Chapter Text
The change in Cardia’s behavior came suddenly and without any prior notice. From one day to the next, the usually sweet, relaxed, upbeat girl turned into someone totally unrecognizable. Impey’s usual, light-hearted banter was all of a sudden met with annoyance, gentle words of proposition shot down in anger. While Impey was upset at first, thinking her anger had something to do with him and only him, he soon realized that all the other men in the mansion, Lupin, Van Helsing, Victor and even Saint-Germain were targets of Cardia’s irritability.
It was as if someone had flipped an invisible switch.
Not only her mood seemed have underwent an extreme change, soon she seemed to suffer from a wide array of symptoms that were inexplicable to everyone.
During the day, Cardia was often out of breath, her skin color pale. She would flare up with energy one moment, getting upset at something someone said, then suffer from a fainting spell the next. Her appetite seemed to come and go as it pleased and so did her ability to sleep. Lupin and the others would lay awake at night in worry as they listened to Cardia roaming the halls of the mansion in restlessness.
It was finally after a particularly strong outburst of emotion from Cardia, that it all came to a head, with Saint-Germain calling the other four men into his study.
„To be honest with you, I had hoped that Cardia’s condition would better itself, that her mood swings would eventually disappear, but the more days pass, the more she seems to feel worse… I am grievously worried about her.“ Saint-Germain sighed deeply, his face filled with sorrow as he sat down in the winged chair behind his desk.
„I agree,“ Van Helsing said while taking out his shotguns and started to polish them with experienced movements in an attempt to hide how nerve-wracking the whole situation was to him.
„It looked like this might just be a temporary thing, but I’m starting to think that there’s more to it. Maybe it’s caused by the Horologium? Victor, what do you think?“
Everyone turned to the young doctor, who looked as equally pained as the others.
„I am not completely sure, but there’s a high probability of her body undergoing some sort of transformation. Again“.
„Do… do you think it might be something serious?“ Lupin asked, his voice filled with anxiety.
„I couldn’t say. I guess I would have to examine Cardia.“ Victor replied.
„Dammit and just as we have managed to get rid of the damn poison in her body!“ Impey exclaimed, jumped up from his seat and started to pace the room like an animal in captivity.
„Impey, calm down. You’re helping nobody with this,“ Van Helsing uttered, his grip tightening around the handle of his shotguns.
„Fran, I feel like it’s the best if you took a look at Cardia and ruled out any possible resurgence of the poison in her body.“
„But, but what if-„ Impey started, but was shot a dark look by Van Helsing.
No one wanted to even think about any „what ifs“.
„It’s decided then.“ Saint-Germain said as he folded his hands with ever so gracious movements. „Doctor, please examine Cardia immediately and report back to us about the cause of her symptoms. It’s best we don’t waste any more time.“
„I will do my best.“ Victor replied as he got up, striding out of the room with forceful, determined steps.
~**~
Just a little while later, Victor stood in front of Cardia’s room, his bag with tools and equipment firmly held in his right hand as he rose his left to gently knock on her door.
„Who is it?“ came the reply, barely audible and - to Victor’s concern - far too weak.
„Cardia, it’s me, Victor. Do you mind if I come inside for a moment? There’s something I need to talk to you about.“
When she answered, her voice was far too soft, her words of permission nearly lost in the process, but Victor still heard them. He opened the door and stepped inside only to find a scene that turned his blood to ice. Cardia lay on her back on the wide double-bed, her skin pale as a ghost’s and feverish, beads of sweat clearly visible on her forehead, her eyes glazed over and with slightly parted lips, she breathed shallowly.
Victor dropped his bag in shock, then hastily made his way to her bedside and knelt down beside her.
„Cardia! Good god what is happening?!“ he exclaimed, grasping her hand and holding it perhaps a bit too firmly.
„Victor…“ Cardia whispered, taking a labored breath and swallowing before continuing. „I’m feeling strange. I don’t know what’s going on…“ she sobbed, her eyes filling with tears.
It broke Victor’s heart to see her in this state of agony.
„Is it the Horologium? Is it acting up again?“ he asked her, panicked. Cardia shook her head very slowly. „No, it’s not. This is totally different from the times when the Horologium acted up. The burning isn’t restricted to my chest, it’s more like… my whole body is on fire.“
A feeling of relief washed over Victor upon hearing Cardia say this. At least it wasn’t the Horologium. Thank god. He had to be absolutely sure though.
