Page 14 of Haunted Nightmares
Until Deveroux Sr. was unexpectedly voted out, then turned up dead a few months later.
So… no, I don’t suppose we are too different, he and I.
Our father’s were insane, they enjoyed controlling and terrifying the masses, and they got a real fucking thrill from what happened when they weren’t explicitly obeyed.
We both killed those who sired us.
Junior wanted to make sure Senior never had the chance to get into office again—even though the eejit was damn near seventy—so he poisoned him with antifreeze and called it a day. And that is similar, save for the fact that I used my bare hands to remove Atticus’s head from his body, and I supposed I could even compare our motives to a degree.
Deep seated hate.
Rage and disgust.
The idea that we could somehow do better than those who came before us and were willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.
I supposed to some extent I truly can relate to the prick, but that’s where the buck stops.
Karl Deveroux Jr. is power hungry, he doesn’t actually give a good goddamn aboutour society, and I know for a fact the only change he wants is whatever one is needed to give him total control.
The Great Counsel and Atticus were pawns in his game and because I killed my father before he had the chance to lose or win, this moron is hoping to use me to accomplish the same.
“Unlikely,”Zenlothanai says in what sounds like a giggle.“We do not work well with others. We don’t need others because we play no games.”
And I have nothing left to lose.I nod as I sift through the stack of unopened letters, a plan forming in my mind. “Exactly. No more games, no more playing.”
“We just kill.”
“Later. There will be all the killing later.”
“Need it now, our king. We need something to hold us over since we were interrupted.”
“You can wait. When the sun goes down, we’ll continue working on the list but until then, go away.”
Zenlothanai begins to pace, huffing under their breath as their form goes from solid to shadows, back and forth.“Always here, our lord. We will never go away, never leave your side. We are here with you forever.”
Oh goodie.“I have things to do, much to clean. I need some quiet. There is?—”
Something collides with my head with a quickthwack, something hard that smells of leather as it slides against my temple. It hits me again as I hear, “What in the actual love of fuck are you talking about?” Causing me to look up slowly with a scowl.
Lorna crosses her arms against her chest with a frown as I blink at her. “Did you hit me with a bloodycanteen?”
The healer shrugs.
“Why do you even have that thing?” I point to the offending object. “It doesn’t have anything in it, that much is clear, and?—”
“Focus, my lord.”
Looking around the tiny room and realizing all eyes are on me, I grunt my annoyance and try to remember what I was supposed to be focusing on.
A few beats of silence pass as I examine their expectant looks then Declan sighs as he leans against the wall to my left and motions toward the pile in front of me. “You were going to share.”
“It’s all rubbish.” I scrub my hands over my face before shoving them through my disheveled hair. “Deveroux wants to meet, blah, blah, blah. All just political bullshite. Zenlothanai agrees. Dirty game playing, etc.”
“I didn’t think we liked Zenlothanai…” Orion frowns in confusion. “Why does it matter what they think?”
Lifting a finger to my temple, I tap three times as I grin. “No choice, mate. If I don’t listen, things get messy.”
I nearly chuckle over the horrified expression I’m given in return, one seemingly shared among most of my unwanted guests, but I don’t.
