The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter 19

I saw my mother. My birth mother, from Earth. She was a small wan looking woman. She might have looked pretty with more makeup and without the scar on her cheek. The scar was from when my father hit her with a wine glass. The glass shattered and the edge cut open her cheek. 

She stared at me, “He died because of you.”

“He was horrible to you.” I answered back. “All I told them was the truth. The truth.”

“They didn’t understand. He loved us. In his way.”

I shook my head. “He didn’t love us. He wanted to own us. He didn’t love anyone.”

“I needed him.”

I felt something on my neck. Liquid of some sort. 

“No you didn’t.” I said. “I’m sorry. You didn’t have to do it.”

“I was nothing without him. And you took him away from me.”

“That isn’t fair.” I could feel my voice rising.

“You were a terrible daughter.”

I struggled to find my footing. I felt something pouring down my throat. 

“I was nothing without him. You made me nothing. So I went away. I couldn’t stand the world without him. So I went away.”

“Mother, I’m sorry I made you do that. I’m sorry.” 

“What’s she saying?” It was Vincent’s voice.

“Did she say, mother?” Amy asked. 

I looked around. I couldn’t see them. 

“You don’t deserve them.” Mother said. “You stay here with me. This is where we belong. This is where you belong, for what you did.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I told the truth.” I said.

“You took him away from me!”

“Hold her.” That was Fiona speaking. “She is flailing.”

“Gods, is she having a vision now? Now, of all times?” Amy asked.

Was this a vision? It didn’t feel like one. But that made me realize something. Whatever it was, it wasn’t real. I struggled to focus on the voices of my family as my mother continued to yell at me. 

“You killed him. And you killed me. You killed me.”

I couldn’t take it. “I didn’t kill you. You killed yourself!”

My eyes snapped open. I gasped, taking air into my lungs. My lips and chin were sticky with blood, but I could breathe. The wound in my throat had healed. 

“Okay.” I said. “I’m okay.”

“Drink this dearest,” Amy said holding a glass bottle labeled: healing potion. 

I propped myself up and took the bottle. I downed the contents. A painful itching spread across my back. The healing potion was working on the whip injuries and holes left by the pins. 

“It took three potions to get you back to us.” Vincent said. “I feared we were too late.”

“I was reckless.” Fiona said. “Forgive me, Beloved. The next time I aim for the head.”

“I don’t want there to be a next time.” I said.

“Ren? Did you have a vision? You were talking about your mother. And somebody killing themselves.”

The bottom fell out of my stomach. There was no way I could explain that without sounding mad. My mother in this world was still alive. It wouldn’t reconcile. 

“I don’t remember anything.” I said. “So it couldn’t have been a vision. I’m always lucid for visions.”

“You were delirious from lack of oxygen. You were dying. You were hallucinating. It may be best if you do not remember.” Fiona said. 

“You look awful.” Laila said. “They must have put you through the ringer.”

Amy nodded, “Her arm was broken, she had cuts all over her back and face, burns on her collarbone, and who knows what else.”

Laila shook her head. “You’re bloody tough.”

“I’m not,” I said. “I broke. Another minute and I’d have signed a false confession.”

“They did a great deal of damage in the time they had you. You have no reason to feel shame.”

“Either way, we need to move.” Vincent said. “This is going to be a nightmare for Leon when he finds out. And our only shot at getting out of this is if we find and expose the real murderer.”

“Leon doesn’t know about this?” I asked, bringing a hand to my mouth.

Fiona shook her head. “Leon is currently arguing with bureaucrats trying to negotiate your release. We must hurry.”

“Where is Quincy?” I asked.

“He is with Leon, arguing your case.” Fiona said. 

Vincent tied up Duke Xander. Amy and Fiona helped me to my feet. Laila went to retrieve my cane. As she left, I noticed the remains of the torturer. He lay in pieces across the stone floor. I looked away. Fiona watched as I did.

“Did I go too far?” She asked.

I shook my head. “I just can’t look at the results.”

Laila returned with my cane. Fiona reloaded her flintlocks. We exited the door, and ran straight into a pair of guards. 

“Prison break!” One yelled. Vincent drew the man’s sword and stabbed him with it. Fiona drew her own sword and lopped off the head of the other guard. But I could hear shouts of alarm down the corridor. 

“Now we run.” Vincent said with a grin. 

“We can get out through the catacombs.” Laila said. 

Laila led us to a heavy pine door. It swung open to reveal a spiral staircase leading down into darkness. Vincent grabbed a torch from a mount in the wall. And with that, we began to descend. 

“Why are you helping us, Laila?” I asked

Laila looked at me. “Somebody is killing our nobles. And only you are trying to find the real killer.”

“That’s noble of you.” I said. But I kept staring at her.

“And, your baroness saved me from Lord Agnar. I owe you Yssians. Agnar might have left me scarred or crippled. And then I’d have no value as a wife. And that is all the value women have in Hyperborea.”

I scowled at the wall. “Whoever is doing this may be doing a public service. It seems Hyperborean men all deserve to die.” 

“Not all.” Laila shook her head. “But most.”

“I thought you were doing this because you wanted to help Monique.” Vincent said.

Laila turned deep crimson. “Her grace? The duchess? No, of course not. I mean. She’s a beautiful person. A good person, that is. But I hardly know her.”

Vincent grinned, “Of course. I must be wrong.”

We made our way through the catacombs. They stank of mildew and wet earth. Water dripped from stones slick with slime mold. Torches lit the hallways, which twisted and turned and split as they liked. 

“How can you find your way through this?” I asked. 

“I grew up here. I live in the castle.” Laila answered. 

“I thought you lived in the long house?” I asked.

Laila nodded, “I do.”

“Now, I’m confused.” I said.

“We discuss the complexities of Hyperborean living arrangements later.” Fiona said. “There is something up ahead.”

We stepped into a large chamber with cages built into the walls. Monsters lay in the cages. A manticore and several barghests filled the cells.

“Oh hell,” Laila said. “I’ve missed a turn. We’re in the menagerie.”