Snowdrop (A Frankenstein Story)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A musician! Like the patriarch of the De Lacey family, he continued to mourn. His woes knew no end. The vile creation of Frankenstein fled the home of Miss Daniels after he caught the marvelous sight of her night spectacle. It was his desire to be a gentleman and not the monster he was created to be that made him tear away his gaze. The beauty of women was undeniable, but they were far too beautiful to be gawked at like meat pies in a bar. If Frankenstein had been true to his word he could have shown his mate just how gentlemanly he was.

It was well past midnight by the time he left the estate which was, in comparison, much smaller than that of his father's. But Miss Daniels' home was richer in decoration and liveliness. The lack of the latter in the Frankenstein household, however, was his fault. The murder of a child and his nanny was more than enough to destroy a family. The creature was still not sure if this was something he was proud of.

Weathered boots struck the ground as his large form marched the new trail back to his hideout. The old, tattered grey cloak he wore flapped in the breeze created by his swift movements. Each step took him further away from potential heartache, and closer to the complete undoing of himself. It was a vital necessity for him to be as far from Georgia as possible. She could never see him, let alone learn about him. When the thought of her smile filled his mind he grew angry before he stopped on his journey to cry the bitter tears that always came as a result of his loneliness.

Just as he had been drawn to Justine, the creature felt drawn to Georgia, but he knew better than to give in. If she beheld him the look of utter terror from her would kill him, just as his appearance would surely kill her. In the end, he resolved not to return to that estate, he would not seek out Miss Daniels. Instead, his thoughts turned darker: he would complete his quest for vengeance. If he could not have love, then he would take it from the person who denied it to him.

***

A week had passed since the creature was nearly discovered by Georgia and a week since he had stalked Victor Frankenstein. During his holiday from hate and longing, he spent his time seething by a brook and washing and what few clothes he possessed. The water was cool as it passed over his long frame as he bathed, but he could endure the chill, another gift from his father. His stretched skin grew grey in the chill. He longed for the joy of a warm bath and pondered how his sutured skin would respond to the temperature. Would the redness finally fade or would he develop a hue that didn't make him look so dead?

In two weeks he would return to his stream to rinse his filth and revive his shattered soul. He was glad he was not like humans: he did not perspire the way they did, nor did he produce as much oil on his body as they did, and the foulness of their natural odors could not be counted as one of his traits. He was bound to his ugly form, but he was far cleaner than most humans and required less work to get that way.

But the intermittence was over and he once again found himself fuming about his father. As the sun rose over the house of Frankenstein the creature crept close but remained hidden in the treeline. His peckish eyes searched for his prey but instead found a creature he hadn't expected. Bursting from the Frankenstein house with her arm locked around the would-be wife of Victor was Georgia. She laughed, ignorant of Elizabeth's quiet reserve, and looked so blissfully innocent. He felt his body go rigid as he watched the two women walk out onto the lawn. Rage and jealousy welled up in him, but the emotions would not remain alone for he soon felt the bitter sting of hurt and sorrow. Her laughter would never be directed towards him, not unless it was in the form of scorn and jeering.

Frankenstein did not deserve her! He deserved none of the women dwelling in his house, least of all the jovial Georgia. How could his father deny his one request and then have a girl with the same colored hair as his ill-begotten lover as one of his guests? The creature trembled in rage, vowing to undo Frankenstein once more. Grey gave way to blotchy red as his anger seethed; had any soul ever known the rage that he felt?

***

"Oh, Miss Elizabeth, you must read it!" Cried Georgia. "I feel that I am quite like Marianne Dashwood. And, you, dear Elizabeth, are like Elinor, her older sister. Do I sound brash, Miss Elizabeth?" Georgia frowned briefly and managed to restrict her movements. The creature frowned in disapproval at her sudden change in demeanor as he watched them at a careful distance.

Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "Nonsense," she replied. "Forgive me. I am trying to be cheerful, but we have lost so much. You are so pleasant, but I am afraid that I cannot be."

Georgia paused for a moment, contemplating her next move. She certainly knew loss, it was a constant and sure companion."One of Miss Austen's clever books will cheer you up. Sense and Sensibility is the best to start with." Georgia's bright countenance returned once more. "I met her once. Miss Austen, I mean. When I was sixteen."

A burst of laughter found its way out of Elizabeth. Alfonse Frankenstein, Victor's father, heard the sound from the other end of the lawn and grinned widely. The happiness of his children, the sound of their laughter, and the jovial existence of life was all that he yearned and hoped for. To hear his adopted daughter laugh after so many tears solidified his resolve to keep Georgia Daniels close to his family. At once, he turned back towards his home to fetch a servant. He would write to Sir John, imploring him to let Georgia stay awhile longer, at least until Victor and Elizabeth were finally married.

"I believe it, Miss Georgia," stated Elizabeth in a fit of delighted laughter.

Together the women made several laps around the manor, sometimes speaking and sometimes laughing. Georgia asked Elizabeth about her painting and sketches and made an ardent request to see her work. They celebrated their talents as they disappeared for yet another lap. The creature watched them walk away once more before departing. He would have to find the book Georgia spoke of. Despite his better judgement, he had to know why she was so cheerful and what book could inspire so much passion in a young woman. He needed to understand her. He needed her.