Heavenly Seas - Chapter Five

Elodie couldn't stop thinking about the pony she left behind. Her best friend had beautiful little eyes and a warm smile. Why doesn't my Marmalade win any prizes she asked herself. There was nobody who could answer her. The clock stopped ticking and she wanted to blame everything on the fuzzy policeman who fined her.

She wanted to go home. It would have been better than being stuck on a ship with eyeballs rolling everywhere and organs dangling from the ceiling. It was her idea to come. She had her fair share of bad ideas. The travel agent deserved sacking!

The cabin crew and stewardesses treated her like royalty with their usual pleasantries. Even Rose did, flashing her silly pair of teeth every chance she had.

The nerve of these women! She hated Rose, but not as much as she hated Elaine Jinx. How dare she remain slim and pretty whilst destroying her reputation. How did Elaine know that Elodie was going to be there? It would have been cheaper, cleaner and quicker to hire an assassin.

She concealed her anxiety with a fit of laughter. As she cackled, she didn't know why she was laughing anymore. What else could she do? There were no more tears to shed. Elaine Jinx was the woman behind her downfall. She had to go. Elaine Jinx had to die: it was the only way to set Elodie free.

Her throat burned from the old whiskey. She crawled towards the cabinet for too up, but all that came out was droplets. She saw herself in the mirror, the reflection blurred. The light transformed into gruesome colours. The classical music in the background screeched.

“Mum…”

Calvin’s voice made the psychedelic room return to normal like a flick of the switch.

“Oh Calvin, I'm so happy to see you. We need to talk.” Elodie did her best to sound sober. She had no idea why she even bothered. Nothing could convince him.

“Make it quick, Calvin hissed. “I have lots of packing to do.”

“Are you seriously packing?”

“I don't want to be in the same room as you.”

“Now, now, I’ve got some cake.” She didn't know why she said that, but cake made everything better. “I’ll even saved a slice for you.”

“What kind?”

“Lavender cheesecake,” Elodie replied, smirking. “I know that used to be your favourite. It's nut free too. So please sit down and let's have cake together.”

Calvin sighed, crossing his arms. “I can't sit for long.”

“I wouldn't worry about the packing now, save it for later. Or even better, get one of the staff to do it for you.” Elodie clicked her fingers at Eugine, a Ukrainian steward covering for Rose. “Bring the cake and the rosé!”

Eugine bowed. “Yes, Lady Elodie.”

“I'm going out to the balcony for some fresh air,” said Calvin.

Elodie nodded. “Be with you in a bit.” She went over to Eugine and whispered into his ear, “just one glass will do.”

Elodie followed Calvin to the sea view balcony. In front of them was the lavender cheesecake with pistachios and peanuts sprinkled in. Elodie chuckled, what Calvin didn't know won't hurt him.

Elodie had no idea where the poison came from or what is was. She emptied it in the bottle of rosé and hoped nobody would touch it. Heath didn't drink and Theo liked his drinks hot. So it was just her and Calvin for the pink stuff.

“Thank you so much, Eugine.” Elodie clapped her hands. “You may go. I need some private time with my son.”

“Of course. Please let us know if you need anything else.”

Someone was going to happen: something good. “Where’s your drink?” Calvin asked.

“I had it.”

“Not surprising.”

“Please,” Elodie poured the rosé into Calvin’s glass and cut a small slice of cheesecake for him. “Eat, drink and be merry you grumpy little thing.”

“Are you sure this has no nuts in?”

“Of course, the chef made it especially.”

Elodie sat down. She observed Calvin eating the cake. He downed his drink in one big gulp. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so she did both. “How is it?”

“It's nice.”

“It looks like a cheesecake to die for.”

“What are you really up to?” Calvin asked.

“Calvin… I haven't been honest, I think it's time I told you the truth.”

“Is this about what that woman said?” Damn, the poison is acting too slow for Elodie’s liking.

“Yes…” Elodie’s eyes became diluted and red. “I admit it. I did it all.” Her voice transformed to a witchy cackle. ‘How dare that skinny wrench leak my secrets! I didn't bust my arse out of the brothel to be treated like a criminal. And out of all the men I've been with, Theo was the only man willing to go down on me.”

