Gideon [The Marujan Brothers Series] Book Two

by Hannah-Lee Hitchman

  Smiling now, he could remember that day he had first made love to her. It was a memory forever burnt in his mind, set and sealed like concrete.

  They had both been completely sated and breathless from a love-making so powerful and passionate it had engulfed them both and set them into a frenzied state of euphoric satisfaction. It was the first time he'd felt so connected to a woman. It was like Esyth had stripped him naked straight down to his soul and read in him all he'd ever wanted and possibly needed, and then offered it all with no conditions attached.

  She had a lovely soul, the type to give and never expect anything back in return. Surely someone had to have some sort of selfless attitude to abandon their own life to the service of her kind. To watch over Amelia while she was in the mortal form for seven centuries, protecting and shielding her from Deorci's sight. Gideon admired that the most about her; her willingness to give her all. But when she given herself that night at the Hub for Amelia's sake, he'd been left heartbroken and shattered; desperately trying to piece it all back together. It had been hard losing the one woman who'd made him feel like a fool and a prize both at the same time.

  Why hadn't she just come to him and told him that she'd known about Amelia's intended sacrifice? They would have been able to figure out another solution. Just had he had intended on doing for Amelia at the very last minute.

  He shook his head, and even though he could feel his heart tightening with dread in his chest, he still could not help but smile at how courageous his woman had been. He would find her, he just knew it.

  "We'll find her."

  Gideon looked down to see Amelia glancing knowingly up at him. Nodding, he gave her his best reassuring smile and shook off the melancholy feeling threatening to captivate him. It was no use, anyway. He'd strive to be his usual optimistic and pleasant self because that's what he intended to remain when he laid eyes on Esyth again.

  * * *

  Escape from the overbearing noon heat on their heads was a relief the moment they set foot inside a dusty old inn in a village called HillTop. The first thing Gideon thought was that it was a very strange name for a place that situated on nothing but a wide open plain and lowlands. But then again, as a child growing up, he'd once had a pet bitch named Mule and her half dozen kittens. Yeah, he was very young at that time; and apparently too young to understand the true meaning of the word.

  The inn was located on a fresh piece of vegetated land surrounded by large oak trees, a welcomed contrast from the crisp dirt they'd been traveling through for hours. The quaint building was positioned in such a peculiar way that it almost looked as if it was built in the dead center of the road, blocking all signs of whatever else the village had to offer.

  Gideon spotted a large self-contained wooden booth with a large glass window; the innkeepers desk. Around the dreary room, he could hear the squeaking wood. It was almost as if the inn was swaying; resonance taking its course. The annoying squealing of a fan caused him to look up, the cobweb-ridden contraption barely rotating.

  From what he could see, the place was in an incredulous state of disrepair; the pungent scent of dead rodents and termites filled the air, coupled with the smell of stale liquor and long spoilt food. Gideon winced to keep the little contents of his stomach in place.

  "Whoever owns this place needs to be hanged," Malakai grunted, taking a disgusted look around.

  Amelia shot him a disdainful look but nodded. "I don't think anyone's around, Gideon."

  "I know and I'm starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of my gut. Maybe we should take a look outside and see for sure."

  They were about to turn on their heels when a breathless Mia came barging through the front door. Gideon frowned. He hadn't even noticed that she hadn't been standing alongside them.

  "What's wrong with her?" Amelia asked, frowning as she watched the girl take in quick shallow breaths. She was nothing short from falling into hyperventilation. Rushing over to Mia, she touched her arm. "What happened?"

  "Saw a dead rat, more than likely," Malakai drawled, a grin plastered across his face.

  Gideon rolled his eyes. "Put a can in your trap, Baamel," he said. "Come on, Mia. Out with it already…"

  Mia sucked in a gasping breath and shot a glance at Amelia, who was technically holding her up at the moment. She then swallowed tightly. "You've got see outside. I mean, out there," she gasped, pointing in their direction which meant behind the inn. "I've never seen anything like it. Y-You might want to brace yourselves."

