Chapter 25

Cassian and Riff went ahead to look around the meeting location. Cain told me he'd call when we knew what to do.

"In the meantime," he said, "you have an appointment with the Benjamin's to keep. Relax, we'll find Mary and save her before midnight."

"How can you be so calm?!" I yelled, knocking a chair over.

"Because one of us needs to be," Cain snapped, "I'm scared to, Jizabel. I'm terrified of what he can do to Mary! But I've had enough of having to play the role of the younger brother all the time. Mary's my sister to—that's why I want you to go to the Benjamin's, calm down, have some tea, and relax with your beloved and her family. Leave it to me, alright?"

I took a deep breath and chuckled, sitting down. "When did you decide to be a big brother?"

"When I realized I had a little sister. I don't want to make the same mistake I did with Suzette."

I blinked. That was ages ago! "You're still upset about that?"

"I told Suzette about emerald forest. I didn't think…"

"Cain," I said, standing and embracing him. "Thanks. You're doing well. If you need me, you know where I'll be."

Cain nodded and I strode out of the house and had a carriage prepared to take me to the Benjamin estate.

As I headed over, I feared that Geraldi might have also taken Drew. But when I arrived, there was no panic or discord and I breathed freely. I put on a gentle smile and was shone into the dining room for lunch.

I greeted Lord and Lady Benjamin and kissed Drew's hand. Though I tried to relax, I could still almost hear Mary screaming.

"Doctor? Are you feeling alright?"

"Huh?" I said, blinking. I glanced down, noticing that my knuckles were white and I had my utensils in a death grip. I relaxed my grip. "Yes. There's just some…trouble at home at the moment." I thought it better that they thought I was having sibling trouble (which wasn't far off, but they'd think of a different matter. It isn't uncommon for siblings to fight every so often).

"I'm sorry to hear that," Lady Benjamin said. "I hope it'll be taken care of soon. Perhaps it was all just a misunderstanding."

Misunderstanding? Not likely…"Thank you, Madam. I hope that is all it is."

And the conversation continued on. When we had finished with lunch, Drew and her mother left and I went with Lord Benjamin to the parlor for a cigar (which I declined. No one I knew smoked—save Cassian. But even then he didn't smoke cigars).

Another hour passed as such. One conversation led into another.

By the time three o'clock came around, a servant entered, alerting us that there was a call.

"Yes…? Cain…I see…" Lord Benjamin looked at me. "You're brother," he handed the receiver to me.

"Yes Cain?"

"We found the woman named Viola and Mary at the place he wanted us to meet him at tonight. Cassian's trying to get Mary out without Viola noticing and Riff stayed as back up. If they're not back in an hour, you and I are supposed to go there and help them."

"What do you mean?"

"If they're not back, it will mean that they got caught."

So I have another hour to mingle, I thought. "Alright. I'll hear from you then in an hour."

"If they don't show up, I won't call."

"So instead, I'll just expect you to come up here?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Pray that they come back."

"That's all I can do at the moment. Damn! I hate feeling so useless!"

"I'll hear from you or whatever, later."

"Right. Until then." Cain hung up. I set the receiver down and turned back to Lord Benjamin. "Sorry about that, family issues."

"It sounds like it's more than just a sibling squabble."

I debated what to say. "My sister and brother got into a fight. She ran off and we've been looking for her since this morning."

Yes, it was a lie. But what else was I supposed to tell him?

The doctor that I considered my mentor is now a murderer and I'm trying to catch him. He found out what I was up to and kidnapped Mary to hold her as leverage against me and my brother.

No.

That wouldn't do.

Even if it was true, it was rather unfathomable to anyone else. And even if he did believe me, what would it say? Would it say that I couldn't protect my family and therefore I couldn't protect Drew? I didn't want to risk doubt.

Saying that Mary ran away was more likely and it wouldn't be the first time. I was at work that day when Riff called to let me know that Cain had gotten Mary mad and he had gone looking for her.

He also told me that an old friend of mine was attempting to court her. He wouldn't tell me who.

I had a feeling that Cain did know, and told Riff not to tell me.

But that was beside the point.

"Cain told me that he'd handle it and that he'd let me know when they found her. At the moment, he's attempting to beg forgiveness so that she'll come back. If luck runs out, I'm to come in."

I don't think Lord Benjamin completely believed me, but if he had any doubts, he didn't show it.

