This is a short one. I will do my best to post a chapter next weekend, but I can't make any promises. I am preparing to take an exam to make me a certified pharmacy technician. Wish me luck!

Also, in the previous chapter (thank you for the reviews) Rossignol made a comment about how "only someone as ugly as [him] could love [him]." That was taken from "Frankenstein" when he was pleading for a mate from Victor.

Leave a review! Please and thank you.

Chapter 14

What happened when he fled the cottagers that taught him so much? He had run from them, heartbroken, after several blows from an angry Felix. Rossignol had loved them so much, but they reviled and feared him. Every memory of them except the last was perfect and beautiful. Despite his unrivaled fury and pain he often wished them well. It was from them that he learned to read, write, and speak. He knew humility in the face of poverty. From the De Lacey's, his little cottagers, he learned about love and beauty. They taught him to love Georgia.

But what happened to them?

The creature had gone back to that cottage just once to find that they had abandoned the property. Their parting didn't just tear his heart, it split his soul. It was the first true taste of abandonment and it brought out the darker, wilder side of him. Where had they gone when they fled? Questions burned through his mind.

As he gazed upon the ruined view of Felix he knew that the De Lacey's met Frankenstein. But why deny his creation a mate only to turn around and destroy a family? Fury pulsed through him, he fought the urge to lash out in some way.

"Felix?" Rossignol asked once more, suppressing the trembling of his body. The sabers of his Italian guests remained poised, but they were nervous and curious about the murderous monster's connection to their charming host.

"Where is Agatha, Felix? Where is Eva?" He asked. He dreaded the answer. If the beautiful blond man with soft brown eyes was the wretch now before him, what hope was there for the rest of the family? What happened to his very first dance partner, Eva? Rossignol stood before the Italians, Sir John, and the mangled Felix, grateful that a mask hid his horror. His stomach churned violently.

"A-Agata! Agatha! Agatha!" Screeched Felix. His one eye grew wild and demented. He then began screaming as if terrified. He screeched her name several more times before saying his own name and weeping. As Rossignol watched the shadow of his former benefactor he realized that it was merely a performance. Felix was acting out Agatha's terror.

This was Frankenstein's work, but Rossignol wondered why? Why had he tormented Agatha with the horror of her dead and distorted husband? But this was not her husband, this being was not Felix. This creature was something Rossignol had compared himself to in the past; this abhorrent creature was purely demonic and lacked any notion of love that Rossignol cherished.

The Italians were visibly shaken and disturbed, but none were brave enough to run their sabers through the wretched man. Rossignol turned to Sir John and his muffled voice came out with firm authority.

"Take Georgia to the apartment. Be ready to leave—"

"Gee-oh!" Screamed the marred Felix excitedly. He then lifted his bloody hand to show that the Italian girl's heart was still clutched in his fingers.

One of the men, Federico, turned and lowered his saber. The night's cocktails and h'orderves spilled out onto the marble floor. Felix hissed and sputtered.

"Gee-orgee-ah! Ha ha!" He crushed the heart, causing blood to squirt out. Felix then licked the dripping blood.

Rossignol paled beneath his mask, Felix had been sent to kill Georgia and thought himself successful. He could not fathom why his father would go through this much trouble to ruin his happiness. Were they not yet even in their misery? Was Victor so determined to see his creation entirely desolate?

"Take them," ordered Rossignol, as he grew beyond furious. Unfathomable rage surged through him. "Do whatever you must, but be gone in the hour. Let no one see her."

"He'll follow! Cried Sir John in horror as Felix began consuming the heart he thought belonged to Georgia. "I thought there were similarities between the two of you, but he-he's a—"

"Monster?" Interjected Frankenstein's first born. He wanted to vomit at the sight of Felix and he wanted to die as Felix began eating the girl's heart. "Yes, he is. I doubt he would follow even if he could. He will not leave here unless he is a corpse or in chains, you have my absolute word on that. Now, take my bride from here and deliver her safely home."

Sir John stepped back. Felix, however, took no notice of him, he was fixated on his meal.

