From the author: Some, hopefully, useful notes.
For the second part of our tale involving the delightful Helena Ravenstein, and the inventive Doctor Damion Frankengeld, we find that simply using Damion’s journal is inadequate to tell the whole story.
Luckily other documents have survived from that time and these will be reproduced at appropriate moments. If the reader has not read the first part of the tale, entitled simply ‘Frankengeld’, we heartily suggest you do so, for it will help you understand much of what follows, the tale of the Brides of Frankengeld.
October 2nd 1784
Helena’s Diary
Freida has encouraged me to start a diary. She says it will help with my writing. And she says a diary has given her a place where she can put down her secret thoughts and hopes for the future. So, I shall get started.
Three days ago several of my best friends departed on Lord Philip’s coach to Vienna. To commit a crime. Monifa has travelled with Poppy, Lord Philip and Alicia to, as Monifa described it, ‘take back her property’. It seems that Kurt, Damion’s father, when he opened up Monifa’s tomb, did so in companionship with a Viennese antiquarian Franz Dopfer. They divided the spoils from the tomb between them, half of which are now in the Kunsthistorisches museum in Vienna. (Freida helped me with that long word.)
This is unfortunate because Monifa wants her things back. It is very unusual for an ancient Egyptian to actually ask for their property back, normally they just lie in their coffin, displayed next to their property, but Monifa is unusual. She was buried alive with spells to keep her forever young.
When Damion released her from her coffin she was able to take a handful of her things, including her mummified pet cat, from the Blue Room at Durishaus. This was when she rescued Damion from his forced marriage to Katy. And, since then, Karl has kindly let Damion have the other Egyptian items that remained. Damion told his brother he wanted to make a display here at number 34 to entertain patients while they waited. It was easier to tell this harmless lie than to try to explain how our little sorceress survived thousands of years in her coffin. The need is urgent now because, in Monifa’s collection of amulets, is one that might help Gerda to move around in the daytime, like Alicia. Monifa remembers having made two of them. But it seems that the other one, along with many other useful items, is in the museum in Vienna.
Letters to a friend of Damion’s, who now lives in Vienna, have revealed that Monifa’s talismans are not even on display in the museum but are in storage. Damion’s friend reported that, by pretending to be a scholar, he was allowed supervised access to the amulets and talismans from the Frankengeld-Dopfer dig. They had been thrown into a drawer in some storeroom, lying neglected, described as mere commonplace items of little interest. They languish in darkness. So sad.
Alicia has promised to write to me to let me know how they get on. Before they departed Lord Philip was calling the adventure a heist which, apparently, is a robbery done in a stylish manner. I look forward to getting the letter.
On a more personal note it seems that Damion, who I love beyond life itself, has forgotten that he said he loved me too. He declared his love to me, and kissed me, just before he attacked his father on the top of that dreadful tower at Castle Frankengeld, but he says he has forgotten much of what happened on that day. It is such a shame but I live in hope that he will see me as his beloved soon, and will allow himself to go beyond his upbringing to say so.
Damion’s Journal
I have decided to put work on my Elixir of Pleasure on hold for a while. The alarming events around the testing of its properties, with Gerda as the subject, have persuaded me that I need to be more careful. Instead I shall concentrate, for the moment, on treating the ailments of my patients. Smaller steps that are less likely to stumble. That being said my first patient, or should I say patients, of the day have proved challenging.
The consultation started the usual way with Helena knocking on my consulting room door and introducing the next patient. It was Sebastian, brother to the delectable Sophie. I had treated Sebastian a while ago for a case of weredog syndrome and had not seen him since, though his sister had commented that he was recovering well. He was accompanied by a rather attractive young lady so I stood, as etiquette demanded.
“Doctor Damion,” said Sebastian, his voice less hoarse and more natural than the last time I saw him. “May I introduce Julia, my betrothed.”
The young lady looked up at me shyly. She was petite and slender with a triangular, rather foxy looking, face. Her hair was russet and she had the most gorgeous amber eyes, large and surrounded by long lashes. I could understand why Sebastian had been smitten by her, you could lose yourself in those wonderful eyes.
