Apparition

Chapter # 5

I was stiff upon hearing it. A storm wreaked ravage in my whole being. My mind cannot apprehend his words that are so fiery that my whole being was burning in a fire of fright, just the thought of what he can do to me and what exactly he is. But I know that answer; he is none other than a Devil. Someone who wants to kill me in a painful manner and indulges himself in every tear he will draw out from me, amused by my misery and wanting to see more of it. 

I was shaking but didn’t dare to speak or do anything further. I felt his grip loosening around me and pulling it back as I let out a sigh of relief. He pulled back, I turned my head back to catch a glimpse of his face but he was no longer there. 

I crawled back as my back hit the bed stamp. My petite form, which was drowned in apprehension anticipated by the fact what he will do to me if I couldn’t find that heart. I hugged my knees close to my chest as silent tears of devastation rolled down my cheek. I cannot even tell anyone about it, They will think I am insane, the life I spend years to build will crumble apart, everything will slip out of my grasp and the final destination for me would be Death. He will take it, I am stuck in a very undesirable situation where nothing but death awaits for me. 

I remained like that and at least I have a guess that The jar I found in that chapel might be his heart. It was the start of all this upheaval afterall. 

Stuck in the dilemma, The next day I woke up with a stoic face, unaffected by last night which was so deadly that I almost died by the hand of a goddamn Devil.

My eyes were tired due to the lack of sleep. There was a pain in my chest. My heart skipped a beat just at the thought to find that jar. We were having breakfast in silence, my mind was somewhere else. Maybe I just left it where I picked it. 

A sudden realization hit me which elicited a shiver of dread from me. I quickly sat up  flabbergast that the door is going to seal today and any delay would cost me my life.

“DON’T SEAL THE GARDEN!” I yelled- shocking everyone. I looked around desperately, lost in fear. My lips formed a thin line, my heart thumping out of my chest. Before I could do anything, Jenifer came with a horrified look over her face. She came to the dining hall and fell on her knees, trembling. She pointed in the other direction vaguely,

“What happened Jenifer?” I asked, coming close to her. Her quivering lips parted as she didn’t dared to lift her gaze,

“S-Samuel.. H-He's dead.” She whispered. My eyes widened in horror when I heard it. I hugged her and she began to cry, holding me close. 

I lost my breath, losing my ability to think. I mustered some courage and went to see him. The door was opened to the garden and he was stuck on the wall as something metallic pierced through him right in the chest; In his heart. 

I put my hand over my mouth and stumbled back. My mind was clouded with extreme fear. The sight before me made foreseen my future if I couldn't give him his heart. 

The condition Samuel was in is not done by a human. No human can be that inhumane. My legs lost their strength, I rested my palm over the wall and turned my head away. Seeing an ancient body might be bearable than a new corpse. It’s unbearable. I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply.

...There was an unclassified song ringing in my ears, calling out my name and taking me to the world of misery.      

***

Half a month after his demise, I decided to take the responsibility of Samuel’s family, feeling guilty that his death was my fault. His wife kept shouting that ‘He did it' and no one but me knew who did it. 

After that, I didn’t have enough courage to even go to that terrorizing place. I can hear whispers calling me to find that jar before I lose my heart but having courage to do it is beyond my ability. 

“Mary..” Jenifer called me. I hummed and kept looking at the fire burning in front of me while leaning back on my seat. 

“I don’t think I can go to the Auction in London.” She said quickly. 

“Why?” I asked, putting my hand over my mouth.

“I don’t know but I am not well.. I am scared.” She whispered the last part to herself. I finally turned and looked at her. I passed her a faint smile and replied, “Give yourself sometime. It must be hard to witness that.”

“I don’t know just how a human can do this.” Jenifer said at the verge of crying, I can understand. It must be hard for her to witness it.

“Sometimes Jenifer..” I trailed off. I stood up and looked at her completing my sentence, “...all you have to do is look beyond your imagination..” and left.

Not being a fan of heavy dress, It was quite hard for me to wear these which restrict my movement. 

“Loosen it a bit!” I winced at Layla who was tightening my corset. I heaved and got dressed for that sophisticated ball that’s gonna happen right after the Auction. I grit my teeth and wore my black and violet frilly dress which itched my eyes but I have to. Being a woman who lived her life in solitude and away from high society, I didn't feel like being fit in it now. 

