THĒ JÃILBĪRD
Thē Jãilbīrd - Episode 29&30
(Female•In•Disguise)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
#UNEDITED
Adeline's mouth widened, and her eyes joined the exercise when Madden hit Poe's head on the second segment.
Her blood splashed on Madden's face, staining his hand with colour.
The sound of glasses crashing rented the room as he broke the third and fourth one with her head again.
Poe's blood formed a pool at her feet, and the sound of her cries are becoming muffled and low as he broke the fifth and sixth one with her head.
His face is devoid of any inhibition right now, and it's stained with more blood, making him look like a vampire hunting for blood.
He looks like a beast experiencing bloodlust, and the lust is nowhere near satisfied.
He looked back at Adeline who's staring at the scene speechlessly, and when their eyes met, she could swear that she saw the devil inside his eyes.
Face-to-face. For real.
She stood still, glancing at his stained hand, stained face, stained shoes, broken mirrors, Poe's bloody face and clothes, her bloody head!
She's gonna die.
Madden broke their eye contact and finished the breaking ritual, slamming Poe's head on the remaining two segments.
Poe couldn't even cry anymore, there's barely any life in her as Madden dragged her out of the room.
Adeline quickly wrapped her chest bandage and wore the provided clothes, then she rushed out of the manor to meet Madden outside.
He's standing at the mountain edge right now, his blood-stained face freezing in the cold morning air.
Adeline couldn't blink as she stared at him, realizing what he's about to do.
She was too stunned, too awed to speak till Madden really did what she suspected.
He let go of Poe's body, and it rolled down the mountain.
Adeline froze cos Madden turned around and started walking back into the manor.
"You'll start work with Igor tomorrow, and like I said, you don't have a choice" he said as he walked past her.
She quickly grabbed his arm, holding on to it as she blocked him in the front.
"No. Please. Don't send me to Igor" she shook her head.
"I'm not going to work for him"
Madden looked down at the arm she's holding, and she slowly let it go.
"There's a plan. You only have to play along during the trip tomorrow" he said, his bloody face making his aura more sinister, and his voice darker.
"I'll do anything, but then my hair... I need an haircut and I don't know any saloon outside. I don't want to ask Loud or Jinx, to avoid suspicions" she said.
"Drive out of the compound at 6, stop the car at the base of a teak tree one kilometer away from the gate" he replied curtly and entered the manor, shutting the door heavily.
Adeline stared at the door for what looks like forever before remembering Poe.
She quickly ran down the mountain, and at the same time, she saw Loud and Jinx coming.
"Michael!" Jinx gasped in shock.
"F+ck! He's alive!" Loud's face lit up as he rushed to her.
Adeline already widened her arms cos it's sure he's gonna hug her, and he really did.
Loud gathered her in a tight hug, almost snatching her breaths.
"I'm glad you made it! How did it happen? We were on our way to go beg Death on your behalf again" He said when he finally broke it.
"Poe injected me with a poison at the basement, but Master saved me. He brought me to the clinic and treated me, then he brought me here to heal properly" Adeline explained.
"So Death broke into Igor's clinic last night because of you?" Loud said surprisingly.
"And Poe? Darn, I wonder what got into her these days" Jinx muttered, but then they heard a faint groan from the opposite side of where they're standing.
After exchanging glances, they ran there together only to meet Poe's disfigured body.
She had rolled down the mountain, and her skin peeled so much, together with her unrecognizable forehead.
Right now, her body is covered in blood, and she's jerking, pouring out blood from her mouth at intervals.
"What the f+ck!" Jinx gasped, rushing to kneel beside her body.
"Poe! Poe? Poe!" She raised her head to her laps, but Poe just continued gasping, all life lost in her eyes.
"Actually...she came to the manor to attack me again, so master... Did this to her" Adeline said.
"I damn knew it, and she deserves it" Loud said without any care.
"No don't talk like that Loud. I can't lose her" Jinx replied.
"But she could have killed Micheal!" Loud said sternly.
"I know I know... But she's like a sister just like Nikolai was like a brother to you...
"Don't! Don't even compare her to Niko. Nikolai wasn't heatless" Loud spat angrily.
