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Chapter 35
The fourth act was started in the prison. I broke the lock and set my people free. Their reactions varied, from Tommy’s friendly and worried.
“Are you all right, Alex?” to a guardsman’s respectful and admiring.
“Your Highness!”
I shrugged and clapped Tommy on the shoulder. Apparently, that annoying gesture was contagious.
“You couldn’t break me if you threw me against the wall. Do you think that a bandit castle is worse?”
Tommy calmed down and started to smile. Rene, however, was looking around in surprise.
“Alex, how did you manage to do that?”
“I can be quite persuasive sometimes.”
He was surprised even more when he saw bodies scattered across halls and corridors, their faces frozen with horrified expressions.
Everyone was dead... or mostly everyone. Some had simply gone mad, two or even three people.
“Alex, how the hell did you
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The Demon Chapter 36
The frump was waiting for me in the bedroom, apparently mindful of her failed attempt with Tommy’s intervention. She was sitting on the bed, and I silently unleashed a stream of earsplitting profanities, trying not to say anything out loud.If anybody stumbled upon that scene, I would never be able to wipe that stain away. What were my options?“Ruthie? What’s wrong?”“Alex, we need to talk.”It all looked so fake that I barely stifled a laugh. Even brothel girls looked more sincere, and Ruthina was making such a face that I really wanted to splash her with water to bring her to her senses. I couldn’t, however, or she’d bleed makeup all over the place.Mistress Eliza had told me a lot about that, summoning her girls and showing how a shark could be turned into a mermaid. A dash of paint here, a trinket there...all in all, an interesting experience.“I’m listening.” I didn&rsqu
The Demon Chapter 37
I left them right there. I checked her dress, just in case, but I didn’t find anything. My note stayed inside the carriage, as well as the princess’ dress.What happened to the clothes I had bought for her? Well, I was a fire mage, after all. I burned them three alleys away, quickly and efficiently, leaving only ashes.I still felt no guilt. I hadn’t even taken any of her baubles. All her rings, bracelets, earrings, even her tiara. As for the rest, why would I feel sorry for her? Because she was innocent? I did her a favor, then.A martyr’s death was a sure way to heaven. One could only rejoice for her—while I was left to clean up the mess. How was I supposed to act? Have sex with her? If she had been faithful to her husband, she would have survived, make no mistake.I’m not trying to justify myself. Ruthina had pushed me over the edge, and if I could challenge men to duels, why would women be exempt from punishment? Even if they had royal blood. If she hadn’t wanted to stray, she cou
The Demon Chapter 38
Uncle welcomed us cordially and even smiled at Carlie. He took his sweet time letting go of her hand while kissing it, the letch. Old in the tooth, but still a skirt-chaser.That was when I first thought that if he ever touched Carlie, I would tear out his throat and let him die in agony. Good riddance. But when I announced that Carlie was to be my wife, Uncle agreed straight away.Abigail, however... Auntie winced as if I had shown her a viper, a dead and desiccated one to boot. Still, in a second, she smiled sweetly and offered to let Carlie live under her care for a month before the wedding, to keep up appearances and such.Carlie agreed immediately. It was as if fog came over my senses. I still blame myself, and I’ll blame myself until I die.Carlie, my mountain flower... Just a month, a short month—what could happen in that time?Yes, I could be poisoned or assassinated, but who would try and harm Carlie...right?Yet my aunt turned out to be more cunning that I had anticipated. T
The Demon Chapter 39
In two days, we arrived at the graveyard where Jack’s wife was buried. Before leaving, he had given hell to his gang, while I simply abandoned my men.What was the worst thing that could happen?Let them sit in the village and stuff their faces, especially since I had paid the elder more than enough. A simple grave, not especially well-kept...“What was her name?”“Isabel Norret.”Without stopping to think, I stretched my hand out above the grave. True, a woman had died there, and it was a bad death, in hate and agony. That was a haunted place. That was how graveyards could awaken—when the pain of those who lay in the consecrated soil became too much for the ground to bear. And if the thrall who had consecrated that land cared more about his belly than his debt, everything would happen even faster. And the horror would start.Well, it would be a horror for humans. I didn’t really care.“Isabel Norret, come forth.”No use. The power was gone with the wind. Hmm, so what did Rene tell me
