Steamboat Gothic
WRITTEN IN THE ORDER: KAT, MAYA, SARAH, COURTNEY, KATE (WHEN SHE ARRIVES)
It took her an hour to get dressed, petticoats and frilly skirts, coursetts, laces, buttons, stockings and button up boots. All white, cream or pink, and very formal. The maid did up the final buttons and handed her a lace fan and parasol.
"Thank-you, Loan."
"You're welcome, mistress Maya."
Maya fluffed her skirts and patted her long curly hair, pinned up in an elaborate twist.
"Lovely. Tell my parents I am going out on the steam-boat with... some friends... "
"Yes, mistress Maya." Maya checked her appearance once more, and bussled out of the room. Loan packed up everything, every pin, every curler and put them away, made the room tidy, and moved out to inform Mistress Maya's parents of her whereabouts.
Maya's carriage pulled up at the Steamboat Stop. As she got out she patted her faithful horse, Irene. "Bye bye Irene." Irene snorted faithfully in reply. Her carriage then pulled away, with Loan at the wheel. Maya turned to look at the Steamboat, the place where she would be spending the next two weeks. She couldn't help feeling just a little bit nervous. She knew this steamboat trip along the Mississippi was supposed to be the highlight of her holiday, but she had a funny feeling in her stomach that wouldn't go away. All around her, all different types of people were lining up to get on board, but Maya hung back. Maybe it was because she didn't tell her parents the whole truth - that she had been invited to go on this trip by a secret admirer and was planning to meet him on board...
Meanwhile, in a small cabin of the grandiose Steamboat the Captain of the "GARDENIA", Mr Matt Campbell, chartered the course that he would take his boat. This was to be his last trip on the "GARDENIA" and for certain reasons, he thought, the most memorable. A note placed on the side of his desk caught his eye. He picked it up and read the report written by his 2nd officer - Matthew Morrison. Matt's eyes widened when he read of the harsh weather conditions threatening the safety of the steamboat's trip. With a frown, he scrunched up the note and threw it in the bin. He couldn't let the weather jeopardise the events that would take place on the journey, even if it meant endangering the lives of this passengers...
On the other side of the "GARDENIA" Maya stepped onto the boat and embarked upon the biggest two weeks of her life...
Her excitement grew, as she waited to meet her secret admirer and she nervously approached the room that she had been assigned. She knew that behind the door her man would be waiting. She slowly turned the door knob to her cabin and gently walked through into her suite.
"Oh Bugger," she said, "He isn't here, where could he be?" As she placed her bags down into her room reluctantly she suddenly felt a presence behind her.
"My Mistress" the stern but sexy! male voice said "I so wanted to be here when you arrived"
As she turned around in order to see the face of her secret admirer
"Edward, My lord I had no idea."
"Can I help you with any of your bags"
"No Loan should be up in a moment to set all of my things up before the boat departs."
"Shall we take a walk along the deck and take a look around." Maya said
"Certainly, Mistress Maya. That is an enchanting idea." As they departed Maya's room Edward greated a very enchanting lady and her husband with a polite hello and a tip of his hat.
"That was Kathryn Pollard and her husband."
"Ah, I see," said Maya. "Shall we walk?"
They walked along the deck, meeting people as they walked. Maya had not been out in high society long, and her knowledge of upperclass names was lacking, however Edward provided. As they reached the bow, an elder lady with a large bust and bustling way approached them. Edward tipped his hat again.
"Madame Smyth, a pleasure, as always."
Madame Courtney Smyth smiled and moved in.
"My lord Edward. Have you heard? They have rented rooms to commoners!"
"Never fear, madame. I am sure you shall still be treated as you deserve. The Lady Kathryn and Lord Peter have arrived, I saw them below deck, heading towards the stateroom."
"The Lady Kathryn? The heiress? Well, I must be off... I have also heard the Italian Countess, Sarah Buckley is on board. Well, I shall see you later. Bye bye Darlings!" She left, and Edward murmured to Maya "Madame Courtney Smyth - Richard Smyth's widdow. Anything you need to know, ask her - she will know. Now... let's discuss us..."
