Bartholomew hugged his two children, “I love you both very much,” He said planting a kiss on each of their foreheads. “Now, who is up for a game of tickle tag,” he threatened, wiggling his fingers as they leapt to the ground, running with gales of laughter following behind.
“Reminiscing about old times are we daddy?” Madron woke the old man from his sleep.
“What do you want from me?” Bartholomew whispered hoarsely.
“You dad,” Madron whispered in his ear, “All I ever wanted was to be like you. Make you proud to call me your son,” Madron cooed, stroking his father’s cheek.
“You are no son of mine,” Bartholomew spat, slapping Madron’s hand away.
Madron stood up crossing his hands behind his back as he strode to the other side of the room. “Years ago those words would have hurt me, destroyed me, but now I have come to a new realization of what I want from you.” Madron smiled at his father. “I want you to feel every ounce of pain you have caused me. I want you to beg for my mercy, for my forgiveness. But most of all I want you to look in the face of the one you now love so dearly, and see the hate form in his eyes when he finds out the truth of who you really are,” His voice rose in anger. “I want you to suffer like Veranova did when you promised to protect her. That is what I want,” He said, his voice returning to a state of tranquilty.
He bent down and kissed the old man’s dirty head, then leaned in and rubbed his nose to Bartholomew’s “For old time’s sake” he smiled. “Take him to the paddocks and strip him bare,” he ordered, “Let him taste the extent of my mercy.” A cruel smile danced across his lips as he looked into the eyes of his father one last time.
The guards dragged Bartholomew down the stairs and through the great hall. They continued past the labyrinths’ many corridors till they reached an old stone building. The building was constructed over a lava filled basin fed by a small stream. The heat from the basin superheated the floor. Small cracks and fissures allowed toxic gases to rise replacing the oxygen with their deadly fumes. To the Shadow Breathers the Paddock was a weak form of punishment used mostly to strengthen their loyalty, but to those outside this world, it is a chamber of death with no means of escape.
There was nothing in the paddock but a large brass ring embedded in the center of the floor and a metal cauldron hanging from the ceiling. The guards stripped Bartholomew done to his underwear and forced him, face down on the floor. They stretched his arms and legs out so everything part of his body, including his forehead, was resting uncomfortably against the heated stones. They bound his hands to the ring leaving only a little slack and left.
As soon as the door closed, Bartholomew immediately threw his body into the plank position. He figured he could with stand the heat for five minutes then return to the plank for a break. After one round, he realized it would not work. His arms and toes were already producing pus filled boils and no amount of rest in between would be enough.
As he lay there trying to embrace his fate, he felt cold droplets tickling his naked body. He tried to peer around and see where they were coming from, but the position he was bound prevent that. He could only guess that the cauldron he saw hanging from the roof contained ice, and was pierced through the bottom so when the ice began to slowly melt it would drip on the victim below. It was an ancient torture method that slowly drove the body into a state of shock. All hope drained from him.
He let his body sag to the hot stone floor. He prepared his mind for death, tuning out the voice of his natural instinct urging him to fight. His lungs burned from breathing the toxic gases. His chest and front were slowly charring from the hot rock pressed against his skin. His arms and feet already showed signs of second degree burns and the cool drops that he took as a blessing, now felt like tiny needles stabbing at his back. His mind slowly lost its grip on reality as the pain began to numb into a rhythmic throbbing. He knew that this slow decent into insanity was God’s forgiveness for his past sins, allowing him passage through this hell without suffering.
From the terrace on the topmost part of the citadel Madron could see the tiny silhouette of the paddock. His heart pulsated quickly. He felt great pleasure knowing he was exacting his revenge. But at the same time, he struggled with wanting to show mercy. After all, it was his father and he still ached for his approval.
“You have to remain strong.”
Madron twirled around. “What in the bloody hell is wrong with you,” he shouted completely startled, “Can’t you ever knock or something.”
“Sorry, I didn’t think you would be so jumpy,” the boy apologized as he wandered on to the terrace. “How long are you going to keep him in there?” he asked peering over the rail.
Madron shrugged his shoulders, “don’t know.”
“A terribly slow way to die, but he deserves it,” the boy stated.
Madron looked down at his clenched hands. “Does he?” he wondered in an uncertain voice. “Do his actions truly deserves this? What has he done to deserve a torturous way to die?”
“What has he done?” The boy’s voice became shrill with outrage. “He made a promise to you and your sister. A promise that he broke that left you with nothing and no one. He imprisoned you on a god forsaken planet and left you there to die. For Ten years you remained there alone, and never once did he come to see his son, his own flesh and blood. He turned on you. He is responsible for who you are today. He created you. Eye for and eye, but in his case he couldn’t sacrifice enough of himself to pay for what he has done. Does he deserve it” the boy snorted “You are showing him mercy right now,” the boy said with disgust. “Don’t underestimate your worth. You deserve to be paid for you transgressions.” The boy abruptly turned and disappeared through the door.
