Burdened Soul

Prologue

CONCEIT

Swollen With Conceit (2TIMOTHY3:4)

"They will be betrayers,rash and inflated with self conceit. They will be Lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God."

Jeremy sipped from the tea in his favourite mug. It had the picture of his mother...May the Lord bless her soul. He leaned against the chair and slowly turned at intervals even as he withdrew from the big family office into thoughts that he knew would threaten his blood pressure. "Don't think too often." His doctor had warned a few days ago when he had his last attack. He could not bear the thought of leaving his wife or even his only child, but he took the risk anyway and soon his mind wandered into what had been causing those chaotic thoughts in his mind; his uncle's will. The old man had died half a year ago, and it took five and a half months before all concerned heard the content of his will. The shock on everyone's face when they disovered old Fletcher had left his multimillion dollar property, shares, estates, everything he had sweat for and owned to not his son, or wife, but his nephew. And now, Jeremy had to face the consequences of being entitled with so much; hate, detest, a failing heart. At forty six, he had only really started living and that life was now being threatened. As quick as a flash, he saw something move across the wall and he stepped out of his reverie. He had seen something, hadn't he? Or maybe his sight was failing too and then he heard a sound and froze and he turned and saw the figure causing his heart to race fast.

"Great tea, isn't it?" His cousin asked almost sardonically giving Jeremy every right to swallow hard.

"What do you want?"Jeremy asked tightening his fists. Not like he had the guts to start a fight but he had to appear strong anyway.

"Ha," His cousin started. "Good question, but i thought you'd ask how i got here first."

"I don't care. What do you want?"

"You know how rhetorical that is."

Jeremy swallowed again.

"It baffles me how my father could be charmed by some idiotic nephew." The coldness in his voice was now evident.

"Weird, what baffled your father was how he could have an idiotic son."

He had not been smiling before but his face grew less chanced to ever form into one.Jeremy's cousin ran his hand through his black hair with frustration and he moved closer to where Jeremy sat.

"Somehow, I don't feel guilt for what i've just done." He said leaving Jeremy with a few seconds to try to figure out what he had just stated.

"And just in case you were wondering what i meant," he paused causing more suspense and a unexpected grin appeared from the corner of his mouth. "...I poisened your tea." And almost like that was a cue, instantaneously, Jeremy's heart began to beat faster and his slow breath turned into gasps. He eyes grew wider and his face began to grow pale. Holding his hand to his heart as it caused sharp pains in his chest, he stared in disbelief at his cousin whose smile had grown to be smug. He tried to talk, but his weak body wouldn't let him. The face of his wife flashed before his eyes, then his daughter's and finally, he fell and laid stone cold on the floor just as his cousin went out through the window.

**************

Walking in Darkness (Proverbs 2:13-14).

" Men who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the way of darkness.

Who delight to do evil and rejoice in the perverseness of evil"

James Briggs walked through the crowded sidewalk and turned into the next street. The scene of a few minutes ago repeating itself mentally in his head. A smirk appeared in his face as his cousin's ghostly face came into his mental view. His plan had worked out, not totally though, but one of the most important phases had been completed. He dipped his hand into his coat pocket and walked past a few more cars before he made up his mind on where to go. He had to celebrate, just a little though. He had done this about six months ago when his father died, but a few twist and turns like what happened a fortnight ago had diminished the joy he had started to build upon poisoning his father. Quick, effective poison; he loved it. It would be hard for the police to ever find him and what was more, he had an alibi. He entered his favourite bar and moved to the counter and perched on a sit. He ordered for a shot of whisky as he rubbed his hand gently over his cell phone. He was expecting a call, one that would determine whether he could really start celebrating. He got his call a little while later and a wider grin appeared on his face. Jeremy's wife was dead. Then he really got to celebrate, more than he had a few months back, and this time, it was with his mother.