Dark souls

4

      Once again, she was distracted from this exciting affair, this time by a slight noise behind one of the draped doors. With a cold heart, Jane waited to see what would happen next. Finally, the noise grew a little louder, and a key creaked in the lock. Jane ran to the fireplace and pulled out another poker. The door slowly opened, and a broken voice was heard from the dark opening:

Please, Mademoiselle Jeanne! This is Bianca le Mui. May I come in?

         Holding the poker in her hands, Jane went to the draped opening, in which she saw the pale and sad face of Bianca.

It is you? she asked in amazement, looking at the guest's black attire.

I'm afraid it's powerless against my cousin," Bianca said, pointing to the poker. But I wasn't wrong about you. You are not stupid like those four stupid chickens.

Against your cousin? Jane asked, lowering the poker. - Excuse me, but what are you doing here? And why did they enter in this way?

Leave the questions, - Bianca rushed to Jane. - Run away from here! Save yourself! Now pack your things and leave!

I'm sorry," Jane said, pulling away. “But I came to marry your cousin.

Marry! Haha! Bianca raised her hands to the sky. Then, more quietly, she added, "What do you know about my cousin's four former wives?" What do you know about the castle ? About our kind? Oh, I see you've heard of the curse. Otherwise, you wouldn't have that expression on your face when you entered the castle.

         Jane was surprised. She tried not to show that both the castle and the owner were unpleasant to her. As for Bianca, Jane didn't see her look up at her even for a moment when her cousin introduced them. And yet she saw both Jane and what Jane wanted to hide.

Yes Yes. I see everything. Because I know about the sins of our kind. I would gladly redeem them. But I don't have the courage.

What are you talking about? You are crazy! Jane understood that there was meaning in the words of this strange woman. That they echo the premonitions of her soul. But her mind kept repeating about the Gladstone castle and the riches of de Gau.

You will soon go crazy like Beatrice de Luigne, or hang yourself by your own hair like Clementine Peugeot. And you also have another way: to become a plaything for every night for my cousin and uncle, like Marguerite de Bres and Francoise the shepherdess.

What are you talking about? Jane knew these names well: that was the name of the four dead wives of her current husband.

About his wives, honey. About his real wives. You thought they were dead? No, darling. They are all alive. Except for his third wife, Clementine Peugeot. Her uncle so wanted to improve his trading craft by marrying his niece that he did not even ask why, having drowned in the lake, she found bluish stripes on her throat? This fool was even more insufferable than her predecessors, the hysterical noble ladies. True, Beatrice de Luyne, seeing her hanging by her own hair, was damaged by reason. Well, it's not her fault. Years of not seeing the sunlight, and of the people to communicate and very closely with my cousin and uncle - anyone will go crazy. True, Francoise the shepherdess is no stranger to spreading her legs, and Marguerite de Bres seems to be starting to like it.

         Jane listened to this broken and furious monologue and could not really understand anything. About the wives of Bertrand de Gos, she knew what everyone knew. The first Baron Bertrand betrothed his twenty-year-old son to the daughter of his neighbors, Beatrice de Luignes, who, after several miscarriages, died in childbirth. The second wife was Marguerite de Bres, whose wedding put an end to disputes over the boundaries of de Gos and de Bres. About two years after the wedding, while riding a horse, she somehow fell and broke her neck. Rumors of a curse, sharp revelations of servants about masters for amka also affected the choice of a son-in-law for the daughters of de Gaut's closest and not very neighbors. The high society bowed to de Gau and le Mouy, but no one else dared to associate kinship with him, despite the wealth of the de Gau family. Then, seeing that you couldn’t cope with the high society, Baron de Go-father found a not too smart, but resourceful and rich merchant Peugeot, who had a marriageable niece. No one is in favor of a scandal associated with such a misalliance.Mke did not pay attention, as well as to many closed doors of local births. There was a new wedding. Young and this time did not live long: she drowned in the lake. At this point, all classes declared a boycott of de Gau. And the baron wanted to see an heir during his lifetime. His son had to choose a wife almost from the peasants. Françoise the shepherdess, a girl of about fifteen, just suited him: there is no special relative, and who dared to object something - received a generous ransom and quickly left her native places. But even here the young was not lucky: for the second winter, the wolves pulled her up along with the horse. And now Jane ... Her marriage was also arranged by the baron-father, but he did not have time to see the wedding. All the wives were thus dead. And her fiance's cousin claims to be alive, except for Clementine Peugeot. How can it be?

