Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) Jonathan Michael (red novels .txt) 📖

were lacking, so I shipped them off to the Amorous Artillery who, in turn, will sell them to some lesser pillow house in which they will inevitably end their days before too long. Most primitive men, the men who indulge in their carnal desires at those filth houses, succumb to violence at some point. Embarrassment when they are unable to perform is a common offender. The girls are typically beaten to death out of frustration from their clients. In time, I will see to it that that corner of the realm is wiped clean of all filth and corruption, but one battle at a time.

It’s sad, but it was necessary. I cannot surround myself with those who are incompetent. A man is only as good as his weakest link, so I snap off each of those links as soon as I discover them and throw them back into the smoldering iron ore where they originated, hoping one day they may be recycled anew.

The other handmaids over whom I have given her charge have been in my service for several seasons, since they were just of the age to be worth their existence. They have tended to some of the most pompous and ignorant assholes with good tidings. I would recommend their service to anyone whom I was attempting to persuade. Jaymes, however, has treated each one of them like they are her captors. She has been hurling platters of food and walloping them if they attempt to bathe her or help her dress. All they attempt to do is make her feel comforted and welcomed while staying in the confines of my home. This girl is insufferable.

“Where is my brother?” Jaymes replies with malice, her eyes sneering at me with the hatred of the worst of demons. “I know you have him. I want out of here! I don’t want to become like Astor, one of your deviant spies. Is that your plan for me? I don’t like her, but she’s kind. And you swayed her. She told me all about how you trained her. You gave her the knowledge to cheat death. And in return, you mutated her kind heart into something deceitful. I don’t want that. I don’t want to become your malicious tool.”

I snub her outburst. She knows nothing of why Astor adheres to my authority. I don’t force it. Astor does so on her own accord. Guilt, I presume. And a semblance of debt. And, perhaps, a bit of deceit on my end.

I scan the room, apprehensive of what else I might see. One of the handmaids, Nayettѐ, is half-hidden behind the tipped davenport. All that’s visible is her legs, and they’re covered in black splotches. The other handmaid, Tanya, flees her hiding place behind the one window covering that remains attached to the wall and comes running toward me with wide, panicked eyes. She appears to be intact and unharmed. She shrinks into me as if I will protect her. I grab her shoulders and raptly pry her from my body, careful not to damage her emotions any more than they are. I straighten my attire and turn my attention back to the cause of all this mayhem.

“You have gone too far.” I clench my jaw to prevent unnecessary forthcomings from spilling off my tongue.

“And what are you going to do about it?” She glowers. “Where is my brother?”

She may be talented beyond most, but her lack of control and intolerable attitude are not worth the effort. There will be others. I tramp toward her with an avid intention of making her suffer the consequences. She stands still, unthreatened by my approach, naïve of what I am capable of. If she pushes this too far, the consequence is death.

I grab the front of her tunic and lift her up with one hand so she can look me eye to eye. I remain silent. And I’m grateful she does so as well. I prod about her emotions, exploring who she is. I seize her wrist with a firm hold. I sense nothing but rot within her. “You aren’t what I’m looking for.” I start with her littlest digit, avoiding vitals so the pain will last.

“Wait!” A voice shouts from behind me. Who would dare to command me? Only one.

“What do you want?” I ask Ellia without turning to face her.

“Elder!” Jaymes’s voice cuts in. “Elder! You’re alive!”

“Jaymes!” Ellia’s young abettor, Elder, shrieks back.

I throw my free hand in the air to gesture for him to stay put and remain silent.

“She’s important,” Ellia continues. “You know she is. I’d like a chance to sway you from this decision. Do not proceed with her execution.”

I look Jaymes eye to eye, and although her ignorance reproaches and terror surfaces, she doesn’t flinch or lose eye contact. Brave. Talented. But intolerable.

“You only brought me the girl. There are three of them. You have failed your mission, yet you proceed to make demands. She is a menace. Her talent is not worth the efforts. She will bring us all to a self-induced grave if we tolerate this behavior.” I point to Nayettѐ lying on the ground and Tanya trembling behind me. “She is not worth it.”

“She is worth it,” Elder feebly rebuttals.

“You have no place in this conversation!” I raise my voice at him. He shrinks back. With his sandy-blond hair, freckles, and boyish features, he looks weak. He is weak. Why has Ellia taken him under her wing? “Ellia, how do you propose we proceed? I will not have any more handmaids belittled and tortured by her uncontrollable fits. Look at what she has done to Nayettѐ.”

“Rid her of handmaids,” Ellia steps further into the room and shuffles Elder behind her. “She has no need of them.”

“And her uncontrollable fits? She’s bound to kill somebody.”

“Precisely.” Her eyes narrow to something dark and malevolent. “Put her in my charge.