Madman’s Cure: Madman Duet Book Two

by Mason, V. F.

  I whisper again with all the love that fills my chest, “Find us.”

  He is the only hope I have left in this world.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Revenge became my driving force.

  When someone I knew became a Trojan horse.

  He forever took away part of my soul.

  I won’t rest until this monster goes back to his hole.

  Where the devil puts him through hell.

  Forever imprisoning him in his torture cell.”

  Eudard

  Cassandra

  A soul-shattering scream echoes in the night, torn from my throat by the piercing pain in my back that shakes my entire body.

  My fingers dig into the ground, scooping soil under my nails while I breathe through my nose, filling my lungs with much-needed air.

  I clamp my teeth on the leather belt in my mouth to block any sound, so the monster won’t find me.

  It’ll bring him extra joy to see his prey drowning in the agony he created.

  He isn’t like all the other monsters, oh no. He doesn’t torture and hurt you to fulfill his fantasies and dark nature, craving someone’s blood.

  He escaped from the gates of hell to bring chaos and misery to everyone he encounters, and he is never satisfied unless the person is stripped from her or his sanity, begging him to end it all so he can bask in his glory.

  But even then, he doesn’t comply, preferring to prolong the hell till his victim burns alive and only ashes are left for him to stomp on.

  A monster who is more terrifying than the devil himself, because he has no method or control.

  Blood fills my mouth, while more slides down my forehead and drips on my nose and lips. I tremble from the freezing wind, which causes goose bumps on my skin.

  I ran into a tree I couldn’t see in the dark and hit my head so hard I thought I’d faint right there from the dizziness that shook my entire being. I underestimated how long it would take me to reach the cliff while in pain. By the time I got here, the sky had become completely black and the night owls had started hooting in the distance, making me gasp harder with each step, especially on the cliff.

  Only the baby kept me going up and up despite the terror, because deep down I knew Liam couldn’t be so easily fooled. Once he realizes I’m not at the park, he’ll know there are only so many places I could go. Didn’t he arrange what happened to me all those years ago? Maybe the cliff was his personal choice and he slipped that idea to the founding five.

  By the time that thought enters my mind, it’s too late to change directions, and I pray to God to save me from Liam. Based on my past, the divine power never took pity on me, but maybe it will have mercy on my unborn baby?

  In a momentary reprieve from the pain, I crawl to the cave’s wall, pressing against the rough stone that digs into my scarred back, the marks left by a sword slashed into my skin. Liam didn’t believe in treating wounds after he inflicted them, so despite all these months of healing, they still bring me pain.

  I never thought I’d come back to the cliff or this cave where four boys forever destroyed my life while their greedy hands feasted on my flesh, tearing it apart for the world to see.

  But tonight, the place of my greatest nightmares will become the place of my salvation. It has the power to hide me away from the approaching doom casting a shadow on my life.

  Whimpering, I wipe away the tears and take a deep breath as familiar prickles assault me, tingling a little before the pain hits me again. It seems like my bones are breaking from it. I squeeze the leather harder, my head twisting even though my body demands to let it out, not caring about the consequences.

  I’m so tired of being strong. From all these physical and psychological tortures, from revenge that has nothing to do to me, and from the evil that thinks it rules the world only because it brings misery with it.

  I might have given up in a different situation, too exhausted to fight him after all this time. My body holds his imprints that will forever stain me with the darkness that has no mercy for anyone and anything.

  The things he is capable of doing… the things he is capable of achieving… the things he is capable of destroying….

  I’ve never seen a madness so strong, and for a second, I still, my eyes widening when I remember his last brand of torture that almost knocked me down, almost made me beg for mercy, even though I knew it was pointless.

  But I had a reason for surrender, and if I had to do it all over again, I’d beg on my knees and hope for a better result.

  What kind of punishment awaits me now if he finds me after I’ve deceived him?

  Liam needs to drink blood reeking of desperation in order to satisfy his cravings. And for that reason, he’ll never lessen his toy’s suffering.

  I can never allow him to find me after I’ve escaped, not when so much depends on my decision.

  He will cut the baby out of me if he needs to. All he craves is him, after all. I don’t care what happens to me; all that matters is holding on until help comes, because despite everything, I believe.

  Life, fate, Eudard, they can’t fail me so many times in my time here on earth. There must be a light at the end of the tunnel. Shouldn’t the baby factor into fate being less cruel?

  This monster doesn’t get to have my baby or anything more of mine or Eudard’s.

  Hiking my knees up, I fist the dress on my thighs while breathing deeper through my nose, almost coughing, but holding it back, because the slightest sound will reach his predator ears that are alert to everything.

  Sometimes I wonder if he is even human, because how can such evil exist in one person?

  I hear sounds in the distance that spike fear in me and awaken the desire to run away. My feet jerk in response, but the pain once again shoots through me, reminding me I can’t in my current condition.

  All I have left is to pray someone will save me in time, just like I did all those years ago.

  Despite everything, I’m still a victim waiting for rescue that is nowhere in sight.

  If the situation weren’t so tragic, I would laugh at my grand plans from almost a year ago to punish everyone while watching them burn in agony.

