“Great, Daniel! That would be perfect!” he exclaimed, and the smaller boy beamed up at him.
The children staying in the academy dormitories were eerily silent. Most simply lay on their moth-eaten, stained mattresses staring at the ceiling. A handful of children were silently playing with a deck of dirty, crumbling cards. Only a sniffle or an occasional cough could be heard.
“Is it always like…this in here?” he whispered.
Daniel looked around at the other boys in the room before looking back at him with wide, sorrowful eyes. “Yeah, it is. If we appear to be having fun, if we laugh or talk at all, the academy warden punishes us. That’s why I volunteered to be a kitchen helper. It’s hard and sweaty work, but at least it gets me out of here and away from the warden.”
“Who’s…”
“Private Fine!” a steely voice snapped from the dorm’s entrance and several boys cowered.
Daniel jumped to his feet and saluted before responding, “Yes, Warden LeMasters, sir!”
Xavier felt his heart jerk painfully as he whipped around and found Danson LeMasters strolling into the room. The man seemed to thoroughly enjoy the swell of terror he created in his wake and gleamed malevolently down at the children as he approached Daniel, who was fighting to stand straight and still. When Danson’s eyes bore into Xavier, he met them with unwavering defiance. The man’s glee slipped as he stepped past Daniel and stopped in front of Xavier.
For several long seconds, the two simply glared at one another in a silent battle, with Danson trying desperately to collapse Xavier’s mental defenses and Xavier effortlessly keeping the man at bay with a small smile. Danson held no power over him anymore. It was in this moment that he realized that his abilities had surpassed Danson’s. He was now the stronger telepathist, and his smile broadened.
“What are you grinning at, boy?” Danson blared testily before drawing back and slapping him across the jaw.
He stumbled and fell, slamming his head on the concrete floor.
“You dare to mock me, boy?” Danson roared as he withdrew a leather strap coiled at his waist. “No one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE mocks me, especially a flea like you!”
A faint whistling noise was the only warning Xavier had before the strap struck him. He rolled onto his side and tucked his exposed flesh under his cloak. Although the cloak shielded him from the worst of the beating, he knew he would have welts when Danson was through with him.
“Sir! Sir, please!” Daniel cried. “Please forgive my friend, Adam. He’s not accustomed to his place here. He’s new. Please, sir. Please!”
“Oh, shut up Daniel!” Danson spat, and there was another whistle, but this time the strap didn’t strike Xavier. It struck Daniel, and the small boy cried out.
Xavier leaped to his feet and found Danson drawing back to hit Daniel again. The strap never made contact with its target for he propelled a powerful electro force at the man, sending him hurling across the room. Danson smashed against the wall and fell heavily to the floor. He didn’t move and didn’t get up.
The room erupted into thunderous cheers. Suddenly, Xavier found himself surrounded by the other children.
“Well done!” one boy exclaimed, thumping his back.
“Yeah, I’ve been wanting to do that ever since he did this,” another boy shouted gleefully, gesturing to the black eye patch he wore on his left eye.
“What’s going on in here?” a strangely calm voice asked, and instantly the boys quieted and spun toward the doorway.
No one answered.
“Children? I asked a question. What happened to my brother?” Xavier felt a shudder pass through him as William LeMasters’ deep grating voice continued, “Who’s responsible for this?”
The children remained silent, but Xavier knew that as inept as Danson was at telepathy, William LeMasters was not.
“I did,” he announced, stepping out from behind the group. “He was beating up Daniel so I gave him a little zap.”
When William LeMasters’ eyes met his, he immediately felt the familiar sensation of infiltration, and he fought to block the advances. LeMasters’ eyes narrowed on him, and for an instant, he thought he saw recognition in their depths.
Finally, William ordered, “Come closer, boy.”
He moved awkwardly toward the man he feared above all others, fighting the urge to run from the room screaming. Then he thought of Mr. Minnows and his fear twisted into intense hatred. With a deep breath, he straightened his shoulders and met the man’s black, bottomless eyes.
