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Louie Greenthorpe is a vampire. He is living in the Greenthorpe Mansion,
on the outskirts of the town of Greenthorpe. He is the subject of local ghost stories.
Some children decide to explore the mansion, but run for their lives when they catch
a glimpse of Louie. Majo, a wandering jeweller, meets them and goes to investigate
the mansion. She meets Louie and feels like she trusts him, but is horrified when she
learns that he is a vampire. While trying to escape, she trips and hits her head,
losing consciousness. Outside, one of the children's fathers, Theodore Thatcher,
arrives. He learns of Majo, and enters the mansion to make sure she is okay.
Louie is leaning over Majo's body, and Theodore assumes the worst. In the ensuing struggle,
Louie kills Thatcher, and hides the body before Majo regains consciousness. When she does,
she finds herself unharmed and realises she can trust Louie. Louie decides he must leave
Greenthorpe, and the two depart together.
Kaz is a mercenary, and goes on a mission to steal data from a military base.
He is the bait, and flies his ship above the base, dropping bombs while his comrades
carry out the theft. The base's nuclear reactors explode, sending his ship hurtling to
the ground. When he regains consciousness, he sees his comrades are happy. When they realise
he is alive, one of them offers to kill him for a share in his wages. Kaz kills them.
Kaz goes on a vengeful killing spree against the Carrotus military. On one
morning-after-the-night-before, he wakes up to see a bag of money, indicating that he has been
hired.
Jargon Random is technomancer: he combines engineering with sorcery. He lives on
Diamondus, where a war is raging. One morning John Radin, a friend from his Order,
arrives at his door and tells him they must flee. The city is being invaded. Jargon
grabs his autocaster and some food, and leaves with John.
Tony Waterbeck, renowned racing pilot, is practicing one day when he sets off an old
Shellian defence system. Some Shellian fighters respond, and pursue him around the galaxy.
He decides to head for Carrotus in the hope that they will destroy his assailants.
when he gets there he finds he has to maneuvre through the Carrotus asteroid belt.
With his attention thus diverted, a Shellian shot hits his left wing, sending him
plummeting towards Carrotus. He crashes in an empty field just outside Greenthorpe.
He heads for a building he can see in the distance.
Verity works in a Tavern on Diamondus, for a rabbit named Eddie. Secretly, she is also
working for him as a hacker, supporting one side in the Diamondus War. Her town is a dangerous
place. Nobody knows who is on which side, and food is hard to come by. Every day, she thinks
about the poison in her medicine cabinet. She is on the edge of despair.
Tier is an Arcania Zombie. He is effectively invincible, but it takes a while for
missing body parts to grow back. He must feed on the living to prevent himself from rotting.
He prowls around Carrotus, looking for prey.
Thomas Bradhurst, a Greenthorpe councillor, receives a letter from a company wishing
to establish a factory in Greenthorpe. He finds out the land they want is held in a trust,
and sets off for Orleton to talk to the trustees. He is told that the land can only be sold
once the trust has passed to an heir. He leaves for the Carrotus Central Records Office
to find an heir. The trustees, not wanting to lose the profitable Greenthorpe estate, send
some thugs after him. They ambush Tom in a forest. He escapes, but trips, rolls down
a slope, hits his head, and loses consciousness.
Unfortunately, Theodore Thatcher has become a vampire. A TV crew and a group of marines
arrive at the mansion to investigate the rumours, and are devoured. The video makes it onto
the internet, where it is found by Schism. Schism is an organisation that preserves the
Masquerade, the system by which the general public is kept unaware of the existence of
supernatural creatures. Alexander Garand, a Schism agent, is sent to sort out the problem.
On his way to Greenthorpe, he is attacked by werewolves.
Diallo Kalu, a resident of Muckamok, receives an unsettling call from a telemarketer.
He subsequently gets into a fight in which he shoots his opponent in the leg. He calls an
ambulance. Diallo does not appear in the story again.
An unknown female rabbit is staying at an underground "monastery". There is
unpleasantness in her past, including her sister having developed a poison called Jade Dawn.
In small amounts, it dulls the senses. When aged and mixed with water, it causes severe
bodily damage. It is eventually banned, to be replaced by Cherry Blossom (see ch. 2).
When she first arrived at the monastery, she was disturbed by nightmares, and woke up
screaming. Eventually, she forgets who she is.
One restless night, she goes to the waters from which they all drink. She throws
herself in, and an undercurrent carries her to a seperate cavern, where Jade Dawn is being
poured into the water by three of her siblings. The Jade Dawn is eating away at her,
and they pour a substance over her to neutralise it. She escapes and tries to warn the other
siblings, but they do not believe her. She escapes into a lift to the surface, but a
Jade bomb is thrown after her. She reaches the surface mutilated and blind.
Icarus and Naomi were once lovers. Icarus was accused of killing his family.
Though he was found innocent, Naomi's father forbade her ever to see Icarus again.
Icarus and Naomi meet again on Carrotus. Icarus has been smuggling refugees away
from Diamondus. Naomi agrees to help him with one more trip, before he is to settle down with
her on Carrotus.
Jesse Aimon witnesses his house burning to the ground, his family inside. He refuses
help from his neighbour, Miss Savon, whom he knows to be a spy. Presumably, she started the
fire. Dawn comes, and Jesse leaves.
ShaH-li Felenzo Orbonzen is hired by Andrew Ricarden asa bodyguard. He is attempting
to exploit dreempipes fuel. Neither character appears in the story again.
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The story so far...
Louie and Majo learn of the severity of the Diamondus war and the impending arrival of refugees on
Carrotus.
King Jazz announces that Carrotus will not become involved in the war. He also announces that refugees
will be able to go to Medieval, Carrotus' first moon, and that camps will be set up in the Peddleburg woods,
to the north of New Carrotus, and to the north of Oakloma.
Louie decides that his mansion should be used to house refugees. He learns that Greenthorpe's council
has voted to tear down the mansion. He and Majo return to Greenthorpe to visit Thomas Bradhurst. They arrive
to find that Tom has left, but are attended to by Gary Parker, candidate for the governorship of Peddleburg.
Louie and Majo are apprehended by two of Gary's thugs. There is a violent struggle, in front of a hall full
of people. Louie gains the upper hand and learns who sent them. He and Majo steal two horses and head to
Orleton. On the way, they find and rescue Tom. They set off for Prestbury.
Normal transport between Diamondus and Carrotus ceases. Refugee ships are all that will be making the
journey from now on.
