The Gold Crown

by Rue Volley

  “You crazy fuck. What?” Ryan asked him and the man walked to him very quickly and grabbed his arm. He jerked him past the plastic and Ryan stumbled and looked back at him until he turned and saw the boy he had seen in the alley. His stomach cut open and everything lying on the floor around him.

  “Jesus Christ! What the fuck?” Ryan said as he backed up and the man hit him from behind. Ryan fell forward and slipped in some of the boy’s blood, he hit the floor and then had to pull himself up as the man came up behind him and grabbed Ryan’s chin forcing him to look.

  “Look, look at what you have done!” The man screamed and Ryan fought to break free and stop being forced to look at the dismembered boy in front of him.

  “I didn’t do this shit, you did you crazy fuck!” Ryan yelled as he broke free and stumbled away from him. The man sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair and then lifted a finger.

  “Oh I see, you have no blood on you then?” The man stepped up and buried his hands in the boys open cavity and then ran to Ryan, wiping it all over him including his face. Ryan stumbled backward and fell down as he tried the wipe the blood from himself.

  “Fuck you Malcolm,” Ryan said and Malcolm leaned down.

  “Oh are we on a first name basis now are we?”

  “Listen, I don’t know what the fuck is going on here but I will pay you whatever you want.”

  Malcolm stood there and grinned at him.

  “It’s not about money Ryan, it has never been about money. I mean I kill for you, you fuck my sister Molly and its fair right? I mean Ryan Blackwood gets to do whatever the fuck he wants to do?”

  “I never hurt Molly, she wanted…” Ryan started to say and Malcolm ran to him and grabbed him up, he almost lifted him from the ground.

  “I mean how long is your fucking family going to feed on us? you know she loves you? I get to listen to that shit Ryan as she sobs for you, she always has.”

  “Molly doesn’t love me,” Ryan said as he started to laugh and Malcolm set him down as Ryan stared at him.

  “Are you calling her a liar?”

  Ryan straightened his coat and tried to steady himself, he suddenly felt lightheaded. He stumbled a little bit and Malcolm watched him closely.

  “Ryan you need to be exterminated, as it is time for your entire fucking bloodline. Once I kill you here I will go to your house and rip Beth a part, then I will kill your son and your evil will be gone forever.”

  “No,” Ryan said as he stumbled. Malcolm leaned down.

  “Is that the Ryan Blackwood I know? The one who helped his Daddy with Molly when she was abducted?”

  “What?”

  Malcolm nodded his head and smiled at him.

  “Did you think I didn’t know? Molly talks in her sleep, it only took a while for me to figure out where she had been. I mean she was traumatized and yeah, she is fucked up, I guess I can give you that but it was your piece of shit of Daddy who took her and then you come along and fuck her for what? To finish the job?”

  “He didn’t…”

  “Oh he did Ryan, I know why you are the way you are, your Dad was a fucking pedophile rapist, I guess you can add sadist in there too. I mean Molly has the scars to prove it, and then you, you talk to her like she is a fucking piece of meat.”

  “How…you sick fuck,” Ryan said as Malcolm laughed.

  “Oh I have her room wired up, I mean you fuck like a beast…you want to give me a lick?” he said as he rubbed his crotch.

  “Shut up.”

  “What? Is the truth hurting you? The fact that I know what you really are?”

  “I am not like him, I was never like him.”

  “Really? Let’s see. Murder, sadist…I think you are getting it right Ryan!” Malcolm said as Ryan looked past him and saw a sharp instrument lying on the floor.

  “Why, why now Malcolm?”

  “Payment due, Ryan,” he said as he lunged at him and Ryan pushed him to the side, he jumped forward and Malcolm grabbed his leg and knocked him down as he pulled himself along. He kicked as hard as he could until it connected with Malcolm’s jaw. He scrambled forward and grabbed the scalpel and gripped it tightly in his hand as Malcolm drug him back and got on top of him, wrapping his hands around his throat and choking him. Ryan opened his mouth as he struggled to break free, he then pulled the scalpel up as Malcolm leaned down and whispered into his ear.

