Sons of Death

Chapter 5: A Strange Mentor

Chapter 5

~ A Strange Mentor~

   His wrists ached. That was the first thought that filled his mind as he woke from his unwarranted slumber. A dim light greeted him when he sluggishly opened his eyes. He thought for a moment that the night had already passed, but a tiny candle to his left quickly set him straight. A dark shape shifted behind the candle, casting shadows about the room. Meriwether wrestled with the bonds about his wrists as the whites of two eyes suddenly appeared.

   "Awake at last," Julian called, "I must apologize for putting you out for so long. I'm not very good with that kind of thing."

  Meriwether remained silent. His back leaned against the hard wall of the mill. His arms dangled out on either side of him, tied tightly to two pipes in a mix of knots. A couple tugs demonstrated that he was not going to be escaping anytime soon. Feeling decidedly helpless, he stopped his efforts and sat motionlessly upon the floor, staring up at his captor.

  "What are you going to do to me?" he inquired.

Julian laughed. "I'm not sure what it is you think I'm to do with you, but whatever it is, I can assure you that it is far from the truth."

       Meriwether frowned. Then what was he going to to do? This strange man, this murderer, seemed impervious to the thought that Meriwether might possibly think him to have any ill will. Meriwether wetted his lips before speaking again.

   "What are you going to do to me then?" he tried.

 Julian blinked at him behind the glow of the candle. His figure moved back, then quickly rose from the floor. He stepped carefully around the flame to slink towards Meriwether. Meriwether shrank back into himself as he approached, fearing whatever he was about to do. Julian knelt down beside him. He was bearing that horrible smirk.

   "First," he drawled, "I'm going to kneel down beside you, just like so. Then, I am going to sit down, because my back does not take well to kneeling. I am older than I look, mind you."

     He did just as he said. As if some amicable friend, Julian leaned on the wall beside him, awkwardly maneuvering to avoid his splayed arms. "That's better," he breathed. "And now I shall endeavor....to grace you with a wonderful explanation of who I am and what I hope to accomplish with you, Meriwether.”

      Meriwether started at the sound of his name rolling from the man’s lips. Julian recognized his bafflement and chuckled. “Well, you know my name. It is only fair that I know yours. And so, as I was saying.” He laughed to himself again. “Dear me, I hope I do not screw this up. This is the first time I have ever done this. I suppose I may reassure myself with the fact you will not know the difference if I muck up or not.”

     He cleared his throat. Meriwether peered at him from the corner of his eye, entirely unsure of what was to pour from the man’s mouth in the next moment. What spilled from Julian’s lips never amounted to any of his expectations.

     Julian spoke very slowly, very pointedly to begin with. He deliberated over each word, carefully pronounced the syllables. Meriwether could easily see that he was taking great care to properly communicate his thoughts. “I know,” he began, “That you are very….confused and....angry, perhaps furious at my presence. I understand your feelings. In your eyes, I am the man that brutally murdered your mother...and her....”

   Meriwether could hear Julian swallow thickly. “Child.” Anger licked through his insides very quickly. Julian had murdered his family. What excuse did he offer for this?