The Enchantments: Book 3 - The Key of Sorcen

Chapter 29: Unbelievable

"YOU'RE LYING!!!" Marlanda screamed from the couch where her fingers were digging dangerously into the dirty fabric.

Roudem began laughing, one filled with cackling and a hint of something very scary.

"My dear you are not ready to hear the truth about your father, but being is how I have no care on how you feel I will tell you."

Marlanda sat silently not really knowing what to do. She knew what Roudem was about to tell her would definitely be over glorified but also feeling there would be more truth than not.

The nervousness she felt for Shawn's well being was running through her head constantly and she was having a hard time figuring out what was more important. In the end, she knew she'd have to let Shawn do his best with the minions and hear what Roudem had to say. He'd understand that this was probably her last best bet to hear what had really happened with her father. In fact, all she really wanted was just a little information no matter how insignificant.

"So what lies do you have to tell me now?" She baited him.

Roudem ignored the sarcasm in her voice as he listened contently to the satisfactory sounds of electrical power coming from his minion brethren dealing with the boy outside.

"It gave my master Doultof great satisfaction to recruit someone whose life was totally devoid of anything but my master's plight. Your father gave himself over so willingly it was glorious."

"My father would never go willingly!" Marlanda snapped.

Roudem laughed.

"I regret to inform you that your father was the one who came to us."

"YOU LIE!!!"

Roudem stepped forward placing his face within inches of Marlanda's scarlet spreading face. "My dear, allow me to tell you the truth about your father."

He stepped away from her allowing her to think about what he was about to say.

"During the early days before my master ever had to deal with you insolent kids and the major trouble you've caused, there were days when we could go about our work in secret and not worry about our cover being blown.

We came upon this man one day a man trying to come to the grips that his life was never going to go the way he wanted. A man who thought his life would have been better if he had just taken another path. A man who was tired of everything..."

Arturo Parthas walked out of the small house pulling up his collar to the wind that was blowing cold across the street he called home. He was a darkly handsome man with dark thick hair and a chiseled face that made many women turn and look in admiration. He looked to his right with piercing green eyes and then to his left. He wanted no one to see that he was leaving at this ungodly hour of the morning. He blew his hands into his fingerless gloves then proceeded north along the silent road, his feet slapping gently across the wet pavement.

The early morning chill filled the air with the scents of the upcoming winter as Arturo, keeping a keen out for anyone that could interrupt his plans proceeded down the abandoned street.

"What the heck am I doing?" He whispered to himself as he heard the distant sounds of a city that would be soon waking up.

A million things went through his head and he did his best to keep his mind on the task at hand. If he could get through the next hour all his troubles would be behind him. All the ridicule he had suffered from those that wouldn't hire him, to those in his family that he knew were ashamed at him for not providing a better life for the children.