CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The hotel was under full renovation. Walls were being knocked down and new ones were being erected. The sound was making my head throb. I was so tempted to return to my house, but one night was all it took for me to realise that that place wasn't home, anymore. It was an empty storage unit with memories of a life that was no longer mine.

"I'll have them stop! This is ridiculous! How dare they disturb us with their ruckus?!" James raged as he paced the room.

I sighed, putting down the bottle of pain killers. "Don't worry about it. There's not much you can do. Will Drake is the owner, now." I had finally finished reading the rest of my journal, but it was still difficult to accept that James was a ghost. At least, there was no chance of me ever ending up accidentally pregnant even if I wasn't on birth control. If he was still virile, I knew without a doubt that I'd be as big as a whale by now with several children already. That man was absolutely relentless.

Every morning, I'd end up sore and boneless. Sometimes, I'd wake up with the bindings still around my wrists and having him release me was a bit of a pain. He'd make the most of the situation for himself before eventually letting me go. What a jerk…

He stared devilishly at me before biting down.

My back arched and I struggled futilely against the leather bindings. Where did he even get these? "Let me out of here, James! I'm going to k-k-kill you!" I silently cursed myself for stuttering.

He smirked. "You can't kill what is already dead, my dear." He licked a nipple teasingly. "You'll realise eventually that there is no getting rid of me."

I sighed, wondering why I put up with him. This always ended up happening. He was ridiculous and never listened to a word I said. He drove me crazy, but it was impossible for me to hate him.

There were little things that he'd do to make my heart flutter. He'd make it difficult for me to think. The only thing was… I didn't know how he thought of me. Underneath all the teasing, I found him extremely difficult to read. Was there any chance that I affected him the way he affect me or was that too much to ask for?

When I told Kaden of my dilemma, he laughed at me. No matter what he said, he was of no help. Why did I even think otherwise?

I let out a loud yelp when his hand came smacking down on my bottom. "Your mind is wandering. That is no allowed."

I bit my lips, feeling my body shudder as he groaned, pumping faster and harder, until he spilled deep inside me.

Trying to contact John was also going horribly. He was the one I always went to if I had any problems. Now that he had hidden himself away, I didn't know who to talk turn to when I needed help. Liz was also out of the question since James just told me that she had lost the one she loved. To honest, I should probably go find her and see if she wanted some moral support. I had been so wrapped up in myself that I barely gave her situation any though. How selfish was I?

When I went downstairs, I found her absent from the bar. There was a blonde woman there with messy eyeliner and a cigarette between her fingers. The scent nearly made me turn on my heels, but I had to ask if she knew where Liz went.

"Hi," I greeted her, trying to keep a straight face when she blew a ring of smoke into my face.

"Did you want a drink? It's the tap or water," she grumbled.

"No, thank you," I replied, glancing at all the unwashed glasses that lined the back table. "I was just wondering if you knew where Liz is. Is she alright?"

The woman shrugged. "She's in her room if you want to ask her yourself. I'm not paid to be anyone's messenger." She mumbled under her breath before sighing and giving me the room number. "Go away, now."

What a strange woman…

I went up the hotel and gently knocked on Liz's door. After a minute, it opened and the tall woman stood before me. "Madison, what are you doing here? It… It's really not a good time, I – " Her bloodshot eyes were watering as she tried to get herself together.

I bit my lips. "I heard what happened from James," I quietly said. "I'm really sorry about… Is there anything I can do? Do you want to go out anywhere?"

She sadly shook her head. "Thanks for coming, girl, but I just want to be alone, right now. I'll see you later."

I gave her a tight hug before complying with her request. The poor woman looked as if she was about to fall apart at any time. I hoped that she wasn't going to end up doing anything stupid.

When I told James of my worries, he didn't seem to care, at all. He merely laughed and waved away my concerns. That was frustrating. Couldn't he tell that I genuinely feared for what may happen to her? After seeing John nearly die and Holden having gone missing for s long, I was afraid to lose anyone else in my life.

He chuckled against my neck. 'If she dies here, she'll still be in the hotel. Nothing will change."

I pushed him away. "That's not true. You'rethe one who told me that spirits can't leave here."

"And that's fine," he stated. "When have you ever seen her leave the hotel? This is her sanctuary. She will only ever feel safe as herself here, so fear not, my lovely."

