A Funeral and a Wedding

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Millicent shares the happy news with the rest of the household.

There are subdued congratulations from the members of the household, given recent sobering events. Nathan makes arrangements to have Millicent's own pastor transported from New York City, at no little expense (to be paid at a later date), to perform the ceremony. There are also to be flowers, singers and musicians, food and drink for the guests, et cetera.

"Only the best," remarks Nathan with a smile, "and devil take the expense!"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Even if the blood had drained into the sea, there'd still have been some blood, thinks Reverend Trask. But a bloodthirsty vampire would make sure not to spill a drop. He knows better than to correct the constable, however. "Was anything found at the scene? Were there any witnesses?" he asks.

"Oh, bless me, not a one caught sight of the miscreant, sir. She'd be plyin' her trade out of the sight of curious eyes, if you catch my meanin'."

Spoiler:

let's see if the constable found anything of interest. WIS or INT = 9[dice]0[/dice]

"Haven't found a thing to track down the blackguard, more's the pity. Nary a bootprint nor hair else."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Escorting the melancholy Josette back to the New House, Victoria faces the problem of what is to be done with the strange music box. It is undeniable that its melody provides a sort of dreamy solace to all who hear it; but did it lure Josette to the treacherous cliff as well, or was this mere happenstance? Should it be destroyed, hidden away, returned to Josette (who clearly yearns for its effect as an anodyne), or placed in the trust of other hands? Should one confront Angelique, demanding that she reveal all she knows about it, or would this only alert a potential enemy?

[SunlessNick]

"Let our joy wash away all our recent sorrows."

[SunlessNick]

Josette says nothing as she allows Victoria to lead her back to the house. She makes no attempt to reclaim the music box, though Victoria will doubtless see her companion's eyes stray to it many times.

[Mr. Handy]

Victoria privately meets with Jeremiah, the only one she can trust to help her with this, and tells him what had happened. "Angelique has only been kind to me," she says, "at least to my face. But this music box she gave Josette nearly caused her to take her own life, as it filled her with such sorrow. Indeed, in the history I remember, she had killed herself in exactly that manner. She still might, if she ever gets her hands on it again. When I touched it, I got a feeling of homesickness for my own time, but I shut it quickly, and the feeling went away. I suspect Angelique may have induced Barnabas to fall in love with her somehow, but after that there was no need for her to get Josette out of the way, unless she was afraid his affections for her would return. If there is a witch here, it is probably Angelique. I know Reverend Trask is always suspicious. The music box is strong evidence against her, as everyone saw her give it to Josette, and he could feel its effects for himself if he had it. It takes a long time of being exposed to it before it causes extreme enough melancholy to induce suicide, so a brief exposure should not be harmful, and he seems strong-willed enough to resist his effects. Yet I am reluctant to approach him, for fear his suspicions will turn on me. Perhaps if you presented him with the music box and told him of the incident, but presented the suspicions as your own, I need not be personally involved."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Reverend Trask. "I should like to see the scene of the crime myself." He doesn't say so, but he doesn't have much faith in the constable's perceptive abilities, and the man doesn't truly know for what to look. The constabulary is ill-equipped to deal with a murder committed by a vampire.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Let our joy wash away all our recent sorrows."

Nathan cannot but agree with this pleasant sentiment. After some time goes by, however, there appears to be something troubling him, although he unsuccessfully attempts to hide his concerns from his intended. Millicent will, of course, make discreet inquiry as to what weighs upon his mind. After some coaxing, he reveals a brace of worries.

"Suki has disappeared, and no one seems to know where she might be. We have never been very close, and she has always had a habit of gallivanting about without notice, but I am curious.

"In addition to that, if I may raise an embarrassing matter, I am afraid in my passion to make our upcoming nuptials most memorable, I am afraid I have overextended my resources. Blasted creditors! If I might request another small loan, until such time as we are wed, and I take over the dreary responsibility of handling our financial affairs."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Josette says nothing as she allows Victoria to lead her back to the house. She makes no attempt to reclaim the music box, though Victoria will doubtless see her companion's eyes stray to it many times.

Josette,Let's see if you can resist the spell of the music box. WIS = 9[dice]0[/dice]

After some time, Josette no longer feels the need to lessen her sorrows by listening to the seductive melody of the music box, relying instead on the tender ministrations of family and friends to slowly heal her soul's wounds.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Victoria,Just to make things interesting, one or two die rolls. First, 11 + 3 + 3 = 17, for unexplained reasons, so probable success: [dice]0[/dice] Well, that adds a unlucky twist to the tale, and the second die roll isn't needed, at least not yet. Jeremiah listens to all this with an air of intense sorrow and yet fascination, as if he is greatly troubled by what he hears. For an extended period of time, he is unable to speak, his hands shaking. Then, he forces anguished words out of his trembling lips. "Wicked angel! Beloved devil! Know you not that I followed you -- oh, how could I not? -- as you confronted Josette on Widow's Hill? Spying on you from behind a tree, I witnessed all that occurred. Fear not; I will not betray you. I will carry your dark secret to my grave; pray God that may be soon, and end my torment! Do not ask me to touch the cursed thing, I beg you, if there is a spark of good left in your black heart. Tell me, my thrice-damned darling; why did you try to kill Josette?" It is clear that the poor fellow misinterpreted all he saw, and that his agonized mind has suffered derangement from the struggle between the spell that holds him fast and his own decent nature. As if this development were not enough of a crisis, Victoria is further disturbed by a note she discovers in her room, written in a fine hand. [i]Confess to Trask that you are a witch, and I shall return you to your own world. You do not wish to have me as an enemy.[/i] Once the anonymous note is read, it bursts into flames, not even leaving ashes behind.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Thank you," says Reverend Trask. "I should like to see the scene of the crime myself." He doesn't say so, but he doesn't have much faith in the constable's perceptive abilities, and the man doesn't truly know for what to look. The constabulary is ill-equipped to deal with a murder committed by a vampire.

