Kenneth Oppel - Such Wicked Intent

More. I need more.

I hurriedly unlocked my drawer and looked down at the flasks that contained my extra spirits, including the one I’d slyly collected last night as Elizabeth and I had left the armory, and a very anxious Konrad.

I hesitated only a moment before opening the flask and thrusting my finger inside. At once the smudge of deep shadow swirled round the glass and was upon my skin. I took a sharp breath, feeling a bit light-headed. I withdrew my finger, and the spirit scudded coolly across my hand and up my arm, leaving behind it a blissful trail of well-being.

I sat for a moment, concentrating only on my breathing. Within seconds the pain in my right hand eased, then evaporated. My pulse slowed; my mind felt like some marvelous clockworks, its cogs and wheels meshed and ready for anything.

When I sat down at breakfast, Mother’s chair was empty yet again.

“How is she?” I asked my father. He looked worn-out.

“Her sleep’s still fitful,” he said. “And last night she had terrible dreams.” He rubbed a hand across his brow. “I regret letting the professor begin his work in the caves. It’s too morbid right now. But I have news that I hope will be more cheering.”

Elizabeth, Henry, and I all looked at him.

“I’ve decided we’ll winter in Italy. There’s a villa in Sorrento that’s available immediately, and I plan to make the move as soon as possible.”

“When?” Elizabeth asked.

“Three days,” he said.

“So soon?” she asked, a quaver of surprise in her voice. I knew immediately what she was thinking. Would that give us enough time? Would Konrad’s young body have grown to the proper age by then?

“It’s sudden, I know,” Father said. “But I’ve conferred with Dr. Lesage on this, and he agrees that a total change is what’s needed for all of us. There are too many memories here. Your mother needs a new landscape and some Italian sun to help burn away her grief. And the two of you…” He looked now at Elizabeth and me. “You look as if you could use a change too. Despite all these outings of yours, you still look pale and drawn. You especially, Victor. Have you been sleeping poorly?”

“Absolutely fine,” I said, studiously eating my boiled egg.

“You’ve lost weight, my boy.”

I shook my head. “I feel very vigorous.”

“You look haunted. Dr. Lesage will be here shortly to see your mother, and I’ll have him check on you as well.”

“I’m absolutely fine,” I insisted.

My father just gave me a look that indicated his decision had been made. I hurriedly swallowed down my breakfast. I knew I had to get the two spirits off my body before Dr. Lesage arrived. If he examined me, he might very well ask me to remove my clothes.

I caught Henry and Elizabeth looking at me worriedly. No doubt the same thought had occurred to them.

One of our footmen came in. “Dr. Lesage is here, sir.”

“Very good. Please have Maria take him to Madame Frankenstein’s reception room.” He turned to me. “And, Victor, I’ll have him examine you in your bedchamber directly afterward. We’ll postpone our lessons.”

I nodded, swallowing down my bread roll with some tea. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I walked serenely out of the dining room and then, several paces down the corridor, ran for my room at full tilt. I locked the door. Inside I ripped off my clothes. I took two empty flasks from my drawer and set them at the ready. Then, in the full light, I turned round and round, searching for the two shadow butterflies. It was as if they were trying to confound me, for I saw no sign of them.

“Come on,” I growled under my breath.

There was one, nestled behind my knee! I almost captured it first try, but it seeped from under the rim of the flask and shot to my back. I turned my backside to the window and forced both shadows to my front. One shimmied down my leg and lodged itself between my toes-virtually impossible to get the mouth of my flask around. This was devilishly clever. I began hopping about madly, trying to dislodge it.

There came a knock at my door. I froze. Dr. Lesage already?

“Just a moment!” I called out. I careened about the room on one foot, grasping the other and trying to poke the spirit out from between my toes. I lost my balance and lurched against the chest of drawers. The washbasin crashed to the floor, shattering.

“Victor?”

It was Henry! I rushed to the door, unlocked it, and hauled him inside.

“You’re completely naked,” he said, startled.

“Yes. I need your help.”

“I thought you might,” he said.

I thrust the flask into his hands. “I need you to catch it. I’ll face the window.”

Silently he took the flask, and I turned my back to him. After a moment I felt the rim of the flask slam hard once, twice, three times against my shoulders.

“Did you get it?” I demanded.

“Just.” He held out the sealed flask to me.

“Now the other one!” I said.

“What do you mean, the-” He stopped abruptly, and I knew he’d seen it. “You’ve got two on you now?”

I seized the second empty flask and pushed it into his hands. “Just catch it, all right?”

There was another knock on the door. “Victor?” came Elizabeth’s voice.

“Just a moment!” I sang out.

Once more I faced the window, wincing as Henry pummeled my body-with unnecessary force, I thought.

“It’s in your armpit,” he muttered. “Lift up your… No, the other one!”

I did as I was told and yelped as the narrow end of the flask rammed painfully into my flesh.

“Victor, are you all right?” Elizabeth asked worriedly from outside.

“You got it?” I asked Henry.

With a tight-lipped smile he waggled the sealed flask to show me.

“Victor, I’m coming in,” said Elizabeth, and I scarcely had time to yank up my undergarments before the door opened and she slipped inside. She saw Henry and nodded in relief.

“You got it off, then?”

“ Both of them,” Henry told her.

Her eyes widened in astonishment. “You have two now?”

“What of it?” I said, snatching up the rest of my clothes and dressing hurriedly.

“Why are two necessary?” she demanded.

“Because one wasn’t enough,” I snapped irritably as a savage pain jolted through my missing fingers.

I saw her glance worriedly at Henry. “Victor, has it occurred to you that these things might be… addictive?”

“I am not addicted to them,” I said, buttoning my shirt.

She walked over to my desk and its open drawer. “And you a have a third, I see.”

“I told you I was collecting them.”

She looked at me closely. “I think your father was right, Victor. You do look haunted. I don’t think you should let them on your body anymore.”

“I’m touched by your concern,” I said with a laugh. “But everything’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” she said, anger creeping into her voice. “We were only supposed to use their power to bring Konrad back. And now you’ve launched yourself on a completely different endeavor!”

“Both are possible,” I said, putting all the flasks back into the drawer and locking it. “And when Konrad comes out, he might want one for himself, even if you don’t.”

The child ran about on the grass, chased by a laughing, barefoot Elizabeth. Overnight it had grown again, and the set of Ernest’s clothes it wore was too small on its frame.

We were in a pleasant clearing in the forest, not ten minutes’ walk from the cottage. I hadn’t wanted to stray so far, but Elizabeth had been determined to visit the place. No doubt she and Konrad had taken romantic walks here together.

Sitting on the picnic blanket, the child had eaten its food eagerly, all the while clutching its doll. It seemed remarkably fond of the thing. And then it was up on its feet and charging off across the glade, Elizabeth at its heels.