by Jane Jordan
I tried hard to resist, but my strength was diminishing, and the name Beaconmayes hotel flew from my lips. I jumped. I felt my mind and eyes released from their captivity. In his eyes I saw the intensity had gone, he was just watching me closely. I was extremely frightened not only for Charlie, but also for myself. Darius’s demeanour was aggressive, he was very capable of hurting me at this moment and I was frozen to the spot, anticipating some action from him, but he only glared angrily at me.
“You should be careful Madeline, your thoughts do betray you,” he repeated, “and you can keep nothing from me.” He gave me a bitter smile before moving away soundlessly. I breathed easier for a moment until I realized he was at the door and about to leave.
“Where are you going?” I asked in a tense whisper. Darius turned and looked at me.
“Out, I have an appointment to keep.”
“Darius please don’t.” I ran to him. “Darius, please, you don’t need to do this,” I said trying desperately to find something to say that would make him remain with me. I brought my hand up to his arm. “Please Darius. . . please stay here.” He looked down at my hand in contempt.
“It is not advisable for you to be this close to me right now,” he remarked coolly and I instantly withdrew my hand, then he shot me a disdainful glance as he left the house slamming the old oak door behind him.
I didn’t quite believe what had just happened. For a long moment, I stood staring at the empty doorway before me, then I panicked.
What have I done?
I suddenly heard a car start up, my car. I looked at the table, my keys were gone and I knew in an instant exactly where he was going.
I have to warn Charlie. I have to do something. I wouldn’t’t let this happen.
In a horrifying hopelessness, I searched for my bag and retrieved my phone. I quickly dialled the operator to get the number I needed. After what seemed like endless hours the phone finally connected to the Beaconmayes hotel.
Why isn’t’t anyone answering?
I desperately hoped Charlie would be there, and at last the receptionist answered and finally put me through to Charlie’s room. It seemed as though I waited another eternity as I listened to the constant ringing at the other end. I gave a sigh of relief when the receiver was at last picked up and I heard Charlie’s voice at the other end.
“Hello.”
“Charlie, it’s Madeline,” I began, my heart racing and my voice trembling.
“Madeline? . . are you OK? You sound. . .”
“Shut up Charlie,” I ordered, “just listen to me. You have to leave the hotel now. . . just get out.” The silence at the other end was deafening. “Charlie are you there?” I said frantically.
“Yes, Madeline, I am, what is it? You sound terrified.” He sounded shocked.
“Charlie please leave now. You are in terrible danger, please believe me!” I was crying now. “Please Charlie, do as I ask, please leave now.”
“Danger from whom?” he questioned.
“I cannot say. Please Charlie, you’re wasting time, just get out. I have to go.” I turned the phone off, praying silently that he would think my tone dramatic enough and sense the urgency in my voice to just get out of there.
I was distraught, if Darius found him what would he do? Just frighten him or worse? It was the worse I couldn’t’t bear. I hoped with every ounce of my being Darius would miss him and think he had just left. Then I would be able to calm him down and make him see reason before he thought about going after him in London.
I could do nothing more, I sat and waited for Darius to return.
An Evil Interlude - Part 2
Charlie stared at the receiver in his hand. Madeline had sounded terrified and there had been an urgency in her voice that he could not dismiss. Making up his mind quickly, he threw his few belongings into a bag, and after taking one final look around at the room he walked downstairs to the hotel foyer. The receptionist seemed startled by his sudden announcement that he had urgent business in the city and needed to leave straight away, and he stood patiently while the girl behind the desk searched for a pen, in order to make out his invoice.
Charlie was aware of a sudden chill. A premonition, he wondered, or was it just
Madeline’s words making him jumpy and on edge? He hoped that she was all right, but he still did not know where she was and he could not go to her, but her words had undoubtedly disturbed him. Although he reasoned to himself that perhaps she was just being over dramatic, even so, there had been something in the tone of her voice that had unnerved him. He was sure that she had been crying and that alone had made him feel that he should obey her wishes, but he was mystified to know the reasons behind them.
Charlie tapped his fingers impatiently on the countertop and wished the girl would hurry up with his bill. He wondered if she were intentionally being so slow to annoy him and tried not to allow her unhurriedness bother him. Instead, he wondered what situation Madeline had got herself caught up in, but she had said she was happy and she had looked good. It hadn’t appeared that anything awful was happening to her.
He knew he should forget her, especially now that she was married, but there was that constant hope that she might have wanted to come back to him. They could have salvaged what remained of their relationship and made a new start. He would have taken her back too, even now he knew that he still would. But deep down he knew he was being foolish, he should resign himself to the fact that it was over between them once and for all. And maybe she was still suffering from effects of the breakdown, in reality who would want to harm him here? No one knew him.
Charlie took the receipt from the receptionist and walked outside to the car park, located to the side of the hotel. It was very dimly lit and he could barely make out his car parked next to the hedge at the very back. He thought that Exmoor seemed exceptionally dark tonight, and observation which was helped by the moon being hidden behind the heavy cloud cover. In the distance Charlie could hear a slight wailing that moaned soulfully from across the moors as the winds gusted up from the coast and he shivered.
