Gideon [The Marujan Brothers Series] Book Two (6 page)

T
he
copper-like taste of blood had remained in her mouth hours later.
She could feel the deep cuts on the inside of her cheeks, wincing
in agony as her tongue invaded the raw slits. Her mouth fell open
involuntarily, an attempt to bring more air in to somehow cool the
raging hear inside her mouth. Tongue slightly swollen and mouth
dry, a moan managed its way past cracked crispy lips. If only she
could distract herself from the thunderous pounding in her own
head; the rush of blood suddenly seemed far too loud.
She pulled herself across the rough ground, the scraping of a heavy
metal chain echoing through the darkness-flooded room. She could
feel—wished she didn’t have to see—the inflamed open cuts on her
ankles and legs, a wedging pain in her left thigh reminding her of
her last brutal altercation with him.
Her Master. At least that was what he had told her to call him. She
wanted to cry—she could, for the tears were no more than half a
millimeter way from spilling over her lids. She wanted to but
couldn’t. For over the past few years, she had demonstrated so many
forms and levels of weakness that she refused to lose the last
existing thread of her dignity. Her tears. So, she’d keep them.
Just to remind her why she was urging on; why she hadn’t taken the
chance at her own life many cold nights and boiling days.
Muscles now beyond the state of fatigue, she flung a heavy arm over
her stomach and shrunk deeper within the darkness, the mars of
hunger eating at her insides. She needn’t a mirror to know how she
looked: sunken cheekbones, black and blue eyes, shedding hair…bony
structure. She knew she’d lost a great deal of weight, she could
almost feel her body slipping away…deteriorating as each day passed
by. Thinking about it did not help at all. For she wished she had
at least the courage to put an end to it all. To put an end to
her.
The rough slamming of a door came somewhere a few meters away, the
sound hollow and dreadful…followed by the heavy footsteps. Two,
maybe three men judging by the long strides between steps. Her body
might seem useless to her now but at least her mind was still
working.
“
What is it
?” his
nasty voice hissed. Her Master, that is. She could feel his cold
calloused hands on her face, her body…her legs. She swallowed down
in disgust simply because she didn’t have the energy to even
spit.
“A-A few more of the men have died early this a-afternoon, Sir,” a
man stuttered.
Silence.
“How many?” he barked.
“Twelve, S-Sir. We don’t know what caused it but e-everybody’s just
been getting sick as of lately.”
“And are
you planning
on getting sick, Bart?”
The man stuttered ridiculously, his fear causing his voice to
shake. “N-No, Sir. W-Wouldn’t even d-dream of it…Sir.”
“Good! Now move and get back to your fucking duties!”
A light flashed across the area she knew was the door and hurried
footsteps descended it and back down the hall. She swallowed.
Anticipation was no longer relevant when she knew the planned
outcome in a situation like this. It was his routine. Every
night—not that she could tell the difference between day and night
from where she was. The desolate frigid room dark all day round. A
lock clicked and the door was shoved open, slamming against the
wall so forcefully, the room felt like it shook. She could feel his
terrifying presence, the intense scent of his crimes…his wicked
intentions. And she could already feel him forcing his way past her
thighs and robbing her of her womanly rights over and over again.
Fucking her hard and roughly as if he had a right to. Bile rose up
in her throat, the bitter taste of it spreading across the insides
of her lips at the thought of it.
Then a bright light flooded the room, blinding her momentarily.
Lantern in his hand, she watched him—timidly—as he moved
purposefully inside the room, kicking the door close along the way.
And the first thing she noticed when she looked up…..was the nasty
smug grin plastered on his face.
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” he muttered, voice incapable of
producing even the smallest ounce of softness. He was a monster.
And she hated him. “Sad,” he continued, resting the lantern on the
floor. “’Cause I am so happy to see you. In fact, I’ve been looking
forward to tonight because I have a special present for you.”
She noticed he was wearing a long heavy cloak. Now, she pushed the
sides away to reveal long muscular legs and a well-toned body. If
he was not the devil reincarnate…the evil wretch she knew him to
be, she could have admitted him handsome. A woman calling her
rapist…her assaulter handsome would be the day hanging be
determined the punishment for making such a statement.