Adeline couldn't even add anything. She's in-between.
A part of her wants Poe to die, but the other part wants her to live, but if she lives, her secret is not safe.
Or maybe she'd handle her this time.
Maybe if Poe survives, she'd kill her with her own hands.
She snapped out of her thoughts to see Loud and Jinx carrying Poe already.
They left the forest, and immediately they returned into the compound, the shocks in the faces of everyone was raw.
They all expected Michael's body, but it's Poe's body instead.
* That's a crazy plot twist right there
* How the hell is Micheal still alive?
* Heard Death got an order from the house of Orlovs to keep him alive.
* Since when did Death started listening to orders?
Adeline's eyes caught Kimberly in the crowd, and Kimberly smiled in relief, asking with her eyes if she's ok.
Adeline replied with her eyes too that she's fine before they went out of sight.
They head to the clinic, and luckily, they met Igor with the nurses at the reception.
"Did he take out his anger on her? How unlucky" Igor mocked, looking at Poe's bloodied unconscious body.
"I'd have left her to die like Madden wants, but it's my hobby to go against him, so she's fortunate. Take her to that ward" he pointed.
Loud and Jinx took her there, and the nurses began trying to bring her back, using the defibrillators excessively.
Igor was wearing his gloves to go in when he nearly collided with Adeline by the door, and he smiled intentionally.
"You should thank me, motherf+cker. I requested father to order Madden to spare you. Otherwise, you'd have been dead by now. That bastard never spares people like you" he said.
"And you think I'm happy with that? Dying is better than having to work with you" Adeline replied defiantly.
Loud and Jinx gasped, and Igor grabbed Adeline roughly by the neck, angling her face up so his eyes stared down at her.
"I'll gladly give you the death you want, but only after using you to my satisfaction. While at it, you should prepare for tomorrow's trip" he said and roughly let go of her again.
Adeline's neck almost snapped at the roughness, then he entered the ward and the door closed.
"You're gonna be working with Igor now? How come?" Loud said with wide eyes.
"Obviously, master doesn't want me anymore. Slapping him was senseless, I know" Adeline replied.
"But Death took you into this clan himself, and he was so adamant about it. Why would he easily let you go to Igor? Doesn't add up" Jinx wondered.
Adeline was silent, thinking of Madden's words...
"THERE'S A PLAN, YOU ONLY HAVE TO PLAY ALONG AT THE TRIP TOMORROW"
And she can't wait for it.
She'd happily kill Igor for Madden if there's any need for it.
Madden Orlov is the only one she'll ever recognize as her boss.
*
HOUSE OR ORLOVS, KLARA'S ROOM*
The room exuded opulence, with velvet drapes, dark wood paneling and plush carpets.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a kaleidoscope of colour across the room and the lavish furnishings.
Klara stood unmoved in the middle of the small universe, her eyes roaming around the room.
A Glock 19 stood on the mahogany desk, a reminder of her willingness to do whatever it takes, and several picture frames hung around the wall.
Most of the pictures are of her and her two babies... Maya and Madden.
But the only different one is the one she stood with a man whose right hand held her waist with a big smile on his lively face.
She's holding that picture right now, staring at the man's face with a sad smile on her drawn face.
The man... Ivan Smirnov is her late husband. The real father or Madden and Maya.
Her mind went back immediately, to the time of his death.
FLASHBACK, YEARS AGO*
It's a sad day for everyone in the organization as it's the burial of Ivan Smirnov, The Pakhan.
Ivan has only spent one month as The Pakhan before his death, and that made his reign the shortest.
He didn't die ordinarily though. He was poisoned by a female in a hotel, and the female escaped totally till now. No one knows who.
He was found n+kedly on the hotel bed, and everyone concluded he deserved it since he went ahead to cheat despite the fact that he had Klara.
The organization never takes cheating lightly with the leaders, and for that fact, he didn't die with dignity.
Different mouths were running at the burial, and the amount of people gossiping are more than the people consoling Klara.
* I thought he was noble, but cheating is too low of Ivan.
* Poor man didn't get to enjoy the leadership position. Pity.
* So who becomes the next Pakhan?
* Isn't it obvious? It's Erik.
