RMW
Chapter Seventeen
Lola's Song
~SV~
Black Forest, Jillian’s Home, Dark 3 AM, 677, 28th, October
After the shock wears off, Jillian demands, “Get out of me Demon!” Lola giggles, “Interesting, most are scared to death when I jump in, immediately leaving, before I can say anything or need to threaten them.” Jillian whimpers, “What do you want with me?” Lola sighs, “I have chores to do, and I am not up to doing them without a body, at the moment. So, I will use yours.” She giggles.
Feeling Jillian as she struggles for control, Lola decides to reason with her, “Once I am done with what I need you for, I will gladly release your body and let you go.” Jillian settles down, as Lola helps herself to the tray of food and drinks. As she feeds Jillian, Lola keeps grimacing each time she moves the old hag’s arm, as it brings a whiff of Jillian’s body odor. Finally, she is unable to stand it, and recalls that Jillian said she was going to have a bath.
Lola finds Jillian’s filled tub in the kitchen. Smiling, as she notices the folded clean clothes, Lola touches the water, it feels perfect. Undressing Jillian makes her scream; Lola ignores her anger, and brings the food to a table near the tub. The bath is lovely and a decadent pleasure, to sip wine while washing her. Jillian fumes, “I do not appreciate being naked.” Lola snickers.
The old woman adds, “Nor having you touch me with a cloth.” Lola scoffs, “I am finished scrubbing you clean, ya big baby. Now be quiet while I enjoy this moment.” Lola sighs, soaking as she eats cheese and sips more wine. Jillian finally demands, “Are you done yet?” Lola seethes, “Does this seem like my intended chores? If you do not let me have a bit of fun, before I start work… I will kick your soul out, and your body will rot, when I leave this corpse.”
The Sinister Shade feels Jillian’s shutter, and adds, “So, do you wish to die or are you willing to let me use you tonight? Why are you even up this late?” Jillian grumbles, “I had a bad night, then I ended up napping nearly all day, so it was late when I started on my cleaning. I was just about to bathe and go to bed when you came along. So can I get dressed now?” Lola says, “I just want a few more moments of peace and quiet, before we get to work.”
Scoffing Jillian says, “I guess the Princess sent you, to get back at me. I knew she was like her mother.” Lola mocks, “Oh yes, we regularly have tea and discuss you. Oh, that is right Samala was your neighbor. Well now I am curious, why would you think Sidonia is behind my needs?” The old woman is reluctant to tell her.
Jillian admits, “I just thought the Princess was taking revenge for my bad behavior the other night.” Lola becomes a bit curious, so she chuckles darkly, “Well do tell, just what are you guilty of?” Jillian huffs, “She and that little man startled me. Ah, it provoked me into making a gesture or two and I might have said more than I should have. Her mother always acted too good for my company.”
Lola pries, “A gesture?” Jillian tries to avoid it, saying, “I was only protecting myself, as I thrusted my Evil Eye amulet at them, to scare her away.” Insistent, Lola asks, “And?” Finally, Jillian admits the rest, “I did the horned sign, to ward off any Evil Sendings she might direct my way.” Lola snorts, “It sounds like you are getting your comeuppance.” Jillian humbly remains quiet.
Humming her creepy tune, Lola relaxes; finishing the wine, she closes the old woman’s eyes. When the water-cools, even Lola feels clean, and the aches of the old hag are finally easing off. Groaning, Lola decides it is time to get started.
~*~
Blackstone Castle, Anthony’s Den, Dark 3 AM, 677, 28th, October
Viktor tilts his head, “You do not trust Tik. I do not either.” Donatello sees a green glow to the boy’s eyes and nods. The Guard says with uncertainty, “Tik has promised to round up the Day Guards, and break them of Kolo’s control. Hmm, but I saw Todd leave. How did Tik speak to him?” Donatello winces unable to trust what Tik told him, yet says, “So you and Sidonia should be safe.”
Donatello adds, “Tik also promises to help me watch your sister. Right now, I need a place to hide my report to your father.” Viktor questions, “Why, what does it say?” Her guard replies in a serious tone, “I am protecting myself. In case Tik does not break the control over the spies, or never intended to try, I do not want them to find it. I also need someone I trust to have it.”
He smiles at the Prince, “I want someone of honor who will give it to your father if I am unable to.” Listening, Viktor nods, “You are worried, why?” Donatello says, “I am having a hard time believing Tik will do what he promised. Do you have a place I can hide this letter?” The boy offers, “I have lots of good places.”
The guard grins, “I believe it, I looked everywhere for you.” Viktor states, “You can trust me to hide it and give it to Father.” Donatello smiles, “I was hoping you would say that; I do trust you.”