She opened her mouth to speak, praying she didn’t falter when she
said, “Y-You’re a sorry mistake for a man. I hope The First does
not have mercy on your soul.”
His grin widened, forming into a deep cackle as he laughed at her.
“The First?” he mumbled. “Do I look I give a fuck about your cursed
‘
The First’
. You
have a lot of mouth for trash just waiting to be scraped up.”
Refusing to show just how his words hurt—or how helpless she really
was, she clamped her mouth shut and simply stared at him, forcing
back the tears. She did not even have the strength…the courage to
verbally defend herself. At that moment, above all others, she knew
she had really lost the battle.
“Now...” he began, face now serious. “Be a good little whore and
spread those legs. And make it speedy…I doubt you can handle
another blow for the next decade.” He looked her over disgustedly.
“You look half-dead already.” He shrugged. “But I need you.”
He needed her. She hid the sad smile that had started to form on
her lips shaking lips. It was a pity he did not know that what he
needed….was already all gone.
* * *
“
Y
ou think it’s
working?” Faolan whispered at Gideon’s side as they both watched
Amanda of the Alexanders where she sat in the center of the room.
She sat on the rug with legs folded in front of her, wrists resting
on side-turned knees and palms turned upwards. Her eyes were
closed, body rod straight as she inhaled and exhaled slowly.
Connecting with her source, she’d said.
“I don’t know. But it better.”
“At least she’s trying.”
Gideon frowned and then looked at his brother. “Don’t be getting
any ideas?”
“What do you mean?”
He raised a skeptical brow and deepened his frown. “Don’t look at
her like that.”
Faolan laughed. “You calling dibs now?”
“You know what I fucking meant!”
“Sounds like you’re calling dibs to me. First of all, I’m a grown
man with a perfectly functioning dick, okay? Secondly, I’m older
than you. You’d better start remembering that before I kick your
ass right back into the fourteenth century. Got it?”
Gideon groaned and looked away. He needn’t Faolan’s trash talk
right now. And he sure as hell wasn’t looking for an unnecessary
row with him either. Faolan might be cool and laid-back but he knew
well how to knock damn well how to floor a man with pretty much no
effort. Besides, it would get him nowhere with finding his woman;
with finding Esyth. He could feel his insides tightening, the
revolting feeling he’d felt when she had disappeared from him. She
had left with a piece of him that day…his heart, for at the moment
and—if he wished to admit—that night, he had never been the lively
free-spirited person he had once been. He’d become a lost man
seeking comfort in within the deep warm folds of any and every
woman he saw fit. It had become his way of coping. To deal with the
crack in his soul and the dent in his life.
A smile curved on his lips as his mind drifted to that day three
years ago… That day she and he had arrived at the Hub for help to
assist Hadaen back on the field. It was the hour he had confronted
her about the broiling attraction between them:
She moved away from him, careful to
get lost in the mingling crowd of villagers who were so busy
welcoming her back home that they hadn’t realized the mars of
battle sporting on their appearances. Curious eyes averted to him,
searching politely and then returned to her.
“Esyth,” a wrinkled old man said, his blue eyes anxious. “You’re
back. We did not expect you back so soon.” He then looked at
Gideon. “Who is…?” And then he frowned slightly before his eyes lit
up like fireworks on The First’s Day. He fell to a quick bow. “Lord
Gideon, I pray, is it you? I-I didn’t expect your arrival, Sir.”
The crowd mumbled with awed expressions, each person now dropping
to awkward bows and curtsies.
Gideon sighed. He was tired as fuck and wanted two thick sandwiches
and a beer. The old man could have saved the happy greetings for
later, really. “Yeah, well I didn’t expect to face the Kankul
soldiers—.” The crowd gasped. “—so soon but that’s how life goes,
right? Spontaneity just blooms around us.”
Esyth gave him a hard look and then nodded to the man. “Lord
Joséah, Lord Hadaen needs your help. Send the man down the hill
about two miles.”
“We’ve got it,” a tall robust man said, stepping forward and
signaling to the male villagers around him. “Let’s go.”
