Bon sang ne saurait mentir. (French) What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. ("Good blood doesn't know how to lie.") - French Proverb.

Those who are lazy and don't know what the headline means- Paragon- A pattern of excellency Opprobrious- Utterly shameful; disgraceful.

They called him a monster and so, he became one.

Marienne's POV:

I didn't like Lindy's affection toward that bastard.

I didn't like how he claimed to have sleep with the love of my life with so much ease and calmness.

But I had more pressing matters in my hand.

I had to interrogate this Safina who dared drugging me.

Liquid rage ran in my veins as I began to see flares. My fists clenched and unclenched on their own accord.

I tried to get up from the bed, my ribs hurt, muscles protested, yet I managed to get myself to a sitting position.

My monsters were reincarnating themselves. I could hear their footsteps from a distance. They were emerging from deep within my core, slowly unveiling their hideous form from under the dreary darkness that twined around me like devil's vice.

My fists clenched, jaw locked as I tried to summon myself to control. A sound of footsteps startled me, making my diabolic self disappear.

Lindy reappeared, this time her gloved hands held a tray full of fruits.

Cheesecake and now fruits? Was she trying to give me diabetes?

My eyes narrowed on them.

"Did you summon the woman who drugged me?"

"She didn't appear in work today monsieur...." Lindy breathed, "I tried to reach out to her and-"

"FUCK!" I bellowed, making her flinch, liquid anger ran down me as I glared at her, "Do YOU understand, tante, if those photographs get leaked, what would happen to me?!"

"I summoned Mr. Russel," She mumbled in a shaky voice, "He is getting in touch with the lawyer team and everyone in case the photos are already leaked-"

"Didn't I tell you to be extra cautious when you hire help?!" I spat vehemently as I glared a hole in her, scarlet floret trenching my vision, my demons rising in the distance of my mind.

It was probably a stunt for money.

Or fame.

Or both.

Probably to drag the Victors in mud, probably to show the whole world what a monster Marienne Carlisle Victor is.

A well kept secret.

I felt blood rush in my brain and closed my eyes from the intensity of the vertigo I was feeling.

My monsters rose from their slumber as my eyes darkened with a turbulence of rage.

"Lindy," I gritted out, "Why they find this Safina, bring her straight to me. If she is shot, her dead body. I want evidence and rest. Tell them to remove any and every trance of any photograph of my intimate moments with that woman."

She jolted like as if someone had electrocuted her, falling into a curtesy and then turning back. observed her from as she excused herself from my room.

I looked out. Indigo mingled with a loud shade of vermillion, birds dissipated, probably in a hurry to return home. The amber tinted clouds glittered like pure gold. It was as if some artist was playing with the colors, purple, violet, indigo, orange, deep red- it was all there, chaotic yet arranged.

The beauty of twilight upheld itself in front of my eyes in it's full glory as I basked in it. A streak of orange light entered through the open window. I wanted to touch it.

I stared out, not really thinking of anything. My mind was a jumbled mess.

What if those photographs get leaked?

What if the world sees me for the monster I truly am?

What if my well kept secret becomes a public gossip?

Unknowingly, my eyes went over to my bedside table. My medicines and a glass of water was neatly arranged beside the table lamp. A pair of my old glasses was there. Lindy probably thought I was going to want to read something.

And she was correct.

When I was a child, I had regular fits. The reason to this day is still unknown. The doctors assumed that it was because of the voices becoming louder and them lulling me to sleep.

But I could have sworn that those voices didn't become this bad until my teenage.

And whenever I would wake up from one of those fits, I would always read a book.

I took deep breaths, closing my eyes. I didn't want to think about anything right now. All I wanted was to read a book and then focus on something else.

I had to think. Think about this coolly. No work would get done if I kept giving in my paranoia. Moreover, I was on my medicines, so focusing wouldn't be a hard task.

I sighed and opened the bedside drawer. I fumbled in it, trying to find a book. The book that came up in my hand was 'After Dark' by Haruki Murakami.

I opened it and engrossed myself in it. I needed to think clearly, book was one way to do it.

I was in the middle of the book when a knock resonated. Closing the book, I kept it aside.

"Come in."

The door opened and a maid barged in. She held a bowl full of some red substance. It was probably salty kimchi.

"Madame Lindy has sent over some cabbage kimchi for you, Sir," She was practically shaking when she was talking to me.

I nodded toward the table where the untouched bowl of fruits laid. She put the bowl and began to eye me curiously.

I frowned, "Do you wish to state anything?"

She nodded hesitantly.

I let out a sigh. I could feel hear my monsters laughing from a distance, they were surfacing. I could feel that my sanity was slowly slipping away. When I would become insane, I wouldn't feel it.

"Speak."

"Sir, the maids are instructed to report to you whenever someone does something without your commands...."

