Fright Night (1985)
Twist of Fate
Chapter Eleven
by
~GaGa4FrightNight~
~Vendehla~
Within the main sitting room, Charley sat on one end of the sofa with Tayte on the other end and Aiden between them. Since leaving Yolanda's vacant room all three were silent, each processed what had possibly happened in their own way.
Charley knew Yolanda's disappearance was related to the shadow they had seen and his mind traced over the thoughts that quite possibly it was now the beginning of a whole new nightmare.
Aiden sat with his face and eyes constantly shifting expressions from confusion to disbelief then fear.
Tayte sat nervously twisting the end of her lengthy braid around her fingers while her eyes were vacant with thought. Could she possibly believe Charley and Aiden's idea that placed Yolanda within a supernatural scheme against Lord Dandridge?
The sitting room doors slid open and Jerry marched into the room with Thea quickly following. His eyes immediately went to the three on the sofa. He took a moment to slide the doors closed then escorted Thea to the chair matching the sofa the three sat. He straightened his posture and tucked his hands behind back as his eyes studied the thoughtful expressions. "Explain." he firmly said.
All three sets of eyes shifted and looked to Jerry.
Charley cleared his throat and nervously rose up off the sofa. "Ah, well," he mumbled. How was he going to explain it all? He knew how insane his story sounded and likely the man sternly focused on him would find his story insane as well. He went to open his mouth but Aiden quickly grabbed his wrist. His eyes frowned with question as he looked down at Aiden.
"Allow me," Aiden rose up, straightened his posture then cleared his throat. He knew Charley's story would not fare well and decided to bring the focus more so on Yolanda than Charley's peculiar tale of time travel. "My Lord," he nervously spoke up, "We have reason to suspect that the Lady Yolanda has derived a means to possibly enact a type of vengeful scheme against you, My Lord."
Jerry frowned then asked, "And what scheme might that be, Doctor?"
"My Lord," Aiden struggled a bit with his nerves then asked the Lord, "Is it not true that during Lady Yolanda's previous visit that she had made threats again you, My Lord?"
Jerry continued to frown then glanced at Tayte who he suspected had told Aiden of Yolanda's threats. He cleared his throat and confessed, "Aye, that be true."
"Well, My Lord," Aiden felt his nerves becoming more tensed, "We believe that Lady Yolanda has likely, perhaps, delved in a more supernatural means to enact her vengeance upon you, My Lord."
"Supernatural?" Jerry quickly questioned and grinned, "And what brings you, all of you to this conclusion?"
"Tonight, My Lord, we three witnessed something dark in nature outside these walls." Aiden confessed, "There be no true explanation of such a thing but supernatural. What it be, we do not know but firstly we suspected it had come for you, My Lord, but upon, well," he nervously swallowed, "Our intrusion we realized it had not come for you but for Lady Yolanda hence we rushed to her chamber, as you, My Lord, know." he felt his body begin to tremble the further his nerves tensed, "What all of us discovered within her room, the circle of candles and, well," he again swallowed against the thick lump in his throat, "Well, the blood, well, I have reason to suspect a ritual of some sort was conducted which possibly manifested this said dark entity we had witnessed."
"And where be Lady Yolanda?" Jerry suspiciously asked, did not believe the nonsense the doctor spoke.
"That we cannot say." Aiden confessed, "We can only assume the blood within the circle be hers."
"Not any of this makes one bit of sense." Jerry commented, "Do any of you realize how mad this sounds?" His eyes scanned the faces around him.
Charley stepped beside Aiden and spoke up, "Yeah, it's sounds damned ridiculous but I've seen some pretty ridiculous stuff. What Aiden's trying to tell you is the truth."
Jerry narrowed his eyes at the boy then commented, "I should believe a strange and odd young man as you, that be what you suggest?"