A dozen men quickly dissipated from the crowd and out of eye-shot.
What was left of the crowd was a group of worrisome-looking female,
a few younger lads and elderly people.
Elder Joséah swallowed visibly. “Come then, Lord Gideon,” he said,
resting a hand on Esyth’s arm. “I believe we must get you two taken
care of.”
“Give us a few minutes, Elder,” Gideon replied, eyeing Esyth,
piercing her with his hot glance. “I need to speak with
Esyth.”
The Elder nodded his understanding…flashed a knowing smile and then
walked away, dispersing the reluctant crowd with him.
“What do you want?” she asked before he could say the first
word.
Gideon grasped her by the arm and pulled her into the nearest tent
he found, scanning the inside quickly for occupants. She hadn’t
argued; she allowed him to pull her there and for that he was happy
for at least. He certainly hadn’t the strength or patience to have
to fight her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. He looked
up to her face, her beautiful green drawing him into her world,
stirring a hot and cold sensation with him. Gideon groaned slowly
as his cock began to squirm in his pants. Hell, he was tired…and
fucking horny! What the hell kind of combination is that?
He smiled devilishly at her. “What I want?” He looked her over
again and licked his lips slowly. “I want you. Isn’t that obvious?
And since your hair as a mind of its own, I can tell it wants me
too.”
A crimson flush crawled up her smooth alabaster skin, the green
glow around her hair darkening.
“You’re a fool.”
Her words cut straight through him like a knife. He was angry. How
dare she call him a fool? He was Gideon Maruj. She had some nerve.
In fact, she had too damned much! But somehow, the anger just
coursed through his veins, never reaching his heart. He was
surprised when he felt himself smiling even more.
“Well well well…” he drawled, stepping into her face, so close her
hair fluttered against his face. “There’s nothing I like more than
a woman who knows how to use her mouth.”
She gasped, shrugging away from him. “You must be the mad, I’m sure
to think there could be something between
us—.”
“Gideon!”
The loud rumble of his brother’s voice followed by the rough tug on
his shoulder dragged him from his reminiscence. Gideon turned
startled eyes to Faolan who was starting towards the center of the
room. Shaking himself for getting to caught up in his thoughts, he
then gazed pass Faolan at Amanda of the Alexanders. His eyebrows
rose high in surprise.
The woman was now thrashing from side to side on the rug, eyes
rolled so far back in her head, Gideon winced at the thought that
they might just fall out. Her hair was now long spikes above her
head as if she was hanging upside down. The expression on her face
was that of torment and physical pain.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” He could hear the concern in Faolan’s voice. “Seems
like she’s in some form of a trance.”
Gideon ran pass his brother and halted abruptly in front of her.
“Damn, she looks like she’s going to go out cold.” The woman’s face
was white as paste, her lips graying by the second.
“Wake her up then!”
Gideon jumped to action immediately, lifting Amanda off the floor
in one fierce movement. And he shook her…shook her so damn hard she
might need organ relocation surgery after he was done. She fell
limp in his arms, sweat dripping down her forehead. Then her eyes
opened. Amanda stared at him for a long moment before she groaned
painfully…throwing up all over his pants.
“What the fuck could she have been feeling, man?” Faolan grumbled,
taking her out of his brother’s arms.

Gideon heaved and pretended
not to be minded by the vomit on his clothes. Just when he was
about to open his mouth, she groaned again and sighed, staring him
deep in the eyes before glancing timidly at Faolan, tears clogging
her eyes. Her mouth shook when she spoke, the slow shower of pain
falling down her face.
“She’s….
dying
,”
she said.

Chapter
Seven
H
e hadn't
intended on going to that bar across the street from the small
motel they had decided to spend the night at. He knew well enough
that bars only hosted bare-chested women who could tempt a man to
sin, hard-core liquor... and brawls just waiting to be initiated.
Distractions. But he didn't care. Gideon needed a few answers and
he'd appreciate it from anyone who'd be willing to share...or
willing to be paid off. 
Heading along the rough pavement, he made his way towards the
narrow entrance and came face to face with a large boulder of a
man, arms folded and regarding him with a nasty scowl. Gideon
sighed and folded his arms as well, staring back at the
man. 
