For him who was locked within rusted doors...the music and the laughter were almost invisible. Nathaniel sat on the floor, knowing well that in a few minutes he would have to set his plans straight and would be set free from this hellhole. His wounds have dried up, but some have festered. There was pain at the slightest movement.
"Young master."
The time has come.
The spy who spoke to him frequently came down with a key he stole from the guard at the dungeon entrance. Soon, he unlocked the gate and walked in.
"Is everything ready?" Nathaniel stood up, he ushered the spy to help him remove the chains, and slowly limped outside. His face changed entirely at the sight of the opened gates. Face haggard due to the lack of proper food, lips chapped, and wounds dried in agony...his eyes only shone with the delight of tasting freedom.
"We have placed ourselves in the conservatory. Your clothes and the doctor are also stationed there."
The tall shadow nodded and borrowed the gun hanging from his man's belt. They walked out into the dark hallway to see two men shot in the head before entering. Nathaniel did not mind any casualties if it meant his plans to pull down this family line would succeed.
"Alert all our men and women." He ordered as he stepped out of the basement and was washed into an environment of fresh air and night lights.
* * * *
She could assume that they had been cooped up in the library for two and a half hours. Caius waited until his tears dried up and he had calmed himself enough to face the guests. She had him seated on the couch facing her. With the help of two thin tissues borrowed from the beverage table before they left, she began to wipe his face and set it right. Holding his chin gently, she wiped the tears away, dabbed at the dampness beneath his eyes, and slowly began to massage his forehead.
"Do I look like a mess, Ette?" Caius gazed into her eyes and could not look away even for a second.
She shook her head and smiled.
"You look strong... and handsome."
At this comment, he raised his eyebrows. "Are you flirting with me right now?" They both broke into a chuckle.
"Your face is okay... You don't look like a mess." Odette could not help tapping his forehead with a finger.
As they walked back to the ballroom, Caius spared many glances at her. She walked so calmly, holding herself strong. He had never noticed how everything seemed to have solutions at the mere glance of her face. At the doors to the hall, she stopped and drew closer. He was taken aback when she casually fixed his overcoat and brushed over his face.
"Go in there... I don't think you'll feel nervous." Odette smiled and held him by his ear. "The brat who forced his benefactor to live with him."
She was glad to earn a gummy smile from him.
Caius walked in as his butler greeted him and updated him on everything that had happened in his absence. She watched until the crowd covered him... he began conversing with the guests as if nothing were different in his heart.
It was true that the beginning of their encounter had started with a bad impression, but just as she had lived through certain traumatic experiences, he had too. Maybe... she could understand this factor and be at peace with him until she left this place, with no space for conflict.
She felt tired and wanted to take a seat, yet a sudden clutch on her arm jerked her around to face Nathaniel. His face was clean but showed a scar across his cheek, a thin wound on the bridge of his nose, and several cuts along his jawline. His eyes were angry, but upon seeing her, they were also full of hope.
"Odette."
She could not process everything before being engulfed in a hug. Her eyes widened as Caius's statement about sending Nathaniel off to recuperate began to shatter, leaving behind a massive question mark.
"You..." She drew away and looked at his wounds. "Caius said you would recuperate for sure." Her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
"He lied, Ette!" Nathaniel could not believe that Caius had lied to her again. His heart ached when he saw how she had been deceived once more. Guilt ate him up; however, the coming hours would be heartbreaking for her, as he, too, had planned to deceive her and drag her away from this place.
Odette shook her head. "He would not lie to me." She stepped away from the tall man. "I think there's a misunderstanding here, Nathaniel."
She looked back, trying to catch a glimpse of Caius, but there was only a large crowd and the ongoing gathering. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their dinner, and her heart dropped knowing Caius would be eating right now.
A pair of strong hands grabbed her and turned her to face eyes filled with anger and irritation. "Why do you think he won't lie to you, Odette?" Nathaniel felt betrayed—usually, she would believe every word he said. "He beat me up. He cut my face. He chained me down in that dungeon he came from. He drew blood from me and hurt me. Why can't you see these wounds and believe what I say?"
"I just—" Everything was too much. Every detail, every fact he was spilling crushed her from within. "No." She tried to push Nathaniel away, but he took a deep breath and grabbed her hand, placing it on his jawline, etched with cuts.
Odette was not ready for that.
"See these wounds, Ette?" he said. "See how they're still bleeding?" He grabbed her arm and dragged her closer. "He did this to me, and I am here to save you now."
"He would not do that, Nathaniel!" She had had enough of this. "Just now he—" Memories of how broken that man was flooded her mind. "He was just—"
"Just what?" he snapped, bitterness rising within him. Seeing the woman he admired defend that monster of a man made his blood boil. "What did he do that made you believe him so much?"
The crowd grew louder in her ears, the lights glaring into her eyes. In the chaos of Nathaniel's voice and the clash of black-and-white thoughts in her mind, she pushed him away and muttered, "I need to talk to him."
"You're not going anywhere near him." He did not let go.
She noticed a dozen men walking toward them from the far entrance of the hallway, and she caught the gleam in Nathaniel's eyes. Without letting her take the next breath, he grabbed her hand and began pulling her toward the exit.
"Nathaniel!" Odette tried to pry her hand free, but he tightened his grip, and a bone-cracking pain spiraled up her arm. "You're hurting me—hey! Let go!"
"I'm not letting you go back to that monster ever again, Ette!" His response was rigid, filled with anger.
She hated being controlled, and the way he was dragging her disgusted her. She stopped abruptly. "Let me go," she demanded.
Summoning all her strength, she tore her hand from his grasp and ran back toward the ballroom.
With every step she took, his smile seemed to dim within her heart. As the entrance to the gathering hall grew closer, her heart drenched in grief. The anticipation of something horrible made her fear crossing those doors. Yet, with nothing left to expect and ready to face disappointment, she walked into the hall.
Caius stood there... a few tables away.
His eyes instantly found her. She smiled and wanted to run to him—push past everyone and hide behind him. The way Nathaniel had handled her made her fear that something had changed in that young man's life.
She raised her hand and waved, beginning to walk toward Caius. He, too, left the guests he was attending and walked toward her, never taking his eyes off her.
Then, suddenly, his expression changed. His smiling eyes wavered, overtaken by pain. Confusion crossed his face.
Odette faltered. "Caius..." she whispered, watching him clutch his throat.
Then, as if fire struck him from within, he spat out blood.