A Scarlet Collection of Monsters and Madmen

by Bella BloodLust

Kyle smiled at her, Jess’s head rolling up and looking into his eyes. She kissed him one last time before her legs parted and slowly reached towards the bathroom floor.

  “Time to finish getting ready.”

  Jess winked and smiled leaving her hair up and adding the smallest bits of makeup to accent her natural beauty. She wandered towards her closet and threw on one of her favorite dresses, long and flowing. She never desired to show that side of herself in front of his children or anybody else in this world in all honesty. There was something so captivating about this dualistic world that she shared with this brilliant man.

  “I’m assuming our eldest has returned? If so I’ll bring down this gift I found for her. I already gave things to Adie and Derek so they wouldn’t feel neglected.” Kyle smiled,

  “Ah, so you were the one who answered and heard she was coming back early.” Jess looked at him with a peculiar expression.

  “No, I haven’t heard from her since she left, I just felt her energy this morning and testing my abilities each day is how I continue to provide such accurate readings.” This alarmed Kyle more than anything.

  “She’s not in her cage, I can sense it, feel it. Fuck.” Jess was alarmed.

  Was it her worst fears taking place? Was Sara really this reckless? She thought it’d take time to acclimate but this was strange, quite out of character for a woman who was used to never being noticed even in the midst of her blindingly sultry beauty.

  “If she escapes…” Before Jess could finish Kyle’s hand’s formed into fists, “There is no escape.”

  His eyes widened and his peril was devastatingly clear to her unlike ever before. She knew if Sara was down below finding ways to explore, that soon she’d try to make her escape. It was no secret to either of them that she was determined to flee this place once and for all. Kyle nor Darkeel would have anything to do with such a reckless risk against his entire empire, his world and his twisted ventures.

  “If that ungrateful whore is still untamable then she must be put down. Do you understand me?! I will not allow her to ruin everything that we have, she’s been given every opportunity to excel here. We’ll discuss this later, after lunch when the children are in the city, Tiffany has a special adventure she wants to take them on. Which leaves us plenty of time to figure out what the fuck is going on around here.”

  Kyle kissed her on the lips and said, “Let’s go, the children are waiting for us.”

  Jess followed dutifully realizing that, this was not the first time she wandered, she knew far too much the inner structures of this house. Sara had been trying to escape for years now, Kyle just never knew how in tune she was, how powerful her instincts at avoiding death truly were. The Sara she knew was far better at cloaking her mind than even herself. With the ability to absorb any preternatural powers of anyone male or female that ever penetrated her mind, body and soul. This was her final revenge, she wanted to flee, begged her Mistress to lead her and instead was left with an answer and solution that didn’t quite suit her. Sara was never known for settling, she was famous for getting exactly what she wanted out of life, no matter the cost, the price was never too high.

  Chapter 34:

  Dwelling Duality

  “We’ll worry about her later, whatever the circumstance that arise, we’ll deal with her accordingly.” Jess firmly stated to appease his mind and to prevent him from worrying the way she was in this visceral realization.

  “Ah yes, here it is.” Jess wandered over to her vanity and picked up a journal covered in symbols of travel.

  “I thought she’d be inspired to pursue the world if she remembered where she ventured.” Kyle lost that rage in a moment of tender reflection,

  “That’s really sweet Jess, she’ll love it I’m sure.”

  He wrapped his hands around her waist and ushered Jess downstairs below, opening the door and wandering a few paces behind her.

  “Enjoying the view?” Jess said trying to keep him focused and present in the tasks that this afternoon catered too.

  “Yes.” he responded.

  He knew he was distracted but he couldn’t help but fixate on all the private places in his world that Sara’s hands had now explored. Kyle walked downstairs slowly with an eerie vision down below.

