The Regency Witch and Werewolf

Chapter 2. Visions

Chapter 2 Visions

Slowly at first I allow my feet to carry me towards the sound of the ball. The hallway decor of the Ireswick household was lost to me. All I could see was the light at the end of the dark tunnel I walked. Suddenly I was burning, my body overheating from fear itself. Before I realized what I was doing, I started to remove my gloves. I was so fixated on removing my gloves that I walked blindly down the hall and ran square onto a wall. At least that's what it felt like at first, but then the wall seems to turn soft, with little zaps of tingles. A wall that suddenly grew arms that shot out to hold me steady. Before I could process that I was quite alright, and pull myself safely out of these tingling arms and hands, one of the arms hands reaches down to my bare right hand to shift me away to the left.

Everything happen so fast. The sounds of ladies passing, giggling amongst themselves. But I wouldn't get to see then. My vision was gone. The only thing I was aware of now was that the hand that I shouldn't have allowed to touch mines had let me go, and I suddenly felt very vulnerable.

All sound disappeared around me. Blackness flooded in from all sides. I couldn't blink. I couldn't scream. I couldn't move. I should be use to this by now. But panic, as it always did began to fill my body, and take over as a vision so vivid I could taste the air began to form around me.

I soon found myself in a room that I of course did not recognize. The sounds of a clock could be heard, time ticking by. And I could feel death in the air. To my right I could see a vast garden covered in the glow of the moonlight. Right away I recognized the garden. I had taken a stroll out earlier this evening when I heard that Duke Haywenth was to attend tonight.

My mother and father had made it quite clear that they in so many words had promised me to the Duke four months ago. I had been avoiding him at all costs as much as possible, since our first introduction at our home four months ago, before the season began.

He and father had crossed paths in London while father was away from home trying to get is finances in order. He apparently spoke so fondly of me that the Duke had to come to see me for himself. The minute the Duke was brought into our afternoon room, and his eyes fell upon my person, I could see in his eyes he was pleased and would more than surely speak of my hand to be his. I had been informed by my mother that this was to be the plan. That father would bring the Duke here. That I shall entertain him, and get him to want me to be his bride. To do whatever it takes. Apparently I didn’t have to do much, but to stand, curtsy and smile. We were a suitable match, with my father being a Viscount there was no need to worry about the match not being accepted among our circles.

He wasn’t ugly, fat, rude, or unlikable in anyway. He was fairly handsome. Pushing late in his 30’s he had a head full of golden hair that was slicked back. Blue green eyes that reminded me of the sea. His tone of voice, deep and elegant. He was dressed from head to toe in all the bearings that marked his rank in society. Not one piece of clothing on his person was out of place. His silk cream colored cravat matched the color of his pants that were tucked firmly into dark brown hessians. His tailcoat and waist coat matched the color of his hessians. He appeared to be everything any young woman would want. I had feared to find him to be horrible and spoiled. But he seemed quite the opposite. He was quick to laugh, jest, and talk freely with me out of the ear shot of my parents, as we strolled the gardens of my home in Alton in harmony and equal pleasure of one’s company. It wasn’t until we sat down on the stone bench to take a break from our stroll, and to continue chatting more comfortably, that my perception of him was to be greatly altered.

As he talked of his home Guildford, I set about fixing the buttons on my leather gloves. The process was rather difficult when trying to fix with a gloved hand. So I removed both gloves and set about setting them straight once more. My attention to his words and on my buttons, I failed to remember his closeness. The fact that if I was to drop my glove he would more than likely quickly reach for it just as I do in the process of quickly retrieving it from the ground. His hand landed on mines, a sharp intake of breath was heard from me and he glanced up to my eyes. But it was too late. In that short span of time the vision had taken hold. This one was not fully overpowering. I could hear him still, and see his face and acknowledge where we were still seated on the bench, but directly past him another scene had formed.

I saw him on a bed. The room was shadowed in darkness, so that only the bed he was currently on was visible, and the woman he sat astride strangling. I watched in horror as his hands held tight to her throat her naked body kicking and flailing about. Her attempts to claw at him and to remove him from on top of her tore at my eyes. He only held tighter and smiled more. This was not the man that sat beside me. This was an unholy demon. And as fast as the vision had been revealed it was gone.

“River do you hear me perhaps we should head back I need to speak with your father on a subject that should be resolved quickly. “ Standing he held out his hand to help me up to my feet. Quickly I set about putting my gloves on averting my gaze from his. I had to play this natural. I had to act as if I had not just watched him kill a woman. Forcing a smile upon my lips I reached up and placed my now gloved hand into his. He pulled me up with ease and set my gloved hand upon his arm and headed back towards the house. We spoke of the garden of little things. I responded equally kind and tried to keep the conversation going. But my thoughts were mainly elsewhere. Has he done it yet? Had he killed this woman? Was there a chance of saving her if he hadn’t? That was the horrible truth of the curse I had been given since I could remember. The visions were shown. But I was never sure if the scene shown to me had happened already, or if it hadn’t yet. As we joined my parents once more the Duke and my Father headed off to my father’s office. No sooner than they were out of earshot my mother turned to me beaming.