  “I am going to bring you close to death but then I will bring you back again and again until the poison I placed in your drink eats a hole in your stomach and choke on blood.”

  “Ahhhh!” Ryan screamed as he brought the scalpel up and stabbed Malcolm in the temple with it, he pulled it out and Malcolm moaned as Ryan stabbed him again and then again. Malcolm fell to the side with his mouth moving slowly but no words came out. Ryan pushed himself up and felt the room tilting as the poison started to take hold in his system. He pushed himself up, stumbling towards the silver counter and started to search for a remedy. Malcolm was a sadist and his pleasure was from prolonging death. He searched until he bent over and threw up, all of the liquor left him but a burning in his stomach remained. He then eyed the door and walked towards it, knowing he had to get out, and all he could think of was Beth and what Molly may do to her. He pulled his phone and tried to call her but it went to her voicemail and he dropped the phone as he fell down the stairs. He rolled onto his back and all could he see was her face for the first time in forever…

  Chapter Nineteen

  You And Me

  Zoey stood in the elevator and let her leg shake as the excitement rolled through her. The idea of telling August what the baby was and starting a life together had taken the place of so much sorrow. She knew she may be replacing her loss with him and this baby but for now it felt right just as he did.

  She stepped out and ran to the penthouse door, pushing it open and running in, half out of breath just from the excitement. She ran through the living room and looked around, seeing no one.

  “August?” she called out. She stood there wondering where he could be. She then walked to the large glass panel and looked out to see August in the pool with Jami. August was holding his face in his hands and kissing him passionately as they both bobbed in the pool naked. She placed her hand on the glass and felt the pain start in her heart and then it spread across her chest and into every part of her. She slammed her hands on the glass and screamed at the top of her lungs as both Jami and August looked at her. August in horror as Jami looked calm and deliberate. She tilted her head as August scrambled from the pool and ran towards her. She reached over and locked the door as he pulled on it. He leaned his head against the glass and she stared at him, holding her stomach. He looked down and then knew he had been deceived. He shook his head no as she backed away from him. She ran through the room and saw a bottle of prescription pills and grabbed them, and then she ran to the door and out into the hallway. August banged on the glass until he left smudged of blood on it. Jami stepped out of the pool and put his pants on as Jami stared at him.

  “You lied to me.”

  “You lied to yourself,” Jami said as he slumped to the ground and sobbed. Jami walked up to the door and jerked on it.

  “Oh for fucks sake, I swear I am surrounded by drama queens.”

  August reached out and knocked Jami down by grabbing his leg, he fell onto his back as August screamed and punched him in the jaw as hard as he could. He hit him over and over until his hand ached and it was then that he pushed himself up. He ran to the poolside and grabbed his phone, shaking it as he saw it has no reception. He tossed it as he screamed and pulled at his hair.

  ****

  Zoey stared at the door leading to the outside but she knew her Mother waited. There she would find no compassion. In fact, all she would find is a harder push to kill the baby inside of her. She knew it and she could not allow it, no matter how much she hated August now. In fact all she could think of was chaos and revenge. She ran the opposite direction and left out the back of
the building, setting on the fire alarm. She ran as fast as she could down the alley, thinking of one thing and one thing only, someone who could make everything right.

  She stood at the front of the building and then walked in, pushing her hair down and trying to appear normal although she was so far from it now it was humorous. She stopped at the counter and tapped on it, trying to remain calm but knowing she wasn’t. The attendant looked up at her and she grinned, hoping to charm anyone she could.

  “I am here to see Cas Bittermend. I am family.” She said as the nurse looked her over. She grabbed a chart and shook her head.

  “He is not scheduled for any visitors.”

  “I am his sister, and I need to see him. It is important. There is something wrong with our Mother, she is ill.” She said and the nurse looked again and then tried to call someone.

  “Listen.” Zoey said as she started to cry.

