CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Breakfast is ready, miss."

I smiled at the maid who had come knocking at my door. "Thank you, Martha. I'll be right down."

Stretching my arms high in the air, I wondered what we were going to do today. Since returning home, he had been taking me everywhere to make up for lost time.

Once I was dressed and descended to the kitchen, he swept me into his arms. "Good morning, lovely."

I hummed, snuggling against him. "Good morning." I ran my hand down his chest with a frown on my face. "Have you lost weight?" He wasn't as buff as I remembered.

"No?" he asked me, seeming just as confused as me.

I must've been imagining things. Maybe a dream?

Dismissing my delusions, I sat down at the table and covered my pancakes with maple syrup.

Ah… all that wonderful, sticky goodness.

"Have you drowned them enough, yet? Is there any left for me?" he joked.

I stuck my tongue out at him, hugging the bottle to my chest. Despite in an easy atmosphere, I was feeling off. His words triggered something in me that made me uncomfortable.

Instead of trying to steal the syrup from me, he merely chuckled.

A hand reached over, pretending to take the sauce of sweet goodness to me. While I was distracted, he snatched my entire plate and began to stuff my pancakes into his mouth.

"…!"

I let go of the bottle, awkwardly placing it back on the table when I realised that he wasn't going to do anything about it.

Once it was let alone, he drizzled his own stack of pancakes. It was barely coated, but he took no more as if he only put it there because he had to.

"What are we going to do, today?" I asked him.

He leaned back with a pleasant smile on his face. "I was thinking of staying in today. You've had a good snapshot of all the places we used to go to, but sometimes, it's as if I'm still a stranger to you."

A stranger…

It felt that way for me too. Sure, we did things together, but whenever I spent too much time thinking about it, I couldn't' remember much about him at all. "What are we going to do here all day?" I asked, feeling oddly uncomfortable at the thought of being alone with him for so long. I couldn't place why. There was no reason for me to not trust him.

Where were these irrational thoughts coming from?

He smiled gently at me. "Anything you want. I'm sure you still have a lot of questions. The accident really did a number on you. How are you feeling?"

I touched my head where the injury had been. There was only a scar left behind and a bit of tenderness, but nothing else. 'I'm fine and sure, that sounds good."

When I first woke up, I was so confused. I couldn't remember anything, not even my name. All I recalled was the feeling of drowning and bright red eyes. They followed me everywhere.

"Madison?" I looked back up at him.

"Sorry, lost in thought," I told him. "I'm done eating now. Can we go to the gardens?"

"Of course. Let me finish up here and I'll – "

"I'll meet you there," I interrupted, already on my way out .

I needed to separate myself away from him. Only then was I able to think clearly. For whatever reason, I didn't feel like myself in his presence even though I couldn't even remember who that person was.

Once I was outside, I dropped on to my back, staring at the clouds and the birds flying in and out of focus. I wanted to be free like them.

The breeze washed away all the anxiety. That terrible clenching in my chest. The panic that would hit me at random intervals. Whenever I brought it up to him, he'd dismiss my issues. At first, he suggested that sex would help, but just the thought had sent me reeling back. It made the anxiety worse.

Several times after, he suggested the same thing, but I declined. Eventually, he thought therapy would help. I didn't blame him because what fiancée couldn't bring herself to be intimate with her lover?

I felt like a failure.

I felt like a freak.

"Why are you ruining the dress I bought you?"

I quickly sat up to see him with a deep frown on his face. "I – "

"Do you know how much it cost? And your hair is full of grass! Madison, what is wrong with you?!" he growled.

"I… I…" I didn't know what to say. What was wrong with laying on the grass? Stains could come out. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to watch the birds fly…"

He let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Honestly, why can't you be normal? Haven't I been good to you?"

He had, but he was also smothering me. It was as if he was trying to turn me into someone I wasn't – someone I didn't know.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" I pulled my knees against my chest and sobbed. I didn't know what else to do. I was feeling helpless. It wasn't as if I didn't want to be the person before the accident, I just didn't want to change who I was now. Was I so unlikeable that I had to change? I didn't want to be someone I wasn't.

He dropped to his knees and pulled me into his arms. "No, it's not your fault. I'm just nervous because my parents are coming to visit soon."

Yes, his parents. He had mentioned them several times. They were strict and old-fashioned. They expected the perfect lady for their only son and I knew I wasn't that. I was afraid of meeting them for the first time.

He insisted that I was fine before the accident, but I couldn't imagine living the life that he described to me.

The day went about as expected. I was unnerved to be in his presence for the extended amount of time. I preferred the solitude outside with the birds. When night came, the eyes reappeared. They were not just in my dreams, they were also in the room.

