The Lady in Yellow: A Victorian Gothic Paranormal Romance

Fifty-One

An ivory box lay on the bed. Inside was a small pistol with an ivory handle and four silver bullets nestled in a lining of scarlet silk. Veronica picked it up. Only four bullets. Yet she'd seen a whole pack of werewolves. It seemed by their howling, that there were thousands.

Veronica took the gun to the mirror, held it up and looked down the barrel at her own dark twin manifesting in the glass.

"Thou shalt not kill," she whispered.

She opened the bullet chamber, and was relieved to see that it was empty.

The Book of Unholy Beasts lay on the chair next to the fire, along with its stack of translations. She put the gun away, sank down on the ottoman, and opened the book on its river of scarlet silk to the page inscribed: Homini Lupus. There, clamped in the jaws of the wolf, was the lady in yellow. Though its fangs were long and sharp, the wolf's bite did not kill the lady. He was simply carrying her off, transforming her, damning Beauty to possession by the Beast forever.

Veronica turned the page. Latin flowed over the parchment in medieval script. And, on the facing page, was a vision of slant red eyes staring through flames. Veronica rifled through the translation until she found the corresponding document.

There is only one way to save the soul of the Wolf Man. He must be shot with a silver bullet and the body thrown into the fire. If one attempts to slay the Wolf Man by any other means, he will not die, for his soul will not be at rest, and he will burn ever hotter for revenge. He will return from the grave to harass the living as a Soul Stealer, a Vampyre.

A Vampyre is damned and therefore seeks to take the souls of others. The souls of those Christened in God's Grace are protected under the cloak of Our Lady, but those who are not baptized are vulnerable to attack by the Vampyre. Therefore in Christendom, the monster's appetite is insatiable, for it is difficult to appease.

The Vampyre's main weapon is, therefore, seduction.

He leaves the bodies of his victims intact, but the soul he devours through the blood. After which, all that is left of his victims, are empty shells that in time fade away, or become Vampyres themselves. Death cannot claim such beings, for neither Heaven nor Hell shall open to receive them.

Thus is the insidious contamination of the Devil's work.

Veronica's heart pulsed sharply. She stood up and went out onto the balcony. Clearly visible through the bare trees was the tomb, final resting place of Sovay de Grimston. Yet the grave could not hold her. Her spirit still roamed free: both werewolf and vampyre.

The clock chimed nine. It was time for class. Veronica tore out of her thoughts and hurried to the classroom. She was anxious to see the twins, their two identical faces, and their pale green eyes looking up to her. She wanted to know more about Sylvie, and about their own transformations. Perhaps they could be saved.

Again, only Jacqueline was at her desk, wearing a dress the color of midnight. It was a mourning dress. That could mean only one thing, but Veronica did not want to jump to conclusions. She'd been deceived by appearances before.

Jacqueline had her head down as if she were asleep. Veronica entered quietly, and leaned over her shoulder. A large picture book was opened on the desk, hidden under her arms and head.

"Good morning, Jacqueline," said Veronica.

"Morning, Miss Everly," Jacqueline mumbled.

"Where is your brother?" Veronica said softly.