~*~
Lola helps Jillian dress, making her angry. The Shade finishes the food and has more to drink; enjoying the taste and the pleasure of getting a bit tipsy. Humming her tune, Lola goes to Jillian’s cupboards and fills a basket with the remaining needed ingredients. She even has a mortar and pestle as well as a small caldron; perfect for creating the potion to speed Kolo’s recovery.
Stopping, Lola glances back at the items with suspicion, she comments in a sly tone, “It appears you dabble in the dark arts, as your supplies are just what I need.” Jillian feels ashamed, “It is a little shady pastime, nothing too sinister. I pretend to Hex all who anger me; my Nan taught me.” Lola is glad she knows enough to have these items, yet does not know Lola cannot expel her.
Most spirits cannot force anyone out of their own body, unless they are a witch with a spell. Ghosts cannot enter anyone with strong witch blood; unless the witch grants it, or the witch is forcing a spirit in, to use the shade to increase their own powers. Jillian clearly is unaware of this. Most witches can see spirits for what they are and would never invite a shade into their home. Some know how to capture one. Lola learned these things the hard way.
The only time the Sinister Shade attempted to take a witch’s body, she nearly became a tool for the Witch, before getting away. Lola chuckles darkly as she finds a crystal, sensing its power. She thinks to herself, ‘While it is not strong enough to be a Sorceress’s Stone, it will boost my spell.’ Jillian remains silent, watching what Lola takes. The old lady tries to learn why Lola needs her things and body, nevertheless she is unable to understand nor even guess.
Once Lola has what she was missing, she makes Jillian leave her cottage. The old woman is fearful of how far Lola plans to take her and how she will make it back. Lola hums the slow eerie tune from her childhood, and then sings a bit,
“You left, letting me drown in the water.
Get me help, no you did not bother.
Huffy horrid Harold is the next to go.
Rock to his head he dies in the snow.
Oh, what fun chasing him until he fell,
All for pushing me into that dark Well.
You pushed me into that deep Well,
When dead you have no tales to tell.
I sunk, drowning in that dark water,
Get me help, no you did not bother.
Icky Evil Emily never kind nor sweet.
I poured plenty of poison on her meat.
Her choking death is satisfying and slow,
I then got to see her Death’s Door glow-.
Jillian’s body tingles, she believes it is due to the horror of ‘Lola’s Song’ as it causes her body to now shudder. Jillian cuts in, “Where did you learn that horrible song?” Lola replies proudly, “Oh, no dear. I created it, as I killed each little brat who caused my death. By the end of my revenge, my song had seven versus, one for each child who pushed us in the well. I sang it to them with great glee.”
“You left, letting me drown in the water.
Get me help, no you did not bother.
Funny Frank had stayed to taunt the longest.
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His mocking laughter was always strongest.
I strangle the furious Frank while in his bed.
No longer laughing he is only cold and dead.
You pushed me into that dark Well,
When dead you have no tales to tell.”
Lola tries to make the old woman’s body do a slight skip, but trips, nearly falling. Lola hisses, “Why am I having trouble with your clumsy feet?” Jillian quips back, “Apparently I am the first elderly person you have stolen and possessed, as it is a common ailment for us older people.” Groaning Lola says, “Gross. Well, that is one plus for dying young that I had not thought of.” Jillian wishes Lola were alive; so, she could enjoy killing her, violently.
~*~
Smiling, Donatello hands the note to the young Prince, as he takes it, Donatello pats Viktor’s shoulder, “Thanks, I am not sure why I feel that I need this letter. I guess it is because of my grave thoughts, still I do not think I will be able to give it to the King, myself.” Green mist is in his eyes, as the boy asks, “What is giving you grave thoughts?” He says, “I am trying to keep your sister safe.”
Attempting to not speak of Kolo, he says “I think the threat is bigger than one or two evil beings. I might fail. If I do, I wish to defend my honor.” Viktor frowns, as the Guard explains, “Earlier, when mad, Tik stabbed me. He told me, he will lie to your father, saying it is my fault that Sidonia is involved with the Evil One. He also said he will kill me, if I tell your father what really happened. Tik now smiles at me, claiming he will help me.” Viktor nods.
The Guard adds, “Yet before, Captain Tik commanded the Vampire Guards not to assist me; I could have removed the evil one’s head, if they had just given me their sword and some iron. So, Tik’s smile and past actions keeps me from believing what he says; like when Tik claims, that he has broken the Evil One’s control over some of our Day Guards, and intends to do the rest. If Tik does blame me for things I did not do, what if your father believes him?”
Viktor shrugs, as Donatello sighs, “It might keep Anthony from looking any further for the Evil Ones. What if someone else succeeds in taking Princess Sidonia to him?” Wrinkling his nose, Prince Viktor says, “I no longer trust Tik and never will, again. I do not even like him. A while ago, Tik ratted on me to Father, saying I messed around with the weapons, I was only using them to practice.”
