My Dark Scientist

57| Staking his claim

E L L O R A 

“Im not standing by another day waiting for that bastard to torture you.” Marshall says, pulling me across the garden by my hands. 

With how hard he is holding my hand, it is probably going to bruise.

“Marshall, we had a plan. I was going to be here and spy on professor Langdon for you. And it was going really well. I did find out that he belongs in that age old science cult-”

“Fuck our plan. He is clearly hurting you. To me that's more important than finding out what he's upto. He can go die in that ditch of his in the forest for all I care. You are not staying with him another day.” 

This is all I've wanted for the past month. From the moment I had realised that I was kidnapped on the street, all I've wanted is to escape. Every time professor Langdon threatened me with my brother's safety this is all I've wanted. So why do I have this uneasy feeling at the pit of my stomach? Why does running away from professor Langdon feel so...wrong?

"Marshall...Ethan, professor Langdon has tabs on my brother somehow I can't risk him."

Okay who am I kidding? It's not even about Ethan anymore, because during the past month, I've come to know that professor Langdon isn't capable of truly hurting my little brother. Maybe empty threats to me...but that's all they are- empty threats.

But then again, the past three years I also believed professor Langdon isn't capable of kidnapping me or working with an age-old science cult believed to have committed mass murders in the past.

"Ethan is safe, don't worry about him. I've got three of my best guards trailing him twenty four by seven." Marshall says without stopping, as his grip on my wrist tightens.

Right. Amidst all this I had forgotten that Marshall Blackwood actually owns a multi-billion dollar company. His mother is the principle of one of the most prestigious universities of the world. He could rule the world if he wishes- probably does. I'd trust no one more than Marshall with my brother's safety.

And after everything, can I really claim to know Professor Langdon? The real man, and not the one he's been portraying infront of the world for the past three years- heck the past ten years?

Do I really know who Magnus is?

So I don't really fight much as he pulls me up to his car parked right outside the gates of the mansion.

Marshall takes his keys out of his pocket. The car comes to life with a beep as he unlocks the gates with the mechanical key.

"Get in Ellora." He says opening the door for me.

I hesitate. Just for a split second.

But that second was enough.

"You really thought you'd escape me this easily?"

I turn around immediately at the voice the logical part of brain wanted to escape, but the unconscious part, secretly hoped to hear.

As I stare at professor Langdon standing at the gate, his hands dug inside the pockets of his duster, confidence and a certain...darkness oozing from his very being, a shocking realization hits me.

I don't want to leave this mansion. No matter how much I hate the isolation, the secrets, the betrayals, I don't really want to leave. It might be because I'm curious to see this through the end now that I'm so much entangled in this mess, but I know that's not the reason.

I'd rather choke on my tongue than accept even inside my head the real reason.

"Do what you want, Langdon. She's coming with me." Marshall says taking a step towards Professor Langdon.