Gevaudan

Chapter 3: In the case of Claude Byrne

      "Demons are like obedient dogs; they come when they are called"
             -Remy De Gourmont

  
     Claude Byrne was born in a tiny village in Ireland. He had never known his mother, and was often ignored by his father. His only escape from his aching loneliness was in Alannah Murphy.

      To him she was everything, even when truth be told he knew nothing about her. But she was kind and caring, and that was enough for Claude. So whenever he could, Claude would meet with Alannah.

Whenever he wasn't with her, he was learning anything he could. He had studied every bit of information given to him, and was soon known as a genius. There was only one person in the village who knew more. Alannah.

     This had always confused Claude, seeing as how he had never actually seen her study. He had never seen her reading, never writing in the dirt her plans for a bright future as he had. But instead of further questioning he simply grew to admire her even more, and it went on like this until he was the age of twelve.

    Claude at this time had begun to write poetry. He always enjoyed the cryptic readings poetry provided, and would constantly base his writings off of the many myths of creatures and monsters he found in his books. While most people saw this as his imagination reaching new heights, Claude saw differently. No, his new found love had been manifested through his many meetings with these creatures. Growing beautiful flowers and in return constant chitchats with the fairies attracted to them, Fishing with the local wolf-men, and even staying awake late at night for a chance encounter and discussion with a troll.

Despite being human, Claude had an affinity for these creatures, which to many could be seen as a curse, so Claude kept this to himself. But monsters were not the only things Claude had started to think about in his mind. After spending so much time with Alannah, Claude had begun to think of her in a new light. He was, after all, human, a growing boy no less.

So it came as a shock to Claude when he had found her cold body hung in the center of town.

Dead.

.........

She was dead.

Claude could not believe this.

He would not believe this.

It was just some prank a fairy had pulled on him.

He would soon wake to find it had only been a bad dream. A nightmare.

He never awoke.

Alannah Murphy had been hanged for suspicion of Witchcraft. There had been talk of her communing by herself, and the rumors evolved from there. This was further fueled by her lack of parents. Unknown to Claude, she had apparently wandered into the village one day by herself, without a mother or father.

None of this mattered to Claude.

Alannah was the only one to ever care for him, and he would do whatever it took to get her back.

After his mourning which lasted 3 days, he began to come up with a plan. The first thing he would need to do is find out where Alannah's belongings ended up.

Claude first checked the spots he knew of. The highest tower in the village, the tree near the well, and the abandoned classroom in the school. Claude had checked everywhere, even the horse stables.

......

The horse stables.

Claude knew something no one else knew about Alannah. In the horse stables there was a hidden board. If this board were to be moved it would reveal one of Alannah's most secret spots. Claude had made a promise, so he had never actually been there, but this was the only possible place he could think of.

Claude had arrived at the stables late in the night. He knew this would be his moment, so he had gathered his things and prepared for his next move after finding her belongings. He had bribed the local ogre to guard his escape, and had made a deal with some pixies to feed and calm the animals to keep things quiet.

After prying the board back from their rusted hinges, Claude had wormed his way into the hidden location. What could be found there is not up for us to judge, and not for us to see, but whatever Claude saw down in that dark hollow, it did not phase him from his goal.

After hearing all of this, you may see Claude as a victim of brainwashing. Perhaps a poor soul who did not know what to do in his life now that the one thing that made it living was gone. Or perhaps you just think he had gone insane.

Perhaps.

When Claude returned from Alannah's hidden den, he held a book in his hands, and a large bag wrapped around his back. Alannah's Diary. Written there were many different things. Peculiar drawings of different creatures, plants, and objects. Recipes for strange creations using strange ingredients. Writings in unknown tongues. And...... diary entries.

Entry 1: I've been in town for about a week now. While at first I had seen this town as no more than a cover, I've recently ran into the most peculiar of humans today. Between you and me, I think he has the qualities of a grand witch.

Entry 5: I have met with the peculiar human a few times now. His name is Claude, and he seems very intelligent for his age. This quality is not good for what I need him for. HE will not be pleased for the extra work.

Entry 27: Claude has been meeting me for about 2 years now. Despite my original intentions, I have decided not to hand Claude over to HIM. I do not know why, but hopefully this will end in my favor.

Entry 38: Claude has become more intelligent with each passing day. And although he doesn't tell me, I know for certain he has been meeting with monsters. I can smell it on him. This could potentially be dangerous. I contemplate....

Telling him about my true nature.

Entry 53: It has been 6 years since I have met Claude Byrne. And pathetically, I have grown attached to him. This is incredibly stupid on my part, as this will definitely not end well for either of us. But that doesn't matter now. I've talked to HIM many times, and I know that I don't have many things left to do before he loses use for me. I also believe I am starting to be noticed by the townsfolk. Perhaps that is for the best. I will be leaving soon, one way or the other. I believe I will confess to Claude before that though. About everything.

Claude regretfully knew that he never got the chance to hear her.

You might now say that it is beyond any realm of sanity that Claude would still have feelings for this girl. He was obviously aware of her being a witch, and that her personality towards him was not true.

But.

That doesn't matter to Claude Byrne.

Nothing mattered anymore.

But if there was a chance, a small amount of hope, that he could see her again.

Claude Byrne would take it.

And after looking through her diary, he believed he knew the best chance of that happening.

.......

It was 10 o'clock when Claude stole the baby. The small infant was around 4 months old. Eyes open, seeing, but not understanding. And after preparations, it was time.

.......

It was midnight when Claude Byrne killed the baby, doing the unspeakable act as quickly as possible, to cause the least amount of pain possible, but there was no going back. Claude had commited one of the world's worst sins. There was no longer sympathy for him.

But to Claude, that did not matter.

And so he finished the ritual, and was granted an audience.

An audience with one of the most powerful monsters in the world. The kings and queens of monsters. A Fae or Far God, or perhaps a very powerful spirit or undead. At the most, Claude expected a dragon.

Instead, he got something far more..... powerful.

                Chapter 3: End