Page 48 of Fragile Wicked Things

Twenty-Three

A heavy silence followed the end of Rochester's story.

He stood and stepped away from me. At that moment, I was at a loss for words, processing his story and contemplating what was being asked of me.

His words had affected me, and for the first time, when I looked at Rochester's anguished face, I saw him as Catherine did—to know all his sins and yet not judge him, to be able to cast aside all reason, all sanity and to submit to him willingly. I had Thomas’s freedom to consider.

He at least had a life in Chicago with family and friends while I knew no life other than Lowood and Thornfield.

Returning to life in New York was not an option as I couldn't fathom the thought of abandoning Thomas to live out the remainder of his life with these monsters.

If I stayed, Rochester would guarantee my safety, but the same couldn't be said for Thomas.

One year was all that was required to secure freedom for both Thomas and myself.

"At the end of one year, will you honor your promise to me?" As I said this, I looked into his eyes, and there I saw a glimpse of a promise, a hopefulness that I would agree to his desperate plea. Rochester had offered me a choice, free will, just as Catherine had had.

"I give you my word, Jane. Is your answer to be yes?"

"You will guarantee Thomas's safety out of Thornfield and beyond?"

"Yes."

"Then, yes. I will stay for one year. Leave me here with Thomas. When he is set off safely, I will join you at the house." A look of fear crossed his face and he opened his mouth to speak, but I spoke before he had a chance to. "I promise."

When Rochester left, I cared for Thomas, wiping a cold cloth on his forehead as I knelt by his side.

I felt around his head and found a bump where he had hit the table.

I took ice from the ice box, wrapped a tea towel around it and held it to his injury.

As I waited for Thomas to awaken, I considered what life would be like at Thornfield for the year ahead.

If Rochester meant for me to stay, did he also mean for Blanche to remain?

He couldn't. I was sure he was back at the house telling her to leave.

I envisioned her putting up a fuss, screaming and crying, begging to stay, but he would not have that and risk my life.

No, Rochester would make her go. And I would stay.

Thomas stirred in my arms, his eyes fluttered open and closed and his arms flailed about.

He became agitated at first but relaxed once his eyes fell on me.

"Jane." He smiled at me, then his eyes darted about. "We have to leave."

I helped him up, and he leaned on me for support. He brought his hand up to his head and lost his balance. Thomas sat himself down on an upright chair and swayed a little. Holding him steady, I dropped to my knees before him, my arms around his waist to keep him in place.

"You have to go, Thomas. I have decided to stay here with Rochester."

"I won't let you stay."

My back stiffened. His use of the word 'won't' bothered me as though he controlled my thoughts and actions, much like Rochester had behaved on numerous occasions. As I had anticipated, Thomas would not leave me behind, but I had to make him go.

"I love him," I said, adamant that I look him in the eyes when I spoke. While I did not know whether that was true, Thomas believed me, which angered him.

"Do you know what kind of monster he is?

Do you know what...I'm not proud, but as his handler, I'd bring him women and when he's done with them, I set them off in a taxi or drive them back into the city.

They stumble about, drained, confused with no knowledge of being fed to that monster.

And you wish to stay with him? You love him? That's a lie."

"Catherine loved him. You never questioned that."

"She was an old woman, blind to his ways."

"That's not true and you know it."

"Jane." He reached out for me in desperation, firmly held me by my arms and tried to reason with me.

"After Blanche and the rest of them arrived, I fired the remaining staff. I couldn’t guarantee their safety.

Rochester was too far gone. One day, he sent me into town to get some supplies, and Lis and Katya followed me into a store.

The sisters suspected Thornfield housed the devil, they said, having seen it back home in their country, and they introduced me to three men.

They belonged to some old order, Men of Psalms. They told me about Blanche and her men and how dangerous they are.

The Vampyres left a bloody trail from state to state, making it easy for this order to find Thornfield.

They had been watching all of us for some time and claimed they knew how to destroy the nest. I told them it's useless to fight against them, that they're too strong, but that I would. .."