  He was out the door before either of them had even fully interpreted Mia's words, Malakai Baamel to be the first on his heels. Gideon rounded the corner of the inn, parting his way through high weeds and bushes and pass a large stone well. He moved fast, feet carrying him like the wind itself however absent it was at the moment. Then he tripped on something, almost falling over when he paused abruptly and looked down.

  The thrushes were thick and high so he really could not see much. Stooping down to a crouch, he gently parted the bushes, searching curiously. His hand stilled. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared at what he saw.

  A woman's hand, raw and nibbled by insects, swarmed by flies and thousands of maggots. Frowning, he withdrew and stood, momentarily confused. Well, that was before he felt Malakai's presence directly behind him, followed by the man's sharp hiss, "What the fuck happened here?"

  "Oh...my...god!" Amelia came up shortly, a red-faced Mia in tow.

  All three seemed to have no problem with finding their voices but Gideon could barely summon his. He was dumbstruck. Mia was right about one thing. It wasn't anything like that he had ever seen. Ever. Not even during the Kankul-inflicted holocaust that been over Maruj all those many years ago.

  The state of the remainder of the village was everything Gideon had not expected. He could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Noticing the clean white smoke rising above the fresh tree tops some few miles back had given him every reason to be optimistic; to find a place roaring with laughter, kindling fireplaces and warm food. He most certainly did not foresee a place scattered with burnt down houses and shops and dead bodies, both women and children and scores of men.

  Seeing the destruction evolving around his eyes only made his head spin with more disappointment. Only one building apart from the inn was left standing, and it was an ancient brick chapel ascending to some forty-odd feet in height.

  Perhaps it was selfish to even feel disappointed at this particular moment. Not when so many lives had been lost here. Somehow, he could feel the sorrows of the people who had once lived here. So dismissing his own personal feelings from the equation, he then felt a quick surge of anger flooding his veins. And the only stench he could smell was Kankul.

  Malakai brushed pass him, his nose flaring and teeth baring in a feral sneer. He then spun around, his jaws clenched tight. Gideon met his eyes, the raw hatred they felt for each other clearly evident but also their willingness to put it all aside for a greater good. For now.

  "Deorci was here," he said. "I can almost taste the motherfucker's energy."

  Gideon nodded. "How long ago do you think?"

  Malakai sniffed. "Two, maybe three days."

  They all stood in contemplative silence for a few minutes. It was Amelia who first spoke. "I just find it odd that they didn't destroy the inn. It's not like it's in any condition to garner pity." She cut Malakai a nasty look. "Especially from Kankul soldiers. What say you about the chapel?"

  "Maybe Deorci has found your beloved The First," Malakai drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

  Amelia's blood was obviously boiling. "Listen, you piece of shit—"

  "I'm going to go check out the chapel, " Gideon interjected, cutting off a fuming Amelia. He really hadn't the patience to witness any likely argument his sister-in-law was wishing to start. He understood her anger but hell, even he was trying!

  He needed them both focused because something was gravely wrong here and he desperately needed to find out what it was.

>   He nodded to Malakai who grunted an expletive and then preceded him towards the chapel. "In the meanwhile, Amelia, I would really appreciate it if you would try to reign in your anger just a bit," he continued, pleading with her. "Hadaen would have agreed."

  Amelia pouted, her teeth gritting until she turned wide eyes on her brother-in-law, fully understanding his reference to her husband. Suddenly, all color drained from her face and she sputtered, "Y-You wouldn't dare tell Hadaen I'm here." Her mouth hung loose with disbelief and uncertainty. "Would you?"

  "No," he sighed, shaking his head wearily. "But don't tempt me, alright?" He then averted his eyes to a green-faced Mia who looked like she was going to barf at any moment. He just hoped he wasn't nearby when she did. He had no intention of being vomited on again, his thoughts returning to that night with Amanda of the Alexanders. He sighed again. He'd contact Faolan later and see how he was faring. "And try telling Mia some happy stories, will you? She looks like she's going to faint."

