Madness Unchallenged Read online

  Madness Unchallenged

  ML Guida

  Buffalo Mountain Press

  Copyright © 2020 by ML Guida

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from Madness Unveiled

  About the Author

  Also by ML Guida

  Chapter 1

  The cold dungeon held no mercy. No sunlight. No hope.

  Unfortunately, Jon was the traitor Ian’s prisoner–again.

  Ian never got tired of finding new hideouts. Once it was a Kamtrinian concentration camp, then a spaceship, but this time it was a dreary Scottish castle on Earth.

  Jon gritted his teeth and arched his back, pulling and pulling and pulling on his chains. Hot metal burned his wrists and ankles, but he didn’t care. Ian had used bruerium restraints––strong enough to hold a Zalarian dragon and scorch their skin. Bruerium wasn’t from Earth; it came from the Kamtrinian’s planet, Ocrion.

  Blood pumped between Jon’s temples. Beads of sweat rolled down his face and seeped into his eyes. Smoke and tears blurred his vision. His strained muscles bulged. He had to get out of here. His brothers’ lives depended on it.

  He stretched the chains as far as he could, digging his heels into the cracked floor. His rubber thin boots slipped and slid on the brown scummy stones. He didn’t even know what it took to make such a disgusting color. His leg muscles cramped and went into spasmed. Agony shook him, and he cried out.

  “Damn it.”

  He fell onto one knee and scrubbed his face. Gasping, he slumped down on his ass. He choked on the sour air. He tilted his head back and stared at the lichen dripping down the ceiling. The slimy walls seemed to close around him, and the only light source was the flickering torches. Jon hadn’t seen sunlight for days. He didn’t even know whether it was day or night.

  Jon shivered. His sweat had turned to ice. Warmth had become a thing of the past. Ian had taken his shirt and coat. He was lucky the bastard let him keep his thread bare jeans and boots.

  Ian never tired of playing games. His new game was acquiring ancient torture devices. He didn’t care that they couldn’t kill a Zalarian, as long as they could cause pain.

  Light glistened off the medieval devices, casting long shadows on the floors and walls. Rust and dust covered a breaking wheel and a rack. In the corner was a pillory, which was similar to a stockade. On the walls, Ian hung heretic forks, a breast ripper, and a tongue twister. The door of the Iron Maiden was wide open, revealing sharp jagged spikes. None of them could kill Jon.

  But there were other ways to hurt a dragon.

  And the traitor knew every one of them.

  Jon closed his eyes, trying to silence the bone-chilling screams in his head––his screams. The torture had been unbearable.

  Using the Kamtrinian’s Hooke Distorter, Ian had taken control of Jon’s mind, forcing him to be his slave and committing unspeakable atrocities.

  Jon picked up a pebble and threw it across the cell.

  Bang bing

  The pebble ricocheted off the wall and smacked into the side of the Iron Maiden. The echo was like the hollow inside of Jon’s chest. He’d rather die than be under Ian’s control again.

  He hung his head. He knew his brothers weren’t so lucky.

  Chains dangled next to him. Ian had taken his brother, Hunter yesterday. Hunter had fought bravely, but he was no match for the Kamtrinian’s Nano Migrator. Ian had pressed the migrator, and a beam had formed around Hunter. Hunter’s chains had dropped off his wrists and ankles. He had swung his fists, kicked, and dug his heels, but the beam forced him to follow Ian out of the cell like a beaten puppy.

  Jon had gone wild, yelling for Ian to release Hunter, making his voice hoarse, but Ian had only laughed, leaving Jon with bitterness in his gut. His scratchy throat hurt. He stared at Hunter’s scuff marks, cursing himself for not finding a way to save his brother––again.

  He banged his head against the wall. Pain throbbed on the back of his skull, but it was better than the constant ache in his chest. He missed his brothers. Ever since their parents died, they had an unbreakable bond. He was the oldest and should have protected them.

  The door creaked open. Jon tensed. Ian walked into the dungeon with a smug look on his narrow face. His thin smile failed to reach his eyes. His tall shadow fell across Jon like a dark rain cloud, chilling his blood.

  Clang klank clink

  Jon jerked his chains. “Where is Hunter?”

  Ian cocked an eyebrow. “Still think you can escape? Don’t worry. You’ll join him soon.”

  Jon spat at Ian’s shiny black boots.

  Ian glared. “You’re trying my patience.”

  “Like I care.” Jon hoped his voice sounded stronger than the weariness gripping him.

  “You should. You’ve lost both your brothers. If you’re not careful, I’ll order them to kill you.”

  Jon clenched his fists. “I don’t care what you’ve done to them. They’d never hurt me.” A total lie.

  Ian laughed. “So sure, are you? Hunter will soon be under my control. Fabian has been mine for months. You’d never recognize him.” His gold eyes flared with greed. “King Greum’s throne will soon be mine.”

  Jon held his tongue. Letting Ian know he hurt him was never a good thing. He was insane. He wanted to kill the king and rule Zalara. It would never happen.

  Or would it?

  Unfortunately, Ian had the backing of the Kamtrinians.