“Pleased to meet you,” I said, bowing to her. I was tempted kartal escort to take her hand and kiss the back, but was concerned that Sebastian might consider that too forward. I sat down again and invited them to tell me why they had sought my help.
“Sebastian, Julia… sit please… how can I help you?”
“First,” said Sebastian, settling into his chair. “May I thank you for your treatment of me a little while ago. You made me able to return to my quest for the church.”
His betrothed glanced at him. It was a very rapid movement, a reflex that gave a hint of deep feelings. I guessed that his quest had somehow brought them together.
“And,” he continued. “If I had not been able to resume my quest, I would never have met Julia.”
So I was right. He was being very tight lipped about the nature of his quest but I knew from his sister, Sophie, that they had a religious vow placed upon them from the actions of an ancestor. Every member of their family, down the generations, must hunt and slay a werewolf before they are allowed to marry.
“Perhaps I should tell you,” he added. “How I met Julia. Then you might understand and be more inclined to help us.”
This sounded a little worrying. I considered myself a very helpful person. Lots of people have said I have been helpful. What could this couple be about to request of me that needed persuasion? I nodded and encouraged them to continue with an open gesture of my hands. Sebastian seemed to relax more at that sign and, glancing sideways at his betrothed, set off.
“After I had recovered from my symptoms,” he said. “I set off south and west of here to a village called Urestadt. I had heard a rumour of a dread beast in that locality that was terrifying the locals when the later-flowering wolfsbane bloomed. This sounded like a werewolf and I was anxious to be able to go courting. If you recall I enjoyed some pleasuring with your delightful medical assistant the last time I was here. I was under the influence of my illness at the time, which I offer as an excuse for my behaviour, but nonetheless it was most pleasant and I was anxious to repeat the experience with my own beloved as soon as possible.”
I now remembered this event. I had left the treatment room for just a few minutes only to find, on my return, that Sebastian was pleasuring Helena. Like a badly trained dog, out for a walk with its master, might press its attentions on an unaccompanied bitch. Helena, generously, had not rejected him. He was, after all, a patient and not in control of his actions. She had got on all fours and played the part as required in order to placate him.
Helena was now with child and I had forgotten about this event. On learning she was pregnant I had made a mental list of events that might have brought her to that state. I added this one now, in my mind, and silently agreed with Sebastian that pleasuring Helena was something that could, quite easily, make one desirous of more of the same.
“On arrival at Urestadt I made enquiry of the locals,” Sebastian continued his tale. “It seemed that an old woman Maleva, and her granddaughter, were the ones whom I should consult for more information on the beast. They dwelt a little outside the village, in a cottage in the woods, and I was assured that they were most approachable. Visitors were rare, due to the remote location of their abode I gathered, but they enjoyed company. And, as they lived in the area where the beast roamed, they were the ones most likely to be able to answer my questions.”
He began to sound a bit dry and his story was evidently going to take a little while to relate so I asked him to pause at that point and went to the door of my study. I looked out into the hallway and called for Belali. She quickly came out of the kitchen and I asked her to bring refreshments for Sebastian and Julia, if she pleased. I don’t think Belali has completely become used to her new status. Saying please to her, and treating her well, is still a little disconcerting to her.
I should explain that there have been some changes of staff here at number 34, and at Durishaus, in the last few weeks.
Belali, the black slave girl that my father had purchased to replace Una, had proved so full of potential as a medical assistant when my brother, Karl, was seriously ill that I asked him to release her to me so that I could train her up as a new Medical Assistant. This was in anticipation that Helena soon might be fatigued by her condition, and – God willing – she would eventually be a mother. Karl agreed and I bought Belali, then formally released her by taking her to the Town Hall and getting a document of manumission made up. When she was no longer a slave I then offered her the post of Trainee Assistant, which she delightedly accepted. She has been with us ever since, but of her own free will, which makes me feel much better.