Kaz enters the employ of a battle-scarred individual, probably a rabbit. He is sent on a mission
with a turtle who he nicknames "burnt". His left arm is mummified, the other is burnt. They plan to divide
an alliance of gangs by framing one side for a Jade Dawn attack on the other. They go to Crystallis to get
the Jade Dawn, and end up leaving with the mutialated rabbit from chapter 10. They arrive at a city on
Carrotus where they abandon her before staging the attack.
Jargon Random and John Radin get into fight at the spaceport, then steal a private shuttle and escape
Diamondus.
Tony Waterbeck briefly explores the Greenthorpe mansion before heading into town. In a tavern called
"The Crooked Carrot", he asks if there are any spaceports nearby. He is directed to Oakloma. He leaves, and on
the way comes across Louie, Majo and Tom (Continuity issue: He finds them in the place they have just left).
Verity's lover Raphael comes to her tavern. He brings with him two blue lizards and a grimy rabbit, all
armed with fusion lasers. They kill Eddie. The rabbit tries to kill Verity, but Raphael intervenes. He is
killed.
A month later, Verity locks up her apartment and heads for a spaceport. In exchange for fixing their
computers, she hitches a ride with Icarus and Naomi. They are not sure whether or not to trust her.
Michelle, whose brother was killed a few days previously by a vampire in Greenthorpe, comes across
Tier. When she finds out that he can kill vampires, she gets him to accompany her. She persuades him to
infect her, so that she too becomes an Arcania Zombie. They attend her brother's funeral before trying to find
his killer.
Susan Bradhurst is ushered to a Greenthorpe Council meeting where they discuss the deaths of the TV crew
and the marines, and the appearance of Louie at the town hall. They agree that the Greenthorpe mansion is in
urgent need of demolition.
Tom wakes to find himself in a hotel room with Louie, Majo and Tony. He finds out that Louie is a vampire,
and is forced to accept that vampires exist. He is told of Louie's desired use of the Greenthorpe mansion,
and agrees to help. They return to Greenthorpe.
Susan and Tony investigate the site of the proposed Peddleburg refugee camp, and discover signs warning
of radioactivity. Tom finds a loophole allowing Louie to claim ownership of his mansion. Louie goes to the
mansion to deal with Theodore, and a struggle ensues.
The mutilated rabbit from chapters 10 and 15 is found by Erditine, who agrees to take her to Pneum
Arlik. Erditine names her Neoma and takes her to the Mills of the Giants. There, Neoma feels a stone gateway
and remembers that she knows this place. There had been magic creatures there. Erditine is killed by
a creature Neoma is unable see. The creature says it will kill her, but first cures her blindness.
Verity has now fixed the computers and they are on their way. Icarus is sloshed. Their ship comes under
attack.
Jesse is arrested under a false (but still weak) charge. The police are evidently corrupt, and when Jesse
tries to leave there is a scuffle. A fire starts and Jesse escapes. The building is consumed by flames, and
Jesse leaves.
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We learn that Louie was "killed" by a vampire called Estella.
Louie wins the fight with Theodore, finally decapitating him. He rescues Alexander Garand. When Alexander
learns who he is, he points his gun at him. The gun is loaded with miniature stakes. He changes his mind,
and Louie knocks him unconscious.
Gary Parker arranges a fake job interview with a young lady, who he kills. It turns out he is a vampire.
Jargon and John arrive on Carrotus and part ways. Jargon uses his autocaster to make a companion
robot from his old robot's CPU and crashed spaceship junk.
Verity realises that Naomi's ship is trapped in a synthetic orbit around Diamondus, the apparent distance
of the planet a mere projection. They return to the surface of Carrotus. They see the burnt-out shell of the
police station in which Jesse was held captive. They go to a tavern (The Marinated Pearl) where they are
approached by Jesse. Verity thinks that he is Jonathan, Jesse's father, and is somewhat less than pleased to
see him.
Michelle and Tier come across a dead werewolf and a guy who tries to kill them with a "cookie cutter".
Tier kills him. Tier eats the werewolf and Michelle eats the guy. They head off for Greenthorpe again,
and eventually reach the mansion.
Gary kills his grandmother, who has been donating money to his campaign from her secret stash.
Louie takes Alexander to the Bradhursts' house. Louie tells him that Theodore has been dealt with.
Alexander tells them of the Masquerade.
While they are cleaning up the mess at the Greenthorpe mansion, Michelle arrives. She demands to see
her brother's killer, and learns that he is dead and buried.
The creature makes life very unpleasant for Neoma. Something tears through Neoma's skin, and the creature
forces Neoma to look at the words she has carved: Her name, "Estella". Neoma remembers that she had once been
called Yakira. Two creatures, one white, one brazen, appear and fight. Something emerges from the surrounding
forest and engulfs Estella. The next thing Estella knows, she is running towards Greenthorpe mansion.
Jesse's father was a general, who has done something unforgivable towards Verity and some unspecified
others. Verity is forced to accept that Jesse may not be Jonathan. Icarus realises that Jesse was involved in
the police station fire. Verity reveals that Jonathan was responsible for the deaths of Eddie and Raphael.
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We learn that Estella loved Louie. She left him for his own good.
Alexander Garand reveals that Gary Parker is powerful in the underworld, and that even the werewolves
worship him. There is a great enmity between the werewolves and the vampires.
Gary Parker is associated with the trustees of the Greenthorpe estate. Gary's plans are coming together.
His inheritance from his aunt has made him a multi-millionaire.
Louie, Tony and Tom go to inspect the mansion. A lot of progress has been made. As they leave, they
come across Yakira. They take her to Susan, and Louie promises that he won't let any harm come to her.
Icarus forms a plan to escape from Diamondus: Coat the ship with Tetracolyhydroxide. It is a controlled
substance also used as a hallucinogen. It is only available on the black market, and at a high price.
Jesse obtains it for them. As he leaves the place of purchase, the lizard who sold it to him reaches for the
telephone.
We learn that Verity is going to Carrotus to be bitten by Louie.
Tier is feeling left out. Tom gets him to fill out citizenship papers so that he can vote. Tier recalls
how he became a zombie: He was in battle, and zombies entered the fray.
Refugees start filling up the Greenthorpe mansion. Gary Parker wins the governorship. Yakira reveals her name and the name of her assailant.
The group in Greenthorpe is divided over whether or not to kill Gary Parker. Alexander decides that it is their problem, and opts to return to Schism headquarters.