  All these people are right who claim that in revenge there are no winners only losers, because no matter the outcome, we always lose ourselves in it.

  I can never regret it though, because then I wouldn’t have reunited with Eudard, and we wouldn’t have our baby.

  A baby that’s our bright light, a hope of a better future in the darkness that we call our life.

  “Cassandra,” Liam singsongs in his deep voice that sends instant revulsion through me.

  I swallow back the acid filling my throat. Breathing through it, I close my eyes when the pain in my back and belly ricochets again, almost sending me in a spiral of madness.

  He guessed where I’d go.

  Screaming soundlessly into my fist, I scrunch my eyes, controlling my body’s reaction as much as I can; otherwise, the sound will lead him to me.

  He is so close already. Maybe he’s just checking if his guess is correct, and once he doesn’t find anything, he’ll go away.

  “Cassandra,” he calls again, and this time I hear the rocks crunching under his feet, but from a different direction. He must be walking along the path to the cave—uphill, judging by how almost soundless the ground is. “Ah, you shouldn’t have done this, girl.” He tsks then chuckles, all while I almost stop breathing, because it might bring him closer. “I was very patient with you. But you people just don’t appreciate kindness, do you?” I hear him dragging his steel sword on the ground. The scraping sound echoes, grating on my ears and reminding me how I got my wounds.

  The monster was curious to see the color of my blood back on the island.

  He brought the sword with him here. Does he intend to behead me like everyone else who, according to him, deserves nothing but death for disappointing him?

  “Cassandra.” He says my name as if tasting it and chuckles a
gain. “I much prefer Arianna.” The ominous crunch of gravel comes closer and closer, making me shift my gaze to the cave’s opening and glue my stare there—like the agonizing slow, scary movie where you know the characters are going to die brutally, but you still can’t stop watching.

  And then I see him standing in the opening. The moonlight is shining brightly on him from behind, giving him an even more sinister appearance. His boots thump on the ground while he taps his sword.

  With each step, the fear in me rises, almost awakening panic inside me, but the pain traveling through my body gives me strength like nothing before.

  I can’t surrender. I can’t give him power.

  I can’t!

  My baby is everything. I will protect it with my life.

  Unfortunately, this statement reminds me that if I die, I subject the baby to a life with this monster.

  He sighs heavily, albeit still keeping his grin intact when he shakes his head, scanning his cold eyes over me. “What a pitiful sight. All this trouble”—he swirls his fingers in the air—“for you to come here.” He rubs his chin with the sword’s pommel and winks. “Had I known you prefer to die in the place you were brutally raped, I’d have obliged a long time ago. You could have asked for this gift instead of suffering so much on the way here.” He kneels in front of me, and even though I want to dart outside, far away from him, or push his touch away, I have no strength to do that.

  He snatches the leather from my mouth, and I stifle back the groan of pain. Then the tip of his sword slides under chin, digging lightly right over my artery while he cocks his head to the side. His eyes flash in excitement as he tips my chin to meet his stare. “Don’t hold back, honey. Scream loud enough. Maybe then he’ll hear you.” His harsh laughter is laced with anger and fury unlike anything I’ve seen before on him. “But he doesn’t have a good track record of coming in time, does he?”

  He splays his palm, crooking his fingers one by one as he continues to talk. “He let his staff die. Your parents. Almost you. And then Eachann.” He places his hand on my stomach while I hold back the groan. “Despite this baby living his best life, he failed him too. You see, Eudard was never a good choice.” He leans closer. “That’s why you should have never fallen in love with him. Then your life would have been very different.”

  I detest him and want to spit in his face, to wipe away the satisfied smirk that indicates he has already declared himself a winner in this twisted game.

  His chessboard might have more players than mine, but I’m still not left alone.

  But before I can do anything, another flash of pain travels through me. It’s almost unbearable; sweat breaks on my skin, my hair sticking to my forehead.

  Still, I swallow back the sound, but my nails dig painfully into my palms and draw blood.

  I’ve lost count of the never-ending bruises in my life. What are a few more?

  Especially if it stalls the inevitable.

  He moves a lock of my red hair—he claims my natural color suits me better—and when he notices how tightly my lips are closed, he orders again, “Scream.” This time, my agonized scream echoes in the night and ricochets around the walls of the cave, forever coating it in my misery.

  If Eudard were here, he’d probably write a poem about this moment.

  Something akin to…

  Once upon a time, a sinner, a priest, and a madman played a dangerous game.

  Unaware of the monster who shall not have a name.

  One day, he kidnapped the sinner to a foreign land.

  Where nothing but death awaited her by his hand.

  Liam grins, opening his mouth to say something, when the deep, husky voice that, for the last seven months, has soothed me in my sleep speaks from behind him, making my heart race again despite the agony my body is experiencing. “I’m here.”

  Liam freezes, shifting to the side and glancing over his shoulder, which allows me to see my man standing in the cave’s opening, wearing all black like he is death himself with a sword in his hand.

  He is here. He is here. He is here this time.

  Even if it was irrational to hope, I did, despite my mind screaming for me to give up.

  I should always listen to my heart that never doubts the man it loves.

