"You are a new addition to the cellars, eh?" a plump robust man along with his little group right next to his cell.
"Father…"
He was too small. Nothing said by those men mattered to him. He was deeply grieving the first day of him being dragged into here. Caius crawled into a corner and hugged his legs. The child began to sob.
"Fuck…he's a damn crybaby." One man spat. "The days of peaceful sleep are over."
Hearing this he began to wail. The fresh loss of his mother and the bleeding fingers that chipped off when he tried to crawl on the floor both hurt the same.
"I don't like the dark mama…please save me…"
"MAMA!"
The tall man now sitting lifeless against the wall opened his eyes. Heavy exhaust drenched his eyelids and poured down his face. He let out a shaky breath and winced, throwing his head back when the bullet wounds shifted inside his body. Nathaniel's men could not afford to kill him, so they hastily bandaged him and stopped the bleeding however, the only person in his mind that quenched his pain was Odette. Her terrified face when he spat out blood, her being dragged out by another man to God knows where burned his skin and ate his brain.
"Nathaniel…" Caius bit his tongue in anger, "I will rip your skin out and make a carpet out of it if you ever think of touching her." A gloomy atmosphere overtook the underground basement. The once prestigious master of the Constantine family heaved in agony under the dimly lit moss infested cellar…but,
In every hurdle in life…in every dark cloud…there is a silver lining. There is darkness, and brightness to fight it back.
"Master Caius."
Lifeless baleful eyes sprang open at that familiar tone.
"Kingsley."
His chest could feel the bullet's ice-cold exterior eating up his energy and spurting blood ever so slowly. Hands tied with chains made specially for him crawled around his strong wrists - the edges were embedded with thin metal thorns that dug into the veins. He could not even twist his hand out even if he was forced to. It already pierced through the first layer of his skin. His was stripped oof of his shirt and coat. His bare upper body tattered and splashed with dried up blood only wore the tight bandages which had turned brown and black in some places due to the bleeding.
Hair growing up to his neck and his face battered and covered in cuts, Kingsley saw gaping wounds on the bridge of his nose and dark gashes on the edge of his mouth. His cheekbones seemed to have been taking quite a few blows the upper cheek was damaged and blood fused out.
"I'm sorry master." Kingsley fell onto his knees against the cellar and reached out to the other. Through the bars he stretched his hand and felt nothing. "We are all sorry we couldn't stop them from hurting you."
Through the dark and murkiness, his tiring eyes only showed nothing. Now in this state he felt guilty and weak. Rage piled up within him during every passing minute. His voice raspy and heavier than it used to be, refused to accept that apology.
"You don't have to be sorry Kingsley." Dragging the chains latched onto his legs he struggled to stir some motion into his body.
"I unfortunately have to ask you to find a way to get me out of here."
* * * *
Odette had trouble believing certain things that were told about Caius. Mass murder, ripping someone's ribs off to kill others? They all sounded ridiculously made up to her. It was almost her bedtime…Gideon had woken up and relief washed over her when he ate and remained healthy without no side effects from the sleeping powder.
She was exhausted both mentally and physically. Thoughts amid thoughts agonized her. Closing her eyes meant seeing a man with obsidian eyes hurting in a dark place. Shot. And injured. Her sleep was not enough; there was less appetite and Nathaniel was careful to her the space.
"Give me two weeks Ette," she remembered what he said before the prior conversation ended. "There are still some things I should figure and clear up." He promised her. "After two weeks you will go home you can hold me to that promise."
Sighing, heart heavy, she stepped towards her room, but a slight voice and its owner's menacing choice of words stopped her in her tracks.
"We bandaged him…you know, the bullets are still inside his body."
Her blood turned cold. Memories of them happily dancing in the ballroom rammed unto her like a bulky vehicle. She turned towards the sound – two guards who finished their morning shift. The one speaking carried a hushed tone but for the woman who was near the door, it was clear as crystal water.
"We have already chained down half of his people…that butler and the librarian of course had run away."
"What about the maids and the children?" whoever was receiving this information seemed excited.
"Securely imprisoned in their own underground cellars." A dry chuckle followed and her heart broke into pieces.
He told me he won't hurt any innocent people!
Slowly she creeped near the door and listened. The next words from his mouth gave her chills.
"Two days after, we will burn that entire place down while they are all in it…Caius included."
Nathaniel could not tell whether the feelings he had for her was romantic or obsession over family. He wanted her by his side, nonetheless. Letting her go without forcibly keeping her here can extend their relationship further. He knew Odette hated being kept prisoner.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and he had the luxury to enjoy her pastries and her company. She slowly began to talk, slowly began to engage in conversation. It was a great repose for him.
Things back at the mansion was going as planned. Caius bled on the cellars as he was supposed to do. This was the pinnacle of joy for Nathaniel. Now his parents can rest in peace knowing justice was served and soon they will be free from the agony of revenge and him too. He will finally be able to set free from the chains of the past. The memory of them…vividly dead in every dream in his nights.
Odette being here with him helped. He could not put a word to it and he was more than aware about how precious her presence was to him.
"You keep on staring at me Nathaniel." Breaking him out of his thoughts, Odette set a bowl of freshly cut fruits in front of him. It was early in the morning when he saw her fix some breakfast for Gideon and all of the guards in the house. She had made his favorite waffles and runny eggs as well.
Taking a bite of a fresh slice of mango, he shook his head gently, smiling at her. "I'm just glad you're here to be with me at least for the next few days."
Odette had an expression he could not read but she heaved out and responded, "me and Gideon going back home does not mean you won't hear from us again."
He nodded. "I can call, face time hmmm…." Eyes teasing her, "how else can I bother your day-to-day life hmmm…"
She chuckled dryly and shook her head. Her eyes were vibrant under the morning breeze. Almost through instincts he fixed his gaze on her lips, they were quite round on the curves and blunt at the edges. He could tell by one glance how soft they could be.
"Finish the food so you can do your work effectively young master Romano." Her voice reassuring as always broke him from his sinful moment.
At this his eyebrows scrunched up in discomfort, "please don't call me that." Making a gagging noise he stood up from the chair. This is when everything began to blur and his sight gave away. There was a heavy spasm of fright and stupefaction as he fell heavily on the floor.