Such Wicked Intent (21 page)

“It’s a little changed. Not much,” I say.

“You’re lying. I know you too well, Victor.”

“The stone doesn’t seem quite as… thick,” I admit.

He paces, restlessly swiping his saber back and forth.

“My new body, is it all right?” he asks.

“Of course. It’s growing quickly.”

“How long till it’s ready?” he demands.

I’ve seen fear in him before now, but this is desperation, crackling in his voice.

“Three nights.”

“Who’s to say that thing won’t get free before then?”

“I can’t see how—”

“I want to
kill
it, Victor!” He strides over to the racks of weaponry and pulls down a crossbow and a leather quiver of bolts.

“How do you know you can kill it?” I ask.

Frantically he pulls down a halberd, a long sword, a shield. “I don’t know if I have the power. But you do.” He looks at me, a child’s need for reassurance etched across his features. “You killed that evil spirit when it was strangling Analiese. You can kill this. Kill it for me, Victor.”

My heart aches. “I can’t,” I say.

“Of course you can. You’re the living. You have light and heat and—”

I stammer out an excuse. “I—I don’t think it deserves to be killed. I couldn’t do it.”

I refuse to do it.

But I don’t tell him this. That creature in the pit, whatever
it is, is
birthing
butterflies, and I crave the power they give me.

“Then, I’ll do it myself,” Konrad says, shouldering a crossbow and heading for the doorway.

“I can’t let you do that,” I say, blocking his path with my light and heat. “It’s not safe.”

He winces. “Stand aside, Victor.”

From down the corridor comes the sound of Elizabeth’s worried voice. “Konrad, are you there?”

“I’m here!” he calls out, and we both move back in surprise as she bursts into the armory.

“What are you doing here?” I demand. “Did you break into my room?”

“No. I’m in my own.”

“Then, how did you get the elixir?” I ask.

“I thought to take a small vial for myself the last time,” she says, unable to hide her pleasure at my shock. “Why should you have the only supply?”

“But you came in without the spirit clock,” I tell her. “What if I hadn’t been inside? Do you have any idea how reckless that was?”

“Since when has recklessness bothered you, Victor?”

“You might’ve lost track of time and let your body die!”

“I only mean to stay a short time,” she says defensively, “though it took me long enough to find you, Konrad.”

“What’s wrong?” he asks, looking more worried than ever. “Is something the matter with my body?”

“No, no, you’re fine. Is Analiese around?” Elizabeth asks in a lowered voice.

“I don’t know where she is,” Konrad replies. “Why?”

“After all that talk of making a body for her,” Elizabeth says, “I decided to find out a little more about her. It turns out there are household accounts of every servant employed here, going back a hundred years.”

“Where did you find those?” I ask in amazement.

“Maria’s office. I crept in about an hour ago.”

“And?” Konrad says.

“There’s no record of any young woman called Analiese who worked here and died of fever in the house.”

My brother is silent for a moment. “Well, someone made an error and left her out.”

“The records seem very thorough,” Elizabeth says.

Konrad frowns. “You’re suggesting she doesn’t exist?”

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him speak so irritably to Elizabeth.

“She’s not who she says she is!” Elizabeth says.

“Why would she lie?” I ask.

“I don’t know, but I don’t trust her. She must have a secret.”

A small cloud of black butterflies flutters into the armory. They land upon Elizabeth and me, and then dart away on their brilliantly colored wings.

Konrad shakes his head. “Elizabeth, I can’t believe it. She’s only ever been kind to me, my whole time here.”

“You talk about it like it’s a lifetime.”

“It
feels
like a lifetime,” Konrad shoots back.

Elizabeth’s eyes flash. “Well, why don’t we make a body for her, and when you come out, you two can spend
another
lifetime together!”

Konrad looks truly pained. “Elizabeth, you’re mistaken. I’m
not in love with her. I only wanted to rescue her from this place—and from that thing in the pit, which is waking! Victor, tell her!”

“It does seem more active,” I concur, and touch my pocket, for my spirit clock is at long last tapping, lethargically at first, as though waking from a long slumber, and then with an angry insistence.

“Our time is up,” I say.

