by Amy Cross
“Should I have simply stood aside and done nothing?” Nixon asked.
“You should have let my plan go on.”
“It would never have worked,” Nixon told him. “Quillian would have killed Madeleine, Thaxos would have been lost. You're so addicted to your precious sense of honor, you don't understand that creatures like Quillian only speak of such things when seek to influence others.”
“You're a man of science,” Edgar said firmly. “You should never have dabbled in magic.”
“Please -”
“You made a terrible mistake.”
“I did what I had to do.” He waited, standing his ground as Edgar stepped past him and then around to look at the back of his head. “Edgar, listen to me -”
“And now you must be punished.”
“Edgar -”
Suddenly Edgar grabbed the back of Nixon's head and pulled him closer. Reaching down, he pressed a hand against the small of Nixon's back.
“Edgar,” Nixon gasped, “what are you doing?”
“What do you think?” Edgar hissed. “I'm punishing you the only way I know how. I'm taking your soul.”
“Edgar, no! Edgar -”
Before he could finish, Nixon cried out in pain. Energy was starting to burst from his back as Edgar reached deeper into his chest, sending ripples of pain up through his chest and into the back of his head. Although he tried to beg for mercy, Nixon couldn't get any words out as he dropped to his knees. All the strength was draining from his body and he could feel part of his soul being torn away, until finally the light burst through his body and filled the air, briefly arcing in front of his eyes. By the time the pain ended, all he could do was drop to the ground, shivering as he felt a vast, echoing emptiness in his chest.
“What...” he gasped, trying but failing to get to his feet. “Edgar, what did you do...”
Turning, he saw Edgar standing nearby, and a moment later he spotted something else. Next to Edgar, struggling to crawl away with blood soaked through its matted fur, there was a wolf.
“Edgar,” Nixon whispered, “please, anything but that...”
“I have divided you in two,” Edgar said firmly, “and for as long as I deem this punishment to be necessary, your human and wolf sides shall remain separate.”
“No,” Nixon hissed, with tears in his eyes as he reached toward the wolf, “Edgar -”
Suddenly Edgar kicked the wolf hard in its side, breaking several of its ribs and sending it scurrying away. The animal turned back, fixing Nixon with a mournful stare, but it clearly understood that going against Edgar's wishes would only invite more pain.
“Run,” Nixon whispered, maintaining eye contact with the wolf. “I'll find you again. One day, we'll be reunited.”
“Go!” Edgar shouted, causing the wolf to scurry away, limping slightly on its damaged rear legs.
“Was that really necessary?” Nixon asked, filled with pain as he looked up at Edgar. “I always knew you were a cruel man, but did you really have to sink to such depths?”
“You have no idea what I can do,” Edgar said firmly, towering over him. “Besides, this act was as nothing compared to my next task. Be thankful, Nixon, that you are not going to share Madeleine's fate.”
***
“You'll wake up soon,” Madeleine muttered, as she dragged Benjamin's broken, bloodied corpse along one of the mansion's dark corridors, leaving a trail of blood across the floor. “You'll be fine. No-one ever really dies, not on Thaxos, you'll -”
She stopped suddenly as soon as she saw Edgar's silhouette in the doorway ahead. Opening her mouth, she was about to say something to him, before turning and starting to drag Benjamin back toward the hallway.
“You'll be fine,” she whispered, her mind filled with pain, and with images of Ashalla's two burning red eyes. “I'll keep you safe. I love you, and you love me. Nothing is stronger than love.”
Reaching the hallway, she found that once again Edgar was waiting for her. She stared at him for a moment, before turning to go back.
“Stop,” Edgar said firmly.
She took one step forward, before doing as he commanded. She was still holding Benjamin's lifeless hand, and after a moment she looked down at the mangled body.
“You have my word,” Edgar continued, “that I will take his corpse down to the port town and bury it myself. I fear that holy ground might not be appropriate, and might prove dangerous, so I propose to put Benjamin beneath the war memorial that is being constructed. At least there, he might rest in peace, and he won't be disturbed by anyone.”
“Bury him?” Madeleine asked, turning to her brother. “Why would you bury him?”
“Because he's dead.”
She shook her head, as tears ran down her cheeks.
“He is,” Edgar continued. “You know that he -”
“Bring him back!” she screamed suddenly, stumbling toward him before stopping and looking down at Benjamin again. After a moment, she saw the trails of blood criss-crossing the floor, left behind after she'd spent several hours dragging him around. “Bring him back,” she whispered, her voice trembling with sorrow. “You can do it, I know you can.”
“Quillian drove his soul far away,” Edgar explained. “It is beyond my power to bring him back now. It is beyond anyone's power, but I will inscribe a symbol on his skull to ensure that no other dark forces can use his body. I will add the initials of several of the people who knew him best, to keep him safe in the next world. Myself, you, Madeleine, Kate, Nixon... Perhaps even Estella. Let her prove useful in this, at least.”
“We were going to have children together.”
“I know.”
“We had one, but it died.”
Edgar paused. “I... Yes, I know that too.”
“There has to be a way,” she continued. “You've put Kate somewhere, you plan to get her back eventually. Why can't you do the same to Benjamin?”
