Chapter 23
Hysteria
Hey Everybody! Man this story is just really giving me idea's! I'm so glad you like whats going on! Please read and review!
Early the next morning Ichabod turned over expectingto feel a warm body to touch but instead just found empty sheets. Opening his eyes and looking to the side he found Mrs. Van Tassel sitting in the chair beside his bed.
"You slept like the dead", she murmured quietly cutting an apple with a small knife.
"You are too kind to me…I do not look to be served by the lady of the house".
Mrs. Van Tassel smiled at this. "Nor would you be but the servant girl has vanished".
"Sarah?", he asked curiously.
"Run away, like many more--people are leaving in fear without ceremony".
"Where is…?"
"She watched over you till dawn. Now it is her turn to sleep", as she gave Ichabod a knowing look. Ichabod almost felt himself blush in embarrassment.
Mrs. Van Tassel got up, walking out the door as Masbath walked in.
"Help me. I am fit for another day, I think", as Ichabod slowly stood up stretching.
Selena sat there in her bedroom clad only in her sleepy gown, staring at her pale trembling hands. She heard a knocking at her door, as she turned around disgruntled.
"I do not wish to be disturbed".
"It's me Selena. Please can I come in, I must speak with you", Katrina whispered through the door.
"As I said before I do not wish to be disturbed. Leave me be…", as she turned back to look at her hands.
Katrina decided to ignored what Selena said opened the door slowly, peering in to find her sister alone in the dark her back to Katrina.
"Selena there's something I wish to speak to you about…..and I know you'll be angry with me", Katrina whispered once more in fear.
"What…?"
"Selena something is very wrong with you… I don't know what it is, but your not well", as Selena's head swerved around at this, her blue eyes growing black and cold.
"You are speaking nonsense Katrina. You and your head full of imagination!", as Katrina's eyes began to water.
"Ever since you have returned from the forest you have been unwell! Dark magic is plaguing you isn't it!", as Selena slowly stood up, waved her hand in the air as the door immediately shut close.
Turning around she walked towards her sister till she was an inch from her face. "What have you been up to little sister? Snooping around as always aren't you? Trying to make everyone look like the guilty party but yourself".
"I am worried about you Selena. You are not well. You are possessed by some evil…", as Selena only laughed at this.
"I am well sister. I am better then I ever have been…."
"You are not! I BEG of you tell me what ails you so I can help you".
Selena felt something. She felt sadness take over her heart. Turning away from her sister, she looked at her reflection.
"I've been having urges…"
"Urges?"
"Bad urges. My mind has been plagued with evil thoughts and my dreams with nightmares".
"What sort of evil thoughts?"
"Ichabod when he was feverish last night he called your name. Not mine…..", as tears fell from her black eyes.
"The moment I saw you in the kitchen, I took the knife because I wanted nothing more then to cut you into little pieces….."
Viciously she turned around glaring at her sister hatefully. "Stay away from him Katrina! He loves me! NOT You! Me! He wants me to love him! Me! He wants me to be with him forever! He wants me to be the mother of his children!"
"NOT YOU! HIS LOVE IS MINE FOREVER!", as she picked up a vase throwing it to the floor as the porcelain broke into a thousand pieces.
"I am plagued by evil Katrina! You are that evil! You have everything! Beauty, intelligence, charm, love from a father! You have everything I have nothing! And I only want Ichabod!", as she walked across the porcelain covered floor ignoring the pain from each step she took.
Katrina fell to the floor in hysterical sobs, as Selena continued to screech at her. "Don't you EVER EVER think you know everything because that will be the cause of your end…"
"Selena….what are they doing to you? You must tell me..are you the one behind the headless horseman murders?", she cried out in anguish.
Selena fell to the floor in hysterics as she began screaming nonsense. "I don't know. But I smell the blood on my clothes, and it won't wash off my hands! WHY WON'T IT WASH OFF! ITS ALL RED!", she screamed in agony rubbing her hands roughly against her gown.
"Why won't it go away?", she whispered weakly as she curled up into a ball into the corner.
"Where are we going Sir?", asked Masbath, as he helped Ichabod put his vest on.
"To the Notary Office".
"Why?"
