A few days later the couples arrived at the beauteous as estate where blowers bloomed in every which way and wondrous mountain laid in the distance.

Victor found himself pleased with his wife's delight of their new home which appeared not only befitted their status but tastes as well.

Their servants waited outside for them and as they exited the carriage, which they had traveled in for the past few days, the servants bowed and curtsied accordingly welcoming their new masters.

But before Elizabeth could set a single foot on the ground she was swept quite literally off her feet by her loving husband and carried into their home which upon entering she saw a simple yet elegant style making her feel at home immediately.

"You like it then?" asked her husband delicately.

"More then I could have ever dreamed," replied Elizabeth as the servants started filing in the door neatly.

One of the older gentlemen, most likely the head of servants came up to the young couple and after introducing himself as Alfred, the head butler of the estate.

"Would the master and his wife care for some afternoon tea?"

"That would be lovely, thank you," said Victor delightfully.

"Then follow me please."

Alfred let them through a drawing room to a small but comfortable room with a grand window in the west which would be perfect for watching sunsets.

While the couple waited Elizabeth sat patiently and Victor started scouring the nearby bookcase with all his inherited books.

"So, how is Henry?" asked the woman breaking the momentary silence just as her husband plucked his book of choice from the shelves.

"He's on his way to Cambodia now, that everything has been sorted. He told me he'd send us letters as often as he could about his adventures and will surely try to convince us to come to see him."

"Sounds marvelous. Perhaps one day we should do so and venture to the exotic worlds beyond."

Victor walked back to the couch where his wife sat and kissed her sweetly saying

"One day, my dear, one day. And while we're speaking of companions, how is poor Justine. She had refused to leave the refuge of her chambers to see me after…you know."

"I think she might have been in shock till. She was going to be condemned to die the following day before the creature was caught. All I can say is that thankfully she seems to be recovering now and 

before our departure she even made a light joke about how the only person she would need to tend to if father now."

"That's good," said Victor with a sigh. He was distracting his true intention with a bout of small talk.

"What is it?"

"I will have to take my leave soon, in a mere few hours."

"So soon?"

"I'm sorry my love, but the creature cannot be trusted and I must tend to my promise. But for now let us roam about our home."
As she soon came to find out, the household consisted of five bedrooms, victor insisting that their children would appreciate bedrooms of their own, two guestrooms, and four wash rooms. There was darling kitchen, two dining rooms, as well as several "tea" rooms and foyers in which to spend time in. And this was only from what she found with Victor before they moved to the gardens.

Generally Elizabeth felt slightly overwhelmed by it all, but assumed that soon it would shrink and become more comfortable. She also could not believe Victor found such an estate as they began to move through the various gardens, some of which were bare but the women envisioned herself planting a garden. Otherwise the natural foliage and flowers make a splendid sight in how they overtook the area.

It was near sunset when her and her husband got back in time for supper, in which Alfred had prepared for them in the informal dining hall.

Upon seeing him Elizabeth exclaimed in joking surprise,

"Oh dear, we forgot to stay for afternoon tea, how silly of us!" Alfred assured her it wasn't a problem as he bowed and left them to a truly delicious meal.

After dinner Victor said his goodbyes and with a loving kiss he departed leaving Elizabeth in the tea parlor with the western window where she watched the sunset by herself.

Afterwards she noticed the book he had picked out and left on the table right in front of where she had been originally sitting; a tragedy called "Romeo and Juliet" which the woman had never had the honor of reading, but had seen the play in her childhood. Her loneliness melted away momentarily as she sat herself down and turned to the first page.

An hour or two later, Elizabeth wasn't exactly sure, Alfred walked in holding a set of jangling keys on a small metal ring.

"Your husband left these for you," he said politely placing them on the table and beginning to take his leave as to not bother the lady.

But Elizabeth closed her book and asked,



"What are these keys to exactly?"

"The main doors into the household are the two biggest ones, another is a skeleton key for just about every room in this house that has a lock, the faded one is for the garden shed and the other two are ones I have never seen before. You may ask your husband when he returns."

"Thank you, Alfred."

"Do you require anything else?"

"No, I am good for the night, thank you."

"Good night my lady," said the butler before taking his leave.

She and Victor had discussed on the way there that the creature would be staying in the basement, locked in her protection. He had prepared a prison cell, he said for a murderer.

Elizabeth had personally though that the ides was a bit too much. The creature should at least be allowed to stay in a guest room; perhaps with some modifications so it might not escape or if it is to stay in the basement that is no need for a prison cell.

"You are too forgiving my love," said victor at that time laughing.

"It is all just a precaution for now. If it behaves then I shall lesson its security."

Now thinking about it, the woman was sure the small keys that Alfred couldn't identify were for the coming prisoner.

She had to see this cell. But the question was where the basement was?

Elizabeth immediately set out in search of it.

After combing the hallways she found the locked door to the basement between the kitchen and the formal dining room, a plain understated door of wood with no sign of modification, tucked neatly in the corner.

But it was indeed locked and Elizabeth found the skeleton key opened this particular door.

Creak.

The door swung open to darkness and the women felt glad she had brought a candle.

As she descended the stairs into the inky black she soon found that as her eyes adjusted she could see a faint outline of the room from the light of the half-full moon.



First she noticed a few cots and chairs lying about, most likely for the guards Victor had assigned to watch the creature, and as she passed them her shoes clicked against the cold stone floor.

The next thing that came into view was intimidating floor to ceiling bars that stretched the length of the underground room.

So this is where the creature is going to be kept.

NOTE- I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. This is indeed only the first half of the chapter and in the next chapter the creature and victor will be returning. I have the second part written on paper and all I have to do is type it up so it should be up soon.

As a note,I am sort of making this up as I go so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I would love to hear them!

Dea