Etrigan wanted to grab the young man by his throat until there was no life left in his body but restrained himself knowing that yet another piece of the puzzle was about to be revealed. Kurten stood in the foyer in his new purple velvet coat. The color was labeled “Royal Plum” and that is what he felt like today. He had risen early and had a full treatment at the men’s spa. An hour long rub down, a soak in a mint bath, facial and champagne shampoo and cut. He planned to be married by tomorrow evening and did not want his new bride to find him repelling. He knew one way or another his plans were finally coming together.
His eyes lit up when he spied Fredrick moving down the stairs in a non hurried manner.
“I won’t question you as to how you found me at Westwind, but I will ask why you are here?”
“Now is that any way to treat an old business associate?”
“I believe our business was finished.” Fredrick said regretting the day he contacted the seedy fellow. Kurten raised his eyes towards the ceiling above them.
“No, I do not believe it is quite finished yet. In fact my business is upstairs.”
“What the devil are you talking about Wandsworth? I paid you for information and now we are done with the matter.” Fredrick said, a note of anger creeping in to his voice. Kurten’s mouth twisted into a snarl of contempt.
“Don’t play games with me old man! My business is Claren Maidstone. I know exactly who she is and what she is to you. What I don’t know is why you have her here.”
“What do you know you fool? Go back to the bar that I found you in before I call the constables.”
“You? Call the constables? That is truly laughable. Do not try to threaten me Lowood or shall I say Brighton? You are not the only one who has his methods of acquiring information. I have been in this town for months finding out about you, and just why you would want Claren, the only living Heiress to Maidstone industries in your home. At first I thought you must be like all men. You want her for her beauty and her money, which I won’t begrudge. I can most definitely understand a thing like that.” A bitter taste found its way into Fredrick’s mouth and he began to truly realize the vileness of this character.
“But, you didn’t. You have money, you have looks and no end to women in this city who would love to be your companion, legal or not. So you don’t need Claren for any of those things. That is when I realized you wanted her for revenge. So please drop the respectable and distinguished man routine with me.”
“You scoundrel! You still have not told me what you want here!” Fredrick knew Kurten had him against a rock, he did not want the police here. He did not want his son exposed to the police and eventually the council. A slow smile spread across Kurten’s face.
“I want what belongs to me. You let me take Claren out of here tonight without so much as a peep and you will never hear from us again.”
“Take Claren away from here? What on earth for, so you can hurt her because what she did to your pride?”
“No, to marry her of course. I love Claren, as absurd as that may sound to you. I have forgiven her, and she without even trying, has made me a better man by rejecting me. I realize that I cannot expect to keep someone as pure as she is, and I myself be soiled. I no longer drink or gamble thanks to her.”
“What makes you even think she would consider marriage to you?” Fredrick said feeling sick, knowing that his opponent was about to pull out his trump card. With a queer little smile on his face, Kurten rubbed his hands together briskly as if they were cold.
“Well, if I cannot marry Claren, I will expose your son to the world. I am sure there are many individuals that would be extremely interested in his existence. Science departments, the Grand Council, just to name a few. I have left recorded documents at every postage station in the city with instructions for the packages to be delivered to every major news house within a 2000 kilometer range. Only my fingerprint can stop the delivery, which I will only do when we have safely arrived back in St. Marhen and Claren is my wife.” Kurten waved his finger at Fredrick.
Kurten became aware of a great gust of air being blown in his face and a second later Etrigan was standing before him with his hand around his throat. He easily lifted Kurten off of his feet and walked the astonished man backwards toward the door. Etrigan could hear his father call out to him in a shocked voice but it sounded very far away to Etrigan. Etrigan could only see Kurten’s face through a thin veil of red.
“You will never have Claren, she belongs only to me. Do you understand?” Etrigan said menacingly. Kurten was moving his feet trying to find ground while clawing at Etrigan’s grip. Etrigan tightened his grip on the man’s throat and shoved him against the wall.
“Do you understand me?”
A gurgle that passed for an affirmative answer escaped Kurten’s lips that were quickly turning blue. Etrigan opened the door with one hand and tossed Kurten out the door with the other.
“Leave here and never come back. I do not care who it is you think you will tell about me. Real love, you cowardly miscreant, is never intimidated, never frightened and is forever.” Etrigan stared hard in to the other mans eyes, his silent message and threat clear.
The front door slammed loudly enough to wake up Dekker and Horace from their post in the bushes. They had arrived early and tied their horse to a tree, waiting for the arrival of Mr. Lowood. They had no way of knowing that he was already at Westwind. The two young men rubbed their eyes sleepily and watched Kurten scramble away towards his horse in a hurry. Dekker rubbed his eyes again and leaned out of the bush.
“I think I recognize that chap.” Dekker said watching Kurten’s retreating form.