I looked up. "Speak clearly."

She bit her lips hesitatingly, her fingers were fumbling with themselves. Why was she so damn scared?

"Sir... It was in our work portfolio and..."

"I do not have time for your nonsense," I spoke coldly, "Speak or get out."

Did she have any information on Safina?

My ears perked up.

"Sir," She looked around nervously, "A doctor was summoned by Madame Lindy yesterday. At 1 AM."

I took off my glasses and examined her features carefully, trying to detect any lie that her eyes might hold.

"Are you speaking the truth?" I could feel my impatience slowly starting to build up.

"Yes sir. And he wasn't your doctor."

Doctor? For whom?

"Did you notice where the doctor was going?"

"It was for Ardent, Marienne Your tante called on a doctor so that she can help the man who killed your fiancée...." Their voices dripped with humiliation and mockery. One of them let out a bark of laughter. It wasn't like a hearty, full hearted laugh. It was rather like an old man's holler.

I tried to calm myself down as I looked at her expectantly.

Don't say he was for Ardent...

"Erm Sir...." She looked around fearfully and then zeroed her eyes on me, "It was for the man in the cell..."

My monsters burst out into another round of laughter. Some cheered, applauded even .

"See.....?" One of them sat on my right shoulder, seething inside my ear with it's reptilelike voice. I could almost smell the putrid breath coming out of it's mouth, "We told you.... She cares about him..."

I began to see red. My fists clenched and unclenched on their own accord. I shut my eyes.

"Sir...?"

"OUT!" My voice wasn't even mine anymore. It was one of those reptilian's.

I heard her squeak, followed by her moving. Her heels echoed in the marble floor ferociously as she ran out of my bed chamber.

Calm down.....

"She likes him!"

Calm down.....

"So she brought a doctor! Clearly disobeying your orders!"

I struggled for air. I let out a fit of cough.

It felt like someone was choking me.....

I loosened the collar of the black shirt I was wearing. As if on cue, my eyes fell over to the huge mirror in front of my bed.

My skin had turned red, I was sweating profusely. A vein in my neck popped up, my eyes were red.

She disobeyed you...

Punish!

She did something for the man who she is supposed to loathe....

Punish!

She doesn't love you anymore...

Hear that Marienne!? Your beloved aunt doesn't love you anymore!

Banish her!

Their voices echoed inside my head, altogether. They were screaming, mocking, making fun of me.

I didn't realize I was clutching my head.

It hurts.....

Arrête s'il-te-plaît..

I let out a loud groan.

Droplets of sweat ran down my neck, my veins felt like they would burst out from pressure.

She doesn't like you Marienne.

I needed to kill that bastard.

I needed to make him beg for his death and when he gets too tired of begging, I will kill him.

Kill...

Kill....

Tuer..

Thousands of them cheered on me.

Encouraging me to kill.

I need to deal with Ardent first, Safina could be dealt with later.

It all happened in a flash. I wasn't moving, but my body was. I was reaching out for the crutch, and the next moment I was out of my bed, in the lift that lead towards the basement and Lindy's voice was hollering behind me, begging for me to stop.

I didn't forget my gun.

I was in the basement within a twinkle of eyes. I knew my ribs were protesting, they were in so much agony.

It was a miracle that I didn't fall down.

But something else was fueling me, something entirely different.

It was my hunger to color my hands with his blood and my monsters.

So, despite being in pain, I held myself. My body moved like as if it had a mind of it's own.

It was a pleasurable pain that I bathed in.

It was time for Ardent to die, but not before spilling some secrets.

I leaned on to my crutch, trying to walk as normal as I could. I knew that Ardent would taunt me over my current physical condition, if he knew the exact reason, that would be far more humiliating.

"Ardent..." I called out as I stopped mere inches before his chair. My tone was grave, commanding. "Wake up."

I turned my head, two guards stood at attention at main entrance. I nodded at them in dismissal, silently indicating them to lock the gate.

He couldn't escape from the hell I was about to give him.

The said man jolted upon hearing my voice. Ever so lazily, he lifted his head from the chair and opened his eyes.

Tuer

I looked into his eyes gravely as he assessed me. A victorious smile slowly lit up his face when they landed over my crutch.

"Not so stout are we?" He exclaimed, leaning his head on the chair.

I limped over to the chair that faced his, sat on it and then took out the gun from the back of my pants.

His eyes never left my form. His brown orbs were shining with so much confidence and humor- all I wished to do was to slap that look off his face.

"Now, as you can see I am not stout- so of course it would be a matter of time I kill you and finish that lowly life of yours. I am not in the mood for tortures."

He let out a humorless laugh as he stared at me. "Lowly life?"

Tuer

I clenched and unclenched my fists, his kill would be slow, but with a gun. I happen to have perfect aim.

