He Strikes at the Hotel

Chapter Fifty Four

"You didn't really think you two little inconveniences were going to get away scot free, did you?" Jeremy said in a shocked tone, with his amusement present from a mile away. I couldn't understand how he got so much enjoyment out of this, but he did, to the point where he was practically glowing when he had this kind of power.

"Jared, put the knife down and no one needs to get hurt. We can sort this out." Jonathan spoke up first, trying to be the diplomat of the room. If only diplomacy was the goal here, but it seemed to be the complete opposite. They both wanted power and blood, nothing more. I had already given up with the idea of reasoning with them, as there was nothing they would accept other than our deaths.

"He said put the knife down, you piece of shit! You are a traitor and a pathetic excuse of a man!" Giles spat out with pure venom and betrayal in his voice. His face became a cherry red, with the vein throbbing in the middle of this forehead. He looked vicious in this moment, which reassured me as I knew he was on my side, however, I couldn't help but feel slightly alarmed that he was antagonising the man who had a knife to my throat.

Zachery put a hand on Giles' shoulder, seemingly trying to calm him down whilst realising the concern I had at the affect his words may have on my well being.

"Jeremy, why exactly are you doing all of this? Jared I could expect to be behind all of this, but you? My own brother?" Zachery began, now seeing that the men were being pushed to the limit by all of them, so he had to play it a bit safer. At least until he could figure a way of getting me away from the knife so that the guards could capture them.

Jeremy was in a trance of his own, drunk off of power and evil rage. I didn't even know whether what he was saying was him, or the evilness embodying his soul. I couldn't understand how he sat at the dinner table with us earlier quietly, and now we are here. I can't say I've ever been a major ambassador for trusting people, but I sure as hell don't now.

"Dear big brother of mine... How your question tickles my ego... Do you really want to know? Or are you trying to buy time? Hmm?" Jeremy's eyes twinkled as he looked in my direction, smiling as he glanced at the cool blade locked into place. Jared pushed it a little harder to my throat for added emphasis, which gained a pained wince from me which I couldn't control. My eyes began to water as I could feel the sharp edge of the blade beginning to ear at my skin from the pressure alone and my breathing was getting more restricted from being so conscious of my movement.

"You have always been the favourite. You're their golden child, who can do no wrong." Jeremy began, not waiting for Zachery to give him an answer, as he maintained control anyway, so he must of gathered it was worth telling us his motive.

"Everyone loves you. You're the notorious 'bad boy Duke' who every woman wants to be with. Every man wants to be friends with. You have success in everything you do, and do you know what I have?" Jeremy's chin began to quiver as he was speaking, showing that he does in fact harbour some emotion. Zachery simply bowed his head in a small nod, gesturing Jeremy to continue. "What I have? Nothing. That's what I have. Mother and Father don't care what I do, they just keep me around to help them with menial duties that they don't want to pester you with. I wanted to go to medical school, but they said I'd have to get the grades first, which I didn't. When that happened they did nothing, no bribery, so scholarships, nothing. If the shoe was on the other foot, you would be in that University right now ready to graduate with a PhD in medicine." Jeremy frowned painfully and grimaced towards Zachery. At least this explained his strange ritual with the surgical tools...

"Everything I wanted, you got. You didn't even want most of it! You don't care! You are the heir to the entire kingdom and you prance about as if you just want to make friends and meet people! Do you realise just how lucky you are?!" He began to edge closer to Zachery as if he was pleading with him to understand. The little brother that Zachery knew and loved was gone, but the smallest part of him was peering through at this moment.

"Why did that mean you had to kill people, Jeremy?" Zachery asked calmly, knowing his brother well enough to not argue against what he was saying. His eyes were now cold, as he had realised that there was no going back from this. Even if there were slight instances where he could see the real Jeremy glimpsing through, he knew that the bitterness had already wound itself around Jeremy's veins like vines, poisoning his blood and soul entirely.

"I couldn't let them have you. She can't have you." He said through a trembling voice as he pointed towards me. "If you have everything I want, why should you have what you want as well? It's not fair." He paused for a moment, wiping the back of his hand across his face, erasing any evidence of his emotional blunder.

He stood up straight with a darkness falling over his features. "I'm simply settling the score." He let out in a deep, rugged voice, entirely unlike his usual speech. 

That's when he looked at Jared and nodded.