The Monster Awakens

Chapter 6: The Monster Awakens

Not wishing to wake her bedmate after her exertions of the night before, the eldest Hawksby daughter rose from her bed quietly, threw on a clean shortgown and proceeded to heat some water. She was surprised there was any water left after the injured man had been washed last night, but fortunately there was just enough for her to sponge where she needed to, make a cup of tea for her father, and fill a heated pail for whatever use the doctor chose to put it.

Her father was surprised to see who opened the door. When she told him that was the last of the water, other than in the horse trough, he grimaced.

“You better wake Fanny. She can look after our mystery man while I fetch the water. It is the least I owe her for oversleeping.”

“Well it took a while for her to fall asleep … thanks to me.” The last part was muttered under her breath. “I can watch him, or visit the brook.”

Nathaniel sighed weighing up which was the lesser of 2 evils. He reasoned his daughter could only carry half the water he or the maid could manage and the patient was showing no sign of consciousness. “I suppose you will be safe here. I need to wash his wounds so please stay outside, but first I would like to show you something interesting. He rolled up the stranger’s sleeve to reveal strange patterns on his arm.”

“What are those markings, father?”

“Lightning flowers. Some say that they match the foliage of the surrounding area, others that they reflect the pattern of the lightning itself. There is a scientist from Germany, Lichtenberg who has produced patterns using a machine. I met him once. This young gentleman is covered with these markings. They normally fade after a few days but his are quite spectacular.”

“Do they hurt?”

“I do not believe so although I have not seen ones of a living person before. Collect some eggs while I treat his wound.”

Half an hour later Caroline found herself alone in the room with an unrelated man for the first time she could remember. She had been instructed to watch for any change in his condition and to watch his breathing. Under no circumstances was she to touch him, but after last night she was sorely tempted to take a peak under the sheets to see his pleasure provider. Her father had left him on his front so the complication of the task dissuaded her.

Francis arrived at Baysdale Manor after a short but taxing trip, due to the sodden ground, in his horse and laden cart. He was barely taller than his twin but, like her, his upper body was well developed causing him to possess extraordinary strength for his size. He had the same brown curly hair as his sister and was also unmarried, although as a man that seemed far less worthy of comment. Sometimes he worked in the local quarries but was primarily a delivery man supplying the local villages and farms with goods from Whitby.

He could see the twins watching from the drawing room window. It was strange that after all these years he had never spoken to any of the daughters. Nathaniel came out to help him with the food not only for the residents but also hay for their horse and grain for the cow and chickens. Fanny departed with him, having chosen not to reveal the patient’s identity and persuaded the doctor that Caroline could act as a nurse.

So it was that during the evening the daughter was present when the stranger stirred. He started to mutter about a goddess again, but as his eyes were closed it could not have been about her. Nevertheless she approached him to listen. Having not gleaned anything from his nonsense she turned away to fetch her father when she felt a sharp strike to her behind. An involuntary spasm maybe but she would never forget this first contact. He only body tingled as she span around and saw the man’s eyes opened. He grabbed her and pleaded “Who am I?”

The dreams Sir Thomas had been having during is recuperative slumber had mean many arrived but one stood out. He was at a temple in ancient Greece where he was the high priest of Aphrodite. The large breasted stunningly beautiful goddess approached him to tell him he would be rewarded if the temple was spotless. Many women appeared either side of him to scrub the floors. They were all naked and bent over and he had a whip in each hand. He strode between the lines cracking his whip on their behinds like some galley **** master. When he reached the end of the temple and turned and found they all turned so that their rears faced him once more. When they finished the goddess arrived and was pleased she ravished him. When confronted with the temptation of Caroline’s bottom he had an overwhelming desire to hit it.

The daughter left to fetch her parent stopping to give her news to her sisters, who took a quick peek before their father arrived. Thomas was only aware of the glints in the eyes from the youngest members of the household.