  Jon tilted his head up, hiding the pain strangling his throat. He stood on his wobbling legs and met Ian’s crazy gaze.

  “Very soon, you’ll be under my control.”

  Jon gritted his teeth. “I will kill you first.”

  Ian’s smile faded and stopped a few feet away from Jon. A bead of sweat trickled down Ian’s temple. Jon frowned. If he didn’t know better, he thought he detected a hint of fear.

  The flicker of fear in Ian’s eyes disappeared.

  Ian opened the door. “Tomorrow you’ll be calling me master.” He slammed the door behind him.

  Jon’s wobbly legs caved. He fell hard on his side and winced. He rolled on his back and put his arm over his forehead, dragging the chains across the floor.

  The Kamtrinians had never done anything to help anyone. So, why would they help Ian with his plan? The bastards had something else up their sleeves––something that would end badly for Earth and Zalara.

  Jon raised his head and clenched his fists. He had to get out of this damn place and save his brothers, but thick quarter walls and bruerium chains dashed his hope.

  He’d no idea where Ian had taken them. They could be anywhere––here in Ian’s dreaded castle, or on a Kamtrinian spaceship, or some other horrible place.

  Jon’s matted hair fell across his eyes. His stomach growled. Sunlight wasn’t the only thing he missed.

  In the corner of his cell, a light glowed and turned into a huge mirror. The hair on the back of his
neck tingled, and he tensed.

  He narrowed his eyes. “What’s your game Madame Mthunzi?”

  Madame Mthunzi was a voodoo priestess who served Ian. Besides the Kamtrinian’s technology, her dark magic had helped Ian capture his brothers.

  A castle formed in the mirror. The mirror spread to reveal two suns shining in the sky. Potted flowers were on the steps. His throat closed. Tears pushed on the back of his eyelids. Zalara–his home. He’d missed it so much. “It can’t be…Angarth Citadel.”

  Angarth Citadel was the king and queen’s three turret castle on planet Zalara. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw it. Memories swirled in his mind of the Fates, King Greum and Queen Cosima, and the ceremonies to find mates. He’d always hoped he would have been picked for a mate, but he’d been passed over each time. Why was this happening now?

  He rubbed his tired eyes. Was he dreaming? The mirror was still there, but it had grown, taking up the whole wall. He had to be hallucinating.

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “It can’t be.” His voice faded.

  He took several deep breaths and forced himself to look again. He hadn’t fallen off the deep end. He could almost reach out and touch the castle. The image changed, and he was inside the chapel. The sunlight shone through the stained-glass window of the two intertwining dragons. King Greum and Queen Cosima knelt in front of the bubbling baptismal pool.

  The dark king was in sharp contrast to his white queen. He was twice as tall as her, but he’d do anything for his mate. The king was lucky.

  Jon frowned. Strangely enough, the chapel was empty except for the king and the queen. Zalarians were always summoned during the mating ceremony.

  Jon rubbed his sleek his forehead. “I must be losing my mind.”

  No, you’re not crazy. A feminine voice whispered.

  His heart stopped. He dropped his arm, but he was alone

  Maybe this was a damn portal. Adrenaline flooded through his weary veins, giving him hope he thought he’d lost. Rescued––he could finally get out of this hell hole and burn it to the ground.

  He forced himself to get up on his shaking legs. He waved his arms frantically. “I’m over here. I’m over here.”

  But his voice was so harsh; the King and Queen didn’t turn their gaze away from the pool.

  He fell on his knees and slumped against the wall. He ran his hand through his hair. “Please, please, hear me.”

  The king and queen held hands but didn’t look at him. His hope slipped through his fingers.

  But then his eyes widened. Two women dressed in white shimmering robes lifted out of the water as if by magic.

  He dragged his fingers through his tangled hair. “The Fates?”

  Rillo, the more powerful and the shortest of the two, smiled. “Greetings once again, King Greum and Queen Cosima.”

  The king and his queen both bowed their heads. “Greetings, Rillo.”

  She raised her arms. The sunlight revealed highlights in her shimmering red hair. “It’s time for another dragon to claim his mate.” Her strong voice sent chills down Jon’s back.

  King Greum’s brows knotted. “I don’t understand. Who has been chosen for a new mate?” He tilted his head. “Queen Cosima are the only ones here.”

  “No, you’re not. You can’t see him, but I can.” She pointed. “Jon the Lost One has been chosen to have a new mate.”

  Jon froze and the blood drained from his face. Her soft voice rang in his ears. He couldn’t breathe.

  “Bring out the stone, sister.” Rillo gestured toward her sister, Ythei. She was taller and thinner. The sunlight made the gold highlights in her blonde hair glow.

  Ythei opened her closed fist to reveal a bluish-green stone. “Jon, give this to your intended. Find her.” She moved her palm.

  Jon gasped. The image swirled around and around, then abruptly stopped. Instead of the summer day and Angarth Citadel, dark clouds poured rain on a dreary two-turret castle. One turret looked like a cannon ball had smashed into it, leaving only part of the blue roof. A pigeon landed on the roof and huddled down.

