Alexander the Caracal's Christmas

Herr von Fell during Christmastime

To say that the Exiled Herr was a welcome sight would be untrue. The man was a devil, if not the Devil. Under his ownership Roxana had become really rattled about, becoming skin and bone and bad-tempered. He was also responsible for the kidnapping of Gemma back in November, prior to the wedding.

His eagle-headed cane in hand, Herr von Fell looked around the entrance hall. When he noticed Gemma at the top of the stairs, the girl froze in fright, remembering how the blackguard had put her in a mandrill cage at his circus.

The Devil then saw Alexander and began to walk forward, grabbing Captain Smith by the jacket and growling: "Give me that little beast, Smith! I am not leaving this house without him! He slew Hermann!"

Having been present for Alexander's killing of Herr von Fell's golden eagle, Alan grew confused. That had happened back in November when he, Alexander and Roxana had gone to Herr Von Fell's circus to rescue Gemma. Alan had been captured and Herr von Fell had commanded Hermann to blind the boy, at which point Alexander had come to the rescue.

"That happened back in November!" Alan exclaimed. "You are only showing up now?"

"I was left incapacitated for some time." Herr von Fell answered. "A lesser man would have been killed or paralyzed for life, but as you can see, I live, Young Master Carter... Live to get my revenge for Hermann's death!"

"I will not hand over Alexander to you, Herr von Fell." Stated Captain Smith, removing the Devil's hands from his person and glaring at him. "Anymore than I would return Roxana to your dreadful ownership. This is the second time you have barged into my home, now I kindly ask you to leave."

To say that Herr von Fell had done as asked would be untrue. Wherefore should the Devil ever obey mortal man? Wherefore should a murderer such as a big game hunter obey a law-abiding citizen?

The Exiled Herr just stood there, glaring at Captain Smith with so much hate in his eyes that one would have thought them the pools that certain reprobates went to drink from. Alexander stared at the sight, remembering when Herr von Fell had been wearing his pickelhaube when hunting the escaped lion Heinrich in Toronto on Halloween. He didn't need that helmet to seem taller. He may have stood at a height of five feet and ten and a half inches, but still he towered menacingly over all around him.

"I shall stay as I see fit." Stated Herr von Fell. He then looked back and forth and asked: "Where is your mother? Where is that half-Irish witch?"

"She died." Captain Smith stated, showing more restraint than other residents of Quebec Castle were at Gudrun Smith being referred to in such a way. "Where is Beelzebub?"

"Back home, going bald." Herr von Fell answered. While Captain Smith did not react, the very fact that albino chimpanzee was going bald caused no amount of alarm to others present. Beelzebub looked monstrous enough with fur, how would he look once he had completely devoid of it? "It is well she is dead! The less people of Irish descent there is in the world the better! I may abominate the English as much as I do the Irish, but the fact was Oliver Cromwell had the right idea about what to do about those..." He looked at all present, a smile on his face as he stared first at Alan and then Captain Smith. "sub-humans." His smile grew wider as he noticed Alan clench his fists and Captain Smith begin to glare. "He tried to save Ireland from the Irish after all it is the moral duty of such people to eradicate such undesirables, people who are more ape than human. People like yourself and your nephew, Captain Smith."

Alexander looked over to Alan just in time to see Igraine hold her nephew back. Herr von Fell did not laugh, he merely continued to smile and then looked back up at Gemma.

"Yes, well, villains like Cromwell find the ends they deserve." Stated Captain Smith.

Alexander watched as Herr von Fell stared into Captain Smith's eyes. What was going on in the Exiled Herr's mind, the Northern Caracal could not guess. Ultimately, the Devil uttered: "Yes, well, he was still just an Englishman and a blackguard of my caliber isn't so foolish. There is a reason I've managed to reach my sixties while he didn't. Now, hand over that little beast of yours and I will forget you taking Roxana from me."