I sighed deeply and went to attend the auction. 

It was monotonous, Baron Henry; the host was rejoiced to see me with my discoveries. Being sold at the highest price, I leaned on the wall, watching it all with a frown over my lips. I felt like my body is here but my soul is being held prisoner at home; at that mournful mansion. I was usually deeply content to see them being sold but right now I am just filled with unwanted dismay.

“May I have this dance, Milady?” Baron asked, bowing a little. No.

“Why not?” I faked a smile sweetly and took his hand. We were doing waltz but my mind was present somewhere else.

“Is everything alright?” He asked.

“What could be possible wrong?” I asked.

“Vexation shines in your eyes.” He said.

“It must be your imagination, Baron.” I said. 

“I hope so.” he laughed off.

After the dance, the crowd made me feel uneasy. To clear my mind I walked out and went elsewhere. 

I found myself in the dark hallway which was ignited by the moonlight coming through the glass window. I leaned on the window frame and looked outside, at the moon with a sad smile over my lips but my reprieve was stolen from by a voice.

“You shouldn’t be doing this.” I heard a voice echoing in the hallway. I quickly turned my head in the direction where the voice was coming from. There was a silhouette of a person but I couldn't make whom.

“Who are you?” I asked softly.

“You have other things to do..” The view came into clear and the only thing I could see was those silver gems looking intensely at me and that was enough for me to know that it's him.

My breath hitched as I held the hem of my dress tightly and took a step back in fear that I still haven’t found his heart. Losing myself in the deepest depth of fright. I turned to run away not wanting to spend even a second in his obnoxious presence.

But the moment my body turned, I was pinned harshly to the wall. I groaned in pain and began to shake violently in fear, loud gasps escaped my lips as dread was building inside of me. All I could see was those terrorizing eyes before me, looking at me like a prey and I am nothing but a pathetic creature with no hopes of liberation. I shuddered as he pinned my hand beside my head with his one hand and my other hand lost its power to move in his pernicious presence. My heart was about to burst from dread and a cry was released by me,

“Let me go.. Please..” I whispered. He leaned in lethally close to me as his breath brushed over my lips causing my hairs to stand on their edge. Petrified, I shut my eyes, still getting out whimpers and pleas to let me go. He held my wrist tightly while his other hand moved from my cheeks to my neck pulling me close to him. A sob left me as when my quivers made my lips brush against his, suffocating me in a devoid of fright.

Lost at the gates of agony, I couldn’t move or breathe properly. I was gasping for air but to increase my anguish more he moved to my neck and kissed my neck so softly that it evoked enigmatic repulsion and something undesirable in me. 

“Stop it..” I cried and held his shirt tightly, wanting to create some distance. I was about to fall because my energy was drained from me but before I could fall he pressed himself against me. A loud voice mixed with fear and aversion rang in the hall as he held my hands above my head and held me firmly from my waist, still not removing his lips from my neck. My heart hammered against my chest, my legs, my whole being felt weak in his presence and by his lips touching my body in a mystic rhythm as his strong scent hit my nostrils.

He bit and sucked my neck earning a low mewl from me. His touch is so repugnant and made me want to lacerate my skin. But when he sunk his teeth over my skin a sudden shiver shook my core and I felt strange wave of bliss which I deny from the bottom of my heart. 

“Don’t..” I said in a barely audible voice, not being able to bear this anymore. His hand moved down from my waist down to my leg. My eyes widened in horror as I shook my head no, begging him to stop.

“I beg you.. Please.. Stop it.” I cried, trying to get out of his grasp. 

But my struggles enraged him and his gaze which was fixed on the ground, slowly made its way towards me, giving me a death-stare to subjugate myself to him quietly or else it would be the biggest regret of my life. The way his eyes looked at me, it gave chills to my bone as I lost my capability to think or move; immersing in apprehension with no expectations of coming to the surface. Horrified to face any consequence which might be fatal for me. 

His lips finally parted from my neck as I can feel the tingling sensation of pain which is causing me to lose consciousness but he is not letting me- not unless I witness my despair. 

His eyes bore into mine, my half lid eyes looked at him in this gloom, looking distraught with fear and anxiety. His thick lips slightly parted as he said in a deep yet compassionate voice, 

“These apparitions are lethal.”