  The inside of the chapel was stuffy and hot. Two dozen rows of dusty mahogany pews on either sides of a long aisle leading up towards a wide alter. The ceiling was of domed red and green and yellow stained glass, gleaming under the refraction of the sun's rays. Gideon thought it was a pretty decent chapel.

  A long spiral staircase started across the room to his right and ended on a wide flat landing just above his head. Instinct brought him to the foot of it and he was already climbing when Malakai cast him a cautioning look.

  "You don't know what the devil could be hiding up there, man," he said to Gideon.

  "Well, it'd be a whole lot better than waiting for it to come down, wouldn't it?"

  Malakai did not answer but trailed a good three to four steps behind. When they reached the landing, Gideon looked around, immediately stepping inside a doorless room. There wasn't much to be seen but overturned bookshelves, and books and papers scattered all over the floor. A small window overlooked the entire bloodied yard and the lands beyond.

  It was a terrible sight, really.

  He was about to turn and leave when he heard the distinct shuffling of feet to his right. Remaining cool and composed, though, he chose not to alert Malakai. Someone was in the room with them and he had no intention of scaring him or her off.

  "Deorci must have been looking for something," Malakai said, looking all around the room. "Must have been very important..."

  Turning slowly, Gideon raised a finger to his lips to caution him. Understanding immediately, Malakai continued chatting about numerous forms of nonsense while Gideon edged across the room towards a standing bookshelf. Running his hand along the side of it, he clenched his jaws determinedly and shoved it over with one push. The shelf fell with a huge crash, followed by the clatter of books.

  A hoarse throaty shriek erupted just in time as they both landed eyes on a middle-aged priest, dressed in a long white garb and eyes bulging with fright. Gideon would have found the man's expression amusing if it were any other day. The man looked like a stray cat caught thieving chicken from Cook's pot.

  "Well, look what we have here," Malakai chuckled, gaining much ground on the terrified religious man.

  The priest looked at both of them frantically, his Adam's apple throbbing heavily as he gulped. Gideon could already see the sweat running down the man's face as he plastered himself against the wall.

  "What happened here?" Gideon questioned.

  The man crossed his heart three times quickly. "Please don't kill me!"

  "Relax, we're not here to hurt you," Gideon said, lowering his voice to a gentle tone. "But we would just love your cooperation on a few things. Firstly, are you alone?"

  The priest nodded, still looking as if he was going to drop stone-cold at any moment.

  "Who did this?" Malakai asked, even though he already knew the answer.

  "I-I don't know. I was in hiding. They came... Hundreds of them, you see. They did things so...so unreal, you see," the old man stuttered out, crossing his heart again. "They killed. Everyone else b-but I hid b-beneath the floors, you see." Then he shook his head forlornly, tears swelling up in his downcast eyes. "All the dead bodies, I thought I was dead too..."

  "Did you get a good look at any of the men who did this?" Gideon decided to ask. He had to know for sure. Immediately, the old man blanched, looking ready to bolt. Gideon smirked. There was no way that was happening. "It wouldn't do you well to lie, priest. It would get you absolutely no where. Besides, that's no good way to set an example."

  "I don't know. I-I...."

  "Did you or did you not get a look at any of the bastards' faces?" Malakai grounded out, obviously getting as irritated as Gideon was.

  The priest's pupils shook, his lips quivering. "I-I was sworn into secrecy."

  Malakai and Gideon exchanges glances. "By who?" Malakai asked, folding his arms over his chest, his expression annoyed.

  "By me. I-I don't want to die."

  Gideon let out a harsh laugh, the amusement never reaching his eyes. Malakai shrugged and smiled wickedly, his own grin resembling that of a big shark who had just found a delectable delight.

  But the laughter was short-lived and before the old man could even release another breath, Gideon was on him like flies on dead meat. Grabbing the priest by his thick collars, he shove him up against the wall and growled fiercely. The old man froze, his bony frame trembling like a leaf.

