Unjustified Flames

Chapter 7

Betty Weatherbury sat down to dinner with Mayor Thatcher and Sir Thatcher. Maids brought them their dinner: roasted chicken and fresh beans and corn, with cherry cobbler for dessert. Betty watched Adrian rise and go to the corner of the grand dining room to pour wine until Mayor Thatcher cleared his throat. She turned back to him and smiled nervously.

"Is anything the matter, Matthew?" She queried nervously.

"No. I simply wish to know who you are marrying Gracelynn off to within the next week," he chuckled amiably.

"Aye, I DO have a very kind, wonderful man in mind. She has known him since they were wee children."

"Is it perhaps Sawyer Irving?"

Across the room, a wine glass shattered, causing Matthew and Betty to jump and turn to the sound. Adrian innocently turned to them.

"I do apologize for the interruption. A wine glass simply slipped out of my hand, I curse my carelessness and clumsiness," he forced a laugh and turned back to the wine.

"It is no problem, dear brother. As for Sawyer Irving, I believe he will be an excellent match for your daughter," Matthew continued.

"I believe so, too," Betty smiled.

Adrian returned with the wine, placing a glass in front of Betty and Matthew. Both thanked him.

"Why are you not drinking any wine, Sir Thatcher?" Betty queried.

"I am trying to cease my alcohol consumption." He responded, but there was something malicious in his eyes.

It should not have taken him that long to pour wine. Betty wanted to subtly warn Matthew of this, but he was all the way across the absurdly long dining table. Adrian watched intently as his brother took a long sip from the wine glass, and Betty felt dread heavier than 40 tons of iron settle in her stomach.

"Betty, I wish to ask you-" Matthew cut himself off with a choke, placing a hand on his chest in surprise.

"Matthew?" Betty inquired, fearful.

"Brother, what is the matter?" Adrian asked, concerned.

Matthew let loose a hacking cough that was accompanied by an almost delicate spray of blood. He grabbed violently at his throat as he coughed up more and more blood, beginning to choke on it.

"Oh gods, Matthew! What the hell is happening?" Betty exclaimed, rising from the table and rushing to his side.

He seized one of her hands and looked directly into her eyes, clearly trying to say something. His eyes were wide and panicked, and with one final wet cough, he face-planted onto the table. Blood quickly spilled from his mouth as his hand went limp in hers. Betty shook with fright, tears spilling down her face. Adrian roughly shoved her out of the way and seized Matthew's shoulders, shaking him and begging him to wake up. Then he started screaming.

"GUARDS! THERE IS A WITCH! SHE HAS MURDERED MY BROTHER WITH HER CURSES! COME QUICKLY BEFORE SHE GETS AWAY!" He bellowed.

"What? No! I would never hurt Mayor Thatcher! Sir Thatcher was the one that handled the wine! Let go of me! I'm innocent!" Betty screamed as guards burst in, seized her by her arms, and began to drag her away.

"You DARE accuse me of killing my own brother, you devious wench? Search her, then chain her up and throw her in a cell, she will be tried tomorrow. I...I need time to mourn. My brother..." Adrian knelt over his brother's corpse and began to falsely weep.

"Of course, Mayor Thatcher. We will leave you be." A guard stated.

"Mayor...yes, I suppose I will take over completely as mayor, now that Matthew is...gone. Oh brother, how will I ever be able to replace you..."

The guards left him and dragged a screaming Betty down to the jail. Floors above them, Adrian Thatcher began to laugh.

"See you in the Underworld, you soft old bastard. You are a disappointment to Father and to me." He growled, tearing the mayor's crest from his brother's coat and pinning it to his own.

It was his turn to take control, his turn to rule, his turn to take the woman that belonged to him. And now, no one was in his way. No one could stop him.