My Father's House

Chapter 39

Madeline began collecting her supplies and spread them out for maximum effect.

"You know, Harper," my name was spat from her mouth. I winced, recognizing that she felt this was personal. Although I didn't know the reason, her tone spoke volumes. "You remind me of someone. With her, I went too far. The same could happen tonight. She was trying to be tough, just like you. Trying to protect someone, just like you." She cocked her head up and to the right, as if remembering, then cackled, "Actually, I think she was protecting the same someone as you. How ironic!"

"Who are you talking about?" I managed, wincing. The stabbing pain in my shoulder was enhanced with each movement.

She proceeded to secure a chair to the ground, complete with bolts and cuffs. "It's not a good idea to defend Kael. Oh," she shook her head, "you have no idea how bad. Soon you'll understand how bad it is to make yourself my enemy." She moved toward me, placing me in handcuffs before releasing my chains.

She led me toward the chair.

"Wait! Wait!" I leaned back against her efforts. A searing pain split my shoulder where her grip stayed, unrelenting. Lightheaded, I stumbled. 

Falling just before I reached our destination, I gasped, "Are you talking about Kiley? You killed Kael's sister, didn't you?"

She reached down to pull me up, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Are you really surprised, dear?"

"That's why Kael hates you so much," I breathed, making sense of the enraged beating he had given her at the train station.

"He doesn't hate me!" Madeline shouted. She took a deep calming breath, straightening her shirt, then spoke evenly, "He misunderstands me. If he understood my motives, if he could see what I see, he would understand why I did what I did." She was almost talking to herself now which confirmed my belief that she was insane.

She shoved me into the seat and secured my ankles and wrists to the legs and arms of the chair. I wanted to protest or better - faint. Despite my foggy brain, I remained conscious. If I could keep her distracted, perhaps I could delay whatever she was planning. "Do you still love him?" I asked.

She snorted. "You don't even understand a passion like ours. Nor could you ever."

Although I knew Kael didn't harbor any inkling of love for this disillusioned woman, I tried to make sense of her reasoning and think of inquiries that would spur her on in a direction away from me. She was looking over a tray of cruel looking tools, all intended for me.

"Why did you leave him? If you loved him so much?" I asked weakly.

She shot back, "And why do you care? I told you. You wouldn't understand!" She stopped and appraised me, then laughed, "Oh no. Do you think you're in love with him? Please!"

I shook my head and tried to interrupt, but she held up her hand.

"Wait!"

She touched an earpiece, listening to the transmission. Her smile was smug as she nodded, dropped her hand, and announced, "They caught them. All of them. And there's something - a soundtrack we want you to hear."

She pulled her phone from her back pocket, looking smug. "See if you can guess," she winked as she set the phone down and pressed something on the screen.

I jumped when the audio started. The most terrible cries of pain I had ever heard echoed through the chamber as someone was brutally tortured. I wanted to cover my ears but couldn't, my hands fixed to the arms of the chair. The victim was a man. I tried to make it fit Danny, Eric or Porter, but it was no use. I knew it was Kael.