“You were outside for almost an hour. He seems well attached to you and I hope you to him. You seem quite content with one another’s presence both here inside and as well out in the gardens. I say this shall be a fine match. Oh my dear girl you have done well.” Her eyes were beaming with joy. Her hand came up and patted my cheek affectionately. “You are going to make such a beautiful bride don’t you think.”

All I could do was nod my head in agreement. For my mother’s sake. For my family’s sake. And for my own. I could only hope that it hadn’t happen. The woman that had been on that bed had black hair. It wasn’t me that was for sure. But perhaps by me marrying him I would stop his fate from taking that direction. I clung to this. I prayed for this. Because in the end honestly he was a good man. How could he not be? That had been like watching someone completely different. A stranger. Not the man I have been speaking with all afternoon. My brain refused to believe it. But somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it to be true.

We all saw the Duke out. Mother and father congratulated me. And no sooner than the Duke was gone and in his carriage did my father turn to me. “He has asked to be allowed to court you. I gave him my permission. But just to be a good father made sure that he does it properly. To ask about your feelings and permission first my dear. “Leaning into my cheek he kissed me gently before hurrying off to his office. My mother was in such high spirits that any reasonable conversation with her was not to be. So I was left with my thoughts and worries for myself to dread over. Slowly I climbed the stairs to my room and locked myself in. But all I could think about was the woman on the bed and the vision that would not leave me be.

And now I found myself engulfed in another vision. This one was so strong that I began to beg for freedom mentally. But from all my past experiences I knew how this worked. I had to see the vision through. I could only hope that the wall that held me didn’t’ go screaming for help.

My eyes caught movement to my left. Looking from the Iriewicks picture perfect garden I found to my left a man cloaked in darkness staring down at the floor. A dagger in his hand its blade almost seems to glow. My eyes traveled down to what he seemed to be watching. If I could have my hands I would have shot up to cover my mouth to keep from screaming. I felt my mouth being covered by the soft wall, and my screaming stifle. Surely that wall of arms was going to scream for help now.

But in the vision lying on the floor was Duke Haywenth. His throat had been slit from ear to ear. My eyes traveled back to the clean blade that the man cloaked in the shadow held. Suddenly he turned his head in my direction as if he heard my silent screams. He stepped out of the shadows of the room. His tall form takes an overbearing stance. Eyes golden like a cat, hair as black as night itself. He was dressed as a man of higher breeding. From head to two he wore all black. Only the white of his cravat, and the silver buttons on his coat seem to stand out. I soon realized it was not me he was looking at. He was looking past me towards the door. The door opened and suddenly I was back.

My back was against the wall of the hall that I had never made down. But I was sitting on one of the small couches hidden in an alcove. I could hear the giggles and laughter of all those around me. They couldn’t’ see me as drapes hung in a curve enough to keep me out of view but not the person that stood in front of me. He hovered just in arm’s length. Why hadn’t he called for anyone? Surely he had to think there was something amiss with me. That I was close to fainting. Hysterics even. My hand went to my heart and I suddenly realized how heavy I was breathing.

“Sit still for a few minutes. Don’t move I am going to go and get you a drink of water. You shouldn’t be visible from where you sit now. “His voice is deep dark and rich, and makes my skin feel suddenly warm. Though his tones were soft and gentle with me I feared for any that got the opposite. Finally glancing up I only got to see the tails of his black coat, and black pants that were tucked firmly into black boots. Suddenly breathing wasn’t even thought of. All black. ………..he wore all black. My eyes shot up to his hair. It was pulled back. If anything I swore it disappeared down the inside of his coat. He didn’t’ go far a glass of water was plucked from a passing waiter. I caught my breath just as I was starting to breathe again as he turned and strolled with ease back to me. His dark brown hues fell on me immediately. Brown………why were they brown. Was this him? This was the man that had stood over the dead body of the Duke with a dagger in his hand. This face I had recently just seen in a vision was definitely this man that approached me. But his eyes were not a golden glow. Then again who has golden eyes?

“Here you are Miss.” The Miss was said in a tone that stated I don’t need to know your name. I took the glass and quickly down the glass of water. Suddenly breathing was coming easier. The Taste of death had left my mouth. I licked my lips looking up at him again. He looked down upon me with worry in his eyes. “Should I fetch someone for you………Miss?”

Now he did want to know my name. And I very much his, but before I had the pleasure of giving and then receiving his question was answered by another.

“River there you’re. Your mother had said you had gone to the powder room. “The Duke glanced briefly over the man that stood inches from me. A cordial nod was given to the man in black before the Duke held out his arm for me to take. Standing on shaky legs I placed a gloved hand on the duke's arm. “Thank you Sir….” A nod of my head was given to him. His Dark brown eyes shifted between me and the Duke before giving a bow of his head in return then turning on his heels he headed down the hall from whence I came and I allowed myself to be taken under the archway of the hall into the lights of the ballroom. But I swore briefly that I saw anger flash in his brown hues.