I lost track of time as I spoke with Drew's father on various subjects: art, philosophy, science…

But four o'clock came and went. Another ten minutes. Quarter past. Half past.

A maid knocked and entered. "Doctor, Lord Cain is here. He says he needs your help."

I turned back to Lord Benjamin and we quickly bid each other good evening. I took my coat and strode out the door into the carriage.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"What else? They didn't come back."

"Does the driver know where to go?"

Cain nodded. "Get in."

I did and the carriage lurched into motion. "Do you have weapons?" Cain pulled out two pistols and handed one of them to me. I pocketed it and he gave me some spare bullets which I put in my coat pockets.

"What do you suppose we do when we get there?"

I frowned and furrowed my brow. I shook my head. "I cannot say. Not until we get there." I just didn't know how long it would be until we did…

When we arrived that the specified location, sun was beginning to set.

The carriage stopped at a ruin. Cain and I stepped out and ran alongside the road until we found them.

Riff and Cassian were unconscious and tied up, leaning against the wall. Mary was sitting in a cage held up in the air by a pulley. She held her knees, hiding her face.

Standing before Mary, looking up at her—or perhaps it was the darkening sky—was a woman dressed in red.

She turned and I could see the mask:

"Cain," I whispered. "That's a medieval torture mask."

"What?"

"I did a paper on these masks for a history class back in my early years of college," I explained.

"History? I thought you studied medical science."

"I had to take a history course," I snapped, "And a literature course."

The ears symbolized a love of gossip. The large eyes, curiosity. The long tongue suggested that she was a liar. It was a very specific type of mask that I used as an example in the paper. Though the mask didn't do any internal or external damage, save for humiliating the wearer, I decided to use it as an example, especially for its name:

Scold's Bridle.

Cain began to move. I pulled him back. "No! Wait."

"What now? We have to do something."

I knew that. I knew that all too well, yet…I hesitated. I pondered why I hesitated for a moment. I looked about. "Geraldi isn't here. Haven't you noticed? Or his acclaimed assistant."

Cain glanced around and growled. "So? He's not here. Isn't that for the better?"

"Cain, something's not right. He said he wanted us all here. Now we are. Where is he?"

No sooner had the words left my mouth that I felt a presence behind me. I half wanted to turn around to ease the suspicion that it really was Geraldi.

"So good you boys could come," he said behind us. Cain and I turned to him. "Cain! You've grown so much since I last saw you. You're early, but that's fine. We can begin early."

"Begin?" I asked. He smirked and led us into the court yard. "Doctor, what happened to you?"

"What do you mean 'happened?'" he asked, turning to me. He smirked, "Enlightenment. This world, Jizabel, isn't even worth saving. Why not just erase all the impure variables from the earth? That is the main objective of the Organization I've joined since we've last met."

I snarled and pulled out the pistol. Dr. Geraldi's smirk faded.

"I don't expect you understand, Jizabel. I figured you of all people might sympathize. You were always eager to help medical science advance."

"At the expense of people's lives?!" Cain shouted. "You're mad! What part of what you're doing is advancing medical science?!"

Geraldi shrugged. "If you can't figure out what I have been doing since the murders began on your own, then you're not worth telling."

"Doctor," the woman said, turning to him. "Did you get the eyes?"

"We're only waiting for Kaiser to return with Karen's. Alisha's eyes I have already collected."

"Only two more pairs then!" she said. "Then I can be beautifully reborn."

Geraldi nodded and pulled out another jar. "Yes, you will, Viola my dear. All we need to do now is force the girl to drink this."

He plans to kill Mary! I aimed the pistol at the jar.

BANG!!

The jar shattered in Geraldi's hand. Viola jumped back, shocked, but Geraldi didn't seem to be surprised. I looked at Cain. A small string of smoke rose from the barrel of his own gun.

"Oops! Dang, I missed," Cain said. "Sorry, Doctor, I seemed to have wasted your precious 'medicine.'"

"Big Brothers!" Mary shouted.

I smiled and relaxed my shoulders, lowering my arm.

Geraldi began to laugh. "You stupid boy! You think I care how much you waste? There's plenty more." He pulled a lever and the ground began to shift.

Below Mary was a pool of undiluted liquid swarming with insect eggs. The moon climbed into the sky—a red moon.

"And now, time for the grand finale. Viola, if you would?"

Viola pulled another lever and Mary was lowered into the pool.