Suddenly he thought he heard a noise, a footstep perhaps, he turned, but the car park was empty. He shivered again as the wind blew right through the thin material of his shirt, making him quicken his pace. He unlocked the car door and threw his bag across to the empty passenger seat, before he attempted to climb into the driver’s seat.
All at once something gripped him firmly, and he was thrown back with vicious force against the cold metal. Initially Charlie had gasped from the pain and shock of the impact, now he caught his breath and felt anger build as he clenched his hand into a fist. He tried to swing his arm upwards with force, but it was instantly trapped in a vice like grip. In a mixture of shock and fear he looked up. Charlie stared with disbelieving eyes, into the face of his aggressive attacker.
A thought raced through his mind:
Was this what Madeline had meant by that phone call?
His aggressor leant closer and as Charlie’s eyes adjusted to the shadows, he felt a terror like no other. He was certain that it was a man, but it was not, it was altogether more sinister and more demon-like. The skin was pale and through the thin fabric of his clothes Charlie could feel the coldness of that flesh creeping over his skin. But it was the eyes, so intense and fierce, burning into him that frightened him beyond all measure. He tried to tear his gaze away, but he could not, their effect was so powerful and hypnotizing that he was aware of all the strength he possessed slowly ebbing away. He could only stand motionless like some puppet waiting to be manipulated.
Charlie struggled to make sense of what was happening, as the demon loomed closer. He was certain he could sense extreme animosity and utter hatred from this being before him. Its shadow was slowly enveloping him, then he heard a voice as cold as ice.
“She is mine.”
As the chilling words penetrated his head, Charlie’s thoughts flew to Madeline, just as he was aware of an intense pain on his neck. He co
uld feel the venom flowing through his veins before he felt himself falling, his own life force ebbing slowly away as he faded into darkness. . .
An Evil Interlude - Part 3
I felt very afraid as I waited for Darius to return, I listened to the constant reassuring tick of the clock on the mantle. It seemed as though endless hours had passed before I heard another sound in the distance. A noise that got steadily louder as it approached and I recognised the familiar resonance of my car’s engine. I remained seated, trying to keep calm.
I can handle this, Darius will be angry that he has missed Charlie. He will know it’s my fault, but he will calm down after a while.
I shivered, waiting with trepidation for the door to open. I did not have to wait long. Darius entered moments later, throwing my keys on the sideboard with unnecessary forcefulness and slammed the door behind him. His eyes were wild and my heart was full of dread as he crossed the room to where I sat.
“You dare to betray me?” he said with savage vehemence. “Did you think that I wouldn’t know?” He spat the words at me, my fear grew in its intensity, it was consuming my whole being and I was trembling.
“No, I haven’t.” Darius’s full brutal force emanated from him and his next words struck even more fear into my heart.
“Where is the phone?” he demanded in an icy voice that cut through the air with shocking clarity. If I had thought about refusing him I knew this was not the time, I needed my phone, but I couldn’t bring myself to argue with him and with shaking hands I reached down and pulled it from my bag. Darius snatched it away and dropped it onto the hearthstone, and then he stamped heavily upon it, shattering it into a hundred fragments. I was horrified, and terrified of what he would do next.
“Darius, I couldn’t let you hurt him, you must understand. He was no threat to us.” Darius stared straight at me, his gaze un-nerving me entirely.
“He is not a threat to us now,” he corrected coldly with a cruel smile playing around his mouth and I shuddered, as the meaning of his words sank in.
“No! You didn’t?” I jumped up facing him. “Tell me you didn’t.” I said sharply as my heart pounded faster. Darius didn’t answer. He just stood observing my reaction and he actually seemed to be enjoying my distress. The realization hit me, he didn’t need to say any words, and the satisfaction and contemptuous smile on his face told me the truth. I stared at him horrified, initially too shocked to move, then I felt myself losing control.
“How could you?” I cried as the tears starting to stream down my face. Some inner impulse made me raise my hand to strike him, but he caught my wrist in his hand, laughing.
“You cannot hurt me,” he said before his lips pressed together in a bitter smile.
“You killed him?” I asked again, not wanting to comprehend the fact. “How could you do that Darius?” I asked, nearly choking on the words.
“But I didn’t, you did!” His voice was chilled and calculating, allowing his words to have the maximum impact upon me.
“What?” I was stunned.
“I may have performed the physical deed, but it was you who killed them both. Him and Samuel Dunklin, it was you who sealed their fate.” His voice was cruel and sadistic. “And they died because of your involvement!” he said, making his meaning very clear. The venom in his words sounded incredible to me and I stared at him full of loathing.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said, his eyes narrowing.
“Why?” I snapped. “Because I might upset you, because you might get angry and you might do something you regret,” I said provoking him. “I hate you,” I added, and in that instant I did. I pushed past him and ran into the garden. I heard his voice behind me.
“Leave me alone,” I cried, as my legs felt that they were unable to support my weight any longer and I sank down to the stone steps. The endless tears I cried were for Charlie and for Samuel and as my tears began to falter I sensed I was not alone. I looked up to find Darius leaning against the door post watching me.