Tony, while tending to Yakira, gets some jade Dawn on his hand. When he tries to rinse it off, it makes his entire hand bleed. Nobody can identify the substance as Jade Dawn.
Michelle and Tier reveal that they can sense hundreds of werewolves surrounding Greenthorpe: Gary Parker is seeking revenge for his defeat there in the election. The refugees barricade the Greenthorpe mansion. Alexander decides to stay. Tom tries to call the townspeople to arms, but only four people show up.
We find out how Gary became the monster he is.
Adrian, who was in the police station Jesse burnt down, is being questioned. Adrian is an experienced spymaster, working for the government. He becomes a renegade to get his revenge on Jesse.
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The battle for Greenthorpe begins. After a long battle, in which Tony is seriously injured. The werewolves lose.
Louie heals Yakira. Majo walks in while this is happening, and thinks that he is ravishing her.
The victory is followed by a modest but long-lasting party.
We learn that during his period of solitude, Louie was visited by a mysterious old man.
Following a botched TV news report, the lawyers Cholmondely & Smith disassociate themselves from Gary Parker, but he kills them.
It is implied that, at some point, Tier spent 154 years trapped underground.
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Gary Parker is visited by Estella, who proposes an alliance.
Louie, Tier, Thomas and Yakira attend a dinner party being thrown by Gary.
Tier infiltrates his office and discovers a copy of the Chronicles of Bruhn.
Bruhn was a mythical father of all that is evil. He was killed, but his soul
was imprisoned beneath the planet's surface. Tier knows the book is one of only
two left in existence. He then finds a room with a sacrificial altar. He takes
some old drawings from a wall. He, Louie, Tom and Yakira have to fight their
way out. They conclude that Greenthorpe is no longer safe, and decide to flee.
Alexander receives a distress call from Schism HQ. He returns to his HQ
with Tony, Majo and Michelle. The entrance is located in the village of Tahamo,
where Majo spent several months. She visits her auntie Gerda, while the others
go to the Schism sucker tubes. They enter the HQ to find that everybody is dead,
and that whatever killed them all is still present.
We learn of a friend Thomas had at university called Jay.
Alexander, Tony and Michelle defeat the monster in Schism. Alexander
declares that he is finished with the group. Majo finds her old lover, Keith,
and tells the others that she plans to stay in Tahamo.
Susan refuses to leave Greenthorpe. Louie, Tier and Yakira leave without
her and Tom, but a werewolf is waiting for them outside the Bradhursts' house.
After prolonged exposure to Tetracolyhydroxide, Icarus has a strange
series of experiences.
Adrian decides to pursue Jesse off Diamondus. Jesse fails to find out
why Verity hates his father. He tells her that Jonathan and his family are dead.
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Susan finally joins the others, and the werewolf is killed. Their group is
accused of plotting to assassinate Gary Parker. Michelle and Tony embrace, but
they are betrayed by auntie Gerda. They are arrested the next day. Alexander
sees Icarus' ship crash land in a large body of water. He attempts to help, but
it seems he is unable to save all of them.
We learn that the old man who visited Louie, Tobias, began to train him.
Some time later, Louie rescued a little girl from wolves. After he returned
her to her village, the villagers turned on him and killed Tobias.
Everyone that was in Icarus' ship makes it out alive. Louie, Tier, Thomas,
Susan, and Yakira are arrested on the Earian Express.
We learn that a shadow of Louie's evil side was incarnated and tried to
turn him towards evil. Michelle and Tony are taken to Castle Neverberg, a
hellish prison of folklore made real thanks to Gary Parker. We learn more of
Jesse's father, and how he made Jesse strive to be the best. A disturbance
aboard the Earian Express allows the prisoners to gain the upper hand, but it
emerges that the disturbance is the arrival of Estella. She takes Louie, who
later manages to escape. Jonathan Aimon, apparently still alive but clearly the
worse for wear, arrives on Carrotus.
We learn how Thomas proposed to Susan.
The Earian Express arrives at the Earian Spaceport, where it is surrounded
by armed guards. Kaz flies in and plants a bomb under another train. In the
chaos following the detonation of this bomb, Tier, Thomas, Yakira and Susan
escape. Louie learns that his comrades have been taken to Castle Neverberg. Kaz
takes Tier and his companions to his base, the Underground. Kaz thinks they are
assassins. Alex has witnessed the arrival of Jonathan Aimon. Tier uses Burnt's
facilities to contact Alex, and gives him an update on the current situation.
He then discusses with Burnt his plan to smuggle three people out of the
system's jurisdiction. Louie reaches Castle Neverberg. Thinking he can smell
Tony's blood, he is prepared to fly in.
We learn of an encounter between Tier and Estella. We also learn more of
Tier's past. Michelle is taken from the Castle by Fourfox, a soldier of Parker's
who has secretly turned against him. Fourfox begins to explain the history of
Bruhn and Michelle's place in it, but they are ambushed by Parker. He kills
Fourfox and traps Michelle in six tonnes of cement.
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Chapter 49: A gentle push
She had shown a moment of weakness. In that moment he had chosen a side and had gauged out her eyes.
The brave and young man she had once known and loved had turned into a backstabbing coward. Ooze seeped from the sockets in her face and mixed with her salty tears too form a gruesome make-up.
The white of her eyes pushed to the background as the red took center stage. Her hands clutched for anything solid told hold on too, but she found nothing but air.
Estella crawled through the mud and every time she heard the squishing of the thick, brown substance she was reminded of the sound her eyes had made as they gave in to his strong and penetrating fingers.
She had longed for him to fill her body, but in those fantasies it had always been quiet a different orrifice.
Estella surpressed the urge to laugh for she had more pressing matters to tend too. Slender like a snake in the grass she rose to her feet and put the tip of her thumb in her mouth.
After a little saliva had gathered on it she moved the thumb over her wounded eyes as if annointing herself.
Her eyes started healing and before long she would be able to see again.
She had spent most of her childhood in the large summerhouse at the edge of the thriving town of Orangelia.
Which would, ages from now become a metropolis buzzing with life.
Both of her parents were loving and warm and spoiled her to death.
Little Estella sat at the edge of the lake in front of the house and enjoyed the cool summerbreeze that played with her hair.
Her childish mind free from burden and unaware of how soon things would change for the worst.
Her uncle Henric joined her and handed her a small flower. "A gift for the princess." He said and she laughed as she accepted the daisy.
