Dead Souls Volume Three (Parts 27 to 39)

by Amy Cross

  ***

  “Just promise you'll be there,” Benjamin said with a smile as he put a hand on Madeleine's bare waist. “I've gone to a lot of trouble, and I'd feel like a damn fool if you stood me up.”

  “You shouldn't do such things,” she replied, staring up at the blue sky. They were a little way out of town, on their backs in the long grass as a gentle breeze blew in from the sea. Having made love, they were both a little out of breath, but Madeleine was already finding that being with Benjamin couldn't banish the dark thoughts from her mind. Not quite. “I don't deserve it.”

  “And what does that mean?” he asked.

  “What do you think I'm capable of?” she replied, rolling onto her side and looking into his eyes. “Truthfully. Don't try to spare my feelings, just tell me... Do you think I could do something awful?”

  “Madeleine -”

  “Answer me,” she said firmly, her eyes briefly looking up at the mansion in the distance before she stared back at her lover. “It's important.”

  “I think you're a complicated woman,” he replied, “from a complicated family. I don't believe in saints, Madeleine, and my love for you isn't based on some desire for you to be perfect. I know full well that anyone, if pushed -”

  “Be specific,” she said, interrupting him. “You're trying to protect my feelings again. Don't.”

  “You're not your brother,” he told her. “I've heard of the things he does, and the things his father used to do. You're not either of them. You're your own person.”

  “But do you think I could do something heinous?” she asked. “For example, do you think I could kill a man?”

  “I hope not,” he replied with a grin.

  “Not you,” she told him, leaning down and resting the side of her face on his chest. “Never you. But someone else. Do you think I could do something so awful?”

  She waited for a reply, while listening to the sound of his heart beating in his chest. After a moment, she turned to look up at his face.

  “Why aren't you answering?” she asked.

  “I know so little of your life before I met you,” he replied.

  “So?”

  “So I don't know all the events that molded you.”

  “Then ask. There's nothing I won't tell you. I've already talked to you of my childhood. My parents -”

  “I know,” he replied, leaning down and kissing her forehead. “If you want to know the truth, I don't think you could ever do anything truly, irredeemably evil. I just don't think you have it in you.”

  “And if you were wrong,” she continued, “would you no longer be able to love me?”

  “What kind of a question is that?”

  “Answer it.”

  “If I was wrong...” He stared at her for a moment. “If I was wrong, it would mean I didn't really know you after all, and that in turn would mean...” He paused. “But why are you asking? You haven't done anything, have you?” He waited for an answer. “Madeleine?”

  She turned to look at the mansion again, imagining Edgar drinking the nightsorrow-laced tea. The plan had seemed so simple earlier, when she'd fantasized about getting her brother out of her life forever, but now she felt darkness closing in all around and she was starting to fear that her soul couldn't survive such horror. She imagined the scene over and over: Edgar drinking, and then collapsing, and then her dragging him away and finding some way to imprison him forever. In the back of her mind, she knew that she could take the Crucifix of St. Joan from her father's chest and plunge it into her brother. Despite all the hatred she felt for Edgar, however, she knew that she'd never be the same person again if she committed such an awful act. Turning back to Benjamin, she saw the concern in his eyes.

  “Madeleine,” he continued, “you're starting to scare me.”

  “I have to go,” she replied, rolling away and grabbing her clothes. She began to get dressed as fast as possible. “I'm sorry, I just remembered something.”

  “You're worrying me,” he told her.

  “It's fine,” she said, forcing a smile as she got to her feet. “I'm sorry, next time I'll stay longer. I just have to go and do something. I really want some ice cream. I know that sounds silly, but I've been loving ice cream lately and I just have to have some.” With that, she turned and began to hurry away.

  “Promise you'll meet me tomorrow night,” he called after her. “Madeleine! It's important!”

  He waited, but she was already too far away, racing through the grass on her way back to the mansion.

  “It's very important,” he added, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

  V

  Washing his hands in the bathroom, Father Gregory paused for a moment as he heard the whisper again. He looked around, but there was no-one to be seen.

  “What is this trickery?” he muttered. “Who wants to spend all their time taunting an old man?”

  ***

  “Edgar! Don't drink the -”

  Stopping suddenly in the doorway, Madeleine saw that Edgar wasn't at his desk. She took a couple of steps forward, and finally she saw the full tea-cup still sitting next to all the paperwork, apparently untouched.

  “Do you really think I can't tell when someone has put nightsorrow in my drink?” Edgar asked, standing behind her.

  She turned to him.

  “Also,” he continued, with a faint smile, “do you really think I can't read you like a book? I know when you're up to something, Madeleine. Please, never think you can fool me.”

  “I...” she began to say, trying not to panic. “I mean... The...”

  “I'm not surprised you tried to poison me,” he told her, “although I suppose I hoped, deep down, that you'd do a slightly better job. You never had any hope of succeeding, but I'd still like to think that my sister is competent at such things. If you ever need the poison someone else, do make sure to ask me for advice, won't you?”