For the first time Elizabeth seems to notice the weapons Konrad holds. “You were going to attack it?”

Konrad nods.

“It’s too dangerous, too rash,” I say.

He gives a hollow laugh. “I never thought I’d hear you call
me
rash.”

“I beg you not to do it,” I say. “Please.”

My twin frowns. “What are you not telling me?”

“Listen to me,” I say. “That creature in the pit that so frightens you—it’s the
source
! It creates the butterflies. I saw one grow from its very surface and fly!”

Konrad shakes his head angrily. “Ah, I see. This is for you, Victor. I know how much you want these things for their power!”

“Yes,” I admit. “But it’s also for you, Konrad. One of these things is giving you a new body. If we destroy this creature in the pit, who’s to say you won’t also be destroying all the butterfly spirits it gave rise to!”

Konrad is silent, chest rising and falling heavily.

“I agree with Victor,” Elizabeth says, surprising me. “We
can’t risk it. And you’ll be out in just a few days. Promise me you won’t try to harm it.”

Konrad looks at her uncertainly, then nods.

“It won’t harm you,” Elizabeth tells him reassuringly, and before turning to leave, adds, “It’s Analiese I’d watch.”

W
HEN
I
WOKE THE NEXT MORNING,
I
WAS STARTLED BY
the familiar throbbing pain in my missing fingers. Quickly I pulled off my nightshirt and sat with forced patience on the edge of my bed until I saw a quick fluid shadow move across my flesh.

The butterfly spirit was still upon me. So why was I feeling pain? For three blissful days I’d been completely healed, bursting with energy. But as I stood and opened my curtains, I realized I’d slept later than usual, and that my body felt weary. A first tendril of alarm spread through me. Was it possible the butterfly spirit, just like any earthly medicine, lost its effect after a while?

More. I need more.

I hurriedly unlocked my drawer and looked down at the flasks that contained my extra spirits, including the one I’d slyly collected last night as Elizabeth and I had left the armory, and a very anxious Konrad.

I hesitated only a moment before opening the flask and thrusting my finger inside. At once the smudge of deep shadow swirled round the glass and was upon my skin. I took a sharp breath, feeling a bit light-headed. I withdrew my finger, and the spirit scudded coolly across my hand and up my arm, leaving behind it a blissful trail of well-being.

I sat for a moment, concentrating only on my breathing. Within seconds the pain in my right hand eased, then evaporated. My pulse slowed; my mind felt like some marvelous clockworks, its cogs and wheels meshed and ready for anything.

*   *   *

When I sat down at breakfast, Mother’s chair was empty yet again.

“How is she?” I asked my father. He looked worn-out.

“Her sleep’s still fitful,” he said. “And last night she had terrible dreams.” He rubbed a hand across his brow. “I regret letting the professor begin his work in the caves. It’s too morbid right now. But I have news that I hope will be more cheering.”

Elizabeth, Henry, and I all looked at him.

“I’ve decided we’ll winter in Italy. There’s a villa in Sorrento that’s available immediately, and I plan to make the move as soon as possible.”

“When?” Elizabeth asked.

“Three days,” he said.

“So soon?” she asked, a quaver of surprise in her voice. I knew immediately what she was thinking. Would that give us enough time? Would Konrad’s young body have grown to the proper age by then?

“It’s sudden, I know,” Father said. “But I’ve conferred with Dr. Lesage on this, and he agrees that a total change is what’s needed for all of us. There are too many memories here. Your mother needs a new landscape and some Italian sun to help burn away her grief. And the two of you…” He looked now at Elizabeth and me. “You look as if you could use a change
too. Despite all these outings of yours, you still look pale and drawn. You especially, Victor. Have you been sleeping poorly?”

“Absolutely fine,” I said, studiously eating my boiled egg.

“You’ve lost weight, my boy.”

I shook my head. “I feel very vigorous.”

“You look haunted. Dr. Lesage will be here shortly to see your mother, and I’ll have him check on you as well.”

“I’m absolutely fine,” I insisted.

