Fright Night (1985)

Twist of Fate

Chapter Nine

by

~GaGa4FrightNight~

~Vendehla~

The carriage rolled along the lengthy path that led to the estate manor. The sun was nearly set in the horizon, shades of brilliant oranges, pinks and purples glazed the sky. The carriage slowed as it was guided into a turn by two harnessed steeds. Before the sprawling grand manor the carriage rolled to a stop.

The manor doors opened and from the inside rushed Regine, days of time had passed and her wait to be again united with her beloved Kristof finally came. Dressed in crimson she moved towards the carriage with a smile of pure excitement. Her large brown eyes focused as the carriage door was opened by the driver and the steps lowered. She excitedly approached, how she missed the handsome face of her husband's. Then the moment finally came as Kristof stepped down from the carriage.

Regine briefly paused, immediately there seemed something odd about her husband for he hadn't reacted as expected. She slowed her approach while focused on her husband who was more content to assisting the second passenger from the carriage. Her eyes shifted the very moment her sister in law emerged with assistance from Kristof. She stopped her approach.

Yolanda, the sister to Kristof, sister by marriage to Regine and once the intended to Lord Jerry Dandridge, stepped down from the carriage with her hand rested in her brother's. Her nearly black eyes peered forward at the expression over her brother's very beautiful wife's face. It had been a year since the sisters by marriage had seen one another and it was apparent that Regine was somewhat surprised by what she saw.

Regine finally pushed forward and forced a smile over her full mouth. Her eyes slightly frowned, nearly as expressive as her brothers. The Yolanda she saw before her seemed much different than the woman she last seen. The woman she last saw was less radiant and barely held herself with a strong grace but now it seemed Yolanda had strangely blossomed with confidence which also illuminated her obvious beauty to a whole other light.

"Regine," Yolanda sang with a nearly condescending tone, "Sister." She moved passed Kristof and strolled towards Regine opening her arms. "A long year it has been, dear Regine." she continued to sing with her Hungarian accent prominent, "You look positively lovely as ever." She stopped then rested her hands on Regine's shoulders and leaned and pressed a kiss against each of Regine's cheeks.

"Aye," Regine said with as much pleasantry as possible, "And you," she looked to Yolanda's face the moment the woman leaned back, "Aye, you look well, Yolanda."

"Aye, I be very well, thank you." Yolanda charmingly sang with a smile that was less sweet and more so devious, "Yet," she deceptively tilted her head with sweetness, "I had hoped upon our reunion that you, sweet sister, would be with child."

Regine held her breath, read a blatant jab against her inability to conceive. She swallowed and released her breath then replied, "No, not as of yet but there be hope."

"Oh, aye," Yolanda chimed, "Hope you should not lose."

Regine nodded then shifted her eyes to Kristof and genuinely smiled. "Husband," she sang then stepped to the side and eagerly embraced her husband yet his embrace seemed oddly reluctant, "Missed you so, I have, Kristof."

"Aye," Kristof spoke but almost drolly, "I have missed you."

Regine immediately heard the oddness about Kristof's tone. She took a step back, held her sweet smile and glanced to Yolanda who continued to beam with a type of smugness. "Please, come inside." she urged and took her husband's hand, "You have arrived in time to dine."

Jerry heard the arrival of Kristof but the arrival of Yolanda was not as eagerly desired. He sat at the head of the large dining table, reluctant to lay eyes on the woman who had nearly became violent in the past when rejected for marriage. He held his eyes closed and heard the sound of their footsteps approaching.

Jerry wasn't alone at the table, that evening Aiden and Charley attended though Charley was less eager to share the table with the mortal version of his monster. When the group of three arrived to the dining room entrance, all three men rose from their seats, well Charley had to be encouraged by Aiden with a little tug of the sleeve.

Regine entered the dining with a tight hold of Kristof's hand. Behind Regine of course was her husband followed by Yolanda.

Yolanda entered last and immediately her eyes went Jerry's direction. Across her lips formed a nearly callous grin. Yes, it had been several years she last seen him but those years were quite kind and seemed to enhance his handsome features. She held her grin and followed her brother who was kindly greeted by Jerry but the moment she stepped before the Lord it became apparent his feelings towards her hadn't change. Her grin faded.

Jerry wouldn't directly look at Yolanda and he simply greeted, "Yolanda, welcome." then he took his seat at the head of the table and urged, "Please, be seated."

Yolanda started to fume inside. She half expected a more respectful greeting. She clenched her jaw then turned and went to the nearest empty chair just on the other side of her brother. She sat down and glanced over at the two strangers, a sandy brown hair man and an obvious teenaged young man.

