There was a loud cheer from the crowd, and William looked around at them with a smile. “Yes, yes, it’s all so very good, but the young prince needs proof that I’m the rightful ruler of this kingdom. So, today, we will have a sacrifice in Prince Wells’ honor. Bring forth the traitor.”
There was another loud applause as two soldiers shouldered their way through the crowd, escorting a tall, lean, older man. Milton! Milton walked proud and straight as he was led to the altar. His face was stoic and impassive and remained that way as the soldiers pushed him onto the altar and strapped him down. He wasn’t going to allow these people the satisfaction of seeing the fear that was mounting inside him, but Xavier could feel the terror radiating off the older man.
“No!” Xavier thought desperately. “No! Don’t, please! Not Milton!”
“Then, endow me, Prince Wells, and I’ll make his suffering short,” William encouraged.
“I…I can’t! I won’t!”
“So be it. You’ll have his excruciatingly slow death on your hands.”
William directed his attention back to the eagerly awaiting crowd and announced, “This man has been charged with treason! He willingly aided and supported Jeremiah Wells.” There were loud hisses and boos. “Milton Bailey, if you publicly denounce Jeremiah Wells as your lord and commander and accept me as your king, I can make this punishment swift and painless.”
To Milton’s credit, he didn’t flinch or hesitate in answering with a sturdy, stout voice. “Never! I’ll never betray my king.”
William didn’t reply. He simply nodded to the hooded guard who stepped forward and withdrew an ax from his waistband. Milton’s jaw clenched, and his breathing became laborious. The guard paused next to Milton as another guard held his right hand in place on the stone altar. Then, the hooded guard lifted the ax and chopped off Milton’s thumb. Milton writhed wildly on the altar, but didn’t utter a word.
“NO! No, please, stop!” Xavier screamed, but it was apparent that no one could hear his shouts except William, who seemed to be monitoring his thoughts.
“It will all end quickly for Milton if you choose to endow me with the powers. If you refuse, then I will take Milton’s life, one piece at a time,” he jeered.
“I…I can’t!” Xavier pleaded. “Please…don’t. Don’t butcher him!”
“You know my deal. If you won’t accept it, then Milton will simply have to endure his fate,” he told him before announcing to the crowd, “Mr. Bailey, the thumb was a precursor of what’s to come. I’ll give you one more chance to save yourself but only one! Will you denounce Jeremiah Wells and take me as your king? Consider this carefully. If you choose not to recognize me as your rightful ruler, you will die slowly and painfully.”
Surprisingly, Milton released a loud, bellowing laugh. The crowd stared down at the bound man as though he was insane. William shifted uneasily on the platform.
“I don’t think you appreciate the position you’re in,” LeMasters spat, glaring down at Milton.
“Oh, I know exactly what my position is LeMasters, but you must think I’m an imbecile! You’re not an honest man. You’re not even a merciful man. I know I will die here today, and there is no way in hell I’d ever betray King Wells!”
“So be it,” William snarled and nodded at the hooded man again.
“No! No!” Xavier screamed as the guard approached the altar and severed Milton’s entire left hand.
Milton’s control over his pain was lost. He simply screamed, and Xavier found himself screaming along with him.
“No! William…please…please!” Xavier sobbed.
The hooded guard approached Milton again and raised his ax. There was a solid thud as the ax sliced through Milton’s arm at the shoulder. Milton’s screams seemed to echo in Xavier’s cell. The massacre continued until Milton was so badly dismembered, he was barely recognizable. Xavier had never heard anyone scream and sob the way Milton did as the guard took him apart, bit by bit.
“Milton? Milton, only you can end your suffering. Just say the words and the suffering will end,” William cooed wickedly.
Then, Xavier heard Milton’s weak voice. “Sire? Why? Why have you forsaken me?”
With tears streaming down his cheeks, Xavier’s mind reached out to the morbidly injured man. “Milton? Milton, don’t be afraid. You’re not alone.”
“Xavier? Dear God, what are you doing here?” Milton asked as renewed terror filled his thoughts.
“Don’t worry about me, sir. I just…I wish I could help you somehow,” he thought desperately.