"Who are you?" I whispered into the darkness, hoping for a reply, but there was none. They merely stared at me.

"Please, can you help me? I'm so confused," I went on. "Tell me who I am."

Sharp white teeth appeared where I assumed the mouth was. There was a shift in the air, but no sound.

Tears streamed down my face and I watched it slither up to me, blinking its wide, red eyes. I reached out a hand to touch it. A soft purr filled the room.

I smiled, realising that this strange creature was relaxing me, but like many times before, something made it reel back. Within seconds, it was banished and I was left alone where despair quickly returned.

Lying back down, I pulled the blanket up to my chin. I closed my eyes, imagining that my strange companion was still there to hide me from this life.

…

He grinned at his men. "Drink up! Show me your devotion!"

The uncertainty and fear in their eyes were exhilarating. They really had nothing to fear. The only cup with poison was his own.

Since Madi disappeared, he had become more and more reckless. He really didn't want to live in a world without her, but hadn't had the courage to off himself, yet. He still hoped that she was still alive.

But tonight was going to be the night. The weeks had passed with no news – no hope. He was ready to ascend and see his Madi again.

There were lists made, the next ruler appointed, and money saved for Winter. He had never been so sure of himself as he watched the first of his men throw back the cup of weak beer. Then another… and another. All of them drank it. He was ensured their loyalty. And now, it was his turn.

He gulped down the content, feeling the bitter taste trigger his gag reflex, but he managed to keep it down. This was it. This was finally it!

He waited and waited for the cyanide to hit, but minutes passed and nothing. How long was it supposed to take?

"Kai?" Beverley frowned at his strange behaviour. "Divine ruler?"

"NO!" he roared, sweeping everything off the small table in front of him. He had bought the shit online. Did they rip him off?!

Seeing a glint in the room, he quickly spotted the gun and lunged at Samuels who seized his hand with cat-like reflex, preventing him from snatching the weapon.

"Out! Everyone, get out! The divine ruler is having a premonition!" the detective ordered. He shared a look with Harrison who helped guide the confused followers out of the basement.

Once everyone was gone, he had Kai in a head lock. "Divine ruler, don't do this. She wouldn't want you to do this."

"How the fuck would you know?" Kai snarled. "She's gone! She's never coming back!"

Jack tightened his grip. "I haven't given up on her. Neither has Morgan. Unless there's a body, she's still alive. She's out there waiting for you to save her. Are you just going to roll over and die? Are you not the ruler who would lead us to a new world – to a greater world?

Kai hit the arm around his neck, until he was let go. "What the Hell am I supposed to think? It's been nearly two months! I've been without her for two fucking months!"

Jack made an impulsive decision to throw his fist into the divine ruler's face. Just once was all he was going to punch him because this was not meant to punish. This was meant to bring him back into reality and out of his self-pity party.

"Shit, I'll kill – "

Kai was unable to finish before lips stopped him. Jack was straddling his hips, pressing their lips together in a bruising kiss.

"I miss her, too," Jack whispered, bringing him to another kiss. "I think she's the only woman I would actually die for."

Kai didn't know what to think. Jack was one of the competitions for Madi. He knew that she spoke with the detective more than he anticipated. She had gone to the other man with information and concerns.

"Help me find her. I need her." He thumped his head on the floor, covering his face with his arm to prevent anyone from seeing him cry.

"I know. We'll fine her, but not if you give up. We need your guidance," Jack groaned, grinding against him.

Kai held those narrow hips tightly, knowing how much he liked pain. "Get off. I can't think."

Jack complied, shooting Harrison a look as their divine ruler gathered himself. "We'll fine her, Kai. Even if we have to go through every house, we'll find her. This had to be someone close by."

Once he was properly medicated and no longer clinging on to self-pity like a shield, he began to compile a list of people she knew. It wasn't a particularly long list because she rarely socialised with anyone.

They were going to have to go to her school to question who she knew there. Was it possible that she had a secret life that he didn't know anything about? He didn't like the sound of that and he didn't want to jump into

The next morning, they went about interrogating the professor who had her in their classes. Most of them didn't even know what she looked like. The ones that do, rarely saw her communicate with anyone. One professor, however, had a lot to say about a boy. He was about to give them more information if they returned the next day.

Winter thought he was a creepy and Kai had to argue. The way the doctor spoke of Madi seemed wrong. It was almost as if he thought of her as more than just his student. Kai wondered if this man could be involved and was throwing them a red herring. He was being far too helpful.

"Are we really going to go back to him?" Winter gave a dramatic shiver.