„I am glad to hear this, but Cardia, I still need to examine you. We’ve all been worried about your condition for some time now and we all need to know what’s wrong so we can help you. Please.“
Cardia smiled and nodded slowly, weakly lifting her arms so that Victor could help her get up into a sitting position. As soon as she sat upright, she put her head on his shoulder, devoid of energy to keep it lifted up herself. Her skin was hot against Victor’s neck and she sighed contently when she felt the coolness of his. Carefully, Victor tried to move as little as possible as he gently unbuttoned the first couple of buttons of Cardia’s shirt. Indeed, the Horologium on her chest wasn’t glowing or hadn’t changed colors. It lay nestled in her skin before him and - as always - dormant.
What else could it be?
Victor put on his stethoscope and pressed the resonator against Cardia’s skin. Nothing. Well, except for the shallow breathing. ‚Could she be having an infection of sorts? But if so, why hadn’t the others been affected by it?‘ Victor pulled off the stethoscope, his hands instead moving to the sides of Cardia’s neck for palpation. He pressed and probed ever so gently, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. A sharp intake of breath from Cardia stopped him mid-examination.
„Cardia? Does it hurt?“ Victor asked, but Cardia shook her head, her breathing labored.
His hands moved further up and when his fingers caressed her cheeks, a moan ripped from Cardia’s chest that froze him in place. Slowly he looked down into Cardia’s flushed face, who looked back at him through half-lidded eyes. „Victor…“ she moaned, slightly writhing under his touch, then closed her eyes as if in pain.
It was then that the scales finally fell from his eyes and Victor realized what it was that had been paining Cardia these last couple of weeks. Blood rushed to his face and he opened and closed his mouth over and over like a fish on land desperate to get back into the water.
"Victor... w-what is wrong with me?" Cardia whispered weakly.
Her voice pulled him out of his reverie and Victor jumped up, almost causing Cardia to topple over. Wobbling, she held on to the edge of the bed and leaned on her arms, looking questioningly at him.
I'm sorry Cardia but I... um... I need to go back to the others..." he stammered, stumbling a couple of steps back. Cardia looked alarmed now.
"I-IT'S FINE! I mean... you're fine... I mean... it's not life-threatening, p-please don't worry!" The words were spilling out of him and Victor felt like he was about to pass out from embarrassment.
"I-I have to look up some treatment options for you... don't be scared, w-we... I mean I, will make sure you'll get better in no time! Now if you'll excuse me... I'll be back soon! I promise!"
He grasped his bag and rushed out of her room, his face still a deep shade of crimson when he eventually returned to Saint-Germain's study, where the other four were waiting for him. He let himself fall on the canapé, hiding his face in his hands.
Lupin and the others immediately assumed the worst and started pestering him with questions.
„What is wrong with her?“
„Is it serious?“
„Please don’t tell me it’s-!„
„Victor, please, we need answers!“
When Victor was eventually able to speak again, his voice was quiet. „She is fine, don’t worry. It’s not serious.“
While everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they were still deeply confused as to why Victor was so upset.
„Victor. There’s something you aren’t telling us. If Cardia is indeed not in grave danger, why did you come barging into this room like a headless chicken? What did you find out? What is it that Cardia is suffering from?“ Van Helsing’s voice was piercing, probing and Victor groaned in agony.
„Yes, Victor. We would very much like to know what it is you found out.“ Saint-Germain added, his usual, unsuspecting smile on his face.
Victor gulped audibly, then muttered something very quietly and quickly.
„Excuse me, but what did you just say?“ Lupin asked and leaned forward.
Victor repeated his words, but again, they were far too fast and far too low.
„Victor, stop this. Speak up for god’s sake.“ Van Helsing said, clearly annoyed with him.
„I said… she’s suffering from Hysteria. Female hysteria* to be precise.“ he finally spoke out and it was all he needed to say to plunge the room into complete and utter silence. Much like him before, slowly but surely each and every face turned into various shades of red, with Saint-Germain’s the least and Impey’s looking like he was close to collapsing.
„H-how d-do you k-know?“ Lupin stammered as he pulled the rim of his top hat down over his eyes.
For the first time, Victor looked at him directly. „I have read about the symptoms before and believe me, she was showing them. The horologium showed no signs of transformation and there was nothing else that would have pointed me in another direction. There is no doubt about it.“
Saint-Germain stepped forward, his face betraying whatever emotion he was feeling at the moment.
