Chapter 10 THE MADNESS
Mrs. Volkov was the first to move, forcing a shaky smile.
"Thank God you came, please don’t mind what your brother said. You know how he is"
Nikolai didn’t even look at her, didn’t look at anyone either.
He walked forward slowly, the sound of his boots echoing in the silent hall.
He pulled out the empty chair at the far end of the table and sat, Shadow curling at his feet instantly.
His expression was blank.
Emotionless.
Damian swallowed hard, suddenly regretting every word he spoke.
Nikolai finally lifted his eyes, looking at each person one by one…
until his gaze landed on the framed picture of Alexei on the cake.
His jaw tightened.
Mr. Volkov finally cleared his throat, staring at his son as though weighing the right moment.
"I heard a mere freshman slapped you today," he said, voice low and offended. "She should be dealt with"
Alina’s fingers tightened around her glass.
"I took care of it," she replied quickly. "She was ordered to clean up the mess at the old building"
Mr. Volkov scoffed.
"Still not enough. If she disrespects a Volkov, she disrespected all of us. Me especially. I need details about her and I will teach her a lesson she will never forget"
Nikolai did not react.
He sat there like a shadow carved into a chair, eyes fixed on Alexei’s picture, completely ignoring the conversation or maybe absorbing every word.
Leonid finally dropped his phone, the soft clatter echoing in the tense room.
"Can we just eat?" Leonid muttered. "Or start the damn thing already"
Mr. Volkov nodded once.
"Let the death anniversary begin"
For a while, everything was normal.
As normal as a Volkov mourning could be.
Candles were lit.
Prayers were said.
Wine was poured.
Mrs. Volkov wiped her eyes with a silk handkerchief. Damian stared at Alexei’s picture with a clenched jaw.. Alina held her breath while Leonid got bored ten minutes in.
Then...
Halfway through the ritual, it started.
Nikolai’s fingers twitched and his posture changed to rigid, tense, almost animalistic.
Alina saw it first and her eyes widened.
"Oh no" she whispered.
Mrs. Volkov went pale.
"It’s starting. Take him to the dark room now"
Leonid jumped from his seat.
"Come on, Kolya, let’s go"
"Nikolai," Alina pleaded softly, touching his shoulder. "Please, come with us"
He shoved her so hard she stumbled into a chair.
Leonid reached for him next, but Nikolai’s strength was unnatural.
One violent push sent Leonid crashing into the cabinet, glass shattering around him.
"Nikolai!" Mrs. Volkov cried, her voice panicked.
But he was gone.
Gone into the madness.
His chair scraped violently as he stood.
His breath grew ragged.
His hand twisted in his hair like he was fighting something inside him.
Then he snapped.
The candle holders flew off the table as he swept his arm across it violently.
The plates crashed to the floor, shattering.
Wine spilled like blood.
The framed picture of Alexei hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Nikolai grabbed the table, flipped it halfway, roaring under his breath like a trapped beast.
Damian stood up, startled despite himself.
Mrs. Volkov screamed, "Get him out! Now!"
Shadow the cat hissed and darted under a cabinet as Nikolai continued breaking anything within reach. Glasses, dishes, decorations, anything that touched his hands met destruction.
Alina whispered, trembling:
"Please… not again"
Mr. Volkov’s brought out a small syringe.
"Enough!" he barked, and before anyone could react, he injected Nikolai with a sedative.
Nikolai’s body went rigid for a split second, his eyes wide and furious. Then slowly, almost unnaturally, he slumped to the floor, unconscious.
The room fell silent, the broken glass and overturned table still scattered across the floor. Only the soft hiss of spilled wine echoed in the aftermath.
Mrs. Volkov collapsed into her chair, tears streaming freely down her face.
"It’s getting out of hand," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He… he’s too dangerous… I can’t control him anymore…"
Alina bent over Nikolai, her fingers shaking as she touched his arm.
Damian stood stiffly, jaw clenched, staring at the destruction.
"This boy… he’s a monster" he muttered.
Leonid rubbed his forehead, still shaken from being thrown into the cabinet.
"When will this madness end?" he groaned.
Mr. Volkov surveyed the chaos with a cold, measured gaze, finally lowering the syringe.
"End? It won’t," he said quietly. "Not until he chooses to stop himself… or someone stops him permanently"
Mrs. Volkov buried her face in her hands, silent sobs shaking her shoulders.
Alina whispered, almost to herself, "How do we live like this… with him?"
Shadow slinked from under the cabinet, rubbing against Nikolai’s legs, the only calm presence in the room.
The Volkov mansion, luxurious as it was, had never felt colder.