Dead Souls Volume Four (Parts 40 to 52)

by Amy Cross

“The other girls -”

  “It doesn't matter. They can say what they like, but words are just words. You know in your heart who you are, so believe in yourself.”

  Anna took a deep breath, trying to find the elusive courage that she knew she needed. She watched as Mrs. Beecham called the children inside, and as Susannah and Mary and all the others began to file obediently into the building; a couple of the other children even glanced toward Anna, their eyes filled with expectation of the day to come.

  “You're better than them,” Jennifer continued, with a faint smile. “I know I probably shouldn't say this to you, but it might help. It's something my mother used to tell me, and her mother used to tell her.” She paused. “Don't let the buggers grind you down. Don't retaliate, don't let them push you to do the wrong thing. Just recognize that bullies don't matter, not in the long run.”

  Anna took another deep breath, and this time the tears seemed to have disappeared. “Okay,” she said finally, feeling as if some hidden strength had suddenly and inexplicably burst into her chest. For the first time, she felt that she could actually face the other girls. She began to walk toward the school building. “I'm going in.”

  “That's better,” Jennifer replied, watching her with a mixture of pride and concern. She knew that a brave heart might not be enough to face down any bullies that Anna encountered, and that there was still a chance that her daughter would be crying at the end of the day. Still, she had faith, and she felt there was certainly a chance that Anna would overcome her fears.

  Making her way back through town, Jennifer found herself lost in thought as she considered the events of the past few weeks and months. Ever since Kate had suddenly arrived in town, life on Thaxos had seemed much more dramatic, and she'd barely had a chance to draw breath. Glancing up at the mansion on the hill, she felt as if Kate and the Le Comptes brought constant drama to the island, and she found herself wondering if it was even possible to live a normal, everyday life on Thaxos. As she got closer to the store, she exchanged brief pleasantries with a few locals, and she realized that at least people seemed to have overcome their earlier hostility. She felt as if she'd spent too long in the world of the Le Comptes, and now she was slowly reintegrating with normal Thaxos society.

  And then she saw him.

  Benjamin Wood was making his way past the orchard, carrying Madeleine in his arms as he walked along the sun-drenched street. Stopping, Jennifer watched as he passed, and she frowned as she realized that he'd barely even noticed her.

  “Hello?” she called out.

  No reply.

  “Hey.” She hurried after him, concerned about Madeleine's lifeless form. “What's -” As she got closer, she saw some kind of crucifix wedged in Madeleine's chest, with a hint of blood on the hilt. “Oh my God, what happened?”

  “Nothing that needs to concern you,” Benjamin replied, not even stopping, not even looking at her.

  “Is she okay?”

  “Everything's fine.”

  “Where are you taking her?”

  “Please -”

  “Benjamin, what's going on?” She stepped in front of him, blocking his path. There was something different about Benjamin's demeanor, a hint of detachment that she found puzzling. “Benjamin, please... Tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help.”

  He stared at her for a moment, before a faint smile crossed his lips. “Nothing's wrong. In fact, quite the opposite. Powerful forces are coming together, and very soon everything will be perfect on this miserable little island. Don't worry about Madeleine or Edgar or any of the rest. Just get on with your life and forget you even knew those people.”

  “But -”

  “And don't stand in my way again,” he added, stepping around her and continuing along the street, “or you'll regret it.”

  Shocked, Jennifer watched as he walked away. Benjamin hadn't seemed like Benjamin, but she couldn't quite put her finger on the problem. As he disappeared around the next corner, she felt as if she needed to keep out of whatever was going on, but at the same time she was worried. Hurrying after him, she stopped at the corner and saw that he seemed to be heading toward the east of town, almost as if he was making his way toward the lighthouse in the distance. She paused, filled with a sense of worry. She knew the smart thing, the sensible thing, would be to keep out of it all, to go back to her store and just get on with an ordinary day.

  Instead, taking a deep breath, she set off to follow Benjamin.