The Prince adds, “Tik claimed he told me to leave and I disrespected him by sneaking back in. It was also a lie, he never told me to leave!” Donatello agrees, “That is being a big rat.” Prince Viktor asks, “If you are dead does it matter that your honor is called into question?” Donatello sighs, “I hope it will not be that serious. Perhaps it should not be important. Yes it matters to me, what your father thinks of my intentions, even if I am dead.” The boy frowns.
Not understanding, Viktor asks, “Why?” Donatello explains, “Your father put his faith in me, giving me a second chance, and a place to call home here at his House of Strigois. If my reputation is ruined, I fear your father might regret giving me this opportunity. It could keep him from helping someone else who also deserves it. This letter informs your father of what little I learned, maybe it will help him. Your father needs to know who is behind all of it.”
Feeling sickened, at the thought of failing, Donatello finishes, “I hope Anthony can catch them and stop this madness!” Viktor says, “My father is very good at knowing who is telling the truth. After Tik left, Father told me he knew Tik was less than truthful in his accusations. Father always knows when it is a lie. I forgot, saying my nanny was mean, I just wanted to play.”
Viktor admits, “I learned my lesson the hard way, after she left. Father is tired of hiring new ones. Now I am stuck with the meanest one yet! I deserve it.” Donatello disagrees, “No one deserves to be treated poorly.” Viktor nods and Donatello gives him a sad smile, surprised how much the boy understands.
~*~
Jillian is relieved, as Lola enters their cottage, until she sees the state of it. Lola checks on Kolo, he remains dead; Jillian gags. Lola unloads the basket of items; then drags the first guard, Todd, into the woods as far as she dares to go, as she feels that the old woman’s strength is giving out. Stumbling with exhaustion Lola returns for the larger second guard, Thomas. Coming back in, Lola needs to sit down first and have a drink, until Jillian’s breath is back.
As she drags the second guard outside, rather than taking him by the shoulders, she pulls dead Thomas out by his legs; Lola laughs as his head bounces off each step on the stairs. Jillian cringes as Lola begins singing again, in her soft low eerie way,
“You pushed me into that dark Well,
When dead you have no tales to tell.
You left, letting me drown in the water.
Get me help, no you did not bother-.”
Jillian cuts in, as they near the trees, “Can we just leave him here? I think it is far enough away, do you?” Lola laughs, “You will not think so when you start smelling his body rotting from your front porch.” Jillian groans, “Ewww. Fine, I can make it a little further. Why did you kill these guards?” Lola mocks, “One asked too many questions, and the other just smelled bad.” It has Jillian trying to stay quiet. She is in awe, as it seems her eye sight is starting to improve.
~*~
Donatello tells Viktor, “I might ask for the letter back. If I fail to be here, I will need you to give it to your father. It has important information concerning the Evil Two, who have compelled the Human Guards into spying on me. Hide the letter. Please give it to your father when he is here alone with you, so no one else learns of it. Lie if anyone asks about me or what I told you.”
Prince Viktor smirks, “I have figured out how to reply without lying, and without telling them what I do not want them to know. I hear Father do it and he says that you have to be careful who you tell, what you are thinking to. Doing so allows them to harm you with your weaknesses. I can keep the spies from learning I have it. I am good at hiding.” The Guard chuckles, “I wish I grew up with a father like yours, maybe it would have kept me out of this mess.”
Donatello groans, “It seems I caused much of my own problems, because I mistakenly said what I thought to the wrong people.” Viktor tells him, “Father says, ‘It is only a mistake if you do not learn from it. If you can stop doing it, then it becomes a valuable lesson.’ And I agree.” The Guard grins at this wisdom, “This might be dangerous.” Assuring him, Viktor replies, “Father trained me; so, I have learned what to do if I am in danger. He says I am brave.”
Smiling, Donatello replies, “Yes you are very brave. I do not like getting you involved; although you are here amongst it, so I feel it is wiser to let you know of the danger.” Viktor asks, “Who are the Evil Two?” Donatello says, “Sidonia mistakenly became involved with Kolo, a vampire, and Lola, his twin sister, who is a ghost.” Viktor looks frightened. Donatello groans, “I forgot.”
He admits, “Sidonia asked me not to tell you anything about them.” The Prince sternly demands, “Why not?” Donatello explains, “I think she does not want to scare you. She calls him the Evil One, because he claims he has the power to hear when others say his name. He died against the barrier, yet I could not get him from his sister. Being a Ghost, I feared her entering the grounds, if I opened the gate. It is likely the evil Vampire will live again in hours.”