"Marienne" He shook his head as his body quivered with silent laughter, "You know nothing about me, so, do not speak of me like that..."

I raised an eyebrow, my monsters were baffled. He had a soft spot after all....

I decided to tender it up a bit more.

He lifted his head up, his eyes swirled with something unfathomable. It was like he was lost in something.

"So... family is a touching subject for you?" I smirked at him, "But Ardent, you yourself said that you have slept with Madeline. Then how come you claim to have belong from a noble family? I thought nobles don't have other's sloppy seconds?"

His eyes flashed with anger, "I DID NOT HAVE YOUR SLOPPY SECOND!"

I laughed, "You contradict yourself. Decide first and then speak."

He was fuming with anger, good. "I wonder how your noble mom raised such a disgraceful son.... No etiquette, no language..." I eyed his form, "Not even an ounce of it. You are pathetic."

His jaw clenched as he pulled on to the ropes. He wiggled, trying to free himself.

I barked out a laugh, "Shame."

I grabbed my gun, unlocked it and then fired an empty shot in the air.

His eyes widened, his confidence slowly slipping away. I could feel it, he wouldn't be able to keep his calm longer.

"You saw that, right? It's a working gun. Now spill, who hired you; name, if not name then face; who the fuck are you and how much ransom the lady paid you."

He looked around seemingly scared. And then he looked at me.

He looked contradicted with himself. He was probably having a war to distinguish between right and wrong.

"Speak!"

"I can't!" He yelled out, his voice shaking, "I won't. I....." He looked away, "I was paid a hefty amount..."

Hefty amount?

Who buys that story?

"And you are telling me to buy it?" I laughed a little, "By looks of it, the hirer has something more than money. What is it? A precious family member?"

He breathed out, "No. No one. I don't have a 'family'. I hail from a noble one."

"Good." I aimed at his sheen and fired a shot. The sound of it resonated throughout the empty basement, his blood spluttered out with a loud 'splat'.

His scream was painful to hear. He wasn't allowed to sleep for days, food deprived and then the last torture session I had with him had a toll on his resistance.

"Speak."

He shook his head, visibly shaking. His forehead was marred with perspiration.

Another shot, on the sheen, a scream.

He was seemingly exhausted.

I felt bad for him.

Why would it hurt him to just spill the name?

Tuer

Go for his head this time!

I began to red. It wasn't a good thing. So far I was in control of the things. If my control slipped away, he would die a death I would regret.

"Marienne!" Lindy ran in, exhausted and all spent out. She probably tried to get in for hours.

I raised an eyebrow as I took her in.

"Marienne- don't kill him... You aren't a killer son..."

I looked at guy, he was staring at the maid with mouth agape.

"Tante? You hold sympathy for him?" I frowned as I looked at him, "This measly scumbag?"

Lindy shook her head, "But he is a human!"

"A human who killed Madeline!"

Lindy was rendered quite.

"I can kill him and I will kill him!" I looked at him, wild fire raging in my veins, "Speak! Who was the woman?!"

He shook his head.

"Marienne! Police.... they will.."

"Where were they when Maddy was killed?! HUH?!"

No answer from her.

"That's what I thought."

My monsters were in their full form now, the medicine was beginning to die down. I could hear thousands of them screaming 'Tuer' at once.

"Now, give me something.... Anything..." I tried to hold onto my last bit of sanity desperately.

He closed his eyes. I waved off Lindy, dismissing her. She curtsied and excused herself, but not before throwing a look at my direction, as if to tell me not to kill him.

Bad luck, I was going to kill him.

I turned my head towards him. "Say your last prayer..... I have never killed a person before, in fact I despise it. But you leave me no choice."

He took a deep breath, "Madeline had a diary. That's all you are ever getting."

"What?" the question left my mouth, seemingly unemotional.

"I said that's all you are ever getting. Whether you like it or not. I need to do something right."

Tuer! Tuer! Tuer!

Thousands of reptilian voices.

I raised my gun and aimed at his head. He stared at it helplessly.

No matter how much I tried to deny it, I felt bad. It wasn't in my nature to finish off a life.

TUER!

My finger pulled the trigger on it's own. A shot sounded and a sound of splatter.

And everything was silent.

I could feel the monsters ebbing away, into the horizon of my mind. The man's head was completely blown off. His dead body was awash in blood.

My hands shook, the gun fell off with a loud thud and the next moment a scream was sounded.

But everything was too blurry for me to fathom what was going on.

I now had a weight of a dead over my shoulders.

100k reads for vengeance! Thank you so much for reading! Please vote comment share follow me if you like! I will add the translations in inline comments soon. Love y'all! Stay safe!

Please keep it mind that Ardent is Madeline's killer when you read this chapter. I warned you that this story is brutally messed up. Every single character of it.

Rewritten.