  “Edgar, it's not how it looks.”

  “So you didn't try to kill me?”

  “I...”

  He walked past her and made his way to the desk, before picking up the cup. “Nightsorrow is widely believed to be undetectable,” he continued, “but that's simply not true. Those with distinguished senses can always tell when nightsorrow is nearby. I feel rather insulted that you think I'd fall for such a pathetic attempt.” Sniffing the cup for a moment, he put it to his lips and began to drink.

  “Edgar!” she shouted, hurrying over and grabbing the cup, sending it crashing to the floor where it smashed, spilling its contents. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “You wanted me to drink it,” he replied, “so I was going to drink it.”

  “You're insane!”

  “I doubt it would have much of an effect on me,” he continued. “As a child I sipped nightsorrow regularly, and I've built up something of an immunity.” He paused for a moment, staring into her eyes. “What's his name?”

  “Who?”

  “The man you love. The man you want to be with. The man for whom you were willing to kill me.”

  “Please -”

  “I know exactly what's going on here,” he added. “I've seen the way you sneak out and head to the town. You stink of human.” He leaned closer, sniffing her neck. “You've been very close to him. Very close indeed. He kissed you here...” He placed a finger on her neck, before moving it down a few inches. “And here. In many places, actually. You smell like trash.”

  “Shut up,” she replied, stepping back. “You have no right to -”

  “I have every right,” he said firmly. “Father left me in charge of the estate.”

  “I'm not part of the estate!”

  “You are according to his will.” He smiled. “Tell me your lover's name.”

  “No.”

  “I'll find out anyway. Thaxos isn't exactly filled with eligible men.”

  “Please, Edgar, just leave us alone.”

  “After you made a pathetic attempt to kill me? How can I resist? Why won't you tell me
the man's name, dear sister? What are you afraid of?”

  “I know what you'd do to him. You'd kill him.”

  “That's a rather terrible assumption.”

  “You would kill him,” she continued, “and all you'd leave would be a pile of bones.”

  “Madeleine -”

  “Yes you would!” she shouted, with tears in her eyes. “I know you! You kill everyone and everything eventually! Even Estella!”

  “Why would I kill Estella?”

  “Because you love her,” she continued, starting to lose control completely, “or at least you think you do, and you always kill things you love. One day you'll tire of her and that's when it'll begin. You might not cut her throat or strap her into one of your torture devices, but you'll kill her some other way. You'll drive her to madness, or you'll make her hate herself. That's another of your little tricks, Edgar. You turn people against themselves and make them do the most awful things!” She paused, trying to catch her breath. “You've already turned me into someone who tried to murder her brother.”

  “Which was your own decision.”

  “Driven by weakness!” she shouted. “You're like the winter frost! You find the cracks in souls and you slip inside, and then when you freeze you make the cracks bigger and bigger until the soul shatters. No-one is safe around you.”

  “Tell me his name.”

  She shook her head.

  “Do you really think you can keep anything from me?” he asked, stepping toward her. “I have full command of everything that happens on this island.”

  “Not Kate Langley,” she replied, with venom in her eyes.

  At the mention of that name, he paused.

  “You don't know who she is, do you?” Madeleine continued as a broad smile stretched across her lips. “I can see that in your face, dear brother. You're trying to be calm, you're trying to play the waiting game, but it's driving you insane. You're struggling every second to keep from racing back down to the town and ripping her heart out.” Stepping closer, she saw the anger in his eyes. “Why don't you do it? Or why don't you drag her up here, strap her into one of your machines, and crack every one of her bones until she tells you the truth? After all, the only thing that matters is finding out the truth. You don't need to keep her alive for that.”

  “I'm more patient than you seem to believe.”

  “Liar. You're scared.”

  He opened his mouth to reply, but words seemed to fail him.

  “You are, aren't you?” she continued, her voice trembling with anger and glee. “My God, it's true! I never thought I'd live to see the day when the great Baron Edgar Le Compte was scared, but it's absolutely true. Kate Langley is something you don't understand, and that worries you. What's wrong, do you think someone is using her against you? Or do you think she's the threat herself?”

  “You have no idea what you're talking about,” he said firmly.

  “You won't try to hurt her,” she replied, “not yet. You're like a beast in the jungle. You're used to dominating all the other creatures, but now one has come along that makes you wonder... You're sniffing around at the edges, trying to understand her, but you won't make a move unless you're certain you can win. For as long as she's a mystery to you, Kate Langley is completely safe.”

  “She won't remain a mystery for long,” he replied. “I already know who brought her here.”

  “And who's that? One of your old enemies from the war?”

  “Someone much closer to home.”

  “Who? There's -” Stopping suddenly, she realized what he meant. “You think father is behind this?”

  “I went to his corpse last night,” Edgar replied, “and I asked him.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He denied it. Of course he did, that's part of his plan.”

  “Either that or he was telling the truth. Maybe, dear brother, the impossible has happened. Maybe you're actually wrong about something!”

  “It was him. It has to have been him.”

