by Mason, V. F.
For Frank, I have a special place reserved in Lachlan’s dungeon where he’ll suffer for ages before finally dying and departing this earth, taking with him the darkness that destroys innocent souls.
Several emotions play on his face, from confusion to fear, but most prominent is curiosity, and he finally nods. “Sure.” He motions for me to follow him to the living room and points at the couch, dropping into the chair opposite it.
Gracefully sitting, I cross my legs and don’t miss how for a second his attention shifts there, but he quickly snaps out of it when I begin to talk, not wanting to prolong this.
Otherwise, I might not resist punching him in the face, and that’s a luxury I can’t afford for now.
It’s Patricia’s time, after all.
“During the ball, I discovered something and I think you should know about it.” I coat my voice with as much sympathy as I can muster and take out photos from the envelope, squeezing them in my hands and sighing heavily as if it brings me discomfort to bring him pain.
When in reality it’s my greatest pleasure. I confess I did a salsa dance when the investigator I put on the lovers brought the photos to me, because they were stupid enough to continue their affair even after I caught them. “I’m really sorry about this, but I can’t watch people being deceived like that. Especially after Ethan’s death.” I wipe away the imaginary tear from the corner of my eye while he glances at me worriedly. “You’ve already lost someone you love. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I don’t tell you the truth.” I extend my hand with the photos, and he snatches them from me, his gaze glued to them as he studies one, then another, and the other. He flips them so fast it’s a wonder they don’t drop.
I wait for an emotional outburst, from fury to rage, but while his face darkness, it stays completely blank. Shouldn’t a man who is in love with his wife be furious at all this? Or at least at Frank who has been by his side since they were two?
I can’t imagine receiving those photos and seeing Eudard in the arms of another woman, my best friend at that, in different sexual positions.
I’d fucking kill him.
The nagging voice in my head is quick to pitch in.
You kissed his twin. A priest. What should he feel?
Isn’t it just ridiculous though? I can’t believe I’m even making such a comparison!
“I’m so sorry,” I say again, hoping my voice prompts him to act suitably for the situation. But he stays quiet for several more minutes before speaking in his monotone voice, yet I do detect traces of annoyance.
“She cheated on me. With Frank.” Hollow laughter echoes around the room before he runs his hand up and down his face, sighing heavily. “I’ve suspected the cheating for years. But I never thought it was Frank.” Bitterness coats these words as he gets up, and I follow suit, twisting my palms and speaking with concern.
“This has been going on for years?” I want to congratulate Patricia on that, fooling around on her husband and never once being caught.
That takes a certain skill; I’ll give her that.
“We’ve never been a happy couple in love. We got married, because she got pregnant,” he fires out, and my brows rise at this, because this information wasn’t present in the report. As I discovered recently though, Arson hid a lot of stuff from me, but why I’ll never know. “A Brown could never have bastard kids. I always wanted only Meghan.”
I barely hold back a laugh threatening to spill from my lips.
Is this why he raped me on that night, even though he spent it with Meghan just hours before capturing me? Ralph has a very twisted notion of the word love.
Before I can comment on that, he hugs me close, pressing himself against me. It makes me freeze, revulsion sinking into every bone as acid builds in my throat. I’m ready to twist away from his hold, even though I can’t.
He has to trust me in order to get his punishment. Revealing myself to him is out of the question.
The sound of the door shutting and a loud shout of “I’m home” saves me as Ralph steps back, curling his lip in distaste.
Shortly, Patricia enters, cocking her head to the side when she sees me. “Cassandra!” she exclaims in delight and rushes toward me, kissing my cheek. “What a lovely surprise! What are you doing here?” Her gaze darts between us. “Sorry I had to stop by the elementary school, because the twins needed my attention.” The way she says it though leaves no doubt she has been with Frank.
“Did you?” Ralph snarls, and the smile slips from her lips when she notices tension in the air along with the fury shaking his body.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she grits through her teeth while quickly glancing at me, but I avoid her gaze, looking down at my shoes, and wait for her bubble to burst. “I don't care for your tone either.”
His hollow laughter echoes in the room when he shows her the pictures, dropping them one after another on the floor by her feet while she becomes paler and paler, covering her mouth with her palm. “You’ve been fucking Frank behind my back.” He almost hits her with one of the photos. “In my house too, you fucking bitch!”
He shouts the last part while her lips tremble, mumbling, “I can explain—”
“What can you explain? Your cheating, you whore?” He grabs her elbow, shaking her so harshly that her purse drops, and she cries out. “I always knew you were a bitch. But it turns out you are just an expensive whore who I was stupid enough to marry.” He glares in her face, and she tries to touch his cheek, but he slaps her hand away. “Were you fucking him just now, huh?” She stays silent, tears cascading down her face, but it only fuels Ralph’s blood while I watch him in surprise when an unusual darkness comes from him that has danger written all over it. “Did my best friend fuck you good, dear wife?” He spits the last words before pushing her away.
