The man turned paler than I thought was possible and cleared his throat. I watched his eyes scan the page multiple times as if he had to make sure what the words said.
Come on, man. Just tell them this is all a big mistake.
The man set the page on the table and looked at Dunningham. “I’m sorry, sir, very sorry, but according to this report, there is a 99.9 percent chance that Chase Grim is your son.”
Every head in the room turned in my direction. How was this happening? How was this possible?
Dunningham glared at me and said nothing. Why wasn’t he saying anything? He should have been just as confused as I was.
After a few moments of murmuring and disbelief, Doyle went over to the head man and spoke in his ear. The man nodded. He pushed himself back from the table. The sound of the chair scraping against the floor brought silence to the room.
The man bowed his head. “I’m so sorry, sir, but with all due respect, it is part of the Grim Covenant. As the boy is clearly your son and has reached his eighteenth birthday, it is time for him to take his rightful place as the new Lord of Death.”
I took a step back. “No. I don’t want to be the Lord. He can keep his job.”
Doyle stood at my side. “You know good as everyone else that you don’t have a choice. The Covenant has spoken.”
Dunstan stood from where he was sitting in the armchair. I had forgotten all about him. “This is wonderful news, nephew. My reign of my insane brother has come to an end and now you can take his place. You can make Nowhere the way it’s supposed to be.”
That was way too much pressure. There were so many things wrong with Nowhere I didn’t even know where to begin.
Dunningham glared at his brother. “Shut the hell up, you bastard. I know some how you have something to do with this.”
Dunstan chuckled. “No, brother. This was all your doing. The fact that you’ve treated the women of Nowhere like your own personal brothel.”
“Shut up!” I snapped. “That’s my mother you’re talking about.”
Dunstan nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m sure the last thing she wanted to do was to have that vile snake touch her, but then we wouldn’t have this happy outcome, would we?”
The talk of my mother brought me back to the most important point—Dunningham. I addressed the man at the head of the table. “So, when does this happen? When do I get to take over?”
He looked at Dunningham and shrugged. “Right now, my Lord. Your reign begun the second your scythe began to glow. Of course, we’ll have your officially crowning in front of the entire colony at a date of your choosing as well as your confirmation, but right now you are our official Lord.”
I looked at the bald twins in my midst. “So, what happens to them?”
Dunstan stood. “Historically, Death Lord remain in the estate until they expire. They still enjoy all the luxuries of the Death Lord though they no longer have the power.”
I didn’t care about Dunstan but the last thing I was going to allow was Dunningham remaining in that house. I didn’t care what history said.
“As the Lord of Death, I order all of you to leave me alone with Dunningham.”
Dunningham raised his chin as the others rose to leave. Doyle turned to me. “What are you doing, my Lord?”
Since he was Dunningham’s right hand was he supposed to me mine too? Could I trust him? He had betrayed Dunningham, although for good reason, but still, he had betrayed him.
“I just want to talk to him,” I lied. I wanted to do much more than that. “I needed some answers. I deserve some answers.”
Doyle nodded and left the room with the others, throwing Dunningham one last glance over his shoulder.
Once the door closed behind me. I stared the cretin down. He sighed, unbothered. “If it makes you feel any better, boy, I don’t remember your mother at all. I may be that I have grown feeble in my old age, but probably because she was unmemorable.”
I gritted my teeth. “You keep talking, asshole. You can say whatever you want until I subject all your years and then slice you open and watch you bleed out all over the floor.”
“You don’t want to do that?”
“You’re right. That would be too quick. I’m going to come up with something long and painful. No easy way out for you. Don’t believe for a second that I wouldn’t take your life. You made my mother give herself to you for whatever reason and then you kill her and my father for no reason. For something I did.”
The expression on his face changed as if he were suddenly getting it. “Trust me, son. You don’t want to do that. Who you give you advice? You’re a dumb kid who doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. You’ll run Nowhere into the ground. I’m the only living Lord of Death. I can teach you everything I know.”
He was right about the fact that I had no idea where to start when it came to running the colony. I had Doyle and plenty of others who could help me with that. The last thing I was going to do is take advice from him.
I opened the door. Two Watchers stood there looking at me expectantly. I could hear the others talking down the hall. I decided to test my newfound power. “I want you to do two things, put Dunningham in a cold bare room with absolutely nothing. Chain him to a wall. I’ll decided what to do with him later. Second, take me to my friends.
3
Dunningham smirked in an effort to show he wasn’t bothered, but I was sure this new reality hadn’t hit him yet.
One of the Watchers bowed his head. “My Lord, there are plenty of bare rooms on the ground floor. We can put him in one of them.”
Of course, he had a bunch of extra rooms to imprison and torture people. Now he could have a small taste of his own medicine before I ended his life.
“What’s your name?” I asked the Watcher. I knew the ones who guarded Farrington, the middle-class section of Nowhere very well. I rarely saw the ones who worked in the Upper Estates, especially the ones who worked closely with Dunningham.
He cleared his throat, appearing to be surprised I had asked. “Vicor.”
