They walked down the hall, Jeb's heels clicking as he went. The dress shoes were impractical but his wife had insisted. A small smile crossed his face as Teddy lagged behind Mandy. He stepped closer to them. Teddy looked a lot like his brother, he could see some of his mother in those eyes.

  It was a relatively small town, so he had met her on occasion. That included his father. The world was unfair to them. Families were meant to be together. If he locked them into the family wing, they wouldn’t be able to escape. Not with his “Lordship” on the property.

  “So your Nate’s brother? He’s a hard worker, you must be similar to him.”

  Jeb's voice was kind. Trying not to sound like the embodiment of a miser. Teddy glanced back at him, eyes big and glowing. Jeb could feel it on him, just like after Nate had survived. The glow of power he wasn’t meant to be bound to somewhere like Mawe.

  A left hand corner approached it would be the last before a long stretch to the inner doors that lock up the family wing. He had been the one to install them, going round that corner each day. It was tighter than need be.

  “Haha, not talking to an old man like me. You're smart. I heard you were smart. You know I hear that things always change when you turn a corner in life. Really gets you out of where you were heading in life. What do you think Miss Baker? Have you any upcoming decisions to make?”

  She looked back at Jeb. Mandy kept her face neutral as she looked at Jeb's orcish mug. All he ever cared about was money, yet in that moment she understood so had Teddy. He quickened his pace to be right next to Mandy grabbing her hand like a child needing guidance.

  William scoffed at the childish behavior. What fools they were, just fodder for his lordship and the mayor. He glanced once more at Jeb, once the children were secured he’d pounce. Dragging him back would be a pain but they had to take care of this problem.

  Just as the corner was steps away Jeb was positioned furthest out, toward the center of the hall. The children practically hugged the walls. Their burst of speed caught William off guard. Rounding the corner within the blink of an eye.

  *Bang**Bang**Bang*

  *Bang**Bang*

  Jeb turned as they crossed around the corner and his revolver fired three shots. Wiliam had been ready to kill him. He drew as the first shot cracked his body, he returned only two shots. It was all he got off.

  The first bullet had pierced his left shoulder, it wasn’t the worst shot but he was rusty. William fired in unison on the second shot it struck the right side of his chest. Lungs collapsing blood rushing in to fill them. His last shot whizzed once more into the air as the revolver finished the man's life.

  Jeb stepped over to the body kicking the gun out from the limp hand just in case. Mandy peaked around the corner, seeing only Jeb standing there she stepped out. A metal candle still gripped firmly in her hands.

  “Are all of you kids ok?” Jeb asked calmly.

  “What did you do?”

  “They won’t let you live now. At least I don’t think they will. Whatever their planning isn’t something that you kids can handle.”

  Blood trickled down onto the floor. Fast footsteps beat down the hallway, drawing Jeb back into his firing stance. There wasn’t time to prepare cover, he would take them head on. He felt a weight off his shoulders as he stood taller. He needn’t to fire. Armand came lightning fast down the hall sliding to a stop in front of Jeb. Mandy gave a dubious look but didn’t speak. They were too far outside the loop.

  “Sir, I couldn't delay him. What's going on?”

  “Explain soldier.”

  Armand straightened the energy of the major had returned. As he looked at the man who’d led him on the battlefield he was the same. The images overlapped as he began the report. Quick to the point.

  When the Necromancer had arrived he did some weird hand movement. Then they had all heard the girl’s scream down the hall. The Necromancer demanded to see the interloper and brushed past Armand. When they had arrived the mayor took the necromancer to the meeting room. Promising to bring the girl to him. He had told him Jeb would be on his way shortly.

  Armand had followed behind to report to both Jeb and William. That's when he heard the shot. Luckily the mansion was big and they might not have heard it back in the meeting room.

  “Good job. Did you let the other men know what we had to do?”

  “Yes, sir. They prepared everything.”

  “What about that thing? You know the one I left you?”

  “In the security room on the way to the meeting. Don’t worry, I'll take care of it.”

  “No, I order you to take these children out of here and to safety. Just in case we fail.”

  “Sir, no I…”

  Armand noticed the blood dripping down onto Jeb's nice black shoes. He looked down at them. His wife was going to be upset that he got them so dirty. Walking forward he saluted the old man, the world hadn’t treated him half as well as he had his men. Jeb let out a small laugh and pulled Armand into his arms.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  For the first time in more years then he could count Jeb towered over him. Engulfed in the first full bear hug that the man could give, and the last he ever would. They broke apart and Armand passed him the key to the security room.

  “Are you going to kill my father?”

  Jeb looked back at Mandy. Her conflicted face stared back, he could understand if she was to try and stop him. Instead she seemed indigent over the matter. She hesitated for a moment before telling him what they had discovered.

  “He killed my mom. I wanted to be the one to do something about it.”

  “Then it's good that I’m the one to go. Listen girl, you don’t have to carry that load. Let us of the older generation take care of it. Go find the Lad, if this black magic can’t be stopped here tonight, then he’s the one you need. Armand get a hold of Snake Blind and tell him that his dinner partner won’t be coming back.”

  “What do you mean? Is my brother out of the hospital?”