"Kristof, Yolanda," Jerry spoke up, avoided any eye contact with Yolanda, "Please meet our guests," he lifted his hand and gestured to the two occupying the table at his right, "Doctor Aiden McHoolihee and young Charley Brewster."

"A pleasure," Aiden cheerfully greeted with a big smile and graciously nodded to siblings Kristof and Yolanda.

"Hi," Charley greeted, felt really awkward and uncomfortable. His eyes somewhat focused on the obvious beauty named Yolanda. His eyes slightly frowned, Yolanda sat with a glare aimed at Jerry, her eyes a blackish brown as they peered passed her sibling and Regine. He easily picked up definite tension of some kind between Jerry and Yolanda. He sat curiously shifting his eyes back and forth from Jerry to Yolanda then back again.

For days Charley and Aiden had tirelessly gone through every known text within Aiden's cramped living quarters but nothing truly explained poor Charley's circumstances. Yes they found many fabled tales of creatures similar to the one that Jerry Dandridge undoubtedly became. Charley knew he was placed there for a purpose and that the particular moment in Dandridge's mortal life which he determined was near the time the man became the monster who eventually became his boogieman. Yet, he wasn't certain if he was there to stop the monster from being made or again destroy the monster.

Charley's eyes momentarily froze on Jerry. There was no true way to describe his difficulty from not seeing the monster that mortal man would become. That particular evening, the unwanted visit from the neighboring monster, instilled that fear and his reluctance to truly make any real attempt to know the mortal man. Those nightmarish images haunt him and became more so each time he looked upon what would become a handsome mask disguising the true face of the monster within which he reluctantly had come face to face with more times than enough.

Charley again scanned passed Regine and Kristof and looked to Yolanda. His eyes slightly frowned as his mind twirled about ideas. Yeah, there were times that his twirling of thoughts and idea nearly got him killed but they were dead on. Something inside him, that nagging suspicion told him that quite possibly the truth of how Dandridge became the immortal monster was sitting almost directly across from him. There hadn't been not a single person in that manor since his arrival that gave any suspicion of their possible involvement in the creation of his nightmare, not until that beautiful mature beauty stepped into the manor.

Charley flinched the moment Yolanda darted her eyes directly at him. His eyes dropped and aimed at the empty setting before. Yeah, he agreed silently to himself, there was something definitely off about that woman.

"Shall we." Jerry spoke up, tired of the silence, then quickly grabbed the silver bell beside his table setting and rang for dinner to be delivered.

From another entrance the servants emerged carrying the trays containing the first course. Amongst them was Tayte and Thea.

Though Jerry had requested Thea to desist continuing her servant ways, she saw no reason to for their engagement had not yet been made known to the others. She made certain it was her who served the Lord his dinner, the emerald ring still rested on her finger. Her smile was as always bright and warming as she stood beside Tayte at the buffet properly putting together the Lord's plate.

Tayte firstly paid no mind as she too prepared a plate for Aiden and Charley. Her eyes caught glimpse of something never seen worn by Thea before. Her eyes froze and focused on what was a never before seen ring glistening with an impressive emerald. Her eyes slowly shifted and looked to the smiling profile of her sister's identical face. In a quick turn of her head she looked to the Lord then returned her eyes back to Thea and last the ring. Her mind quickly fumbled a bit, the ring looked familiar, she had seen it before but where? Then it struck her and the face drained of expression as her eyes grew wide. Yes, she had seen that ring which was immortalized in a portrait of the first Lady of the manor, the mother of both Regine and Jerry.

From the corner of her eyes, Thea caught sight of Tayte's drained expression. Her head slowly turned and eyes frowned in question. Tayte's eyes finally looked directly into hers and immediately she knew that her twin sibling had come to a realization. She swiftly looked away, grabbed the prepared plate and left the buffet. Her heart nervously pounded, imagined what words would soon to be angrily given the moment she and her sister were alone.

Thea forced a smile, desperate to push back her concerns about Tayte. She approached the table.

Jerry could feel Yolanda's glare. How he wished she hadn't come. He dreaded what fits would eventually ignite, rages he once experienced when he rejected Yolanda's eager advances and determination to again be his intended. He had no desire to again be put through Yolanda's tyrant spells of delusional outbursts where she proclaimed she was always his rightful intended. The last time he came face to face with the fury she displayed she was immediately afterwards sent back to war torn Hungary but not without her claims that she would become his wife or consequences of an unknown manner would follow.

