Days of the Dead Book 3: The King's Ghost

Chapter 1: The Hunting

Kit
"Where have you been?" I ask, as the woman appears once again in the tomb. I've been sitting on the floor, waiting. It feels like hours have passed, but I wouldn't know. Time does not exist here.
"Patience," the woman smiles, softly, "Are you still prepared to do as I command?"
"To kill this king? Yes, of course," I say, despite not being sure how I'm actually going to do that.
"It is time he is ended. And perhaps you can find your way as well," she says.
"Not being in here would be great, yeah, okay could you um—drop me near the guy I'm to kill, or something? Like that would seriously help," I say, gesturing broadly to imply I don't know how to get out of the tomb. Which is true. I don't.
"First, I must warn you. Twice now you have crossed paths with Gideon Saint. And each time he has shown you mercy. The third time you may not be so lucky. Do not test his wrath," she says.
"I can handle him," I scoff.
"No. You cannot."
"Pretty sure I can, you said before I have the full power of the tomb, he can't outlast me anymore," I say, hands on my hips.
"And he is one of the immortals. By entering here to save one who wished to do him ill, he's tapped into extreme powers. You cannot begin to cross him, nor his demigod children. The people do not see him for what he is yet, but they will with time. You yourself have heard legends of him. Do not become the villain of one," she says.
"Well, how do you suggest I kill the king if he's got an actual god on his side?" I ask, annoyed.
"Because you have the power to set things right. Now. I am going to give you a chance to speak with Gideon Saint. I recommend you use it wisely," she says. Then she's gone.
I sigh in frustration. That sounded like a recommendation. She just said I have the power. So what am I being afraid of Gideon Saint for?
"Oh, hi, that was super disturbing, um, be glad you were back here," this guy has the power of Godzilla, and the personality of a coonhound. He's hopped to his feet and is smiling nicely, "I feel like we got off on the wrong foot, couple of times—,"
"Stay out of my way," I say, wiping out a knife, "I have a quest, and I have a chance to get out of this hell hole so back off."
"I saw—I know why you have to do it. But the thing is I'm bound to protect King Henry, but I don't want to fight you," he sighs, holding up his hands.
"That's a shame, I want to fight you, pretty boy," I say, stepping closer, pushing the knife against the soft brown skin of his throat.
"Look, can we not work this out?" Gideon sighs, "I realize what you have to do, and I get it but, the thing is King Henry yes has outlived his expiration date. But he's got five kids who ought to get to say goodbye to him, and stuff. Plus he's got a couple of brothers too who should get to say goodbye. Yeah, he's had more time than he should but, for the kids' sake at least can we get some closure? Like, let me go back and tell him he won't take it well but that's fine I don't care, and at least he has time to say goodbye to his kids, pat them all on the head one more time, tell his oldest he believes in him, and such? Wouldn't you want your dad to at least say goodbye to you and that he believed in you?"
"I killed my father," I say, flatly, "So that's a no."
"Yeah? The man we assume is my father drove himself and my mom off the side of the highway. And as fucked up as that is, I'd love for him to be able to tell me he's proud of me. Not him. No—I'd like a dad who was there the whole time, who always believed in me. I love the family I've found they're fantastic and I have plenty of good people around me now. And we've all got terrible stuff, Kit. We all do nobody gets out of this undamaged. But even though my 'dad' locked me in a closet in restraints and I never want to see him again, I have enough empathy to know that a kid whose dad was at least halfway there, needs him to say goodbye," Gideon says, tears gathering in his eyes. One, chocolate brown, the other a pure crystal white. Pulsing with magic. Yet he's crying like a child.
"Ah—-that was very, very cinematic very nice. But no. I think no. See, thing is, I don't care. I have a job to do, and I'm going to do it. And you don't have the power to stop me. You're just a wizard. I have the unending power of this—place—because of what you did to me," I snarl.
"I'm so sorry! And I will help you get out of here, and I know I can't stop you from killing King Henry," he says, tears dripping down his cheeks, "But I'm asking you for some time, very nicely. Not for me, or even for him. For the people who deserve a little closure before he goes."
"I really don't give a damn," I say.
"That's too bad because—ah—I do," he says.
And then I'm flung back across the tomb into the opposite wall. I smack it hard and slump to the floor, powerless, as I'm bound up by his evil white light.
"So, that's too bad you said no. Now you're going to take a little nap for a week. I'm really sorry, but," Gideon shrugs, standing over me.
"Bastard," I hiss.
"I mean, yeah—oh you meant as an insult. Right sorry I've been in the 1400s too long because like, I'm legally a bastard because I've got no parentage—,"
"Do you always talk this much?"
"Yes actually! Night now."
And then everything goes black.