“When you have finished crying over him, perhaps you will learn not to defy me again,” he remarked coldly.
“Go away,” I said just as coldly, but he remained. Very soon the cold winds had started to chill my skin and I shivered. Darius voice broke the silence of the night.
“Madeline, I do not have the tolerance for this ridiculous emotion,” he remarked
impatiently and I stared up at him in amazement.
Ridiculous emotion, how dare he!
“You can go to hell,” I stated viciously. He approached me silently and swiftly and snatching my arm he pulled me up from the stone step.
“I am already there,” he said bitterly and I looked at him with disdain.
“You murdered someone I once cared for and you expect me not to be upset?” I asked in amazement.
“It is clear I cannot trust you, you will not leave here again on your own,” he stated avoiding my question.
“Or what?” I challenged.
“Madeline, do not make me continue this conversation, I have made my decision.”
“I do not make you do anything, that is clear. You have no concern for my feelings only your own,” I snapped at him.
“You wanted this life,” he reminded me bluntly.
“No, I wanted a life with you. I opened my mind to accept what you are and as distasteful as it all is, I accepted it all . . . I even accepted what you have to do, but at no point did I expect you to kill everyone I have ever known or spoken to.”
“Then you are naive,” he said. “The boyfriend wouldn’t’t have given up. I could
hear his thoughts and they were only of you. I will not share you with anyone,” he said, as he pulled me to him. I tried to push him away, but he was too strong and held me tight. His kiss was fierce as if he was daring me to doubt his total possession over me, then after a few minutes he relinquished his tight hold.
“Don’t ever doubt my determination to destroy anyone that comes near you.” he stated icily. My head hurt, my eyes hurt and I felt sick knowing Charlie had been thinking only of me when he had died. With Darius’s overwhelming possessiveness I felt suffocated, and I couldn’t’t stop shaking. I tried to turn away from him, but he would not allow it and instead he pulled me firmly to him again, refusing to let go, until I had no choice but to submit to him.
Although despite my rage and emotional state of mind, I needed to be held. I needed someone to tell me that this was a bad dream, a nightmare that I was going to wake up from and everything would be all right; even if the one to do it was the monster whose arms now surrounded me. Eventually my anguish subsided and my rapid breathing eased and when Darius spoke to me his voice was calm, but commanding.
“Madeline, look at me.” Reluctantly I looked into his eyes and once again I was
mesmerized by him, his voice and his words eased my pain, he made me believe in him again and I found him irresistible once more. I stood there listening to him and watching his cool steady gaze and after a while, what had happened this evening seemed less horrific.
He was hypnotizing me, enchanting me again. Only he knew how to speak to my
very soul. This power he possessed over me made my anguish less and his reasoning chased away all the sanity within me. He truly was my enchanter and now there was no longer a mortal person alive that I cared about, for me there was only the immortal.
Chapter Twenty Seven - Ashes to Ashes
Exhausted after the night’s events, the morning slipped un-noticed into the afternoon. The shock and numbness I felt throughout my entire body very slowly began to dissipate and eventually I must have fallen asleep, for I was aware of my mind succumbing to the blissful release of falling into a deep dreamless state of being.
When I opened my eyes some time later, I felt peaceful and calm until the memories of only a few hours before came flooding through my head. Then I wished it was all some horrific nightmare, and now back in the reality of wakefulness I could forget it all. But I coul
dn’t for long -- it was real, and now I had to face the torment again.
Darius did not appear after sunset and I was extremely ill at ease. I felt unable to do anything, but wait with an awful sense of foreboding. It was almost ten o’clock when he finally walked through the door, his clothes were dishevelled and a faint smell of smoke entered the room with him.
I tried not to speculate what he had been doing and I dared not ask -- I dreaded his
answer. We regarded each other coolly for several moments; Darius was determining the state of my emotions, before he spoke.
“Are you feeling better?” I watched him coldly, really wanting to say:
Actually no, I feel awful and terrorized because you just killed Charlie!
But I masked my thoughts as best as I could, and just nodded in response. He crossed the room and sat down beside me. He took my hand in his and the smell of smoke increased at his nearness to me.
“What have you been doing? Have you been near a fire?” In spite of myself I was concerned, I knew how dangerous that was for him. He smiled briefly, sensing my worry.
“I’m fine, I just had to take care of a few details.” My thoughts flew to Charlie.
“What details?” I asked in a whisper, not wanting to hear the words, but needing
to know. Darius studied me for a few moments.
“You do not need to know, Madeline,” he said simply.
“Yes I do,” I whispered fearfully, as I looked into his eyes. “I need to know. It’s Charlie isn’t’t it?” I was feeling sick to my stomach, but I did not wait for his response. “I have to be able to lay his ghost to rest, I need to know where his body is,” I concluded, feeling daunted by my own words. Darius observed me for a few minutes further then he calmly explained.
“Last night I moved the car and the body into the woods out of sight. I returned tonight and disposed of them properly.”
“Where?” I asked in barely an audible whisper, “where is it?”