His words didn't comfort me, at all, but how could I possibly blame him? He had been dead for nearly a century. He was used to the life – or rather – this way of existing. Who was I to talk to to understand the feelings that were raging within me? Kaden? Definitely not. I didn't need him to actually start questioning my sanity and I also couldn't keep giving him my baggage. He had nothing to do with this.

If only John was here…

"When you're here with me, I don't want you to think of anyone else. It is just us." He brushed my hair back and kissed my eyebrow. "Even when everything is gone and everyone has left, there will still be us."

His words brought a shiver down my spine. I really liked him, but was I willing to eventually die here and be stuck in this rusty hotel?

I sighed, bringing my lips to his, feeling him smirk as he deepened the contact. He knew exactly what he did to me.

That night, I lay in his arms, unable to sleep because John was still stuck in the loony bin. Why did he have to be an idiot? Not only did he commit himself, he also decided not to see any visitors. How was I to tell him that his wife was the actual lunatic?

"Go to sleep." James ran his hand through my hair, combing away the relentless thoughts running through my head.

"I can't," I mumbled back, burying my face into his chest. "I can't stop thinking about John. What if something happens to him? What if they won't ever let him out? He can't stay there forever. He's not crazy. He – "

James hushed me. "Do you want me to help you go to sleep, again?"

My face flushed, remembering all the times he had offered and I accepted. This time, I shook my head, knowing that with his "help," sleep wasn't going to come for another few hours. "No, I'm going to go back there tomorrow."

He groaned. "Haven't I told you not to worry about it? He'll be back, soon."

He sounded so sure, but I couldn't see how, unless he had intel from inside there, which was impossible.

The sun came up without me catching a wink of sleep, but James remained in the bed with me, running his hands everywhere. It was actually quite endearing for him to do so. It couldn't be very fun for him to stay here all night with nothing to do.

…

James had no problem holding her all night long. As he subtly explored her body, he fantasized what they could've been doing instead. He was not ashamed when he pressed his twitching member against her stomach.

At one point, while she was no doubt lost in thought, he found his release. He groaned into her hair, hiding the content sigh. Oh, if she only knew what he actually wanted to do to her – every little thing from the darkest corners of his mind.

While she was out at work, he idly stroked himself, imagining her hot mouth wrapped around him. His hand pulled roughly at her hair until she cried in pain and begged him to stop, but no, she was going to stop when he wanted her to stop.

He muffled her protests; thrusting into her throat and watching it bulge with his length. Her hands futilely pushed against him. He loved the sound. It made him feel alive, again.

With one swift movement, he slid out of her mouth, had her on her back, and slammed himself into her other opening. She screamed his name, digging her nails into his back as he took his pleasure.

Each breath he took was filled with her. It filled his lungs and clouded his mind. He couldn't have enough of it. She was his drug. He needed more…

Running his hand across her neck, blood began to stream down.

She gurgled in shock, holding her hands to her throat, trying her best to hang on to life, while he continued to pound into her.

His sweet Madi…

If she died here, he'd be able to re-enact this every night.

With a sigh, he threw his head back, his body convulsed on the bed, while he buried his face into her pillow.

If she knew what he wanted to do to her, she'd hate him forever. She'd run away screaming and never come back, but he wasn't going to allow her to do that. He knew, however, that if she killed her, now, she wouldn't even speak to him after death. They'd be in a terrible stalemate where neither of them would be having any fun, but perhaps there was a chance for him to convince her otherwise. It was just going to take time and he had plenty of that.

He was just going to have to be patient.

And he was a very patient fellow.

"Mr. March? Mr. March!"

He didn't move even when Ms. Evers came in to clean the room. She had seen him naked many times before. She had been with him for so long that he was sure she knew everything about him. She was like the mother he never had.

Thinking about his mother made his blood boil. She was nothing but a cocksucker. After his father died, she bounced around from one unlucky bastard to the next, taking their fortune while their pants were wrapped around their ankles. He swore to himself that that was never going to be him, so he began his quest.

The hotel was where he slowly purged the world of its sins, but of course, he fell for a pretty face and ended up like this. It was as if he was bound to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. He didn't want to be like all those foolish men his mother seduced.

But what was he to do when it seemed as if he was unable to untangle himself from her soft flesh.

His sweet Madi…

If he didn't do something about it soon, she would also betray him. As soon as her brother finished his tasks, he was going to make sure she was never going to have a chance to destroy him.