***
Meanwhile, things were not all well between Matt and Matthew. "How dare you tell me that the weather is going to spoil our trip? NOTHING will ruin this cruise, not even bad storms!" Matt raged. Matthew looked worriedly at Matt, surprised at this sudden outburst, "But Captain..." "No buts! Now leave me alone or you'll pay," Matt screamed. As Matthew hurried out of the Captain's quarters, he wondered what had come over his normally gentle captain. Matt, in his room, quickly changed into his disguise - ripped pants, an old shirt, hat and fake moustache. As he walked down the corridors, the upper class passengers merely turned up their noses. He went down below to the commoners' rooms, and thought it was such a good idea that he had suggested having the lower class on board. He stopped outside Cabin 520. His heart pounding, he knocked. The door opened, "My love, I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier to see you," Matt whispered as he embraced the beautiful woman. "That's all right," Kate replied, "You're forgiven."
***
In the dining room about two hours later, the first class passengers were enjoying their meals. Seated at the prestigious 'CAPTAINS TABLE' were Mr and Mrs Pollard, Madam Courtney Smyth, Mistress Maya, Edward Donald, Matthew Morrison and the beautiful Italian countess Sarah Buckley - who, by the way, looked in her late twenties but was in her very early forties. Mysteriously missing from the table was the captain. Everyone seemed to enjoying their meals through his absence, everyone except Madam Smyth and Countess Buckley. Madam Smyth was continuously glancing at the Captain's empty chair. Countess Buckley held something in her fingers and was squeezing it anxiously. As her hands were in her lap, no one could see what the item was. What they couldn't see was a small locket with a picture of a tiny baby for unbeknowst to anyone on the "GARDENIA" Countess Buckley had come to find her long lost child. Across the room, the Captain strode in room fixing his bow tie as he walked.
"I apologize for my lateness." he explained. "I had urgent business to attend to."
As he sat he shared a private look with...
Courtney. She slilently questioned his explaination as to his whereabouts but decided to ignore it.
As the champagne and oysters were being served it was brought to Courtney's attention that Countess Buckley was rather on edge. She tended to glance in every direction like she was looking for someone.
"Are you alright this evening Countess" Courtney questioned
"Of Course I am why would you ask such a question?" By this stage it seemed as though the whole table had stopped having their own conversations and now drew their attention to Madame Smyth.
"Courtney tried to direct her explaintion to Countess Buckley on her own "You seem to be looking for someone. You seem... on edge"
"Now Madame, I am fine. When you get to my age you will finally understand the necessity of seeing people and of being seen. If you would please excuse me for a while I must go to the powder room" As Countess Buckley departed from the table, Kathryn exchanged a glance with her husband. "Please, I too must visit the powder room." Lady Kathryn followed Countess Buckley to the bathroom.
***
Kate put the finishing touches on her outfit, and walked up on deck. Matt... there was something strange about him. Whenever he visited her, he was gone when she awoke, and she felt strangely tired and drained. There was just something strange about him. And she was going to find out what it was... But first, she had to *find* him. She could never find him when she wanted... The only time she saw him was when he initiated the contact... And Kate was going to investigate.
***
Meanwhile, in the powder room, Lady Kathryn watched Countess Buckley in amazement as she placed her hand in front of her mouth and blew out forcefully. "Um, may I ask what you are doing, Countess?" Lady Kathryn inquired. "I am blowing, my dear. I do it to relieve gas or when I am nervous. Now, if you will excuse me I must depart," Countess said tearily as she hurried out. Lady Kathryn looked bewildered, but decided it must be an Italian thing.
***
Countess looked at her watch nervously as 9pm approached. "Where is he? I saw him at dinner, he can't have forgotten, I mean, it's his child too," she thought. As she paced up and down the front deck which was deserted, she heard footsteps. She turned, "Finally Matthew, you're here. We have a lot to talk about..."
"Yes, I know, Sarah. Have you found out the identity of our child?"
"No, not yet." The Countess began pacing along the deck. "But I will."
Matthew glanced at his watch. "I have to go, I'm meeting my wife for a cup of tea in five minutes. And, Sarah, I don't want her to know anything about our very, very, very, very short affair. I'm very happy with her and this could ruin us."