Jerry was taken from his thoughts. His eyes looked to the hand that lowered the plate before him, his mother's emerald ring gave a type of twinkle in the chandelier lighting. His lips curved into a soft smile, a decision was made as if beckoned by the ring and its great symbolism.

Jerry quickly snatched hold of Thea's wrist. His eyes shifted upward and looked up at her questioning expression. His smile broadened then he said, "No."

Thea continued to question Jerry with her frowned eyes though she maintained her smile.

Tayte froze just as she set down both Aiden and Charley's plate before them. Her eyes were wide as they focused on what was about to happen at the head of the lengthy dining room table.

Regine looked troubled as she leaned a bit forward at her brother. Her eyes make a quick look where her brother gripped Thea's wrist and immediately recognized the emerald ring. Her lips slightly parted with surprise and eyes quickly looked to her brother's face, the smile across his lips and the manner his eyes looked up at Thea blatantly spelled out something unexpected and troublesome.

Yolanda too saw the unexpected throughout Jerry's expression. Her lips firmly pressed together and eyes grew wider with that bitterness brewing more and more inside her. Her brow tensely furrowed as her fingers twisted and curled rested against her lap and clenched fistfuls of satin skirting. Her breaths grew erratic as the tension of her building rage violently brewed behind her black wide eyes.

"Is something the matter, My Lord?" Thea calmly asked and maintained her sweet tone.

Jerry slowly shook his head then slid back the chair and rose up while his hand held Thea's wrist. Now was the time, he would thwart any of Yolanda's delusions, reveal to his sister and everyone the truth behind he and Thea, and finally he would complete his own happiness. He finally spoke with his eyes focused within Thea's, "No more, you shall not serve another again from this moment on."

Regine didn't want to believe what she was witnessing and obliviously asked, "You are not terminating Thea's service, are you, Brother?" No, she knew he wasn't but what was witnessed right then shouldn't happen.

Jerry again slowly shook his head, his smile unhindered. His grip around Thea's wrist loosened then his hand embraced hers. His eyes shifted and looked to his sister's confused and troubled expression. "Aye, Thea's service is no longer needed." he replied, "For she is no longer a servant, she is my fiance and shall soon be my wife."

Thea's jaw dropped with her eyes wide. That was more than unexpected.

"What?" Regine questioned in disbelief then nervously laughed, "You cannot be serious."

Jerry's expression became serious upon his sister's comment then firmly stated, "Aye, never have I been more serious than the current moment, Sister."

"Jerry," Regine stammered a bit then cleared her throat, "Aye, Thea is a lovely woman but you cannot marry her."

"Why not?" Jerry quickly asked, disapproved of his sister's almost snobbish perspective.

Regine again nervously laughed, "Brother, she is but a servant that is why not. She is not, well, like us."

Thea quickly looked to Regine. After all these years she had thought she and Regine had a decent friendship but right then it was clearly announced what Regine truly thought. Her fear of Regine's denial of a blessing was made real. She looked to Jerry and quickly shook her head then softly spoke up, "Perhaps now is not the best of time."

Jerry looked to Thea and firmly stated, "There is no time like the present." he again looked to his sister, "My dear Sister, I had married once out of responsibility and obligation to our family and, aye, I dearly loved my wife but," his eyes again turned to Thea, "I wish to marry out of love, not responsibility or obligation, simply to marry out of true love." He watched the brightness again show within Thea's eyes in response to his desire.

Jerry lifted his left hand and gently cupped it against the side of Thea's sweetly beautiful face. "Aye, I have known love," he confessed, "Yet, not until you, Thea, had I known the purest of love. Our love is a love that was given time to become what it has but," his smile softened more as his thumb lightly grazed against her cheek, "Our love will not be whole until the moment you are my wife."

Regine was speechless. Yes, it was obvious in deed that there was nothing but love reflected with her brother's eyes for Thea but how could she approve such an inappropriate match? No, she wouldn't prefer him to wed Yolanda but a woman of society should be his choice not an orphan who knew only a life of servitude. "No," she suddenly protested.

Yolanda smirked, her eyes shifted to Regine, saw the disapproving grimace about the Lord's sister's face. Again she looked to Jerry, sensed the conflict beginning to brew which only benefited her purpose and goal. Her fists loosened their tension.

Jerry did not alleviate his eyes from Thea's upon Regine spoken protest. "It matters not," he stated but not just for Regine, mainly for Thea, "As I promised, it matters not anyone's approval."

With a little gentle pull Jerry guided Thea closer and kept his eyes deep within hers then confidently proclaimed, "All that matters is that you love me and I love you. No blessings or approval from others will not prevent us from being complete." the love in Thea's eyes was all he needed, desired, and ever truly wanted in his life, "We shall be married."

