Chapter 18 - The curtain falls

Music Inspiration

Chapter 18

The Curtain falls

Marianne was confused.

What was going on here?

The noise of battle reached her ear. In front of her door!

Marianne felt for the role. She was still there.

Then she jumped up.

Suddenly she felt dizzy. She began to see twice. Everything shook before her eyes, while the pain in her neck grew stronger.

Marianne fell to the ground.

Her body felt unusually hot.

She tossed and turned on the floor.

Then her door flew open and someone fell into the room to the ground.

Duke!

Vladimir Vasques stood in the doorway, holding a sword in his hand.

Duke was bleeding from several wounds.

"Duke!" Marianne crawled in the direction of the Griffin Knight.

Vasques took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his blade.

"Marianne ... run," Duke stammered.

"I ... can't," Marianne answered weakly.

Vasques walked slowly towards both of them and stepped over them.

He went to the bed, where the scroll peeked out from under the covers.

"No..." stammered Marianne.

"Interrresting." He took out the scroll.

"A R A N A S E R A !" whispered a voice in Marianne's head.

She rolled around weakly, looking into Duke's lifeless eyes.

Her gaze fell through the open door into the corridor. There was Sedalia. A spear stuck into her body.

"A R A N A S E R A!" whispered the voice again.

Her body grew warmer and warmer as she wallowed in delirium.

"A R A N A S E R A !" The voice again.

Vasques had spread out the scroll and was reading it.

Suddenly, Marianne cried out.

"ARANASERA!!" This time the word came out of her mouth.

It felt as if something inside her was exploding.

She jumped up.

The heat surged through her body!

Slowly, armor formed around her body.

Marianne stared at her hands, around which plate gloves were formed.

2 wings formed from their backs and spread.

Her eyes lit up.

Vasques looked up gravely from the role, and then looked at her in surprise.

She looked at Vasques in anger.

He put the scroll back into the scroll.

Marianne glowed with strength and went on the attack.

Vasques snapped his fingers.

Marianne started up into her bed and gasped.

Her hand immediately went to her neck.

No holes!

And the armaments? Gone!

The wings? Where?  Gone!

She looked around the room and looked at Vasques.

He sat in front of her in an armchair in front of the bed and looked at her.

"We should talk, Arrranaserrrra."

Chapter 17 - Vasques

 Music Inspiration.

Chapter 17

Vasques

Marianne lay in a large four-poster bed and stared thoughtfully at its ceiling.

Her thoughts wandered back to what was happening in the dining room.

She, Duke, and Sedalia sat across from Dexter, Danny, and Cecile.

It was so surreal.

Hunters and Hunted sat at a table for dinner.

And at the head of the sat the strange count.

And he had a great time.

He told of his great journeys and adventures, while hunters and hunted continued to stalk each other.

Then the butler led everyone to their rooms and here they were.

Marianne sighed. 

Slowly fatigue set in. She crawled under the covers, the message roll pressed to her and closed her eyes, fell asleep.

She opened her eyes and was surprised.

Marianne was wearing a black Victorian evening dress.

It stood in a large hall with many chandeliers.

A staircase led down.

There stood the count and smiled. 

He held out his hand to her.

Marianne was irritated and uncertain, but then she walked slowly down the stairs.

Step by step.

Careful about the dress.

The Count was waiting for her, and he took her hand as she reached the end of the stairs.

She let him lead her onto the dance floor and began to dance with her.

Fascinated, she looked him in the eyes and let herself be guided.

He whirled with her across the dance floor to a waltz-like music that reached her ear from somewhere.

Marianne felt so free at that moment.

So happy.

No sense of time, no barrier, no stress.

Only inner peace.

After an endless time, the music faded away and she lay happily in his arms.

Marianne stroked his cheek with one hand.

"What's your name?" she breathed.

"Vasques. Vladimirrr Vasques, my most rrreverrrred." His face approached hers.

In anticipation of the kiss, Marianne closed her eyes.

His lips touched her neck.

Marianne opened her eyes. She was lying on her Bed in her Room.

It seemed like an eternity had passed.

She felt a slight pain in her neck.

Marianne felt her neck and was frightened. She had 2 holes on her neck!