  Teddy’s near despondent voice drifted over. He’d not seen someone killed in front of him. Death was something that you inevitably witnessed after it happened. With a shaking body he focused on the matter at hand. Unwilling to be rendered enfeebled when it mattered.

  “Kind of, you’ll figure it out.”

  “What about your wife sir?” Armand asked.

  “I already told her I love her when I left. That's enough.”

  ***

  “Your lordship, why must we wait a week? I’ve received word that the military parade will be arriving at the start of next week. Won’t the extra scrutiny bring everything crumbling down?” The Mayor asked.

  “Ah, dear Mayor, you have nothing to worry about. I had planned for this situation, the Parade is exactly what we need. How many more sacrifices do you think it will give us at that time? More then enough to make you immortal. Don’t you want to tend your garden forever more?”

  “Yes, you're right. Once I am ever living I shall regrow this valley. I will bring it to bloom by my own hands.”

  “So that was the plan?”

  Jeb stepped into the doorway, his body looming large. Ramrod straight he could feel all the weight of the past having left his body. A scent of fresh flowers lingered about his body. The Mayor was surprised, spilling his wine, while the Necromancer had already felt him coming.

  “It’s good you’ve returned. Have you come to agree? We can fix you and then together, with your building expertise we can grow this town from the ashes. You could be one of the first families within the town. A founding family like my own.”

  The Mayor spoke in a happy child-like wonderment in his manner. To Jeb it was obvious this wasn’t the real Mayor, not the man he’d known his whole life. This was some abomination. He stepped further inside taking his position.

  “I’m sorry Mr.Mayor, it's a soldier's job to take care of the dirty jobs.”

  With a snap of his fingers the security broke in from the windows and doors. They formed a semi-circle pinning the Necromancer and the Mayor against the back wall. The Mayor's frightened, terrified face was ugly in comparison to his normal determined look.

  “This is why we should have just used your family's company. It would have been obvious but we wouldn’t have to deal with people like him. Soldiers are always putting your noses where they don’t belong.” His voice was raspy and cold.

  “Don’t draw it out, you all heard what their planning. Fire at will.”

  Smoke and echoing of automatic weapons filled the meeting room. The shot pierced and ragdolled the mayor. He shook in place as the bullets tore through him like tissue paper. The Necromancer on the other hand stood as if inconvenienced. Each bullet slamming into a wall and pinging away into the rest of the room

  “Hold fire, Hold fire. I’ll take care of this.”

  “Oh, will you now? You and what army?” The Necromancer asked.

  “Don’t need an army when you’ve already hit up the armory.”

  The others stopped firing as Jeb leveled his revolver and pulled the trigger. Special grade ammo C. It was something they only issued near the Swallowed Cities. He only smuggled out the six shots by accident. Once strange things were going on he’d left them with Armand just in case. Now they served their purpose.

  The first shot did not ricochet off instead impacting deep into whatever was defending the Necromancer. For once his pale face changed a shade, realization donning on him all too late. The next four shots followed the path of the first, Jeb's body had felt its true power return. The second brought visible cracks and then the third burst the bubble. The next two landed dead center.

  “AHHHH, NO OH GOD HOW DID YOU HAVE THESE?” The Necromancer slammed down onto his knees. Black blood poured down the front of his shirt. Staining the already black robes a deeper darker color. Just as relief started to take root.

  *POP**POP**POP**Crack**POP*

  The mayor's torso had been turned to mincemeat. Sounds resonated from deep within his body as it rose back up to its feet, disjointed limbs hung limp at his side. His neck began to twist one hundred eighty degrees as he looked at Jeb. A deep frown across his face, only a few strands of his lips still holding on.

  “That wasn’t very good of you. After everything I did for you rats!”

  He flung himself out at the nearest security guard, his jutting arm bones becoming lethal weapons. The Necromancer now stood back up with a bemused smile on his face. With a flick of his hand three of the men standing closest to Jeb were decapitated.

  “See what you’ve done? Gone and lead all your men to their deaths. You are one lousy superior officer.”

  “ARRGGHHH”

  Jeb charged forth he could only see the outlines of the spirits but he dove for the table at the center of the room. Sliding across he closed the distance. Energy beyond anything he should be capable of overwhelming bursting forth. A sickle came down at his head and he pulled himself up. The blade split the table in two.

  He rode the separated part down into a roll. Less than three feet away there was no chance of missing. The Necromancer made an actual face of shock. The blood on his robes and chest was long gone. It had all been a mirage. This was real.

  *Bang*

  Old twisted trees covered the mountainside, a hunched man sat gazing at the rising sun. His wife approached him from behind, placing a loving hand upon his shoulder. He reached his own up to place it upon hers. They let the wind blow across them as they stood in bliss.

  “Why do you still love me? I couldn’t give you what you wanted.” Jeb spoke with a trembling voice.

  “The only thing I ever wanted was you. Everything else is just extra.”

  The bullet scraped across the Necromancer's face breaking his wire framed glasses. A deep wound blossomed across the side of his face taking his ear along with it.

  *WHOOSH* *THUMP*

  Jeb’s torso was cut down at a diagonal angle sliding for a brief time before slamming like a side of wet beef into the ground. Fleeting thoughts passed through his mind. He had done what he could, he’d injured a monster. Saved those children.

  “My wife won’t be happy I messed up the suit.”