Gods and Monsters

VII

Canterbury Manor - Mentmore, Buckinghamshire

The gathering at Canterbury Manor was small, with only a few trusted friends and loved ones gathered in the dinning room. Mr Takahashi and the small amount of staff dashed back and forth from the kitchen ensuring plates were full and drinks topped up. Even though Jack and Maria didn't want to make a big deal of their departure, they still had to entertain.

Dominic stood alone in the corner of the room. He had never been too keen on socialising and entertaining, instead preferring his own company in this rare times out of business hours. Jack spotted his associate across the room and began walking towards him when Damien stepped in front.

"Are you sure about this, Dad?" the young businessman said, "I mean, it's great that you're giving me more control in the company, but it's your baby."

Jack smiled at his son. Although he was a magnificent businessman, Damien still had a lot to learn, however that would come in time. "You're right, QT is my baby, but I'm it's your turn to make your mark on the company. Once I'm gone, there are some...extra details that you need to know. Speak to Dominic once I'm gone. He's assured me he'll continue to serve you as he has me." Jack wondered how his son would take the news about posthumans, Eugene and everything else in his chaotic life. Damien pulled a puzzled face as Jack looked past his son for Dominic, however Jack's friend was nowhere to be seen.

Approaching from the side, Maria planted a red kiss on Jack's cheek, moving closer as she whispered in his ear, "We need to start thinking about leaving. I'll call the car around while you make our excuses."

Jack moved to the top of the room, tapping a teaspoon against his glass of whiskey to get the rooms attention. Staring across the old dining room, he still wasn't able to spot Dominic anywhere. Jack had wanted to thank him personally before they left, but as Maria returned to the room, he knew this may be unlikely.

"Ladies and gentleman, I would like to thank you all for turning up tonight. It would certainly have been embarrassing for me if you hadn't," a light chuckle spread among the guests, "Unfortunately, this is the last time that I will see many of you. Maria and I have decided to move away for the foreseeable future. From this point forward, my wonderful son, Damien, will be the CEO of Quantum Technologies, so make sure you speak to him about any leaky toilets or if you don't like what's on the canteen menu." Another bout of laughing followed. Dominic appeared out of a side room and made his way to the front of small crowd gathered in front of Jack. "I would love to thank each and every one of you personally, however Maria and I do have a plane to catch. One man who has stood by me since the beginning though, is my friend, Dominic Cross." Jack waved his hand and gestured for Dominic to join him at the front. Stepping forward Dominic was applauded by the guests as he joined Jack, the two friends shaking hands. As Jack turned back to face the guests, Dominic leant in close, whispering something in Jack's ear that was almost inaudible, but instantly made Jack's blood run cold.

"Mr McDonald sends his regards."

Feeling the pistol dig into his spine, Jack quickly spun around and attempted to wrestle the gun out of Dominic's hand. The guests gasped as they ran for the nearest exit. The gun fired, the bullet flying past Jack and lodging in the ceiling above them. For a man as lean as Dominic, Jack was surprised by his friends strength as he gripped Dominic's wrists in an attempt to loosen his hold on the gun. Turning slightly, Dominic fired off two more shots which darted down the other side of the room, his face burning red in anger and fear. Jack flung his head forwards, smashing it into Dominic's nose which forced him off his feet. Dominic went down with in a clutter, knocked out cold, as Jack stood over him, questioning this betrayal.

"Dad!" a panicked Damien called out. Jack turned to look down the room and saw Maria, his beautiful Maria, slumped against the wall, one red hole in chest and another in her stomach. Jack charged across the floor as Damien kept an eye on Dominic. Jack grasped Maria's hand tightly, her eyes fluttering slightly as she struggled to remain conscious.

"Someone call 999!" Jack called out as some of the guests slowly re-entered the room, each of them frantically dialling as Jack had instructed. "C'mon, Maria. You're going to get through this."

"Jack..." Maria's voice trailed off slightly, "Jack, promise me...promise me that you won't go looking for revenge. What is done is done. Do alone what we wanted to do together. Go far, far away from this place."

Brushing tears off his cheek, Jack attempted to speak, initially only able to make various noises through the crying before he composed himself, "I don't think I can, Maria. I'm sorry, but I can't make that promise. They need to pay for what they have done to you."

Maria's eyes filled with sorrow as her heart slowed. Her lips trembled slightly as she attempted to speak, but her body couldn't take any more. Slowly, Maria's head fell to the side, resting on her shoulder as Jack cradled her one last time.

Behind him, Jack could hear Dominic begin to wake. Gritting his teeth together, Jack slowly stepped up, leaving Maria's corpse delicately on the floor. Staring over Dominic's body, he began to speak, "Why? Why did you do it, Dominic. We were supposed to be friends."

"Unlike you, Jack, I know how to follow orders." A sly smirk spread its way across Dominic's face.

Hoisting him up, Jack launched Dominic across the room, his body crashing through a pile of tables, an explosion of splinters covering his suit. Jack slowly walked over and once again stared at Dominic's limp body. He remembered what Maria had said about not seeking revenge, but Jack knew justice had to be done. Lifting a nearby wooden chair, Jack hoisted it above his head before swiftly bringing it down onto Dominic's face. The chair broke, but Jack held onto one of the legs and senselessly beat Dominic with it, the blood of his former friend spraying across his face.

Continued in Part 8...