The tower.

Whoever this midnight waif was, William wanted no part of her. His job was in the castle and to the castle he was going to go, to do the Countess' bidding and be done with this damnable job as soon as he could. He climbed the rest of the way up the mountain trail, pausing to rest again at the foot of the watchtower. It was falling to pieces, but the light in the window meant someone was still here. Was that lucky or not? William considered knocking but was surprised to find that the door was already open. Here goes nothing, he thought, and went in.

The entry was dirty, crumbling, and smelled of decay. Nothing was here but a set of stairs leading up to the tower proper, and before William could set foot on them the door at the top opened and a light shone down. An old man with a face like a weasel was holding a lantern. William took off his hat and licked his lips. "My name is William Talbot. I'm looking for...Dr. Frankenstein."

The old man smirked. "He's no longer with us, dear boy. My name is Pretorius. I'm minding things here now. Why don't you come in and tell me what your business is?"

William didn't like the idea of getting further than sprinting distance from the door. Pretorius, of that was really his name, looked on the frail side, but the manic little twist of his mouth made William nervous. Still, what else was there to do? Upstairs he found a workshop full of the most baffling devices he'd ever seen, all tubes and wires and gears and humming, as well as an unwholesome stench he couldn't quite put his finger on. It looked unlived in, and yet it was evident that Pretorius had been here for some time. The old man produced a crystal decanter and removed the stopper. "A brandy? It's my only weakness." William declined.

Shifting in his seat, he looked over each shoulder. This place was full of strange noises. He wished now he'd never come. Licking his lips he said, "My employer wanted me to find Dr. Frankenstein..."

"Quite out of the question. I was Frankenstein's associate--his teacher, in fact. I mind the lab and carry on his work now that he's...indisposed."

"There's something here we want. It's a very rare plant; only a few specimens in the world--"

"Oh, you mean the tanna plant. I expect what you really want is the potion brewed from its leaves. We used some in our earlier experiments. I find the results quite primitive."

William's ears pricked up. "Then you won't mind parting with it."

"Ah, so we've moved onto the part of the conversation where we discuss price." A storm seemed to have brewed up outside, and lightning flashing in the old, broken windows lit Pretorius' grinning face. "Come with me, Mr. Talbot."

Down into the depths of the old watchtower they went, William looking anxiously over his shoulder all the while. They came to a place that was once a dungeon, though the door was unlocked. Inside the cell William was surprised to find a woman, beautiful but of indeterminate age and with a curiously blank, inexpressive face. A long white garment covered her, and beneath that she was covered in bandages, like a burn victim. William shifted in the doorway. "What's with her?"

"She's my masterpiece. Beautiful, isn't she?"

"You...made her?"

"After decades of research and experimentation. Frankenstein was close to perfecting the method, but I've done him better. There's only one thing she's missing: you."

William stood up straighter and balled his hands into fists. "What the hell are you driving at?"

"My poor darling here is a kind of bride. But without her groom. It's time for her to the charnel house and follow the lead of Nature - or of God if you like your Bible stories. Male and female created He them: Be fruitful and multiply. I am familiar with the Talbot family curse. A werewolf would make a fine father for the next generation of gods and monsters. That's my price: The potion in exchange for your...conjugality."

Pretorius leered. William felt sick. This whole thing was nuts. Why should he put up with this? Pretorius was just an old man, so why not just take the potion? Then again, maybe playing ball wouldn't be so bad. After all, he'd done much worse before.