"Stop!" I pulled away from him and rose from the floor. The more I let him talk, the harder it would be to convince him to leave. "Pack your things and leave here. Never come back. Never think of this place. Never think of me. I won't be thinking of you."

Thomas stared at me, spoke no further and that determination he had to make me leave with him was gone.

He gathered a few of his things, stumbled a little, and slammed the door on his way out.

I fell to my knees and sobbed. Breathing had become difficult, but it came in quick succession, and the room spun.

I rolled onto my side and laid there on the hard wooden floor, resting my head and, after some time, gained control of my breathing.

All energy spent, I dragged myself off the floor, leaned against the chair for support and walked to the door, my knees shaky, my arms slumped at my sides, then my hand fumbled with the doorknob until I managed to get it open and step outside.

By then, the storm had subsided. Each step I took on the wet graveled driveway towards Thornfield was slower than the last; the oak trees hung over me, branches weighed down by the heaviness of a rainfall, defeated by circumstances not of their doing.

Placing my hands on the oak tree closest to the house that had been torn apart by lightning, I listened intently to it, to what it was trying to relay to me.

It was soft at first, then grew in strength.

It was crying. My body shook as I cried along with the Great Oak.

It was long past midnight when I wiped the last tears away, entered Thornfield Hall, and tiptoed past the drawing room and towards the stairs.

Something cold grabbed my hand and I turned expecting to find Rochester.

It was a young woman, not much older than myself, wearing dark eye shadow set against pale skin and deep red lips.

Her long wavy hair cascaded onto the fur collar of a black leather jacket.

Her hand tightened around mine and she bared her fangs at me.

"Missed one" she said.

I pulled my hand away and retreated, knocking into someone else. When I spun around, I saw another Vampyre identical to the first—twins. I knew who they were at that moment, recalling Lewellyn's story during that Christmas dinner.

"Don't let her get away, Sister," said the second one as she grabbed me.

She opened her mouth wider and held me close to her, and I could see blood smeared on her teeth.

I let out a scream which made them laugh.

Both their heads were now close to my neck when they were violently yanked backwards.

Rochester stood there, holding the Vampyre sisters by their hair.

"This one's mine," Rochester said and let go of them.

"Just having a little fun, Roch," said the first.

"Not with this one. Never with this one." Rochester then grabbed me by the hand, dragged me with him into the drawing room and stood before Blanche and her men, staring them all down. "Did everyone hear me? No one is to harm Jane."

The Vampyres remained silent, then turned to Blanche for instruction, and I realized Rochester was not in charge.

She stood and came towards us, circling both Rochester and myself, inspecting every bit of me, bent her head towards me and sniffed my hair.

Then she put her arm around Rochester, leaned against him and thrust her tongue into his mouth.

He did not push her away. It was clear to me that he had no intention of ridding Thornfield of this demon.

Blanche pulled her face away from him but held him still.

"I brought her here for you, Edward," she said.

My eyes widened when she said that, and my shock made her smile.

"Come now, don't tell me you haven't solved the riddle of who called you from Charity Hospital?

" Here she mimicked the telephone call I had received.

"There was an accident. Mr. Edward Rochester was driving. "

Rochester turned to me, and his face softened.

"Don't look too pleased, Edward. She didn't come to play nursemaid to your broken body.

I told her you were dead and that Thomas lay dying.

He's the reason she came back." Blanche licked Rochester behind his ear, her tongue darting back and forth.

She pulled away and a sad moan escaped her pouted lips.

"Still, you protect her. Very well, then.

No harm will come to her. Do with her what you desire. And I will do with you what I desire."

Blanche smiled at him, led him back to the sofa, pushed him down, spread her legs apart and straddled him.

Rochester put his arms around her, kissing her as she rubbed against him.

He tore at her blouse and took her breast into his mouth, sucking, licking, and when he pulled away, I saw blood drip down his chin and blood on her breast where he had wounded her. His hand disappeared beneath her skirt.

One year of this lay ahead.

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