Hull, England
October 8th, Year of our lord 1071
Johanne knew the moment she fled Jorvik she had but one path to save herself. If she went to her father in Caen, he would have to account for her actions. The church there, while friendly to her family, were fully in the service of William. And they would side as he saw fit. Going there would only bring danger to Isabe, and the rest of her family. She could not flee into the countryside; the populace hated the Normans and would kill her. So, she could not flee, and she could not run home. She could only stay and hope for forgiveness from the King.
On that score she now knew why the King's wrath had been brought down on her family. The Earl had been informed privately by those loyal to him at the court that the King believed Gerold was the father of his daughter Agatha. This was not known generally, for obvious reasons. The queen had admitted as much and claimed that Gerold had bewitched her into the unholy union. What this meant for the Queen or Agatha she cared not a jot. All that Johanne cared about now was to prevent her being burned at the stake. There wasn't time to lose. She had to act while she could, and while everyone believed in her better nature. The people of Hull and the Earl were extremely sympathetic to her plight. She needed to seize on that while she still could.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered in this place to recognize the union between this man…."
Johanne swallowed her pride, and her feelings for what had to be done. She was standing in the church next to the Earl, about to become his wife. She had to be protected and to do that meant abusing the Earl dreadfully. She had enthralled him and forced him to offer her marriage. Feeding him the words to use with the populace. That as her husband's friend he felt it in his duty to look after his widow. No one knew of the disgrace yet by some act of providence.
Johanne smiled at the thought, the act of providence was most likely the fact that the people of the north were in full rebellion. And William had been forced to burn many villages and towns just to get them under control. The King and his army would be busy for months by the sounds of it. The new Earl of Jorvik had been announced, it would be the Earls oldest son. His youngest would inherit the title of Earl of Hull now. It was a boon to her friend's house, but it would also cost him. He was now a thrall to Johanne's desires.
Johanne had zero interest in having another husband. Her son was not yet cold having been buried just a few days before. But this way with her now under the Earl's protection and an heir established for both houses, there was nothing to do. So long as the King's wrath could be dissuaded by this compromise, then all would be well. If he wished to take it out on her, then there was nothing she could do to stop it. Hull itself was a backwater of little importance. The church there was fully under the Earl's control. So long as the King did not protest, then the church would not either at her drawing breath. As soon as this short service was complete, word would be sent to the King and her own personal appeal attached with it. She hoped it would be enough, and that one day she could forgive herself for this act.
The guests which were few came to congratulate her and then departed. The Earl, now her husband had left himself to return to his work. This was in accordance with her wishes. Johanne was left alone to her thoughts in the church. The new bride was nothing like the girl 11 years ago who stood in a similar church with Gerold. She felt no shame in her actions. It was about survival, nothing less. As her thrall the Earl would give her no trouble. And in return she would try to look after him. Just not as his wife in physical form. Johanne closed her eyes and looked again at the altar wishing to have guidance. Was this her punishment for having bent the will of God?
After a few prayers she left the church itself, the last one to do so. Not far from the door was the graveyard where Adelard lay. What would he think of his mother now? His father torn to bits and not allowed a Christian burial, and what does his mother do? She finds another to protect her. Her feet took her to the freshly dug grave of her son. As much as Johanne wanted to blame herself she couldn't. It was the King, he had betrayed them in such a cruel way. But why?
"One day my son I will understand all this. And I will avenge you and your father. I swear it, Adelard...I will avenge you."
Johanne was about to head back to find her new husband and try to… well connect with him she supposed. What would Adelard say to all this?
"Woman… yes you. Don't think I haven't heard about you. And all about your wickedness."
Johanne had totally ignored the rider who had come up. She had heard the sounds but had dismissed them so quickly. When she looked up she saw the priest from Jorvik. She didn't expect him there so quickly but he was already too late.
"Father, I am sorry you missed the service. I would have invited you had I known you were nearby."
The words spoken were hollow and unfeeling. It was the best she could muster to be anywhere near herself. Just a foot from her feet was her child. She didn't sob, but her tears began to flow again. She was becoming what exactly?
"The king will be told of this, and when he is we both know what he will say. But before then… yes before then, you will come to me for forgiveness."
The way he had said it spoke volumes. She had known him to be a vile person, but Gerold didn't appoint him, nor could he fire him. They had to hope he tripped down a set of stairs, or was promoted. As it was he was making it very clear what he had in mind for her when it came to her method for obtaining it. At that moment something changed in her. She had been quiet, loving and a prayerful woman. But seeing the man for whom he was, she was repulsed. The stories whispered quietly about him were proving true.
"Father, I don't know if I heard you correctly"
She was in a panic not because she feared him, but rather she feared what she longed to do to him. The decision was reached when he dismounted and took ahold of her by the neck.
"I intend to have you woman, and if you please me enough, perhaps I can be…"
Without another thought Johanne took his arm that had her and proceeded to break the bone, then she wrenched it hard, down and away. She had only intended on breaking the bone and rendering him lame. Instead, her vampiric strength tore the arm wholly from its socket. It only took him moments to die, a painful and horrible death. When the first local arrived, she explained how the horse had thrown him as he was trying to greet her. She had tried to save him, but alas his injury was too great.
Seeing the man dead with that shocked look on his face stuck with her. But not for the reason she thought it would. She thought killing a man would feel horrible, that the weight of doing so would be a moral albatross she could not swim from under. The truth of it was that she felt nothing, he was going to touch her. And she wasn't going to have it, faith or no.