Author's Note: Thanks to CarrotsGoMeow for editing and proofreading suggestions.
In the depths of sleep I found myself lying on the white beach as the black tide roared, staring up at the empty sky. The one eyed Arab came to stand over me, that evil grin somehow even wider upon his vile face.
"Your first venture was a success beyond my wildest dreams," the Arab said. "You have brought me a true beauty, many thanks my friend."
I was too weak to curse the fiend for having stolen my will and turned me into a monster. I vaguely remembered that I had to do this 3 more times. My soul despaired but I was powerless as the Arab gave me my next instructions.
"I require a woman of breeding and lineage," the Arab said. "My masters enjoy taming women of power and privilege, especially the women of this arrogant country. I had hoped to claim a female of your line for this. But all fate has left the Inkwells with is a wretch like you. Find me a suitable beauty to pair with the exotic wonder you have just brought me."
"It will be done," I said. I could no longer separate my own will from that of whatever entity had invaded me.
The Arab nodded and the beach slowly faded away as I was sent back to the waking nightmare that was my life.
I awoke at dusk the next day, feeling a thousand years old. I staggered from my bed and made my way to the west wing, hoping that this was all a nightmare, or at the very least that I still had a chance to rescue the woman I had so cruelly taken.
But my hopes were dashed on both accounts. Great Aunt Agatha's room was as clean and fresh as it had been the night before, and now empty. I could still faintly smell the fragrance of Merilyn's hair in the room.
I wanted to wail, to scream at the universe for having trapped me in such a cruel reality. But the walk to the west wing had taken all the strength I had. I collapsed on the bed and passed out, wondering what new terrors I would visit upon Waitwich that night.
I was outside again, waiting for the carriage to carry me to my fell task. I loved the feel of the sharp autumn wind as power coursed through me. The carriage pulled up and waited for me to board. It looked more like the shadow of a carriage than the actual thing. The driver was a shape in the vague form of a man. Even the horses resembled smoke more than flesh, with wild red eyes that regarded me with unnatural intelligence. The most bizarre thing about it was that the whole thing was as quiet as a whisper, in direct conflict with the unholy din it raised the night before.
I climbed in, finding the medical bag waiting for me once again. Once I was inside the carriage tore off, producing the same infernal cacophony it had the night before. The only difference was this time I enjoyed it.
We made our way through Waitwich to a different part of town. We moved among the mansions and stately homes of the great and the good in the northern section of Waitwich. I grew worried as we hurtled through the neighborhoods of the wealthy, but as before, no one saw us and no one came out.
We came to rest at the gates of a great red mansion. The locals called it The Big Red House and its occupants were the family that had overtaken mine as the most prominent family of Waitwich. Without the entity even telling me, I knew where we were. This was the Dunsmore estate, home to the lovely and high spirited Gretchen Dunsmore.
Images of Gretchen flashed through my mind. I saw a tall, pale beauty with curly red hair and cool blue eyes. She was in a club of some sort casually smoking while a group of young men strove to impress her. I saw her wandering the streets of cities all over the world, from New York to Hong Kong.
My father once hoped to have her marry me, but her own father put a stop to that. The man always indulged his daughter and now she was a wilful and unmarried woman of 27. I would enjoy giving her the discipline and control she so desperately needed.
I exited the carriage with my medical bag in hand. I darted quickly to the walls of the estate and vaulted over them with ease. I felt more powerful than I had the night before, more in control. I crossed the grounds of the estate in moments and stole into the house when the front door magically opened for me. It was like the physical world was an extension of my mind and all things were possible. I was thrilled and terrified by this prospect.