Drawing near to the wall, Caroline could hear the shouts and screams of people over the raging thunder. Women wept for their sucklings, men for their family and babes wailed, unattended for.
Soon, the piercing cries and screams subsided to let the roaring of the thunder. She sighed and called it her imagination, but the moment she decided to just sit by the wall and not get her ears involved with anything, the sounds of pain came afresh. The screams came with the outrageous laughter of men. Wicked men, she presumed them to be as she leaned in to catch more details that would, to it.
Sound of woes— old women and men, bedridden, were not exempted from the calamity that befell the district. She held her dress at her chest region tight as she grasped the voice of an elderly woman she recognized so dearly. Her screams were so loud, so heart-wrenching that the line of tears that trailed Caroline's milk face was of no intent, but she let it flow.
" Madame Katherine ".
She paused, removing her ear from the wall to honor the woman with a minute of silence.
The woman so kind and gracious has been a mother figure to her. Those days when she was starved, the woman would take notice of her fatigue and question her. She was never the type to give out what she was going through in the hands of Lady Elvin, yet Madame Katherine was one of those that knew the attitude of the rich and how they treated their servants. So those few buns, or homemade biscuits, or plates of porridge, she would give Caroline, did help reduce the hunger.
The sudden silence after Madame Katherine's scream made Caroline guess that the screams and shouts that ended shortly after with a burst of evil laughter were the death of the people. The district was under attack but who were the attackers?. She closed her eyes and placed her ear on the wall again.
" V-v-vampires ". Alas, she heard from one of the girls' mouths. She shot her eyes open. Their district was invaded by that red-eyed creatures. A frown settled on her face.
Vampires. Down in memory lane, red-eyed creatures hovering over her mother's body. One of the men she had seen in the market a few years ago. That pictogram in Alfred's room. Now the screams she heard. The Vampires have always been closer to them than they thought. Danger was always lurking.
A twist of the door handle reminded her base. Primrose was adamant of taking her head. When the door opened, she immersed herself in the darkness, hiding in the corner.
" Oh Caroline, I know you are here. Come out now, we still have the festival to attend ". Primrose spoke sweetly.
Caroline laughed in her head. It was obvious that Primrose was ignorant and oblivious of the vampire's attack. She thought there was a festival ongoing. Well, certainly, there was not a festival nor celebration in the market square now if the vampires were killing people in their houses. The market square would be the first they'd go to. The loud music and aroma of toasted meat were very much attractive.
" Caro ". She heard her continue " You better come out now while I am being merciful. The torch in my hand is for no fancy ". Caroline heard a whoosh in the air.
That threat got the blood in her veins rushing with speed. She was not hiding in a cupboard or under the bed, she was in plain sight only that the darkness concealed her temporarily.
" It seems that you would not want it the easy way. Either way your head will be rolled at my feet. ". She heard her striking the stones, soon a spark appeared and the torch was lit. Caroline dragged her feet further to stand with her unlit torch. The light in the room that drove the darkness from Primrose's torch showed that she was but a turn away from where she stood. Her palms got wet.
Faced with her reality, she offered a line of prayer with opened eyes. Primrose turned and time halted. The dance of flame, the roaches aside, the spider webs, the ants in colonies, the battle of light and darkness, all to Caroline and Primrose was blurred. As they looked at each other. One with red hair and unlit torch, the other with blonde hair and a fire-blaring torch.
" Wow, ain't you brave? Don't tell me you are planning to hit me with that. ". Primrose asked pointing the end of the flame at the torch in Caroline's right hand.
Caroline looked at her. " You after my life, why? ". She asked instead.
Head. Head, she would have said in place but chose to act unaware.
" Your head ". Primrose corrected. " I am after head but that is not your business to know".
" It is my business ". Caroline cut. Angry formed on her forehead. " It is my head after all. Who was that woman?. That woman with long nails in the mirror. Who was she?. ".
Primrose chuckled. " You seem to know a lot. But no worries I will tell you since you would die anyway. You would go with that secret to your grave. And hmmm... Let me tell you then, the head will not be yours in the end". Caroline watched her take a few steps toward her and then turned to sit on a seat at the far right.
The fifteen-year-old girl she knew was no more. Her eyes looked empty and the blonde hair she so admired now looked darker, not as blonde as it was. Her face looked so pale and tired. Was she sick?.
Well, she was always with an ailment but still looked healthy and strong. Only on exposure to daylight, did she have patches on her skin or slip into unconsciousness. But from what happened today, she wondered if she was ever had the least sympathy for herself or was just enjoying the attention she was given.
" Your Primrose is dead. I possessed her body ".