Fright Night 1985

Twist of Fate

Chapter Seventeen

The Nightmare Ends

Part One

by

~GaGa4FrightNight~

~Vendehla~

Yes, Thea stole away the moment her sister and Aiden were distracted by Charley's odd moment. She had already gone through the grand ballroom and continued to make her way through the eastern wing of the main floor. Her walked as she did her nervous habit of chewing her fingernail. Her eyes blankly looked forward at a downward angle, having strolled those rooms too many time to count, she could move through if blind.

Her mind churned in so many different directions. Charley's confession and statements disturbed her. Yes, it was horrifying to imagine her beloved Jerry's death but also troublesome to know that in four hundred years she was not in his thoughts. There was nothing that could hinder the love she felt but perhaps what she sensed when her eyes caught his at the top of the grand staircase was not real. She thought she had felt that even as what Yolanda had made him, he still loved her. Yet, was that sense only part of her desperation to believe that even an evil darkness could not relinquish the power of their love?

She stopped near the entrance into the foray. Her eyes finally developed focus. She took another step forward and stepped into the entryway. Her started to tremble as she again felt tears fill her eyes. Had that darkness shown the truth of what she believed was love? Or perhaps the darkness had taken it away leaving behind what evil resided within every soul?

She leaned against the entryway. How could so much emotional turmoil develop in such a short time? Her eyes closed. Just the evening before there seemed hope that their love would survive. Everything and anything seemed possible twenty-four hours prior but within those hours everything and anything seemed to crumble. Five years of what felt like a blessed life seemed to become shattered nearly overnight because one woman's need to destroy their lives and particularly Jerry's. How, she thought, could there be such evil allowed to exist? How could God allow an evil, such as what consumed their lives, to thrive and succeed?

She pried herself from the entryway and stepped into the foray. Immediately she looked to the top of the grand staircase, he was not there. Her thoughts became plagued with all those memories that were made within those five years. She turned and moved to the staircase. In the beginning she thought it impossible or unlikely for anyone such as Lord Dandridge to truly love someone such as she but his determination proved so many possibilities. She moved up the staircase, her hand grazed along the wooden banister as her mind continued to trail over the five year path their lives had taken.

It seemed, that pathway through those memories guided her physically on another pathway through the second floor of the manor. Many, many times she had walked that pathway, throughout those five years that path was memorized. Each travel through those corridors, in five years time, always brought her where she always believed she belonged. Her heart always led along those turns and lengthy corridors in the same direction. Even the beat of her guiding heart was in rhythm to the motion of her steps that carried her in that familiar direction. And in a final turn she faced the length of the corridor where that impossibility began and became possible.

Her eyes stared down the length of the corridor as she had the night she agreed to love him.

Charley was brought into the chapel and sat down on over of the old pews draped by a dust layered cover. His head felt light, those visions nearly drained all his energy. He sat with an elbow leaned against his knee while his hand rubbed his forehead. "I saw what really happened." he confessed as Aiden sat down beside him, "It was all supposed to happen so differently. Me being here has messed up what was supposed to happen."

"But that be a good thing, be it not?" Aiden asked then glanced to the worried expression of Tayte's.

"I was wrong," Charley confessed, "Dandridge wouldn't kill Thea." he looked up at Tayte, knew Dandridge's willingness to kill her, not Thea, "He won't hurt her. Yeah," he nodded, "He'll likely want to turn her but he won't kill her."

"That does not ease a thing." Tayte slightly snapped, "He shall not kill her but he be willing to damn her soul."

Charley reached and grabbed Tayte's hand then swallowed, "Believe, what I saw wasn't exactly what I wanted to see or know. I've wanted to hold onto believing that Dandridge would always be evil, a soulless son of a bitch who takes what he wants." he squeezed Tayte's hand, "Without Thea, that'll truly turn him into my monster."

Tayte pulled her hand from Charley's then stepped back, "You suggest that I allow him to condemn my sister? And why? To save you from your future miseries?" she shook her head, "I think not."

"No and yeah." Charley wished he could tell what truly was meant to happen and what still could, "Tayte, just trust me, okay."

"Trust you?" Tayte said followed by a disbelieving laugh, "You be what truly brought this here."

