“I put runes on you,” Martin said. “You can’t scare me anymore, or threaten my family.”
“I’m going to find them, Marty,” Simon snarled. “I’m going to flay them in front of you.”
“You are coming with me,” Hades said and took hold of Simon’s arm in an iron-like grip. “You’re responsible for your friends trying to kill not only the people I care about, including my daughter. You will answer for that.”
“I’ll get free,” Simon snapped. “And once I’m done with this pissant, I’m coming for you, Nate. I’m going to make you watch me butcher your friends.”
“How long have you had your memories?” I asked.
“Fuck you,” he shouted and spat at me.
“You’ve always had them, yes? After today, you’ll be someone I’ll never again give thought to.” I turned toward Martin. “Release him, give him one last chance.”
Martin touched Simon on his arm and hurried back out of range.
Simon snarled at me and took a swing. I dodged it and slapped him around the side of the head. “You can’t use your alchemy can you?” I asked as Simon tried running at me but only met my knee, breaking his nose and sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Fuck you,” he shouted again and spat blood onto the dirt. “Fuck all of you, you have no idea what’s coming for you. What’s going to burn you to the fucking ground.”
“Feel like telling us?” Galahad asked.
“You’ll see. A cleansing fire is coming for all of you, it’ll change everything you know and take everyone you care about. And when it comes, I’m going to stand atop the mountain of corpses that used to be your loved ones, and I’m going to laugh.”
“Overly dramatic, isn’t it?” Hades said. “That’s okay, we’re going to have a very long time to work on your people skills.”
Simon got back to his feet. “Stick me in any prison you like, I’ll escape.”
I glanced at Hades. “Can I tell him, or do you want to?”
Hades grinned and walked toward Simon, who dropped to his knees. When they were inches apart, Hades spoke, “You are going to become a cautionary tale for what happens to people who hurt my family. People will tell stories about what I’m going to do to you. Whatever horrific acts you think you’ve done on others, I’m going to revisit on you a thousand times over. Over an indeterminate period of time, I’m going to tear your soul into tiny pieces and then put it back together over and over and over and over until you can no longer remember what species you are, let alone your name. The suffering you’re about to go through will be total.”
Hades stood and motioned for several guards to drag Simon away. Any fight and bluster he’d possessed was all lost as the realization of what was going to happen settled in.
“You’re not really going to do all that, are you?” Martin asked.
“Young man, if I tell you what I told him, would you ever hurt my family?”
Martin shook his head so hard I thought he’d get whiplash.
“Simon’s going to have a long journey to think about the terrible fate that’s about to befall him. He will be partially broken before I ever start. Be assured, Simon will pay for his crimes and pay dearly. He will never be able to destroy or harm anyone or anything, ever again.” Hades turned to Galahad and bowed slightly. “Your majesty, it’s good to see you again. Nate, I’ll see you later.”
I watched Hades walk away toward the realm gate as the soldiers around us began to dissipate.
“So, you off too?” Galahad said a few minutes later as we reached the fort.
“Yeah, I just have one more thing to do,” I said and bowed toward Galahad. “Your majesty, if you are ever in need of Hellequin’s services, you need only ask.”
Every single soldier in the fort heard my words and saw me bow.
“Nate, what are you doing?” Galahad whispered.
“I never showed you the proper respect, I’m correcting that. And now everyone here has heard that I’m willing to help at a moment’s notice. Should help to have the bogyman’s phone number on speed dial.”
Galahad motioned for me to rise. “Thank you,” he said and hugged me. “This is a manly hug, right?” he asked after a few seconds.
“It was until you started whispering in my ear,” I pointed out and he released the hug, which made us both laugh.
“Take care, King Galahad.” I walked off toward the realm gate, where Simon was being placed on a stretcher; rune inscribed straps tied his body to the silver gurney.
“That was either foolish or selfless,” Hades said as the realm gate activated. “But it was a nice gesture.”
“Well, if what Simon said is true, there are people out there helping these little bastards. We still don’t know who killed Jerry back in New York, or who the man who visited the House of Silent Screams back in the 1970s was. We have less answers than I’m normally comfortable with.”
Hades glanced down at the prisoner, causing him to flinch. “Well, I’m sure this man here will be more than forthcoming with answers. Whether he wants to be or not.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m on my third one of these now, a situation I wasn’t sure would ever happen. I was considering just making it up and see if anyone noticed, but smarter heads prevailed.
As always, I have to thank my wife for basically just being her. She puts up with my need to be left alone to work while keeping our three young daughters occupied, even when all she wants to do is lock herself in a bedroom with a bottle of wine (if you don’t have kids you won’t understand the joy they bring, along with the desire for alcohol).
To my three beautiful daughters, who I love more and more every day. Behave yourselves.
To my parents, thanks for always being so positive about my writing and for asking how things are going. But mostly, thanks for sounding interested when I start talking about whatever research I’ve done that no one but me would ever find interesting.
The rest of my family and friends have been nothing but supportive. I thank each of you for that.
My crit partners, D.B. Reynolds and Michelle Muto, are two of the best writers I’ve ever met. But more importantly, they’re also two of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to call my friends.
Speaking of writer friends, all of Kelley Armstrong’s OWG, the Rebel-Misfit Alliance, are awesome. Each and every person there is a talented writer and good friend. You all made me a better writer, and I can never thank you enough.
To the massively talented Eamon O’Donoghue. I couldn’t ask for a better artist to continue do the covers.
David Pomerico, 47North acquisitions editor, who first asked if I’d like to work with them, thank you for giving me this opportunity. Jenni Gaynor, my editor, I’ve very much enjoyed working with you. To everyone at Public Relations, the 47North Author-Team, and anyone else I’ve had dealings with: Thank you all for making it so easy to work there. You all do an awesome job and should be thanked individually, but you all know who you are.
And lastly to everyone who has supported me and my work, to those people who send me e-mails or leave reviews, or even reply on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you. The fact that people are enjoying what I write means the world to me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve McHugh is the author of the popular Hellequin Chronicles. He lives in Southampton on the south coast of England with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with his kids, he enjoys watching movies, reading books and comics, and playing video games.
Steve McHugh, With Silent Screams (The Hellequin Chronicles, Book 3)
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