"Don't worry, Matthew, I know that it is over. Any conversation between us is necessary to find our child and that is all." With that they both parted, walking in opposite directions, Matthew to find his wife and the Countess to find the person who could tell her of her child's identity.
***
Maya had enjoyed dinner, said goodnight to Edward and was walking to her cabin. She skipped merrily down the deserted stairway, and turned down the corridor to her room. Suddenly, she stopped and gave a bloodcurdling scream. Lying in the middle of the hall was the bloody body of Matthew Morrison.
***
An hour later, the steamboat guards had carried away the body. They had found a note in the 2nd officer's pocket reading - HERE LIES THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE STEAMBOAT GOTHIC. While the officers combed the scene for any incriminating evidence, Maya was being comforted by Edward.
"I can't believe that he is dead, Edward, and in such a horrible fashion." She sobbed into his comforting embrace.
"It's okay, darling. Everything will be okay." Edward whispered as he led her away from the murder scene and to his cabin. When they arrived, he pushed her gently into his room.
"Don't worry, Maya. I'll make it all better...".
The news didn't take long to circulate around the boat as it isn't too often that a murder occurs on a pleasure cruise. The police were called by some of the cabin crew. It was found out that there was a detective on-board. Her name was Detective Francesca they called her. She had been assigned cabin number 26. As a crew member went to inform Francesca, she was seen talking to aan elderly gentleman. .
"Excuse me I must speak to Detective Francesca immediately. It is rather an emergency," the crew member explained. .
"Certainly," the elderly gentleman smiled and left the two to converse...
"I'm not sure whether you know, but our 2nd officer has been found dead in one of the hallways but we need your help. The police have informed us that you were a detective and it is vital that we find out who has done this. Will you help us."
Francesca frowned, all dreams of a peaceful holiday dashed.
"I suppose I don't really have a choice, do I?" she growled.
"Great!" The crew member was enthusiastic. "Let's go see Captain Campbell... he'll fill you in."
***
Some time later, Francesca stormed out of the Captain's Quarters and back to her cabin. The crew of the "GARDENIA" seemed to believe that, despite her credentials, she was a woman, and hence inferior. As a result, Francesca was now trailed by several members of the crew.
"You!" she barked, pointing a slim finger. "Go find this Maya girl. I want to talk to her."
***
Maya shuffled out of cabin 26, after repeating the story of how she found the dead Matthew to Francesca. She tearily retraced her steps to the murder scene, while Francesca stalked behind her, her eyes scanning for evidence. Turning yet another corner, the pair ran into the Countess, who was spriting down the hallway.
"Hey!" Francesca yelped. "You! Stop!"
The Countess came to an abrupt stop and spun on her heel.
"Do you know to whom you are speaking?"
"Sarah Buckley." Francesca stated, as if this was of no consequence. "Now, Ms Buckley..."
"MS!"
"... I was informed that you were the last person to see the deceased alive."
"Who told you that?" Sarah's eyes narrowed.
"That is of no consequence. Ms Buckley, was there anything unusual about this meeting?"
Sarah shrugged.
"We spoke of the weather," she said casually, her hands twisting the silver locket. "Ms... Detective... it is late. I must retire. Goodnight."
Sarah walked quickly away, and Maya and Francesca stared after her.
***
As she passed down the badly lit corridor, Sarah shivered, worry about how her conversation with Matthew could have been overheard consuming her. There was a sudden, searing pain in her arm. Sarah hit out and there was a muffled groan from the attacker as Sarah escaped down the hallway.
***
Francesca was suspicious of the Countess's story, after she had left her and Maya so abruptly but felt obligated to listen anyway. After she had taken all the details down, she went to her room to contemplate. What were the facts? The 2nd officer had been killed - technically, died from lack of blood. He was somehow involved with Countess Buckley, who was acting very strangely. That would take some investigating. He also had a wife, who Francesca was going to interview shortly. Who were the suspects? Well, everyone on board. I was a very detailed case. Perhaps she should ask the captain to stop the boat from docking... of course, the killer could have already escaped over board... it was all too confusing. With a sign, Francesca gathered her things and went to interview Mrs. Matthew Morrison.