"Who might you be?" the man croaked out. 
"You can call me Mike," Gideon said, his expression plain. "Am I
going in or not?"
The man looked him over once and then clenched his jaws. "State
your business."
Gideon chuckled. "It's a bar. I think the only business anyone
would be interested in is downing a few shots and just killing
time."
The man grunted. "Don't be starting any fights," he warned. "And
don't get physical with the ladies either." He stepped aside and
cleared the entrance. "It's the policy around here."
Nodding to the guard, Gideon stepped inside and headed straight for
an empty table he had spotted immediately upon entering. It sat to
the far right corner of the room; the most isolated space he had
noticed and it suited him well. Walking towards the table, he could
feel curious glares bearing down on him, piercing through his back
and the sides of his head. Quite frankly he was used to the
attention. He had been born in it. Surrounding him was the harsh
drunken curses of men and giddy female giggles. Cigar smoke thinly
fogged the air; the prime aroma of the room somewhere close to a
mixture of bleach, tobacco and rum.
As soon as he sat, Gideon felt more than saw a woman making her way
over to his table. Pretending not to notice, he adjusted the flaps
of his jacket and waited. The female cleared her throat daintily
and he looked up. Long thick red hair spilled over her shoulders,
thin tendrils falling around an oval face. Gideon's gaze moved over
her slowly and along the very low neckline of her tight
spaghetti-strapped blouse. A sly smile curved along his lips and
she returned an inviting grin. 
"Well, hello there, handsome," she drawled lowly, an empty tray in
hand. "What can I get you?"
"How about two rounds of scotch and a conversation."
Her smile deepened. "Sorry. I'm busy..." She chanced a surveying
glance behind her and then leaned in close. "But I can spare you a
few minutes in half hour or so."
"I'll be waiting." Gideon slouched in his seat, watching as she
moved away slowly. 
That trance Amanda of the Alexanders had been in deeply troubled
him; so much he could feel the sinking feeling in his gut that
Esyth might just be dying after all. And if that were the case, he
would have failed her again. He would have failed the one woman he
held close to his heart. But he refused to give up just yet. He was
Gideon Maruj, a third of the Marujan Dynasty. It was far time he
remembered that. He had the strength and power that only two
persons knew the true intensity of. His brothers. And combined, he
knew they could burn Deorci to char. They had all decided to keep
Amelia out of it. She was The Daughter of Liberty but she was also
not yet fully in control of her powers. Until then, they'd do the
fighting... and the sacrificing if it were to come to that.
Gideon shook his head, silently praying to The First that his woman
would survive whatever harsh conditions she was under. And when he
found her, Deorci and whoever else was responsible would suffer the
wrath of the Marujan Dynasty. Gideon would make sure that he'd be
the one to take the man's last breath. 
A deep grunt to his right dragged Gideon from his thoughts. A tall
man, maybe a few years younger, eyed him curiously, a ball cap too
small for his head barely covering thick curly brown hair. The boy
quickly turned away when Gideon returned the stare, preoccupying
himself with his drink. Tapping into his mana discreetly, Gideon
close his eyes to hide the red glow and searched the man's energy.
He was not dangerous. A bit agitated, really as if he was out on a
difficult purpose. Gideon turned to face him again. 
"Who are you?"
The stranger looked up, wide-eyed and startled. "K-Kyle," he
muttered, looking awkwardly around the room. "You?"
Gideon thought about the question thoroughly before answering.
"Gideon. But you can call be Mike. Understand?"
Kyle stared at him for a moment before nodding his head. "I
understand." 
"Good. I have a couple questions for you...Kyle."
He sat up immediately, looking eager to spill. A bit too eager.
"What's in it for me?"
Gideon chuckled deeply and reached into his pocket, withdrawing two
gold coins. At the sight of them, Kyle's eyes widened and he leaned
in a bit closer. 
"Not yet. Two questions. Two coins." Gideon never moved his intense
gaze from the younger man, studying his responses carefully. "Sit
with me."
The man jumped up almost instantly, pulling out a chair directly in
front of Gideon. "What do you want to know?"
