Le Desespoir: The Cursed Paradise

End the Madness

"I don't care where you go as long as you do," Old Master de Lancret said as he stood up, not waiting for an answer from the sisters who seemed very shocked with the events. "I want you gone by tomorrow before sunrise," he added, and Julian came to him for the first time.

"But father, they just can't leave immediate—– "

Julian's protest was cut short when his father hit his face hard with the back of his hand which sent him flying towards the corner of the room.

"Julian!" the siblings cried, and both Charles and Jacob came to his side to help him up.

The corner of Julian's mouth was bruised and bloodied, but the master totally looked unperturbed with the violent act he did as he turned to Hannah and Jessica once more.

"Make sure you take heed girls," he threatened. "Don't push me into doing something we might both lament upon," he continued as he eyed Jessica’s left leg. "Don't make me regret not shooting you straight to the head nine years ago," he added with a smirk and turned to his youngest son who was looking at him with a bewildered expression.

"Don't speak of this to your brothers or I won't send Jehan to Paris," he warned as he walked out of the cottage, back onto his horse and rode away with his men.

Jessica trembled as she tried to absorb the old master's words.

He was the one…He was the one who shot me...

Her legs gave way from shock. She would have fallen on the floor if Hannah hadn't come to her side to support her.

"Sister, what are we going to do?" Hannah asked as she helped her back onto a chair.

"We have to leave," she announced as tears fell from her eyes. When her brothers protested, she shook her head. "We knew this day would come. My relationship with Johann is only temporary."

"But my brother loves you," Julian protested but again, Jessica shook her head.

"Johann and I are not together because of love. He saved our lives and in return, I had to serve him— give him everything. But it has to end."

"That's not true," Hannah whispered.  "I see the way he looks at you, and I see the way you look at him. If it isn't love then I don't know what that is," she continued as her frown deepened. "Does this mean I have to leave Jehan too?" she asked and her sister gave her a pleading look.

"Please don't make this harder than it already is. Johann is the eldest. He needs to marry and have children. I can't give him that." Jessica turned to Julian, her eyes still pleading. "Please don't tell your brothers about this. It will be harder for us if you do."

Julian didn't answer. Instead, he turned away from Jessica’s tearstained face as he thought about what to do. Also, he thought about the evil he had learned about the man he called father. He was so different when Johann was present.

The cold man who had been here earlier, the one who hit his face was a monster. His father was the one who shot Jessica, and they all didn't know about it until now.

"I don't know," he whispered. "I don't know what to do."

=========================

As usual, he came early in the evening. Smelling his manly scent mixed with the smell of hay, she could tell his lover had ridden on his way here. She closed her eyes as she felt tears behind them.

She couldn't cry now. She shouldn't let him see how much the thing she was about to do would hurt her. She should be strong. Hadn't she known all along that this would happen? Hadn't she prepared herself for this? Then why was it when she closed her eyes, she could hear the echo of her heart breaking into pieces?

"Jessie," she heard him whisper as she felt his warm lips on her shoulder.

They were standing by the window, and she could see her lover's shadow in the moonlight. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist as he turned her around to face him.

"What's wrong?" he asked upon seeing her solemn face.

"Nothing," she answered as she turned her face away but his hand prevented her from doing so.

"You're lying to me," Johann stated, frowning at her. "What's wrong?"

Jessica studied his handsome face, and then she smiled sadly. "Johann, please let's stop this."

Johan's frown deepened as he stared at her face. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying let's end this— this madness," Jessica answered. "You and I, we both know that we're from different worlds. I-I can't take this set up anymore. I'm not a w***e— I may not be a noble, but I’m not a whore."

The grip on her waist tightened, and Jessica flinched in pain. Johann's eyes were boring on her face intensely, and she could see anger behind the chocolate-colored orbs. His lips which had been smiling earlier were now clamped tightly together as if he was controlling his rage.

"I never said you're a w***e, and I know full well you're not rich— but who cares about that," he said in clipped tones as he suddenly kissed her long and hard, bruising her lips.

Jessica yelped in pain and Johann broke the kiss but continued to hold her tightly. her eyes filled with tears, and Johann's chest ached.

"Johann, we both know this thing that we have, can't continue. I only slept with you because I owe you our lives," she said, and Johann's face turned to stone.

"That's right. You owe me your lives— do not forget that," Johann reminded her coldly. "Since we've established that fact, I'm the only one who can end this. I already told you years ago that you can't escape me. No one else can stop this 'madness' as you put it— not even you,” he said as he let his shaking lover go. "I'll come back tomorrow," he announced as he left the room.

Her heart breaking further, Jessica slowly slid down on the floor as she let her tears flow freely. She heard Johann storming from the house and riding his horse.

"Why is this so painful?" she asked nobody as she lifted herself from the floor to look out of the window, and saw Johann's retreating back as he rode into the night.