25. A Gothic Proposal

Chapter 25

A Gothic Proposal

C louds swirled like a thick ichor in the night sky, obscuring any light from the moon. The oppressive rain spattered against Alice’s face and body. Not a pouring rain, but a steady drip slowly eating away at a soul. Her drenched hat seeped onto her hair. Her tailcoat provided protection from completely soaking her. A late November chill was in the air, biting away at her face and hands as she held onto the flying broomstick.

“Come on, girl, give me a little more,” Alice said.

The broomstick fishtailed in the night sky.

“I know. I know. We have to hurry.”

For all of Alice’s and Hugo’s planning, it only half worked. Only one of the Savinos perished on this night. Sylvia most likely had an easy path back to Newbury Grove through her magical room. If only Alice was so lucky. She had to get back before Sylvia could retaliate.

Alice relied on the lights of the cars below to find her way home, not wanting to cast a light in the sky and draw attention to herself. She followed the serpentine like roads as she retreated from the city and into the country. Soon, the treetops of Wildgrove Park appeared and then the orange glow of the town center. A few more turns and the awaiting comfort of her purple house came into view.

She snapped her fingers and dampened the light on the front porch as she landed. She jumped off. Her heart raced, powered by the adrenaline still coursing through her body. Alice twirled around, vigilant and ready for an ambush. There was no movement. No signs of vampires rushing up her porch. An eerie stillness descended on Ravenhill Drive. The only audible sound was rain spattering off the roof and against the wood siding.

Alice gulped and breathed in deeply to calm her nerves. When satisfied she was alone, she produced a brass key from her coat pocket. She inserted the key into the black door and turned the diamond shape knob. Alice gave a whistle to Guinevere and entered the purple house. The broomstick followed behind.

Alice kicked the door shut with her foot as she removed her tailcoat and bag, placing them on the coat rack. She tossed her hat onto the railing newel post and then snapped her fingers. The water disappeared, leaving her hat, coat, and purple hair now dry. Alice glanced down the hallway. Hugo wasn’t there to greet her.

“Hugo!” Alice yelled. “Sebastian is dead. Gwennie stabbed him in the heart. They whisked Sylvia away before we could take her out. I’m sure they’ll retaliate soon. We need to be ready.”

There was no response.

“Hugo?” Alice called once more.

The house was dark. The light from the candles above the fireplace spilled into the hallway, casting a dancing glow on Alice. There was no sound. Alice’s heart raced once more. Her eyes acclimated to the darkness, revealing the hidden details of the objects on the console tables lining the hallway. There were still no signs of Hugo. She gulped.

“Hugo, this isn’t funny.”

She peered into the living room. No signs of Hugo. Alice could hear the beats of her heart in her eyes. She moved down the hallway, taking small steps. She entered the dining area. No one was sitting at the table. She continued into the kitchen. She found only darkness in the empty kitchen.

“Hugo, I’m not in the mood for games!” Alice shouted.

Guinevere bumped against the basement door, catching Alice’s attention.

“What is it, girl?”

The broomstick continued bumping against the door.

“Is he down there?”

Guinevere rammed the door twice more before turning to face her witch. Alice approached the door with soft steps, trying not to signal her approach. The flooring creaked and moaned with each step, betraying her position. She was a few feet from the door, reaching out with her hand for the knob.

The door flung open, blocking her view of who exited. A figure grabbed Guinevere, pulling it back behind the door. The crack of wood breaking over a knee filled the hallway.

“No!” Alice said and went for the door.

Someone pulled it back and then forcibly slammed the door into Alice’s face, momentarily stunning her.

Alice covered her face with her hands to assess the damage. Nothing was broken, and she wasn’t bleeding. The numbness hid the pain. She lifted her face in time to see the figure throw the broomstick down the stairs and slam the door.

“Alice!” Hugo shouted.

As Alice laid her eyes on the outline of Hugo standing before her, her heart skipped a beat and she stood frozen in shock.

“Run!”