„Can you treat it?“ he asked, almost matter-of-factly.
„I-I think so. But we would have to build or get our hands on a device that would help her experience… ‚hysterical paroxysm‘.“ Victor replied, the last couple of words a mere whisper as he blushed again.
Somewhat sheepishly, the others looked over to Impey.
"...well we have one person here who can build just about anything..." Lupin quietly said, watching the red-haired mechanic as his facial expression turned from confusion to incredulousness and from incredulousness to terror, all while turning the same shade of red as Victor.
"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! I'm not going to do this! You cannot possibly ask that of me, Lupin! N-not when... not when C-Cardia... is involved..."
Victor felt sorry for Impey as he watched him burying his burning face in his hands.
„Now, now... there's no need to get upset, Impey. And you don't have to worry about it either, dear Frankenstein. As you know, I have my connections and if obtaining said device is the only problem we have, it shall not be a big one.“ Saint-Germain said, his facial features once again bemused.
He should be proven correct.
~~**~~
Less than a day after Cardia’s examination, one of Saint-Germain’s liegemen brought back a small package to the mansion, which they delivered directly to Victor’s room. Meanwhile, Victor had returned to Cardia and explained to her that, no, she wasn’t ill and no, she wasn’t going to die, so there was no need to worry, but yes, there had to be something done to make her feel better. With a beet red face and hesitant words he tried to describe to the girl what needed to be done, how the treatment would have to be administered and promised her, he wouldn’t do anything against her will.
Cardia had taken in his words, probably not completely understanding why Victor was so nervous, but was quick to agree. Anything to make her feel better. And after all, Victor was a dear, close friend, a person she trusted. She would be fine.
Victor balanced the package on his lap and opened it carefully. There, nestled in satin, lay the much-needed device. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, before muttering to himself:
„Get a grip, Frankenstein.“
He got up and made his way to Cardia’s room, where he softly knocked on the door. Less than a heartbeat later, Cardia opened it for him. She wasn’t as weak as she had been merely two days before, but she was still feeling and looking off. Her face was still pale, her breathing still shallow, eyes still slightly feverish.
As instructed, she wore the dress she had been wearing back when Lupin and Impey first met her, as it would allow her to not feel exposed while still giving Victor enough access for his treatment. Victor stepped slowly into the room and closed the door behind him. Cardia stood in front of him, unsure of what to do next, her fingers interwoven and resting against her lap.
„Please lay down on the bed, if you would. On your back. And… um… please… remove your… your undergarment.“ Victor stuttered, feeling his face turn red again. „I still have to clean the device before we can start.“ With that he turned to the small basin filled with hot water on the dresser he had prepared and started cleaning and sanitizing the small tool. Meanwhile, Cardia moved behind the partition in the corner and removed her underwear, before returning to the bed, where she lay down carefully.
When Victor was done, he turned around and walked over to her. She lay almost completely still and visibly stiff, her legs straight and closed, as she looked at him expectantly.
„Um… you need to move closer to the edge of the bed.“ Victor said and watched Cardia do as she was told. He sat down on the corner of the wide bed, careful to keep as much distance as possible while still staying within reach. „A-and now…“ he started, looking away from her face and trying to fixate an unspecific spot on the wall, „…please spread your legs and let them fall against the pillows, so that you’re comfortable.“
Victor gulped audibly.
„Victor?“
„Y-Yes?“
„Don’t you have to look into my direction? How would you know where to…“
„You’re right… I’m sorry.“
Victor turned his head back, forcing himself to look into Cardia’s face, rather than anywhere else. That would work. He could still see where he needed to go.
He gently pushed the golden button sitting in the middle of the cylindrical device and felt it buzz to life.
Inhale.
Exhale.
‚You can do this, Frankenstein.‘
Then he moved it south and pressed it against her flesh.
A sudden, strangled moan spilled from Cardia’s lips that Victor was convinced could be heard in the entire mansion, her body starting to writhe on the satin sheets.
„O-oh my g-god…“ she gasped, before another ripple coursed through her. Cardia bucked her hips, trying to push back against the tiny, rumbling motor and threw her head back as pleasure overwhelmed her. Over and over it repeated itself, this symphony of uttered moans and limbs, moving as if pulled by an invisible force.