Wow, Charley thought, he was trying to convince a man who becomes a vampire that he's going to become a vampire. "I know what happens." he confessed, yet predicted his confession would be immediately dismissed as a tall tale, "I know what happens to you." he pointed at Jerry who grimaced at him, "Because of whatever Yolanda has planned, you become a monster."
Jerry somewhat chuckled in response to Charley's confession.
"Hey, I'm serious," Charley said with complete seriousness, "This ain't no joke. I came face to face with what you become and at one point it was damned ugly as hell and practically made me shit my pants."
"And," Jerry spoke, struggled with his laughter, "And pray-tell, boy, what monster do I become?"
"A vampire," Charley firmly responded, "Yeah, you become a vampire and you sleep the sleep of the undead inside a damned coffin. Yeah, and you live for centuries sucking the lives outta people." he startled the moment Jerry belted out an amused laugh mocking his tale, "Yeah, go ahead and laugh, Jer, because at some point soon you become evil as hell! All you'll do is go around killing people." he started to ramble induced by the memories, "Yeah, you have fangs and bite girls on the neck and suck their blood. Oh and you can turn into a huge," his hands tossed up giving a measurement, "Yeah a huge bat thing. And when you're pissed off you get really really ugly with big red eyes."
Aiden stared at Charley, watched the boy fall further into the depths of rambles. He quickly took action, slapped his hand against Charley's chest and gave the boy a good shove back. He looked to the Lord who struggled with his laughter. "My Lord, no matter how fantastic Charley's tale seems," he spoke over Jerry's laugh, "But, My Lord, the matter of this be the fact Yolanda has planned something much devious against your very person, My Lord."
"I do not understand." Thea finally spoke up, "Why on earth would Lady Yolanda wish to do harm?" her hazel eyes looked to Jerry who suddenly ceased his laughter, "What reason could there be for her to wish you harm?"
Jerry felt suddenly awkward, not once having spoken of Yolanda's determination to win him as her husband. Yet, he assumed Thea had known through the source of her sister. He reluctantly looked to his sweet angel as her eyes frowned with confusion. "The truth," he forced himself to confess, "The truth be, Lady Yolanda was at one point my intended." he watched Thea's face develop a shocked expression, "The arrangement was later dissolved upon the arrangement with my deceased wife, yet, Yolanda refused to accept."
"Wait," Thea rose up, "Why had you not told me this?"
"I thought it of no importance." Jerry stated in truth, "I refused to marry her which ignited her hatred towards me and caused the threats she gave." he glanced to Tayte, "And I assumed Tayte informed you of this." He again looked to Thea.
"No, Tayte had not." Thea replied then ashed, "But why had you not told me of this?"
"As I said, she be of no importance to me." Jerry somewhat repeated, "And I assumed..." he paused upon seeing Thea's expression become riddled with concern.
Thea felt slight betrayal, having never been told such a detail. Why hadn't she been told by him or her sister?
Tayte quickly stood up and defended Jerry, "Aye, Thea, she was greatly disturbed when the Lord refused her."
Thea looked to her sister in disbelief and quickly questioned, "And how be it you know this and not inform me?"
"I..." Tayte mumbled then quickly explained how she knew, "I heard her threats that evening and cleaned the mess left afterwards." she cleared her throat, saw the expression of hurt in Thea's eyes, "But I said nothing to you, true. Sorry I am."
Thea's eyes shifted from Tayte to Jerry. "Both of you," she sighed then glared at them both, "Something important such as that and both of you refused to speak of it to me." she again looked to Tayte, "My sister," then she looked back to Jerry, "My..." She angrily huffed then stormed away from the group.
Jerry lowly grumbled with frustration, so much trouble in such a short period of time. He was finished dealing with the madness and knew he had to defuse the situation with Thea. "The hour be late," he spoke up, his tone slightly agitated, "Let us retire. Upon tomorrow we search the entire grounds for Lady Yolanda." he made a quick scan of the faces before him, "We shall take time to truly determine what has happened instead of jumping to foolish conspiracies." his eyes aimed at Charley, "Am I understood?" His last question more aimed at the boy.