"It would've came with or without me." Charley corrected her, "This was, unfortunately, meant to happen and I was put here for a reason. Maybe it's not to just destroy Yolanda. Maybe I'm," he tried to gather the words, "Maybe I'm just meant to see that Dandridge doesn't lose Thea." he again looked up at her, "He loses her, Tayte, it'll be the end of all of us, including Yolanda."

Tayte read it in Charley's eyes, there was something he was shown he was not saying. "Tell me," she urged with her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What be that you are not telling me?"

"Tayte, what I saw," Charley feared what his knowledge might do, "You try to keep your promise to make sure nothing happens to Thea but what happens," he saw the dread fill Tayte's eyes, "In your effort to save Thea she tries to save you and," his head lowered, "Well, both of you die, not just one, both."

"What?!" Tayte gasped and took a step back, "How?"

"It was all a mess, the visions," Charley confessed, "What I got from them was you make an attempt on Dandridge's life and he turns around and does the same but," he forced himself to look up at Tayte again, "He succeeds but not only killing you but Thea too."

"No," Tayte sternly denied, "Not possible." she accusingly pointed at Charley, "You said he would not!"

"He doesn't or didn't mean to," Charley explained, "Thea just steps right in front of you and, well."

"What are you saying?" Tayte asked, sensed the blame being aimed at her, "You say that I be blamed for my sister's death and Lord Dandridge becoming your, well, your monster?"

Charley shook his head as it head lowered, "Tayte, just understand, please, that Thea is right. He does love her."

"But he be willing to curse her?" Tayte found that idea more horrifying than death, "Just to keep her, he be willing to condemn her for all eternity as some type of monstrous creature? That not be love!"

"Tayte!" Charley raised his voice then firmly looked up at Tayte, "We destroy Yolanda before dawn, just at the break of dawn, Dandridge won't be what he is! We need to find a way to destroy her so none of this other shit still takes place! Just know," he struggled but managed to stand up, "He loves her! Even what he is, he's still capable of loving your sister and he won't allow Yolanda to do her any harm. If he focuses on Thea," he lifted hand then rested it on Tayte's shoulder, "We have a chance to get access to Yolanda. Dandridge won't protect that woman because," he slowly spoke, "He… loves… Thea."

Charley removed his hand from Tayte's shoulder then stated, "Dandridge originally destroys Yolanda, maybe he'll do the same. It's Thea that will drive him to destroy Yolanda but we gotta be prepared to fight the bitch as well." They seemed odd, his statements. Never would he have thought he would describe Dandridge in a better light than just a supernatural killer.

"Plotting, are we?" Yolanda loudly chimed as she stood just outside the chapel threshold.

Thea found her way, that path led her back to Jerry's chamber. She entered the chamber, the doors were wide open. Her eyes scanned the large room, the fireplace was still aflame giving life to the thick shadows. She nervously stepped further, fingers twisted the emerald engagement ring around her finger. Inside her chest her heart raced as her breaths were deep. Her eyes continued to shift side to side, watched the shadows closely.

So many sweeter memories were made in that chamber, from the first time she came to him but in the end denied him. A very vital moment was made when he had lowered onto one knee and requested she become his wife. Her eyes looked to the bed where beside it the proposal was given. Now, she painfully thought, was that marriage never to become real? Had the very moment been taken away upon Yolanda infecting him with that ungodly curse? Why, she asked in thought, had their hopes, dreams, and their future been so ruthlessly destroyed by an unknown darkness?

She shifted on her slippers and stepped towards the large bed. Since that very evening when she gave herself completely to him and he to her, they spent every evening in that very bed. She felt, again, the sting of tears within her sad eyes. That chamber had came to represent so much tragedy in such a miniscule amount of time. Everything seemed shattered, destroyed to the point there was no return from such a darkened current time in all their lives.

Before the edge of the bed she stood, both hands rested against her chest, the right over the left. Her eyes blankly aimed down at the bed as a trickle of saddened tears glistened against her cheeks. Could the darkest of evil truly destroy love? Could one's heart remain the same once a curse of eternal damnation was given? So many questions troubled her mind and there seemed only the most negative answers given to each.