***
By now, the whole ship was on edge - A murderer was on the loose. It was after midnight. Maya and Edward were both asleep - in separate rooms. Most of the other guests were milling about in the dining room, unsure of where to go. Finally, the Captain told them all to go to their rooms and lock the doors, except the Detective, who was busy interviewing Lady Kathryn, as Peter had gone to his cabin. The guests slowly went to their rooms, and the ship became quiet. Matt, now on his own to sail the ship, was busy steering, when he heard a knock at this door! He turned and gasped. It was Kate. She entered with a shocked look on her face. "I can explain!" Matt started.
"What? You're the CAPTAIN!" Kate demanded.
"I am, but let me explain. I couldn't exactly let it be known that I am in love with a lower class passenger, right?" Matt began, but was interrupted by a loud gasp coming from the open door. He turned, and saw... Courtney. "You're in love with her? That... commoner? But what about me?" With the two women standing there with murderous looks, all Matt could do was stutter, ... and then faint. The women didn't even bother to check his pulse. "What a jerk!" Kate scorned. "Exactly," replied Courtney, "How could I fall for such a loser! Hey, why not we go to the bar and cheer ourselves up a bit?" Courtney said. "There wouldn't be a barman because of the curfew but sure." So the two walked off hand in hand through the deserted boat to the bar.
***
Lady Kathryn was in tears. The detective was trying to ask about her marriage to Matthew. "Look, it's over, I tell you! It happened about 3 years ago when we were both extremely drunk. We got it annulled immediately, but Matthew refused to accept it - he was obsessed with me, you see. He still went around saying we were married, right up until his death," Kathryn paused to take a breath. "He was a psycho, i tell you! I'm just so glad he is gone."
The detective looked at her very very suspiciously, as an evil look passed over Kathryn's face.
***
The next morning Maya rose early and went to the dining room. Passed out over the bar was Madam Smyth and Kate. Maya shrugged and walked to the buffet table, piling food onto her plate. As she ate she watched other passengers walk in for their breakfast. Maya also spotted the Captain talking to a woman who she couldn't quite recognise. Maya stood up and went over to say good morning to him but stopped when she heard Matt's raised voice.
"I can't tell you how the Detective knew about it and stop worrying it won't affect anything. The Detective won't tell anyone." Maya saw the woman's shoulders sag with relief.
"I have to go." Matt continued. "But we'll talk later." With that they parted. Maya darted behind a pole and hid from the Captain as he walked towards the outer deck. She still did not recognise the woman but that did not matter she had some more pancakes to finish on her plate.
***
Kate clutched her head. It ached with a ferocity that she had never previously experienced. Oh well, it was worth it. She had liked drowning her sorrows with Madam Smyth and saying goodbye to her ex-lover. Kate continued down the halls to her cabin and approached the stairs connecting the upper and lower classes. She began to descend the spiral staircase and as she did she noticed several spots of blood on the large, marble steps. She gasped as she saw from where the blood had come - the large slit that travelled across Edward's throat. Kate turned and fled, looking for the Detective. Francesca must be informed, Kate thought, the Steamboat Gothic had struck again...
As Kate fled down the deck sobbing, she had no idea where she would start to look. As she turned the sharp corner she instantaneously ran into someone.
"Sorry" Kate mumbled "I am sort of in a hurry"
"Why are you in such a hurry" Peter said
"I have found the next victim of the Steamboat Gothic. I must find Francesca straight away. Can you help me."
Peter found it in his heart to help the poor girl find the detective.
"Of course I will help you. I think that I saw her talking to the captain as I just walked past his quarters."
"Oh no." Kate mumbled.
As they approached the quarters Kate could see Francesca talking to Mattt. She decided to run in quickly and try to ignore Matt in the process. Peter lead her into the Room
"Francesca you must come quickly this young lady has found the next victim of the Steamboat Gothic
"Do we know who is it?"
"No I do not I believe that he is a first class passenger."