“The situations are very different.”
“But Edgar -”
Before she could finish, she heard a knock at the door. She turned, startled, before looking back at Edgar.
“Who is it?” she whispered.
“Someone I hoped I would never have to call.”
She watched as he headed to the door, and after a moment he pulled it open to reveal a man in a dark coat with two nurses standing a little further back.
“Doctor Cole,” Edgar said, stepping aside to let the visitors inside, “I'm glad you were able to make it at such short notice.”
“I'm pleased to meet you,” Doctor Cole replied, shaking Edgar's hand. “I only with that the circumstances were less difficult.”
“Who are these people?” Madeleine asked, not daring to approach. “Edgar, what do they want?”
“I can assure you,” Doctor Cole told Edgar, “that Tor Cliff is the best place for your sister. Our asylum handles many people like her every year. From what you said to me over the phone, it seems Madeleine has suffered a very serious psychological break. At Tor Cliff, we focus on giving our inmates a happier life, and we have mechanisms in place to ensure that they can never, ever escape. Dronigan himself guards the forest surrounding our facility, and -”
“I don't need to know the details,” Edgar replied, interrupting him. “Just look after my sister. I commit her with a heavy heart, but after everything she has been through, I know that she cannot be cared for here.”
“Committed?” Madeleine whispered, getting to her feet while still holding Benjamin's lifeless hand. “Tor Cliff? I've heard of that place, it's a madhouse.” She watched as the two nurses stepped past Doctor Cole and made their way closer. “You can't seriously think that I belong in a madhouse,” she continued, starting to panic. “Edgar, is this some kind of joke? I belong here on Thaxos, I belong here with you!”
“Don't make this any more difficult than it has to be,” Edgar said darkly.
“Nurse Fletcher,” Doctor Cole continued, “Nurse Chorley, please ensure that the patient is
comfortable for the journey.”
“No!” Madeleine screamed, turning away before the nurses grabbed her arms. She tried to pull free, before a needle was slipped into her arm and a sedative was delivered to her veins. “Edgar, no!” she shouted, turning and stumbling toward Edgar. Already feeling dizzy for a moment, she stopped to steady herself. “Edgar, you can't do this,” she stammered. “I belong here with you. I'm a Le Compte, and Le Comptes should be on Thaxos.”
“I'm sorry,” he told her. “For everything.”
“No,” she sobbed, reaching out toward him as her body weakened further. “Edgar... please...”
“Come on,” Nurse Fletcher said, taking Madeleine's hand and forcing her to let go of Benjamin. “There's no point getting sentimental, is there?”
“Benjamin,” Madeleine whispered, slurring her words now as she turned. Her knees buckled, but before she could drop to the floor she was grabbed by the nurses and held up. Once their grip on her was secure, they began to drag her toward the door.
“She really will be okay,” Doctor Cole told Edgar. “She'll be a difficult patient, I have no doubt of that, but we pride ourselves on rising to the challenge.”
“And one day,” Edgar continued, “she might be fit to come home?”
“Anything is possible,” Doctor Cole replied, “but... In general, I advise family members to accept that patient at Tor Cliff aren't expected to ever leave. Still, she'll have a most comfortable life, and although we don't allow visits, I would be happy to speak to you by phone at any time.” He headed to the door, before stopping as he heard Madeleine screaming as she was dragged away. “She sounds feisty,” he added with a faint smile. “Not to worry. Tor Cliff is the best place for her. And thank you, Baron Le Compte, for your most generous donation. It's thanks to men such as yourself that our work can continue.”
“Keep her safe,” Edgar whispered, making his way to the door and watching as Madeleine was taken toward the path that led down to town. He listened to his sister's screams for a moment, before closing the door and turning to see that Nixon was standing nearby, watching from the shadows.
“Edgar -”
“Don't judge me,” Edgar said firmly. “I did what I felt was best for her.”
“But -”
“And now we wait,” Edgar continued. “I wish to remain on Thaxos for a while, to deal with some other issues, but there will come a time when I want to travel. You will come with me, you have no choice in the matter. Eventually we shall return to Thaxos when it is time for Kate to be revived and brought up from the altar, but until then I feel that this island is not a good place for me.” He made his way toward the door that led down to the basement. “I shall spend some time with my machines. I must test them on some new victims.”
“Edgar...”
“This is how it must be,” he continued, “but one day, many years from now, there will be a change. Then, finally, I will be able to get Kate back.”
Today
“It's time,” Edgar whispered, opening his eyes.
Standing in the dark laboratory, he listened for a moment to the sound of the creature's terrified whimpering. Still hidden behind one of the benches, the creature was shivering with fear, and the shivers only intensified as Edgar took slow, purposeful strides across the room.
Reaching out and taking hold of the workbench, he pulled it aside and finally stared down at the creature's pitiful form.
A rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.
“Do you have any idea how long I've waited?” Edgar asked after a moment. “A century has passed since I last held you in my arms properly. Believe me, every agonizing second of that time has felt like an eternity.”
He stepped closer, causing the creature to shrink back and cover its face with the rags it was wearing. From somewhere beneath those rags, there was the sound of persistent sobbing.