         It turned out that Jane said the last phrase aloud.   

And that's it, honey. Our cursed family needs an heir. We need the lineage not to be interrupted, since only the thirteenth descendant will bring us God's forgiveness. But I'm thinking about it. But my cousin and uncle think differently. With their appetites and love for not quite secular entertainment, four hundred women would not be enough for them.

So you want to say ... - Jane herself guessed what this pale and thin woman, trembling either from cold or from hatred, could tell her.

After the wedding, Bertrand de Go from a gallant groom turns into a monster. And so that no one knows about it, there are very comfortable rooms under the lock . However, if there is hope to wait for the heir, the young wife does not change apartments soon. The first to change them, as you might guess, was Beatrice de Luyne. She, like the mother of your fiancé and my cousin, could not hold the fetus in her womb. My cousin is not his father, he did not wait until the age of sixty, and when the next, eighth, miscarriage happened, he announced that Beatrice had died in childbirth with the child. And he gave free rein to his imagination already in the dungeon. His father and my uncle helped him.

How? - Jane even suffocated.

Didn't you know? Bianca smiled. “It is not customary to divide women here. You will be convinced of this if you do not follow my advice. Run! Run now! After the wedding, it will be too late!

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  Jane listened and could not decide. Everything was too terrible. Even after what Jane already knew, Bianca's story sounded like the ravings of a madwoman.

You do not believe me? Bianca asked furiously, watching her face.

But what about Sister Bertrand, your cousin? Can't she continue the race?

         Bianca froze for a moment. Then she burst into loud, evil laughter.

Cousin Katherine! – she sharply fell silent. - What do you know about her?

I don't know anything about her

And so do I,” Bianca said mysteriously. "Come on." She grabbed Jane's hand.

Where?

You do not believe me. But can you believe your eyes? Come on.

Jane obeyed. She was scared. But I wanted, nevertheless, to reveal the secrets of this castle before escaping from it.

         Bianca, without another word, pulled Jane towards the draped door. Jane followed her.

         Passing through countless narrow corridors and stairs, they entered a small room. In the faint light of the candles and the flickering glow of the fireplace, Jane made out a creature in the chair. Hearing their footsteps, it stirred in its chair and pulled its head out of the depths of darkness.

Does mother still want to save someone else's soul? croaked the creature in an old voice. Wrapped in a blanket, it coughed.

Who is this? Jane asked fearfully.

This is also one of your future relatives, if you do not listen to me. Come closer and get to know. Jacques, this is Jane Gladstone, Bertrand de Goe's fiancée. Jane, this is Jacques le Mouy, my son.

Your son? - Jane decided that Bianca was definitely out of her mind: going up to the chair, she noticed an senilely wrinkled figure with a gray, half-bald skull and an almost toothless mouth. This old man was by no means less than fifty years old, while Bianca, although she looked like a ghost, like Jane's maid, she could not have been more than thirty.

Still, this is my son. He was born a completely normal child. However, from the age of four he began to grow too quickly, at six he looked like twelve years old, and at ten he became a fully formed young man. At fifteen he came of age. And now he's eighteen, and he might not live to see his next birthday.

 And who is his father? – shuddering from frankly voluptuous glance, asked Jane.

Don't know. Maybe my uncle, maybe my cousin. Or maybe his father.

What? Jane gasped.

Did I not say that in our family it is not customary to divide women? Bianca smiled bitterly. And I must atone for this sin of mine too.

Stop talking nonsense, mother, croaked Jacques le Mouy from his chair. “Tell me, when is my turn?” I'm hungry without your warmth!