Madron ponder the boy’s words. “He’s right. I am who I am because of him. I was, and still am his son and he left me to fend for myself without as much as a glance over his shoulder to see if I was alright. Of course you deserve this,” He muttered, glaring at the buildings silhouette in the distance.
His blood ran hot as his mind replayed the events leading to this moment. With every frame that flashed before his eyes the hatred grew. His hands shook as he tried to control the murderous rage that tormented his soul. He turned to act on his pain when suddenly before him knelt Pherix and his men.
“My lord,” Pherix said as they all bowed their heads low before their master. “We have persecuted many of those who would seek to do you harm.”
“Good,” Madron spoke struggling to keep his voice steady, “Your loyalty will be greatly rewarded.”
“My lord,” Pherix spoke again, “There is one, who’s loyalty is no longer yours.” He was hesitent to bring up the topic.
“And you are here telling me this instead of running him through because…..” Madron left the question hanging in the air.
“It is Merrick my lord,” Pherix replied, his voice barely audible.
“How dare you accuse my servant of being unfaithful?” Madron boomed, his eyes flashing with rage as he grabbed Pherix around the neck and threw him up against the side of the terrace. “The next time you feel the need to accuse my own family of heresy, you’d better be ready to die. Now leave, before I decide that your life is worth no more than those you have just slain.”
Pherix and his soldiers hurriedly rose to their feet clamoring over each other to get down the stairs. In they’re hast, they almost knocked over the very man they’d just accused. Their eyes blazed a dark green as they watched the servant ascend the stairs two at a time to meet his master.
“Should we stay?” one of the soldiers asked. They may have just been reprimanded for believing Merrick had betrayed Madron, but that did not mean their belief of Merrick’s guilty had been removed.
Pherix paused for a moment. “Halem and Soren, make your selves invisible. Follow Merrick and see what he is up to. If Madron will not trust our word, then we will give him proof he cannot deny.”
The soldiers nodded their heads and hea
ded quietly up the stairs, shrinking into the darkness.
“Intruders my lord,” Merrick said bursting through the door his accusors had just left, “They will be here with in the hour.”
Madron smiled. “Good, let them come.”
“My lord?” Merrick stood confused by his Master's response.
“It is okay, I have been waiting for them,” Madron replied as a tingle of evil ran the length of his spine. “Make sure they meet no resistance when they enter the city. Oh and help them find our other guest,” He added wickedly.
Merrick nodded, baffled by his master’s requests but knew better than to question Madron’s intent. “As you wish my lord.” He bowed and excused himself. Fear began swimming in the hollow of his gut. “This is it,” he thought to himself. “This is what the voice has been waiting for.” The stairway suddenly began to spin as a wave of panic swept over him. He stumbled down the remainder of the steps, holding onto the wall for balance. As soon as his foot hit the floor of the hallway he took off running. The future of his life was about to be decided.
Halem and Grim followed their orders remaining but shadows in the darkness. Their ears heard every word spoken in confidence between master and servant. They followed Merrick down the stairs, their eyes glowing as they felt the panic pulse in the air around him.
Rescue me, and take me in your arms
Thaddeus and his companions were only miles away from the city. Thad’s heart beat faster with every step. A potent mixture of excitement and fear raced through his veins. His feet were tired and his lungs burned with every breath he took. His body wanted to give up, but his heart was determined to restore its missing piece. His Grandfather was worth the agony.
“Hold up Thad,” He heard Mathias call out quietly. He stopped and turned around. Thad didn’t notice he’d marched ahead of the group. They were stopped under a small outcropping in the rock. He quickly jogged back. “What’s up” he asked.
“We need to formulate a plan of action before we reach the city,” Mathias explained.
“I say we sneak into the city after those half dead rodents have gone to sleep,” Zyphera said voicing her opinion.
“Do they actually sleep?” Thad asked skeptically.
“I say we go in there with guns a blazing,” Leath piped up.
Mathias shook his head. “Shadow Breathers are rarely in a full state of sleep, and without knowing where the Professor is being held, going in gun’s blazing,” he said looking at Leath with a little smile “would only end in our demise,” he concluded.
“Well what do you suppose we do then?” Thad asked trying to hurry them up. They had been stopped for almost six minutes and to Thad’s Grandfather, time was precious.
“We need to find out where the Professor is being held,” Traiden declared.
“My thoughts exactly,” Thad agreed marching off down the path.
The others stood staring at him. When he realized they were not following suit he turned around. “We are not going to find out where they are holding him until we reach the city. Once we have slipped into the city undetected we will know what to do next.”
“There you have it,” Leath said grinning at the three dumbfounded faces. “I suggest we get a move on before he decides he can take on the whole realm of Shadow Breathers by himself,” He added hobbling after Thad.
