprised. "What brings you back here?"

He grins at me, walking into the building. Behind him is a man who moves past him; he trains a gun on me. The Frau makes a noise and steps back. I lift a hand slowly. "Cousin, there is no need for this. I'll come with you."

Edgar saunters forward. "Of course you will, cousin." He lashes out with a fist. It slams into my temple and knocks me aside in my chair.

The guard from town stops at the end of the hall. Ragache's companion trains the gun on me. Edgar barks out, "Stop there and drop the weapon!"

The man stands firm, but the Frau motions him to drop it. He lets the muzzle drift towards the floor. There are voices rising from the dining room, a man appears behind the guard and clubs him over the head. Stooping to pick up the gun he joins us and pushes the Frau aside.

Michael

I have seen the wagon and the coach. Running to the side of the stable, I lift Elisabeth's frozen body and carry her into the barn. Using the chain I pulled off the trap, I tie it swiftly around her neck.

I push the tarp back for a moment, looking at her frozen features. "Forgive me, Elisabeth."

I hoist her body up on the rafter to one side of the stable. Pushing the straw towards it, I create a mound of it under her body. I run and grab a lamp, spilling some of the contents of it over the tarp and onto the straw. With quick strokes, I strike the flint and start the fire. Standing back I wait for it to start to eat away at the mound. I fan it with a horse blanket I find, pushing the flames higher.

Around me the horses have smelled the smoke and begin to move about in their stalls. I work to quickly get the stalls open and shoo them towards the door of the stable.

Victor

I go to another door in the sanitarium while Ragache goes to get Thomas. Going to my library, I open the compartment on my desk. I withdraw my journals, the last records of my experiments.

Going to the fireplace, I start ripping pages from the books and set them to light. I toss in a larger piece of wood over them, and some kindling. I blow into the flames, watching the fire race along the pages, curling them into charred ruins.

I get to my feet, satisfied that they will continue to burn to ash. Standing in the door is my eldest child, my son Lothair. His is his mother's son, fair haired and pale blue eyed.

"Papa?"