         Jane could not believe her eyes: the old look moved from her to Bianca, and a bawdy smile appeared on her narrow, wrinkled lips.

Forget about it today, Jacques, - Bianca said disgustedly. - If you need a victim, then there are three more in the basement. Choose.

You are the best,” Jacques croaked and coughed again.

Come on, Jane. Here you have seen everything.

         Jane crossed herself and followed Bianca, whispering prayers.

         Having barely descended a few flights, Bianca stopped abruptly and listened.

Someone is coming here. I'm afraid you won't see your predecessors today. I don't know who it is, but either my uncle or my cousin has already gone down there. Or maybe both of them.

Then I want to see it all the more. To make sure.

Nothing will come of it. When they leave, the whole floor is guarded by their mute servants. Without soul and heart. You won’t even take a step before you wake up in the next world. And you won't even understand it. Why do you think nothing is known about these amusements? Why are your fiancé's wives still considered dead? The Jesuits with their secret spy games still have to learn from these...

Then what to do?

Then come to me. I'll show you something else.

         They went upstairs. Through several secret stairs and passages they came to a lone iron door in a dungeon.

This is my room,” Bianca said simply. - Come in.

         Jane entered a small room with a low ceiling and narrow windows. The light of candles and torches fluttered in the draft.

         Bianca walked over to a massive table of darkened oak, on which books and papers were scattered.

Come on in. I'm not going to kill you, - Bianca said sadly, looking at Jane frozen on the threshold of the room.

         Bianca went to the fireplace. Jane walked around the room, looking at the austere furnishings. Crucifixes, bibles, prayer books, rosaries, lives of saints and just religious books were scattered everywhere. In one corner, Jane noticed a massive box, trimmed with gold. Bianca walked over to her.

You're right. This is exactly what it all started with, - Bianca took the box in her hands, took off her chain with a small gilded key. Opening the box, she pushed it towards Jane. - Take it.

         In the box, Jane saw yellowed parchment and a strange construction of two planks tied together with a half-decayed rope.

What is this? Jane asked, picking up the fragile structure.

This is a pencil by Gilbert Orsi, abbot of Saint Charles.

Who is this?

This is the abbot of the monastery, whom my ancestors crucified in this place. For this, before his death, he cursed them. Now read this manuscript.

         Jane took the fragile parchment in her hands. Carefully unfolding it, she saw gray, barely visible letters

I deciphered what is written here. It took me a long time. However, it is not ink because it has not faded. They just faded.

What is this? And where did you find it?

When my damned ancestors were rebuilding a castle from a monastery , they dismantled the entire building. Next to the fireplace was a secret room. In addition to jewelry and books, there was this. Read what I could make out.

         Jane took from Bianca's pale hands a piece of paper covered in uneven handwriting. “How sunlight is now born…” she began to read. As she read, her face grew pale. Having read to the end, Jane sank wearily into the chair carefully pushed up by Bianca.

And is it all true? she asked in a whisper. Have you shown this to other brides?

Yes, Jeanne. Everyone. Not everyone saw my son while she was a bride, but everyone met him later. To complete the picture, let's try to go down. Maybe it's already over there. You will see for yourself that everything I have said is true. We're wasting a lot of time anyway. Soon it will be completely dark.

Do you want to take me to the others? To the cellars?

Yes, just to make sure. Let's just go back to your room for a bit. Your maid must be waiting for you to cook and dress for dinner.

And it's true. I asked to return Mary. My absence...

Bertrand will understand your silence in the room correctly. He is aware of the secret passages in this castle . You need to lock the maid in the room so that she packs her things. As soon as we return, I will lead you out of the castle .

Fine.

         The women started back. Passing through Jean's room, Jane did not see the young old man. Trying to banish his image from her memory, she hurried after Bianca, who was quickly moving away.

         Entering her room, Jane ran to the door, which was propped up by a poker. Opening it, she saw the white face of the maid.

Mistress! Why didn't you answer? I've been trying to reach you for half an hour now! - the girl asked in an excited whisper.