Milton released a long, moaning sob. “You can, Prince Wells. Don’t let me betray your father. Please…the pain is too much…I’m afraid.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Kill me, Master Wells. Please! I’m going to die, anyway. Let me die with honor!” Milton pleaded.
“I…can’t…I…I don’t think I can do that, Milton,” he stammered.
“Please, Xavier. God, please,” Milton begged.
“B…but…I don’t know how.”
“Just use your telekinesis to stop my heart,” he instructed.
“Milton…I…I don’t think I can do it,” Xavier sobbed.
“Please, boy. I’m begging you! Don’t let me suffer anymore.”
Xavier sobbed, ‘God, Milton. Okay…okay…I…I’ll t…try.”
‘Thank you, young sire! You are a compassionate and great prince. It was an honor and privilege to know and serve you. And, Xavier? Please, t…tell your father that he…” Milton’s voice quavered as he forced himself to continue, “that he is a better king than his father ever was, and I wouldn’t have this any other way. Tell him…tell him that I’ve always thought of him as a son…tell him…I’m so very proud of him.”
Xavier began sobbing, but he managed to reply. “Yes, sir. I’ll tell him.”
“All right, then, do your thing, Prince Wells. Farewell and Godspeed.”
“B…bye, Milton,” Xavier moaned and then set to work on trying to stop Milton’s heart. It was easier to do than he thought it would be. He started by concentrating on Milton, picturing his face, his eyes. Within seconds, he could hear his raspy breath and slow, weak heartbeat. Not quite sure how to do it, he simply imagined Milton’s heart stopping, and after a moment the soft thudding of his heartbeat ended.
Xavier opened his eyes and stared at the fiery, dusky sky. The crowd’s bloodthirsty jeers faded as his mind sank into the thick numbness overwhelming all other thoughts and feelings. Then, he sighed deeply and sagged against his shackles as the ramifications of what he’d just done sank in and threatened to drown him in despair and guilt.
“NOOOOOO! No! NO! Nooo!” he screamed savagely as he violently thrashed against the shackles, tearing the skin around his wrists and ankles until he finally broke down into racking sobs. He had just killed someone! He’d murdered a living, breathing human being! He’d killed Milton! Xavier vomited.
Chapter 29
The Dark King
A few minutes later, William LeMasters slammed into the room, brutally grabbed Xavier by the neck, and squeezed.
“What did you do?” he spat.
“I eased his suffering!” Xavier gasped through the choke hold.
“That wasn’t your place, boy! He chose his path, as did you!” William spat, slamming him against the wall.
His head hit the stone surface with a crack, and his vision dimmed. Then, William punched him, and his face exploded in pain. The sweet, salty taste of blood filled his mouth, and he gagged.
“How dare you defy me!” LeMasters yelled before turning to the guards. “Where’s the key for his shackles? I want him unbound, now!”
“But, Master, his powers…”
“If I wanted your opinion on this, I would ask. Unbind him, NOW!”
The guards jumped into action, and Xavier’s chains were loosened.
“Turn him around!” he growled, unbuckling his belt and pulling it from his waist.
The men
spun him around and held the chains from either end.
“I wonder if Jeremiah has ever whipped his precious son. Spare the rod, spoil the child was my father’s motto,” he hissed, wrapping the belt around his hand. “You, young sire, are about to get the whipping of your life.”
Then, the beating began. With the first lash, Xavier felt a rib crack as the belt buckle snapped against his side. He endured lash after lash until LeMasters’ anger subsided, and he stood panting behind him. Xavier slid to the floor with a whimper.
“Shackle him back up,” he ordered roughly as he slid his belt back around his waist.
The guards complied immediately, and Xavier cried out from the sudden, rough movement. His back felt wet and sticky and burned like it was on fire. At least two ribs were broken, and he wondered if one had punctured a lung. He could hardly breathe!
Once the guards secured the locks on his chains, William LeMasters grabbed him by the throat and lifted him to meet his dark, dangerous eyes. “Now, listen closely, boy! I will be back tomorrow morning. If you chose to defy me again, if you will not endow me with powers, your loving governess will be next on the chopping block. Understand?” he thundered.
Xavier nodded weakly, and LeMasters released him and left the room.
