FRIGHT NIGHT 1985

Twist of Fate

Chapter Seven

by

~GaGa4FrightNight~

~Vendehla~

"How in the hell do you guys wear all this?" Charley questioned as he spent quite a bit of time trying to get dressed in something more time appropriate but he refused to go without his underwear. He finished with putting on the traditional 17th century waistcoat which he thought was a weirdly made vest. He certainly felt out of his element, as if he were stuck doing some dopey role in a high school play.

"A bit loose hence the Lord is taller." Aiden commented as he stood near Charley with a pair of buckled gentleman's shoes outreached.

"I can't believe this," Charley whined then snatched the shoes from Aiden's hand, "I'm wearing his damned clothes."

"Ah, lad," Aiden spoke giving Charley that familiar wide eyed look, "Remember you must, the Lord not be the Jerry Dandridge you know."

"Yeah, yeah," Charley groaned and sat down on the edge of the bed and worked his feet in the black leather buckle shoes. His eyes frowned looking at the white stockings covering his calves then again groaned, "Seriously, do I really have wear these damned sock things?"

Aiden shifted and gave Charley a nod, "My boy, you cannot go strolling amongst the locals dressed as you were. Now you shall fit in, well, somewhat. Your manner of speaking is quite offensive and nearly ill educated sounding."

Charley looked to Aiden in surprise, "Well, all you talk like a bunch of fruits."

"Fruits?" Aiden frowned in confusion, "Fruits speak in your time?"

Charley rolled his eyes and stood up then mumbled, "Yeah, you call me uneducated."

"What was that?" Aiden asked.

"Never mind," Charley said and shook his head, "So what now?"

Aiden smiled, "You and I shall go the village back to my play of stay and together we shall put our heads together and see what else my many books offer."

Charley's shoulders slumped then he tossed his hands up and commented, "Great, getting my ass sent back centuries doesn't excuse me from damned homework."

Aiden shrugged then stated, "It shall be a start of many discoveries."

"Yeah, whatever," Charley snatched up the overcoat from the bed, "Let's get going. The sooner we figure this out then maybe I'll find my way back where I belong."

"Aye," Aiden gave an agreeing nod.

"Just hope I don't have to go through more vampire bull." Charley grumbled and headed for the door.

"Aye," Aiden nervously swallowed, "My sentiments exactly." He hurried to follow the young man.

Charley walked with Aiden through the corridors. He was somewhat amazed by the grandeur of everything around him. Apparently the vampire Jerry Dandridge came from some pretty wealthy roots by the look of everything he passed. He had a sense that Aiden was somewhat lost but had no choice but to tag along. He fiddled and fidgeted, felt slightly strangled and uncomfortable with the frilled high collar. Wow, he thought, he was wearing 17th century Jerry Dandridge's clothes. He slightly shuddered.

Aiden paused at a junction in the corridor. He looked right then left to make a decision which direction he should go. "If there be a good time for a servant, this be it." he commented then shrugged and took the left turn.

"Do you have any clue where the hell you're going?" Charley asked while tugging on the collar.

"It be just a manor," Aiden commented, "A quite large one but there be an end somewhere."

Charley rolled his eyes then sarcastically huffed, "What a tour guide you are. You think you'll find your way back to the village without getting us lost."

Aiden paused and turned and grimaced at the boy, "A wide open space is much easier to navigate than an enclosed manor."

Charley's face twisted with confusion, that statement made no sense. He shook his head and stepped passed Aiden. "If I can find my way around Rancho Corvallis High," he confidently stated, "I can find my way through a big house."

"Have at it, my good lad!" Aiden quipped, "I do pray they will send the dogs hence we get further lost."

"Can't do much worse than you." Charley grumbled and turned to the right.

Charley managed to find he and Aiden's way to the grand staircase. Down the stairs they walked. A rush of feet echoed in the grand foray. Charley skidded to a stop halfway down the moment he saw Jerry making his way to the front entrance. It was greatly unsettling for him to see that man though he knew it was the man Jerry Dandridge not the vampire.

Lawrence immediately opened both doors as Jerry approached. Numerous servants rushed behind Jerry as he made his way out of the manor. Across his lips was a broad smile and his large eyes focused on the carriage before stairs of the grand manor. One of the servants rushed passed and hurried to open the carriage door and lower the steps.