And Victor watched. Couldn’t help but watch. Gone were his good intentions, his code of ethics he had set up for himself beforehand. How could he not? When a lovely being such as Cardia looked so angelic in her throes of ecstasy. Soon he wasn’t simply pressing the device against her, but moved it in slow, agonizing circles from her clitoris down to her labia and back up again. Cardia nearly screamed with each new movement, each new unfolding stimulus.
Victor was transfixed by the sight before him. When exactly had his pants become so uncomfortably tight?
But he would behave. He couldn’t listen to his body. His mind would be stronger. He was doing this for Cardia after all. He would-
„Vi…ctor…“
His name. It was his name that had suddenly crossed Cardia’s lips.
„Victor… please…“
Her voice was urgent, pleading. In her throes, she caught his wrist, forcing him out of his trance and making him stare back into her intense, green eyes.
‚Oh god. Don’t say it. There’s no going back if you do.‘
But she did.
„Victor… please… I need you… I need to… feel you…“ another moan, another ripple, her toes curling „…inside me…“
For one second he was frozen in place, then it was as if someone had pulled on a string, untying the knot that held him together. Victor forcefully threw the device into a corner, his hands then quickly moving to unbutton and unzip his pants. With a groan he freed his throbbing member and proceeded to climb onto the bed. He hovered above Cardia, once more looking deeply into her eyes.
„Are you… are you sure about this?“ he moaned. „I- I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to.“
Cardia nodded urgently, every spoken word now unnecessary and too much.
„Please, Victor… “ she begged and Victor complied. He positioned himself at her entrance, then thrust forward and entered her in one swift motion. Cardia gasped, the sensation of being filled so new and almost overwhelming, but at the same time the fulfillment of what her body had unbeknownst been begging for. Her arms wrapped around Victor’s neck, pulling him closer in. The young scientist pressed his forehead against hers, desperate to fight against this tempest of desire flooding his senses, but he knew he would lose.
„Cardia…“ he whispered, his voice heavy with lust and bent down to kiss her. Cardia whimpered when she felt his tongue probing her carefully, gently. With equal tenderness, she reciprocated, imitating his actions, exploring him in the same way as he explored her. She was hesitant, the act of kissing someone so foreign, yet so natural to her. It didn’t take long before she eventually succumbed to her instinct and let all inhibitions go.
Victor shuddered and began to move, first agonizingly slow, then faster and more urgent when Cardia started eliciting more of those delicious whimpers and moans. They were both suddenly extremely aware of each other, of each labored breath, each uttered name, the smell of fevered skin, the sound of sheets rustling underneath their heated bodies.
It all came to a head when Victor hit a spot deep within Cardia that made her see white and caused her to cry out in pleasure.
Again.
Victor needed to hear it again.
His hand found its way into the hollow of her left knee and quickly hoisted her leg up on his shoulder, thus allowing for deeper penetration.
Just a little more. Just a little further.
Victor drove into her over and over, feeling his climax approaching too fast, too soon. That was not what he wanted. He would be lying now if he said his own pleasure wasn’t a driving force behind their fervent lovemaking, but to him Cardia came - quite literally - first. Luckily, she didn’t seem to be too far away from orgasm either, judging by her panting and the shorter intervals between her moans.
It only took a couple more thrusts, then, after what seemed like almost an eternity, she finally came undone. Merely the blink of an eye later, Victor followed suit.
Spent, he fell into the soft bedsheets beside her, panting, trying to get his breath back. Cardia shimmied closer and kissed him lazily before resting her head on his chest. Already, sleep started tugging heavily on her eyelids and she wrapped her arms around Victor’s chest as she began to doze off.
She looked so calm and utterly satisfied in her sleep. Victor smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead, gently running his fingers through her hair until he drifted off to sleep as well.
~~**~~
Outside the room, one ear gently pressed to the door, Saint-Germain smiled.
„I knew I could count on you, Dr. Frankenstein…“ he chuckled before turning on his heel and strolling leisurely back to his study.
„Oh dear Cardia… To behold your awakening to the pleasures of physical love, like a flower blooming in all its beauty for the first time, is a sight that even a goddess would envy…“
Saint-Germain’s eyes were glistening, focused on a spot somewhere in the distance.
„I’ll make sure to witness more of it in the near future…“ he murmured, before disappearing into the dark.