Cruel Laughter [Sequel To "Because He Lived."]

[Prologue] Merciless

James smiled cruelly as he picked up the sword next to him. He examined it with curiosity, as the young thief in front of him quivered with fear.

"There's nothing to be afraid off," He sang, swinging the sword around in his hands. But that was a lie, he was something to be afraid of. James was nothing like either of his parents. His parents had been the good guys, the heroes. James was not. Not kind, not gentle, and by no means merciful. This boy had stolen from him, and there was no way he would ever show no mercy.

The boy was pleading and his eyes were full of fear. "P-please. I'm so s-sorry for trying to s-steal from you."

James kneeled down so he was eye level with him, and tilted his head to the side in mock innocence. "Don't worry... There's nothing to be afraid of." He looked him in the eyes, staring with a certain type of cruelty. "Now, why don't you tell me your name." 

"K-Kayden," he stuttered out. Kayden glanced over at his sword, which had been thrown to the side during our fight. "D-Does this mean you're n-not going to kill me?"

James laughed, psychotically. It was amusing watching people like Kayden come to their own conclusions. "My dear boy. I never said I wasn't going to kill you." Kayden's eyes widened, and his expression turned to horror. "I just said there was nothing to be afraid of." He gave James a pleading look, and he almost felt bad for him. He could have felt bad for him. In a different life, at a different time.

"P-please...," he begged. Tears formed at the edge of his eyes, and then fell. This is exactly what James wanted. It was the same every time, they always begged before he killed them. "I-I'll do anything... I h-have a- I have someone waiting f-for me at h-home."

Giggling, he responded, "Well then you should have thought about them before you decided to steal from me." He didn't say anything in response. He just stared at me, horror strewn across his whole face. After a moment of silence, "You love them, don't you?"

Kayden gave a small nod in response.

"Good. I'll let them know what happened to you."

He took a sharp intake of breath, "Please! Don't hurt her! I'll do anything... just please..." The thief was trying to sound brave, but his words only came out as pleads. He was begging again. Begging, begging, begging. As if that would get him anywhere.

The response was a loud chuckle. "Only time will tell."

"W-What are you going to do?" He questioned, eyes cast downwards. 

James tucked a strand of ebony hair behind his ear, a strange gesture. Something normal, something James was not. But he did it anyway. "What I want." He stood up and raised one of his hands.

He stared in confusion, which was reasonable. Powers like his were rare and hard to come by.  "What--" he never got to finish his sentence, because as soon as he started talking he was dead. Shot to death by James's powers. 

James didn't miss the expression of fear on Kayden's face during that split second. 

And then he was gone, all that remained was a pile of ash in his place.

James smirked at his kill and turned on my heel. He picked up his trophy, the thief's sword. A one-handed broadsword, the color of the sky.

With his prize in hand, he made my way out of the forest clearing and into the darkness of the night.

His friends had been right, his family had been right. They all had been right. James was insane. And the power he was given to protect the ones he was supposed to love, had been used to hurt them. James didn't feel any remorse. He never did. That night, he had found pleasure in the pain he caused them, and even the memories still gave me pleasure. Even though It had been years ago, every image was still fresh in his mind.

He stopped walking suddenly and stared up at the sky. He smirked, raised one hand towards the sky and shot a beam of light up. Then, screamed at the top of his lungs. The scream was laced with laughter, cruel laughter.

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I hope you guys enjoy the first chapter of "Cruel Laughter."!

Believe me, I'm excited to be working on this story, I have so much inspiration for it. 

Please check out "Because He Lived." before reading this, because later on there will be some connections. 

Have a great night/day.