  “She is dying, and if she dies before I am able to tell him I will sue the FUCK out of you and this place!” Her voice echoed and the nurse set the phone down and leaned forward.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m sorry, I am pregnant. I mean…”

  “Oh dear.” The nurse said as she stepped form the counter and Zoey saw her swelled stomach.

  “I cannot imagine having someone in here and a dying Mother.” The nurse looked around and then back to Zoey.

  “You know he doesn’t talk. He may not even understand you.”

  “He will hear me.” She said as the nurse hesitated a moment longer and then grabbed walked behind the counter and grabbed a key.

  “Okay, but just for a minute, I could get in trouble.”

  “I can go alone, don’t do that,” she said and the nurse shook her head.

  “He is dangerous.”

  “Not to me.” Zoey said as she cried and the nurse took pity on her.

  I will take you to his room, and from there you can talk to him.

  Zoey nodded and then eyed an intern. “Could he take me? That way you are completely out of it.”

  The nurse looked at him and called him over.

  “Listen, she is here to see her brother, can you take her up? She has clearance for 10 minutes.”

  The intern smiled and nodded to them.

  “Sure.”

  Zoey followed him as she glanced back at the nurse who waved to her and rubbed her belly. Zoey was relieved, she could not promise the safety of anyone and she did not want the nurse to be harmed. She was doing this on faith, faith that Cas would hear her and blind hatred for being betrayed.

  The intern walked her up the Cas’s door as Zoey heard a yell down the hallway. The intern unlocked the door and smiled at her.

  “You have 10 minutes,” he said and she nodded as she stepped into a room dimly lit and stale in air flow. The door closed behind her and the intern smiled through the small pane of glass. She nodded and looked back at Cas who sat by the window in a chair. She slowly let one foot step in front of the other as she approached him. She knew he may be deaf to her but she had to try.

  “Cas…it is Zoey.” She said as Cas twitched in the chair but did not turn.

  She walked up next to him and leaned as she saw his face, tired and pale and his eyes glossy. She pulled the pills from her jacket and popped the cap. She poured 4 into the palm of hand and then stared at them. If anything would wake him up, these would. These could wake an animal from hibernation and that is what she needed.

  ****

  I finished getting ready as Mani waited for me. He is such a gentleman, I swear. I do not deserve him and I am certain anyone who knew my past would agree. I stopped as I placed on my favorite pearl earrings. I stared into my mirror and accepted it. I am in my 40’s and it will never change. I cannot buy my way out of it and that is okay. On the other side of my door stands a man who wants me just as I am. I cannot ask for more than that, can I? In fact I am afraid to ask for anything as to jinx it. I light tap came at my door and I grinned.

  “Come in,” I said as Mani opened the door to see me standing in a dress I never wore. It was red and vintage. Made of lace and under it was a flesh tone so to the eye it appeared to be see thru. He smiled and leaned in my doorway.

  “Well, I am in trouble.”

  “I would have to agree,” I said as he smiled at me.

  “So where are we going?” I asked him and walked up to me and took my hand, bending over and kissing it.

  “Dinner is ready my lady,” he said to me as he rose up and tilted my head.

  “Wait, you mean here?”

  “Yes, right here.”

  “But, Ryan will be coming home.”

  “Ryan is no longer going to be here.”

  I nodded as he hugged me. I felt as if he was right but was I ready to act as if I could openly eat at my table with another man? I could not be sure. I know I felt tense so Mani pulled me back and stared into my eyes.

  “Have I overstepped my boundaries?”

  “No, no,” I said as he took my hand and led me out of my room, my ruby ring lying on my vanity for good.

  Chapter Twenty

  Hero

  Fool comes to the foot of an.

  Ryan pushed himself up, he had passed out but he could not tell for how long. What he did know is that he had to get home; there was nothing he needed more. He stood and jerked the door open as his driver opened the door up and ran to him. He appreciated the help to the car but once there he slid in and the driver leaned down to look at him.

  “Are you okay sir?”

