Julius strode down the hallway, Footsteps thudding loudly against the floorboards. Most of his children regarded him warily, falling silent and ceasing games or even hiding in rooms and under tables until he had passed, as they should no less. He walked past them dismissively.
In the months that had passed, the boys Mitch and Sam had become old enough to begin to learn his ways, at the proper age of eight. He wouldn't know if either of them were what he wanted until they had developed powers and matured, but with or without it the process of bending them to his will would be critical as they aged.
Julius stopped upon the pair, who were tussling and cursing at the end of the corridor. The fight ended abruptly as he approached.
Julius observed the looks of doubt, apprehension and fear in their gazes as he approached, wary as if two kittens realising that they'd strayed a bit too far from Mamma cat's protection.
He stood there in silence, feeling the heavy silence smothering the boys like a thick wet blanket. Mitch stood up first, glaring cautiously.
"What do you want?"
He demanded.
Julius held his tongue for a second as he processed the strains of emotions in their voice. Hatred? No. Fear? Definitely. Curiosity? Maybe, maybe just a little. Wondering why he hadn't attacked or otherwise lunged, perhaps.
"Come with me." He said, sternly. Sam's eyes fell. Mitch scowled, obediently following him with all the reluctance of a child who didn't want to go to bed.
Julius stormed back through the house, down the stairs. The glare of the sun was masked by a thick haze of cloud, and the air was slightly humid from heavy rain the previous night.
Fortunately it was barely fifty yards to the stables. They were merely a few horse stalls set inside a barn, surrounded by brambles and forest so sense and vicious Julius never had to worry that the children might spot it from afar, even in the winter.
Julius placed his first step carefully, testing the mossy slates that made up the road, and walked out. The boys trotted after him, like lambs, if Lambs could walk with all the foresight and dread of a man to the gallows.
Clearing away a few stinging nettles and trampling them under foot, Julius unlocked and pushed open the barn doors.
The smell of warm dry hay, animals, and cigarette smoke brushed past like a friendly breeze. He dismissed it and approached his favourite horse, a black stallion who usually pulled a pony trap which he rode. Now, he didn't bother with that. He led the horse out of the stall and lifted the boys up onto the back part of the saddle, before climbing onto the animals back himself.
The horse nickered as he guided the animal out onto the road, then broke into a canter as he jabbed his heels in lightly. Mitch was nearly thrown off the back of the horse as it took off, holding tightly onto Sam to save himself from an express meeting with the unyielding grey cobbles lining the street.
The streets rushed by, littered with traces of the summer solstice workers festival which had been just over a month ago now. He slowed the horse down as they came onto the main street, for the clusters of oblivious miners, chimney sweeps and other working class men and boys littering the roads. A few women sold baked goods which they sold in stalls. None of it really appealed to him, though the boys seemed utterly entranced.
Sam suddenly almost flinched behind him. He could smell fear rising in their blood like a tidal wave.
"Ah! A father son day out, ey?" A voice called out. Julius didn't recognise it, but as he scanned the area, he spotted a woman with floured hands and an apron making apple bomb crisps with a wood fired oven, selling them to passers by. Julius narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, indeed. Have you run into my son before? He was well behaved, wasn't he?" He replied, casually as he could. Sam's heartbeat rose behind him. The air was thick with the drawl of adrenaline... It made his head spin slightly, like the most enticing perfume he'd ever smelt. None other than human produced a scent that strong when afraid. Had they not been in public, and had Sam been any old stranger, he'd have indulged his murderous instinct well and truly. The smell was almost overpowering, pulling him away into a drawl... -
Julius snapped himself out, of it as the lady spoke again. He'd need to save his thirst for blood for later.
"They were indeed. Do tell your brother I said hello, won't you young man?"
YOU ARE READING
Time will tell
Historical FictionThe story starts in the dark, dangerous world of the British empire, at his peak. We get a glimpse into what makes him tick, and a look in on how his children lived before the many revolutions that led to his downfall, and the way everyone's history...