It's drizzling, so everyone has black umbrella over their heads, matching their black suits and dresses and painting a more sorrowful font.
Klara stood beside the grave, clad in black while holding the kids to her sides.
Ten year old Maya and six year old Madden, both clad in black, too.
A little tear came out of Maya's eyes, but as for Madden, he looks like he's bored out of his mind as he stared at the grave.
There's no pain no sorrow or whatever in his features.
He looks like a child borne into hell, he looks too dark for the brightness of the day.
No pity in his eyes for Klara too, he's just desolate.
The drizzle turned to an heavy rain in no time, and the umbrellas became insufficient to cover, so everyone began leaving the burial.
The crowd thinned till it's only Klara and her kids left.
Klara's loud cries rented the graveyard, she couldn't stop the downpour of tears as the rain beat her and the kids.
She knows, deep down in her heart that Ivan didn't cheat.
Ivan would never cheat on her, it was a set-up, but how would she prove that when there's no evidence?
A new presence suddenly joined them, covering her and the kids with a new umbrella.
Klara didn't bother to look up, but the kids did, and their eyes met with Erik's own.
Erik was Ivan's best friend.
"You all have me, rely on me from now on. Yoor crosses are mine to carry now" Erik said.
BACK TO THE PRESENT*
"Your name isn't forgotten, Ivan. Your kids will start bearing your surname Smirnov again, just give me a little more time to dominate" Klara sighed and dropped the picture.
She squatted in front of the mahogany table and opened a safe, bringing out a small golden gourd.
She stood, raising it up to check the poison fermentation status.
"Almost done. Almost" she muttered.
*
3RD RESIDENTIAL WING, TWO HOURS LATER*
Adeline and Loud returned from the clinic just now, together with Jinx.
Jinx followed them here, and while the other two fell on their individual beds, she fell on Nikolai's bed.
"I can't believe Poe is in coma" she sighed.
"You expect her to stay ordinarily unconscious? She broke eight mirror segments with her head and rolled down the f+çking mountain. It's a miracle she didn't die" Loud replied.
"Was about to say that" Adeline added, sitting up in her bed.
"Should I just move in here with you guys pending the time she'll wake up?" Jinx sat up too.
"Too late, a replacement has been sent here for Nikolai" Loud replied.
"Who?" Adeline and Jinx asked in chorus.
As if planned, Malik came into the room immediately with a big box containing his things.
"Malik?" Adeline scoffed.
"Surprised?" Malik smiled tauntingly, walking to Nikolai's bed.
Jinx stood from it, and Malik was about to settle down when Loud crossed over, falling heavily on the bed.
"You can take my bed, I'm not letting you have Nikolai's bed" he said.
Malik snickered, but then he moved to Loud's corner.
Adeline stood with Jinx as the two did the new shuffling arrangements which was done within ten minutes.
"Still can't believe this" Adeline said, looking at Malik hatefully.
"Me too" Jinx muttered, hateful scowl on her face too.
"Let's get breakfast" Loud said after he was done.
He left the room with Adeline and Jinx, and Malik looked around the room with a scowl.
"I'll sure have a good time tormenting you here, Micheal" he smiled.
*
KITCHEN*
The three met Sin and Trixie inside the kitchen when they arrived, plus Lady Selesta herself.
Everyone of them couldn't believe their eyes when they saw Adeline, especially Lady Selesta.
"You're alive Micheal?" She said, unable to close her mouth.
"Yes" Adeline smiled.
"Then is it true you'll be working with Igor?" Sin asked.
"Unfortunately for him" Jinx replied.
"What a bad luck" Trixie shook her head.
"I can manage" Adeline shrugged, walking to the warming glasses already.
She suddenly saw a necklace lying on the ground, and she picked it up.
It's a locket necklace, so she curiously opened the locket.
Her head jingled when she saw Corey's picture inside, but before she could process anything, Trixie snatched it from her.
"It's mine" she said.
"Yours? Who's he to you? The guy inside... Who's he to you?" She asked impatiently.
"I'm under no obligation to tell you" Trixie replied, walking out of the kitchen.
"Wait! Trixie!' Adeline ran after her, catching up outside.
