39. Magnus
T he Senate are a crusty bunch of old fucks. Men who’ve sat so long in their high towers that they’re oblivious to ways the world has changed around them.
I’ve seen them often enough at the larger meetings, but I’ve never had a one-on-one meeting before. Those are reserved for either the senior ranks, or the ones who’ve committed such atrocities they’re not even sent to Oblivion, they’re removed, erased, wiped from the earth entirely.
As we walk out from what feels like a complete waste of my time, it’s hard not to lash out. Antonio is reassuring me that that is their way. That they always sit on the fence, seeking impartiality because that keeps them safe, but none of us will be safe if the damned Esau have anything to do with it .
No, we can’t rely on them. We can’t count on them. Antonio may be the Kingmaker, but I am just as efficient in ensuring my plans always come off to my satisfaction.
So I leave him to it, leave him to politics and the hand wringing and the bullshit, because I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
Ever since I learnt who Anthony was really working for, I’ve had my feelers out, I’ve had my spies, and I know some of them are hiding in plain sight.
A weaker man would have divulged that fact to the senate, to Antonio even, but I am not weak. I do not shirk from my responsibilities, and I know what needs to be done.
What will be done.
What is necessary to ensure the Brethren continue unaltered.
I get to the first house at nightfall. Unlike the last time I was breaking into a Lord’s house, I’ve got a small army behind me and I’m taking no chances.
We storm the building, destroying half the outer wall before they even know what’s hit them.
Of course they have their own guards and it becomes a fire fight, us pinned down with them having the advantage of the home ground.
As the bullets streak past my head, I wonder for the briefest of seconds if I miscalculated. If for the first time, I’m the one about to be outplayed.
And then shouts echo, shooting from the other end of the house carries to us and we realise that we’re not the only visitors here this evening.
Someone else is clearly intent on filling up hell tonight.
I exchange glances with my men, they’re all suited and booted in protection gear, but not me. You just don’t get the same adrenaline rush in a fire fight if you’re wrapped up like a baby. And besides, every time I walk away uninjured, it’s more proof that God is on my side, that God has a plan for me and my family. That this is my destiny.
As I get to the second landing, I see the scuffle ahead.
Confused eyes meet mine through the darkness. It’s sad to think that he was betraying me, was in bed with my enemy.
He mutters my name as if he too can’t believe it and he steps out from the shadows, showing that grey streaked hair that makes him look double his age.
“Issac,” I begin, but he’s quick to cut across me.
“What the fuck do you think you’re playing at?” He snarls.
“Games up.” I reply. “We know who you are, who you’ve been working with.”
For a second, I think he might try to play me, might try to pretend, but instead he crosses his arms, a smug look spreads across his face and he lets out a chuckle. “Oh I see,” he says. “You finally figured it all out.”
“You’re one of them, you’re Esau.” I state.
He doesn’t react to the name, doesn’t try to dismiss the accusation, either. No, he seems to grow, seems to preen as if such a thing were a compliment.
“Took you long enough,” he says. “I’ve had you all fooled for years. The great Magnus Blake.” He sneers. “You were oblivious, completely fucking stupid.”
“Not anymore.”
“No,” he mutters. “But the damage is done, isn’t it? You let me in long enough to have some fun.”
“What does that mean?” I growl. It’s true I’ve been stupid, I should have seen it sooner, but the man was clever, very fucking clever. Unlike so many before him, he didn’t try too hard, didn’t compliment me too much, he played the perfect game, right up until the last damned moment .
“Your brother,” he says. “You think we didn’t have a hand in all that?”
My eyes narrow, it could just be false bravado, him twisting the past to make himself look more impressive, but I always suspected there was more to it, more to Devin’s downfall. After all, one girl could not be so capable of such destruction. She had to have help. She had to have powerful friends. But why Devin of all people? What was the point in going after him? And does that mean Paitlyn is Esau, too? Is she one of them?
“How’s your whore, by the way?” he asks, bringing me out of my head. “Has her arse recovered yet? Bet you had to stitch her a whole new one after the damage I did.”
More anger hits me at those words. Not because of what he did, but because I allowed it, I stood there, letting a traitor play with my most precious possession, completely fucking oblivious.
That image flashes in my head, of her there, in Oblivion, surrounded by my friends, pleading, as he’s brutalising her body. I’d meant to prove a point, to show her that my mercy is worth seeking, that without my favour all she can expect is pain.
But I guess the entire time, Issac was making his own point, wasn’t he? Is that why he did it, is that why he was so aggressive with her?
Blind rage hits me, I raise my gun and though there’s a million reasons why I should keep this man alive, I don’t give a damn, I don’t care. I pull the trigger, delighting in the way his skull seems to explode and his brain splatters on every surface.
A scream rings out, his wife comes flying out the room, prostrating herself over the still twitching body, covering her pale silk nightdress in the blood, and the brains, and the gore of it.
“Husband, husband,” she wails as if her voice alone could call him back from the gates of hell.
“Get up.” I order .
She looks around, her eyes settling on me and that once pretty face morphs into a sneer. “You,” she spits. “You really think you’ll get away with this? You really think there won’t be consequences?”
“Oh there will be,” I retort, dragging her to her feet, “grave consequences for you in particular.”
“I’m a Brethren Lady.” She cries, echoing that same arrogant bullshit that Anthony had displayed so many months ago.
“Let’s see how much of a Lady you’ll be in Oblivion.” I state.
I can feel the way she quivers, the way she reacts.
“You can’t take me there. I’ve done nothing wrong. The Senate will never allow it.”