Henrics eyes went up and down her small and delicate body. She had only recently started to blossom, but the first signs of womanhood were clearly visible against the soft fabric of her favorite dress.
Her mother joined them and gave her daughter a glass of cold apple juice.
"Hello Henric." Her voice was filled with undistinguishable contempt at the sight of the man. "I see your journey went well. I will inform my husband of your arrival."
Edwina Bane motioned for him to follow her and did not see the signs of sadness in his eyes, she was a good judge of character though. And had never really liked her husbands brother.
Henric looked at his niece once more with the hunger in his eyes that only an adult could identify and followed his sister-in-law into the house.
In the hallway he was greeted by the familiar smell of tobacco and Edwinas pot roast.
"Herbert." Henric said before the woman had any change of announcing him properly and he passed her by.
Estellas father got to his feet and both men embraced eachother, glad to see each other again after what seem like a long time.
"My dear brother, I am so happy too see you. How was your journey?" But the cold stare of his brother was enough to make him realize this was not a joyous visit.
"Herbert, I am afraid mother is not well. She would like to see you." The glass of Cognac shook in Herberts hand and he spat his cigar in it.
It hissed as its tip touched the liquid and then died out blowing up small wifs of smoke to say its last goodbye.
"We will have to go immidiatly, we will take the finest horses."
The stable boy prepared the horses for his master and Herbert assured his wife and daughter that he would see them again soon.
He never would.
Henric and Herbert Bane arrived at the house of their mother a mere eight hours later. Hillcrest manor was a beautiful, old place in the middle of Cherryoak wood.
The sun was setting behind the large trees to the West and collosal shadows fell of the trembling men.
Herbert jumped off the horse and ran for the front door. His brother went about calmer about his business and looked after his brother with an expression of pity.
"My mother, how is she?" He asked the maid and he quickly kissed her cheek as a polite, but hastened greeting.
"She is not feeling well, master Herbert. I am afraid she is asleep now, but I will take you to see her."
The maid was an old woman, not far from his mother in years, but as keen and fit as she had been when he was a young boy.
Mrs. Travers had been the maid of the family ever since she was a young girl herself, merely nineteen years of age.
She had grown out to be more then a maid, she was a friend and someone they could all turn to if they needed advice or a shoulder to cry on.
Her room was the second biggest in the house and Herbert, unlike his brother had always been content with this. He loved Mrs. Travers.
"She is better then she was earlier, Sir." Marsh Travers said with a glint of hope in her eyes. "I just gave her a cup of soup and she happily ate all of it."
They arrived in one of the guestrooms downstairs. It would be easier to take care of her here since her own room was rather far away in a corner of the east wing and the stairs were more and more difficult for the old maid to handle.
Many candles were lit and it gave the room a cozy feel. The fragile woman in the bed looked nothing like the woman he had known and loved for years.
Her boney hands crossed across her chest and her skeletal features only covered by the thinnest layer of skin through which her thin veins were clearly visible.
"Your sons are here Violet." Mrs Travers smiled at Herbert. "She seems to be awake, but she does not talk much. It requires a lot of energy, which she does not have right now."
Herbert nodded and walked towards his mother. "I will be in the lounge if you need me, Sir." And with these words Marsha left them alone, her eyes were wet and the fur underneath them showed small trails where the tears had rolled down.
Violet Bane looked up at her favorite son. She would never make this claim, but had always felt it in her heart.
"I am so glad to see you, my boy." Her voice was delicate and soft and her little blue eyes sparkled. She was truly happy to see him.
Henric peered around the corner and a flame in his was ignited, she had not even acknowledged that he was here. He closed the door and if they had not been so lost in their conversation they would have heard him lock the door from the outside.
Henric was always the least favorite son. Where Herbert would receive two hugs before they would fall asleep, he would get one.
And he hated his brother for it. In his mind, their over-affection for him had made Herbert the man he is today. A rich landowner with more money than would fit in his enormous house. Love by the people and blessed with a beautiful family.
And their lack of affection had turned him into what he is. The silent pervert, hungry for revenge, wealth and power. Never really good at anything.
Not today, though. Today he would show them all how good he was, how brilliant.
Henric walked towards the kitchen. From here he had a good view of the salon where poor Mrs. Travers was taking a nap.
He felt sorry for her. Spending so much time on other people without hardly ever taking any time for herself. Feel sorry was not part of his plan however and he quickly put those feelings aside.
On the table lay a cleaver she had used to cut up the vegetables for the stew. He picked it up and held it in the light that was cast by a small gaslamp.
The gleam it cast fell on his sad face. He would not have joy in what he was about to do, this was strictly business. The joy would come later.
Mrs. Travers was sound asleep. He looked over her, the woman he had known his entire life. She looked so peaceful.
The golden locket her husband had given her before his death slowly moved up and down on her chest. Henric gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. "Goodbye Mrs. Travers."
He swung the blade through the air and planted it firmly in her neck. Her eyes flew open and she tried to scream. A gruesome sound escaped her as she gurgled up, thick blood.
Not very experienced, but precisely he had managed to hit her artery and a thick stream of red liquid painted the floor a deep, dark red.
Mrs. Travers hand reached out to him and her tongue fell out of her mouth. Her horrible eyes were fixed on him and he looked away for a moment to regain his strength.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He could not stand to see her suffer and swung again.
The cleaver burried itself between her eyes. She shuddered and her legs twitched forcefully. Then it was over.
The cleaver fell from his hand and landed on the carpet with a dull thud.
He had made his first victim, but he had no time to stand here and mourn the loss of another bit of his sanity. Two more people would die tonight.
Henric took a large key ring from the belt around the maids mangled body. Her arm hang over the edge of the couch and droplets of blood formed at the tip of her middle finger.
They fell down on the carpet, creating a small pool. The disturbed man managed to look away from this macabre scene and hurried towards the shed behind the house.
Inside of it he found exactly what he was looking for. "Highly flammable." A smile curled up his lips and made him look even less attractive than his usual self.
He took two cans of the substance. They were heavy, but his goal was so close now, Henric would finally win for the first time in his life.
One of the cans he put in front of the door to his mothers guest room, he heard the faint sounds of their conversation. The last conversation this mother and her favorite son would ever have.
The other can he took with him to the lounge.
He took his wallet out of his jacket and threw the several bills inside of it on Mrs. Travers body, before soaking it in oil. It was all part of his grand scheme.
Oil poured in a small trail out of the can between the couch in the Salon, through the kitchen and all the way to the hall. The trail ended at the second can, which would cause a beautiful show of fireworks.