“Vicor, thank you. Please keep a close eye on him until I get there.” He nodded and headed on his way.
Doyle came down the hallway, adjusting his suit, appearing to have a bounce in his step. He slapped my shoulder. “I feel like I have the weight of the world off my shoulders. Congratulations.”
“Congratulations? That’s sort of a weird thing to say when something’s been forced on me. Can you take me to the others?”
Doyle nodded and I followed him to thee elevator. The whole way down to the ground floor he rambled on about all the perks of the Estate but everything he said was going in one ear and coming out the other. All I could think about was how I was going to tell my friends that this wasn’t all some huge mistake, that I, Chase Grim, was actually the new Lord of Death.
We entered a hallway of grey, cinderblock walls lit by a few sconces which cast an eerie glow and shadows on the wall. At the very end of the hall a door was guarded by a Watcher.
“Open,” Doyle commanded. The Watcher moved to the side and did as he was told.
Inside, all the Grims who had just come back from Earth with me, sat on the concrete ground, leaning against the walls, looking miserable. At least they weren’t chained or anything. They rose to their feet when they saw me, hope filled their expressions.
“What’s going on?” Bram asked.
I paused for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. I took a second to look into each of their faces, finally landing on Naomi’s and not being able to look away. “It’s true. For some stupid reason I’m Dunningham’s son and that makes me the nest Lord of Death.”
The room seemed to grow even more silent. I didn’t know how that was possible since it was quiet to begin with. It was like everyone had stopped breathing.
Adaro started a slow clap and then everyone joined in. They applauded for what seemed like forever and for the first time I started to actually understand that this was real. Nokomis stepped forwar
d and wrapped her arms around my neck. This was awkward because I had never been that close to her before.
“You are going to make a wonderful Death Lord. You can make things better for everyone around here.”
When she stepped away, Naomi stepped forward and gave me an even longer hug.
Kuro stepped forward. “So what happens to us? Since you’re the Lord of Death, that would be on you now, right?”
“Yeah, it is. You guys are free to go, but . . .”
“But what?” Bram asked.
“Our parents. He did kill them.”
I heard several gasps and it felt like all the air had been sucked from the room. I didn’t know what to say because the reality still hadn’t set for me. Naomi’s bottom lip trembled. I couldn’t help but to wrap my arms around her. Over her shoulder, Bram grimaced, balling his hands into tight fists. Adaro and Kuro looked just as pissed. Nokomis had collapsed on the ground and Keira knelt beside her crying. I couldn’t even imagine how she, Naomi, and Bram felt when they were still reeling from the deaths of their little brothers.
Bram pressed his lips together. I had never seen him look so angry. “How?”
“I don’t know,” I answered. “I wasn’t prepared to hear how right then.”
“Where is he?” Kuro demanded. “Take us to him.”
Naomi stepped away from me and I addressed the others. “I promise you, Dunningham is going to pay for what he’s done, for everything he’s done, but I need some time to think about how I’m going to handle the situation. I’ll keep you posted and I want you to know that he will get his. For now, you can go home. I know that’s hard for a lot of you, if you want, you’re more than welcome to stay here. I can have a room set up for you.”
Most wanted to go home. I had the feeling they needed to see with their own eyes that their parents were gone as well as check on their siblings. As for me, being an only child, there was no one there for me to check on.
Naomi and Keira were the only ones who opted to stay and I was glad they did. I wished Bram had stayed too because he seemed to be a growing ball of fury. He had been pacing the room back and forth. “I can’t be here. I need to be outside. I need some time to myself.”
Keira turned to follow him as he stormed from the room but seemed to think better of it. I think we all knew by now when Bram needed a moment. I just hoped he didn’t do anything stupid.
Keira shook her head. “You know what? I can’t be here. I just don’t have good memories of this pace and they’re kind of flooding back to me.”
I totally understood that. Not long ago Keira had almost been a prisoner of Dunningham’s Estate. She had been betrothed to him against her will and during their engagement he had forced her to stay in his home in order to prevent her from running away.
Naomi touched her shoulder. “I understand, Keira, really I do but do you really want to go home to your empty house.”
Keira thought about that for a moment and nodded. “Yeah. I need to. It will definitely be better than staying here.” She gave both Naomi and I a hug before leaving.
Naomi decided she needed a little time to be alone too, so I had a staff member show her to a guest room. I also asked the woman to prepare something for Naomi to eat even though she claimed not to be hungry.
I wished to have a few moments to myself, but as the new Lord of Death, that seemed to be impossible.
Doyle and Dunstan pulled me into an office and started talking a mile a minute.
“The first thing we need to do,” Dunstan said, “is to plan your coronation. We need to make this announcement to the people as soon as possible. Then after that you need to choose your council.”
“Yes,” Doyle interjected. “I suggest for the most part that you keep it the way it is. These people know the laws of Nowhere. They know how things go and they’ll provide you with lots of information. Best of all, they are very . . . how can I put it, malleable.”
“Okay,” I said. “Yeah. That sounds fine.”
Dunstan slid his arm around my shoulders. “So, Nephew.”