Stephan, the coach boy at Durishaus, has become Lord Philip’s new coachman and moved out to live near his maltepe escort new employer. This left my brother Karl without someone to look after the stables at Durishaus so I suggested Yani, who was happy to take on this new, more responsible, job. He and Una continue to walk out together and, perhaps, will be man and wife soon. Yani now sleeps in the stables at Durishaus and Belali has his old room here at number 34.
A few moments later we had a tray with goblets and a suitable light wine, Sebastian had refreshed his throat, and the story continued. I asked Belali to stay in the room, to observe the process of gathering information from the patient.
“With only an hour or two to sunset, and only a little longer after that before the moon rose, I made my way through the woods,” continued Sebastian. “The path was narrow but quite easy to follow and then I saw, through the trees a flash of red. It was a girl, dressed in a hooded cloak of the brightest red I had ever seen. She carried a basket and was clearly travelling the same route as I.”
Julia smiled, a little secretive smile, as if she were remembering a pleasant memory.
“I hurried to catch up with the girl,” continued Sebastian. “I was anxious to converse with her, to check that I was on the right path for the cottage. But I did not want to alarm her. Practice has made me move almost silently through the undergrowth, a necessary skill when hunting the werewolf. I judged that if I came upon her in that manner she might be frightened and assume I was about to assault her. So I made much noise with my feet and started to hum a jolly tune.”
Now Sebastian smiled and his hand wandered over to Julia’s and gave it a little squeeze.
“It was,” he said. “As you might have guessed, Julia that I was following. She turned as I caught up with her and I was immediately smitten by her. Her smile was pure and innocent and her voice was like an angel. And she was happy to confirm that I was on the right path. In fact we were very close now to her grandmother’s cottage.”
The warmth in his voice told me he had truly been struck by Cupid’s arrow. I glanced over at Belali and saw that she was entranced by his story too.
Belali signed, clutching her hands over her heart and tilting her head to one side.
I must here remind my readers that one of Belali’s cruel owners had removed her tongue. An evil act. She had overcome her disability by creating a language from gestures that she was teaching myself, Helena, Una and any others who showed interest. It was, in some ways, very useful for she could pass information completely silently during consultations. This system was one of my reasons for adopting her as a trainee. Not just because it was useful, but because the fact that she could invent such an ingenious system, in the face of tragedy, was a tribute to her intelligence and strength of character. I felt I needed this resourceful young woman by my side as I continued to grow my medical practice.
“When we arrived at the cottage,” continued Sebastian. “Julia let us both in. Her grandmother was still in bed and Julia embraced her as a dutiful granddaughter should, then seemed to be examining her grandmother, especially her ears, eyes, and teeth. After which she introduced me. And, as I questioned Maleva, Julia put away the food she had brought and cleaned the cottage.”
Sebastian took another sip of wine and continued. I was contented to let him tell his tale at his own pace. I had not heard our doorbell ring so there were no patients waiting. And I was confident Helena would let me know if I was urgently needed.
“Maleva confirmed what the villagers had said but seemed remarkably unconcerned that a beast was nearby. I had seen this before, where an elderly person would refuse to leave their home even when threatened with danger. She said that I should leave before nightfall. In fact she seemed more bothered that I might be hurt than of the danger to herself. I told her, and her granddaughter, that I would be going into the forest once the moon rose, to slay the beast.”
Here he looked at Julia. Just a glance but I could see guilt. What had he done? Had he slain a villager that Julia knew? Had he made a mistake and the beast had escaped to wreak havoc?
“Maleva changed her mind then and asked that I stay in the cottage until there was evidence that the beast was nearby. She even suggested that she and Julia would feel safer with me under their roof. I agreed. After all I could leave later, if need be. I settled down, we had a pleasant evening talking, and later both Maleva and her granddaughter went to their beds. I sat with my silver sword upon my lap and waited. To my shame I nodded off for a short while though I wasn’t particularly fatigued and, when I woke, the moon was shining bright through the cracks in the cottage shutters.”
Belali signed something to me but I didn’t catch the complicated gestures. She seemed to be saying something about Julia but, pendik escort before I could ask her to repeat her actions more slowly, Sebastian took a drink and then continued his tale, drawing my attention back to him.