“Maybe keeping him cooped up on the estate with a bunch of adults was a bad idea,” Traiden chuckled. He patted Mathias on the back and headed down the path behind Leath and Thad.
“Yeah, maybe,” Mathias mumbled as he and Zyphera followed.
Reaching the city undetected proved to be much easier than the group had anticipated. Now scouting a city that was eternally cloaked in darkness and full of enemies who can see in the dark was another story. They situated themselves behind the remains of some old buildings. Traiden extinguished their lanterns. Once completely enveloped by darkness they waited for their eyes to adjust.
“I still can’t see worth crap,” Leath whispered. “And what the heck is with the party music?”
“Give it a little more time. Your sight will improve,” Traiden assured him.
Leath mumbled a few more complaints while he tried to hobble over and take up residence next to where he thought Zyphera stood.
“Exactly what is our plan, o mighty fearless nine year old?” Leath asked looking in the direction he thought Thaddeus was standing.
Before Thad could shoot Leath a sarcastic reply Mathias answered. “Zyphera.”
“Pardon,” Leath sputtered almost falling over.
“I don’t understand,” Thad replied utterly confused.
“Yeah do you care to enlighten the rest of us?” Leath demanded keeping a firm grip on Zyphera’s shoulder.
This time Zyphera’s voice came through the dimness. “I will walk among the Shades and see if I can find out where the Professor is being held.”
“No you won’t,” Leath commanded turning to face her. “A beautiful fighting machine like yourself walking in to a crowd of ugly shade shifting beings is bound to end bad. I am not going to let you do this.” Even in the dark you could see the fear that lay behind his words.
“I appreciate your concern Leath, but this is what I am here for. I will be okay,” She insisted resting her hand on his face, “I have an ability that will protect me,” She said gently reassuring him.
"I don’t care if you have an ability, you are not doing this,” Leath ordered. “It shouldn’t be this way. We are suppose to fall in love, get married, and have babies. I shouldn’t have to watch you sacrifice yo……..”
Before he could finish Zyphera threw her arms around him and kissed him. The two melted into each other.
“Man, you two are disgusting,” Thad groaned his face scrunched with disgusted.
“Ah just you wait my boy,” Traiden said patting him on the back, “one day you will find a girl that makes you do stupid things, and the next thing you know you are on your knees begging for mercy.”
“What?” Thad shrieked, horrified by the idea.
“You’ll see,” Traiden smiled.
Thad looked over at Mathias who mouths the words “don’t ask.”
“You know I am happy that you two have finally…….Whatever,” Thad said trying to find the right words, “but can you leave the kissing for another time, perhaps when my Grandfather’s life isn’t at stake,” He asked with a hint of annoyance.
Leath and Zyphera finally parted, staring deeply into each others eyes.
“Promise me you’ll come back to me,” Leath whispered.
“Only if you truly meant what you just said,” she replied.
“I meant it with my whole heart,” Leath promised.
Thad rolled his eyes. “Hello, could we save the mushy gushy for later? There is a reason we are here.”
“Uh, what oh right sorry,” Leath apologized. “Well good luck,” he said taking Zyphera’s hand and shaking it.
“Yes, luck, guess I’ll need that,” she said stepping out from behind the ruins.
As she did, her silhouette slowly began to shift into the form of a despicable and slimy Shadow Breather.
“Kind of creepy isn’t it,” Leath whispered.
“Hey, you’re the one who wants to marry her,” Traiden whispered back.
She had barely made it a few feet from where they were hiding when they spotted a shadow quickly moving towards them. Everyone held their breath. The shadow took no notice of Zyphera other than to cast a nervous glance. Everyone slowly exhaled as the shadow disappeared from sight.
“Perhaps one of us should follow him and see if we can find a lead on the Professor just incase something goes wrong,” Traiden suggested.
“If something goes wrong?” Leath cast him a dirty look.
“Good idea,” Mathias agreed, “I assume you want to go?”
Traiden didn’t even answer. He had already begun sneaking up the path behind the shadow.
“What is with all the nega
tive energy?” Leath asked in frustration. “Have a little faith in my girl eh,” Leath said defensively.
Mathias and Thad shook their heads. They tried to find a comfy place to wait till Zyphera, and or Traiden, returned.
Half an hour passed with no word from either member.
“Where are they?” Thad wondered nervously. “Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”
“I am sure that one or both will be returning soon,” Mathias replied, trying to calm Thaddeus’s nerves. Mathias hoped he’d managed to conceal his own worry he was beginning to feel.
Barely ten minutes passed when Zyphera sped around the corner already her normal self.
“I found him!” She whispered in an excited voice. “He is being held in a small run down building called the Paddock. It is about a kilometer down this road and then somewhere to our left.”
Sentry Rising Page 26