Jerry halted directly before the carriage step and within a moments there was his lovely sister's face. Three days had passed and as predicted his beloved sister and only sibling returned to their English family estate. He graciously offered his hand and assisted Regine from within the carriage. "Welcome home, my dear Sister." he sang then the moment she stepped off the carriage he eagerly embraced her. Nearly five years they hadn't seen one another, she was his only living immediate family member and how he loved her.

Regine smiled, her full lips so similar to her brother's. Her eyes also shared the same dark rich brown color and large shape. There was no doubt they were brother and sister. "Oh how I have missed you!" she chimed with her arms tightly embraced around her brother, "Far too long, Brother, far too long!"

"Aye but now you are home, where you belong." Jerry gratefully said then leaned back and looked to the carriage, "And Kristof?"

Regine sighed, "Not with me."

Jerry frowned and looked to Regine, "And why?"

Regine shook her head and explained, "Yolanda is why. Kristof and I parted ways before the ship and went to retrieve Yolanda."

Jerry hated the mentioning of that particular woman's name. He took a calming breath then inquired, "She be returning with him?"

"Aye," Regine sighed, there was one point she and Yolanda were dear friends but upon her marriage to Kristof and Jerry's refusal of marriage, the friendship shattered.

"Why had you not mentioned this in your letter?" Jerry quickly asked as the servants collected Regine's belongings.

"I had not known then." Regine stated then elaborated, "Just before we left Hungary, Yolanda sent message and requested Kristof to fetch her from wherever it is she had gone."

Jerry frustratingly huffed.

Regine recognized her brother's frustration and understood. "Sorry, I truly am." she apologized, "She be Kristof's sister and for that she has rights to join us here. I had not expected this but nothing cannot be done."

Jerry took a breath and glanced to the entrance, the young strange guest and the doctor stepped out. His eyes frowned for the young man again seemed at odd being in his presence.

Regine looked to where her brother's attention was drawn and frowned in question, didn't recognize neither of the two men. "Who be they?" she questioned aloud.

Aiden stepped up to the brother and sister, assumed the lovely ebony hair woman was the lord's sister Regine. He smiled wide and graciously bowed to the lovely creature. "My Lady, an honor." he sang then rose from the bow and graciously gave a nod, "I am Doctor Aiden McHoolihee the township physician for these passed four years."

"Oh, greetings and a pleasure, Doctor." Regine greeted and made a slight curtsy then she looked to the awkward young man and inquired, "And who might you be?"

Charley looked back and forth from Jerry to Regine, saw the resemblance. "Ah, I'm Charley," he introduced, "Um, yeah, Charley Brewster."

"Oh, well, a pleasure, Charley Brewster." Regine greeted though she found the boy without any true gracious mannerisms upon meeting a lady such a she.

"Young Charley was found nearly blind a few days ago." Jerry spoke up as he closely watched the young man who kept glancing at him somewhat fearfully, "As you see, he has recovered from what might have ailed him."

"Aye," Regine nodded and frowned in response to how the young man kept eyeing her brother. She looked to her brother who was also oddly eyeing the boy.

"I do hate to be rude," Aiden spoke up, "The lad and I are taking in some fresh air and perhaps show him the village."

"Hmm," Jerry hummed suspiciously, more so suspicious of the boy, "Very well then." he gave a courteous nod, "Be safe and perhaps, Charley, you might inform the good doctor from hence you came, hmm?"

Charley nodded and gave a simple, "Sure."

Aiden frowned a little then broadened his smile and chimed, "Good day then, again, my Lady, a pleasure to finally meet the beloved sister of Lord Dandridge." He again graciously bowed then snatched Charley by the sleeve of the overcoat.

"Aye." Regine awkwardly smiled and watched Aiden jerk the boy with him. She leaned closer to her brother and whispered, "The boy be strange, had he perhaps fallen on his head?"

Jerry hardily laughed in response to his sister's question then brought his arm around her and escorted her toward the entrance. "That, my dear Sister, is but another mystery concerning the boy." he commented.

Thea sat silently in her private chamber. She sat on the edge of the bed with her eyes focused on the lovely emerald ring tucked on her finger. The passed few days were somewhat indifferent. She hadn't done as Jerry said, she continued doing as she had every day for all those years being a servant for the household. That day Regine arrived after five years but what she assumed would happen upon the sister's return hadn't. Jerry had not announced their engagement.