Thea genuinely smiled, felt all her concerns and worries towards she and Jerry's relationship fade. Her hand lifted and rested over his against her cheek as the other gently squeezed his. She simply nodded, there were no more words to be spoken for he said all there was needed. She subtly gasped upon him eagerly embracing her before the entire dining room. Her arms tightly embraced around his neck as that smile was bright and filled with contentment. Yes, she deserved the honor of his love and hers given to him in return. Yes, she was more than deserving to be a Lord's wife and his moment of making it clearly and loudly known was the proof she needed. He gave no shame and proudly made the proclamation of his love for her. Her happiness was now in complete bloom.

Tayte stood frozen, inside she knew there was something that would shatter her sister's moment of happiness. Her eyes shifted from the visual of Jerry and Thea's embrace and firstly looked to the horrified grimace of Regine, scanned passed the nearly emotionless Kristof, and stopped on Yolanda. She knew Yolanda's history with Jerry quite well which she now regretted having never informed Thea of. She was the one who cleaned up the broken mess left behind by Yolanda's violent outburst upon Jerry's refusal to wed. She had heard the screamed protests, the multitude of begging and pleading, and most disturbingly, the threats and promises for justice against Jerry's refusal. Her heart ached for Thea and feared the devastation that would befall her sweet and nearly naive twin.

Tayte wasn't the only one who sensed the creeping presence of darkness within the dining room. Charley sat quietly having witnessed a moment of pure humanity from the mortal version of his monster. Perhaps it was a defining moment where he finally realized that the monster he had known once was human with human emotions, a soul. Yet, he knew what that mere mortal man became. He sensed that moment was near, the monster would soon be made and in four hundred years that monster would reap nothing but hell on his life.

Charley witnessed first hand what darkness and pure evil created. His Amy transformed from a sweet and innocent girl into a seductress of pure evil and blood lust and focused solely on killing him in honor of the true monster. Yet, now he realized Jerry wasn't the true monster for the true monster was what created him. He was forced to set aside his fears and thoughts of the dark creature he knew for it was the true monster, the one thing that started it all that had to be destroyed. And with a shift of his eyes he looked to the face of who was likely Jerry the vampire's creator, Yolanda.

It had to be, Charley told himself, she was the likely candidate with obvious motive to seek some type of revenge. It seemed obvious just by the pure hatred emulated through Yolanda's nearly black eyes as they glared at the embracing couple. If he was the true source, the one who saw to Jerry's damnation, then quite possibly Jerry's curse could be prevented. He knew what had to be done but his suspicions had to be confirmed before action could be taken. If he managed to destroy Jerry Dandridge four hundred years in the future, he could quite possibly destroy another source of evil the past that he was currently held prisoner. He slowly nodded in agreement to his determination.

Jerry leaned back from the embrace and took the moment to admire the insurmountable love so beautiful glowing throughout Thea's expression. He softy smiled and cupped her face between his hands. "I love you," he sincerely and undoubtedly stated, "My Angel."

Thea nodded then eagerly proclaimed, "And I love you!"

Jerry sealed that proclamation, his lips gently kissed Thea's.

Yolanda felt it brew inside her, the heights of her rage boiled and boiled and prepared to burst. She tightly clenched her jaw then forced her eyes from the sickening display of love that she believed she be hers not some common household whore. Desperate to maintain composer, she slid back the chair and slowly rose up. Her decision was made and she stepped from behind the table. She lifted her head at the chin, kept her dark eyes from that enraging sight then calmly stated, "Please excuse me," she controlled her breaths then turned to leave but paused upon a voice.

"Please, I shall show you to your room, Lady Yolanda." Tayte quickly volunteered.

Yolanda reluctantly turned her and peered over her shoulder at a face that was identical to the one who stole Jerry's heart. "Very well." she agreed then stormed from the dining room.

Tayte quickly curtsied then rushed around the dining room table. No one was going to ruin her sister's happiness. Though she, just as Regine, thought the union highly improper, she loved Thea and Thea's happiness meant more to her than her own. She rushed out of the dining room and caught up to the obviously fuming Yolanda.

Jerry ended the kiss but stood firmly holding his bride to be. His eyes closely studied hers, eyes of an angel, he praised. Again he gently pressed a kiss against her lips. Perhaps now that his love and intentions were known, the troubles that were Yolanda would disintegrate and be no longer a worry. Now he could look forward into a blissful future with the woman he loved with all his heart and soul. There was more brightness in his future than he had ever thought possible which would finally include children to carry on the Dandridge legacy and name. His life was nearly complete, so he believed.