  “What if she releases all of them, a mutiny would rain down upon us tonight.” Jess entered his mind and replied;

  “I’m sure we’d have noticed by now, the others aren’t as inclined to rebel against you nor are they strong enough in their imprisoned state. Calm your thoughts my love, I’ll remote view and see what she’s up too, then we’ll both punish her tonight. Once and for all.”

  With that Kyle smiled realizing that he’d persuaded Jess to the dark side. He knew she was open, had a penchant for grey areas of interest in morals and ethics, clearly it was easier for her to see his much broader view of the world than Sara could in this moment.

  As Jess tuned into her writhing concubine and rebellious whore down below. She saw her curled up in her cage, her eyes opening and smiling seeing her lips form the words, “Mistress I can feel your eyes upon me, you’ll never catch me, neither will he. Tonight after the sun goes down I will make a break for it, meet me at the mausoleum if you wish to say goodbye.”

  She smiled wickedly and closed her eyes cuing her Mistress to knowing she was in need of deep sleep to recharge her with the strength to escape. Sara could tell each year when this lull in weather dipped down into the dungeon leaving it stale and dreary that the first snow of the season was fast approaching. She has but a week’s window, possibly less before the snow would plummet to the ground pouring over the trees and preventing her from fleeing until late next spring unless she risked being buried alive.

  Jess not wanting to startle Kyle anymore, doing her best to prevent provocation of the dark creature within that was ready to tear Sara’s throat open ravenously with his bare hands for her arrogant display of topping from the bottom. She reached once more into his mind as they rounded the final hallway towards the dining room near the kitchen.

  “She’s in her cage, for now, we’ll check on her the moment the children are gone, I’ll tend to it myself I assure you. Tonight she’ll be broken into, or left broken for the wolves to tend too. I refuse to make time or hold patience for such trivial acts of rebellion.”

  Kyle felt empowered and reinforced unlike never before. He knew he could count on her to carry out his will, no matter how dark the challenge would be ultimately, he finally had full faith in her abilities. She was ready for her final test. Her initiation awaited tonight and she was ready for wherever this adventure in the wilderness took her.

  “Tiffany! I thought I heard your lovely voice this morning, I swore I was dreaming.” Jess walked in, the beautiful young woman walking towards her with open arms.

  “I’ve missed you, and I have something for you. Tell me of your travels I want to live vicariously through all of your adventures.”

  Tiffany looked at the journal and smiled widely;

  “Thank you! I was just telling my friend I needed a wanderlust journal to inspire me to travel the world. I can’t wait to fill out what my latest adventure instilled in me. It left me feeling inspired to go to college this fall instead of feeling afraid to leave home.” Jess glowed hearing her confidence.

  “I’m so pleased to hear that, for us to embrace culture throughout the world we have to first enrich the soul. I find traveling and reading to be the most beneficial methods in life for such pursuits.”

  Tiffany smiled and Jess instantly inquired, “Did you meet anybody handsome?” Looking over her shoulder she realized instantly and winked, “Oh, never mind we’ll talk about that later, just you and I.” Jess laughed and walked to her spot at the table where Derek and Adie were already waiting. Kyle sat down and watched the staff bring in food to appease their growling stomachs.

  “Oh god, my daught
er’s dating now.” He sternly sat back in his chair and smiled, “So when do I get to meet him?”

  Tiffany blushed wisecracking aloud, “Thanks Jess.” sarcastically she laughed and Jess made a grimacing face of apologies.

  “Sorry, I can’t resist ruffling feathers I suppose. Perhaps I was a fan dancer or a peacock in my past life.” Adie laughed out loud picturing this and Derek chuckled as well. Kyle shook his head and waited for Tiffany to continue, “We just started talking dad, as soon as I feel like he’s even worth introducing I’ll let you know, I promise.”

  He grinned and responded, “I’ll expect him over for dinner by the time you start school in the fall.” Tiffany laughed as she started to enjoy her salad, “No pressure.”

  Kyle and Jess started laughing the meal carried on long into the early evening, filled with banter, catching up on all of the stories and adventures each one enjoyed this busy season.

