The House on Blackstone Moor (The Blackstone Vampires) (18 page)

He sighed. “The poor dear cannot read Rose, but if you like I can write for her.”

I thanked him but said no, for I imagined him too busy to do such a thing.

“Well, I should be pleased to if you change your mind.”

He seemed excited and terribly happy about having come up, very animated as if he was delighted about something. “I think you look well enough to dine with us tomorrow night, Rose. What do you say to that?”

I was too excited to even reply.

I wore my blue silk gown. Dr. Bannion smiled and nearly winked. It was flattering but it was Mr. Darton’s reaction I sought.

The Dartons were in the library having aperitifs. I hoped Mr. Darton’s face would light up when he saw me, but it didn’t. If anything, I thought he looked even more sad than usual.

Mrs. Darton looked opulent, dressed in a cherry red satin gown. “Ah Rose, we are delighted to have you join us.”

Mr. Darton glanced away then as if he wished nothing to do with that comment. My heart sank for I thought it was her idea that I be invited and not his.

“Would you care for a brandy?” This from Mrs. Darton who appeared to be somewhat intoxicated.

“No thank you, not now.”

“Very well!” she said, nearly spilling her drink on herself. “I shall drink in your honor.”

Dr. Bannion toasted her but Mr. Darton didn’t. He sat silent and brooding until Molly called us in for dinner.

The dinner was lovely, and mercifully there was a fine goose with all the trimmings and not a bit of red meat in sight.

If I had expected them to explain about all the activity I had seen, they didn’t, choosing instead to make pleasant if idle chit chat, with Mr. Darton being the exception.

If I sensed an odd undercurrent earlier, it was worse now.  I thought frankly that Mrs. Darton look feverish for she seemed to chatter constantly, smiling at me and acting far more animated than I have ever seen her.

She was also taking a great deal of wine, a rather heavy, sweet wine that I found undrinkable.

“You do not like the wine? It is different! Try some.”

Dr. Bannion also appeared to encourage me. “It’s good for the digestion.”

Mr. Darton for his part said nothing but stared fixedly ahead.

“I don’t think so.” There! I said it. I finally stood up for myself.

Both the doctor and Mrs. Darton looked shocked. This delighted me so I went on. “I’ve had quite enough of it as a matter of fact, and I will take no more.”

There followed the most uncomfortable silence after that.  And then the mood seemed to change at once, as Mrs. Darton began to make a spectacle of herself.

She kept ordering Dr. Bannion about (the servants had retired) to bring her more port and whisky, too. “I feel quite intoxicated and I don’t care,” she announced.

Bannion looked embarrassed but Mr. Darton’s face was purple with rage as he suggested he escort her to her room.

“I’ll go when I’m good and ready, Louis!” she hissed. “And not one moment before!”

It went on like that until I finally said I was tired, which I was.

Mrs. Darton’s reaction to that was to raise her glass in a kind of farewell toast, but she said nothing.

“I shall take you to your room,” Mr. Darton said, whereupon Mrs. Darton let out the most horrendous cackle. “Yes,
mon amour
, you do that. How nice!”

“Come, Rose,” he said, as he guided me away from the table.

We hardly spoke after that, climbing the stairs silently, the only sound the rustle of my gown.

When at last I stood by my door, he bid me good night. Now for the first time he picked up my hand and kissed it.

I shall never forget the feel of his velvet lips upon my hand, never.

A welcome heat rushed through me and I’m sure I blushed.

“Good night,” he said. “I am sorry…”

“It’s alright,” I stopped him. “I’m just tired.”

I closed the door and began to cry, for I would have so wanted to rush into his arms and stay there forever!

*

Their fighting woke me. I was glad the children were away, for they often seemed troubled by their parents’ conflicts. But they were not present to hear this at least.

It was the worst shouting I had ever heard. I heard him say how sick he was of her and her excesses and it was all going to stop, all of it. “I’ll not stand by any longer, do you hear?!”

She screamed back terrible expletives. He didn’t reply other than to slam doors.

And then it was quiet, so quiet I fell asleep.

I began to dream of the children and Mrs. Darton again, only this time death was there—death and untold suffering and darkness.

I must have screamed, for the door opened and Mr. Darton raced in. “Are you alright? You’ve been having a nightmare.”

I said I was. My heart beat fast and not only out of fear. It was because he was near me, looking at me, as if only I mattered.

He lit a candle and sat down. I was glad he did, for I didn’t wish to be alone. “It was a frightful evening…”

“Oh please, sir. No need to explain again, I assure you…” and I added, “I hope I have not disturbed anyone!”

He shook his head and smiled sadly. “No, the servants never interfere and the othe
rs are too much in their cups…”

He turned abruptly then as if he could not stand to be there any longer. Did it pain him so? Why? “I shall wish you a good night,” he said quietly, with restraint.

I couldn’t bear it.

“No, please don’t go. Stay with me!” I cried in a hoarse whisper.

He turned and I showed him. I showed him how this was me, my own desire having at last found a voice—its
own
voice with its
own
need. Without taking my eyes off of him, I bared my breasts.

“Rose!”

He was upon me in a second, his lips and hands moving freely over every part of me, for soon, I wore nothing at all.

How softly sweet was his passion but then when he grew more ardent I wept. “I am not a virgin, my father—”

His eyes brimmed with tears… tears and the feeling of repulsion that my admission had unleashed. “My darling!”

