Chapter 213: Morning After
The memory flooded back. The argument with Frankenstein. The charming gentleman and his alluring smile. And finally, the madness that came right after.
Amelia could still feel her legs trembling from the sensation. She didn't dare to recall what happened. But the images still showed up in her mind.
And now, all that left was shame and regret.
"I... I'm sorry, Victor." She cried. Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls on the smooth sand.
Carter entered the room. He brought a tray of breakfast and placed it on the table.
Amelia pulled the blanket over her head.
The pale man approached her. He was gentle.
He removed the blanket and noticed the tears on her.
Carter reached her hand over to wipe it. And Amelia avoided him.
"Did I do something wrong?" Carter asked. His voice was soft and sincere.
"What are you?" Amelia asked.
"I told you. Everything. I didn't lie." Carter said.
Amelia's hollowed eyes went out of focus. "What you said. About the goddess. About the curse. It's all real?"
"It's all real?" Carter nodded.
"Why did you pick me?"
Carter smiled gently. He grabbed her chin successfully this time and wiped her tears.
"Because I like you, Amy. I like you since the first day we met."
Carter was, of course, bullshiting.
"You were so shy. Like a flower blooming in the morning. You're so pure and beautiful. Like the clear morning dew. I remember vividly. And here I thought that it was just my mind playing trick on me."
Carter pulled her chin closer. "But no. You are even more beautiful than I remember."
He kissed her. She wanted to resist. But she couldn't. Because she was his. He had claimed her.
Amelia was Dracula's bride. The third bride.
"I know you aren't accepting me yet, Amy. Because of that, I haven't turned you into one of us yet. You are still a human. A human with delicious blood. You can finish your life as a human, Amy. I'll wait. When you're ready, I will make you one of us. And we will never know death. Never."
"What are you?"
Carter smiled. The vampire fangs shot down. "We are vampires."
The morning walk was humiliating. Amelia kept her head down. No one knew what she did last night. But she had a feeling that everyone was laughing at her.
She felt like one of those stupid girl that was fooled by a charming charlatan. But she wasn't fooled. Not exactly. Because that man, that monster, didn't abandon her.
He wanted her, truly.
Amelia retuned to the Institute. She went and used Frankenstein's living quarters again. Her stuffs and clothes were there. And there was a shower for her to use.
Carter left a Vampire Lord Doll behind with Dracula equipped. As for himself, he returned to the Institute and replaced the Apothecary Doll.
"That was some burning scenes, original." When the Doll saw him, it closed the Apothecary Notebook and stood up.
"Eh. I did my best. Did the Destiny Watch react?"
"No more after I told you. It tracks Florence's status again. The count-down keeps going down and up for no reasons."
"Probably because she is training her Adrenaline. The more she masters it, the less the Dark Witch has a hold on her. At a result, the count-down extended."
"Maybe. There is still one scene left for this plotline."
Carter nodded.
The doctor in front of him returned to a small doll as he unequipped the skin from it.
[SHADOW APOTHECARY EQUIPPED]
'What are you going to do now, Amelia?'
Carter did feel a little bad for playing her like that. But the show must go on. The roles must stick to their characters. No exceptions.
Carter entered his living quarters and at the same time, Amelia was just getting out of the shower. She only had a bath towel on her.
Amelia covered her neck and turned away. "Please turn around for a moment, Victor."
The white doctor frowned. He didn't back off. Instead, he marched forward and grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing?" Amelia said.
The towel fell. But Victor Frankenstein had no interest in her body. He saw countless of them, mostly corpses.
"That thing on your neck. You encountered a vampire last night?" Victor's gaze darkened.
Amelia widened her eyes. "How do you know?"
"The mark on your neck. It can only belong to a vampire attack. Are you still a human, Amelia?"
Amelia pulled her hand away. She grabbed her towel and covered herself.
"Of course, I am. He wouldn't turn me without my permission."
"He? Dracula?"
Amelia was shocked again.
"You met him?"
"A monster of the night. A demon of blood. Yes. I met him. You must get away from him, Amy."
Amelia smirked. "Amy? Now that another man likes me, you call me by name? Where is Miss Orchard?"
"You don't understand, Amy. Dracula is a monster. You..."
"He treated me better than you ever could!" Amelia shouted.
She was hesitant before. But now she was sure. Even now, he didn't listen to her.
"I'm just here to get my stuff. I will move out today."
"Amy. You must listen to me!"
"You listen, Victor Frankenstein! We're done!"
Amelia turned around and walked away.
Carter, as a method actor, finished the scene with a clenching hand and an enraged expression. Dracula had caught Frankenstein once according to the lore he built. They were enemies.
"Whoa... I heard some shoutings. Everything's all right?" Dr. Watson entered the hallway and saw Carter walking out.
"It's a long story..."
They shared a cup of early morning coffee and Carter told him about the stories he made up.
"Dracula?! The Prince of Boood. Amy met him?"
Dr. Watson remembered last night. "Shit! I knew that guy was nothing good. I should have stopped her."
Carter shook his head. "You can't do anything. That monster is not weak. It will kill you without hesitation if it deems you an inconvenience."
"What can we do now? We can't let Amy be close to him."
"Dracula can brainwash humans. I'm afraid it is already too late."
Amelia left the Institute for good this time. The life of this woman would no longer be connected to Frankenstein... For now.
Carter left a Doll to stay in the Institute.
Vampire Lord Doll acted as Dracula in the Evening Social Club.
Shadow Apothecary Doll acted as Victor Frankenstein in the Enthrall Institute.
Carter was now free to continue other roles.
[URSULA LEBEAU EQUIPPED]