I didn’t think I was ever going to get used to the fact that he was my uncle.
“What are you going to do about the pesky issue of my dear brother.”
“Easy. For what he’s done to our families, for what he’s done to our families, he’s going to pay for that with his life.”
Dunstan dropped his arm and stepped back. “You know that Grim twins share a lifeline. If he dies, I die. Hell, that’s the only reason I’m still alive because he knew that if he killed me he would kill himself.”
I had totally forgotten about that. I didn’t know how I felt about Dunstan. I definitely didn’t trust him. I didn’t know him that well. He had helped us out a lot but I thought that was more to help his people—the Foragers.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “but that man killed our families on top of all the other stuff he’s done to use before that. All the people he’s put to death before that for no good reason. I can’t let him go unpunished.”
Dunstan nodded. “So, punish him, yes. Do whatever you want to do to him, but please, don’t kill him. I don’t deserve to die for my brother’s sins, so I?”
Doyle had been eyeing me quietly this whole time. “Chase, I know you are furious with Dunningham and you have every right to be, but think about what you’re doing. He punished your parents because you ran away. He made them pay with for lives for something you had done. Don’t turn around and be just like him.”
He had a point but I just didn’t see how I could leave Dunningham alive especially after how I had promised the others.
Dunstan ran his hand over his face. “Death is the easy way out anyway. You really want him to pay? Make him suffer for the rest of his years. He’s got thousands of them. There’s plenty of suffering. Think about it. Every day you can come up with a new way to torture him.”
Good point.
Doyle grinned. “You think on that. Right now, there’s lots to do. The first thing we need to do is get you fitted for a proper wardrobe. You can’t make your first appearance to the people dressed like that. You must look like the Lord of Death.”
Dunningham was always dressed in black fedoras and perfectly cut suits. That wasn’t my style at all but Doyle was right. I couldn’t show up in a pair of ripped black jeans, a black hoodie, and sneakers and expect the people to take me seriously.
“Sure,” I said. After that, I was at a loss for what to do. It was all so overwhelming. Doyle must have sensed that.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m going to have Hester, she’s in charge of the staff, give you a tour of the Estate so you know where everything is and what everything is for.”
Doyle pulled a small, flat device from his pocket and spoke into it. “Hester, meet us on the ground floor, please. Lord Chase needs a tour of his new estate.”
Lord Chase. That sounded so wrong. The three of us headed down the hallway. Just as we reached the end, a short, stout woman with gray hair pulled back into a perfect bun stood there. She gave me a huge smile which didn’t seem to real. Either she had no idea what to expect from me, she was confused, or she was afraid.
She bowed. “My Lord. My name is Hester and it’s an honor to meet you.”
I nodded. “It’s an honor to meet you also, Hester.”
“I suppose since we’re here we should start with the ground floor,” she said.
Doyle and Dunningham excused themselves, Doyle promising me he would find me once the tour was completed.
Hester waved her hand to indicate the hallway. “This hallway contains the holding cells where Mr. Dunn—where you may keep people for whatever reason.”
I knew I wouldn’t be using those rooms for anyone but Dunningham.
Hester wiped her hands on the white apron she wore. “The only other things down here are the maintenance rooms and the furnace room where we keep wood for the fireplaces.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I need to see that.”
She nodded and gave me a tour of the first and second floors with contained too many rooms for me to remember. There were two kitchens, a great dining room, a smaller dining room, a billiard room, a library, what seemed like a dozen bathrooms, a study, offices and much more.
The third floor was where the bedrooms were. Hester opened the door to the master suite. It was exactly what I expected it to be—way too much.
A huge bed that could fit ten people took up the center of the room. It was covered in expensive-looking silver fabrics. Elaborate drapes hung from the windows. Dressers and chests made of dark wood leaned against the walls.
The entire room smelled like him. “I can’t sleep in that bed.”
Hester eyes the bed. “Oh, not to worry my Lord, my girls change the linens every morning.”
“It’s not that. I don’t want to sleep in the bed where that man laid his body.”
She gave me a tight smile. “I understand,” but I could tell she didn’t.
“Can you show me to another room. Anyone will do.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
I followed her to the end of the hallway where she opened another door. “This is the biggest room after the master suite. This is the room Mr. Dunningham used for his most important guests.”
“I see.” The room was nice and still too fancy for my taste, but it was much better than staying in Dunningham’s old room.
Hester bowed her head. “Forgive me my Lord but this whole turn of events was sort of sprung on us and we hadn’t time to prepare. I’ve sent staff out to purchase everything you will need or might want. If you want anything else feel free to make a list and we will get it for you immediately. What would you like for dinner?”
My heart stung at the memory of my mother asking me that question many evenings. I told Hester the same thing I used to tell her. “Surprise me.”
“Yes, my Lord. Is there anything I can do for you before I return to the kitchen to oversee the lunch preparations?”
“No, thank you, Hester.” All I wanted was a few moments to myself but as soon as I was alone, I realized I didn’t want to be.
Chase Grim: The Final Breath Chronicles Book Four Page 2