  "Please..." he gasped out. “Y-You said you wouldn't k-kill me!"

  Gideon barked in the old fool's face. "I'm not someone who normally resorts to killing defenseless people but do not try my patience, old man. All you have to do is answer my fucking question." The priest whimpered and sucked in a sobbing breath. "You have a tongue, don't you? Well, use it before I rip it out and stuff it down your fucking throat!"

  "He said something about a book that held some secret to limitless power," the priest blurted, no stutter or tremble in his words. Then he gripped desperately at Gideon's hands, letting out a wheeze. "Please. I can't breathe!"

  Gideon dropped the man abruptly and ran an agitated hand through his hair. A book that held some secret to limitless power? What the hell was Deorci up to this time? He turned a frustrated glance on Malakai, who only shrugged and shook his head.

  Damn it! The last thing he needed was any more delay in his plans. Gideon decided they'd all better tread on safer grounds from now on.

  And on safer grounds, they certainly were not on because a loud crash came instantly, throwing Gideon from his thoughts and shaking the entire building, whatever bookshelves had been left standing, falling in a dusty shattering heap. Bracing himself, Gideon tapped into his mana, searching for what could be the reason for the sudden crash. The building shook for another couple minutes before it stilled.

  Malakai shot towards the door. "I'm gonna go check it out!"

  The priest, who had been knocked quite unceremoniously to his rump by the blast, scurried to his feet, tears spilling down his face and bawling like a babe.

  "The devil is here, I tell you!" he shrieked, moving wide around Gideon as he headed for the door. "I don't want to die! You should s-save yourself before he c-comes for you." The priest's eyes widened to saucers, his hands shaking. "He's the devil in the flesh. The blackest eyes I've ever seen and hair whiter than Heaven's light, you see." Then he shot the door screaming, "I don't want to die!"

  Gideon stood stock still for a while. He could not understand the energy he was picking up. He could not locate its source either so he had no idea what he was up against. Something was obviously wrong and the fact that he had no idea just how wrong it was, had him on the shorter end of the stick.

  He sprinted from the room instantly, his mana flooding in and around him, flooding his eyes crimson. He moved with superhuman speeding, storming down the staircase and down the aisle. Tearing through the chapel yard, he glanced absently at the priest's lifeless body leant up against the old well. The old man's garb was almost torn from his body, his blood soaking through a hole in
his chest. Gideon hissed. The old fool had run straight to his death.

  The only thing on his mind at the moment, though, was Amelia and Mia. If anything were to happen to his beloved sister-in-law, he would have to face Hadaen's wrath. He hissed. Malakai could handle himself.

  "Amelia!" he called, bolting through the weeds in the direction of the wood. He had to dig his heels into the ground beneath him to halt his movement. Shit! The fucking inn was blown to pieces.

  Panic sunk in. Gideon was on the edge of losing his mind. "Amelia! Mia! Where are you?" He spun around, searching the entire area but he couldn't locate any of them. Blood rushed to his temples, pounding like a hammer to his skull. Throat now gone dry with the thirst of impatience and worry, he called again. "Amelia!"

  "I never thought it'd be so damn easy, Maruj."

  The eerie voice came strong and booming from directly behind him. Gideon swallowed tightly, feeling his hackles rise. This was it. He couldn't mistake that voice for anything. He knew it; it was forever hemmed into his memory. Into the memory of every Marujan noble. Into his brothers'.

  Into his.

  He'd never felt more helpless in his life. A weakness felt into his knees, and the heat of raw danger bearing down like a weight on his head. Screwed, was the only word, he could think of.

  Gideon was screwed.

  The moment he pivoted on his heels, a hand slammed around his throat like a vise, lifting him off his feet. Gideon summoned the strength of his mana, staring defiantly into the eyes of the man he'd hated long before he was born. But the grip only tightened around his neck, cutting off his air supply and therefore halting the course of his mana.