Peter Rakoczy: The Music of My Life

Chapter 24: Murder!

Just as Lisbeth was getting ready to speak, she was interrupted by a woman's screams.  Everyone turned to look at the distraught maid who ran into the music room.

"Help!  There's been a murder!  A terrible crime!"  The maid looked wildly around her, wringing her hands as she spoke. 

Peter and Stellian both rushed toward her.

"What happened, Maria?"  Peter grabbed the woman's shoulders.

"It's Xenia," Maria managed to utter between sobs.  "I found her out in the back... by the stables.  She's.... she's dead."

The hysterical maid was close to fainting.  Peter held her up before she collapsed, asking around for some smelling salts.  Meanwhile, Stellian ran toward the stables, closely followed by Bogdan and a few other men.

One of the guests handed Peter a bottle of smelling salts that he held up to Maria's nose.  He gently set her on the ground, making sure she was alright.  He then turned to Lisbeth and asked:

"Can you stay with her?  I'm going to see what happened."

Lisbeth silently nodded.  Peter left her by Maria's side and ran after his brother.  When he got to the back courtyard, he saw several people standing in a circle.  He approached them and realized they were all staring at a body that lay in the snow.  Peter drew back in horror when he came upon the gruesome sight.  Xenia was sprawled out onto her back.  Her white dress was drenched in blood.  Her head was turned to one side and her glassy blue eyes still seemed to stare at whatever had killed her.  There was a gash on her throat.  It looked like a vicious animal bite was the cause of her demise.  Peter covered his mouth as he felt his bile rising.

"What in God's name happened?"  Count Rakoczy also joined the small group.  When he gazed upon Xenia, he grimaced.  "Poor wretch!  Who could have done this?"

Stellian kept his cool and said:  "More like what could have done this?  She obviously wasn't attacked by a human being."  He pointed at the wound on her neck.  "That bite was made by a beast... a large dog... or something wild."

As the military man in him emerged, Stellian scanned the faces of the men around him and spoke with authority:  "We need to find this thing and kill it right away.  Who's with me?"

Several hands popped up in the air, including Peter's.  Stellian instructed them:  "First, we have to arm ourselves. Follow me into the barn and pick up whatever you can.  There are several hunting rifles, some pitchforks and axes... just grab anything you can protect yourselves... and kill with."

The men formed a line and silently headed toward the barn.  As Peter passed him by, Stellian grabbed his arm.

"Not you, little brother.  Somebody has to stay behind and deal with this mess," Stellian pointed toward Xenia."

As Peter started to protest, Stellian shushed him:

"Father needs you here.  I have enough men to go hunting for this thing.  You have to remain behind, in case it's still prowling close by and decides to come back here.  Can you handle it?"

Peter nodded.  "Yes.  Of course."

"Good," Stellian slapped him on the shoulder.  "We'll be back as soon as we can."

He then took off, leaving Peter and Count Rakoczy alone with the body.  Peter knelt down and inspected the wound up close.  He then spoke to his father:

"Do you know if there's a doctor among our guests?"

"I'm not sure... I can't remember who I invited... there are so many people," Count Rakoczy sighed, holding his head.  "Let me think..."