Hidden Motive - A Hamilton Kane Mystery

Chapter 17

"What is the meaning of this?" my father's cold and stern voice filled the room.

"Wouldn't everybody like to know that, Father," Elena grinned and slowly traced the blade she was hold along my mother's trembling face.

"I am not your father," he replied coldly.

"Ah...That is where you are wrong. You did not KNOW that you are my father," Elena's smile widened as she looked to my mother.

"What is she saying, Kane?" my mother's frightened sobs were nothing but whispers but it felt like it echoed throughout the space all around us, filling the expanse of the room and making it hard to breathe. The look in her eyes as she cast her gaze at my father nearly stopped my heart.

"You didn't, did you? You didn't, Kane. You couldn't, right?" my mother's whispers became more urgent, more distressed. The pleading in her eyes was too much for me to take.

"Angel... Do not listen to her. Just stay calm and I will sort this out," my father answered her in a tone he only uses for my mother, gentle, kind and filled with concern.

"Like how you sort MY mother out? Like how you took her from me?! How she died by your order!" Elena giggled as tears rolled down her eyes that looked out of place with the wide grin on her face.

"I do not know what you're talking about. Let my wife go or you will live to regret it," my father spoke, stepping forward and glared down at Elena who did not show a hint of fear.

"I'm already living a life I regret. What more can I ask for than someone to take the blame for putting me here!" Elena suddenly twisted the blade and slashed outward toward my father.

I rushed forward grabbing the high-back chair my mother was sitting in and tilted it back as hard as I could. My mother fell into me as I hugged her body and twisted away in case somebody started shooting. We fell on the floor and I felt a jolt of pain run up my arm as I used my hand to break my fall so Mother won't be squashed under my weight. Trying to ignore the pain, I quickly lifted my mother's frail body and clamber to get on my feet.

"Mother, hold on to me. I'll bring you somewhere safe," I said as I held her close to my chest and ran towards the door.

"Kane! Oh my god, Kane!" my mother was in tears as she looked back at my father.

I turned and saw blood dripping from the blade Elena held but father too had a blade of his own and was crouching low as he fought off her advances. He caught my eye and gave me a quick nod.

Father can hold Elena off while I get help. I have to hurry.

I ran out of the den despite my mother's pleading and struggling for me to not leave.

"No, Milly! Your father's hurt! You have to put me down! Milly! We need to help him!" Mother begged me as I kept running. I turned a corner and ran into Harold who looked shock to see me and my mother in such a state.

"Ms Kane, what's the matter? Mistress, are you alright?" he asked, his apprehension was evident in him as he took in my mother's tearful face.

"You need to help him, Harold! He's hurt!" my mother cried as she reached out and grabbed the front of his jacket with trembling hands.

"Elena! She's in the den! Father's fighting her off! Keep Mother safe," the words spilled out of my mouth as placed my mother in Harold's arms. He looked towards the direction of the den then nodded.

"Understood. Please reach into my jacket and use my handgun, Ms Kane. I'll keep the mistress safe," he replied, his composure back but something in his manner and posture seem to change and switched to something I would not have ever thought Harold could ever be: Dangerous.

Wait. Is Harold also trained as one of Father's guards? If so, what kind of training does he have? What kind of martial arts does he know? Tae kwon do? Karate? Jujitsu? Ninjitsu? Damn it, focus, Hamilton!

I grabbed the handgun and ran back to the den. The room was askew with shattered glass and toppled furniture everywhere. Father was still fighting with Elena one-on-one but he was now unarmed and bleeding from his head where a wide gash ran across his forehead down to his left eye. Not to mention a finger that was bent at a very awkward position.

"Freeze! Put the blade down, Elena! You're out numbered!" I shouted above the chaos and walked into her line of sight. "Put it down or I'll shoot."

"My, my big sister. You would point a gun at me? How so alike you both are to each other," she spat, the menacing glint in her eyes still very much alive despite her physical state. Her face was bruised and she had her share of cut and abrasions through-out her body.

"I don't know what's going on or what you're saying, Elena. But I'm sure there is a better way," I spoke to her as I tried to calm down my racing heart.

"Don't use that negotiator tone with me, Hamilton. I KNOW what you're trying to do!" she giggled at me, condescendingly.

"I'm not trying to do anything, Elena. I'm just trying to make sure nobody gets hurt. Not you, not my father, not anybody," I replied, giving her full eye contact and letting her hear the sincerity in my voice.

"Well, aren't we the opposites. Because all I want is to watch you, our father and your mother suffer an excruciating end just like how my mother died," she laughed, tears starting to streak down her face once more.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. My breath caught in my throat and I fell to my knees. Again, I saw the colour all around me bleed out and I was struggling to breathe. I could hear my heart beat in my ear so sickly slow as I felt my body topple to the ground.

I lay there for what felt like a long and pain eternity as I saw movement at the corner of my eye. A sudden flash of light. Another one. Blood splattered across the wall next to me.

NO! NO! NO! This can't be happening now! Father! Father! Are you there? Hang in there! Harold is calling for back-up! FATHER!!!

I could not move as my vision grew dimmer and darker. My line of sight shifted and I saw my father's face come into view. He wore a look I had never seen on his face before. His face was flushed and there were tears running down his face. He looked so scared.

But why are you crying, Father? Why are you scared? Why are you looking at me like that?

Even if he replied me, I couldn't hear anything. All I felt was my body growing cold and my vision soon turned black then nothing.