Dead Souls Volume Three (Parts 27 to 39) Read online

  “Don't do this,” he said firmly. “You're only going to end up -”

  She waited for him to continue.

  “End up what?” she asked, with desperation in her eyes. “Miserable? Unhappy? Angry? I'm all of those things already.”

  “We've known each other a long time, Madeleine.”

  “So?”

  “So I can see what's happening to you. You're changing.”

  “Everyone changes.”

  “But you're twisting. You're letting him warp you.”

  “My brother doesn't define who I am.”

  “Then why are you basing every decision on his reaction?” Nixon asked. “Look at you, getting ready to run out into the night, it's insane! You always say you don't want Edgar to control your life, but that's exactly what you're letting him do, and I'm worried you'll end up losing your mind. You're like a petulant child sometimes, desperate to prove some insane point to your big brother!”

  “Thank you for your concern,” she said darkly, “but I think I'm a little tougher than you realize.”

  “It's not about being tough, it's about remembering who you are.”

  “Says the man who spends all day sitting around in someone else's house,” she replied, pushing past him and heading along the corridor, “and reading someone else's books.”

  “That's not fair!” he called after her. “You know I don't have -”

  Sighing, he listened to the sound of her making her way down the stairs that led to the mansion's back entrance.

  “Oh Madeleine,” he whispered. “This isn't going to end well.”

  ***

  “Momma, who was that woman?”

  Rolling over in bed, Jennifer saw that Anna had come to the door.

  “It's still early, sweetheart,” she replied. “Go back to bed for another half hour, the sun isn't even up yet.”

  “Why was she in our house?”

  “She was lost, that's all.”

  “Where was she trying to go?”

  “Well, she...” Pausing, Jennifer realized that there was no hope of getting her daughter back to her own room. With a sigh, she lifted the duvet, and Anna immediately got the message. Running over to the bed, she slotted in, taking the spot where her father once slept.

  “I liked her,” Anna said after a moment, as she settled into her mother's nook. “She seemed kind.”

  “Maybe,” Jennifer replied.

  “She's not one of them, is she?”

  “From the mansion? No, I don't think so.”

  “That's what I thought,” Anna continued. “You can always tell the ones from the mansion. They've got this different look in their eyes.”

  “I know, baby. I know.”

  “I don't like the mansion.”

  “No-one does.”

  “Sometimes I think...”

  Jennifer waited for the rest of the sentence, before leaning down and kissing the top of her daughter's head.

  “Sometimes you think what?”

  “Sometimes I think it's really their island,” Anna continued, “and that we're just, sort of, living here because they let us.”

  “It's not their island,” Jennifer told her. “It's ours, it's everyone's.”

  “Then why is everyone scared of the people in the mansion?”

  “That's just because...” Again, Jennifer paused, aware that she couldn't tell her daughter everything, not yet. “Sometimes,” she continued cautiously, “things just work out a certain way. The people who live up at the mansion are different to the rest of us.”

  “How?”

  “They're... They come from someplace else.”

  “From outside Thaxos?”

  “Not exactly. They're from Thaxos too, but in a different way.”

  “Susannah says they're monsters.”

  “Susannah has a very active imagination.”

  “She says they're vampires.”

  “Well...” Pausing, Jennifer looked over at the window and saw that the night sky was still pitch black. “There are different types of monster, sweetheart. You have to learn to tell one from the other.”

  “What type are the people at the mansion?”

  “Just keep away from them if you ever see them, okay?”

  Looking down at her mother's arm, Anna began to run a finger along the thick scars.

  “Did they do this to you?”

  “Isn't it a little early for all these questions?” Jennifer replied, slipping her arm away so that the scars couldn't be seen. “You're really not going to go back to sleep, are you?”

  “It's morning,” Anna replied. “You always say I can get up when it's morning.”

  “Not yet it isn't,” Jennifer pointed out, glancing at the window again. “See, it's -”

  Stopping suddenly, she saw to her surprise that in the space of just a couple of minutes, the night sky had gone from pitch black to a dark but slightly lighter blue, as if the morning sun had finally begun to approach the horizon.

  “Well look at that,” she continued with a faint, sad smile. “You're right. Get down to the kitchen and I'll come so we can have breakfast, okay?”

  “Okay!”

  As Anna leaped off the bed and ran out into the hallway, Jennifer sat up and felt her tired, aching bones complaining about another night with only limited sleep. Glancing at the empty side of the bad, she momentarily felt a faint pang of sadness. The same thing happened every morning, and she couldn't help but wonder how much longer it would take before she stopped thinking about him so much.

  “Good morning, Adam,” she whispered. “Wherever you are.”

  V

  “I hate him!” Madeleine shouted, banging her fists against the barn's brick wall. “I hate him so much, I could...”

  Trembling with anger, she stared at her fists for a moment before slamming them into the wall again. Gasping with pain, she turned her hands over and saw that her knuckles were bloodied. Closing her hands into fists, she felt a crack of pain.

  “It's okay,” Benjamin said, stepping up behind her and putting his arms around her waist. He leaned closer and kissed the back of her head. “I'll go and talk to him.”

  She shook her head.