Hugo charged her. In the heat of the moment, her mind went blank. Her heart pounded in her chest as her boyfriend charged toward her, leaving her frozen in terror. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground. He squeezed her tightly, constricting his arms around her torso. This was no endearing hug. Hugo was trying to crush her ribs.

She struggled to breathe, each gasp for air more odious than the last. She couldn’t move. Her hands were caught between her body and Hugo. She couldn’t use them to call forth the magick to save herself. The muscles in his forearms tightened to constrict her further. She let out a gasp. He slammed her body into the hallway wall, knocking over the console table. Its contents spilled onto the floor.

“Why?” Alice mustered through tears and the pain.

“I can’t stop it. I’m being forced to watch while she’s controlling me. You have to stop me.”

He reared back and slammed Alice once more into the wall. She winced in pain. Alice gasped for air as his arms constricted her further. Hugo lifted her up and reared back.

Alice wiggled a hand free and snapped her fingers. The amethyst rock flew from one of the console tables and struck Hugo. He grimaced in pain as the rock shot at him with great force, causing him to lower Alice, but not to let go.

“Do it again,” Hugo said. “Harder.”

“I can’t,” Alice struggled to say. “I won’t.”

“Harder!”

“If I can get to my bag—” Alice started.

“Hit me again!”

With a swift motion, he effortlessly hoisted her over his shoulders. Alice’s heart raced as she plummeted toward the floor behind Hugo. Alice tensed up, expecting to hit the floor, but hovered in mid-air. Hugo reared back and tightened his grip, preparing to slam Alice to the ground. She snapped her fingers once more. Two more rocks flew at great speed, striking Hugo in the back. He yelled in pain as he released her. Alice fell to the ground, catching herself with her hands. As she struggled to catch her breath, Hugo’s towering figure loomed over her.

“Run. Get away!” Hugo yelled.

Alice rolled away from Hugo and sprang to her feet. She dashed into the living room through the second entryway. Hugo was right behind her .

Alice snapped her fingers. Her black shoulder bag flew into the living room. Hugo snared Alice’s arm. She twisted to the side, freeing herself from his grasp.

The momentary deflection allowed Hugo to close in on Alice. He bent down, landed his shoulder into her stomach, and tackled her to the ground. The hardwood floor knocked what wind she had regained out of her. She gasped and winced in pain. It was all a blur. She couldn’t think or act or do anything.

The black bag landed next to them on the floor. Hugo grabbed the bag and smashed the contents on the floor. He jumped on top of her, straddling her legs.

He held down her arms and placed his hands over hers. Each finger interlocked with hers so she couldn’t call forth any magical abilities. She tried to move. She tried to wiggle free, but she couldn’t. Hugo’s red eyes bore down onto her own with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine, filling her with abject terror as her boyfriend—her lover—pinned her to the floor.

Alice couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. Her eyes were filled with terror and fear, but she never looked away from Hugo. She didn’t know if Gwennie was okay, hurt, or even alive. Alice was helpless.

Time froze. The ticking of the grandfather clock disappeared. She could only hear her heart beating against her chest. No one was coming to rescue her. It was only Hugo and herself.

Hugo opened his mouth and, in a display of intimidation, showed his elongated fangs. Alice tried to kick, but couldn’t under his weight. Hugo bent down, going for her throat. As his body lifted, Alice seized the opportunity to rotate her hips and free one of her legs. Using her knee as a shield, she jabbed it into his stomach to keep Hugo from getting closer.

Hugo pressed down, but Alice held him firm. He wouldn’t release his hands, so she dug her knee further into the center of his torso. They were locked in a stalemate, each trying to position for leverage in the ensuing battle .

“Hugo, please. Please stop,” Alice pleaded.

“I can’t. She has control.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as his pair of once icy blue eyes bore down on her, now in a haunting shade of crimson red.

“It’s okay. You have to.”

Alice shook her head. “No.”

“You have to. She won’t stop. I can’t stop until you’re dead. You have to do it.” He put pressure on her as he leaned forward.

A pain shot through her as her hip and leg twisted.

“No. No. NO. There must be another way.”

“There isn’t. It’s okay. Trust me. It’s okay.”