Henric walked back to Mrs. Travers once more, too say his farewells to her and too finish the job.
He took a cigarette from his pocket and a small book of matches. He lit a match and the hungry fire eagerly ate away the thin wood. He held it under his cigarette and took a deep and satisfying drag when the tip of the it started smoldering.
"Ashes to ashes." Henric muttered and dropped the burning match on the corpse of his favorite maid.
The flames slowly but surely spread across the body. Like an explorer discovering new land and claiming it for the glory of the nation.
Henric walked outside, leaving the flames behind. In search of a safe place, with a decent view of the happenings.
The flames reached the hallway.
"Estella started playing the piano. She is getting really good at it too, mama."
Herbert was proud of his little girl who ment the world to him. "I'm thinking of buying a grand piano for her."
"You spoil her too much."
"Perhaps." They both laughed and the colour returned to Violets thin cheeks.
"I am glad you are here son. Your visit gives me strength. I feel better already." Herbert kissed her forehead.
"You should rest, mama." He was sure he smelled something strange, something burning and walked to the door of the bedroom.
The door was locked, the handle did not move. "Henric? Henric, is this another one of your jokes? Henric?"
There was no reply, his brother stood outside and the flame sin the hallway had reached the second can.
A large explosion shook the house and shattered the sturdy door. Its handle hit Herbert against the side of the head and for a moment he saw nothing but bright coloured specs of light.
His mother yelled, she was too weak to leave the bed and the flames drew nearer. Herbert stumbeled to a wooden chair by the window and tried to lift it.
"Henric, please help us." He could hear his mother yell, her voice sounded distant, he was dizzy.
Herbert lifted the chair over his head and with all his remaining strength he threw it against the window. Neither chair nor window gave away.
Winters were very cold around these parts and people often had extra strong window for isolation.
Just before the flames reached the two unfortunate souls, Herbert could see the face of his treacherous brother in the window.
He smiled and waved them goodbye before he moved out of sight. The incredible heat started smoldering their clothes and their fur.
Herbert knelt down next to his mothers bed. The bed had caught fire and the situation was hopeless. They would die here, trapped like rats in a cage.
Fire starting eating away the flesh on his legs. His mother had passed away and had the horrible expression of a person who had died from fear on her face. Her sleeping gown was fully scorched and stuck to her body.
The skin up to her knees was a deep, dark black and Herbert threw up because of the horrible smell and the pain that shot through every inch of his body.
It was also the last thing he did. His eyes started melting and half of his face was eaten by the hungry flames and his heart beat for the last time.
The house lit up the night like a collosal torch. His plan had been perfect and he had shown them how clever he really was.
He still had the cigarette in his hand and took his last drag before throwing it away. The tobacco had never smelled this good before.
Both of the people who would leave him with an incredible amount of money were attenting a macabre barbecue party.
Tonight he was just Henric, nothing, but tommorow he would be one of the wealthiest men alive.
Herbert took his wallet out of his pocket and threw the empty thing in the soft grass. The perfect version of his conversation with the officers played through his head again, like it had done so often before.
"Yes officer, my mother was very ill. We came as quick as we could." He would cry and they would see how much he suffered from this terrible loss.
"I loved them and I tried to protect them. Those men came late in the evening and said my brother owed them money. I don't know how they found us here."
Descriptions of the men floated before his minds eye, two small time crooks who had once helped him get a shipment of fine cognac.
It would be their word against his. And he was a member of the Bane family, therefor his word was valued.
Henric walked over to a tree. Of course they would have beaten him up and left him for death, they were crooks, but they were smart enough to want to wipe out all of the evidence.
All he had to do was make sure he looked shaken up enough to appear dead and he smashed his face against the tree as hard as he could.
A sharp pain shot through his noise, this would have to look believable and he knew this was not enough. He smashed his face into the tree once more and chipped two teeth in the process.
He spat the shards out on the floor, his saliva was thick like a paste and red with blood.
Henric smashed his face into the tree a third time and with a sharp crunching sound he heard his own nose break.
The incredible pain made him dizzy and he threw up in the grass. "This wiv all be vorth it." He assured himself.
It only took one more try, he smashed his face into the tree and broke off half of one of his teeth.
His right eye was thick and sticky, the eyebrow invisible underneath the blanket of blood. He muttered a few incoherent things and sank down into his own blood and vomit.
Estella had mourned the deaths of her father and grandmother.
Even the countless presents her uncle had given her did very little too ease the pain.
He had moved in with them shortly after the funeral to take care of the finances, the corporation and all of the other things men took care of.
Her mother had not liked it, but he had always been polite and helpful since the dead of her brother. And more importantly, he did not look at her daugher in the same way he used to.
They did not share the same bed, but they shared the same table and that was good enough for the both of them.
He had even come home one day from an overseas trip and had bought Estella a beautiful grand piano. He had bought dozens of dresses for Edwina, all the latest fashion.
This had been a year after Herbert died and the family was finally finding peace with the tragedy.
That night she made him his favorit meal, pot roast.
Many more months passed and Edwina and Henric had grown closer together.
The death of Herbert had changed him so much and the creep the woman had so hated had made place for a tender and caring man.
On one night the inevitable happend.
“Thank you for a wonderful meal, Edwina dear.” He took the dishes in his hands and wanted to clean them in the sink when she grabbed him by the wrist.
Estella had gone to bed early this evening and they were alone.
The meal went accompanied by a few glasses of wine and a fire had burned inside of her... the irony. The longing of a woman who has not know a man for so long.
The unholy desire she had felt for this man that was so good to her had bottled up inside of her and she could no longer resist the temptation.
“Edwina, I...” She pressed her lips against his and their tongues intertwined.
Their inhabitions were locked away behind an unpenetrable door.
Tonight, they would become one.
Henrics sorrow ran deep. He felt like a prisoner in death row who showed genuine sorrow, but was believed by no one.
He had no one to talk too about his terrible secret. About the childish feelings of jelousy and his hunger for power that had made him commit the unforgivable sin.
He had everything now, but he would trade it all if he could be freed from this burden.
That was untill the night he made love to sweet Edwina. Poor, innocent Edwina who had lost her husband at such an early age. Edwina who had given him a reason to carry on.
Estella turned seveteen and the years that came had brought with it immense beauty.
She had grown up to be the most attractive girl in town and made many heads turn as she walked by. Estella was not vein however.