William smiled. “My, my, you’re an insolent one. If looks could kill, I think you’d have me hung, dismembered, and electrocuted to death simultaneously if that were possible.” He laughed. Then, as though someone had flipped a switch, his face grew wildly ominous. “Well, Prince Wells? Do it! If you think you’re man enough, draw your sword and strike me down.”
Driven by fear more than anything, he fumbled in his cloak for his sword, but before he could dislodge it from his belt, a sword pressed against his neck, and he froze.
William smiled triumphantly down at him. “Really, now! You need to be quicker than that, Prince Wells.” At that moment, Danson groaned, and his attention left Xavier briefly to glance over at his brother.
Xavier took that briefest of moments to release an electro blast that sent LeMasters staggering backwards. Then, he quickly drew his sword and swung with all his might at the evil man, but LeMasters had regained his balance and parried his attack with a laugh.
“My, my, my! Well done, boy. Fight dirty! It doesn’t matter how you win as long as you do! It’s a shame I’ll eventually have to kill you. You would have made a nice addition to my army,” he taunted as he attacked and struck Xavier’s blade to the side with his own sword.
Xavier backpedaled, trying to keep the attacking sword away from his body, but LeMasters barreled down on him and swung, narrowly missing his chest. He lashed out desperately, but the dark man blocked his attack lazily and countered with a complex move that jarred Xavier’s weapon from his hand and knocked him to the floor. With a sadistic grin, LeMasters positioned his foot over his neck and applied enough pressure that he had to gasp for breath. Then, with brutal patience, LeMasters slowly impaled his hip with his sword. Xavier’s screams only made his smile widen.
“That’s it, Prince Wells, scream! Scream and call out to Daddy to save you,” he goaded, twisting the sword lodged in his side.
Xavier screamed himself hoarse.
“That’s a good boy.” The evil man laughed. Then, after withdrawing his sword and foot, he barked, “Get to your feet!”
Xavier was close to passing out, and his attempt to sit up made the room spin and go dangerously dark.
“Come on, come on! Get up, boy!” William ordered impatiently. “Calhoun! Fine! Help the prince to his feet!”
Each boy grabbed an arm and hauled him, screaming, to his feet. He swayed and nearly collapsed, and Ken and Daniel had to hold him upright.
William laughed darkly. “Take a good look, lads! This is the great light hope meant to save the world from the dark king! What a disgrace! How can he save all of mankind when he can’t even save those closest to him? His mother? Dublin Minnows? That sweet little girl, what was her name? Maggie?”
Anger soared through his body, and he glared at the evil man in front of him. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, clearing his vision and deadening his pain. All he could see was William’s sneering face.
“Did she know she was second best, Prince Wells? Did she know she wasn’t as important to you as Dublin Minnows’ daughter… that wildcat of a girl, Robbie! I can see it all in your head…” LeMasters paused and studied the boy. “She’s to be your queen? My!” He laughed. “Like father, like son. The pair of you seem to like your females feisty. As I remember, Julia Wells was quite spirited too. I can see why Jeremiah went for her. Personally, I find those filthy Neos loathsome and unworthy of my time, but I made an exception for that wonderful morsel of a woman. Your mothe
r was quite…feisty indeed.”
His mother’s name slipping so cheaply from William’s mouth was Xavier’s undoing, and he simply reacted. He summoned his sword to his hand, shrugged the other boys’ hands off him, and lunged at LeMasters. The sudden attack caught him by surprise, and he was unable to lift his sword into an effective parry before Xavier’s blade sliced into his free arm. William gave a gasp of shock before swatting the sword away from his body. However, Xavier’s success was short-lived and precarious. He had only managed to enrage the man, and he felt a shiver of fear as LeMasters pinned him with murderous eyes.
“You will pay for that, boy,” he snarled.
LeMasters lunged at him, swinging his weapon mightily. Xavier lifted his sword and struggled to block the violent blow. No sooner had steel clanged against steel than LeMasters swept into another attack. He barely managed to counter the attack, but LeMasters continued to bludgeon at his sword until it finally clattered to the floor. He froze as a sword pressed painfully against his chest, poised for the kill.