"Mr. March, would you like me to prepare your monthly dinner with the Countess, today?" she asked, dusting his lamps, while he slowly broke away from his reverie.

He had completely forgotten about the dinner. Was it really that time of the month, again? HE wasn't even sure if he wanted to do it anymore. It was such a hassle trying to strike up a conversation with a woman who clearly had no interest in him. Perhaps he could cancel it.

Yes, that was a good idea. She no longer had any interest in him and he was comfortable to say that he, too, had no interest in her.

"Prepare the meals," he told Ms. Evers. This was going to be the last one. After, his nights would be occupied by his brunette.

Everything was going to fall into place.

…

I was told by a very agitated Ms. Evers that James didn't want me in his room, tonight. He was engaged in his monthly dinner with his wife. I didn't know that he still had those. With the way he spoke, I had been so sure that he wasn't romantically involved with her anymore. Was I being naïve or was I thinking too deep into this? Just because he was having dinner with his wife – or ex-wife, whatever! – didn't mean that they were fooling around behind my back. They could just be friends.

I sighed as I headed back out to get John. What were we even? For the past five years, we had some strange relationship where my brain was being scrambled by the blonde bitch he was now dining with.

What if they were both playing me…?

Beeep!

I jumped and quickly took my foot off the brakes. This was not the time. John was my brother and should be my number one priority. I was going to have to deal with James later.

When I arrived at the institute, the same receptionist was there. I was given a head shake and told to leave. I tried my best to reason with her, but an orderly was already stepping towards me.

"Please, can't you understand how worried I am? Just page him or call him or whatever. Let me see a glimpse of him and I'll go or… Or… can you give him a note for me?" I looked into my purse for pen and paper, but only managed to find an old parking ticket and eyeliner. "Here. Give this to him. Please."

She sighed and took the piece of paper. After giving the note a quick scan, she said, "I'll give it to him. Otherwise, there's really nothing I can do for you."

"Thank you." I shot her a weak smile. That was probably the most I was going to get from her.

I went back to my car, wondering how much longer he was going to be stuck there. Was my note going to be enough to shake him out of whatever phase this was? Why did he do this to me?

Didn't he know that he was my rock? If I had any troubles, he was always there to help me. What was I going to do if he was stuck there forever?

What if… What if I was actually the reason for his actions? Did he do all this to get away from me?

I had been too clingy. Maybe I should never have gone to the hotel. Ever since I stayed there, my life became some sort of horror show. I was introduced to all sorts of things that I didn't understand or even thought exist. I was pushed into the arms of a man with questionable intentions. No, not even a man… A ghost.

I should go home to clear my mind. James wouldn't miss me while he had dinner with his wife – the woman who had taken my memories. Thinking about it now, it actually made no sense for me to be with him. He was no god for me. He couldn't be trusted.

I was going to have to tell him this tomorrow. I had to break this off before I was going to end up another victim of that hotel. I was really going to miss everyone there, but it had to be done.

Life would return back to normal and I was going to throw myself back into work. That was the best thing to do, especially when John wasn't staying there anymore.

I had to take back control of my life.

I had to let go of this happy ending fairy tale that was never going to happen. This was reality. Happy endings didn't exist.

I had to –

Beeep!

Screeeech!

AUTHOR'S NOTE

As a reminder, I might not be able to post next week on Sunday because I'll be on my trip, but I'll try to post as soon as possible!

Thank you Vivi H88, kai-baekyun98, belladu57, guests (Guest, anonymouscsifan, XO KitKat) for reviewing!

Vivi H88: Thank you! I hope you liked this one!

Guest: I really wanted to make the demon fit in and give it a bigger role. I also love writing about James and Madi together. It's just so fun!

anonymouscsifan: Am I making James too out of character? Please, tell me if I am. And yes, I decided to give this Madi a little more backbone. I felt as if she needed a bit of change this story. Also, Tristan's death surprised me. The Countess really had no reason to kill him other than the fact that she wasn't willing to properly let him go – or perhaps she didn't want to see someone who looked like Rudolph loving another woman, again. Either way, her selfish jealous just rubs me the wrong way. Regarding the Addiction Demon… Umm… Well… It's too late to change it, now… Ahahaha… Oops!

kai-baekyun98: Thank you!

XO KitKat: Thanks!

belladu57: Thank you!

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

Please, leave a review if you enjoyed this.