She knew her beauty was a gift and would not look down on anyone in her life.
Her grades were good and she never spoke to anyone without being spoken to first.
If things had gone differently, she would have grown up to be the perfect wife and mother.
She enjoyed sitting at uncle Henrics desk as she did that fateful afternoon.
She inspected the globe of the planet and wanted to learn all of the town names by memmory.
Estella was studying the places near Oakloma. They had funny names, one of them was actually called Twinklebottom, when her eye caught a loose brick in the wall next to a little cabinet.
Curiousity was a sin most girls could not evade and she pried the brick from the wall.
It revealed a small book and a dusty, old wallet.
She grabbed the book, it was a small one with lots of pages. It opened up and the first line read “I have to write down what I did or I will lose my mind.” Estella recognized his uncles handwriting and continued to read.
With every line she read, little and innocent Estella became more like the monster she would one day be.
Henric felt fantastic today. Edwina and he had made love like a pair of young rabbits who were experiencing their first venture into the realms of the lands of lust and passion.
The memmory of his late brother seemed as distant as the first neighbouring star in he night sky.
Finally he could devote himself entirely to pleasing her. And the sounds that escaped her as she gently bit his shoulder were proof of this.
He was on his way to tell Estella that they were going to take a short vacation together soon. And that Estella would be responsible for the house, he knew he could trust her.
Henric had to be careful however since they had not yet told her how they felt about eachother. The both of them were not sure how she would take it after the loss of her father.
The door to the study swung open and he entered, but stopped dead in his tracks after a few paces. In the letters a message was written on the wall.
“You killed my father
and fu*cked my mother.”
The white paint ran out like thick tears. Inside the wall a brick was missing and terror struck him. He looked at his desk and the drawer in which he hid his gun was open.
The door behind him slammed shut and when he turned around he looked into the eyes of his adopted daughter.
“You've killed my father... and fuc*ed my wh*re of a mother.” Her face was bitter as if the words escaping her left a nasty taste.
He wanted to say something, but what could he say. She told the truth and he had done those things. Thick masscara ran down her beautiful cheeks and coloured them black.
“You killed my father and...” Estella did not finish her sentence. Had Henric looked down he would have seen the gun resting in her hand.
With a thunderous roar, the gun released its seed and impregnated Henrics heart with a batch of explosive gunpowder.
“Let's see how you like it.” She looked at him and saw the gleam escape from his eyes. “Henric? Estella?” His name before hers. That's how it was, thats how much the man that had killed her father mattered to her mother.
She started to wonder wheter either of them ever thought of Herbert when he was busy pounding her. Defelining the body out of which she came and it made her even angrier.
Edwina entered the room and screamed at the top of her lungs.
Her lover lay motionless on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. The second man she had ever loved was also the second man that was brutally taken from her.
“Why did you do this?” Her mother screamed at Estella, her voice trembling with fear and pain.
She did not look at Estella but took her man in her arms and pressed his face against her bossom. His blood was still warm and it covered her. The last warm touch he could give her.
“You betrayed my father with his own brother. You invited him into your bedroom and into your body.” She thought of all of the despicable things they had done to eachother.
There was just one question Estella wanted answered. “Did you love him?”
Her mother sobbed quietly. “Yes, I loved him.”
Two bullets blasted apart Edwina's face and her dead head came to rest on his strong chest.
And that was the first step towards the creation of Estella Bane.
Her eyes had healed. Her vision was still blurry, but the body consists of a number of delicate machines. Quiet soon they would repair themselves, her pupils would take their normal shape and the pain in her head would be gone.
Estella had never forgotten that day all those years ago. She will have her revenge again and she would deal with everyone that would get in her way.
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“What are we going to do with this one?” The large demon was rather tired of these questions. Mister Parker had ordered them to take extra good care of their celebrity guest and here he found himself sitting.
Surrounded by idiots that lacked the imagination and creativity to come up with anything on their own. He looked at the square, metallic clock on the edge of his desk. Ten in the evening and he had been guarding the prisoner for seventy-eight hours now for a meager 5 silverlings an hour. Not the best wage, but it is hard for a demon to find a job around a place like this. Go figure.
Almost he had found the chance for a quick nap until Parkers men had payed them a visit and had taken little miss zombie off their hands..
Garn stood up and rubbed his massive fingers through his eyes in a futile attempt to ward off the sleep. He pushed a guard out of the way and told him to make a pot of coffee.
The occupant of cell 29 in cell block H5 was a mess.
Ever since his arrival here he had been subjected to a variety of torturuing techniques; Barb wire, electricity, waterboarding. His co-workers had the time of their lives and evil laughter went hand in hand with the screams of terror.
Many other prisoners would have given in long ago or at least died, but this hares will was strong. Garn grabbed his gun and entered the cell. This had gone on long enough.
“What are we going to do with this one?” Tony sat on the cold, stone floor of his prison cell and stared out in between the metallic bars that kept him in place.
It was a question that had been playing around in his head for a while now.
What were they going to do with him? He looked down his body with his one good eye. The one one seemed impossible to open and caused him quiet a bit of annoyance, the stinging and itching lured his hand towards his eye, but he could not give in to it for fear of causing more harm.
A few scratches here and there covered his arms and legs. Dark blue bruises were spread over his body and shone through his light fur. Like bits of blueberry in creamy, vanilla ice cream. As far as he could see, the damage was not all that grave. As far as he could see... If they would hold a mirror in front of his face and would show him that his right ear was missing he would most likely not have reacted as casually as he did now.
His most important body part had been able to escape the gruesome tortures of the past few days. He smiled at that though and immediately regretted it.
“ No smiling, I will keep that in mind.” His mouth was dry with blood and dust.
“Go get me a pot of coffee.” He heard Garn outside.
His good 'friend' and the general that was put in charge of this prison.
His ruthlessness on the battlefield had made him the right man for this unthankful job. The general was also the man that had ripped an ear from his attractive head. 'Tony, Tony, Tony, how did you end up in this mess? You had it all buddy, fame, fortune, and a different model to lay every other week.”
And now he sat here in a four by four prison cell with all the luxuries you can find in such a place. Stale bread, lukewarm water and a comfortable place to lay your head, right next to your makeshift toilet.
The worst thing however was this damn feeling in his stomach whenever he thought of Michelle. The tingling sensation that ran across his spine whenever he thought of her lifeless eyes that sparkled with life. And the pain he felt over her not being here with him.