Donatello adds, “I call them the Evil Two. I think you needed to learn about them and all that is happening, so you can take it seriously. I hope it helps to keep you safe.” The boy looks fearful, yet Prince Viktor says in a grown-up tone, “I am not too young to know scary things. I am the Lord of Blackstone Castle!”
~*~
Vanna walks by the reed-filled pond unable to imagine how this happened. She waves the numerous bugs that fly her way, from her eyes. She looks up and sees Anthony standing with his back to her. He is on the other side of the pond. As she nears, he says without looking at her, “Imagine meeting you here, of all places.” Coldly, Queen Vanna states, “That was a long time ago.”
He chuckles darkly, “Not for me. A couple of decades are relatively recent, compared with my life and memories.” She sounds upset, “I do not appreciate you implying I know you, in front of my family. It happened long before I met Bailey.” He chuckles, “A few months, a year at most.” Vanna gasps, “Are you trying to ruin me?” The Vampire turns, seeing her tears, he gives her a bow of his head.
Anthony admits, “It was ungentlemanly. I fear I am not as gallant nor chivalrous of late.” Thinking for a moment, Anthony discloses, “My daughter and I have suffered at the hands of my wife’s misdeeds; it taints my mood. Alnesa reminds me a bit of my daughter, stirring more of those dark thoughts. Your husband and your son, who treated that young girl so unfairly, remind me of my dead wife’s foul actions.” He senses her fury is still there.
King Anthony Vlasac asks, “Were you aware of your son’s involvement with Alnesa?” Vanna avoids her guilt, only stating, “You claim our time was recent for you, yet you forget I am not capable of such deception nor intent to harm others? It sounds like you blame yourself for not doing more to stop your spouse; as I feel I failed to question mine. Unless the rumors are true; you walled up Samala alive in the bowels of Skull Island’s Hallowed Castle.”
Anthony sees she clenches her hands into fists, as she now dares to seethe at him, “Did you do it because of your humiliation at her going insane?” Calmly, Anthony replies, “You feel helpless to fix your own situation, and angry at your husband for causing it. This has you wanting to lash out, thinking it will keep others from hurting you further. It will not protect you from this danger you are in.” Vanna realizes, trying to guilt him into helping her, was unwise.
He further advises, “Your actions are more likely to provoke a deadlier response.” Shaking, the Queen is ready to make an excuse to leave, as her lips part, she finds she cannot speak. Anthony’s glare is mesmerizing her, causing Vanna to feel frozen. Blue lightning bolts, flicker in his eyes and comes off his body, prickling her skin yet she cannot move away from him. The High Lord adds in a grave tone, that drips of insincerity, “I might have treated you unfairly.”
Anthony steps closer, and his tone becomes darker, “Please accept my apology… if you are innocent of your son’s foolish plan. Did you know of his horrid intentions and vulgar behavior prior to it happening?” The Light Elf Queen is furious. Vanna manages to bring her hands up as she tries to push him away; he is immovable. Instantly Anthony is behind her grasping her wrist, as the Vampire whispers, “Stay quiet and still.” It silences Vanna’s intended scream.
Vanna was not aware that at his power level, the sound of his voice or a mere look from his eyes, is enough to command her. Anthony does not need to phase nor bring his mist, so there is no warning of his intentions. The High Lord of the Vampires, bites her arm above her elbow, preferring to drink her blood, as he seeks what she knows, and if she was involved in Alrod’s and Bailey’s plot. He stops, once he learns Vanna had no part in it. Anthony is relieved.
~*~
Jillian and Lola drag Thomas into the woods. As they near Todd’s body, Lola is finishing her song; Jillian is certain she will have nightmares about the lyrics. The Sinister Shade sings, recalling the events of each death, with dark amusement,
“You left, letting me drown in the water.
Get me help, no you did not bother.
Sarah told us the Well was just a dare
Then she became mean pulling my hair.
She hits my head with a rock; at the end,
I tortured Sarah for acting like my friend.
You pushed me into that deep Well,
When dead you have no tales to tell.
I sunk, drowning in that dark water,
Get me help, no you did not bother.
Who had enraged all into killing us two.
It was the malicious little turd Mathew.
My simple magic I shared was his envy.
I made his death slow and very messy.
You pushed me into that dark Well,
When dead you have no tales to tell.”
Lola stops singing, to complain, “Will you stop whipping our head all around? You are making me dizzy.” Jillian whispers, “Kindly remember, it is my head! Usually, my hearing is rather poor, but I swear I am somehow hearing something move out there.” Lola snorts, “Our dead guard did not come back to life; it is likely just a rabbit.” Pulling him in sight of Todd’s body, Lola hears a snap of a branch. Jillian hisses, “You heard it this time, right?” Lola admits, “Yes. I see the other dead body too. Unfortunately, it has company!”
~RMW~