         Jane let her into the room. Bianca was no longer in sight.

I lay down and dozed off, Mary. And I didn't hear you knock.

O lady! Could you fall asleep here? This is some kind of crypt! When they took me to the half of the servants and said that Robert and I would be here, and you would have another maid, I almost died! She automatically began to collect Jane's things without waiting for orders.

Why?

All the servants in this castle are as inanimate. No one to talk to, no joke. Robert was immediately taken away somewhere. I was alone with them. I tried to talk, but they only look at the floor and mumble something under their breath. When Gilyon returned and said that the baron agreed with your desire that I be with you, I wanted to kiss her. But she looked at me so strangely ...

Did she say anything?

Just that it won't last long. Then a commotion arose.

What's happened?

As that ugly gentleman's servant said, the baron's crazy cousin had run away. She's been quiet all day, which is why they introduced her to you. The baron, a kind soul, did not want anyone to know that his uncle's daughter was out of her mind, and therefore settled her in the tower. If I am allowed to express my opinion, then I would not say that the baron is kind. More like creepy...

Have you seen the baron's sister? Jane interrupted the maid's reflections.

Yes Milady. She is very strange.

With what?

She looks at the maids in such a way that it makes me shudder.

         Indeed, Jane noticed it too. "And what did she say about her cousin?"

That in her childhood her cousin had a too impressionable nanny who fooled her with horrors and religious fanaticism. And, having matured, Miss Bianca decided at all that all those fictions were true. And now I've dabbled in religion. But let religion than violent insanity.

         Jane watched the maid's quick and precise movements.

Mary, what are you doing? she finally asked.

         Mary lowered her eyes and laughed nervously.

I'm sorry ma'am. Obviously, I want to leave this place so much that I thought you did too.

We'll leave. Later. When everyone in the castle is asleep.

At night? Mary was horrified.

We'll have a guide," Jane said softly, tilting her head towards Mary's. She motioned her eyes to the door and the walls. Mary nodded understandingly.

Actually, miss, - Mary said in a different tone. “The owner sent me to help you get dressed before dinner.

Yes, Mary. Give me a dress.

    After a while, dressed and refreshed, Jane looked at herself in the mirror. At the insistent knock on the door, she and Mary looked at each other.

Come in,” said Jane, taking Mary by the hand.

         A pale servant in livery appeared at the door, his eyes downcast to the floor.

If mademoiselle is ready, orders have been given to me to escort you to the refectory. Your maid will have to serve you.

         Jane was a little surprised by such customs, but still glad. To remain alone among the members of this sinister family, where the father sleeps with his daughter, and the owner of the castle has a harem in the basement, Jane was scared.

         Entering the spacious hall, gloomy, like all the chambers in this castle, Jane noticed that neither Jean le Mouy nor Catherine de Gaut was there. Baron Bertrand, seated at the head of a sumptuous table, showed her a seat opposite him.

Katerina is changing,” he explained with a smile that made Jane shudder. “But don't worry. She said that you had time to meet.

Yes, sir. I saw Miss Katherine. She was very kind in visiting me,” Jane said.

         She noticed the fragile figure of Bianca to the left of her cousin, and was amazed. Now Bianca was the same when they were introduced: quiet, withdrawn, with her eyes downcast. It was as if another woman had just spoken to Jane. For his part, Baron Bertrand did not give the impression of being disturbed by anything, which was very strange. Because, according to Mary, Bianchi's unauthorized movements caused a stir in the castle.

         Dinner was plentiful, varied and delicious. Jane felt relaxed and at peace. Looking at the faces of future relatives, it began to seem to her that all her fears were far-fetched, and Bianchi's stories were nothing more than a dream after a tiring road. She allowed herself to be taken to her room and did not even pay attention to the fact that Mary had gone somewhere in the middle of dinner, and she herself was locked in the room. In a room where there were no locks from the inside and full of secret passages.

         Left to her own devices, she somehow drifted off to sleep too quickly.