Needless to say, Xavier didn’t sleep that night. The stabbing pain he felt with each breath didn’t subside during the night; it got worse. He quickly learned that taking small, shallow breaths hurt less. But, as a result of his shallow breathing and being shackled upright all night, his muscles began to seize and cramp. Near dawn, severe muscle spasms assaulted his body. They shook him with such force that he screamed in agony and wondered if the spasms were breaking what was left of the bones in his body.
It was during one of these spasms when William LeMasters returned. He grinned broadly as Xavier sobbed and cried from the rippling pain assaulting his body. Finally, the tremors ended, and he went limp, close to passing out.
“Oh, no you don’t, Prince Wells! I need you conscious!” he growled, sending an electro force into Xavier and jolting him awake. He smirked at the exhausted boy. “So, tell me, Prince Wells. Have you reconsidered my offer, or do I need to persuade you?”
“I…I…I can’t!” he moaned weakly.
“Well, maybe if I cut you, you’ll come to your senses!” LeMasters whispered, pulling a hatchet from his waist. When the boy didn’t respond, William grabbed his hand and separated his thumb from the rest of his fingers.
He began bawling long before the blade pressed against his skin. With the slightest pressure, the sharp edge sank deep into his thumb and lodged itself against the bone there. Xavier screamed.
William paused and looked at the prince, his eyes gleaming. “Well?”
Heaving and panting, he bit back the pain, looked defiantly up at William, and spat in his face. “Go to hell! I will never give you the power to kill millions of innocent people. Never!”
William gave a great shout of fury and thrust the hatchet completely through his thumb, and he shrieked out in agony.
“You little fool! You pompous, arrogant, little…” William paced manically around the cell for several long minutes. Finally, he stopped in front of Xavier and declared, “Your sweet governess will pay for your insolence, boy! She will die slowly while you watch.”
Xavier groaned. He should have never come. What made him think he could stop William LeMasters? He might have been able to take on Danson, but William LeMasters was more powerful and definitely beyond Xavier’s abilities. This was a suicide mission! No, worse than that, it was a suicide mission and a series of sacrifices! If he hadn’t come, Milton would probably still be alive. If he hadn’t come, Mrs. Sommers wouldn’t be at risk now! Where was his father? Why hadn’t he come? Surely, his father knew he was in danger…that William was torturing him…would kill him!
Xavier cried, “All right! All right! I’ll do it! I’ll do it…just…don’t hurt Mrs. Sommers! Please…don’t kill her!”
He froze and looked down at Xavier hungrily. “You’ll empower me with ALL the powers?”
“Yes…” Xavier groaned. “But…you can’t hurt Mrs. Sommers!”
“I promise you. I will not lay a finger on your precious Mrs. Sommers,” he told him eagerly as he motioned to the guards to free Xavier from his binds and withdrew the King’s Key from beneath his cloak.
Free of his chains, Xavier simply collapsed to the stone floor. The impact jarred his battered body, and he cried out.
“Help the boy to his feet!” LeMasters barked.
The guards grabbed him and hauled him painfully to his feet.
William moved toward him, carrying the key in his hands as though he thought it might break if he handled it too roughly. “All right, boy. Do it. Do it now!” he hissed excitedly.
With a feeling of dread, Xavier reached out to take the key from LeMasters but dropped it.
“Come on, come on! Pick it up. Do it, boy! Do it!” William growled impatiently.
He quickly picked up the King’s Key with his uninjured hand, praying desperately for a way out of this mess. Then he had an idea, and his courage returned. He straightened and met William LeMasters’ eyes boldly.
“Father! Father! King Wells and his men are here! They already have control of the kingdom, and they’re breaking through the palace gates! What should I tell the men?” Fox bellowed after he burst into the cell.
“Tell them to fight, for God’s sake! In a few minutes it won’t matter if Jeremiah’s here or not!” William spat and turned back to Xavier. “Now, boy! Do it now!”
He hesitated. Even if he didn’t do what he was about to do, there was no way he could stall long enough for his father to save him. He had to go through with it. Finally, he whispered, “Okay. I…I need to…touch you for this to work…I think.”
