Chapter forty nine
While he expected an unreasonable response from his abductor, a mild wind flew past. And someone appeared with it…only a few meters behind Isaac.
He must not have felt it alone…because the older man turned as well.
And standing there with a smirk was an impossibly beautiful man clad in heavy grey garments. A matching color formed his eyes. Eyes that smiled specifically at him.
The man walked to them slowly, tilting his head with disdain like he was a god. Until he reached the cabin.
"And who do you think you are," the question came from the tavern owner who was busy casting a scowl at the stranger.
Surely, he was not aware he'd appeared out of the blue. If he was, he might have had twice the fear Martin had in his eyes.
The stranger ignored the question, his gaze still fixed on the Prince. Then, he leaned closer, making Martin Tonnel finally pick up the unmistakable vibe of immortality.
Now, it was his turn to ask, although more politely. "Who are you?"
The breathtaking man came to his full height, something like admiration clouding his eyes. Taking a step forward, he made a show of studying the inside of the cabin.
Then again, he faced the Prince and finally spoke. "I'm quite sure your brother must have said my name. Take a guess."
"Ozii," Martin replied harshly, his face pulling into the straight panes of a frown.
"Well, I'm impressed," said the thunder djinn.
Isaac still found himself lost in a stand he could not fathom. He was going to bark another question when the movements of his captive stole his attention.
Martin Tonnel began to shudder forward, fighting against the ropes binding him still. "You killed my brothers, you monster! You killed Raphael and Charles! I swear to you, I'd end you!"
Ozii found the moment quite hilarious. His smile widened to a mocking grin. And he fell to a squat, dropping his young looking, handsome face to meet that of the Prince. "Safe to say you'd be long dead before the thought of that arises. You're the next Tonnel on the list, Your Highness. What better ending than your brother's favourite. I'm talking about Jeremy. I'd be damned if Abraham does not back out then."
Martin let out an angry snicker, one that disappeared as quickly as it came. Then he glowered once more at the djinn and snarled to his face. "Backing down is that one thing the King cannot do and we both know that. So, better have an army on your side when the war begins."
Ozii sighed and stopped smiling, as though he finally chose to quit his cajole. He stood upright again and began to walk away. But, he left some words behind. "I've had my fair share of the cruelty of mortals." Turning to face him once more, he concluded. "And I'm afraid it's made me stop considering the consequences of my actions. But I swear to you, I cannot be stopped. Not by you…not by Your King. And now even if God comes down from heaven."
Then he vanished.
Leaving Martin in a state of insatiable anger and Isaac in a state of thorough shock.
***
Razia stalked through the bush path, her satin skirt swirling loosely below her waist bound by her swords.
The moon cast mild shadows on her flawless skin, displaying her prominent tattoos.
Surely, time was that one thing they lacked. And consequently, she'd snuck out into the darkness, trading the barren lands of her home town. But she just came to realize how impossible it seemed to find her way.
Strangely, she came to the end of the grassland and stared up at her own home. And a suddenly dead feeling hit her. There was the mansion besieged by the brick fence; large, mighty, beautiful…but dead.
Filling the entire air was the smell of ashes lingering about and a rather stark feeling that brought tears to the back of her eyes.
Without another inch further, Razia lowered herself to sit upon the sand, her gaze never leaving that one place that held so much memories. Not entirely happy ones…but memories still.
It still seemed impossible how empty it was, because every single one of the ones she loved was now a pile of ember. She blinked back the moisture in her eyes and began to relish the peace and solitude that came from this.
The wind flowing by…the silence…the moon. Just her and her empty home, as though sitting there long enough would bring all of them back.
But who was she kidding? It wasn't peace fueling her now.
Closing her eyes, all that drove through her was anger. Rage that made her take an oath there and then. Ozii was going to pay, even if it was the last thing she was going to do.
Speaking of things to do, the tavern was just a walk away, and that was surely one way to behind the quest for revenge.
As she peeled her eyes open, there was that white glow again. Killing a few mortals wouldn't hurt, would it?
The water demon came to her feet and looked up at the moon. With the wind swaying her newly silvered hair in it, she glanced east.
The walk was going to be gladly short. But the result…only God knew.
***
He was anxious. Frustratingly, painstakingly anxious.
Abraham was cradled in a set of red garments, having a deeper shade in the sweeping robe that covered them. With his dark hair ruffling about his face, he made several curses in many languages all about how he'd kill Ozii if he laid a finger on Razia. Damnation to protocols and gathering a team.
He was striding through the palace of Valish, his breaths rough and face moist with perspiration.
What was that water demon even thinking running off on her own like that into a world that abhorred immortals? That didn't stop it from being Ozii fault though.
If he was aware of the guards around tipping down into low bows, he did not show it. He just never stopped marching forward, following the growing scent of his older brother while he rounded the dimly lit corridor.
The knocks came loud and determined upon the surface of his door. Jeremy frowned at that.
He wasn't asleep though; either from restlessness or just the way he'd been thinking lately. He ignored the first set of knocks, but the second one got his attention from the sky as he glanced at the door.
Either way, he took his time to answer it. If the knocker died in the process…not his problem.
After dramatically stalking to the door, he flung it open and faced an immensely nervous Abraham.
"Razia is gone!" The King said in that growl he always used when the urge to kill someone came by.