  “We'll sort it out man to man,” he continued, “or man to whatever the hell he is. It's about time I faced your brother.”

  “He'd kill you as soon as you walked into the room.”

  “I doubt that. He's not a complete monster, is he?”

  “He's so much worse than anything you can imagine,” she continued, sniffing back tears. “He destroys lives for fun. He enjoys suffering. You should see the machines in his basement, Benjamin. If he ever tried to get you down there, I swear to God I'd kill him.”

  “You don't mean that.”

  “I do.”

  “It won't come to that,” he told her. “One day we'll...”

  “One day we'll what?” she asked, with tears in her eyes.

  “One day we'll get away from this place,” he continued. “We'll sail off and find a home somewhere. Together.”

  Turning to him, she felt a tear run down her cheek.

  “We could go tonight,” he told her.

  She shook her head.

  “Why not, Madeleine?”

  “My family.”

  “They make your miserable.”

  “And your family.” She paused, staring into his eyes. “I know you love your parents.”

  “They'd understand.”

  “Again, she shook her head.

  “I want you to meet them properly,” he continued. “If they get to know you, Madeleine, they'll see why I love you.”

  “They'll see me for what I am,” she replied. “A monster.”

  “They're good people. You should have a little faith.”

  “It's true,” she continued, opening her mouth so he could see her fangs again. “I know how people on Thaxos view my family. They see us as beasts, as something out of a horror story. They won't ever accept me. That's why you can'
t tell them about us, not yet. We've got enough problems dealing with my brother, we can't go taking on your family at the same time. And we can't leave yet, either. I won't tear you away from your home.”

  “I love you.”

  “And I love you,” she replied, “which is why I won't let you sacrifice everything for some grand romantic gesture.”

  “Once they come around to the idea of you,” he continued, “of us, it should be easier. The problem is my father, he's getting old and he knows my brother's never going to be able to take over the business. He barely sleeps at night, worrying about the future.”

  “Have you told him directly that you don't want to do it?”

  “We have our whole lives ahead of us,” he pointed out. “I guess you're right. In the grand scheme of things, a few more weeks isn't going to make much difference, it's just... I'm tired of hiding in the shadows whenever I want to see you. Other people are proud when they find the right person for them. I want to show you off. I want to walk down the street with the prettiest girl in Thaxos on my arm.”

  “I don't have a family,” she replied, “not anymore, but you do. I don't want you to lose anything because of me.”

  “I won't.”

  Leaning closer, he kissed her gently on the lips; she pulled him toward her and began to kiss him passionately, even as fresh tears ran down her cheek.

  “Are you scared of my family?” she asked eventually, pulling back just a quarter-inch from his lips.

  “Scared isn't the right word,” he replied. “I know what your brother is capable of, but when the time comes, I'm more than willing to stand up to him.”

  “You can't.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because he'd kill you,” she continued. “He'd tear you apart. Benjamin, the thought of having to live without you, of having to bury you... Please, promise me you won't go up there.”

  “You're a good person, Madeleine,” he replied. “I happen to think that good people always triumph in the end. I just can't wait for the day when we no longer have to -”

  “Benjamin!” a voice shouted suddenly. “Are you out here!”

  “It's Joshua!” Benjamin hissed, but Madeleine had instinctively backed away into the shadows before crouching down behind one of the old tin baths.

  “Benjamin!” the voice continued, as his younger brother Joshua entered the barn. “What the hell are you doing in here, man? Who were you talking to?”

  “No-one.”

  “I heard voices.”

  “Not from in here, you didn't. I was just checking everything was safe, that's all.”

  “Huh.” Joshua eyed him with suspicion for a moment, before making his way over to the bench by the far corner. “They're starting to wonder about you, you know. Dad still wants to set you up with Evangeline from the post office. He thinks the two of you would make a fine couple, and he's getting an itch about it. If you're not engaged to be married by Christmas, he might put his foot down.”

  “I'm not remotely interested in Evangeline Mediaci,” Benjamin said firmly.

  “There's nothing wrong with her,” Joshua replied, smiling as he glanced across the barn, as if he was looking for something. “She's a good looker, decent build, strong hips. Unless you've got your eyes on someone else...”

  “I'm just busy,” Benjamin said firmly.

  “Busy out here late at night, seemingly talking to yourself?” Joshua paused for a moment, before picking up a wrench from the counter and heading over to join Benjamin in the middle of the room. “Come on, big brother,” he continued, “you can tell me. If you've got a little bit on the side, no-one's gonna get antsy about it. Hell, most people'd be mighty relieved.”

  “I don't have a little bit on the side.”

  “Come on, baby doll,” Joshua continued, glancing around the barn, “out you come. I know you're hiding in here somewhere. Who are you, anyway? The girl from the bakery? That little squirt of piss who lives at the cantina?”

  “You should leave,” Benjamin said firmly.

  “I wanna see your girlfriend first,” he replied. “I know you've got one hidden away, and I know she's in this barn right now.”

  “Don't push this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you're my brother and I'm asking you to leave it alone.”