"Tell her that I love her." Rossignol's heart felt like glass thrown from the highest window of a building. Everything he'd spend months planning, preparing, and cultivating were over. He could have no rest or content until he knew why Victor wanted Georgia dead. Nothing had ever led Rossignol to believe his father would harm anyone except him. Victor certainly would not have willingly made another being like him, there had to be more to it. Had Henry's death really been what unhinged Frankenstein? Now, the creature truly did regret the murder, he regretted his passion since it could cost Georgia her life.

"Go," he pleaded with hidden tears leaving tracks on his ashen face. The pitiful sound of his own voice broke his heart.

Sir John turned raced back to the study where he pressed himself against the door. "Open the door, we have to go."

They unlocked the door and Sir John pushed his way inside. He quickly shut and locked the door to the study. "We heard screaming and shouting. Sir John, what is happening? What has happened? Where is Rossignol? Oh, God. Is he hurt?"

Georgia made for the door, but the harsh grip of Sir John stopped her. "Take my cloak and throw it over your head. Do not speak or look around as we leave. Rossignol is dealing with it, but he has ordered us to leave. Now."

"No! I have to see him!" Georgia was near to tears and frantic. She made a feeble attempt at fighting Sir John to let her out.

"Listen! He loves you, my dear. He wants you safe. Your father would haunt me from the grave if anything happened to you."

Sir John then removed his coat and threw it over the sobbing woman. He carefully open the study door and peered into the hall. They could hear Rossignol speaking to the wretch in French and when there came no response from Felix he switched to German, and then Italian, and then back to English. There was some recognition of English, but Felix just shrieked at Rossignol's questions, startling Nettie and Georgia. He motioned for both of them to remain quiet and the trio made their way through the overturned ballroom.

Candelabras and drinks lay shattered on the floor. Lost purses with coins scattered around them lay dispersed throughout their path. When they passed the coat room they knew it was hopeless to find their cloaks. Many cloaks remained and they were all torn across the floor. Even the servants had abandoned the ball at the sound of screaming. They emerged in the cold night and ran for their apartment. They were no longer quiet, just determined to be away from the shrieking of Felix and the cold. When at last they reached the apartment, they saw the local police arriving with their guns ready.

Georgia panicked, she wondered what they would do if they saw Rossignol's face, but Sir John tugged at her roughly and pulled her into the safety of their apartment. The servants were made awake and panicked when the trio entered and Sir John ordered them to be ready to leave then and there.

In a flurry, frightened servants raced around the apartment, gathering their belongings. Delia helped Georgia and Nettie pack their garments and other items. All three grew frustrated that they made themselves so comfortable only to flee suddenly. Sir John sent an older Italian servant for the carriage and gathered his own belongings.

"Your dress, Miss Georgia," cried Delia as she made to help Georgia out of her gown.

"We haven't got time, you silly girl. Get her coat and then pack your own belongings. Ron will be in to get her trunks. Georgia, your letters," offered Nettie. Rossignol's letters to her were bound together with a ribbon. Georgia snatched them and held them close to her chest, even going so far as to shoving the letters into her dress and using her coat to keep it in place.

They were finished in thirty minutes but their carriage took an additional fifteen even after they quitted the apartment and crossed over several bridges just to reach the stables. Ron, their older servant who came to Italy with them, rode atop the carriage with Sir John and their driver. Both kept a watchful lookout as they carted off a carriage of frightened women into the night.

In the carriage the three women huddled together to keep warm. Finally feeling the weight of the evening, Georgia began weeping. "We were together! After all these months, we were reunited and then suddenly we're parted again. We were going to announce our engagement. Oh, Rossignol," she wept sadly into Nettie's arms.

"A girl was murdered, Georgia, at his party. He must see to this. I'm sure he'll return to you soon. Hold on to the positive that came out of this trip. Remember his love for you until you are reunited once more." She then smiled. "Does Rossignol have a first name? Also, I stole a deck of cards before we left."

"Cards!" Delia cried in dismay. "In a carriage? We've hardly any light. Miss Georgia is hardly in a state to play cards. Or talk. Nettie, look at her!"

"Hush, Delia. We've an empty seat across from us to lay out the deck. Since you object to livening the mood you can deal the first hand."

AAAHHHH I split them up again. Rossignol has a lot of work to do now to save everything he worked so hard for.