She turned around and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her eyes looked to the very spot she had witnessed evil take him away. Tears continued to roll down her flushed cheeks and tasted at the corners of her mouth. She lightly sniffled as she worked the slippers off her stocking feet. She shifted and brought her legs atop the bed then on her side she laid down. Her right hand fisted and tucked against her chest as her eyes stared forward into those shadows that seemed to dance with the illuminating glow of the fireplace.

Her eyes softly closed, so desperately she wanted it all to be a horrible nightmare, prayed for the nightmare to end. Her heart physically ached with each beat. She wished it all would end. She wished, upon opening her eyes, that all would be returned as it was, as it was meant to be.

Her eyes snapped open upon a touch against her shoulder. She lifted the side of her face off the pillow as her eyes shifted. Firstly she saw the hand rested against her shoulder, the Dandridge family crest rested on the finger. Her head turned more, her body slightly turned at the waist. Her eyes shifted and looked into Jerry's, the very same dark brown eyes she had looked into for five years and within them lacked any sign of evil. Her body started to tremble but was it in fear of him?

Jerry knew Thea would come to him, she always found her way to him. He lifted his hand from her shoulder and brought to the side of her face. His thumb brushed back across her tear dampened cheek. He saw the heavy sadness within her teary hazel eyes.

"You did not stay with me." he finally spoke as he continued to study the sadness that corrupted her typically bright face and eyes. Yet, he praised, she looked remarkably beautiful and even more an angel.

"I..." Thea softly spoke, her lips trembled, "I… wanted to stay." She moved onto her back, her eyes locked with his.

His lips formed a gentle smile and very subtly he nodded, "I know." He coiled his fingers and lightly brushed back across her cheek. "You came back." he spoke, "You came back to me."

She nodded then went to speak but he brought his fingertips against her trembling lips.

"Shh, no," he subtly shook his head, "That be all that matters, you came back." He slid his fingertips from her lips then brought his hand against the soft curve of her neck. He leaned down and very gently pressed his lips against hers, felt the trembles and tasted the tears. Very softly he kissed her, felt the motion of her sweet lips return his kiss.

Such a new experience to feel so much warmth radiate from her pretty mouth and the flesh of her neck. He deepened the kiss. He had not forgotten, no matter how determined Yolanda had been, her curse could not steal his thoughts, memories, and, most importantly, his love that was solely for Thea. He made a vow that nothing would destroy their love and it was proven after he was given that curse. The very moment his eyes opened after Yolanda's summoning, his mind immediately focused on Thea.

Yes, he knew the reason Yolanda had awoken him. Yolanda's wicked thoughts commanded that he destroy all those who dared stop her greed to control him, take everything from him. There was a moment he truly craved what that new hunger desired. Yet, during that period where his body and soul was being corrupted by Yolanda's infectious curse her heard the sweetest of voices. An angel's voice spoke within that depth of darkness, the voice he had heard for five years. He heard Thea's pleas echo within that growing darkness. Her sobs that pleaded for him to stay with her. He could not fight the darkness, the curse was strong and as determined as Yolanda but it failed at one task. The curse did not succeed in ripping from his mind, heart, and soul, Thea.

He was unlike Yolanda. Yolanda was turned by the very essence of the creator of all immortals. He was cursed by Yolanda and so the curse was weaker than what had taken Yolanda. Yolanda was void of heart or soul but held firm to a disturbed mind. And, so, Yolanda failed in her attempt to take him from who truly meant the world to him in light or darkness, Thea.

He slightly lifted, ended their kiss. His eyes looked into Thea's, the tears continued to glisten within her wide hazel eyes. "No need for tears." he softly urged, "All shall be as was meant."

"But you," Thea spoke, the trembles unyielding, "You be not you." Though she said he was not him, his eyes read that it was him.

He again subtly shook his head and again softly smiled, "No, I still be me." he read in her eyes that she did see him not the curse, "What had been done has not at all changed what I feel here," he gathered her left hand and tucked it between them and held it against his chest, "Nothing be changed in my heart. You stayed in my heart and always shall."

"They said you wish to kill me." she confessed what both Tayte and Charley claimed, "Which be what she wants."