Charley nervously swallowed, hated that firm expression he saw many times before. Quickly he nodded as did the other two.
"Excellent," Jerry said with a slight hiss in his tone, "I bid you all a good night." He bowed his head then turned and left the room.
"He's just as damned scary as a mortal man." Charley commented then looked to Aiden who was frowning at him, "What?"
"Was it truly necessary to go ranting like a lunatic?" Aiden quickly asked, "You quite possibly ruined any chance to convince the Lord he be in danger."
"What?" Charley somewhat whined, "I told him the truth. What the hell?"
Aiden shook his head then huffed, "A bit more tact, lad."
Charley grimaced then rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath, "Told him the truth, jeez."
Thea moved across the kitchen floor, her slippers stomped with her wide strides. She neared the servant's quarters entrance and from behind she heard the sound of rushing feet which she predicted was Jerry. She rushed through the entrance and entered the servant's corridor prepared to march herself to her own private room and lock him out.
Jerry hurried through the kitchen having just caught glimpse of Thea rush her way into the servant's section of the manor. "Thea!" he shouted her name and nearly leaped through the entrance.
"Leave me be!" Thea shouted back at him as she marched forward with her arms tightly crossed over her chest.
"I will not!" Jerry protested and hurried towards her.
"Aye you will!" she again shouted, tried to ignore that he was close, "You have but no choice!"
"Dammit, Thea!" he shouted then reached out and snatched her by her upper arm.
She grumbled being forced to end her angry march. She refused to look at him though he tugged her to face him. She stood with her head turned to the side and eyes focused on the corridor wall.
"Look at me." he urged her, "Thea, please will you look at me."
"No," she said with a slight pout.
"What reason are you angry with me?" he asked, not certain if what he hadn't said was truly a reason for her to be so upset.
"What?" she asked, surprised by his question then looked at him as he wanted, "Be it necessary to ask?"
"Aye," he nodded, "You act as though I betrayed you which I had not."
"You betrayed me by not speaking certain important information!" she shouted at him, "How can you not think it important that I know such things as another intended?"
"As I said, that arrangement was dissolved and of no importance." he explained, "There had been nothing between she and I, no connection of any kind and that be why she had acted the way she had, how Tayte had witnessed her."
He released her arms and swiftly embraced her face with his hands. "Thea, I beg you not to hold something such as this against me." he pleaded as his eyes searched for forgiveness in hers, "What had transpired happened many years before falling in love with you, before I found my angel." he guided her closer, saw her slight struggle to deny him forgiveness, "There be no other but you, that I swear on my very life. I cannot bear you the least upset or hurt or feeling betrayed by me. Forgive my ignorance for not having told you."
Her eyes held their frown though the expression somewhat softened. What bothered her was the fact that certain things were never told. She had no concerns that he had some type of emotional connection with Yolanda. She simply felt that they should know everything about one another from their pasts.
He saw the change in her expression then stated, "I meant what earlier I said." he took a step forward burning his eyes into her, "I refuse to sleep in my bed alone without you."
"And what shall you do if I refuse?" she quickly asked and watched him frown, "You would but have no choice to sleep alone, alone in your big bed."
"I refuse," he firmly replied.
"Oh, force me you would, to share your bed?" she snidely asked and watched his frown intensify.
He saw a very suspicious glint in her eyes. His lips formed a slight grin at the crook then he answered, "Aye."
"No," she firmly said and grabbed his wrists then jerked his hands down. She lifted her head and gave a snide huff then turned her back to him. She took a step forward prepared to go to her own room but apparently he refused to take no for an answer.
He rushed forward and swiftly swept her up off the floor. "I be a man of my word." he confidently stated as she squirmed and swatted him on chest. He adjusted her in his arms then turned and carried towards the servant's entrance to the kitchen. "This evening I made a commitment," he spoke while she continued to kick her legs and protest, "I shall keep my commitment."