"You must go and check it all out Francesca" Matt ordered "Thank-you for telling us"
***
Francesca was rather pleased with the way she was dealing with the situation. She had blocked off the crime scene (in fact, the entire staircase), sent her self-appointed chaperones on various errands and had taken a statement from Kate. Francesca now crawled on hands and knees, searching for evidence. Reaching Edward's body, she noticed his had was clenched around something. She bent closer to look.
"Oh no!" A shrill scream filled the room. Francesca looked up at Maya, who was racing through the barracades and towards Edward's body. Quickly, Francesca yanked the object from Edward's fist and pocketed it as Maya threw herself across him.
"No..." she sobbed.
Francesca reluctantly moved away from the wailing girl and settled further up the stairs to examine her finds. As she had suspected, there was little evidence. A second note - the murder's calling-card - along the same line as the first. A broken locket, which had been wrapped around the note. Francesca examined the locket. It was expensive, probably belonging to a rich woman, containing the picture of a plump baby. The locket was dinted, as if it had been dropped and trodden on. Francesca thought about the significance of the locket. Perhaps the child was to be the next one to die? Francesca hoped that this was not the case. She turned her attention to the object from Edward's fist.
Withdrawing it from her pocket, Francesca glanced at Maya, who was still sobbing. The girl wouldn't interrupt her - she was too devastated to care about anything else. Francesca shrugged and examined the object. It was... an engagement ring. Francesca pondered this occurance. The victim could have taken the ring from his attacker or it could be innocent... From the way Maya was sobbing over the body it was clear that the two were involved. Francesca moved forward. "Excuse me, Miss. I'll have to ask you a few questions. Please step away from the body."
Maya moved back tearily. "I can't believe he's dead!" She cried
"Stop crying. Stop crying. I need you to listen to me. Were you married?"
"No.. We were... together..."
"Ah," thought Francesca. "He was going to propose to her. Perhaps she didn't want to marry him and had killed him as he proposed to her... OK, a bit farfetched," she admitted to herself. She'd take Maya to her room to question her away from the body.
***
Lord Peter and Lady Kathryn entered the dining room. Peter had missed breakfast because he had been helping Kate find Francesca and then he'd been questioned; so he and his wife were having early lunch. "I heard it was Edward... remember, the young man who was at our table the first night. Two men murdered, and both from our table... it's very odd. I wonder if the detective has worked that out yet..." Peter said, "Oh my gosh, do you realise I am the only man left alive on the table? Well except the captain. That is rather worrying, isn't it?"
Kathryn looked scared, "That's it, you're not leaving my sight until this cruise is over." the two sat at their table holding hands and peering around nervously. "I wonder who it could be? It obviously can't be that lovely young lady Maya since she was the one who found the body. Hmmm..."
***
Meanwhile, after the Detective had interviewed the very teary Maya (who by the way had gone to her room), she was reviewing the facts. "Now, the steamboat Gothic can't be Maya, or Kate since she discovered Edward's body, or the Countess since she was attacked by the killer I assume. Hmmm... Now, what is the connection between Countess Buckley, Matthew Morrison, and Edward?" Francesca stopped suddenly when she heard her door creak open. "Who's there?" she called. A figure dressed in black appeared and knocked Francesca over the head with an iron bar before she could yell out. The figure left behind something on the dead body and slithered away.
***
As the Countess strutted down the corridor, she gasped as she saw a person dressed in black run out of cabin 26, a figure with an unusually large chest area. Realising that the person had come from the Detective's room, the Countess hurried to check that everything was alright. She stopped in shock at the door to find Francesca's body lying motionless on the floor. Quickly, Countess Buckley hurried off to find help.
***
A small crowd had gathered outside cabin 26.
"Everyone please clear the area so that we may look for evidence." spoke a Steamboat guard.
As the Captain instructed his men to comb the cabin, Kathryn and Peter Pollard, Mistress Maya, Madam Smyth and Countess Buckley stood in a circle to the side of the closed-off area.
"I didn't get a good look at the person who killed the Detective." said the Countess while she snuck suspicious glances at the black clad Madam Smyth.
"That is a shame." sighed Madam Smyth who then began to hiccup continuously.