She had went through the day and continued as normal which was she as one of many servants. Yes, it was pleasant reuniting with the lovely Lady Regine. Always they had a type of friendship and pleasantries and embraces were shared. Yet, what was bothersome was Jerry's awkwardness or perhaps an unusual indifference.

The three days before Regine's anticipated return the household made certain the lady's return would be pleasant and her room cleaned top to bottom to her liking. But, in those three days there was not one visit or moment alone with Jerry which bothered Thea. Had she assumed too much when that gold band was placed on her finger? Perhaps their little disagreement about what was appropriate and inappropriate before marriage had caused a slight rift?

She dropped her hand and looked forward.

Everyone was occupied in one way or another. Tayte was her typical bossy self barking orders here and there. Thea disliked the distance between she and Tayte because in that moment she had no sister to tell her worries. The other staff were hustled throughout the manor for three days preparing for Regine's return. She no longer had the boy Charley to tend to, he was still off with Aiden. And there she was alone in her lonely chamber pondering about more uncertainties that arisen within those three days.

Was she wrong to have denied Jerry, again? Was it wrong what he wished to happen? They were now, well, unofficially engaged. The engagement would not become official until it was known to Regine and others. Yes, she loved him as she claimed, with her whole heart and soul. What was wrong with expressing that love? How could it be wrong to wish to share that love completely now that they were engaged? Perhaps she was too harsh in denying him.

She deeply sighed then rose up from the bed.

She had already dressed for bed. The manor was silent, even the typical evening ruckus from the servants was vacant. She lifted and removed the cotton nightgown then grabbed the thick and quilted robe.

"I can't read any of this!" Charley whined with his eyes staring down at the pages of one of many thick books that were clustered throughout Aiden's room, "It's like English but then it's like, well, not." he lifted the book and turned it sideways then straight up, "I can make out some of this but everything else..." he looked across the small room at Aiden, "You got a dictionary or something?"

"Do your best, lad." Aiden commented as he flipped the page of the text set before on his cluttered desk, "Our speediness will beneficial in this peculiar situation." He licked his fingertip and again flipped another page, his eyes easily moved over the page.

Charley huffed with his mouth awkward twisted in a grimace. He lowered the book against his lap and stared down at the old English. "What the hell are we looking for anyways?" he asked, not really desiring to continue reading crap he couldn't remotely understand, "We need to figure out who turned Dandridge. I already know what he became." he continued to frown then his mind trailed back, or what it forward, into those events that resulted in his entrance into wherever he was.

Charley leaned slouched with his elbows rested down against the book. He wondered what happened after he vanished. Had Amy been saved? "Amy," he softly spoke her name then sighed. It was his fault what happened. If he hadn't been so damned nosy, curious why he saw a damned coffin then nothing would have happened to Amy or Ed.

"Damn, poor Ed." Charley groaned and his head somewhat dropped in shame. He and Ed were friends since elementary school, two huge Peter Vincent fanatics. Yet, the moment girls came into the picture, especially Amy, he went a whole other direction practically leaving Ed behind. Ed's awkwardness and status as the horror geek made him a likely candidate to assist in Dandridge's scheme to kill him. So many lives were screwed up because of him and his need to prove his neighbor was one of the undead sucking the lives out of local prostitutes. His hands slapped over his face and he ground the heels into eyes.

Aiden stared at poor Charley. There had to be truth to the lad's story, no one could be riddled with that much emotion if it were not. He rose up out of the chair and stepped the short distance where Charley sat slumped in on the edge of the small bed.

"My dear boy," Aiden spoke and rested a hand on Charley's slumped shoulder, "We shall find a way." he tried his best to sound confident, "There must be a way for you are before me and not where you had come from. This world is full of unexplainable mysteries and at this moment you are one of them."

Charley lifted his head and looked up at Aiden's kind face and concerned eyes that were just like Peter's. He forced a smile and nodded, "Yeah, we'll find a way, we have to."

Aiden nodded and smiled, "Then we shall, Charley."

(Author)

Well, yeah, not much here in this chapter. Well, okay it did introduce us to the infamous Regine who is quite the opposite of her future vampire self, hmm? A little humor tid bits with Peter and Charley. What's next? Well, a little smexy time with Jerry Dandridge I think is in order, don't ya agree with an added homage to a particular scene in the movie... Hint: Jerry was dirty dancing way before Mr. Patrick Swayze!

FRIGHT NIGHT FOREVA!