She tumbles on the floor, crying and then begging, “Ralph, please. Let me explain.”
“Explain? Oh no. You’ll get the fuck out of here while I call our lawyers for a divorce.” He turns away and then barks, “Lina!” The maid shows up instantly with shock written all over her—she probably listened from the hallway. “Pack Patricia’s clothes and put them on the doorstep. From now on, she has no right to enter this house.”
“Sir—” she says, but he stops her, raising his hand.
“Do as I say or you can go with her.” She nods and disappears back into the hallway.
Ralph picks up the photos as Patricia wraps her hands around his leg, sobbing and pleading. “Ralph, please don't do this. Our daughters—”
“Will stay with me.” He frees his leg and points a finger at her. “Do as I say or you won’t ever see them again.”
“No! My little girls!” She cries harder, but it has no effect on her husband.
“You should have thought about our girls before you fucked my best friend.” Then he traps her chin between his thumb and index finger, pressing painfully on it, judging by her wince. “If you so much as try to make this divorce difficult… question the settlement… or go running to Daddy,” he says, squeezing her chin harder, “you’ll never see them again. I will take them away and make it seem like you never happened in their life.” She hiccups a sob.
Despite my vengeance, I shift uncomfortably and my heart pangs at the pain showing on her face at the thought of being separated from her daughters.
As a woman, all this is horrible to witness, even if those are the repercussions of her own actions. But as a person who orchestrated it all… it couldn’t have gone better.
He lets go of her, takes a deep breath, and then address me, “Thank you again for letting me know. Sometimes strangers are more your friends than the ones close to you.” He waits a bit before adding, “If you ever need anything… know that the Browns in this town will provide it for you.” Then he walks off after the maid while Patricia’s head swings my way, a myriad of emotions playing on her face.
From confusion to disbelief and finally anger as she gets up quickly, coming
at me with full force. “You told him!”
Smirking, I place my hand on my hip. “Sure thing. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself otherwise.” Then I wink at her, lowering my voice. “Now you can finally go to poor Frank who has dreamed about it for so long. No need to act like it’s such a hardship. We both know how much you love his touch.” I finish the speech, watching with fascinating how she becomes red as a tomato, her hands fisting, and I imagine smoke coming out of her ears.
And then her hands are in my hair and tugging, dragging us on the floor as we tumble to it. I hit my head on the table, stilling the cry of pain.
She tries to kick me a few times, but I block them, twisting her and flipping her on her back. Quickly getting up, I wince at my sore muscles since she pushed her weight on me then rub my forehead, only to see blood smeared on my fingers.
That fucking bitch!
“What have I done to you?” she asks, getting up and trying to slap me, but I block it with my arm and push her away so she falls on the couch, yelping. “You ruined my life.”
Picking up my purse, I reply coldly, “Your life is not ruined yet. But it will be.”
That has her attention real quick while panic swirls in her eyes. “What does that mean?” But I’m done explaining as I go to the exit, all while she runs after me, grabbing my arm, but once again, I push her away so her back hits the wall.
“I only destroyed your marriage. But that’s not enough.” I glance over my shoulder at her as she breathes heavily, trying to make sense of all this. But she fails, because she has no logical explanation for a newcomer to hate her so much or go against her will. “I’ll take that invisible crown you are wearing.” Fear crosses her face while her mouth opens and closes. Words must be failing her. “The only thing you truly value is your power and reputation. Once you don’t have it—” I put on my sunglasses, smiling at her brightly. “—then your life will be ruined.”
“I won’t allow you. I don’t need Ralph to rule this town. I’m a Flores!” She screams the last part and I shrug, sighing with boredom.
“Your company is almost bankrupt, Patricia. Without the Browns, you are nothing.” She blinks in confusion, clearly unaware of the financial difficulties of her corporation that her brother is desperately trying to save.
Well…
Surprise!
“But don’t worry. I’ll show you the generosity you never showed me. Your girls will stay with you. They are the only reason I’m sparing you,” I tell her and finally walk outside, breathing in the air.
I won’t make her children collateral damage in this, because they don't deserve it.
Vengeance is not about killing everyone, no.
It’s about punishing them by taking away those things they love the most, that make them tick and sacrifice things for in life.
Only then their pain will be as great as mine.
Soon, everyone will know my identity.
Even though I want to drive off to Eudard’s office and let his arms wash away all the disgusting things I had to do today… I can’t do this.
I can’t face him without facing his brother again first.
Because watching the scene in the living room play out proved one thing.
There is no point in prolonging anything. The scores have to be settled as fast as possible before Eudard gets hurt in my twisted web.
I just hope he will be able to forgive me for what I’m about to do to his twin.
Chapter Seventeen
“There is a thin line between love and hate. Sometimes the person we love might be our greatest enemy… and the person we hate the most can be our only salvation.”
Isabella suggested that once while we discussed different hectic emotions and how to handle them all… or play them in front of every man.
They are powerful weapons, and the ones that arouse the most desire.