“You’re lucky I need you alive,” William LeMasters hissed. Then, he struck the boy on the temple with the hilt of his sword. Xavier was unconscious long before he hit the floor.
Chapter 28
Sacrifices
When Xavier woke up, he found himself stripped down to his boxers, and shackled to a stone wall in a damp, cold cell. A healer had obviously tended to the wound on his hip for a vivid pink scar now branded his skin. There was a barred window to his left, and he surmised that he was being held in one of the prison cells in the basement of the Governing Hall for he had a clear view of the palace and the horseshoe-shaped drive. As his eyes settled on the long, stained altar erected in the muddy median of the drive, a deathly cold chill raced down his spine. Oh, God! It truly existed! His father’s horrific death wasn’t just a dream. It was a vision! His father would come for him and when he did, LeMasters would be ready, and the King of Warwood would be captured and slaughtered.
He didn’t have time to fret over the vision and the fate of his father for the door squealed open, and Danson with two armed guards stepped into the cell. Danson grinned fiendishly at the sight of Xavier chained to the wall.
“Well, well, well. You don’t look so smug now! Do you, boy?” he hissed wickedly.
Xavier didn’t answer. He simply glared at the man pacing like a predator teasing its prey.
“William has requested that you be…broken. Of course, I eagerly volunteered for the job. Do you recognize the metal your chains are made from, boy? Lead. You will not be able to summon your powers now!” Danson snarled vindictively as he moved within inches of Xavier. He nodded toward the sour-looking men behind him. “My companions are quite talented. They are hypno-illusionists. They can trap a man in a dream-like state indefinitely if they choose. They can also make him relive his worst memories, fears, and pain. If you try anything funny, I’ll give them the order to alter your mind into madness.” He sneered venomously as the boy glanced fearfully at the men behind him. “Now, brace yourself, boy. I can only hope that this will be painful.”
When the force came, Xavier’s entire body went rigid, and the chains binding his arms and legs snapped taut. As the electric pulsated through his body, his muscles quivered and strained. He clamped his eyes shut and waited for the pain to end.
After several long seconds, Danson paused in his torture to cackle down at him. “Damn, this is fun! Are you ready for some more?”
Not waiting for an answer, he delivered another long, agonizing electro force into Xavier’s body as he taunted, “Go ahead, Prince Wells! Scream for me! William says that you screamed like a little girl for him. I want to hear it. Go on, boy. Scream!”
Humiliated and angry, Xavier knew he was moments away from giving Danson exactly what he wanted. The pain was intensely nauseating, and he bit his lip to keep from crying out. Again, Danson ended the force, and he went limp. If it weren’t for the shackles pinning him upright, he would have collapsed to the floor. Every muscle in his body throbbed and refused to obey the simplest of commands. Xavier welcomed the darkness when it came, but Danson wouldn’t allow it. His cool hands roughly grabbed his face and jerked his head until Xavier’s eyes met his.
“Now, now, Prince Wells, don’t pass out! How would it look if the Prince of Warwood, the Chosen, passed out after only two bouts of torture? Besides, I haven’t heard you scream, yet,” he hissed softly, spraying the stench from his sour breath into Xavier’s face.
“You will… never…hear me…scream!” he choked out weakly.
“You don’t think so?” Danson questioned, straightening and glaring down at him challengingly. “Let’s see, shall we?”
Then, the real pain began, and Xavier did scream. He screamed louder than he ever thought possible.
When he awoke, it was nearly sunset, and the sky outside the window seemed to be on fire. Staring into nature’s own light show had a calming effect on him, and he closed his eyes and thought of Robbie. He should have said goodbye. He’d probably never see or kiss her again. The memory of their first real kiss filled his mind, and he smiled. He wasn’t sure which he enjoyed more, the kiss or her face afterwards. He took that back; he definitely enjoyed the kiss more!
The squealing cell door jolted him from his thoughts, and he opened his eyes as William LeMasters strolled into the room with two guards, Danson, and a tall, gangly teenage boy. In the months since their first meeting, Fox LeMasters had grown considerably and stood nearly as tall as his father.
