by Amy Cross
***
“Where is he?” Kate shouted as soon as she saw Jacob at the top of the steps that led up to the mansion's front door. “Where's Edgar?”
Looking disconcerted for a moment, Jacob made his way down the steps, but he stopped as soon as he saw Jennifer's body in the back of the cart. For a few seconds, he seemed utterly shocked by the sight, as if – even after all the grotesque and bizarre sights he'd seen during his time as Edgar's manservant – he hadn't been prepared for such a moment.
“I...” he began to say, “well, I -”
“Where's Edgar?” Kate shouted again, grabbing his lapels as if she was about to shake him. “I don't care what bullshit he's up to, I need him here! Fetch him! Now!”
“I shall endeavor to find him,” Jacob replied, turning and hurrying back up the steps.
“This isn't going to work, Kate,” Madeleine said, with a hint of concern in her eyes. “I think maybe you just need to accept that -”
“I already know what you think,” Kate replied, pushing past her and reaching into the cart, before lifting Jennifer's limp body out. “You don't need to keep telling me.”
“Let me help,” Benjamin said, stepping toward her.
“I'm fine,” Kate continued, clearly struggling a little as she turned and carried Jennifer up the steps. “I've got her,” she added under her breath.
“This is insane,” Benjamin muttered, turning to Madeleine. “What the hell are we supposed to do now?”
“We -” Pausing, Madeleine didn't seem to have an answer. “We have to identify Quill's weak point and use it against him. Everyone has something, some kind of flaw that can be exploited.” She paused. “Well, apart from me. I'm flawless. But other people, they have flaws.”
“You can't keep putting yourself in danger,” he told her. “Not while you're carrying our child.”
“So what am I supposed to do?” she asked. “Sit around in a pile of cotton wool while everyone else tries to deal with the problem? Fat chance!”
“You're putting the baby in danger,” Benjamin continued. “Madeleine, this isn't your fight! It's Edgar's!”
“And he's my brother,” she replied, clearly shocked by his attitude. “I don't know what it's like in your family, but in mine, we stand up for each other.”
“You have to think about the future.”
“I am!”
“Our future!” Stepping toward her, he put a hand on her belly. “That Quill guy is a monster, and you're setting yourself up to be his next target! Don't you think he'll come after you if he thinks it's a way to hurt Edgar?”
“Let him try,” she said firmly.
“And then what? You'll fight him off?”
“I can take care of myself,” she continued, “and I can take care of the baby too. Remember, it's half my child too, so it's gonna be a little tougher than if it was just human.”
“But if -” He paused, staring down at her belly. “Is that what it's going to be? Half human and half vampire?”
“Maybe,” she replied. “I don't know, but... Would that be a problem?”
“Of course not, but -”
“Then quit going on about stuff you can't change!” she told him, taking hold of his hand and moving it away from her belly. “I have to get in there and try to talk some sense into Kate. If all you can do is keep yapping on about stuff and telling me to be careful, maybe you should just go back to town.”
“Madeleine -”
“I'm serious,” she replied, taking a step back. “I thought you had a little more faith in me. I'd never put myself in unnecessary danger, but I know way more about my capabilities than you can ever imagine. If you think I'd let anyone hurt the baby, you're wrong. I've got this covered.”
He stared at her, clearly concerned.
“If you're going to be in this world with me,” she added, “you need to realize that I'm way, way tougher than any human. And right now, the best thing you can do to help is to just keep from getting under my feet. Didn't you say that you needed to talk to your father about the business? Something about telling him that your stinking brother's going to take over?”
“Yes, but -”
“So go do that,” she said, turning and heading to the steps. “Come back to the house in a few hours. Maybe by then we'll have come up with a better plan.”
“Madeleine -”
“Go!”
As she reached the top of the steps, she paused for a moment, realizing that maybe she'd been a little harsh. Turning, she saw that Benjamin was already walking away.
“I love you,” she whispered. “I just need you to understand that I can't let Edgar go through this alone. He's my brother and he needs me.”
Sighing, she made her way through the door. Hearing voices at the end of one of the corridors, she hurried to the study, where she found that Kate had already placed Jennifer's body on the sofa, while Nixon and Estella had arrived to see what was happening.
“Her neck's broken,” Nixon explained, as he examined the corpse. “In several places, actually. Death would have been quick. Not instant, but quick. She probably had a moment of awareness.”
“You're not helping,” Kate told him, looking over toward the door. “Where's Edgar?”
“She's cold,” Nixon continued. “Every second that passes makes it less likely that he'll be able to do anything.”
“But he can bring people back,” Kate said firmly. “He's done it before!”
“He has?” Nixon asked.
“He brought -” Before she could finish, Kate stopped herself as she realized that it might not be too wise to mention the time Edgar had saved her life. “It's complicated,” she added, “but he can do a lot of things. He can bring a human back to life if -”
Seeing Jacob hurrying to the door, she realized that Edgar wasn't with him.
“Where is he?” she asked, heading over to him. “Did he refuse to come? I swear, I'll drag him down here if I have to!”
