The Witch Of Crimson Peak

Part 18: Tempus Fugit

My head was reeling, my blood felt heavy as I swayed on the spot. I looked down to see the thick blade penetrating my abdomen right to the hilt, fear and confusion flooding over me. "Liam... What?"

"Yeah, it's me. I'm the one all along. Wow, I didn't think you were that dense!" He laughed and kicked me to the floor, I yelped as I landed with a thud. I looked up to the ceiling, the rose pink hue of the painted moldings danced among the light as tears formed in my eyes. I turned and tried to crawl to the door but a foot on my back stilled me.

"By the way, my arm has healed up nicely, no thanks to you. You must be a pretty powerful witch to be able to affect me so in the waking world too. You know I really did try to get you out of this house, Lucille was very helpful in that endeavour, but you.... You were just too much of a stubborn woman!"

He leaned further in adding pressure to my wound making me squeal with pain, "You could have just left, it would have been fine!"

"I don't understand, your brother he... he is mortal... He was the one who..." I wanted to say he was the one pursuing me , he made it seem like he was the Warlock.

"Oh yeah, I told him you were interested and he fell for it, he is very gullible. Helps a lot though. Helps throw them off the scent. I have lost count how many witches thought he was a Warlock!" He laughed like it was a big hearty joke between the two of us "You know, it's funny. My dad was a mortal, my mother was a witch. I discovered my magic early on, my mother had no clue. She thought we were just normal boys. It was a shame about mum, she realised the nature of my power, Necromancy, and tried binding my powers. I Killed her, accidentally of course... at first. then I realised each time I killed I got more powerful. What can I say, it's a talent."

I cried, how could I be so blind? He was so obsessed with the house, the furnishings and everything. He was always so strange with me, so quiet and unassuming. "Please... Liam... Don't do this." I cried out crawling again as he let me go, hoping to reach for the hallway.

"Oh it's too late my lovely. You're going to die here, and your little coven. Sad I know. And when the newspapers hit tomorrow of the tragedy of Crimson Peak once more, the only survivor... me of course will pledge to ensure no one gets hold of this house again and keep it under my control."
He huffed a small laugh and sheathed his knife.

"And you... you will be locked in here, imprisoned in this house. A spirit just like the rest."

He laughed and began wiping the excess blood on his coat from his hands.

"Please... don't... Thomas...."

"Oh I have something special for him. And his sister. I'm going to keep her locked away in the attic she loved so much surrounded by the women they murdered. And Thomas? Will get to watch helplessly as I torture your pathetic spirit over, and over again. I might even make it a bit more pleasurable for myself, if you know what I mean, and bind you to me."

I cried, tears streaming down my eyes as he pressed his foot into my wound earning a strangled cry as bloody spurted from my mouth.
"Now, you stay quiet while I go and sort out your friends." He smiled and raised a finger to his lips.

________

Thomas lurched forward, he felt a pain like no other. "Are you alright? What's the problem?" Sebastian asked Thomas, clutching his side he was shocked, he hadn't felt pain like that since the day he died. "I'm sure it's nothing. Please, do enjoy yourself." Thomas smiled and moved awkwardly across the floor looking at all the people who had joined the Halloween festivities.

It was nothing how he imagined it would be and not how he had seen parties play out in the past. Gone were the days of asking for dances from ladies who glanced from behind dance cards and signalled to their friends through the way they held their fans. No, this party, this ball consisted of shots of liquor being passed around and music blaring that shouted 'turn down for what?' While people gyrated to the beat.
Safe to say, it was not his cup of tea.