William hurried toward him and took his hand.
“No, I think you should kneel,” he suggested. At LeMasters’ livid face, he explained quickly, “The powers will transfer more completely if I have contact with your head.” He wasn’t sure how he knew this to be true, but he was certain without a doubt that it was the best way to give or, as in this case, take powers from an empowered person.
William studied him, and Xavier fought to keep his thoughts innocent. Doubt and greed for power battled across LeMasters’ hard features. Finally, greed won out, and he turned to the guards standing silently behind him. “If he tries anything funny, kill him.”
“Yes, sire. It would be an absolute pleasure,” one guard answered with a wicked grin.
William gave a hesitant, almost fearful look at Xavier before slowly kneeling at his feet.
Xavier tentatively placed his hand on the man’s black crown. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated, not on providing powers but on eliminating them. The key suddenly went hot in his grasp as he summoned its power. He heard William gasp and give a long, low moan of pain. Then, the guards shouted as they became aware that something was wrong.
“Hey! Hey, boy! Stop!” one guard yelled from behind him.
The guards grabbed him and tried to yank him away from William LeMasters. But, the instant their hands clamped around his arms, a powerful electro force rose in his body and propelled the men across the room, slamming them into the stone wall. They were unconscious before they hit the floor.
“Father!” a voice screamed.
Xavier’s eyes snapped open. Fox stood tensely inside the doorway with wide, fearful eyes. He raced to William, who had grown extremely pale and frail-looking. The moment Fox grabbed his father Xavier felt a strange jerk in the key’s power. Both boys were knocked off their feet as a surge of energy exploded from the key, and the connection between Xavier and William LeMasters was lost.
This was the final assault Xavier’s body could bear, and he lay motionless on the cold stone floor, looking at William crumpled a few feet from him, staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Father? Father?” Fox cried, crawling to him and shaking him. He lo
oked at Xavier with tear-soaked cheeks, his dark eyes full of animosity. “What did you do to him?”
“I did what I had to do in order to stop him…I took his powers! He’s no longer empowered. He’s no longer a threat to anyone!” he replied hoarsely.
“You killed him!” the boy screamed.
“N…no, I took his powers!” he insisted weakly.
“You idiot! Don’t you know anything about the King’s Key? If you take a man’s powers that quickly, all at once…you can kill him!” he spat.
No, he hadn’t known that. “W…well, he deserves it! He killed my mom, my best friend’s dad, my dad’s assistant, and he would have killed me if he had the chance. I just beat him to the punch. That’s all!” Xavier blurted callously.
“Fox? Oh, my God! William!” Veronica Angelo cried, scurrying into the room and dropping to the floor next to William. “What happened?” she asked Fox.
“He took his powers, Mother. He drained Father of his life force,” he muttered, nodding to Xavier.
“What?” she screeched. “NO! Oh, William! William! Oh, God!” Then, she collapsed, sobbing over William’s body. Her gaze shot up at Xavier. “Look what you’ve done! Look what you’ve done, you little heathen!” Then, she turned to Fox. “What are you going to do about this, Fox? This ingrate murdered your father! Are you just going to allow him to get away with it?”
He looked at his mother with sudden anxiety.
“Fox!” she screeched. “Don’t be a coward! Your father would be ashamed of you! Now, get up and take care of it like a LeMasters!” She pushed Fox to his feet.
He met Xavier’s eyes, animosity building in their dark depths. A strange shudder ran down Xavier, and suddenly, he knew that his enemy had never been William LeMasters. His true enemy…the dark king… was standing in front of him now, and he was going to kill him.
As Fox drew his sword, Xavier fought to get to his feet, but the lack of sleep and the severity of his injuries had dwindled his strength and powers. He wasn’t sure he could even stand, let alone conjure an electro force to protect himself. He stood on wobbly legs as Fox swung his sword. Xavier did his best to dodge the attack, but he just wasn’t agile enough. The sword raked across his body, and warmth immediately spread over his chest as his shirt became saturated with blood. He staggered and fell to the floor. Quickly, Fox advanced on him again and swung his sword, this time nicking his cheek.
The Prince of Warwood and The Sword of the Chosen (Book 3) Page 22