The Captain's group of men carried out the body with Matt giving instructions.
"I didn't think that long black trenchcoat the Captain is wearing was part of the uniform. As a matter of fact, I've never seen him wearing it before." Pondered Peter.
"Well, it is a cold night." Replied his wife.
As the detectives room was being scowered for evidence the captain demanded that all the bystanders go to their rooms or to the dining room, in order for the guards to be able to do their job.
"If you all could please clear out of here and away from this area I would appreciate it allot." Matt said
"Certainly" Countess Buckley Replied "We wouldn't want to be in the way"
As they all went to leave Madame Smyth exchanged a glance with Matt but very quickly turned to leave from the scene of the crime.
"Are you all okay" Another crew member questioned "It has been brought to our attention that we might need to question you all about the events that have happend. As you know Francesca has been doing all of the questioning and it seems as though her notebook has gone missing."
"What?" Madame Smyth questioned "You mean the killer stole it. We could be next any of us." She cried.
"Calm down Madame Smyth everything will be okay" Matt calmly said moving towards her
"The hell with you" Madame Smyth replied and ran out of sight.
The assembled party stared after her. Matt looked angry and sharply commanded that the crowd move away and find something useful to do. The assembly shuffled away to their various quarters. As they did so, the Countess grabbed Maya's arm.
"Maya," she hissed. "Come with me."
***
Kate sat locked in her cabin. She stared at the door in fear. Three murders, and one of them the talented, strong-willed Francesca. The only hope Kate had was to lock her door and stay there. Suddenly, there was a short, sharp rap on the door. The Countess' voice cam, buisiness-like, through the door.
"I say, Miss Porter, please hear me. This is the Countess Buckley and Mistress Muthuswamy..."
"I can talk, Countess."
"Yes... Kate, may we come in?"
Kate hesitated, but her curiosity got the better of her and she opened the door. The Countess bustled in, followed by Maya, and cast a disapproving glance at the tiny cabin.
"Well..." she muttered, producing a white, silk hankerchief from a pocket and spreading it on a chair, upon which she primly sat.
"What are you doing in lower-class cabins?" Kate meekly queried.
Sarah gave a belittling smile.
"Because, aside from Maya here, you, my dear, are the only person I can trust."
"Me?"
"Well, I know that I can trust myself. I cannot very well sneak up on myself in the dark, can I? You and Maya, you two dears found bodies and were genuinally destraut. Hence - you two are not the murderer."
Kate nodded.
"Thus," the Countess continued, "we must solve the mystery. Maya!"
"Oh!" Maya leapt up and retrieved a pot.
"I can't think on an empty stomach," explained Sarah, digging into a crab piea. "Now, who could be to blame? Why would they want to hurt anyone? What do the dead people have in common?"
Kate was deep in thought. Her eyes suddenly widened (wandered!).
"Oh my gosh! There is a link between the people. It's you, Maya. Edward was your love, Matthew your father, and Francesca your sister from Matthew's third marriage!"
"That's not a connection," Maya scorned.
"Well, you think of something better."
"WAIT!!" Sarah screamed. "You're Matthew's daughter?"
"Of course," said Kate. "Matt told me. He knows these things. Maya lives with her adopted parents now."
Sarah spilled her crab piea down the front of her red dress.
"Do you know who her mother is?"
Kate shrugged. "Some one-night-stand of Matthew's. Some old woman he bedded after a theatre show about 17 years ago."
Sarah drew herself up.
"Do you think I am old?" she demanded.
Kate shrugged. "You don't look it... but I know for a fact that you are 42, not 40 and a 1/2."
Sarah gasped at Kate's audicity.
"Well I never! I was no an "old woman"! I was 25 years old!"
Maya's and Kate's mouths both dropped. "You're my Mother?" exclaimed Maya, just as Kate said "You slept with a man that much younger than you?"
"Well," said Sarah defensively. "He was very cute, and he had a big... Besides, he told me he was 30." Sarah changed the subject mid-sentence abruptly. Kate looked shocked. Maya looked irritated. "Look, I have been alive for 16 years. You can't expect me to believe that in that time I have heard nothing of this. I don't believe a word of it." Maya stormed out of the room. The countess sat on her hankie and tried to sponge the crab piea out of her dress. As Maya left, she leaped up.