  This is what I’ve always wanted, I just never knew it before.

  Jess thought to herself between listening to the children and Kyle share what they had enjoyed as she filled them in on her current projects a midst the adventures she had with Derek and Adie all over Colorado when Kyle was busy with work.

  In that moment when her peaceful thoughts effortlessly escaped in her mind’s eye, Kyle reached over towards her hand and touched it gently. He responded, his voice soothingly filling her mind.

  I’m glad to have you home.

  Tiffany shared her adventures until she realized what time it was. “Well, it’s time for me to kidnap these two for a few hours, I have a surprise for you guys, get good shoes on and we’ll go for a drive. I discovered something on my way home that you two just have to see.”

  Excited by the element of surprise, Adie and Derek started to run as fast as they could out the door. The moment Kyle was about to remind them to say goodbye first Jess already instructed them.

  “What? No goodbye?” Instantly Derek and Adie came in and hugged her, she kissed them lovingly on the forehead.

  “Have fun, and take pictures for me, I already know where you’re going.” Sticking her tongue out and teasing them, they both laughed.

  “I can’t wait, I want to know where we’re going.”

  Adie hugged her dad quickly so did Derek, as they bolted towards the stairs towards their rooms to find their shoes.

  “It was great catching up, I missed you both so much over the summer.” Tiffany leaned forward over her dad’s shoulders hugging him, Jess stood and wrapped her arms around her.

  “You’ve blossomed into such a confident woman this season, I can’t wait to see what paths in life you choose this autumn.” Jess hugged her and whispered into her ear,

  “The world is lucky to have you.”

  Tiffany glowed and smiled nodding her head and blushing. She gently waved and wandered out the door before stepping back in for a moment;

  “Oh yea, dad, I’ll text you when we’re on our way back, it probably won’t be until after ten o’ clock or so, the tour is a few hours and I wanted to take them out for something to eat afterwards, you know how Adie gets when we make her wait.”

  Kyle laughed and said, “Great idea, have fun.” As the children left the haunting expression of fear and vengeance was painted on Kyle’s face as clear as day.

  “It’s time my pet, sun sets in less than an hour, prepare yourself, tonight we hunt, tonight I see once and for all, just where your loyalty truly lies.”

  Chapter 35:

  Trained Lachesism

  “Oh God! Not now, I thought I’ve have enough time to see her off, at least give her a head start in the right direction far away from his hunting ground. Oh God No!”

  Jess saw a vision of Sara in the near future, fleeing from the chamber door of the mausoleum down below. Burrowing out from the layers of the snow to the surface of the star kissed sky. Her face glowing with the ripe opportunity to escape, never realizing the direction she fled towards was right where he wanted Sara in the first place.

  “I have to gather my equipment and get ready, it should take less than an hour. I’ll be in my room, when do you desire my presence?”

  Jess inquired already focused on a million tiny things that had to be done which required precise timing. Kyle noticed a moment of hesitation in her expression, he wondered then if she’d be foolish enough to disappear alongside her. He banished the thought immediately doing his best not to alarm her with the brief moment of silence that felt like an eternity to the woman he loved who knew in her scarred heart that this was the only chance she’d ever have to say goodbye to her beloved concubine. She had to try, one final time before she let her go to watch as Sara marched rebelliously towards her own demise.

  “You have until nightfall that gives you just less than an hour. I’ll be waiting for you down below in my private office. When you approach the sigil on the door whisper your desires for me in your mind’s eye and the door will open.”

  Kyle smiled and watched her eyes glow along with her expanding aura. “It pleases me to the very core of my being to see how honored I am with such acts of sacred trust.” Jess embraced him closely, lovingly and looked up into his eyes with words that soothed his soul in ways no actions could, at least for now.