“I wonder what he was doing here.” Dekker said mostly to himself because Horace was having a hard time standing up. He had drank a whole hard cider before their trip on the horse and it had made him sleepy. Dekker kicked out at Horace’s boot.
“Come on man, we are missing the party! You can’t be seriously drunk from one cider.” Horace stood up and rubbed his head.
“Please refrain from speaking so loudly Dekker. You are the one that suggested the cider.”
“Have you not a single willed thought of your own in that big brain of yours? No one forced you to drink it and now we both fell asleep and we may have missed the action.”
“Well no one told you to drink the other eleven bottles!” Dekker stepped out from behind the bushes to make his way to the front door.
“May I remind you I am over twenty one and only drink responsibly?”
“You passed out.” Horace said irritably as he followed Dekker to the front door.
“Yes, I passed out responsibly in the bushes. Now put a muzzle on yourself, I am knocking.”
The door flew open before Dekker was finished with the second knock. Naza came bounding down the stairs to greet the two young men. Etrigan looked up towards the staircase and wondered if Claren was all right. She probably did not want to come down now.
“Wait here one moment gentlemen.” Etrigan said.
He led Naza out the back door and waited for her to finish her business. When she began to wander off he whistled for her to come back which she did.
“Is everything all right?” Horace asked in a conspiratorial tone. Etrigan nodded and brought them in to the dining room where Fredrick was sitting drinking a brandy to calm his nerves. Etrigan stood moodily by the fireplace.
“What are these two doing here now?” Fredrick said exasperated.
“Please Father, these are my friends and they have only wished to help.” Etrigan wanted to remind his father of the very thing that he himself had been overjoyed with. Etrigan had friends.
Fredrick closed his eyes and rubbed his head.
“You are right, please forgive me gentlemen, I am not in the best mood tonight.”
“That’s quite all right Sir. We do apologize for barging in at this hour but we wanted to make sure everyone in the household was all right and in good health?” Dekker said looking at Etrigan. Et
rigan sighed heavily and smiled down at the dog that was laying near his feet.
“Aside from a scene that the two of you just missed, everyone is all right and in good health.” Etrigan said. Fredrick looked at the two young men and sensed that they knew something.
“All right, what is going on here, Etrigan?” Father looked to his son.
“Father, do not be upset but I must tell you that these two know of our family’s past, and of you, and they were the ones that asked why Claren was here. Knowing her family history and ours, they were quite concerned for her.” Fredrick felt his face burn with shame, sure that now these two young men knew him for the scoundrel he had been playing at. Etrigan instinctively knew his father’s fears and wished to allay them as best that he could so he went on speaking.
“Gentlemen, let me assure you both, my father harbors no ill feelings towards Claren, in fact he brought her here to save her from a man that would hurt her. Yes, I know it looks suspect and my own father has said he did have negative thoughts about Claren’s family, but he has realized that carrying out revenge is pointless. He wishes to makes amends with Claren and if Claren wants to leave she can.”
“This is true Mr. Lowood?” Horace asked hesitantly. Fredrick nodded.
Claren was not as disturbed by the voices she heard coming from downstairs as Naza was. Naza paced the bedroom restlessly, walking from Claren’s side to the bedroom door. She could mostly hear Etrigan’s voice and that reassured her in an odd way.
Well perhaps not in an odd way, a comfortable way. Claren thought and smiled sadly to herself. It was not too long ago that Etrigan’s childish pranks tested her nerves. Now his presence, his voice and calm conversation comforted Claren. Naza came over to her and lay her head on Claren’s hand roughly.
“What is it girl? You want to be nosey and go downstairs? The men are talking, there are many decisions to be made.”
I have to make my own decisions as well, but can I? Shall I leave here now that I know Mr. Lowood’s real intentions? Or how Etrigan’s own feelings must have changed towards me?
Claren placed her head in her hands.
“I don’t blame him if he hates me. He was so quiet when his father spilled out all that nasty business. How can I remain here knowing what I do.” Claren whispered with a pain in her heart. Naza gave a low woof trying to get Claren’s attention again.
“I’m sorry Naza, you’ve been cooped up in this room all day. If I let you out I am sure someone will take you outside. I can’t bear to face anyone again.” Claren opened the door to let Naza out. She shut the door and walked to the bathroom herself. Looking at her face in the mirror she noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the paleness of her skin. Bending over the sink Claren turned on both water spigots full blast and began washing her face. The water was just the right temperature and made her consider a bath. As she reached with closed eyes for her face towel she felt one placed in her hand. She brought the towel to her face quickly and wiped the water from her eyes.
“Hello love.” Kurten said with a smile. Claren held the towel to her face willing herself not to scream even though it seemed like this was a nightmare come true. Kurten was in her bedroom.
“Kurten.” She managed hoarsely.