“It's not that,” Jacob replied, “it's... He's not here. I don't know how or when, but Baron Le Compte must have slipped out of the house at some point. He's gone!”
III
“I haven't seen Joshua since this morning,” Winifred said as she stood out in the yard with Benjamin. “I heard rumors, though. It's not true, is it? He didn't... I mean, he wasn't the one who...”
“Who executed Jennifer Kazakos?” Benjamin replied. “Yes. Yes, he was. And now I need to find him.”
“Don't hurt him.”
“Mother -”
“He's still your brother.”
“He's out of control, mother. I need to make him see sense before it's too late.”
“Whatever is wrong with that boy?” Winifred continued, as Benjamin helped her over to a bench by the wall. “We tried to raise him properly, and this is how he's turned out.”
“I've turned out just fine,” Joshua whispered, listening to them from behind the woodshed. He'd returned to the house a short while earlier, hoping to gather a few items ready to make a quick getaway in the next few days, but now he found himself listening to two members of his family discussing his shortcomings. In his right hand, he was holding the knife that Quill had given him, and although he hadn't planned to make a move against his brother just yet, he was starting to think that the perfect opportunity was falling into his lap.
“I must go inside,” Winifred continued, sounding distressed. “When your father gets home, I need to talk to him about Joshua.”
Waiting, Joshua realized that Benjamin was alone in the yard now, and that he seemed to be making his way toward the woodshed. He listened as his brother went inside, and after a moment he realized that the time had come. He looked down at the knife in his hand and imagined sinking it into his brother's back, and then he imagined making a mad rush to get away from Thaxos with all the money that Quill had promised. Finally, he imagined starting a new life far away from the island, forgetting all about his past and his family and focusing, instead, on be
coming a new man.
“I can do this,” he told himself, staring at the knife. “I can -”
Before he could finish, he heard the gate swinging shut. Pausing for a moment, he half-expected to hear his father's voice, but finally he realized that there was nothing but silence. He peered round the side of the woodshed and, seeing that the yard was empty, he allowed himself a faint sigh of relief. He was convinced that he could deliver the fatal strike to his brother, but at the same time he wanted to build up to the act a little, so that he could find a way to get it done with the minimal amount of fuss. The most important thing, he felt, was that he had to make sure Benjamin didn't realize what was being done to him. He wanted a quick, clean attack, and more than anything else he wanted to avoid eye-contact.
Stepping out from behind the woodshed, he -
“Got you,” Benjamin hissed, lunging at him from around the next corner and slamming him against the wall, before twisting him around and tripping him, sending him tumbling down to the ground.
“What the hell's wrong with you?” Joshua called out.
“What's wrong with me?” Benjamin asked, kicking the knife away. “I'm not the one who executed a woman this afternoon.”
“She'd been found guilty by a judge!”
“She was found guilty by a madman,” Benjamin continued. “Don't act like you have any sense of justice. You just took the money and did what you were told.”
“And that's so wrong?” Joshua asked, trying to get up before his brother pushed a foot down against his chest, pinning him to the ground. “You can save your lecture on morals, Ben! I don't care what you think!”
“Jennifer Kazakos was a good woman,” Benjamin said firmly.
“She was a murderer!”
“She was a mother.”
“She was a whore! She -” Before he could finish, he felt Benjamin's boot pressing harder against his chest, making it more difficult for him to breathe.
“So what did Jonathan Quill promise you?” Benjamin asked. “Was it just money, or is there something else too? Power? Glory? Fame?”
“You don't know me at all, do you?” Joshua replied, pushing the boot away and then slowly, painfully getting to his feet. “You don't know what I want.”
“Then tell me.”
“I want to get off this stinking island! I want to go somewhere I can actually live a proper life!”
“No-one's stopping you,” Benjamin told him.
“I need money.”
“You've been earning money in father's -”
“Pennies!” Joshua shouted angrily, taking a step toward him. “Do you seriously think anyone on Thaxos can earn enough to go and live on the mainland?”
“Not if they spend most of it in the cantina night after night.”
“So now you're judging me?”
“What were you doing back there?” Benjamin asked, before looking down at the knife. “What are you scared of? You're probably a hero to most people on this island right now. After all, there was quite a crowd at the execution, and none of them seemed too keen to stop what you did.”
“I need to defend myself,” Joshua replied, limping over and picking up the knife. For a moment, he saw his own reflection in the blade. “I need to do what's right for my own life.”
“And what's that supposed to mean?” Benjamin asked.
Joshua paused for a moment, imagining once again what it would be like to drive the blade into his brother's body. Although he ideally wanted to strike so fast that Benjamin wouldn't know what was happening, he also felt that it might be better if he was honest. He was certain he could live with himself, even if he had to look into his brother's eyes during the final moments. With the money from Quill, he'd be able to get off the island and then start again, and become someone else. If a little sacrifice was required first, that would just have to be the price he paid.
“I don't know why I'm even bothering with this,” Benjamin continued, turning and heading toward the gate.
