Work Text:
… While I still hung over her in the agony of despair, I happened to look up. The windows of the room had before been darkened; and I felt a kind of panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the chamber.Cold wind danced through the open shutters. This was the source of entry, I knew; the shadows on the curtain almost looked like that monstrous figure, but alas, that cursed thing had long since disappeared into the cruel night.
“Demon,” I cried as I collapsed on the floor, arms reaching for the cooling body of my beloved. “How many more shall die by your hands? My closest friend! My wife! My family name, nearly extinct by your wretched vengeance! How long shall I suffer?”
My curses are met with a silent breeze and distant footfalls beyond the hall as the inn’s guests and staff rushed to the cacophony.
The next hours passed as a blur. Some kind-hearted samaritans traversed the grounds until the morning dawn reflected across the dark of the lake, but no sign of the murderer was found. I had remained with that which was once my bride, the exhaustion and rage tormenting me with the notion of sleep, but the blessed relief of unconsciousness never came. The cold flesh against my skin pulled me back to this waking nightmare whenever my eyes drooped with the lull of sleep.
Through the haze, I thought I could make out the voices of my dead wife and beloved friend calling me, their gentle tones mixing with the raw jeer of that monstrous creation, but whenever I opened my eyes, I could only see an occasional concerned citizen, or the constabulary. No angel of death visited me in my sleep, though in my sorrow, I awaited his visit.
I had to decide what to do with the corpse. My lovely wife, pristine and dead as a most magnificent marble statue, shall lose her peaceful perfection to rot.
I knew the craft well, and despite myself, my hands itched for the familiarity of the scalpel and tool. The flaw was the subject, the execution, not the theory. This fire that burned before lit within me anew! I have learned much, and I now know how to achieve perfection.
Of course! It is the form of the wretch that haunts me! The form was flawed — those cursed inhuman eyes. I was so lost to my fantasies that I had dealt an affront to the divine. No, no, this new attempt shall succeed where that violent wretch failed.
My mother – she was the source! If I only had the skills before her form was lowered in the casket, if I could have rescued her from that eternal sleep, she would see me and my Elizabeth married, and she and my father would be content.
But Elizabeth, oh my Elizabeth! And my dearest Clerval. Both dead, and joined with my mother in her eternal tranquility. I had once lacked the skills and knowledge – and thus my mother was laid to rest. But my beloved friend, my beautiful wife. They lie in preparation for their final rest. My Henry is gone from me, but Elizabeth shall walk the earth anew. She shall not be wretched, she shall not be damned. She will live, and I with her. The dawn of this new day approaches; I shall be reunited with my bride once again!
I left the very next day. The body was easily secured, I was determined to act quickly. Although I took it upon myself to destroy my plans from the two prior attempts, the theory was sound. Obtaining a lab and the proper tools took little time, and in just a few days, I was ready to prepare my subjects.
It was as if I were back in Ingolstadt. The days blended into one, my sleep was restless, and dreams have brought me to near insanity. This night, as my exhausted corpse fell into oblivion I thought I saw the corpse rise before me. Its long curls dancing over its frame, its dead murky eyes staring deep into my soul. It reached for me, and I, paralyzed by fear and disgust, could barely force my body to move. Betrayal to primal sensations of panic, all I could do to aid my torment was shut my eyes.
I felt it touch my face, its skin rough and freezing as the night air transmitting a cold kiss of death. Its dry lips split in a sharp grin, skin pulling and cracking, its gluttonous breath gusts over me and my eyes shut again.
The breeze softened, warmer now. I opened my eyes, silently pleading for this demon to be gone or for the nightmare to subside.
Elizabeth stood before me. The welcome shock released me from the deep clutches of fear, yet the dream remained. I finally met her gaze, but it was not Elizabeth's eyes that stared back at me, but Henry's. His gaze searched mine for answers, for signs of life. His mouth moved silently, I could almost hear him calling my name. My eyes shut again, the devastating reminder of my dead friends too much to bear. I willed for this nightmare, however pleasant, to end, but instead I felt the soft pressure of warm skin upon my lips, a forbidden gentleness that vanished like a warm summer breeze in winter.
I jolted awake, prepared to once again meet the hellish gaze of my tormentor glaring over me, or perhaps the thing lying unfinished on the workbenches, but my bed was left unattended and the room was scarce, save for the limbs and notes lining the bench, and a giant form silhouetted against the beams of the dying sunlight.
The fiend silently towered over the workbench, appraising my work. Perhaps he would destroy my Elizabeth once again as retribution for my depriving him of his bride. Perhaps this suffering would end here. I reached for the pistol lying near my bed, and contemplating finishing this ceaseless horror but my hatred momentarily subsided as I heard the creature’s voice.
“So our Maker creates another,” the fiend mused; “He denies in me a companion, as I am too terrifying; he denies me a companion for fear of what our dual nature might create; yet he allows himself the selfishness of denying your eternal sleep. I regret your deaths; your cries stain my dreamless sleep. All I can do is wish you a restful nonexistence, though I know it will be restless, if our Creator accomplishes his design.
Elizabeth, I fear in another life you might have graced me with your kindness and open heart. I wish it did not have to end thusly. An innocent like so many others facing the wrath of my betrayal. I envied you. A companion upon my breast; your lover, my damned creator, he destroyed that which I thought I wanted. Perhaps this would have been avoided if you were not promised to one who could never love you. Alas, I doubt that our Maker can love anyone; family, lover, or friend.
Frankenstein, you have paid for your transgressions with the lives of your kin. I wish to leave this corner of the world you called home — as long as the name of Frankenstein survives, this land is cursed with your sin. Have you not learned? I have murdered innocents, but they have suffered under your gaze long before you cursed me with life. Can you not let them rest? Why torment your loved ones with this existence?”
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay, to mould me a man?”
With those parting words, the fiend leapt through the window and disappeared in the shadows of the night. I ran to the opened shutters, verifying that I was rid of the creature, and as my heart settled, returned to the table. Upon it, lay in its pristine beauty the body of my once and future bride. Augmented to the perfection that Elizabeth lacked, I was satisfied with its beautiful features. It was perfect. The demon was made in a heart of sin, but this purity was wondrous.
It was finally ready.
I sat patiently, counting the hours for the thing to animate. I must have dozed off, for I woke with a start as I felt the air stir with movement. The marble amalgam had risen, the unnatural convulsions I had observed with her predecessor gone in its fluid movement. Beautiful and perfect in every way. Perfect — she had to be.
My bride opened its eyes, and a pit to the hells opened within my chest. It looked upon me with eyes — they should have been hazel. Instead, Clerval stared at me with reproachful observation.