Sure, she wasn't perfect; The intoxicating smell that made that of vomit seem bleak in comparison, the see-through skin, the fact that he would never have the chance to sit down with her for a romantic dinner and the eye that had the annoying habit of popping out of her socket.
But unlike the other woman he had known, she was pure and sound of mind. Charming in her own way and attractive, for the eye of love did not see the swarm of flies feasting on her dead skin. Above all though, she was real. Oh, the irony.
Garn stood in front of the celldoor knowing he had nothing to fear. His prisoner had stopped trying to break out of his cell after the first twenty attempts and the twenty punshiments that followed. Slowly the iron door slid open and Garn stepped in. A dark rat that was enjoying bits of an unfinished lunch spread over the floor scurried away and hid in a crack in the wall. The tall demon kicked the bowl away that had contained the lunch earlier and sat down opposite of the broken man. The two of them looked at eachother for a moment and Garn could feel the hate behind those blue eyes burn into his every being.
“I guess hate would not be a strong enough word for the feelings you have towards me and my men, Tony. Having said that, I can assure you that if it were up to me you would be dead.”
The demon smiled, uncovering a row of sharp teeth. Like the gates of hell they sat there and tempted him to make a fist and punch them out.
“I appriciate that Garn.” Tony said back trying not to make the resentment he felt shine through.
“It is not up to me however. I must answer to a master just as everyone. The guards answer to their supervisors who in turn answer to the ministers. And the ministers in their turn answer to their kings. The man at the top creates falls gods to grant him the illusion that he has someone to answer to.”
“Listen, are you going anywhere with this because I have had a long day.”
Garn waved the gun around and Tony took the hint. “I just want you to know that all of this needless suffering is not my idea of a good time, but Parker wants answers. And he pays me well to provide him with those answers. I just want you to know its nothing personal.” A hint of respect shone through in the voice of the demon.
“I can't tell you what I do not know Garn. I wish I could so we could get this over with, but alas.”
Gunfire and a deafening roar bounced off the walls of the cramped cell. Garn had fired a bullet at the rat and had taken his little head clean off, he twitched a bit before he lay still.
His last supper still held firmly between his paws.
“A lack of sleep has caused me to be slightly more agitated than usual. I warn you now Tony you do not want Gary Parker to come here and pick you up like he picked up your little girlfriend.”
That last remark did it and Tony wanted to climb to his feet. Garn smiled, half relieved that he was finally going to leave this all behind him and aimed the gun at the young mans head.
“You (-), you (-)!” Before Garn could fire his gun one of his cronies came running in.
“Wait sir! It's mister Parker on the phone, sir.”
Garn answered the phone and kicked Tony down to the ground. “Now you've done it. I warn you, no more Greenthorpe fairy tales like you tried to tell us the last time.”
Tony gently muttered “They were there... I swear.” His voice went lost to all who were there to hear however.
Hushed whispers found their way into his cell and the words were lost in the wind.
“I have good news for you Tony. Parkers men are on their way to pick you up.”
The van holding six guards and their driver drove across the bridge over the deep gorge surrounding the gloomy castle several hours later. The lava gave of such an intense heat that the passengers felt nauseous.
“Let us try to get this over with as soon as we can, men.” The driver was an old hare with a small pair of binoculars balancing on the bridge of his nose.
His eyes were focused on the long bridge ahead and small droplets of sweat ran down his round face and fell into his lap. One mistake on this bridge and they would fall down to be consumed by the fire. Two colossal and strong, wooden doors slowly opened as the jaws of a terrible creatures.
Tony Waterbecks small figure would give anyone that would view it in this setting a feeling of pity.
He was wrapped in thick iron chains and held by two demons who furiously licked their lips and let their eyes role in their deep and dark sockets.
Sharp pain shot through the young mans scars as the cold metal dug into his already battered flesh.
“General, it is good to see you.” The driver must be a convincing liar for Garn smiled at him.
“He is all yours Denver, take good care of him.” Garn signed his name on a piece of parchment and handed it back to the driver. Sleep was very close now and the thought of a warm bed filled him with a certain happiness.
“Oh, we would not want to give damaged goods to mister Parker, now would we?” His nervous laugh revealed the fear he carried in his heart concerning this fort and its owners.
“Well, not anymore damaged then he already is. Have a safe trip Denver.” Garn turned around and saluted Tony Waterbeck. The brave man that had not revealed the location of his friends.
The new governor of Peddleburg sat in his most comfortable chair.
He was playing a game of darts while enjoying a drink and the music one of his servants was providing in the background. Soft sounds from his violin carried out of the window and over the orange grove to the west of his house. The view in the summer was magnificent and brought the governor much delight depending on with whose eyes he viewed it.
“Very good, mister Parker. A succession of magnificent throws.” The servants that always were close by his side has become masters in the noble art of kissing ass over the years.
This one in particular. He walked over to the board and retrieved the arrows for his master.
Parker had thrown a five, a three and a twelve. Not as good as the ass-kisser would want him to believe. “Thank you, Clarence.” Parker took the arrows and stroked the back of the young servants hand. His youthful eyes were full of horror which was all the more of a turn-on for the demon inside of him. The weather outside was beautiful on this particular day and the orange grove underneath his window stood in bloom. Bright orange and light green filled his field of vision. They say it is often the calmest before the storm.
A man ran inside without knocking on the door. This one of Parkers many annoyances.
“My lord, I bring troubling news.” One of Parkers arrows had just hit the sixteen and the bringer of the news stood out of breath in the door opening.
The other two arrows lay in Parkers hand and he squeezed them tightly, suppressing the urge to jam them in the throat of the closest person he could plant them into.
“Miss Estella Bane had the vampire in captivity, but unfortunately he managed to escape and...”
The man started crying softly, for he knew what kind of man governor Parker was. “...So did the others.” Parker got up out of his comfortable chair and he was not a happy bunny.
“Everyone out, now!” He put emphasis on the last word and his servants ran. So did the messenger who had, without his knowledge of the fact, not been addressed.
“Everyone, but you messenger. How about a drink, old boy? Its a long walk.”
“Thank, thank you sir.” The man stuttered and a wet spotted formed in the front of his pants.
Urine dripped down his leg and onto the recently polished floor and he was sure he would die now. “Its not your fault, old man. You were just doing your job, but that vampire is rather important in the grand scheme of things you see.” The man swallowed his drink and Parker poured him another. “There, there now.” Gary walked back to his desk.
'Oh god, he's going to stab me to dead with a letter opener. That's how it is. I am going to die.”