My father just gave me a look that indicated his decision had been made. I hurriedly swallowed down my breakfast. I knew I had to get the two spirits off my body before Dr. Lesage arrived. If he examined me, he might very well ask me to remove my clothes.

I caught Henry and Elizabeth looking at me worriedly. No doubt the same thought had occurred to them.

One of our footmen came in. “Dr. Lesage is here, sir.”

“Very good. Please have Maria take him to Madame Frankenstein’s reception room.” He turned to me. “And, Victor, I’ll have him examine you in your bedchamber directly afterward. We’ll postpone our lessons.”

I nodded, swallowing down my bread roll with some tea. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I walked serenely out of the dining room and then, several paces down the corridor, ran for my room at full tilt. I locked the door. Inside I ripped off my clothes. I took two empty flasks from my drawer and set them at the ready. Then, in the full light, I turned round and round, searching for the two shadow
butterflies. It was as if they were trying to confound me, for I saw no sign of them.

“Come on,” I growled under my breath.

There was one, nestled behind my knee! I almost captured it first try, but it seeped from under the rim of the flask and shot to my back. I turned my backside to the window and forced both shadows to my front. One shimmied down my leg and lodged itself between my toes—virtually impossible to get the mouth of my flask around. This was devilishly clever. I began hopping about madly, trying to dislodge it.

There came a knock at my door. I froze. Dr. Lesage already?

“Just a moment!” I called out. I careened about the room on one foot, grasping the other and trying to poke the spirit out from between my toes. I lost my balance and lurched against the chest of drawers. The washbasin crashed to the floor, shattering.

“Victor?”

It was Henry! I rushed to the door, unlocked it, and hauled him inside.

“You’re completely naked,” he said, startled.

“Yes. I need your help.”

“I thought you might,” he said.

I thrust the flask into his hands. “I need you to catch it. I’ll face the window.”

Silently he took the flask, and I turned my back to him. After a moment I felt the rim of the flask slam hard once, twice, three times against my shoulders.

“Did you get it?” I demanded.

“Just.” He held out the sealed flask to me.

“Now the other one!” I said.

“What do you mean, the—” He stopped abruptly, and I knew he’d seen it. “You’ve got
two
on you now?”

I seized the second empty flask and pushed it into his hands. “Just catch it, all right?”

There was another knock on the door. “Victor?” came Elizabeth’s voice.

“Just a moment!” I sang out.

Once more I faced the window, wincing as Henry pummeled my body—with unnecessary force, I thought.

“It’s in your armpit,” he muttered. “Lift up your… No, the other one!”

I did as I was told and yelped as the narrow end of the flask rammed painfully into my flesh.

“Victor, are you all right?” Elizabeth asked worriedly from outside.

“You got it?” I asked Henry.

With a tight-lipped smile he waggled the sealed flask to show me.

“Victor, I’m coming in,” said Elizabeth, and I scarcely had time to yank up my undergarments before the door opened and she slipped inside. She saw Henry and nodded in relief.

“You got it off, then?”

“
Both
of them,” Henry told her.

Her eyes widened in astonishment. “You have
two
now?”

“What of it?” I said, snatching up the rest of my clothes and dressing hurriedly.

“Why are two necessary?” she demanded.

“Because one wasn’t enough,” I snapped irritably as a savage pain jolted through my missing fingers.

I saw her glance worriedly at Henry. “Victor, has it occurred to you that these things might be… addictive?”

“I am not
addicted
to them,” I said, buttoning my shirt.

She walked over to my desk and its open drawer. “And you a have a third, I see.”

“I told you I was collecting them.”

She looked at me closely. “I think your father was right, Victor. You do look haunted. I don’t think you should let them on your body anymore.”

“I’m touched by your concern,” I said with a laugh. “But everything’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” she said, anger creeping into her voice. “We were only supposed to use their power to bring Konrad back. And now you’ve launched yourself on a completely different endeavor!”

“Both are possible,” I said, putting all the flasks back into the drawer and locking it. “And when Konrad comes out, he might want one for himself, even if you don’t.”

*   *   *

The child ran about on the grass, chased by a laughing, barefoot Elizabeth. Overnight it had grown again, and the set of Ernest’s clothes it wore was too small on its frame.