“I knew you remembered me, but please do not scream, I do not want to deal with the riff raff you have been living with. I do not want to make a scene, so I will tell you your options plainly, understood?”
Claren nodded silently.
“Good girl. Now you can come with me tonight, but we have to be quick and quiet about it. I have arranged passage for us back to St.Marhen where we will be married tomorrow. Or you can refuse, and I will let the world know that a monster lives here and he will be thrown into the pits of a laboratory somewhere.”
“What makes you think that I care if you tell anyone about Etrigan?” Claren said thinking quickly. Kurten studied her face for a moment before breaking out in to a slow grin.
“Have you ever heard the old expression, you cannot bluff a bluffer? The day I came here and you called out for him like he was your long lost hero. I know you harbor some sort of sentiment for that freak. Out of the goodness of your heart or love of animals, I do not know which.”
“Why do you wish to hurt him, me?” Claren said defeated lowering her head.
“I do not care about that thing at all, I am only using that as leverage. I want you my pet, that is it. Well, you and your wealth and other aesthetic charms.” He said looking at her exposed throat and the top of her nightgown.
Oh Etrigan why didn’t I tell you when I had the chance? I deserve only this, why should I deserve someone kind hearted when I come from such a wicked person? I deserve to be with a wicked man like Kurten nothing more.
“I will go with you Kurten. I will marry you and you can have any fortune that I am entitled too. I will not fight you. I just ask that you leave the Lowoods alone.” Kurten seemed astonished and for a moment was silent wondering if this was a trick she was playing with him.
“No trick? I know you can be a crafty vixen.” He said fingering the scar on his cheek.
“No, there is nothing for me here. I have no family, no life, nothing. I do not want to spend the rest of my life hiding from you because I feel your determination, I know that I could never beat you.” Claren knew there was no truth in these words, she did believe that there was something for her at Westwind.
“You feel my determination do you?” He grinned lasciviously and gripped her upper arm. She nodded and looked away disgusted.
“So you agree to marry me?” He said urgently.
“Yes.”
“Then come with me now, no time for packing. Put on your slippers and make haste.”
With Kurten’s arms around her as he spurred his horse to full speed, Claren looked back at Westwind standing coldly in the moonlight. She saw the clouds gathering in the distance and knew she would never see Etrigan again.
I love you Etrigan, I love you…
***
“Do you mind if we go up and say hello to Claren?” Horace asked Etrigan. Naza had begun growling and tugged at Etrigan’s pants.
“Yes, I’ll go with you. She may be in bed.” Fredrick raised a glass to the three young men who left the room.
“I’ll stay here and do my damndest to get drunk.”
“Here, here.” Dekker said to Fredrick who offered him a lopsided grin.
Etrigan was knocking on Claren’s door and received no reply.
“Perhaps she is asleep?” Horace asked after he called out to Claren through the door himself. Etrigan shrugged.
“She is a light sleeper, she would always wake up when I was outside…I mean when I would make noise.” Dekker raised his eyebrows.
“What do we have here? A winged peeping tom?” Etrigan blushed hard in the darkened hallway when Naza jumped up with both her paws and barked at the door.
“No, there is something wrong…Claren, we’re coming in.”
The room was dark but the window was open with a curtain moving wildly in the wind that had picked up.
“Claren!” Etrigan shouted in a panic, moving to throw the covers from her bed. He then strode to the dressing room to find it empty but the bathroom light was on and the water faucet was on.
“She’s gone!” Etrigan called out in anguish.
“She has left me.” He sank to his knees and bowed his head, shamed that the other two young men should see his pain. Fredrick was heard dashing up the stairs.
“What’s happened?” He asked alarmed.
“No, she was taken! Why would she leave the faucet on? And no note? That hardly seems like Claren, she would at least explain her feelings.” Dekker said turning off the water. Fredrick ran to the window.
“No, she did not go on her own, she was taken. This ladder does not belong to us.” Fredrick said pointing to the ladder which lay against the house. Etrigan turned his head slowly to look at the three men in the room with him and for the first time
his eyes were completely black. No pupils or iris, just black sclera. His beauty was devastatingly terrible and for the first time in his life Fredrick did not know Etrigan. This was not his son, but a beast. The three men took a step backwards unintentionally.
“Was she taken by him?” Etrigan said and rose to his full height. His voice had changed to that of a creature that only knew how to growl. Dekker moved out of Etrigan’s path. Etrigan walked to the window and looked out across the lawns.
“I will kill anything that stands in my way in order to find her.” Etrigan said, his voice so low it sounded like a growl.
“No, no need for that. I know where he has taken her, a fellow booked passage with me the other day, said he was taking his fiancée back with him…” Etrigan turned slowly and looked at Dekker. Dekker knew that this creature before him was not human and it made his skin crawl.
His Black Wings Page 27