She held her back, but Trixie broke free violently.
"Do not touch me!" She glared
"I only need to know who he is to you, please." She said.
Trixie glared harder and just walked away, leaving Adeline to her own imaginations.
She needs to tell Kimberly about this, but meeting Kimberly without drawing suspicions is another thing.
Maybe it's a good thing she came into this clan after all.
She only has to give it some time before asking Trixie again, then she'll surely get an answer.
She turned back to go into the kitchen, but she met Angelika behind herself.
"Hey little one" she smiled, squatting in front of her.
Angelika hugged her surprisingly, wrapping her small arms on her.
"Mum said you were gonna die cos you got arrested, and I was scared I wouldn't see anyone to share my walnut cake with anymore." She said, and Adeline smiled, hugging her back.
"I'm back now, and I'm alive. Is there any walnut cake to share?" She asked, and Angelika broke the hug.
"Yes, and candies too inside the kitchen" she nodded.
Adeline carried her. "Let's go" she said.
Angelika nodded, and Adeline chuckled as she went inside.
*
5PM, HOUSE OF ORLOVS*
Madden stepped in in his black tailored suit, looking so giant in the outfit.
Suits map out his real physique, and while he likes that, he hates how corporate it makes him look.
He hates being corporate, it reminds him of that day at his father's burial when everyone wore black with zero empathy in their eyes.
Black is fake, to him.
He entered the meeting hall and met everyone else on seat already.
Erik, Klara, and Igor. Then the remaining four top members.
He took his seat at the far end of the table, and he could feel Igor's piercing eyes on himself, but he gave him no attention.
Hope he goes blind.
"Where's the new member? This meeting should be over in five minutes. I have to get rid of this damn suit" He said bluntly, opening the chest button of his dress shirt.
That instant, the new member came in, and Madden's lids went up immediately he saw him.
Sergei, the most cunning man in the establishment.
Also, Madden has a hidden relationship with Sergei, so he's sure Erik did this on purpose.
Making Sergei the fifth member of the top 5 only means something is coming up, but he's all ready for whatever it is.
Madden looked over at Erik, and when their eyes met, Erik smiled slightly, and Madden smirked.
"I'm welcoming myself to the circle" Sergei said as he took his seat intentionally beside Madden.
"Feels good to meet you again, Death" he said.
Madden looked at him, his eyes still like the ocean.
"Can't say the same thing" he said, not hiding the disapproval in his tone.
"Why is he not here? The strong bodyguard who killed Stravinsky" Sergei talked further.
"He's in my team now. He'll join me in the next meeting." Igor spoke up, and Klara glared bitterly at him.
"Drastic change in power, isn't it?" Sergei spoke, not taking his eyes off Madden.
"Shall we start the meeting?" Klara spoke.
Madden rested back on his chair as the boring discussions started.
*
6PM*
Adeline was more than thrilled as she drove out of the compound like Madden instructed.
Her excitement was limitless not only because she's finally getting a haircut, but also because after spending one and a half month in the clan, she found a lead to Corey.
She was humming a tune she created in her head as she drove down the busy district road, taking in the smell of snow in her nostrils.
This time of the year, everywhere smells like Madden cos of the snow, and she's beginning to pity his future wife cos even after winter, the poor woman will still have to wake up to insane cold every morning.
She blew off that thought as fast as it came though.
Madden doesn't look like he has a heart to love, talk more of getting married.
Who'd marry that stone?
Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him ahead.
He's already waiting under the teak tree!
She quickly pulled up, and he opened the Cherokee door, getting in beside her.
"You're one minute late" he said stoically without looking at her.
"I didn't know you'd be coming with me" she replied.
"Drive" he ordered, and she slightly smiled before driving off the road.
Madden changed the suit already, and now he's wearing slacks and a white button down which is loose.
The sleeves are rolled up, revealing his biceps, and the chest buttons are open till the middle, showcasing his tattooed chest and the damn cross necklace again.
She'd have to ask him one of these days why he wears that when he has a mansion in hell.
"Pull up" he suddenly spoke up after she drove for three minutes.
She pulled into a small parking lot in town, and they stepped out of the car together, landing in front of a sophisticated saloon.