  Jon ran his shaking hand through his hair. “That’s here.” He remembered the busted turret with the roof. It reminded him of the stone Ythei had held in her hand.

  The image swirled down to the front of the castle. A black sedan pulled into the parking lot and stopped.

  Two people got out of the car––a man and a woman. He frowned. Was that happening now?

  He couldn’t take his eyes off the woman. Rain plastered her red hair to her head and curled. Her intense green eyes made his heart beat faster.

  She walked with the man up to the castle. She reached inside her black leather jacket and pulled out a gun. She nodded to the older man and ran to the other side of the castle. She walked slowly up the cobblestones. Fates, she shouldn’t be here. Ian didn’t like intruders.

  A shot ran out, and the image disappeared. His heart stopped. He didn’t know what happened.

  He jumped to his feet, dragging his chains, and arched his back. “No!”

  His voice turned into a mournful wail, mirroring the angst pooling inside him.

  Chapter 2

  Bambambambambambam

  Scarlett ran around the decrepit castle as fast as she could, her legs and heart pumping. Adrenaline fired inside her. “Paul!”

  She smelled smoke.

  Bdam-bdam-bdam-bdam

  More gun shots made her turn on the speed. Her boots splashed mud on her pants. They never should have separated. Why did she let Paul talk her into this stupid plan? Her gut had been gnawing her all day that it was wrong, wrong, wrong. Whenever she went against her gnawing gut, bad things happened.

  Black smoke made her eyes water. She skidded to a stop and coughed. Numbness crept into her stiff fingers and crawled up her arm. “What happened?”

  Her partner of two years was sprawled out on the lawn, still holding his gun. Rain pelted his smoldering body. Half his face was charred. His white hair was singed. It looked like he’d run through an inferno. What could have done this?

  She put her hand over his mouth and didn’t feel any air. Holding her breath, she gently put two fingers on his carotid artery.

  She exhaled. Damn it, no pulse.

  Heavy footprints crushed the wet grass. She frowned. They were enormous and definitely not human.

  Crack Crunch Crunch

  Her heartbeat ran up her throat. She darted behind a thick pine, held her gun and slowly pulled back the trigger. She peeked through the thick branches, but only mist from the foggy rain and the smoke greeted her.

  She wasn’t the fool. Someone or something was out there, waiting for her.

  She tapped the microphone on her collar. “Dispatch, this is Detective Inspector MacFarlane. Detective Paul Samson is down. I need backup and an ambulance.”

  Screeeeeek

  The loud static hurt her ear.

  “Dispatch, do you read me?”

  Screeeeeeeeeech

  She frowned. “Damn it.” She had two choices: go back to the car and try to get a hold of dispatch, or go it alone before the trail got cold.

  Bwumpt

  A door slammed.

  Foooosh Fooosh Fooosh

  A large shadow fell over the green lawn. The blood drained from her face. It couldn’t be. A purple dragon––a freaking dragon––screeched overhead. The beast flew straight toward her, and its chest slowly turned red.

  Choice made.

  The car was too far away. A large door on the side of the castle was closer––only about ten feet away, but it as might as well have been ten miles. She took a deep breath and bolted from her hiding place, her legs and arms pumping. Her boots barely touched the ground.

  Foosh

  The sound was closer.

  Movemovemovemove

  Bringing on her last bit of energy, she leaped and slammed into the door. The shadow passed her by. She turned the doorknob.

  Locked.

  She fired he
r gun. Wood split, and the lock cracked. She kicked and rolled inside on to a hard floor, holding her gun. Her heart sped up, and all her senses went on keen alert. She didn’t even breathe, listening for the slightest sound, but it was quiet.

  She expected to find a crumpled down castle like it appeared outside, but she was dead wrong. She knelt on a polished, hardwood floor. A fancy chandelier dimly lit the river stone entryway. Wooden benches with pretty flowers were on either side. A wooden staircase weaved upstairs, and a hallway led to a great hall, but what she didn’t see were guards or video cameras.

  She slowly stood and pressed her back against the wall, taking several deep breaths. The mixture of rain and sweat clung to her clammy skin.

  Dragon… There was a dragon. Now, she knew what was making people disappear at this castle. She couldn’t get the huge creature out of her mind. It was something right out of Game of Thrones. All she needed to see was Daenerys Targaryen riding astride its broad back.

  The hair on the back of her neck itched. Her gut didn’t have to tell her she was walking into a trap, but going outside wasn’t an option. Bad men didn’t scare her, but a flesh-burning dragon scared the shit out of her. She needed a bazooka to bring the thing down.

  One way or another, she’d destroy it.

  She forced her shaking legs to move and held her pistol out in front of her. Once false move, and she’d shoot and ask questions later.

  Everything stilled inside of Scarlett but the blood pounding between her temples. Something landed with a loud a thump behind the oak door that she’d just kick her way through.

  The door opened.

  She slipped behind another door off the hallway. This was what she thought the castle would be like. Cold dampness gripped her, and stone stairs led downward. Torches flickered.