"Maya, my darling! Wait! It's dangerous out there!"
Then she ran out of the room.
***
Meanwhile, up on deck, underneath a lifeboat, the two people dressed in black - Courtney and Matt, were talking in whispers. "My love, I can't believe it has gone so well," Matt whispered, "Finally, we can be together again." Courtney nodded. "I was so glad to be rid of that Matthew - how dare he say something would happen to spoil our voyage," Matt said angrily. "Calm down dear, It'll be alright. Now, just to get rid of that pestering Kate. Wasn't it classic when I came and burst in on the two of you in the steering area?" Courtney asked. "Yes, darling, but before we kill her, we still have to find out where to hidden treasure is. Remember, she is the only one who knows where to old Queen Ariel buried her treasure, and we have to somehow get it out of her. I failed, she wouldn't tell me, so now it's up to you, since you are befriending her so well," Matt explained. But, little did they know, a slim figure had been hiding near them the whole time and had heard everything. This person was Kate. She gasped then quietly ran off to find help, i.e. Countess and Maya. Luckily, Courtney and Matt were too "busy" to even notice she was there.
***
An hour later, Courtney and Matt were still talking of their victory.
"Matt, our plan went off very well. We killed Matthew because he tried to disrupt our plans and we killed Francesca and took her notebook because she was close to discovering our treachery. But we didn't kill Edward, he wasn't one of our victims. And another thing, if we didn't kill him, why did a not say that it was the STEAMBOAT GOTHIC."
Matt turned to Courtney, an evil look washed over his face. "Ah, my love, why must you ask so many questions? We may not have killed Edward, but I did." He took off his shoe and threw it at her head. Courtney, knocked unconscious, fell to the floor in a graceful heap.
"You had to ask, Courtney. I would not receive questions like that from my true love. The woman who will share the treasure with me, who will cook my meals and take steering-wheel-lessons to pilot our boat when I am tired. Maya is my true love and that is why I killed Edward. He dared to deflower my angel." Matt had forgotten in his madness that Courtney was unconscious and could not hear his explaination. He shrugged and walked off to find Kate.
Kate wasn't sure who to call for help. She tried to find Maya and Sarah but they were no-where to be seen. She didn't know who she could trust. As she sat in her cabin trying to figure out what to do, there was a loud and very forceful knock at the door.
"Oh no," she cried, "Who could it be?" She decided to try and pretend that she wasn't there, but the knocker was very insistent. "Kate, I know you are in there. Please let me in. I can explain everything." It was Matt, but Kate had no intention of speaking to him, especially after what she had heard being said up on deck.
"I don't want to talk to you. I'm tired and must get my beauty sleep."
"What is wrong? I must explain about everything. I can't have you being mad at me forever."
At that Courtney walked up to Matt
"What the hell was that for!" Courtney shrieked.
"Shhhhh" Matt said silently "You mustn't talk like that out here. This is Kate's room"
"I don't care. You need to give me more explanations that that, Something doesn't add up, and I am not going to wait"... "why did you kill Edward?"
"Silence!" Matt commanded, but Courtney refused to quieten, so Matt opened a storage closet and shoved her in. He then reached into his coat pocket and produced a set of keys. He cheerfully opened Kate's door and grabbed her, ignoring the struggles.
"You are going to help me," he announced, and dragged Kate off to his Quarters.
***
Sarah was exhausted and had found no sign of Maya. She pushed open another door and found herself in the dining quarters. Maya was seated at a table, happily devouring a bowl of soup, with the end of a stick of bread beside her.
"Maya..." the Countess whispered. The girl hummed and ignored her. Sarah sat down.
"Please Maya, don't be angry. I'm sorry. I must be messing up your life, but I just wanted to know how you'd turned out. And... you're wonderful."
"I know I am," Maya agreed, her mouth full. "Explain the story of my childhood."
So the Countess sat and told her daughter of how she had been forced to abandon her baby when her parents discovered her pregnancy.
"Please forgive me," she finished.