  “You're desperate,” she replied. “You're trying to put the blame on the one person you think might be responsible, but you know deep down that something else might be happening. It would feel good to know that father did this, wouldn't it? At least you'd have begun to understand. Careful though, brother. You might be jumping to the wrong conclusion.” She paused. “Did father say anything else?”

  He shook his head.

  “And you put the crucifix back into his chest?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. I don't know why you haven't got rid of his body yet, it's hideous having the damn thing still in the house.”

  “Tell me the name of the man you think you love,” he replied.

  “You're losing control,” she said, taking a step back. “The number of things you don't know is really starting to pile up. I thought you were supposed to know everything about this island, Edgar? How does it feel to know that other people have secrets?”

  “Tell me his name.”

  Smiling, she turned and made her way to the door. “Focus on Kate Langley,” she told him. “Leave me to -”

  Before she could finish, she felt Edgar's breath on the back of her neck. She turned, just as he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the wall.

  “Tell me his name!” he shouted.

  “So you can go and slaughter him?” she gasped.

  “So I can warn him,” he replied. “If he's human, he shouldn't be mixing with someone like you.”

  “That's rather hypocritical of you, considering the human who sleeps in your bed every night.” She tried to pull his hand from her neck. “Either choke me or let go of me, Edgar. Just don't bore me. Better yet, put me in one of your machines and torture me. Don't tell me the thought hasn't crossed your mind. Make me scream for my life.”

  He stared at her for a moment, before letting go of her throat and slowly turning to walk back to his desk.

  “Coward!” she shouted, grabbing him from behind and wrapping her arm around his neck, before pulling him back. “Didn't you learn when we were children, Edgar? Never turn your back on me!” Before he had a chance to reply, she opened her mouth and bit down hard on his neck, slicing her fangs into his flesh.

  Reaching around to grab her hand, he pulled it close and bit her wrist.

  For a moment they remained entwined, each with their teeth in the other's flesh, each refusing to be the first to let go. Gasping as the pain began to build, Edgar tried to turn his head away from her, but Madeleine kept her fangs firmly embedded in his neck and he in turn bit down harder and harder on her wrist. As he tasted her blood entering his body, he felt his own being drained, until finally – just as the pain was becoming too much – Madeleine pulled her fangs out, and he immediately did the same.

  “You lost,” Edgar gasped, stumbling forward before turning to her. Reaching up, he felt the two sharp holes on the side of his neck, with blood running down past his shirt collar and onto his chest.

  “Did I?” she asked breathlessly, clutching her damaged wrist. “When we were children, the loser was the one who stopped first. We're not children anymore, Edgar. Maybe the winner is the one who ends the misery.”

  “Get out!” he shouted, stepping toward her.

  Turning, she slipped out of the room, but a moment later she could be heard laughing.

  Listening to the sound of his sister running along the corridor, Edgar paused for a moment, fuming as he felt the pain in his neck. Heading over to the mirror, he examined the two small holes and saw that blood was already starting to dry on his skin. He spat some of Madeleine's blood onto the floor before making his way back to the desk, but at the last moment he had to stop and lean against the wall, still feeling weak from the confrontation with his sister.

  “No-one keeps secrets from me,” he whispered finally, despite the throbbing pain in his neck. “I know everything that happens on this island!” He paused for a moment, trying to control his anger, before finally turning back tow
ard the door. “Jacob!” he shouted. “Get in here! I have a job for you!”

  ***

  “Out with your girlfriend again, were you?”

  Closing the ring-box, Benjamin quickly stuffed it back under his shirts and closed the drawer, before turning to see that his brother Joshua was standing in the doorway.

  “Father's been looking for you,” Joshua continued with a knowing smile. “He asked where you'd got to this afternoon, but don't worry, I covered for you.” He looked at the drawer for a moment. “What've you got in there?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Mind if I take a look?”

  “I'm too busy for games.”

  “So let me look.”

  “Don't you have work to be doing?” Benjamin asked. “Or maybe a card-game to play at the cantina?”

  “It must be hard,” Joshua continued, “running around like this, trying to keep everything secret. Don't you sometimes want to share your love with the world? Wouldn't it feel good to stand up and tell everyone that you, Benjamin Wood of Thaxos, are in love with Madeleine Le Compte?”

  “I should go and find father. At least one of us should help him in the workshop.”

  “Go on, then,” Joshua replied, grinning as he watched his brother's discomfort. “Oh, but you can't, can you? Not while I'm stood here, 'cause you're worried I'll go rooting through your drawer. So you need me to leave first, and then you can take whatever you're hiding and put it somewhere else.” He took a few steps into the room. “Would it surprise you to know, dear brother, that I actually think you're rather brave?”

  “And why's that?”

  “You could have any woman on this island. We both know Evangeline Mediaci gets wet in her panties every time she sees you, and she's widely acknowledged as the prettiest girl Thaxos has ever known, but instead you're aiming for that scruffy little thing from the mansion. What is it that you like so much about Madeleine Le Compte? Her pale skin? Her pointy teeth? Does she taste so good that -”