Worst Curse: A Ghostwalkers Journey, Book II

Chapter 16

     Dropping to his knees the Mayor began to wail. Bynan approached the stocky man and slapped him across the cheek to get his attention. Wiping away the tears, and sniffing some control into his breathing, the Mayor looked up at Bynan.

     "Now, which one of these coffins would be most affected by what I just did?"

     Using a shaky finger, the Mayor pointed at the first coffin on the right. With just a look, Bynan put his men in motion. Lifting open the coffin received an immediate response. The male on the inside open his eyes wide, and hissed at his oppressors as they took a hold of him. Pulling him out of the coffin, they drug him to the back of the room, all while keeping a wooden stake held against his chest. Bynan followed his men, as they pinned the cursed man against the back wall. Stopping close to the exposed fangs, Bynan looked the cursed man deep into his eyes.

     "Look over my left shoulder," said Bynan. "You might not be able to see the pile of ash, but you can see the open coffin, correct?"

     Looking beyond Bynan, the cursed man saw the open coffin, and immediately growled up at the ceiling. Struggling to break free, the cursed man was quickly reminded of the stake held tightly on his chest. "Why! Why have you done this?!"

     "Answers," said Bynan.

     "I could have given you answers. You didn't have to go and do this."

     "But I wanted results. And I needed you to understand I was serious...Was she significant? Did I start too high up in the chain of command? But you see, that might be worth a damn if I gave a semblance a care to who and what you are. To me you are a stain that needs to be eradicated, but for now, you might serve a purpose. And that purpose is information. Now finding out you don't have any information...Well, I might as well pop all these tops."

     "What information?! What do you seek?!"

     "Ladieta...When she goes into hiding...Where would it be? I need to find her, and it's very urgent."

     "You have no clue of what is going on in the underground, and it is very disappointing. All the hours I've wasted worrying about offending you...just to find out you've been paying no attention...We are at war with that woman. We don't keep in contact...She builds an army against us all. We are not her alliance. We prepare for her attack just as well as you shall. She self-proclaims herself as a queen, and we don't see her as such. We are the counsel. There is no queen. This is the power struggle. This room, and her. If I knew her whereabouts, we drive a stake in her heart just as quickly as you would. How do you not know this?"

     Bynan took a minute, and stepped back from the man. Looking over at the Mayor, he was met with reassuring eyes. The Mayor, still on his knees, nodded to reaffirm what the cursed man was saying. Bynan then looked over at his next in command and they held eye contact for a minute while silently communicating.

     "Maybe we can make a deal," said Bynan.

     "What kind of deal?"

     "If I were to let you proceed with your agreement you have here, you and your people will fight alongside of me tonight when it comes time to take Ladieta down."

     "I want nothing more than to take her down. We would do it for less."

     Bynan turned and walked out of the room. "I will have a messenger at the gate to give you coordinates...Men, close it up."

     The cursed man was released, and he thought twice about attacking. All of Bynan's men made their way toward the door without taking their eyes off the man in the back. The last two soldiers closed the curtains before moving toward the door. The Mayor was left to secure the room, after getting up off of his knees. The actions taken created a new day in the city. Relationships would never be the same, and no one was sure of where everything would end up at sunrise tomorrow. Only one relationship was on the forefront of Bynan's brain, and nothing could keep him from addressing it any longer. Heading home, Bynan went straight to the garden inside his residence. Unable to locate the Light Witch, he searched the rooftop, and found who he was looking for.