1902-1904 - Breathe In, Breathe Out, Let the Human In
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France – Feb. 6, 1902
She remembered the basque pelota two years ago for the Olympics; she hadn’t been to Neuilly since. The fete last year had been missed and she contemplated making arrangements for the one this summer if Turin didn’t take all her time.
With all his qualities Durante was wonderful, but she needed a maid – even if for propriety. How had she made Durante hers? His loyalty had run so deep with her parents – that physical need for them – how had she changed that with nothing but a touch? Dr. Sanguis told her how what she was capable of but this seemed a different matter altogether… her touch seemed to revive Durante, contrary to the manner that harmed others. Perhaps it was the very condition her parents had placed him in; all she did was alter it. Could she do it again? She would have to seek out others like her parents then – against her better judgement.
June 21, 1902
Miss Ratavoloira was a rare, queer creature. They still didn’t understand what she was. None of them had heard of their kind bearing children before – the concept was alien to them. She was neither human nor vampire in their eyes, yet they were intrigued and repulsed by her in equal measure. They derived no thirst from her scent at all; they could hardly make out her heartbeat. Likewise, she could scarce sense any emotional aura about them; the very essence which told her who the best victim of mankind would be. It was a sinister, necrotic air about them – which was not uniform in their kind. The glasses of the ‘red wine’ were passed around and she refused. She looked at the figures that hovered in the corners, those who seemed absent; those who did not partake. They inquired about the fete and if she enjoyed time in Neuilly, which she had. When the time was right she produced an affected yawn and asked to excuse herself for bed. “You sleep?” one asked.“Only when it suits me; I thank you again for your hospitality. Could I trouble a maid to help me? I currently don’t have one of my own.”
“Oh, but of course,” a bell was rung, “one will be up with you directly.”
“Thank you.”
“How does one like you choose servants?” an older female asked. “Or keep them in line?”
“Carefully and with a gentle touch; have a good evening.”
She heard whispers and snickers as she ascended the stairs. Who would have the last laugh tonight? “You need help, Miss?”
“No. I’m not going bed.”
“Forgive me, the masters said…”
She turned to see a gaunt young woman in her black dress and white apron that seemed to weigh her down. “I asked for a maid to help me, they assumed I intended to sleep.” The woman with her sunken eyes and fumbling hands did not speak. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for some master to spring from the shadows. “It wasn’t a trick intended for you. Do you like working here?”
“I… I…”
“I know what they are. I’m one as well, in a fashion, and I need help.”
“They don’t feed us…” the woman’s lips trembled. Her hands became frantic and pulled at her apron. “We need it. They only give it to us when necessary.”
“It?”
“Their blood…” she whispered and shuddered as she took a step closer, “It keeps us bound to them…”
That’s how they compelled these people into compliance; she never knew… not really. Her parents’ estates were full of these like this pitiful creature but what they did was kept a secret from her. “Would you rather work for me?”
“What?” the woman backed away, her eyes grew wide and darted about the room again. “Can you- Can you give me some?”
“No.”
Sssss the woman hissed.
“But I can make you feel better.”
“How?”
“Do you want my help? As I need yours?”
“Y-y-yes…” the woman’s voice quivered.
“Come closer…” she and the woman met each other in the center of the dim room. She began to tug at the fingers of her gloves. “If I do this we cannot stay, not even a moment longer, understood?”
The woman nodded.
“Escape has already been arranged. Are you sure?”
The woman fumbled with her apron some more. “Yes. Do it!” She pulled off her silk white glove.
Cologne, Germany – Sept. 9, 1904
She looked up at the house and saw the bronze number ‘306’ on the door; this was indeed the house she was instructed to visit to find answers. Why had the hack driver fled in haste the moment her foot left the running board? There had been no gardeners, no movement in the outer buildings on the estate, nothing to signify life in the manor home that rose up before her. There were no sounds, not even of birds, save for the slight breeze. She would have announced her presence but the large oak doors had been left ajar, rapping the knocker was unnecessary. She pushed in and waited. No noise. Nothing. The grand entrance was vast with a marvelous stone staircase that went up from opposite sides and connected over an archway. She called out. There was no response. What answers could she find in this place? What of her parents’ kind? She began to look around, the lower floors first – the parlors were untouched, the dining room set for breakfast with the buffet full of moldy and rotten food and littered with rat droppings; the passage that led downstairs to the kitchens were all in darkness. She found the back stairs and went up, a round window overhead basked the stairwell in light. All the doors along the passages were open flooding the corridor with sun. She found a rear window in an antechamber that looked out into the garden. A great black, lumpy mass with shafts that protruded out sat within a ring of scorched earth and grass. What had happened here? All rooms were bright with pastel hues of velvet furniture, papered walls and white intricate cornices. The beds of the chambers she wandered into were without linens or curtains, as all were canopies. From chamber to chamber she came and saw the same, beds and windows without curtains, as had been the same downstairs. At last she happened upon the largest chamber, the brightest with the largest windows, and on the great bed and around the floor were piled multiple skeletal figures, charred with wooden rods between their black ribs. She recoiled and fled back down the passage until she came to the great stone balcony in the entrance hall over that archway. Had she the ability to become sick she surely would have. What had the gentleman that spoke to Durante wanted her to find here? Was it a threat? Then she remembered the passage that led down to the kitchens. With every step she released a button on her glove; as she stepped onto the pavers she pulled it from her hand. The portals that looked out into the garden cast a hazy light over the floor and kept the corners in darkness. Chains had been mounted to the walls and shackles had been left on dusty liveries and maids uniforms. They had been left in positions as if in the throes of those who had suffered great agony. What a macabre tableau – yes, this must be a threat. She must leave this place now, and quickly. Tink tink tink A chain moved in one of the dark corners followed by the rustling of fabric. Tink tink She turned and raised her bare hand to protect her from the frenzied eyes and gnashing teeth.“Here, I’ll take that! They all wish to see you.” “The under-cook?” the beautiful one who circled the room chuckled.
“How long have you been in our service?”
“Just six months?”
“We’re pleased with your service,” the handsome one smiled, his teeth seemed odd.
“Thank you.”
“Very pleased.” The beautiful one passed by another who prepared a drink at the bar and took a wine glass full of a dark red. “Here,” the beautiful one offered the glass which she took.
“Drink,” the handsome one said.
She thought she saw the one who had prepared the drink lick their wrist. The wine smelled old and musty.
“What is your name?” the beautiful one asked.
“Feodora.”
“Feodora… we’d like to keep you in our service for some time. Drink…” She didn’t wish to but thought it’d be rude not to, so she drank. It tasted of Amaretto and Sachertorte, the best she had ever tasted. As all of it passed her lips she knew – they were the ones to provide her with such a delicacy and she’d do anything for them to obtain it again.
“Leave them to rot! They serve leeches!” The screams of their masters were overhead! They pulled at their chains as the firelight that blazed in garden poured through the portals.
The screams had stopped. They needed it! They wanted it! They had to get out!
One by one they all crumpled to dust.
She was alone. Covered in their dust. Clawing at their rags. She needs it! They had all gone! They had all left her! How could she get it! Sh! Sh! Sh! Who is it?
She’s one of them! Look at her! She could get it! She knows how! Sh! Sh! Get her! DO IT!! NOW!! She looked up at her – the pain was gone, the ache, the hunger, everything… all because of her. This beautiful face that glowed had pulled her out and made her free again.
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