"Tell me who Malakai Baamel is."
Kyle frowned but only cleared his throat. "He's our ruler. Was only
a soldier until he overthrew our other ruler couple years
ago."
Mmmm
. Just
as Amanda had said. "As far as I know, everyone is happy about it.
No one really liked Paldine anyway."
"Go on."
He sighed, staring at the coins forlornly."It's said that Sir
Baamel is not from around here. Said he just showed up one day
three, maybe four years ago and joined with the soldiers. Some says
he joined just to overthrow the man."
Gideon nodded, allowing the information to sink in. If that were
the case then this Malakai Baamel must have more to him than the
people thought. No stranger could overthrow a long reigning ruler
unless he had many friends alongside him...or he had some strange
power to easily remove the previous ruler. As far as Gideon could
see, Baamel was not a land of supernatural abilities so something
was definitely strange about Malakai Baamel.
Sliding one of the coins across the table, he watched as Kyle
quickly grabbed it up and tested it between his teeth and then
dropped it inside his shirt pocket. The man grinned and rubbed his
palms together. "What else do you want to know?"
Gideon lowered his voice. "I'm looking for a man. Long blonde
hair--almost white. About my height and built. Never walks
alone."
Kyle frowned, deep in thought. Then he looked up abruptly. "Maybe.
I don't know. I saw a man once who looked like that. But he was
traveling alone."
"How long ago was that?"
"Maybe two years or so… I don't know what he was about but he
didn't stay long. Just passed through."
Gideon nodded.
Deorci
. Feeling the anger stirring in his blood, Gideon breathed
deeply and controlled himself. He looked over at the man waiting
expectantly for the coin and sighed. It was best if he questioned
someone else. No need to agitate the boy any further. Tossing the
coin at him, Gideon sat up straight. "Thanks for the info.
I'll—"
"
FIRE
!"
A loud shout echoed throughout the room and everyone jumped to
their feet, toppling tables and stirring mayhem. 
"There's a fire!" Kyle yelled above the noise. Gideon sniffed
deeply, mana coursing rapidly through his veins as he tried to
locate the source. He froze in his spot momentarily, all blood
draining from his face. The motel. 
He broke into a run immediately, brushing pass people, hoping they
didn't notice just how fast he moved. When he reached the exit,
people had already filled the streets, making it even more
difficult for him to scan through. Across the street was the motel;
swallowed by harsh flames and villagers attempting to extinguish
its roaring intensity. Fear shook him as he tried to reach his
brother mentally but there was no response. 
Jasmine
. The scent
threaded faintly pass his face and he turned sharply to his right
where persons were heading towards the woods. Gideon shoved them
out of his way, moving as quickly as he could without drawing any
unnecessary attention. Catching a glimpse of his brother's face, he
moved readily in that direction. "Faolan?"
Faolan turned, face black with ashes. In his arms was what appeared
to be Amanda, unconscious. Gideon moved up to him and blew out a
worried breath. 
"She'll be fine. The smoke knocked her out."
"What happened?"
"What do you think?" Faolan grunted, avoiding the pushes and
shoving of people. "Someone set that motel on fire. Whoever it was
knew we were there. We have an enemy here, Gideon."
"Go!" he said. "Take Amanda and go. I'll catch up with you."
Faolan's hand dropped down on his youngest brother's shoulder,
stilling his movement. "Don't do anything stupid. I'm giving you
two hours."
Gideon nodded and headed in the opposite direction, back to the
bar. When he arrived, the room was completely void of patrons,
furniture scattered across the floor and broken glass crunching
beneath his boots. Eyeing the area dubiously, he could feel the
faint energy of danger. Of the enemy. His eyes flew wide open at
the recognition and he spun around to meet the full force of a
Kankul aura. Whoever it was, he was nearby. Very close. And Gideon
felt his stomach churn with disgust. 
Moving quickly towards the door, he peered outside as the final
flames around the building died down. 
"What the--"
Something blew pass him, the Kankul stench burning his
nostrils. 
The last thing he saw was the glimpse of a broad object dashing
before his face.....
.....and the hard force of metal smashing against his skull.