Susanna took her place on the table and placed the infant beside her. A single flame illuminated her evil face. “What a shame; we may have to forgo the linking of hands tonight.” She closed her eyes, “We are seeking, Emily. Come Emily and communicate with us.”
I fought against my bonds. I would have two more souls on my conscience tonight before my mind collapsed entirely and I did not care where this would convey my own.
This time Susanna made no attempt to conceal her deceit and took something from her skirts. It was no larger than her hand but she placed it on her face and spoke. “Matthew, my poor Matthew. Can you see me? It is your mother. They will not grant me passage for I committed a mortal sin and now I am trapped.”
Louis howled with laughter. “This is marvellous! What fun!”
The blackened lump of flesh on her face could well have been a piece of cowhide but I knew it was not; I knew exactly who it was.
“Will you not address me, son? Perhaps you are disconcerted by the news of your new family? I was too, so much that I took a razor to my wrists.” She leaned back and screamed, “I see that lecherous creature is seated beside me.” Susanna struck John, knocking his head to the side. “He should be confined to the pits of hell for what he did to me; to all of you.”
“I dare say I should my dear.” John turned his head and stroked the whiskers on my father’s face.
I retched and felt the hot acid in my mouth. This man had died under the brutal grip of my hands a few moments before.
“Oh come on Mother, you’re being far too harsh on him.” Anna stood and took her position beside Susanna; my sister’s face had slipped to the side revealing Anna’s sneer beneath.
The room spun in a terrible carousel as my father joined the rest of my family in tormenting me.
“No…I murdered you both…it cannot be…” My words came in short spasms as my lungs fell empty.
“Matthew, you have neither the strength nor the resolve to take a life. I am so sorry; I have been rude. We all have. Allow me to introduce, Anna and John Fettiplace, your brother and sister. What fine actors they have been! I am sure a career on the stage would be most appropriate. Your father, as you can see, was quite the busy man around town. Yet he had no time for any of us, deciding instead to leave us in the gutter. His affection for you and your sister, however, was limitless, apparently. We are here to witness the demise of his prized possession and that is you. I am sure somewhere he is watching us, completely powerless to do anything to help you. Oh, what drama!”
They all broke into raucous laughter and danced before me as if they were in a dancing saloon. My arms and legs shook uncontrollably and the sourness of long ago consumed brandy erupted from my mouth. I rocked and I rocked.
Soon the laughter diminished and my bonds were untied, yet still I rocked and listened to the sounds of birds in the garden. Lily would be home soon with fresh pastries. She would sing for me again. I rocked.
“I am with you, Matthew,” Lily’s voice whispered warm and soft into my ear, “I am with you.”
The End
With Special Thanks to Kath Middleton
The Macabre Collection (Box set) Page 15