He led the way inside, and she followed.
There are several workers inside, all tattooed and wild looking, but as Madden entered, they all greeted respectively.
Seems he's a regular here.
"Who walks with this much authority if not Death!" A huge short man appeared with a grin.
He's definitely the boss here.
"Give him a smart haircut" Madden replied straight, gesturing at Adeline.
"Follow me, little man" the man waved at her, popping the gum loudly in his mouth.
"I'm Micheal, not little man" Adeline replied sassily, and the man laughed.
"Little one, just have a seat"
"I said, Micheal" Adeline insisted, glaring coldly.
"Fine, Micheal." He shrugged in surrender.
Adeline took her seat, and work started on her hair.
Madden sat behind them. She expected him to start smoking again, but his eyes are on her throughout.
Her back might be on him, but she's seeing him through the front mirror.
His phone is not even in hand, and he was offered alcohol and cigar by the workers, but he bluntly refused all.
Even while refusing, his eyes didn't leave the mirror where he's watching her from.
The short man did a good job on her hair, giving her a low pixie cut.
In no time,, she got her perfect look back.
She blew air out of her mouth as the cover clothe was removed from her, but when she stood, she was surprised to see what's going on outside.
Blizzard is happening again just like last night.
"You might have to stay back for some hours. You can't drive in a blizzard, it's a death call" the boss barber said.
"Get me a cigar box, you know what I smoke" Madden replied, not moving an inch.
"Two boxes of jaguar!" The barber snapped his fingers, and it was brought on a tray together with two bottles of vodka.
The tray was dropped on a lower table, and the shop was closed on them.
All workers and the boss barber himself moved to the second room, leaving the two alone in the room.
Adeline sat beside Madden, watching him with the side of her eyes as he picked a box of the cigar and got one stick.
Adeline's eyes left the cigar and went to the two bottles of vodka lying on the tray.
She badly wants to have a taste, but she'll be too forward to ask for it.
There's a heavy discrimination in the clan cos Americans like her are only allowed to take cider or beer and other alcohols, but vodka is for the Russians since it's their best drink.
Having vodka as her best drink too has been torture cos she only gets to drink from Loud's bottle.
She cleared her throat, deciding to kill her thirst for it,.
She glanced outside through the window. The blizzard is heavier now, and snowflakes are even blowing in.
She looked back inside, and she was surprised to see Madden pointing one of the vodka bottles at her already.
She looked at him and saw his desolate eyes on her, the unlighted cigar stick sitting poignantly between his thin lips.
"Thanks, master" she quickly took the bottle, then she took the opener and opened it.
She had a long drink from the bottle, and as it burned her throat, she felt alive again.
Now this is the real deal, nothing beats vodka.
She was about to drink from the bottle again when Madden suddenly stood, getting his phone from his pocket.
She was wondering what's going on till he played a recording, and her voice spoke up...
"I agree I know nothing about how the rules work here, and I'm sorry. I'll do anything you want as punishment, but... Please save me."
It's the record of when she called him to come and save her at the basement.
She dropped the bottle with her and stood, her eyes unwavering.
"The punishment? Am I receiving it here?" She said, and he pocketed the phone before pushing the low table away with his shoe.
She didn't cower away, she stood still.
She's not scared. Or at least she won't show it.
He brought his right hand to her face and used the curve of her pointer finger to raise her chin.
She held her breaths, totally.
She saw him smirk before stretching his hand to the open window, shutting it down.
Only the flickering lights of the saloon is providing lights inside right now, and when his lips parted to speak, she inhaled mint.
"I want to kiss you" he said, darkness shawling his words like a cloak.
Adeline frowned, wondering what kind of nut loosened in his head again this time.
If a kiss is her punishment, then it's too mild.
A kiss. No strings attached, right? She won't feel a thing, and it'll be tasteless.
"Go ahead" she replied without much mulling.
"Not on your mouth, Addie" he replied meaningfully, and she felt a clamp in her stomach.
Madden's eyes turned wicked as he sat back and pulled her to the middle of his legs, trapping her totally.
He drove his face into her midsection, tearing off her trousers zipper with his teeth.
"Here..." He growled hoarsely.
TBC.
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