“See here, Fox? He may be the Chosen, but he’s no longer a threat. He’s nothing more than a small child. He’s nowhere near as powerful as you,” William chided softly. “Now, go ahead, boy. Interrogate him.” William nudged Fox toward Xavier.
Fox looked anxiously back at his father before facing Xavier with a smug expression. “Prince Wells, we want to know the exact location of your refuge. Tell us, and we’ll spare you from a painful death.” His voice had deepened an octave, and he sounded eerily like his father.
Xavier glared up at the older boy with more confidence than he felt. “Everyone in this room knows that’s a lie!” he spat, his voice surprisingly strong considering the terror that was coursing through him. “I know your plans for me. I know just how you plan to kill me.” He nodded toward the barred window. “I will be killed slowly, chopped bit by bit while everyone in this kingdom watches. I know this to be true because your weakling uncle is drooling and can’t stop thinking about it. The moron is easier to read than a picture book!”
Silence filled the cell as the three LeMasters glared at him before William laughed. It wasn’t a cruel or vindictive. It was an honest, throaty laugh.
“Brother, I believe young Wells just belittled your telepathic abilities,” William snickered.
“Maybe we should nail a lead shackle into his skull,” Danson hissed irritably, turning crimson at his brother’s ridicule.
William turned toward Fox, the levity fading from his face as quickly as it had appeared. “He just insulted your uncle. Are you going to let a vile Neo-mix talk about your family like that, boy?”
The boy turned to Xavier and pointed menacingly at him. “Shut your mouth…”
“Fox, a Neo-mix doesn’t understand words. He only understands actions. Now, punish the boy!” William growled impatiently.
Fox jutted out his hand and hit Xavier with a quick yet powerful force that lacerated his skin. He cried out with surprise.
William and Danson chuckled.
“Don’t talk about my family again, or you’ll get worse!” Fox spat. “Now, answer my question! Where is King Wells’ refuge?”
“Forget it! I’m not saying a thing!” he insisted.
With a quick swipe of Fox’s hand, the flesh across Xavier’s abdomen sliced open. “Tell me!” the older boy screamed.
Panting and biting back the pain from the latest assault, Xavier met his eyes boldly and growled, “Haven’t you been listening? I won’t tell you a dam
n thing! You can torture me and threaten to kill me, but I will NEVER TELL YOU!”
Fox’s face turned livid and in that moment, he greatly resembled his father. He charged at Xavier and punched him repeatedly until his arms felt like jelly and dropped to his sides. William and Danson simply watched, chuckling.
“Have you had your fill of brutality, son?” William asked as Fox stopped and backed away from Xavier, wheezing.
“Yes, sir. He’s all yours,” he snarled.
“Good. Danson, heal the boy’s face enough so that his eyes don’t swell shut. I want him to be able to see tonight’s festivities,” he remarked.
Danson healed the cuts around Xavier’s eyes only and quickly moved away to allow his brother to approach the prince.
“Prince Wells? I’m a bit concerned. Your father hasn’t turned up. I had expected him to appear almost immediately after your distressful screams, but…” He motioned around the room, to point out the absence of King Wells. “So I think it’s safe to move on to my original purpose for you.” As he spoke, William reached inside his cloak and withdrew the King’s Key. “Endow me. Give me all the powers the key possesses.”
“Never,” he growled.
“I was afraid you’d say that, and I’m sure your father’s assistant will be sorry to learn of your answer as well. Well, if that’s your final answer, I have no choice but to do what I’m about to do,” William responded indifferently. Then, to Xavier’s surprise, they left the cell, leaving him alone.
It wasn’t long before Xavier learned what William LeMasters had meant. Outside his window, a large group had gathered around the altar and burst into cheers when William stepped onto an elevated platform near the palace.
“Hello, my faithful followers!” his voice rang out above the shouts and applause. “I have great news. I’ve captured the Prince of Warwood, and it won’t be long before I have King Wells himself! Our moment of glory and eternal dominion over the Earth is close at hand!”
The Prince of Warwood and The Sword of the Chosen (Book 3) Page 21