Love and hate hold no meaning for me though.
To me, both of them are destructive emotions that can change in the blink of an eye.
And if the person you trusted and loved turns their back on you, then you need to run.
As nothing is greater that the hate of the person who once used to love you.
I’m the living proof of it.
Cassandra
The rain is pouring heavily on the sidewalk of the church as I slowly walk toward the door, my clothes soaking wet while my heels click loudly on the concrete, ricocheting through the night and mixing with the sound of droplets slapping the road.
Throwing my head back, I allow the raindrops to fall all over me, cleaning the blood dripping from the wound on my forehead. Opening my arms wide, I welcome the thunder and the sounds of nature’s storm as if it’s celebrating with me and basking me in all the glory that this summer night has to offer.
With a deep breath, I reach the iron door and knock three times, shivering slightly from the cold.
In only seconds, he opens the door, his intense green eyes scanning me from head to toe and widening, probably at seeing my wounds. “Cassandra,” he whispers, stepping into the rain that instantly soaks his clothes too, and grabs my shoulders. “What happened to you?”
Instead of answering his question, I go straight to the confessional and enter, placing my hand on the wall between us, waiting for him to follow suit.
Even if he is shocked, he can’t ignore his duty.
After all, a priest should always be there to listen to sinners who come for the atonement heaven can grant them.
Even if they are beyond saving.
He steps inside, his shoes thumping on the wooden floor, and his deep breath fills the space between us, sending familiar awareness through me that awakens every cell in my body.
Which probably only adds to the never-ending pile of my sins.
I almost chuckle, imagining his face if he knew about my true emotions that rush whenever he is near me.
Would he ban me from his church, the place that took my innocence and dumped me in hell, forever?
Settling on the small bench, I wipe away the blood from my cheeks while licking my dry lips as my mind searches for suitable words to start this.
“Cassandra?” My name on his lips reminds me of the richest wine, as if he puts special emphasis on it, and it has a secret meaning for him.
Like despite how impossible or wrong it is… I mean something to him.
How can one man who is so forbidden… be so irresistible?
Irresistible to kill for what he has done to me.
But thanks to his brother, I can never act on those urges.
After Ethan’s confession letter, I have no doubt about it. Maybe before I could pretend for a second his presence at the church was a figment of my imagination. But he is just like all of them, monsters who so easily snatched my life from me.
Clearing my throat, I rest my head on the wall and finally allow myself to speak. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”
The time has come for my confession.
And the most ironic part about it?
I’m not even sorry for what I’ve done.
“How did you sin, Cassandra?” His tone is so calm, even offering me support in my confession.
I don’t need it though; the only thing I desire is his misery so he knows what his actions have done to me. “Today, I destroyed a family and friendship.”
He exhales heavily. “Are you talking about the Browns?”
“I exposed Patricia’s affair with Frank to Ralph.”
Surprise rings in his voice when he asks, “They were lovers?”
“For years. He has been in love with her since high school, after all.” Silence follows my statement, so I continue. “Always there whenever she needed him. But she wanted Ralph, so I guess she brought this disaster on herself.” A pang of regret registers in me for what their twin daughters have to suffer.
Their parents will love them no matter what though, and their affair has been a ticking bomb anyway.
He clears
his throat. “How do you know about that?”
“We used to be best friends. You see, Father Eachann...” I trail off, shifting on my seat so I gaze straight at him even though only the edges of him are visible to me. “In another life, my name was Arianna Griffin. That’s one of the reasons I smiled instead of cried when I heard about Ethan’s passing. I’m sure you are aware of why I’m here. I’m going according to order. You come right after Patricia.”
“No,” he whispers. Something heavy thumps in the confessional, and then he gets out, shutting the door loudly. Hooking my hair over my ear, I slowly get up and follow him.
What I see is a mess of a man, horror filling his eyes when he scans me from head to toe, probably trying to find similarities with Arianna and failing. “I can help you with that,” I say and remove the contacts easily from my eyes, glaring at him with my violet pools.
Then recognition settles into his features, but oddly enough, it doesn’t bring me the satisfaction that I sought.
I should have never fallen for his twin.
This decision wouldn’t have been difficult then.
But I did, so the time has come to face the consequences.
Eachann
Agony and horror spread through me in waves, hitting me from every corner along with the never-ending guilt that for a second doesn’t let me breathe.
Images that I’ve almost managed to block from my mind play and play and play like a silent movie in a projector, changing one after another, reminding me of that summer day.
Blood, so much blood.
Pain so strong I was suffocating on it.
And finally the smell of burned skin after what he had done to me.
Pulling at my hair, I groan loudly, falling to my knees, because all this has the effect of an actual blow. The only difference is that I know everything about harsh blows that leave you bleeding on the floor for hours.
This fire of pain in my chest, though, is incomparable to anything I’ve ever felt before.
I never wanted to hurt the one bright thing in our lives, but my actions did, and now she has turned into a heartless creature reminding me nothing of the angel she once used to be.