That completion of Jerry Dandridge's life was the target that glimmered wickedly within Yolanda's eyes as she stormed through the manor being led by a reminder of what was rightfully hers. Her hands fidgeted, fingers flexed and fisted off and on. Her mind gathered every hateful image and scenario that had made up her entire life. She was denied twice the right to marry Lord Jerry Dandridge and was determined that a third would never happen. She waited and prepared far too long to throw her efforts away and determined that evening would begin her retrieval of what she felt was rightfully hers to own, Jerry Dandridge.

Tayte stopped in the corridor and opened the door to the room chosen for Yolanda. She stepped aside and allowed the obviously fuming woman to pass and enter the room. Yet, she would not leave until she made it known that Yolanda would not be permitted to hinder Thea's happiness. She stepped into the room and closed the door.

Yolanda spun around, her black eyes narrowed, then snapped, "You may leave."

"Aye, I shall," Tayte agreed then stated, "But not until it is known that you shall not interfere one bit in my sister's affairs."

"An affair is correct!" Yolanda snapped and stepped up to the stone faced twin, "Your sister be fit only for an affair not marriage. He will not marry her and even you know this."

"No, I do not." Tayte corrected the vile tempered woman, "Was it not apparent his intentions?"

Yolanda glared at Tayte with a face shared with Jerry's servant whore. "It will not happen." she confidently stated for her mission now was to see that it did not.

Tayte refused to back down. Her eyes narrowed and she confessed, "That night I heard your intentions." she crossed her arms over her chest, "It was I who cleaned up after your tantrum when the Lord refused to accept you as his intended. It was I who heard your threats against him." she took a firm foot forward, "Then I cared not but that has changed hence now that my sister be involved. What ever be your wicked intentions towards Lord Dandridge are also aimed towards my sister and that I shall not stand for."

"How dare you!" Yolanda yelled, a servant should never speak to one of higher status in that manner, "You are insolent just as your sister! Would not surprise me if he beds you both!"

Tayte face grew solidly etched with hatred towards the woman before. How could one woman be so hateful and purely spiteful as a spoiled child not having their way? "This be a warning, my lady." she spoke and used disdain, "No harm of any kind, physical or emotional, shall best not come to my sister by the likes of you."

"You dare threatened me?!" Yolanda said with wide and wild eyes.

"Oh I dare and, aye, I did." Tayte spat back then uncrossed her arms and aimed her finger accusingly at the woman, "Let this be also a promise that any harm of any kind befalls my sister, I know where the blame shall lie and that be you."

Yolanda took a step back, her lips twisted into a wicked sneer then she evilly snickered, "Give your threats, warnings and promises, twin sister, but heed mine as well."

"Give them then!" Tayte urged, not fearful of some rotten to the core feeble woman that was delusional with thoughts of grandeur towards a man who preferred a common servant.

"Oh as you have said," Yolanda spoke, her tone nearly hideous with her heightened intentions, "You have already heard my threats, warning and promises that very evening and so continue to take heed of them."

"Aye then, taken." Tayte gave a sharp nod, "As you take heed of mine as well, my lady." she took a step back with her eyes firmly glaring at the woman, "A good evening to you." She turned and left, determined to keep a very watchful eye on the woman left fuming in that grand room.

Yolanda's hands tightened into fists as her head lowered at the chin with her eyes engulfed with the purest of evil. Her lips trembled and sneered as her jaw clenched tightly. Yes, it was time to take what was rightfully hers. Yes, it came the moment she had prepared for all those years since the evening Lord Jerry Dandridge blatantly turned her away. For years she prepared and thought every waking moment of the very moment she would carry out her promised threats.

"And tonight shall begin when his world comes crumbling down." Yolanda stated under a lowly grumbled tone followed by a nearly insane laugh, "The darkness comes for you, my Jerry, and it shall swallow you whole and it shall be only me in that darkness with you." She again laughed and turned to prepare the beginnings of the end of Jerry Dandridge's precious world.

(Author)

Okay, next chapter will be a continence of Chapter Nine, take place the same evening and likely will be a little shorter in preparation for Chapter Eleven. Hope y'all enjoying this! A definite pleasure writing this lovely work of Fright Night history taken from my and Vendehla's combined imaginations! Oh, and I would love to announce the chosen theme song for this fan fiction is the amazing song Stay covered by Cradle of Filth! Check it out.. I think it has the inspirational tones just for this particular project!

FRIGHT NIGHT FOREVA!