Spoiler:

Unexplained die roll, with a bonus for you[dice]0[/dice]

As a member of the clergy, Reverend Trask is permitted to pay a visit to the undertaker's place of business where the young woman's body is being prepared for burial in the local potter's field, on the pretext of praying for her scarlet soul. Upon close examination, next to the large, open, slashed area on her throat there are two much smaller punctures, which have gone unnoticed, due to the proximity of the other wound. There are also barely visible bruises on what remains of the flesh of her neck, these being rendered nearly as pale as the rest of her skin, due to the extreme loss of blood. Nevertheless, this provides evidence that the act of strangulation was performed by someone with larger than usual hands.

Examining the scene of the crime, Reverend Trask discovers an earring, of cheap and gaudy making. It does not match the design of those worn by the dead woman as part of the allurements of her trade; and, in any case, her body still bears both of those. No, this must belong to someone else.

Spoiler:

Another die roll[dice]1[/dice]

But who? The answer is not immediately evident, as Reverend Trask, disdainful of all vanity, pays no attention to the baubles with which members of the weaker sex foolishly decorate themselves. He must seek elsewhere for the identity of the wearer, and what role she might play in this mystery.

[SunlessNick]

"I am sorry for you worries, dear Nathan," says Millicent. "Suki knows of your love for her. She will surely come to you if trouble should befall her."

In response to his request, she goes to Joshua and David, arranging to see them together. "In his zeal to provide me with a suitable wedding, I fear Nathan has ventured somewhat ahead of himself. He finds himself in need of a further brief loan. But of course because of you counsel, dear Uncle, I cannot provide this myself - nor can I tell him of my dilemma due to my promise. So it is to you and David I must turn to to release a little money that I may pass on to him."

OOC:   This is the first time Millicent has directly referred to having lent Nathan money before.

[SunlessNick]

Thinking about recent event, Josette is beginning to believe Victoria's words about the music box. With a heavy heart she approaches the Reverend Trask when he returns to the house. "It is a black matter about which I wish to speak Reverend, all the more so because even now it seems like betrayal. Some time ago you searched the rooms of all the ladies at Collinswood. You expressed suspicion of my then maid Angelique, and in response I vouched for her good character. I fear I can no longer stand by that assurance. When... when her betrothal to... Barnabas was announced, I went to her and gave her my blessing. In return she gave me a music box. I suppose you must have heard me play it often. Yet I am now cognisant that its music had a baleful effect on me. It turned my grief into a madness in which I would have sinfully taken my own life had Miss Winters not saved me. She took the box into her care, and without it, the madness has faded. I do not want to believe that Angelique meant me harm. I pray that my fears are wrong, and that she is somehow another victim in this - or that in bleak serendipity the music box merely compounded a madness that was my own. But I would welcome your counsel."

[Mr. Handy]

"I tell you the truth, I did not try to kill Josette," says Victoria to Jeremiah. "Please believe me. I saved her life. If you do not believe me, you may ask her yourself. She is my friend, and I have no reason to harm her." After she finds the note, she seeks him out again and tells him what happened. "I think Angelique is the one that left it. Maybe she has the power to send me home. Maybe she'll even keep her word and do it. I don't know. Whatever we decide to do, I shall have to speak to Reverend Trask. Will you come with me as a witness when I do?"

[Mr. Handy]

"You were right to come to me," Reverend Trask tells Josette. "For some time I have suspected Angelique of witchcraft. And this music box, along with your testimony, may be the final proof. She is already responsible for one death, and it is only by the grace of God that you did not meet the same fate. Where is this music box now, and what has become of it? Also, do you recognize this earring? Do you know to whom it belongs?" He shows her the earring he found at the crime scene.

[SunlessNick]

"Miss Winters took charge of the box after she saved me, but I confess I know not what she has done with it." Josette examines the earring.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I am sorry for you worries, dear Nathan," says Millicent. "Suki knows of your love for her. She will surely come to you if trouble should befall her."

In response to his request, she goes to Joshua and Daniel, arranging to see them together. "In his zeal to provide me with a suitable wedding, I fear Nathan has ventured somewhat ahead of himself. He finds himself in need of a further brief loan. But of course because of you counsel, dear Uncle, I cannot provide this myself - nor can I tell him of my dilemma due to my promise. So it is to you and David I must turn to to release a little money that I may pass on to him."

Spoiler:

Trying to convince two family members, so Beautiful won't help, but Charming might, so CHA = 11 + 3 = 14[dice]0[/dice]Oh, dear, that isn't good.

Upon hearing this statement, Joshua and Daniel take themselves off to another room to discuss the matter in private. When they return, it is, surprisingly, Daniel who speaks.

"It was most foolish of you to trust your heart rather than your head, dear sister. Heaven knows I cannot blame you for suffering under the common weakness of the female brain, but from now on Lieutenant Forbes shall not receive a penny of our inheritance. Rather let him support himself and you through his labor. If he has fallen into debt, he must climb his way out again, without any help from the Collins fortune."

Joshua shakes his hand as if he were a grown man, saying "Well spoken, sir, like a true Collins."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Miss Winters took charge of the box after she saved me, but I confess I know not what she has done with it." Josette examines the earring.

Spoiler:

Unexplained die roll[dice]0[/dice]

Josette does not recognize the earring, which is of a much less refined design than her own jewelry.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

Stay tuned for our next exciting episode!