  ***

  A little way short of the Le Compte mansion, a freshly-covered grave lay in still, tranquil silence. The air was warm that morning and the only sound came from the distant shore, as well as from a few birds in the nearby trees. One of those birds, spotting a worm from far away, swooped down low and landed on the grave before pecking at the worm and starting to pull it from the ground. The job was hard, but the bird was persistent and it kept going, fighting for its breakfast even as the loose soil beneath its feet began to shudder slightly. Still pulling on the worm, the bird looked down at the ground with a sense of concern.

  Suddenly a human hand burst up from the grave, reaching around desperately for some kind of purchase. Startled, the bird took flight, with the worm in its beak as it flew back to the safety of a nearby tree. Meanwhile, the hand was followed by a muddy arm, as the soil in the grave churned and shifted. Finally, another hand emerged, followed by another arm and then the top of a head, and Kate Langley crawled out of her own grave, coughing and spluttering as she took several deep, desperate breaths. With soil in her hair and mud on her face, she was still short of breath as she looked around.

  “Kate!”

  Turning, she saw Nixon running toward her, from the path that led toward town.

  “Did it work?” she asked.

  “Um, sort of,” he replied, grabbing her hands and helping to pull her all the way out of the grave. “I was about to go into town, but I got halfway and realized that maybe I should help you first.”

  “Did it work?” she asked again, getting to her feet and starting to brush herself down. “Was everyone convinced that I really died?”

  “As far as I can tell. The hemmelig-wort I gave you did the trick, it slowed your pulse to a crawl. Even Estella, with all her powers, examined your body and believed you were gone.”

  “I'm sure she was devastated.”

  “Actually, I think she was a little upset,” he continued. “That woman's emotions are a complete mess, I swear I can't keep up with her.”

  “Where's Edgar?”

  “Still with Quillian, I imagine.”

  “So he's not free?”

  “I'm sure he's keeping busy. There's a complication, though. I can't find Madeleine.”

  “Maybe she's with Benjamin?”

  “I think something's wrong in that department. I'm not usually a man who pays much attention to instinct, but in this case I fear it might be valid. I think my plan is only half working.”

  “Well, that's better than nothing,” she replied, turning to look toward the distant town. “The most important thing is that Edgar truly believes I'm dead. That way, he'll stop submitting to Quillian's torture and he'll fight back.” She paused, before turning to him. “And we have to be there to help him.”

  II

  “Edgar, no!” Estella shouted, as he grabbed her by the collar and began to lift her up from the ground. “You can't hurt me! Edgar, please...”

  Naked and bloodied, with tears in his skin and muscles, and with blood caked and dried in his sweat, Edgar stared at her with dark, brooding eyes. He pulled her closer, until she could smell the blood and sweat on his skin, and after a moment she reached out with trembling hands and placed her fingers gently against his chest.

  “We should talk,” she stammered, filled with so much fear that she could barely get the words out. “Edgar, I can understand that you might be a little annoyed with me right now...”

  He raised a skeptical eyebrow.

  “You simply have to understand why I di
d what I did,” she continued. “Edgar, I'm on your side. I've been on your side from the start, all I care about is your happiness, and sharing that happiness.” She watched as her fingers ran across his chest, and for a moment she couldn't help but remember happier times when they'd been together in bed. “Things have become a little complicated,” she added, with tears in her eyes. “Do you know what I think we should do? I think when all of this is over, we should go on a nice holiday together, just the two of us, and -”

  “You,” he said firmly, interrupting her, “are beyond belief.”

  “I just want to help...”

  “Do you think,” he continued, “for one moment, that I don't remember every second of my ordeal down here? Do you think I've forgotten the times you cut me open, the times you spilled my blood?”

  “And the times I cleaned you,” she replied. “Don't forget those times too.”

  “And now Kate is dead,” he added. “Do you believe that I will simply turn back to you? Are you so pathetic and weak that you would accept being my second choice for all of eternity?”