"Because that is where I expect to find deposited…the last will and testament of the Elder Van Garret…"
"You have thought of something?"
"…of something you said, Young Masbath. The Widow Winship came many a day with a basket of eggs to Van Garret, who I understand had hens to spare. I begin to see. It was Van Garrets child that the widow was carrying".
"The Horseman does the killing, but I believe, at the bidding of a mortal, someone of flesh and blood."
"What? What makes you say that?"
"The witch…the crone, when I happened upon her corpse, she lay in a pool of blood. Blood poured hard from her neck. The wound was not cauterized."
"Then she was not killed by the horseman. Someone only tried to make it seem so..?"
"It was the settling of a private score. But the horseman cuts heads to a different drum. The crone pointed us to what drives the Hessian, his skull has been stolen from his grave. The person who stole it has power over the Hessian. Here is why the Headless one has returned through the gate of the Tree of the Dead. He chops heads till his own is restored".
"But what person?"
"A person who stands to gain by these murders…"
Suddenly a loud crash could be heard as a heartbreaking scream could be heard echo throughout the house.
"Selena…", Ichabod whispered leaving all reason behind as he ran out the door at full speed to her bedroom.
Reaching for the doorknob he tried to turn it but it wouldn't budge. She continued to scream, as sobbing could be heard coming forth.
"Selena! Selena! Open the door! Quickly! Open! Let me in!", as Ichabod grew fearful as he began hitting against the door.
Suddenly the screaming stopped. All was quiet. The rest of the Van Tassel's and most of the servants made it up the stairs.
"What is all the fuss about! What is going on?", as Ichabod ignored Baltus, a look of being lost in his eyes as he slowly turned the knob.
Opening the door, he found Katrina whimpering on the floor crawling to her sister. The moment he saw Selena he felt his heart break.
She sat there trembling, her eyes bloodshot and tears slid down her face. Her nightgown was bloody, as were her feet as she looked up to find Ichabod looking down at her.
Lowering her face, she turned away her face against the wall crying. Walking towards her uncaring of what the others thought, he bent down picking her up into her arms.
Immediately she began pulling away but he just softly cooed in her ear. "Do not worry my love. I will take care of you", as he took her away, as she fell helplessly into his arms holding onto him tightly.
Laying her on his bed, he continued to whisper to her once in a while caressing her hair or face. Soon she was lulled to sleep but his caress, as he kissed her warm lips getting up and quietly closing the door.
Baltus Van Tassel was already booming with anger asking Ichabod what was going on.
"What is the meaning of this Constable Crane! What is wrong with my daughter! Is she ill! Need I call for the doctor?", as Ichabod only shook his head.
"I don't believe it will be necessary. Just let her sleep. If you would excuse me Sir I must go into town", as he nodded his head toward Baltus.
Standing there perplexed Baltus only nodded his head, looking towards his wife who was only shaking her head with worry.
Young Masbath sat at the bottom of the stairs staring at the floor in thought. Hearing footsteps he looked up as Ichabod walked down the stairs concern growing on his face.
"Is she alright Sir? Will she be alright?"
"I don't know Masbath…I just don't know..", as they walked out the front door to get their horses.
Katrina stared out her window watching Ichabod and Masbath leave. Her face still tearstained she walked towards Ichabod's room.
Opening the door she found Selena crying. Lifting her head at the noise she found Katrina standing there sadly staring at her.
Selena opened her arms, as Katrina quickly ran into her arms as they held each other tightly whispering and begging apologies from each other.
Wiping away Katrina's eyes she gave a small grin to her sister. "Don't worry…we'll figure this out. I promise..", as Katrina nodded.
"But there's something I need from you Katrina. Do you have any chalk?", as realization hit Katrina's eyes she smiled and quickly ran out of the room into her own.
Katrina returned pink chalk in hand. Handing it to her sister, together they moved Ichabod's bed slightly as Selena began drawing the protection pentacle under his bed.
"Why are you drawing it Selena?"
"In case of evil that plays with his mind. And me…."
Katrina's eyes widened. "Selena…"
But Selena only smiled at her sister as she lovingly returned to the pentacle.
Well there you go! I HAVE SO MUCH INSPIRATION FOR THIS STORY! No clue why though! PLEASE REVIEW!