His smile faded, saw a glisten of fear of him within her eyes. "Never," he denied, his tone firm, "There be not one part of me that would do you harm." He brought her hand from his chest and eagerly pressed a kiss against the emerald ring. He lowered her hand and again locked his eyes with hers. "Please, do not fear me." he pleaded, "You have no reason to fear me." he studied her eyes, wanted the fear to fade, "Oh, my Angel, I shall love you forever as was promised."

Her eyes searched his, all she could recognize was he spoke the truth. Her right hand lifted and gently touched the side of his face that had not changed or showed one sign of evil. She slowly nodded, she believed him for the truth was there within his always expressive brown eyes. "Aye," she breathed then quietly sobbed, "You do still love me." she continued to nod as her sadness seemed to wane for her hopes were not completely destroyed, "And I shall never cease to love you."

Again he smiled, just as his eyes, hers reflected the truth of her words and the fear finally faded. "Now I am able to love you forever." he stated, "And I shall be able to continue my commitment, make love to you for all eternity. There shall be no end. We shall go on and on and on, together through centuries instead of years."

Her eyes slightly frowned in response to his statement. He meant to do to her as was done to him, that determination read clearly in his eyes. "We cannot forever." she hesitantly stated, "They shall destroy her and you shall be saved."

His smile faded, his hands swiftly grasped the sides of her face. "I wish not risk there be a moment you would die before me." he firmly stated, "We can be forever, our love shall not die upon one of us facing death."

"But that be the natural way of things." she nervously responded, "Your way be not natural, supernatural it be."

"I do not care." he slightly snapped and watched her eyes flinch wider, "I refuse to give death the pleasure of taking you from me."

Her body again started to tremble but she dared and brought her other hand against the side of his face. "Please," she softly pleaded, "This not be how it was meant. We are meant to grow old side by side, you and I until death do we part."

"No," he quickly protested, "Death we do not part. We do not part at all."

"Jerry," she again pleaded.

"No," he again protested, "No more. I shall never again be subjected to the pain for I know the pain shall be much greater upon losing you."

"You shall never lose me." she said, saw the pain of that thought tense his eyes.

"No I shall not." he firmly agreed, "Never shall I lose you. You shall be my Angel until the very end of time and I take no refusal."

"Please, Jerry." she again pleaded, "Let them save you and then it shall save us."

His brow tensed. How she refuse an opportunity for them to be together as they were right them for an eternity?

Her left hand lovingly caressed against the side of his face. "I want us to be as we were just before all this." she continued to plead, "I but only wish to be your wife and you my husband as was promised. All we but need be love, not eternity."

"Why would you prefer mortality over an immortality of love?" he asked.

"Because it be in mortality that we fell in love." she sweetly stated which prompted a soft smile of her trembling lips, "You mortal as am I and in that mortality we were brought together."

"You prefer an eventual death than immortality?" he questioned her again.

She nodded, "Aye because after death, somewhere we shall again be and then we can have our immortality and our love." She continued to lovingly touched the sides of his face. "This be what I want." she said, "I want this nightmare to end not continue. Please," she pleaded and slightly lifted her head off the pillow with her eyes deep with his, "You have had my heart for five years and change it shall not." she gently pressed her lips against his, "Please," she spoke as she continued to kiss his lips, "Please, my Love."

His eyes somewhat fluttered against the strength of her pleas. He could never force her to become something she had no desire being. He gradually returned her tender kiss. If he attempted to make her immortal, would it possibly destroy who truly was as a mortal? Had he changed? Physically he knew he had, knew within there was something dark. Yet, that brilliant light that she always radiated seemed to tame that darkness.

He soon became willingly lost within her sweetness, caring, and most of all, her love. He could never risk shattering all that made her who she was. If it had not been for her, he would likely have become the monster Charley spoke of and Yolanda desired for him to become. Yes, he decided, if he could be returned to a mortal man then it will be done. For her, anything for her. She was why he continued to live and his life changed to something made of happiness. She was his everything and knew if anything or anyone would take her away from him, he would completely be broken.

Yes, for Thea, Jerry would do anything for her.

(Author)

Oh... oh... I'm getting antsy! I wanna blab what's gonna happen so badly! But I can't... I gotta keep my lip zipped! So, how's it gonna end, huh? What ya thinking? Happy ending or unhappy ending? You know me... bad guys win a lot! Hmm... we'll see, won't we?

FRIGHT NIGHT FOREVA!