  Ryan nodded, a very convincing lie.

  “I need to go home.”

  “Penthouse?”

  “No, the house, now,” he said as the driver shut the door and got into the front. Ryan let his head fall back as he was not thinking clearly or one call to the police would have set his mind at ease. He tried to stay awake as the car moved and he slid on the seat. He pulled a cigarette and laughed as his fingers were not strong enough to hold it. He then looked out and the city looked foreign, the sounds too loud and even his driver seemed to be a demon of sorts as his face contorted in the rearview mirror. The poison was ruining him but not before he stopped what he felt would happen if he did not make it back to house. Beth was all he could think of and all that he needed to protect and save.

  ****

  Zoey stepped back as Cas moved slightly. She almost stumbled on the bed as he started to rise up. Come to find out his state was induced by drugs as Ryan had supplied the doctor at the asylum with plenty of money to see to it. He would rather see his son in a state of not knowing than having to kill him. It was a gift he was attempting to give to Beth although he never told her the arrangement he had made. She would forgive him to know Cas was living, he knew this so the treachery was valid.

  Zoey sat down as Cas turned and looked at her, he seemed to not know her at first but then he tilted his head as she tried to grin at him.

  “Cas, I need your help,” she said as she touched her stomach and he took a step towards her. “I am pregnant. August is the father and he is cheating on me.”

  “What?” He said as his voice sounded broken.

  “He is fucking my cousin, Jami.”

  Cas blinked a few times as the drugs continued to wake him up.

  “Where am I?” he said as he took a step and stumbled a little bit. Zoey stood up and grabbed his arm as he stared at her.

  “Zane?” he said as the light played tricks on him and made Zoey appear to be Zane. Cas touched her face and the tears welled up in his eyes.

  “I am Zoey, Zane is dead….” She paused and then decided to warp his mind the best that she could. “August killed him, he killed Zane. He is trying to kill me Cas, I need your help,” she said as Cas started to double over and the sobbing uncontrollably. Zoey held him up the best that she could as he nearly collapsed from the weight of his loss. “I need you to protect us Cas, August is insane. He is trying to kill me and your Mother.”

  “What? My Mother?” Cas
said as something splintered in his mind.

  “Yes, he is trying to kill her and me.”

  “I don’t, what are you saying.”

  “I am saying we have to leave here, I need your help. I need you to come with me.”

  Cas nodded as Zoey pulled him towards the door. She then stopped and stared at his clothing.

  “You look insane.”

  He stared at her and she sighed as she opened the door up and peeked out into the hallway.

  “Zane?” Cas said again and Zoey nodded. “Yes, I am here.” She said as she decided to play along to get him out of the room. She pulled him out and they started to walk down the hallway. She heard the door open on the end and she pulled him back with her into a linen closet and they stood there in the darkness as she felt his hand on her face.

  “I have missed you so much Zane, so very much.” He leaned in and kissed her lips as she struggled at first and then allowed him to give this to her. She needed the passion he was willing to give.

  Their lips finally parted and she opened the door to peek out and saw no one. She then pulled him along with her until they reached the end and she pushed the door open as they ran down the stairs.

  ****

  I sat at the table and smiled at my food. It was the first time I was going to enjoy a meal in this dining room and I was happy. The kind of happy that makes you smile and act foolish. I looked up at Mani who sat across the table from me and tapped my glass. He lowered his fork and watched me as I smiled at him.

  “I thought you were toasting.”

  “Oh no, I was just enjoying the meal.” I said as he grinned and took another bite of his steak.

  “This food is amazing.” He said to me and I laughed.

  “You know what? It actually is.”

  He smiled at me and took a drink not understanding the joke but that was fine. He then started to stand as he took his wine glass and lifted it up.

  “I want to make a toast.”

  “Yes?” I asked him and he grinned like a man who had won the lottery.

  “To the most beautiful…”

  “Beth!” I stood up as I heard Ryan scream in the entryway and I ran to the doors and pulled them open as I stepped out and looked for him.