“Maybe you don't have to,” Joshua replied, hurrying after him, eying the exact spot on his brother's back where he planned to use the knife.
“You're not my brother,” Benjamin added, stepping through the gate and out into the alley. “Not anymore.”
“You keep saying that,” Joshua continued, catching up to him and raising the knife. “Maybe you're right.”
With that, he plunged the knife down, only for a dark shape to suddenly slam into him, knocking him back with such force that he felt momentarily dazed after slamming back down to the ground. Landing awkwardly, he let out a cry of pain as he felt his wrist snap.
“What the -” he began, sitting up and seeing that two figures were standing over him. One was his brother Benjamin, and with horror he realized that the other was Edgar Le Compte.
“Where did you come from?” Benjamin asked Edgar.
“You're lucky,” Edgar replied, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on Joshua. “If I hadn't intervened, you'd have a knife in your back by now and you'd be breathing your last.”
“No way,” Benjamin replied, even as he saw the knife on the ground. “He's my brother, he would never -”
“He would,” Edgar continued, stepping closer to Joshua and then picking the knife up. “At that precise moment, he absolutely would.”
“Don't listen to him,” Joshua continued, struggling to his feet. Wincing, he tried moving the fingers of his right hand, but the pain was too much. “Benjamin, you can't seriously believe a word this freak says, can you? Everyone knows he's a manipulative liar!”
“I...” Pausing, Benjamin looked at the knife for a moment.
“Seriously?” Joshua shouted, as the pain in his wrist increased. “Are you going to believe a Le Compte over your own goddamn brother? Jesus Christ, you've really fallen for that family, haven't you?”
“What would you like me to do with him?” Edgar asked, still watching Joshua. “I can end his life quickly if that's what you prefer, Benjamin. I understand that you might not want your own brother to be tortured before he dies, even though I wouldn't mind the practice.”
Benjamin stared at Joshua, as if he was genuinely considering the offer.
“I don't want you to do anything with him,” he said finally. “I don't want him to get hurt.”
“Are you serious?” Edgar asked, turning to him. “The man was about to kill you.”
“He's my brother,” Benjamin continued. “I refuse to stoop down to his level.”
“I will never understand humans,” Edgar muttered, before taking another step toward Joshua and pushing him against the wall. “You're very lucky that your brother has chosen to spare your life. If I were here alone, I would have begun to crush you by now. Please be assured that if our paths cross again, I might decide to act regardless of anyone else's opinion.”
Panicking, Joshua nodded.
“You're working for Quill, aren't you?” Edgar continued.
Another nod.
“Then perhaps you should deliver a message for me,” Edgar added. “Tell him I'm ready to meet him, but that I don't want it to happen here, not in the town. There are too many innocent people around who might get hurt. Tell him I'll meet him tonight, at midnight, in the stone circle on the north side of the island. Tell him I'll be there alone, and that I expect him to be alone too. Tell him...” He paused for a moment. “Tell him that this has to end, one way or another. Tell him that I expect him to have the courage to face me, man to man. We will end this, one way or another.”
Joshua waited, as if he was frozen in place.
Slowly, Edgar leaned closer, until finally he added one more word: “Go!”
Barely able to keep from tripping over, Joshua slipped away from Edgar and then raced across the yard, clattering into the wooden gate as he hurried out into the alley. Once he'd disappeared from sight, he could still be heard running away as fast as possible, heading in the direction of the police station.
“I heard you weren't ready to face Quill yet,
” Benjamin said after a moment, turning to Edgar. “People were saying... Well, they were saying that you're scared of him.”
“I'm sure people have been saying a lot of things,” Edgar said darkly, “but things change and I have come to realize that he must be stopped.”
“So you're going to face him at the stone circle?”
“It's the most isolated spot on the island. There's less risk of collateral damage out there.”
“But what are you going to do once you're there? How are you going to deal with him?”
“That's for me to worry about.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“I have a...” At this, Edgar paused for a moment. “I have an idea of how a plan should work, although I must admit that a few of the details need to be filled in.”
“And if you can't fill them in?”
“I will,” Edgar replied. “Fear is Quill's greatest weapon. If I come overcome my fear of him, I see no reason why I should not be able to drive him into the dust,which is where he belongs. Until then, I would advise you to go and spend time with my sister, but please do not tell her of my plan. The last thing I need is for her to make some foolish gesture and come running after me. In some ways, she's so much stronger than she realizes, but in others...”
“She'll want to help,” Benjamin told him.
“Which is why she mustn't know until it's over.” With that, he turned and headed back out of the yard.
“I'll come with you,” Benjamin added.
Edgar turned to him, with a hint of puzzlement in his eyes.
“You can't face him alone,” Benjamin continued, “and obviously you've decided for some reason not to ask Nixon, so... Let me come. Let me help you.”
“Quill would tear you to shreds within seconds.”
“I'm not scared.”
“Then you're a fool.” Edgar paused again, as if he was actually considering the offer. “I will permit you to walk with me until we're close to the circle. However, when I tell you to leave, you must do so, is that understood?”