“Even after I began to understand what was happening,” Edgar continued, “I had to wait until this moment, until this night, before I could make my move. Do you remember what I was like in the old days? I wasn't exactly patient, was I? I had to learn to wait, and I'm afraid I made many mistakes, I let my anger boil over even though I tried to hold it back, but I hope you'll recognize a difference in me now. I still have so much to learn.”
He waited for a reply, but the creature simply continued to shiver.
“It's okay,” he continued, kneeling and reaching out to touch the creature, “I'm just going to try to -”
Before he could finish, the creature recoiled with a cry of fear, turning its back on him in a desperate attempt to not be seen. The sobbing intensified, as if terror was overcoming its entire body.
“Please don't be scared of me,” he said quietly.
The creature let out a faint whimper.
“It's okay,” Edgar said, with a hint of tears in his eyes as he reached out and gently but firmly put a hand on the creature's shoulder. “Your mind is still ravaged after everything you endured, but I will help you to recover.” He tried to turn the creature to face him, and finally he was able to pull the rags away to reveal a horrified, wide-eyed face staring back at him. All he could do for a moment was stare into its eyes – into her eyes – as he felt his heart pounding in his chest. Looking down at her bare legs, he saw the faded rose tattoo on one of her ankles.
The creature's lips trembled, as if she was trying but failing to say something.
“Don't be scared,” Edgar said finally, pulling her closer and then scooping his arms under her trembling body and lifting her up off the floor. “You had to take a very long journey to get back to me, but I promised we'd be together again and now here we are. I always keep my word.”
He leaned closer to kiss her cheek, but at the last moment he held back as he saw plain and utter fear in the familiar eyes that stared back at him.
“Welcome back, Kate,” he said finally. “Welcome back to the world. We have so much we must -”
Before he could finish, she began to scream.
“Kate, no -”
He waited for her to fall silent, but her panic was absolute as she clawed at his chest, desperately trying to get away from him as if her soul was filled with terror.
“It's okay,” he continued, holding her tighter even though she was screaming louder than ever. “You've taken the long route home, but you're here now. Finally, we can start to put things right.”
Part Fifty-One
I
A streak of lightning flashed across the sky, briefly lighting the scene as the huge stones on the island's northern side continued to sink into the mud. So much rain had fallen, and was falling even now, that the chamber beneath the stones had completely collapsed, turning the ground above into a kind of thick, muddy soup. As rain pounded down onto them, the stones were slowly tilting as they disappeared beneath the surface.
And then, as another streak of lightning filled the scene, a bare arm suddenly reached up from the mud, grabbing hold of one of the stones and trying to find a grip. Rain had made the stones slippy, and the hand struggled for a moment before its fingers were able to press into a small ridge. A moment later, the arm tensed and strained as a figure began to pull itself out from the mud, and finally the shape of a girl – desperately struggling for breath and with mud all over her soaked body – appeared from the depths. Turning, she wiped her face against her shoulder, getting rid of enough mud that she was finally able to breathe again after hauling herself up.
“Hold on!” Suzanne Corvey shouted, holding onto the side of the stone with one hand while the other was still deep in the mud. She pulled as hard as she could manage, straining every muscle in her body, until finally she was able to haul a second figure from below. The pouring rain quickly washed some of the mud from his face, revealing the unconscious features of Inspector Daniel Lazare.
Above, thunder rumbled in the sky.
“Can you hear me?” Suzanne shouted, desperately hoping that Daniel would wake up now they'd made i
t to the surface. “Daniel! Say something!”
She waited a moment, before realizing that they weren't safe yet. With great difficulty, she climbed up onto the stone and then pulled Daniel up, although the stone beneath their knees was slowly sinking down into the mud. Looking around, Suzanne saw that the land a little further to the south looked firmer, and although she was terrified of sinking back down into the mud, she figured she had no choice.
“I'm going to try to get us out of this mess,” she spluttered, spitting out some of the mud that had filled her mouth a moment earlier. Turning to look around, she shielded her eyes from the rain as she tried to work out if anyone else was nearby. “Kate!” she shouted. “Kate, where are you? Help us!”
As if to answer her, a flash of lightning lit the sky and hit the ground just a few meters away, striking the edge of one of the stones and sending a shower of sparks into the air.
“Kate, please! Help!”
She waited, as pouring rain washed more mud from her face.
“Okay,” Suzanne said, taking a deep breath as she contemplated the next part of her escape plan. “I guess no-one's going to help.”
The patch of firmer ground was only a few meters away, but with a bog of mud in the way, it might as well have been on the other side of the island. She knew that if she tried to make her way across the mud, she'd most likely end up sinking, but it was her only option. After making sure that she had a firm grasp on Lazare's arm, she took another deep breath, preparing herself for the struggle, before finally dragging him off the stone and starting to wade desperately through the mud, trying to get to safety even as she felt herself sinking deeper.
Behind her, in the center of the mud, another figure was starting to emerge. Rising slowly and calmly, with dark eyes fixed on Suzanne and Lazare, Estella had also escaped from the chamber below.