Two words and everything was his—my heart, my being, my very soul. I had given him all I could possibly give and more besides.

*

We lay in each other’s arms until dawn at which time the door opened and closed.

“We are found out,” he said. “We are and I don’t care.”

I was frantic with worry, for how could I go on as if nothing had happened with Mrs. Darton knowing
?

I asked him if he was certain it was her and not a servant. “Oh yes,” he replied. “It was Eve.”

“But Louis, how shall I remain here? It is not possible.”

He didn’t answer, other than to sigh and say I should not worry about it, for there were other things to consider first.

“I must tell you…”

My heart leapt. “Tell me what?”

“No, my love. There is so much more to say, but now is not the time, for now there is something already planned. Something it is too late to call off.”

I watched him go to the door. “I’ll have Dora bring up your meals. It’s best now if you stay in your room.” He paused there a moment before leaving. Leaving me to think of so much.

Dora did bring my meals. They were lighter and more to my liking and without that awful wine.

“I am relieved to be eating this, I can tell you!”

Dora smiled but did not reply. Then, when she was at the door I brought up the subject of the entertainments that Mr. Darton had mentioned. “Dora, some people are coming, is that right? I was told to stay in my room…”

I tried to read her face but it was difficult.

“Yes, Miss. That’s the best thing, I’m sure.”

She vanished then, left me to myself and my thoughts.

I was relieved to spend the rest of the day quietly. But as the day carried on, I began to feel something ominous and terrible was about to happen.

Little did I know just how correct those feelings were.

*

It all started shortly before I fell asleep. I heard the sound of carriages and people chattering and I went to the window to see. It was hard to see much as the carriages were probably near the front door.

I could have waited to see them as they rode down the drive to head back from whence they came, but truly I was far too tired to bother and went back to bed.

I fell asleep then and didn’t wake until I heard shouts and raucous laughter.

I will admit to being nosey, for I returned to the window. A light shone upon the moors, bright enough for me to see figures emerge from the shadows. I saw the figure of a naked girl rush out giggling…with a man in pursuit. At first I thought they were going to kiss but then he moved toward her neck—and she cried out, not in pain but in pleasure. He then laid her down upon the ground, kneeling too but not in an intimate way—for he was bent over her neck.

Not more than a moment later a swarm of hooded figures appeared, but they were not walking! They flew like a flock of birds, gracefully, gliding up and down, before landing upon the girl. They covered her completely—moving back and forth upon her like a great black wave.

If that was fearful I wasn’t prepared for the next sight, that of a cloaked figure leading a goat onto the moors.

A circle formed around the goat and chanting began, chanting that grew wilder. And then all of a sudden, the goat turned into a man! I could not see his face, but I did see he was unclothed.

Mrs. Darton appeared then. She seemed to glance up toward the house
.
I knew she couldn’t see me; besides, she looked past my window toward Louis’ window.

They all began to move then in the direction of the altar stone the children had shown me.

It grew quiet after that but then I heard a blood curdling scream and I saw someone rush out, pursued by two others. It looked like a young girl, but she was caught and pulled back. I must have fainted then.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious but I woke to find myself in my bed. Dora was sitting in a chair. “Mr. Darton sent me Miss because you were screaming.”

“Screaming? Was I?”

“Yes Miss, having a nightmare I expect.”

Could I have dreamt it all? I didn’t think so. “But I saw something, Dora.”

“What did you see, Miss?”

Her voice wavered and I thought she was getting ready to lie but I went on. “I saw something strange on the moors.”

She began to fidget with her hands just then. “What exactly did you see?”

I told her. She shook her head. “They have some people over but they haven’t been out to the moors, at least I don’t think so.”

“There’s something out there Dora, I’m not stupid or insane. I’ve seen a lot of activity out there. Does it have something to do with Mr. Darton’s club or whatever it is?”

She yawned then and stood up. “I am tired now, Miss and as you seem well enough I shall take my leave of you.”

I was too annoyed to say anything. I just watched her slip out and close the door.

No one was going to make me feel unsure of myself anymore; I was going to be stronger than that. I was determined to find out for myself what had happened, for something had.

And so I stole out to the moors in the direction of the altar stone. I stood there for some moments wondering where they had all gone, but then I noticed what looked like a tunnel. I could hear laughter and talking--screams and other sounds too, coming from somewhere deep inside. I decided to see what was happening.

It was dark but there were candles about. I continued on toward the sound. People moved about somewhere close by, sending flickering shadows along the walls ahead of me.

Creeping along a little more I saw chambers—enclosed areas filled with cushions and people… people doing things to one another.

I didn’t realize what they were doing at first but then I did, and I nearly cried out. Handsomely dressed men and women lay prostrate on the makeshift beds, offering their necks, their arms, their bodies, so that their mates – black-clothed figures – could bite into their flesh and drink their blood!

I watched in horror while the victims moaned with ecstasy while the predators licked the flowing blood from their skin. They loved it so much, they called out for the most indecent things to be done to them.

Then the clothing was discarded and men and women in all sorts of combinations began to pleasure one another.

Meanwhile they continued to feast on one another, and those they feasted on were screaming their delight!

I turned to run, but someone grabbed me. I managed to break free, and started to run as fast as I could.

I did finally emerge back onto the moors, only to be grabbed again and pushed to the ground. A girl held me down, a girl I recognized, a girl whose chin was caked in blood.