  “I'm sure it'll take you a little while to get used to the idea of -”

  “Enough!” he shouted, pushing her back against the wall and then leaning closer to her. “Witch or not,” he sneered, “I can still kill you. Trust me, Estella, I can rip you to pieces faster than you can put yourself back together. All that remains is for you to desperately come up with any final words, and then the Witch of Thaxos will -”

  Stopping suddenly, he heard footsteps above, in the main part of the lighthouse.

  “I can help you,” Estella whispered. “Quillian has shed his body, but I imagine he's gone to find another. You and I, Edgar, we can be more than the sum of our parts. Together, we can do anything!”

  He listened to the footsteps for a moment longer, before shoving Estella aside with such force that she fell to the ground.

  “I'll deal with you later,” he said darkly, starting to make his way up the stairs. “I'm not done with you, Estella. I just have more pressing matters to deal with.”

  “Yes, my darling,” she replied, getting to her feet and watching as he headed up to the main part of the building. “I'll help you. I'll do whatever it takes.”

  Above, as he reached the lighthouse's entrance hall, Edgar was already feeling his strength as it returned to his body. With every step, his muscles were starting to heal and his bones were knitting together, and the blood he'd lost was being replaced. His mind, however, was another matter, and as he stopped and faced the figure in the doorway, he was still filled with rage not only at the pain to which he'd been subjected, but also at the knowledge that Kate had paid with her life. Seeing Benjamin holding Madeleine's lifeless body, he realized immediately what had happened, and this belief was confirmed a moment later when he saw the dusty husk on the floor, which was all that remained of Quillian's previous form.

  “I suppose,” Benjamin said after a moment, “that there is no point pretending that you don't understand. I was hoping to have some fun and tease you for a while, pretending to be Benjamin Wood, but -”

  “Kate is dead,” Edgar said firmly.

  “So it seems.”

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  “Your sister isn't in a very good state, either,” Benjamin continued, looking down at Madeleine's face. “When I took Benjamin Wood's body a few hours ago, I briefly felt his love for her. I must say, the sensation felt rather strange, until I forced it away. Benjamin is still in here, you know, still screaming and trying to fight back, still trying to force me out. He'll never succeed, of course, but I'm rather impressed by his spirit. He's certainly not giving up.”

  “Release her.”

  “Or what?”

  Edgar took a step toward him. “Release her now.”

  “The Crucifix of St. Joan is in her heart,” he continued. “For as long as that is the case, she will remain dormant. I dare say she could recover if the tip was removed, but that wouldn't be very much fun, now would it? Madeleine has always been, how can I put this... flighty? Unreliable? Perhaps she -”

  “You're playing for time,” Edgar said firmly, interrupting him. “You know you can't hold me back now. You know you're about to die.”

  “Do I?” At this, Benjamin allowed himself a faint smile. “In this pathetic human body? Well, I suppose you raise a good point. How can I possibly hope to use this thing to fight the great Edgar Le Compte? It would be like sending a matchstick man in to battle a burning building. Then again, what happens if you kill me? You'll have to kill this body too, and then there'll be no hope for ever getting Madeleine's precious Benjamin back. In fact, I rather think I'd like to see her reaction. Wouldn't you?”

  Setting Madeleine down on the ground, he took hold of the crucifix and slowly began to slide it out from her chest.

  “How loud will her sobs be?” he asked, holding the blade up and watching as blood dribbled down. “Will he mind be completely broken, or just permanently damaged?”

  A moment later, Madeleine began to stir, and finally she opened her eyes. Staring up at Benjamin, she frowned, and then a smile reached her lips.

  “What...” She paused, almost too weak to speak. “Where am I?” she asked, looking around. “What -” Spotting Edgar, she paused again.

  “Don't listen to him,” Edgar said firmly. “Come to me.”

  She turned back to Benjamin. “What's wrong?” she asked, as she started to sit up. “Benjamin, there's a look in your eyes, something seems different.”

  “Get away from him,” Edgar told her.

  “Benjamin, please...”

  “Get away!” Edgar shouted.

