Sins of Our Fathers [Complete]--Editing

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

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Lewis sat on the edge of Nathaniel’s bed as the older gentle man removed a rather long needle from his arm.

“What is it that you’re doing again?”

“Shush.”

Vane disappeared out of the room and returned minutes later cleaning the needle with a cloth.

“Do me a favor kid. Drink something before you die.”

“What?”

“Blood, you’ve gone too long without it. I suggest you either do two things. Go out and find yerself some blood or stop feeding your sister. It aint good for ya and if you keep it up you will die.”

“Well that’s refreshing.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Hey Nathaniel, how long have you been a doctor?”

“I ain’t a doctor. I merely care for those of my kind. Every once in a while I might patch up a human.”

“So…you’re a doctor.”

“Don’t you have something to do? Where is your sister anyway?”

Lewis shrugged. For once in his life he had no idea.

“You need to watch that girl. She seems useless but she can get in a lot of trouble if you leave her alone long enough.”

“She’s not a cat.”

“No, she’s not. I’m just saying. Oh, and what of you and the Captain?”

“What are you talking about?”

Nathaniel smiled and the rays of the sun glinted off his pearly, pointed teeth.  

“Don’t play coy. You two aren’t the only ones who hardly sleep at night you know.”

“I really have no idea what you are talking about Nathaniel.”

“Whatever. I’ll drop it.”

“Nathaniel, have you ever been to the capital?”

“Capital? You mean where the castle is?”

“Yes.”

“Sure. I’ve been there many times. I saw the coronation of your grandfather and your father, and that whole fiasco that happened. You know I used to work for the royal family.”

“I’ve never seen you.”

“This was long before even you father was born.  I was in charge of the black arts. I probably would have been still there teaching you and your sister, if I wasn’t banished.”

“Banished?”

“I allowed the dark arts to control me and I created something terrible. Therefore, I was banished. Stern man your grandfather.  He-“

He stopped suddenly and pointed his nose in the air. His eyes seemed to glaze over and he spoke. His voice was a monotone shell of its former self.

“Mad dashes and vengeful screams, jet black horses with hurry’s sheen, two people; a man and his host, one’s a sorceress and the other’s a ghost.”

He breathed deeply and his eyes refocused. He turned and stared sharply at Lewis.

“I suggest you find your sister boy.”

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Farley held onto Isabella’s hand with an iron grip and led her through the morning crowds.

“Farley, you don’t have to hold my hand you know…”

“Please. After what happened the last time? I think not Isabel.”

Isabella sighed and rolled her eyes.

“It’s Isabella…”

“That’s what I said. Anyway, let’s go about finding some good deals on some fish, hmm?”

Out of the corner of her eye Isabella sensed movement and instinctively pulled Farley to her, and not a second too soon. Bustling through the market place was a horse drawn carriage. It was pulled by two large black horses, that snarled and huffed as they were driven through the screaming and scrambling crowed, sending a broken bit of stall whizzing past what would have been Farley’s head.

“God’s kneecaps! What the hell is goin on?”

The two women’s jaws dropped as they beheld the driver. There was Onyx, her now shoulder length hair whipping frantically around her face. Her red eyes were ablaze with excitement and she cracked her whip like thunder on the hides of the black beasts before her. She glanced at them for a moment and seemed to be ready to drive on. Then the most amazing thing happened.  Isabella had suddenly lost all perception of sound. She watched the horses rear up onto their legs. She saw the sparks as their iron hooves scrapped across cobblestone. She could see the spray of bullets and the horses that rode in the distance; Brown demons, with nostrils wide and flaring. She saw women scoop up their children and she saw men, in almost slow motion; grab each other out of the way.  She saw all these things and yet she heard nothing. Nothing but what she needed to hear.

“There you are….”

As soon as the voice finished came the audible drum of sound. Onyx managed to guide the horses to a stop and Farley screamed up at her.

“Why did you stop?!”

Onyx stared down at them in disbelief.

“I don’t know.”

The doors to the carriage opened and out stepped the man they had come all the way to see.  Their pursuers charged and their leader pointed his gun.

“Enough.”

The Eight stretched forth his hand and the witch jumped out and clung to his shoulder. He gently pulled her away and turned an icy grey stare at the advancing horse man. 

“None shall die. But all must fall.”

Then a thunder bolt struck the ground and it opened before him. Ivy green and dripping with life, shot out towards Johnathan and his crew. They entwined them in their green embrace and began to drag them into the very ground from whence they had come.

“Where are they going?” the Witch asked in amazement.

“Away.”

As the ground closed over the trapped pirates, the crowd, now motionless in shock turned to stare at him. He smiled.

“Go on. Nothing has happened here.”

That is what they did. They stood, and continued on their way as if nothing had happened. Isabella stared at them in amazement and as she blinked, she found her view blocked by a wall of muscle. She looked up into his eyes and he stared down at her. He placed a hand on her cheek and an amazing warmth filled her whole body, as if she had been lit on fire.

“Do you know who I am?”

She nodded, not moving her eyes from his.

“Good.”

Then he kissed her, searing the flesh of her mouth with his tongue.

Everything immediately went black.