Worst Curse: A Ghostwalkers Journey, Book II

Chapter 23

     On the lawn of the Light Witch's mansion, surrounded by death, Bynan still held Austesh in his grasp. The night air was silent, but ground level was a different story. Moans from fatal injuries began fading in the distance as the wounded men began to die. Cries for help seem to echo as they came from different sides of the battlefield. There would be no help tonight. It was every man for himself as the numbers of capable men diminished. Evil was lurking in the streets and the residents knew it. Many felt only the foolish would be out in the open on a night like this. Medical aid was not a luxury the brave men would get. They laid down their lives to those turning their backs on them. Only a warrior's death, or a soldiers long lasting mental scars awaited those laying down their lives for what they believed in.

     In frustration Austesh hit the side of his leg, punching the doll in his pocket. The impact caused Bynan to curl into his stomach. Reaching into his pocket, Austesh pulled out the doll he stole from the dying witch, and drove his thumb into the middle of it. Bynan held his abdomen, after releasing Austesh. Dropping to his knees, Bynan fought with the tormenting pain from earlier. Bynan looked over at Austesh holding the doll in his grasp and shaking it back and forth.

     "I'm guessing this belongs to you," said Austesh. "Well, I guess it belongs to you in sorts. You aren't the possessor, but I'm pretty sure the witch I took it off of tied it to you." Bynan took his eyes off of Austesh and his eyes darted across the grass wildly. "Is it coming back to you? Do you remember being in their company? Does this make any sense to you?" Austesh pressed deep into the doll, causing Bynan pain. With Bynan distracted, Austesh kicked at the blade in Bynan's hand. The impact cleared the weapon from Bynan's grasp. Pain sent Bynan to his back as he tore at the hurt ripping inside his stomach. "You killed my father. Long before you actually killed him, the shame of your societal constructs dismembered his spirit. Then, on top of that, you killed him like it was nothing, just trying to get to me...Like he was trash...Nothing...Just an old man that was in the way. And I'm supposed to be holding allegiance to you and your organization. You cared nothing about me. I was just a number. I didn't matter in this war. Why should I care about you? I shouldn't. You're as evil as the threats you prepared us for...Just as evil." Steam from anger began to build up inside Austesh's brain. His head was pounding with the pressure. For Austesh there was only one relief valve, and it lay in the grass beside him. Keeping pressure on the doll, he knelt down to the knife once held at his throat. Picking the knife up from the grass, his knuckles grew white from the pressure he put around the handle. Rubbing his finger up into the head of the doll made Bynan grab at the pain behind his eyes.

     "Stop," Bynan yelled out. "Please, stop this. I can't take it anymore!"

     "I'll put a stop to this. You lead by example, and now your example I will follow...You are a threat to all I hold dear. After taking everything away from me, I will take what you have left...Your life." Austesh, keeping the pressure on the doll, fell to his knees beside Bynan, behind vacant eyes he made the decision to end it; he made the decision to drive the blade deep into the base of Bynan's throat, behind the ridge of his armor.

     The wound didn't immediately kill Bynan, and behind his gurgling on blood, he fought for life. Austesh alleviated pressure on the doll, and gave Bynan only the wound in his throat to worry about. From behind Austesh, a hand came to rest on his shoulder. The touch gave him a startle, causing him to jump. Pilo guided him out of the way of the dying general.

     "I'll take it from here," said Pilo. Moving on top of Bynan, Pilo began to ingest the blood of the dying man before it turned cold, speeding up the process of life escaping. Austesh didn't pay Pilo any attention while remaining seated in the grass. When Pilo was finished, he also spun over into a seated position. They both looked at the mansion as the darkness consumed it. "Now that's a turn of events."