“I can do what I like.” I smile, hoping she feels the full hate behind it.
It’s true, at this moment, with the Chapter Lord dead, there are no rules, no leader, no one to hold me accountable. And besides, no one will give a damn what happens to an old bat like her. No one will even remember she exists.
“Wait,” she cries, jerking more violently in my grasp as if I give a shit what she has to say. “Wait.”
I all but shove her into the waiting guards and wave my hand to have her dragged away, but she starts screaming out hysterically.
“She didn’t do it. Paitlyn, she didn’t do it.” she screams louder.
The guards pause, they stare at me as if they have any idea what the significance of those words are.
“What?” I reply, keeping my voice as calm as I can.
“She, she didn’t do it.” she repeats, gasping as if the fight is finally gone. “She was set up. She didn’t murder him. Guthrie knew, they all knew.”
“Who is ‘they?’” I snarl. What conspiracy is this? What the fuck happened all those years ago?
She draws herself up like she suddenly has a bargaining chip. “They wanted to bring you down, they thought Devin would be an easy target. ”
“So what changed?” Because something had to have. If they were truly after me, then there would be no way I would have gotten away with keeping such a thing secret.
“Antonio,” she murmurs the name so quietly and it’s the last one I expected to hear.
“Excuse me?”
“He was one of them, one of us. Only he turned tail, switched sides. He made sure you were protected. He’s the reason Guthrie kept his mouth shut, even though it was his brother who was murdered.”
“Who else knows this?” I ask. Antonio can be dealt with, but if too many people are aware of this, then everything will fall apart.
She smiles, shrugging, like she’s got all the cards now. “I won’t say anything. I promise. I can keep a secret. I kept Issac’s secrets for years and years.”
Sure, she did. She was married to the man. She had a vested interest in ensuring that his success continued because it was lining both their pockets.
I wave my hand again and the guards once more begin to drag her away. She can go to Oblivion, she can be kept there, on the lower levels, where no one will know she exists. And slowly, I’ll carve out all those secrets she’s so proud of knowing. We’ll see then if it was worth her loyalty.
She starts protesting more, crying out, demanding to be treated with the respect she’s due. Oh, she’s going to have a fine time in Oblivion. She’s going to learn exactly what her life is worth, how little all her grand titles and power mean now that she’s at my mercy.
And just as she’s dragged away, our unexpected guests appear. I raise my gun, but instantly drop it as the great mass of the man walks towards me as if he’s parting the very sea like Moses.
And then everything goes silent. I swear the entire house is filled with just the sound of people holding their breath .
His eyes narrow on me, there’s a flash of something in them that tells me that this brother of mine is still that dangerous, psychopath we had to lock away.
Did he hear? Does he know what was said about Paitlyn? I can’t see any hint on his face, but it wasn’t like the damned woman was being quiet as she screamed it.
“Brother,” he says.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. Neither Issac nor his wife were targets all those months ago, maybe he did know, maybe that’s why he came here, to get his own vengeance.
He shrugs, glancing about. “The list is almost done. Conrad said you were here.”
I let out a small silent sigh of relief at those words. He doesn’t know. He has no idea. He’d never be so calm if he had an inkling about what really went down. No, he’d be demanding her instant release, demanding retribution. Instead, he’s stood like a mad man who’s just finished a spree and is unsure of what next steps to take, like he didn’t think he’d still be alive to consider them.
It’s like we stare one another down, neither of us speaks.
“Where is she?” he asks after minutes of just silence.
“Safe.” I reply.
“I want to see her.”
“Have you done as I’ve asked?”
He shakes his head. “Ten down.” he states. Meaning there are still two to go. We’re running out of time, particularly with Turner dead.
“Then you’d better get on with it.” I say. “The sooner your task is complete, the sooner you can have your whore back.”
He grunts, stalking off without a backwards look. We haven’t laid eyes on one another for two years. Have spoken only enough to be necessary and yet, even now, his whole focus is that woman. Is Paitlyn .
I shake my head, feeling more pissed than ever. Does family mean nothing to him? Do my sacrifices mean nothing? What I did for him, what I still continue to do would have me stripped and excommunicated, and yet, I did it gladly, I did it willingly. It’s clear that he wouldn’t do the same for me in return. No, the loyalty is not reciprocated.
But I don’t have time to dwell on that. I don’t have time to rue that fact.
No, there are others that must be dealt with. Other Lords, other families. I need to rip out the very soul of the Esau faction, to purge it, and by doing so, I will leave behind a far easier beast to vanquish.
I won’t tell him what I know. I won’t tell him that his precious damned whore is actually innocent. Besides, it won’t do them any good, will it? What’s done is done. Better he believe she is a murderer, better he believe she betrayed him and once she’s been dealt with, he’ll be none the wiser anyway.
Night after night, we hunt.
We attack.
We burn.
I know I’m creating chaos. I know that some of the people we murder may be innocent, or at least, not Esau, and yet, it makes no difference. Every innocent simply adds to the pandemonium, adds to the carnage.
And revel in it, I love it, I lose myself in the knowledge that for this limited time, another part of me is set loose.
By the time I’m done, enough great names have been destroyed to create a ripple through our world.
Those who assassinated Turner probably thought that they’d control us all, moving forward, but I’ve ensured that they too are looking over their shoulders, they too know that there’s a target on their backs.
And when the job is done, when enough blood has been spilt to turn the very rivers red with it, I head home. I head back. And I let my mind focus once more on my little pet.
Has she missed me? Has she missed sleeping in my bed? Is she as desperate for my touch as I am now for her?