  “Whatever your eyes see tonight, know that it’s what has to take place to ensure that I have a chance to kill her as humanely as she deserves. What may at first appear to be me fleeing by her side, just know that I’m ushering her to the exact spot that I know you’ve had picked out for her since I came into your world. I will never betray you. You are my reason for breathing.”

  A single tear streamed down her cheek and she smiled, he knew this was the hardest decision she’d ever have to make, he hoped deep down that she could follow in her own mental footsteps, it was the only way she’d emotionally survive a night like this.

  As Jess hurried upstairs, she saw the office door open once more, and felt her energy. She smelled her fragrant scent wafting in the breeze, why was she in there? What could Sara possibly need from his personal office that would be of any use to her? Jess wandered in to see what was missing, misplaced or scattered to the winds, a single piece of parchment was sticking out of his shelf of personal works.

  Jess knew Kyle had a collection of local and worldwide maps nestled in here for personal research that aided his writing.

  She reached for the parchment and saw the X marked on it in red. She recognized those red lips from anywhere. Sara boldly dressed and ready to flee kissed the location of where she planned to run towards, knowing full well that her beloved mistress would never watch her flee after saying goodbye.

  “Oh my beautiful fool, of all the places you decided to run, why did your twisted little mind end up here?”

  Jess boldly placed the map underneath her arm and swiftly ran out of his office, shutting the door and realizing there was no way she could lock it from the inside. She didn’t know which energetic protocol was required and telepathy was never her strongest ability, especially when pressure, time and adrenaline were coursing through her veins. As she fled towards her room she felt his presence ascending, she knew if he entered her bedroom he’d have questions as it looked as if she hadn’t done a thing in the previous ten minutes to facilitate making things move swiftly in the direction of his dark will.

  Fortunately for Jess, Kyle was more focused on tending to his office and his bedroom, he left his over layers and hunting gear in the private hollows below but he still needed his boots and under layers. He looked outside his bedroom window and watched as the snow began to fall along the horizon of the mountainside. He felt the frozen chill deep in his bones, he’d lived here all his life and Kyle possessed the innate ability to detect the changing seasons before anyone else could. Leaving him with the power to control when and how he would kill, to hunt down fresh meat with fervor in a silent graveyard without another human b
eing on the planet to intrude.

  “Perfect timing.” Kyle said with a contented sigh, watching the snow fall in sheets now as he continued to pull on his warm leggings underneath his jeans, adding extra socks under his boots and layers of thick sweaters under what would be his cloaked jacket and armed bow and arrow.

  “Cougars detest the snow, yet the wildest most untamable ones seem to stick around far beyond their approaching expiration.”

  As Kyle cinched his belt he sighed contently knowing that he was ready, he lurked in the hallways ensuring no staff or other unexpected employee or co-worker would randomly choose to come up here for some unapparent reason. The halls were dark and silent, he walked like a shadow towards his office door, realizing now that this was unlocked. His blood instantly boiled.

  “Fucking cunt, I’ll personally finish you off, even if she does have the stomach for it.”

  Kyle couldn’t tell what was misplaced or missing, but he smelled her scent, mixed with another who he knew most intimately.

  “Jess was here too recently, I wonder if she found anything.”

  His mind continued to grind and churn like the cogs and wheels of an old industrial factory machine. As his heart started beating fast he walked towards her door, feeling her visceral presence inside. He let out a sigh of contentment, he couldn’t endure her vanishing without a trace on the frost bitten winds of this dark initiatory night. This night was what he’d been waiting for, aching to share with her for centuries. If she only knew how long it took to construct such a dream, the patience facilitated over the year, was maddening.

  Kyle reached towards her bedroom door for the handle, first knocking gently to ease her energy instead of alarming her with a sudden entrance resonating with power.

  “She’s been in your office, I found this in there earlier right before I came in to get ready. She begged me to come down to the mausoleum before sundown but we were with the children, I’d hoped it would’ve provided me one last chance to instill some sense within her, but then I found this.”