Maya shrugged.
"I'll think about it."
She jumped up, pushing her empty bowl away.
"Let's find Kate."
***
Kate was not in her room. Maya sat on the floor looking bewildered. Suddenly, she turned.
"Hey, what's that?"
The Countess and Maya walked out of the room and towards a closet, from which a strange noise was emanating. They opened the door and a cranky Madame Smyth burst out, a large bruise on her head.
"Oooo... that man! Now he's in for it."
She stormed off, and Maya and Sarah followed.
***
Courtney threw open the door of the Captain's Quarters and marched in. Kate was tied to a chair, and Matt was presenting a series of maps to her.
"Wow!" cried Maya, throwing herself at the maps. She began to examine one, muttering "I could ride Irene here... wow, Loan would love to visit this beach... I'm sure a horse could get there in no time..."
"Maya, my love!" cried Matt forgetting about Kate in a moment of desire.
Maya didn't even glance up from her map. She was occupied. Courtney was shocked. "Your love? What about me?" she cried. "You jerk!" Madame Smyth launched herself at Matt, who was enraptured with Maya. Grasping a large iron bar, she whacked him over the head. Matt collapsed uncerimoniously on the floor, blood slowly trickling from his temple.
Sarah freed Kate from her bonds and Kate jumped up and launched herself at Madame Smyth. Grabbing a shoe, she belted her in the head. Madame Smyth slipped to the floor.
"That's what you get for plotting to kill me!" she raged. Then she kicked Madame Smyth's unconcious body several times. "That was for Matthew, that was for Francesca, that was for pretending to be my friend and that was for plotting to kill me!"
The Countess touched the distraught Kate on the arm.
"Calm down, my dear. Relax. What are you saying?"
Kate repeated the story she had heard whilst on deck.
Maya glanced up, leaving her maps on the table, and moved over to Matt. She kicked him in the side.
"That was for killing my soon-to-be-fiané," she said. At that moment, the door opened and the Lady Kathryn and Lord Peter walked in. Taking in the scene, Peter moved over and felt for Matt's pulse.
"He's dead. Who's stearing the boat?" Sarah panicked. "Oh my God! We're going to die!" She ran around the cabin like a chicken with it's head cut off.
Lord Peter rolled his eyes.
"Relax. I'm sure this isn't much different from my boat. I'll go stear it. Love, will you be OK?"
Lady Kathryn smiled. "Of course, love. Go."
Lord Peter left, and Lady Kathryn found the rope that had tied up Kate. Kate took it and tied up Courtney. She glared at her.
"OK. So why don't you tell me what is going on?"
Once again, Kate explained. This time, at least, Courtney had woken up and heard the end of the story.
"He loves that little tramp?!" screamed Courtney.
Maya took offence to that and hit Courtney in the head with a paperweight that happened to be on Matt's desk.
At that moment, Matt sat up. Sarah screamed.
"Wait a minute! You're dead?"
Matt staggered to his feet and towards Maya.
"Maya my love! Come to me! Be my wife of darkness!"
"Stay away from my child, you perverted freak!"
Matt grabbed the Countess and sunk his fangs into her neck. The others were stunned into silence as Matt drank Sarah's blood and let her drop onto the floor. Once he had grabbed Kate, the others came to their senses and screamed. As Kate's lifeless body hit the floor, Maya grabbed the paperweight and launched it towards Matt. This time, however, it missed, due to Maya's poor aim from her distressed state.
"Maya, Maya, my queen. Come to me."
Maya paused at the 'queen'.
"Don't listen to him!" screamed Lady Kathryn.
Matt reached the tied up Madame Smyth but discarded her, as Maya's blow had killed her.
At that moment, Peter came in and stabbed Matt through the heart with a wooden stake.
"That was close. He was a tough one," commented Lady Kathryn.
"Yes," said Lord Peter. "He was. The boat has docked for supplies, I suggest we leave."
"Good idea. Maya, would you like to join us on our hunt for the undead?"
Maya quickly considered the travel opourtunities.
"Yes, I'd love to!"
"OK! Great! Let's go then."
The 3 departed the boat, and vanished into the night.
THE END