  Liam gets up, still pressing the tip of his sword over my artery. “So we meet again.” Then he wiggles his fingers when Eudard steps closer. “Nuh, uh. One more move and she’s dead.” He turns around to face Eudard, and his sword slides to my stomach. I gasp, placing one hand over my baby, trying to give it strength, ready to use everything I have left in me to scoot back. “We can cut out the baby and share it if you want.” His voice halters, contradicting his words, because there is clear affection for the baby.

  Why, if he hates the baby’s parents so much?

  Eudard barely spares me a glance, staying cold and emotionless when he replies, “I have a better proposition for you. Let’s end it.” Liam’s brow rises. “You’ve had your fun for over a decade. You took everything from me.” Liam smirks, puffing his chest, as if proud of himself. “Let’s end it.”

  “You want my mercy?” Liam asks, tsking. “My, how the mighty have fallen.” A pain shakes me, and I scream, leaning on my side, but both men stay unmoving even though I notice anxious green eyes on me for a fraction of a second.

  I want to shout at him to come closer to me and help me with the baby, because holding back is almost impossible now. I need him to somehow fix it so our baby won’t be collateral damage.

  But I can’t do any of those things, because this is a fight of a lifetime with an insane person who is unpredictable. Any wrong move or action from either of us, and he might kill our baby by stabbing me in the stomach.

  “No, let’s do something your father always denied you.” Liam frowns, confusion written over his face, so Eudard elaborates. “You always wanted to participate in the sword fights, right? With the grand prize—to make him proud by winning. You and I practiced a lot.” Liam’s breath hitches, and I see excitement filling his eyes. “Cassandra and the baby are the grand prize. You always win, right?” Eudard presses. “Let’s fight then and see who wins and who loses”

  No, is he insane?

  What if Liam calls his guards? Or doesn’t play according to the rules? And besides, Liam probably trains with the sword all the time. What is Eudard thinking with this proposition?

  “I accept the offer,” Liam announces, winking at Eudard. “I think I’ve punished you enough. It was starting to get boring, and besides, once this fight is over, I will have what I so crave.” He looks at me and removes his sword. “Wait here for me, darling. I have to kill your man first before we can greet our baby.”

  I spit at him. “Go to hell, Liam.”

  He laughs and walks toward Eudard, who I expect will kill him now, when he least expects it, but he doesn’t. Instead, he faces Liam, who tells him, “Let’s do it outside, the pouring rain as our witness. Down the hill in the forest there is enough space for it.” Eudard nods, lets Liam pass him, and makes it to me in two long strides.

  “What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” I ask, but he shuts me up, connecting our mouths and giving me a kiss full of desperation and longing.

  But it also tastes unfamiliar, like he is…

  No.

  He snatches his mouth away, pressing his forehead against mine, and I fist his shirt, crying from the pain shooting through me again, and I know I’m close to delivery.

  Nothing will stop our baby from coming into this world now.

  “Don’t tell me goodbye,” I beg him, and he smiles sadly, giving me a lingering kiss on the forehead, and I hear his swift intake of breath.

  “I will free us from him, my phoenix. No matter what, always rise from the ashes,” he whispers before getting up and disappearing through the cave’s opening after Liam, leaving me alone with thunder and the pouring rain echoing all around me.

  “Eudard,” I call, rolling on my back and whimpering in pa
in. I move my legs apart, grabbing my knees. The contraction is so strong I’m not sure I can stay conscious.

  How will I deliver a baby here, alone?

  “Oh, God, please help me.”

  “Well, I’m not God, but I’ll do my best,” a voice says close to me, and I look back at the opening to see a man running toward me, cursing in a language I don’t understand and then falling to his knees between mine.

  “Who are you?” I ask, slapping his hands away from me, hating that Liam’s guard probably followed him and now they want to take away my baby. “Don’t touch me.”

  “My name is Santiago,” he tells me, and I still, remembering Eudard’s words.

  One of the Four Dark Horsemen and Eudard’s closest friend?

  Before I can comment on that, I cry out, arching my back while agony travels through my entire system, the need to push so strong I no longer hold it back, my body shaking all over.

  And through all this pain, I pray to God once again to save us and my man from the cruelty of this world, because all three of us are fighting for our lives.

  A sinner, a madman, and our baby, who we haven’t even seen but love so much already.

  Eudard

  Liam stabs his sword into the ground before walking backward, drawing a line to create a huge circle around us. “I figured we would need the arena for it, right? Like old times,” he says with steel lacing his tone, which indicates to me he is still not over his father’s dismissal even after all these years.

  I say nothing, watching his every move. I don’t recognize the boy he used to be.

  Nervous. Scared. Timid.

  This man is the exact opposite of all those things, like he has waited his entire life to play this role, and everything else was just preparation.

  Through all these years, I thought when I saw Liam again, the rage stored inside me would break and I’d choke him with my bare hands, enjoying how the pulse would slowly leave him.

  Or torture him until his blood drained from him.

  I’ve killed him in thousands of ways in my imagination. None of them included a swordfight in the middle of the forest as my woman delivers our baby in a fucking cave.