  “Huh,” Joshua replied, staring at him for a moment before a broad grin crossed his face. “Well, I guess that's fair, isn't it? After all, we are supposed to look out for one another, right?” He turned to walk away. “Just one thing -”

  Lunging back at Benjamin suddenly, he grabbed his brother by the arm and swung him around before slamming him into the wall. Twisting his arm behind his back, he used enough pressure to bring a gasp of pain from Benjamin's lips.

  “If you won't tell me the truth,” Joshua continued, “I guess I'll just have to force it out of you!”

  “Get off!” Benjamin hissed, trying to twist free.

  “Or what?” Pushing him to the ground, Joshua grabbed a rake from the bench and made his way over to the tin bath. “Come on out, girl. I don't wanna hurt you, I just wanna see your face!”

  “Leave!” Benjamin shouted as he got to his feet.

  “In a minute,” Joshua replied, smiling as he pulled the tin bath aside and finally saw Madeleine curled up in the corner. “Holy -”

  “Get out of here!” Benjamin continued, hurrying over to him.

  “Is that who I think it is?” Joshua asked, with a grin on his face as he stepped toward Madeleine and poked her with the end of the rake.

  Swiping the rake away, she looked up at him and hissed, exposing her fangs.

  “Jesus Christ!” Joshua shouted, pulling back. “She's a monster!”

  “You have no right to be in here!” Benjamin told him, grabbing his brother by the shoulder and slamming him into the wall. “I swear to God, Joshua, if you tell anyone about this...”

  Over in the corner, Madeleine slowly got to her feet.

  “My brother,” Joshua said with a smile, “having a little dalliance with one of the Le Comptes. I never thought you had it in you but, hell, whatever possessed you? I mean, she's... She's one of them!”

  “You know nothing about it,” Benjamin said firmly.

  “I know about the Le Comptes,” he replied. “Everyone knows about them. They stay up there in their big house, and we stay down here in the town, and there's really not supposed to be much mixing going on. Does anyone else know?” He looked over at Madeleine. “Does your brother know you're down here scrambling about in the dirt with a mere mortal?”

  Filled with anger, Madeleine was barely able to resist the urge to launch herself at him.

  “If you tell anyone about this,” Benjamin continued, pushing his brother back against the wall, “I will make you regret it. When the time comes, I will tell everyone, but in the meantime you're going to keep your mouth shut! Do you understand?”

  “I've never seen you like this,” Joshua replied with a grin. “If I didn't know better -”

  “Do you understand?” Benjamin shouted, twisting him around and throwing him to the floor. For a moment, he genuinely considered going further and causing true harm to his brother, but finally he was able to hold back just a little.

  “I should go,” Madeleine said, hurrying past them.

  “Wait!” Running over to her, Benjamin grabbed her arm and held her back. “When will I see you again?”

  “I don't know,” she replied, “maybe...” Looking back at Joshua, she could see the amusement in his eyes as he got to his feet. “Maybe this was a mistake,” she continued, turning back to Benjamin. “Maybe it was a mistake from the beginning. We're from two different worlds.”

  “I don't care about any of that,” he told her, pulling her closer.

  “It's not going to work,” she whispered, with tears in her eyes.

  “It is going to work,” he said firmly. “I'll make it work, all you have to do is trust me. My brother won't say a word to anyo
ne, I can assure you of that.”

  “I want to believe you,” she replied, although her eyes were filled with concern. “I have to go. I'll be in touch soon, in a few days' time. I need to think.”

  Pulling free from his grip, she hurried out into the yard, leaving Benjamin to stand alone for a moment until his brother limped over to join him.

  “You've certainly got ambition,” Joshua said, rubbing his sore arm. “Trying to take Madeleine Le Compte, well, that's not something many men would even consider. Tell me something, what's she like in bed? I bet you've already found out, huh? She seems like a wild woman.”

  “Say one more word to me tonight,” Benjamin said firmly, turning to him, “and so help me God, we will no longer be brothers.”

  ***

  Hurrying along the street, Madeleine stopped suddenly as the cantina's door opened and light spilled out, followed a moment later by a group of men.

  “It's her!” one of them shouted suddenly, pulling the others back.

  An agitated murmur rose from the rest of the men.

  “Just let her go,” the first man continued, with fear in his voice. “Don't provoke her.”

  Making sure not to turn her back on them, Madeleine inched past, her every sense tingling as she waited to be attacked.

  “We don't mean you any harm,” one of the men told her. “We just -”

  Instinctively, she hissed and bared her fangs, causing them all to step back. Filled with fear, she turned and ran, racing through the dark streets until she passed the orchard, and then she kept running as she made her way along the path that led out into the wilderness. Only when she was well out of town did she finally stop and look back at the town, where the rising sun was starting to pick out all the rooftops.

  “I'm sorry, Benjamin,” she sobbed, “but I can't be with you, not while...”

  She paused for a moment, her wild, tear-filled eyes staring into the moonlight before she turned and looked up at the mansion. Sitting on the grass, she found herself perched halfway between two worlds, with the town below and the Le Compte mansion above, while the grass rustled all around her. For a moment, she considered going back into town and finding Benjamin again, but she knew she'd never be accepted by his family. For better or for worse, her only option was to go up to the mansion.