His hand shook and he quickly downed his second glass of strong alcohol.
All the man who was now his greatest nightmare did however was take a 100 coin bill and gave it to the messenger. “Go buy yourself something nice my good man. Or perhaps a gift for the wife.”
The man sank to his knees and cried. “Oh, thank you mister Parker, sir. Thank you.”
“That's alright fellow. Now please, stand up and call for the others.” The man bowed once more and walked to the exit. The sun was shining down on him as he walked home safe and sound to his wife and family.
“Clarence, please. Hand me the arrows for I wish to play a game.”
“Of course, my lord Parker. I am your most humble servant.”
And just as the servant had given Parker what he had asked for, the former started stabbing the young boy with the dart arrows. His arms spread wide in front of him and the stare of death drawing closer in his blank eyes. A scream was heard, but ignored by all. This was their life and their fate. And the better they obeyed, the better their chances of survival.
The white van was on its way to Parkers building and would arrive in a few hours.
“I like it when the roads are quiet.” The guard in the passenger seat looked out of his window.
“And our package has been behaving nicely. These jobs are the best, in, out and a nice, fat cheque to take home to your wife.”
“The best part is when the wives show their gratitude.” The two man laughed and were caught by surprise when their truck hit a bump in the road.
“(-), what was that? Do you think we hit something?”
“Something or someone. Go take a look.” They were mercenaries, payed to kill and who killed to get payed. Not because they liked it, but because it just so happened to be the only thing they had ever been good at. They had never killed anyone because they had a lust for blood however. Nor had they ever liked taking the life of someone less fortunate than them. So the man in the passenger seat nodded and left the car.
A little window in the side of the van was slid open. It provided little light into the cramped back. “Everything alright Charlie?” One of the men asked and thick, blue smoke emerged from the window. The smell of their favorite cigars and for them the job was already finished. Piece of cake, right? “We hit something, I'm going to take a look. I'll let you know if somethings wrong.”
“I had rather you didn't.” The man smiled and closed the window behind him.
In the middle of the road the truck had left behind lay a man, motionless.
Tire tracks ran across his chest and his face. Over sized roadkill, collateral damage.
“Damn it.” Charlie muttered, he might have had low values, but had a good heart overall.
“What's happening Charlie?” The man with the crooked nose and the glass shouted out of his window without looking back. He wanted to go, only a few more hours and they would have enough money for a whole lot of good beers and a couple of nice prozzies.
But Charlie didn't answer, he got down on his knees to examine the guy a little closer.
His lower jaw was shattered and thick mud and blood ran through his dark, purple fur.
No breathing, this guy was dead. Charlie averted his eyes and wanted to get up to walk back. This guy was dead and there was nothing they could do, or so he thought.
A vainy, purple hand shot up and closed itself around the young mans thick, muscular neck.
“Wa ih 'e? Wa ih 'onee?” The man uttered words that the young mercenary soldier could not understand. His jaw was smashed and his tongue hung out of his mouth like a sock puppet without a master. “''Ony, Ony 'ater'eck. 'e ih é?” The jaw started healing itself slowly, flesh crept up like the sea during a tide and covered the bones and blood.
The shattered sockets his eyes had sunken into restored itself and slowly pushed the eyes back up, all the time looking at the gobsmacked soldier, who was too stunned to utter a word.
“Tony Waterbeck, where can I find him?” Louie said when his jaw allowed him and he got up from the ground. Charlie finally realized he was holding a gun and he attempted to open fire on the vampire, but the monster in front of him was too quick and pulled the gun from the trembling hands of the soldier. “Bloodshed could have been avoided.” And with these words the vampire sank his teeth into poor Charlies artery. Blood gushed out of the wound and sprayed down Louie's throat, finishing the restoration process and restoring his strength.
The vampire had arrived at Neverberg Castle a little on the late side. The truck had barely left and he had to ask a demon for information. The red beast had only started talking when he was hanging upside down the lava.
After having burried the evidence of his visit he rushed after it.
A short journey later later he had found it and had placed himself in front of the tires.
From there on out luck would take over the direction of this plan. And so far, it had been on his side. He placed the body of the guard on the ground where he himself had been a moment before and covered it in mud and leaves. Then he grabbed the rifle and snuck up to the drivers side of the vehicle. The driver had just lit a cigarette and was waiting for his firend to return.
There was a quick tap on the window and the driver, who was under the impression that whatever the van must've hid was dead opened the door.
“About time Charlie, what did we hit?” Louie appeared in the door opening and pointed the rifle at the mans fance. “You hit me.”
He fired two quick shots, two men down. He grabbed the drivers gun out of his belt as well as the car keys and put them inside of the jacket that seemed far to warm for this time of the year.
Gunfire could be heard coming from outside.
“You three, go take a look and see what is going on there.” Tony sat silently between the two men that stayed behind to guard him. The coolness of the thick chains now soothed his many wounds and he closed his eyes in an attempt to focus on the voices he could hear outside.
The doors of the van opened and he could smell the sweet, pine trees. The smell of the forest and that of freedom. He heard men fighting for their lives outside, guns were fired and curses were yelled to go lost in the thickness of the forest. And then there was silence, a deafening silence. “Damn it, what the hell is going on out there.”
Louie jumped inside of the van and the man on the right of Tony raised his gun at him, but a quick and rather sudden move from Tony brought him down to his knees and made him bump his head into the ground. The other mercenary threw his weapon on the floor and walked past a growling Louie as he quietly begged for his mommy.
“It is good to see you Tony.” Louie smiled, the first genuine smile Tony had ever seen on his face ever since he met him in the house that now seemed so far away.
“It is good to see you too, Louie. Now, if you kindly.” He nodded at the lock that bound the chains together. “Ah, of course, of course.” Without a warning Louie fired a shot and scared the living daylight out of Tony, but he picked the lock clean off.
“I hope you can drive.” Louie handed Tony the keys, he felt bruised and broken, but his sudden liberation raised his spirits and he accepted them. “Lets see if we can find the others.”
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The story so far...
During her fight with Louie, we learn of the circumstances aurrounding
Estella's childhood. Her jealous uncle had killed her father and her
grandmother. He was repentant and engaged in an affair with Estella's mother.
Estella found out what he had done and killed them both.
In Castle Neverberg, Tony has been repeatedly tortured. Parker's men
arrive to pick him up. We learn how much Parker is feared by his servants. While
in transit, Tony is rescued by Louie. They set off to find the others.
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