Alice sobbed, struggling to find the words. “I can’t. Don’t make me.”

“This is how I win. It’s my choice.” A tear fell from Hugo’s eyes onto Alice. “I was told by the fortune teller I needed to make a choice . . . and I’m making it. This is how I beat it. This is how I win.”

Alice was silent. She struggled to find the words, but they failed her. She knew what Hugo was going to ask of her, but she didn’t have the strength to do it. She couldn’t do it. She refused, yet she didn’t know what else to do.

“It’s on the coffee table,” Hugo said.

Alice searched for the dreaded object, but only found the underside of the table.

“I think I can try to let go of your hand if I concentrate hard enough.”

She focused back up to Hugo. The vampire fangs tried to inch closer to her neck. The pain shot up her leg and hip and through her spine. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold him. Tears flowed down her check.

“Before . . . before you do it,” Hugo said through his tears. “I need to ask you a question. A question I’ve been trying to ask you since the night in the Raskins’ store.”

“Anything,” Alice replied .

“You’ve brought me so much joy over the last year. I was in a dark place. I never thought I was going to get out of it. I was thinking bad thoughts. But then one night, I met the most beautiful, most loving, most caring person in my entire life . . .”

Hugo paused before continuing, “You bewitched me from the first time we met. I’m so glad you followed me into the woods, or else I might have never had the courage to ask you out. You rescued me. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else except you. I love you. You’re the moonlight that guided me out of the darkness. You’re my everything. Alice Primrose, will you do me the honor of being my wife and marrying me?”

“Yes,” Alice cried. “Yes. Of course. Of course, I’ll marry you.”

Hugo fought and managed a smile as he loomed over her. “Look up behind Galahad. There’s a black box. I’ve been holding on to it for a few weeks.”

Alice nodded.

“Tell the Raskins I love them, and I’m sorry for putting them in this situation. Take care of Max for me,” Hugo said.

“Of course,” Alice said.

“She likes her treats and whatever you’re eating. She barks a lot, but she’s a good girl.”

“I know.”

“And I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”

Hugo gritted his teeth and snarled. His left hand shook as he struggled to free it from being entwined with Alice’s. He dragged his fingers a few inches to the palm of her hand, freeing her fingers to call forth her arcane powers.

“I want you to know that you’re not a good witch. You’re a great witch. Thank you for everything.”

Alice snapped her fingers. The wooden stake rose from the coffee table. She positioned it directly behind Hugo.

“I don’t want to do it,” Alice pleaded once more.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Hugo reassured her, managing a half smile. “ Lie to me. Tell me it’ll be okay.”

“You’ll be okay,” Alice sobbed.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I learned from the best.”

“I love you.”

Alice’s heart sank. A surge of emotions coursed through her soul—a chaotic mix of fear, agony, anger, love. Her body tensed. The room blurred until there was only Hugo. She wanted desperately to see his icy blue eyes one more time, not the red monstrosities peering down at her.

She pressed her thumb and middle fingers together. She paused, wanting to stretch every last possible moment they had together before she had to perform her dark deed. The moment was an eternity and an instant all at once.

Hugo nodded at her. She knew it was time. He inched closer to her neck, once again opening his mouth to display his vampiric fangs. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold him back. Her knee slipped. She couldn’t wait any longer.

Alice said her final words to Hugo, “I love you too.”

She snapped her fingers, and the wooden stake impaled Hugo in the back, piercing his heart. He arched backward as his legs and arms turned to ash. The line rapidly worked its way up his torso. His face contorted in pain and suffering before it disappeared.

Hugo Dodds was no more.

The wooden stake fell to the floor, though Alice never heard it drop. Hugo’s ashes scattered to the wind and disappeared. She closed her eyes and cried, but nothing came out. With her hands, arms, and legs now free, she writhed in agony on the floor. Alice curled into a ball, rocking herself back and forth. She tried to cry, but produced no sound.

She was lost in the pain of losing Hugo—the only one who truly cared about her. Her lover. Her betrothed. She took in a breath. Finally, Alice let out a barbaric yawp, filling the once happy home with pain, suffering, and torment.