What choice did they have? They had no more leads. "Yeah. We're going to find her," he told his sister.

While he was obsessed with finding Madi, he hadn't been working on any other projects. Harrison was the only one still holding everyone together. Samuels was also working hard with Morgan, perhaps in more ways than one.

Nonetheless, Kai told them of what he found. It was the least he could do when they were both trying so hard to find his Madi.

They agreed that it was a good lead and to inform them if they found out anything important. It wouldn't do anyone any good if he was also captured or killed before he could save her.

"Madi… Madi… Madi…" He stroked himself in the shower, imagining her body wrapped around him. So tight… So hot… It had been so long since he was without her. He needed the real thing, but this was going to have to do for now. "Fuck…"

He spilled on to the shower walls. Wasn't enough… He wasn't sated. He needed more… More…

The demon had returned several days after disappearing. Its desires fuelled his own. They both needed her. The longing was maddening.

…

"This is the address he used to apply here," Dr. Winters told him, staring at them with his dead, dark eyes. Kai stared back.

"Thank you."

"Bring her back, Mr. Anderson. I want to see her back in my class."

Kai wasn't sure if that was such a good idea. If this man wasn't her kidnapper, he was going to be. And if that was the case, Kai was going to kill him first.

As of now, he was going to head over to the outskirts of town where lines of mansions filled his vision.

Rich, pompous assholes…

They were everything that was wrong with this world. And he was going to make an example of them. No one was allowed to take her away from him!

"Kai, we need to call them. We shouldn't go alone."

He nodded, waving at Winter to do just that, while he looked at all the estates.

Of course, it was going to be the last one. The house with the largest land and the least chance of anyone spotting anything suspicious.

"Kai!" Winter hissed. "We need to wait for back up, Kai!"

She grabbed his arm as he was leaving the car. "I don't want to lose anyone else in my life! I've lost mom and dad. There's a possibility that I've lost my sister and as much as I hate you, you're still my brother. Don't leave me alone in this world."

He paused. He knew where his priorities were, but that didn't mean they were the right things to do. Madi wouldn't want Winter to be alone, either.

Ignoring the demon hissing in his head, he sat back in the car that was partially hidden behind all the other cars.

"Thank you," she sighed, relaxing back in her seat. "They're coming. They said they were only fifteen minutes away. If she's still alive now, she'd still be alive when they're here."

He gritted his teeth, clenching his hands. Fifteen minutes could still mean life or death, but he kept silent. If Madi was dead, surely he'd feel it, right?

His hand went over to the spot above his chest. Yes, he'd know for sure if Madi was dead and Madi was not dead.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the window. He instinctively pointed his gun at the person before letting out a sigh when he saw a familiar face. "Samuels," he greeted once the pane of glass was rolled down.

"Kai." The detective never revealed who he was in public. He knew the procedure.

"She's in there." He was certain. He could feel it and the demon was screaming loudly in his head. "I'm going to kill the fuckin' bastard."

"Let me walk in first. We can make this legal. I managed to get a warrant in progress," he told him.

"And how long is that going to take?!" Kai shouted.

Morgan poked his head in. "I want to find her as much as you, but he may not be the kidnapper. Let me go in first. I'll see what I can find."

Kai was left sitting in his car, watching another man do what he wanted to do.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Nearly didn't update today because life is getting really stressful. Let's just say… police is probably getting involved now. Yay… That's always fun…

I'm not sure if I'll be able to update next week. I really want this stupid thing resolved because it's been dragged on for a couple of months now and I've finally called the police. What a time for it all to happen, huh? Maybe that's where I'm drawing all this inspiration from. Ahahaha! Kinda not really.

Anyway!

Thank you guest (Guest, anonymouscsifan, Guest) for reviewing!

Guest: Welp… I guess this chapter answered some of your questions. Poor Madi hasn't been reunited with Kai yet :( Hehe… I don't know why I wrote that scene with the demon, but I regret nothing! And let's just say, no… Kai doesn't know what happened yet with the demon. Hehe…

anonymouscsifan: Yeah, the demon scene surprised me too. And more Morgan to come! You'll know his status soon. Hehehe… Fun Fact: Albert is initially based on a guy at university that I had a crush on. He was never really meant to end up like this. Oops! He was a pretty nice guy.

Guest: Hmm… I wouldn't exactly say that Madi cares more about the demon than Kai. She's fascinated by it and feels some sort of connection. Besides, she's known it for so many lifetimes and it's a cute not so little thing. Well, Kai has… almost found her? Maybe? Unless I decide to be mean. Muahahaha!

Thank you as well to everyone who has favourited and followed this story.

Please, leave a review if you enjoyed this!