“I stood up and checked the room. Door, living room windows, chimney, and any other way in which a beast might enter. All seemed secure. Then I discovered, to my horror, that Julia was missing from her bed. And her bedroom window was open. The sheets were in disarray as if a struggle had happened. I immediately looked around the few rooms. She was not inside the cottage so must be outside. Her grandmother tried to call me back but I could not delay. I told her to lock the door behind me, and slipped out into the night.”
“Almost immediately I heard a howl nearby, a natural wolf, or worse, and set off to rescue the granddaughter. I was very distressed that this girl, who already had my heart even though I’d only known her a few hours, might be harmed. And I had allowed it by letting myself fall asleep. Contemplating this was nearly my downfall as I stumbled into a glade and there it was – the beast. My lack of attention putting me in great danger. It was not the largest werewolf I had ever seen. It was quite slender and not very tall, but the slavering jaws and deadly claws were just as dangerous.”
“It sprang onto me and knocked me to the ground. I knew that keeping myself free of injury was the most important thing. Keep yourself uninfected and strike back when the opportunity arises, those are the rules for hunting the werewolf. We rolled around in the clearing, it trying to gouge and bite me, and I trying to bring my sword to a killing position, and then I heard a voice, chanting. Maleva was there, her ancient hands outstretched, and her words echoing through the glade in a language I did not understand.”
“As the words rolled over us the werewolf changed and, all of a sudden, I was wrestling with Julia. She was naked and we tumbled together as violence gave way to passion. She kissed me and pressed her body against me and my member rose as my desire grew. I threw my sword away, we lay together, and pleasured each other.”
He looked at Julia and grasped her hand tightly. I understood now, even realising what some of Belali’s gestures had been trying to tell me. Julia was a werewolf. We could all be in great danger. And Alicia, the only one of our team who had the strength to deal with her, was many leagues away in Vienna.
Sebastian appeared to be about to say more about the moment that intimacy occurred between him and Julia but then a strange expression came over him. “Oh Julia,” he said, his voice full of emotion.
“Sebastian,” she replied, her voice similarly charged with passion. I found myself reacting to that voice and to a faint odour that I could detect even from the other side of the desk. My phallus twitched, stiffening. Becoming aroused, without invitation, was rather a breach of etiquette. However I had learned in my first months in the role of doctor that sometimes you need to go beyond etiquette if you are to discover the truth and discover new things.
Belali signed something. It looked like the gestures for putting something on something else, and the one for warmth. I looked at her in puzzlement then a movement from my patients dragged my attention back to them. They were caressing, seemingly completely unaware of their situation. I had experienced a few patients talking about their love lives in my consulting room, but it was rarer for them to actually demonstrate that love.
Julia dropped from her chair to the floor and got herself onto all fours, then she flicked her skirt up so that it lay on her back exposing her buttocks. In common with many lower class women she was wearing no underwear so her sex was on full display, her russet coloured pubic hair bright against her flesh. Sebastian gave a groan and dropped to his knees behind her.
Belali was gesturing frantically and I finally understood what she was saying.
she signed.
Ah I thought, on heat. Julia was on heat, like a dog, wolf or fox, producing an odour that attracted male suitors to copulate with her when she was ready to conceive. And her lover was responding. I touched my head, with the sign that Belali had taught me, to signify that I understood. But what could we do about it?
Belali stood and asked permission to leave the room. I understood that she might be finding it hard to witness what my patients were preparing to do. Sebastian was already lowering his trousers and his member was fully erect. I was also experiencing a similar arousal but it was concealed by the desk. But, in order to try to do something about the passion that was unfolding in my study I would have to move. In a way I was pleased that I would be able to do that without being under the scrutiny of my new assistant with her intense and perceptive gaze.
“Yes, Belali,” I said. “You may retire.”
She ran from the room and I stood and moved around the desk to my patients. I was now fully aware of their problems. Julia was a werewolf and Sebastian was enamoured of her. A difficult situation when he was supposed to be slaying her, and then moving on to marry his beloved. And further, their passion seemed to be uncontrollable, indeed it seemed to be spilling over to include me.