The Demon Chapter 40
The baron gasped but didn’t dare to argue. He relied on his weapons and armor—and he miscalculated. Jack’s armaments turned out to be no worse than his. It all took twenty minutes. Jack and the baron stood in a circle. The baron carefully defended himself, while Jack leaped ahead, forcing the former to step back, trying to get away.A barrage of blows forced the baron to let his guard down and lose his ground, taking a hit that separated his head from his body. The decapitated body stood tall for a few moments before collapsing, covering the ground in blood from his arteries.“The Bright Saint has passed his judgment!”I declared.“So be it. Jack of the Norret family, from this day forth, you are the first Baron Norret! To reimburse you for the harm done to you and those under your protection, I bestow upon you the lands of Baron Pantine. Be a wise and just ruler.”Everyone was staring at me as if I were a manifestation of the Bright Saint. On the other hand, the late baron had no leg
The Demon Chapter 41
I met my former wife-to-be the next day, during a reception held by my uncle. Well, actually, at first, I heard her laughter, and then... Carlie, my Carlie, was standing surrounded by a crowd of noble fops, a ponce with a curved moustache holding her hand, a smirk on his face.Look at me, how great I am.Look at the girl I snatched.I wanted to grab him as well, or at least some parts of him. But as soon as I thought about Carlie and that fop on the balcony, I felt a lump of bile in my throat.Don’t vomit, please. I’ll handle this.Breathe in, breathe out, then breathe in again. My fingers were clenched, and I was seeing red.Carlie looked at me, frightened, and I tasted blood in my mouth, as I bit my cheek with my fangs and bowed. The grey veil was all over me again, covering me, hiding me from the world under the heavy blocks of ice, and behind that unbreakable barrier of eternal blizzard, I smiled, casually and effortlessly, as befitted a nobleman.“Lady, congratulations on your h
The Demon Chapter 42
I summoned my father the second time after all that drama with Carlie. Not just for kicks, mind you. Her husband, the idiot, decided to assassinate me, seeing as she hadn’t been a maiden anymore, which clearly rubbed him the wrong way. So, if he killed me, his honor would be clear—apart from stealing some else’s bride, but that, apparently, didn’t matter. He sent an assassin after me, ruining my leisure, and tearing my curtains—the latter an unforgivable offense, really. I mean, wouldn’t you be annoyed? Just imagine lying in your bed, resting, contemplating your private troubles, gazing at the stars...and then someone’s body obscures them and several bolts from a multi-shot crossbow fly toward you.A pretty scary thing; I could have become a hedgehog rather than a half-demon...if they had actually hit me. My reflexes were too quick, however, and I was much faster than humans.As soon as that shadow stood by the window, I fell to the floor, transformed, and charged at him. My tail was
The Demon Chapter 43
The next day, I found Viscount Latour on his own—in his house, before breakfast. I climbed in through the window.So what? If assassins were allowed to do that, why could I?As an honest half-demon, I wouldn’t even take a copper! I wouldn’t even kill the viscount, even if later, he would regret it. I got down to business straight away.“Who gave you the love potions?”A garrote around the neck was an iron-clad guarantee of truth. The viscount grunted, farted, and came clean. Of course, it had been Abigail’s doing. For the sake of variety, the viscount wasn’t her relative, but a shirttail cousin of Ruthina’s husband, and he had readily agreed to a short marriage.His task had been to court Carlie, and after my marriage, arrange an accident for her, with the queen’s help.Love? What are you talking about? How could I love a bastard’s whore? An assassin? Well...the viscount just couldn’t stand that—that vulgar girl wasn’t even a virgin.I still have no idea how I was able to hold back. I
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