Dracula Ascending (Gothic Horror Mash-up) by Cindy Winget

Author:Cindy Winget [Winget, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing
Published: 2020-03-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The next week was spent in mourning the loss of Henry. It was customary to leave the deceased inside his or her coffin in the front parlor of the family estate so that family and friends might gather and pay their respects to both the dead and the living relatives. Many tears were shed and condolences given, to rival even that of dear William’s funeral.

Victor found it increasingly unbearable to handle the sorrow and found many excuses to leave the room, although he remained at the Clerval estate out of love and respect for Henry’s parents.

This feeling of claustrophobia afflicted him now and with steady purpose he walked from the room and out to the garden. As he walked along the brick paths that wound their way around hedges and flowerbeds, he heard the quiet patter of slippers behind him. He turned and found Elizabeth following him.

“I couldn’t bear to remain in there any longer,” he confessed, eyes downcast.

Elizabeth’s eyes softened as she gazed at him with unwavering love and compassion. “I understand completely.”

But she didn’t. Not really. No one did. No one but him had to deal with the guilt of being the cause of their best friend’s death. It left a gaping wound that only time had any hope of healing, and even then, he felt sure that the wound would reopen every time he thought of the death of his friend. Victor wished he could cut off the offending part of him like a gangrenous limb.

“I appreciate the sentiment, Elizabeth, but you couldn’t possibly begin to understand how I feel.”

She appeared offended by this. “You forget that he was my friend, too.”

“I forget nothing. But you don’t have to live with the guilt that he is dead because of you. That it is your fault that his young life, full of limitless possibilities, is over!”

“Whatever do you mean? How could this possibly be your fault?”

Victor was at a loss to explain. He did not intend to tell anyone about what he had done, outside of perhaps Jonathan Harker and Jack Steward, and only because he needed their help in destroying his mistake. He didn’t want Elizabeth to think less of him. He couldn’t bear to make known to her his sins and have her reject him.

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

To her credit, Elizabeth let the matter drop.

She sighed. “Victor, are we cursed? Why is it that we have suddenly been afflicted with so much death? I feel as though God has cast his eyes upon us and didn’t like what he saw.”

“Don’t think such things, dear Elizabeth. This has nothing to do with you, or Father, or Ernest. This is all on my head.”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “Victor, you can’t put the weight of the world on your shoulders. You’ll be crushed. You bear no more blame for these misfortunes than your father or I.”

If only that were true. Then perhaps these deaths would be slightly easier to accept. Then he could bask in innocent sorrow with his family.

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