"Put me down!" she loudly protested while her eyes glared at his smug expression.
"No," he made his own protest and carried her into the kitchen and explained, "A commitment I had made to make love to you every night for the rest of our lives," he carried her towards the servant's stairs that led to the second floor of the manor, "And tonight the beginning of that commitment was rudely interrupted."
"Damn you, put me down!" she continued to protest and the moment he stepped up onto the stairs she again demanded, "Put me down now!"
He paused and looked at her glaring eyes then inquired, "And what possibly would you do if I refuse?"
"This!" she snapped at him and gave him a harsh smack against the side of his handsome face. Her eyes flinched wide, a sudden regret for having smacked him immediately followed by a quick apology, "Oh, sorry."
He briefly closed his eyes, felt the lingering sting against his cheek and jaw. He quickly relinquished the brace of his arms and she dropped clumsily onto her feet. "Fine," he huffed then opened his eyes and saw her surprise and regret for her reflex action. He pushed passed her and continued up the stairs.
"No," she protested but for her actions and his response, "Sorry I am!" she turned and followed him up the stairs, "Please, I meant not to strike you!"
He continued up the stairwell at a steady pace, heard her worried apologies but gave no verbal response.
"Please," she pleaded and followed him out of the stairwell and onto the second floor then continued her plea, "Please, sorry truly I am!" She skidded to stop as he abruptly halted. She nervously took a step back and began her nervous habit of chewing her fingernail, waited for him to turn and face her.
He smirked, was not entirely angered by her slap but was pleased by her obvious regret. His smirked faded as he turned to the side and his expression turned firm as stone. He adored her demeanor when she had sensed she had offended. She was always so sweet and pleasant, never one with any type of disdain towards others which was one of her many enduring qualities he so loved.
"Please," she softly spoke up with her fingertip lightly tucked between her pouting lips, "I meant not what I done, honestly."
He couldn't be angry with her when she so sweetly apologized and looked positively lovely in her nearly innocent expression. His lips formed a smile and he simply nodded. Just to watch her eyes brighten and lips form that sweet smile, his demeanor melted almost instantly. He lifted his hand and gestured her forward with the curl of his finger. She took a step forward and peered up at him with her large and bright hazel eyes. He leaned, rested his fingertips just under her chin, then gently pressed his lips against hers.
Her heart was too kind, too full of forgiveness to ever remain angered for long which assisted him to also embrace the nature of true forgiveness. She brought the best from him, her best blossomed his.
He embraced her, enveloped her within his arms, his eyes tightly closed. Holding her against him his mind lingered within those strange and unbelievable concepts that were spoken by both Aiden and the boy Charley. Further his mind traced over those passionate threats Yolanda had made against him. Could it be possible that Yolanda had in deed vanished in part of a way to make her threats known? Could he believe in the possibility of such a concept of supernatural assistance to seek revenge against his person? If it were possible, what had it meant for Thea?
He held her tighter, a sense of dread flickered inside him. He refused to allow thoughts of loss to again plague him. Currently she was in his arms and that was where she would always remain. He couldn't allow superstition and illogical scenarios to deter him from his rightful happiness.
His eyes opened and within them was that flicker of dread.
(Author)
Okay, the ride begins! It's gonna get rocky folks, buckle up! Next chapter we shall be given a little insight to the evening Yolanda swore her vengeance against Jerry... where the dark scheme truly began! Hope y'all are enjoying this! I am! Um, for those I don't have on my face book... I am posting portraits of the characters on deviant art... I'm under the same name as here.. GaGa4FrightNight... check them out so ya have an idea what the characters look like, like 17th century Jerry!
FRIGHT NIGHT FOREVA!
Oh yeah, check out on face book the page to follow the upcoming 2016 Fright Night Documentary! AWESOME!