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

a goodbye. It isn’t right. Not forever? She folds into my embrace, remaining silent. Accepting the comfort.

After a much-needed eternity, she tilts her head up and looks me in the eye. “I must go, Stone.”

“So, you’re moving forward with this, then? I cannot persuade you to flee with me?”

“I’m capable.”

I embrace her once more and her small frame burrows into me briefly before pulling away and getting lost amongst the crowd.

There was an attempt on the Taoiseach’s life. The faith imbedded a plethora of concubines, but his power proved otherworldly. The destructive force of his talents, not only obliterated the usurpers, but wiped out entire sects of the religion as well. I’ve underestimated him.

44 Ellia

W ell, fuck! Of all the watering holes in the capital, Stone had to wander into The Jack Rose. Jack won’t be happy to see me. I doubt he’s forgiven me after Jaymes’s inexcusable bloodshed. Though, I suppose I don’t really care how Jack feels about it. He deserves to have a blood lusting assassin like me cleaning up the cesspool he’s created.

The door creaks open, and I slip in. The place stinks of lust and spirits as always. Though, with the amount of blood spilt during my last visit, I’m astonished there isn’t a lingering odor of corpse. The dark-wood floors likely camouflage the stains of murder, but Jack has acquired newly upholstered chairs and ironwood tables. We damaged a few, but he’s replaced all of them. Perhaps he didn’t like the idea of serving his customers on tables that survived a massacre. And ironwood at that. He clearly isn’t hurting for revenue, or new customers to replace the scum we sent back to Azure. Even if I were capable of sympathizing, I wouldn’t have the slightest bit of compassion for Jack after the sight of his rejuvenated whore house. He knows how to lure in the worst of them.

“As long as he’s alive, I will never have a life of my own. Jay and I will always be his pawns. I don’t know why… I don’t know why…” He slams his tumbler on the bar top. “…he has chosen to keep us alive. Do you?” Stone asks the weathered bald man sitting beside him. “And I don’t… I don’t… I don’t know what purpose he has for us… but I… I… we cannot live like this, Captain.”

He’s belligerent. That eliminates any challenge. What a shame. He will have no fight in this state.

“I must find a way to kill him.” His voice raises.

If he doesn’t quiet down, someone will shut him up.

“I must find a way,” he repeats. “But he’s so powerful…and I don’t know…I don’t know…where to start,” he slurs.

“Is this man causing you trouble?” I interrupt. I grab the older man by the shoulders and start massaging. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Aside from him calling me Captain Crowbill repeatedly, he’s been quite a hoot. He’s going to raise some pitch forks and storm the manor,” the man answers before turning to see who’s massaging his shoulders. “On second thought…yes. He has been bothering me. Maybe you and I ought to get out of here. Leave this drunkard before he causes any harm. Somewhere more private, perhaps?” he winks.

I pinch the base of his neck, jabbing my forefinger into it, and I cauterize his primary artery with rot. The man falls flat on the bar.

“Jack.” I greet the bar tender casually. “Nice to see you’ve managed to lure in more creeps. I trust you can take care of this one.” I wave my hand over the dead man. “Not my mission tonight.” I point to Stone. “Water. You’ve given him too much. He can barely use his tongue.”

“He continues to ask for more,” Jack explains. “I’ve given him so much already, and he’s still upright. Now I’m curious to see how far this can go.”

I glower at him, and he bites his tongue.

“You… Captain! Captain, are you okay? Wake up, Captain!” Stone shakes the dead man. “What did you do?” he raises his voice. “Don’t worry. I’ve… I’ve got this.”

He rises to his feet and places his hand on the man’s neck. I look around the lounge to see if he’s drawing too much attention. None thus far, thank Susy. It’s not on my agenda to remove any witnesses tonight. Stone places his other hand on the man’s neck, appearing as though he’s going to strangle him from behind.

“Fool!” I grab at his collar. “We must leave,” I command.

“No.” He shoves my hand away. “He’s the Captain. I can save him.”

“He’s dead, you fool,” I whisper in his ear. “There’s nothing you can do. Let’s flee before you claim responsibility.”

“No. I can save him.” Stone closes his eyes and lowers his head until he slumps down over top of the man.

“Dammit.” I sigh. “I’ll take care of this one, Jack. You handle the creeper.”

Suddenly, Stone’s body convulses. His shoulders twitch and his head shifts. Stone’s body falls off the stool, limp, the man underneath shrugging him off. The creep raises his head from the bar.

“What happened?” he says.

I grab his collar and force it down to view his neck. He acquiesces, still muddled from whatever Stone just did to him. There’s no scar. I’ve only ever seen the Taoiseach… But not from death. Grave wounds, perhaps, but never have I seen anyone recover from death. I look at my own hands. My brow tightens.

I look to Jack, who’s befuddled in a way that tells me he has no idea what just happened. He’s oblivious. Probably for the best.

“Something about imitating the Captain, and he attacked,” I reply. “I told you he was trouble. I’ll remove him.” The creep, still dumbfounded, watches in his stupor as I raise Stone to his feet and drag him out of The Jack