Calvin gasped. Unusual for him to be speechless. One hand was around his neck, the other concealed his pale lips. All pleas for help were muffled by the pants and gasps. Elodie smiled, enjoying the sight of his swollen face.

“It certainly helps that one of my former clients is a coroner. Even better when my best friend is his wife.” At that point, Elodie wasn’t sure what made Calvin choke the most. She leaned over the table and cupped his cheeks. “Oh Calvin, I’m getting deja vu here. That vacant expression…it's the parallel to your father when I silenced him.” Giggling, she kissed Calvin’s hot cheeks. “Do say hello to your father for me.”

Tears streamed down Calvin’s face and he went limp on the table. Elodie rescued her pudding but Calvin’s glass met a smashing end.

“I’ve done it…” Elodie shrieked with delight. Holding the cheesecake in the air like a trophy. “It's all for me and now there's nobody that can stop me!” Licking her lips, she buried her head into the cheesecake and demolished it in seconds. It was the best cheesecake of her life.

It wasn't until the thunder did her actions sink in. The rain washed the cream and crumbs off her face. Panting, she bowed before Calvin’s corpse and held his stiff hands. “I just murdered my son,” Elodie whispered. “And it's all Elaine’s fault. She made me do it.”

The voice behind her was a breeze behind her back. “Oh that Elaine is a naughty girl….”

“Theo…”

“Oh Mummy Dearest, what are you and Theo doing out in the storm?”

“Theo…” Elodie’s lips quivered as her mind went blank.

“What's the matter?”

“Calvin’s…he’s dead.”

“Oh dear…” Theo tilted his head and grinned. “Never mind.”

“I’m not joking…” Elodie yelled, grabbing Theo’s shoulders. “I don't know what happened to me, but I just killed him.”

Theo escaped from Elodie's grip to observe the remains of his brother. He picked up the bottle and raised a toast. “About time somebody put him in his place.”

“THEO!” Elodie tried to take the bottle, but she tripped. Disabled by her guilt, she could only lift her chin. “Don’t drink that, it’s…”

“Rat poison?” Theo cackled as he devoured the wine in three gulps. He dropped the bottle by Calvin’s head. “I hope you haven’t added garlic in there. By the way, Mummy Dearest, why did you tell Calvin? I thought that was meant to be our little secret?”

“You were listening?” Elodie gasped, her back against the wall. “How long have you been here for?”

“I've been here the whole time. It’s a lot of fun being a fly on the wall.”

“What am I going to do?” Elodie crawled closer to Calvin’s corpse and hugged him tight. “What have I done to you? You had so much to live for. That stupid wife of yours doesn’t know what she’s missing.”

“Hello!” Rose’s sweet voice echoed through the balcony. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Theo…” Elodie hissed. “Send her away.” The last thing she wanted was a gathering. She didn’t even have chocolate or alcohol on the brain anymore. All she wanted was to grieve in peace.

“Oh, Rose, my love, we desperately need assistance.”

“No!” Elodie swayed her arms in a slicing motion.

The way Rose and Theo interacted with each other made it seem as if Elodie were invisible. “Your poor mother looks distressed…”

“Well, we have a dead body to dispose of.”

“Let’s throw it into the sea,” Rose suggested with a smile. “You did say Calvin loved swimming.”

“He sure did. He always did love fish.”

“Then a watery grave would be perfect for him! Nobody will notice!”

Elodie knew Rose was wrong. She hated the way Rose grinned. If her guilt hadn’t paralysed her, Elodie would have slapped Rose. That was her son they were talking about. There they were, talking about Calvin’s corpse as if it was a rotten piece of meat ready to be discarded. All she could do was watch as Theo and Rose lifted Calvin and flipped him over the balcony as if he was nothing.

The sound of Calvin’s body splashing in the water shook Elodie’s soul. But the sound of another man scream man overboard made her whole body quiver. She gasped. Theo and Rose shrugged their shoulders and vanished into the cabin. She got herself up and leaned over the balcony.

The man shouted again. “MAN OVERBOARD!”

It was Heath’s voice.