  “It's good advice,” Benjamin continued, with a faint smile. “Your believed Benjamin's mind is still in here somewhere, Madeleine, but I wanted you to see the true horror that I've brought to his body. If he'd lived a normal, unremarkable life on this island, never associating with the Le Comptes, he'd most likely have become a happy old man with a family, children, grandchildren... Instead, poor Benjamin Wood fell in love with you and now his life is over, ending in the cruelest manner possible. Do you see now that anyone who ever becomes tangled up in the lives of the Le Comptes ends up paying a great price?”

  “No,” she whispered, her eyes filled with horror, “please...”

  “Don't believe me?” he asked. “Here. I'll let him speak to you one final time. Just for a moment, just so you can be certain that he's suffering.”

  “Madeleine,” Edgar said firmly, “don't listen to him, he's -”

  Before he could finish, Benjamin let out a cry of pain and dropped to his knees while clutching his head. Instinctively, Madeleine rushed to help him, holding him tight as his body began to spasm and shake.

  “Where am I?” he whispered. “The pain...”

  “It's okay,” Madeleine told him, kissing the top of his head. “I'm here. I've got you.”

  “He's in my head,” he continued, turning to her. His whole body was shuddering now and his breaths were shallow and brief, as if he couldn't really control himself. “Madeleine, Quillian got into my head and my body, he's controlling me, I can hear...” He turned, as if he expected to see someone over his shoulder. “I can hear him laughing.”

  “We're going to save you,” she replied, with tears in her eyes. “I promise, we'll drive him out of your body and everything will be okay.” She turned to Edgar. “We are, aren't we?”

  Edgar paused. “Madeleine...”

  “We're going to save him!” she shouted, filled with anger. “We're going to put this right!”

  “Quillian has complete control of his form,” Edgar replied. “Unless he voluntarily gives up that control, I'm not sure we can do anything.”

  “No!” she screamed. “You're wrong! We'll find a way!”

  “Stop the pain,” Benjamin whimpered, clutching his head again. “I feel like my mind is splitting down the middle.”

  “What can we do?” Madeleine asked, holding hi
m close. “Edgar, I know you can help him. Tell me what to do to end his pain and drive Quillian out?”

  “I'm sorry, Madeleine,” Edgar replied. “You must believe me, I'm so very sorry.”

  “You might have lost Kate,” she continued, “but I won't lose Benjamin. I refuse.” Leaning closer, she kissed the side of Benjamin's face, but she already knew that time was running out. “There has to be something we can do,” she sobbed. “He can't die because of me. Quillian, if you're in there and you can hear me, let him go and take me instead. I'll do anything, I'll give you whatever you want, you can even chain me up next to Edgar and torture me for all eternity, but let Benjamin go. He's a good man, he's a great man, the only thing he ever did wrong...” She paused, barely able to get the words out. “His only mistake was falling in love with me. He shouldn't have to die for that.”

  “It's getting worse,” Benjamin continued, reaching out to her with a trembling hand. “Madeleine, please...”

  “I'm going to make it all okay,” she whispered.

  “I love you...”

  “I know. I love you too.” She paused, feeling his trembling body in her arms. “I always will,” she added, as more tears ran down her face.

  “Stop the pain,” he whimpered. “Make it go away, please...”

  “The child we had,” she continued, “would have been wonderful, wouldn't he? Or she. If only I hadn't looked into Ashalla's eyes, if only the child hadn't died. I'd give everything in my power to change what happened, to have the child with us. Because then, even if one of us died or both of us died, something would live on. If there's a child, then there's hope, but like this... Death claims everything.”

  Letting out a gasp, Benjamin was clearly in even more pain.

  “Still,” Madeleine whispered, “there's no point crying for what might have been. The child died, and nothing can change that.” Gently, tenderly, she put her hands on either side of Benjamin's head. “Maybe Quillian was right. Maybe you were doomed from the moment you first met me. Maybe I should have pushed you away, maybe I should have realized that you'd never survive being around me.” Leaning closer, she kissed him delicately on the lips, even though he was in too much pain to respond. “I love you,” she added. “Never forget that.”