Unforgivable Page 15

  “I am truly growing tired of your presence within gypsy affairs.” Talamar took a long swallow of whiskey from a filmy glass and looked her over. “It would appear someone else disapproves of your presence and showed you as such. So what brings you back here outsider?”

  “Morris has Zindelo and in the morning will present him to the King as one of the gypsies responsible.” Sofia explained.

  The glass slipped from his hand and shattered as it hit the floor. “What?” Talamar’s eyes flashed with anger, as his demeanour hardened.

  “When I left here I was ambushed by Morris’ goons. When I went down Zindelo tried to help me.”

  Talamar cleared the distance between them in two steps, his fist leading the way. Sofia had no time to react and the blow took her from her feet. He was on her before she had hit the ground, his knife pressed firmly against her throat and she was sure he would kill her. She almost welcomed the thought knowing that at least all this would be over. His eyes bored down on her, a torrent of emotion swirled through them as he fought for control. Sofia could feel a light trickle of blood flowing down her neck.

  Sofia’s eyes widened in realization as she looked up into his eyes. “He is your son!”

  Talamar eyes betrayed the truth of her statement. “What is stopping me from killing you right now?”

  “I know where he is and how to get him back.”

  Sofia and Talamar crept silently around the stack of silk crates, their eyes ever mindful of the movements around them. Zindelo sat slumped over and bound to a wooden chair, in an open area of the warehouse. There would be no getting to him without being fully exposed in the open. Two armed henchmen sat nearby, leaned over a small crate, gambling over a game of dice. No one else was in view.

  “I don’t see Morris.” Talamar whispered.

  “Neither do I.”

  Talamar scanned the warehouse nervously. “Something doesn’t feel right; there should be more men around.”

  “I’m sorry Talamar.”

  “What do you mean?” Talamar asked. There was a silent pause, and then he gasped when he felt cold steel touch his neck and another push into his back. Talamar straightened up, his face setting in anger. “I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

  “You aren’t the first to regret it and I hope you won’t be the last either.” Sofia pushed him forward into the centre of the warehouse and pulled his knife from his belt. “Morris I have him.” She called out. Zindelo’s head came up as the two moved closer. He tried to say something but his mouth was covered.

  “I see you were successful in deceiving him.” Morris grinned stepping out into the opening flanked by three of the king’s men. “I should never have doubted the daughter of Jamus Willms.”

  “I knew something about you didn’t sit right.” Talamar muttered coldly.

  “There are four more gypsies coming in from the back of the warehouse.” Sofia said as she kicked the back of Talamar’s legs, putting him down to his knees.

  Morris waved his hand and the four gypsies were brought out into the open and forced down onto their knees, their arms bound behind their backs. “Talamar, it had been a long time since we have been face to face. You haven’t changed a bit.”

  “Not long enough for my tastes.” Talamar spat. “So now what happens?”

  “I am glad you asked! First, let us deal with some of the dead weight around here.” Morris nodded and blades were run across the four gypsy’s throats.

  “You whoreson!” Talamar screamed, trying to get to his feet but Sofia’s daggers kept him in place. Talamar turned a deadly eye up at her, “I swear to you girl I will see you dead for this!”

  “You and your threats, Talamar.” Morris laughed mockingly.

  “Cut the shit Morris.” Talamar snapped, his eyes lingering on the dead gypsies a moment longer. “Let the boy go and do what you will with me - I won’t fight you.”

  “How noble of you,” Morris mused. “I was unaware that gypsies had such a trait, but no - he will be accompanying us to the castle this fine morning. Now tie him up.”

  Sofia pulled a leather cord from her belt and bound Talamar’s hands behind his back. “I want you to know I didn’t want it to be this way.”

  “The choices you’ve made are your own.” Talamar’s eyes were cold as ice. “Do not think you can rid yourself of the guilt that easily.”

  “Guilt is easily forgotten.” Sofia shoved him forward where two of Morris’ men grabbed hold of him. “Now return my pouch and tell me how to get into the castle.”

  “Oh I will do more then tell you how to get into the castle.” Morris replied. “You will be accompanying us as the guest of honour.”

  Sofia heard the sound of moving armour behind her and knew without looking she was surrounded and outnumbered. “You treacherous bastard!” She was quickly relieved of her weapons.

  “Imagine that.” Talamar mocked.

  “Call it what you will, but I am ever the opportunist.” He sneered. “I am truly surprised you were so easily fooled. I expected more from the daughter of the great Jamus Willms, but my disappointment will be easily elapsed by the bugling coin purses I shall receive for the both of you.”

  “Morris - our ride had arrived.” A tall, bearded merchant called in from the warehouse’s main loading door.

  “Ah, good,” Morris grinned, “our chariot has arrived.”

  Delafon watched the armed, escorted carriage pull into the courtyard below. Over a score of his best men waited diligently for the iron carriage to come to a halt - their weapons already in hand and bows notched and eager.

  He leaned over the marble railing, straining his eyes for a better look as the doors were opened. First a broad shouldered, slick bearded, grim looking gypsy was pulled out. Though Delafon had never saw him before, he knew this to be Talamar - the gypsy leader at last. Next a smaller gypsy was hauled out - this one had killed his guards in public and for it, he would suffer at the hands of them.

  Delafon licked his lips fervently as his men reached in for the final prisoner. The light of the early morning dawn hit her long, tangled blonde hair as she was hauled out into the courtyard. He had to remind himself to breathe as he stared down at one of his long lost enemies, one he assumed he would never see.

  Delafon remembered the day he had heard news of his cousin’s - Lord Carter - murder at the hand of the so called Demon of Ever-Dale. He had been furious that such a man was within his kingdom, he had been more enraged when he had discovered Jamus was nothing more than a peasant farmer. Jamus, and his daughter Sofia, had evaded capture for nearly a decade. All this from some of the greatest trackers and bounty hunters in the world.

  He had gotten word over a month that the body of Jamus Willms had been discovered within a mountain valley between Faer-Tri and Kelda. The girl’s body had not been found and by the grisly scene of carnage that had been left behind, it was assumed she had survived the encounter and fled afterwards.

  Delafon stepped back inside his study a devilish smile crossing his lips. He would reunite father and daughter - though, he would get his fun from her first.

  Unforgivable II

  Part Eleven

  Confessions in the Dark

  Sofia sat up against the corner of cold stone walls, watching the shadows from the pitch burning torches dance across the murky waste-strewn floor. The cell held much of the same familiarities as the last one she had spent time in so very long ago. She was surprised at how many of the same emotions flooded through her now, as it had when she had been nothing more than a child - it was appalling yet she could not stem them.

  She looked over to Talamar in the cell next to hers. He had not said a word to her since the warehouse. She knew civil conversation was unlikely, but she needed something to take her mind away from the overwhelming memories.

  “So why haven’t you told him?” Sofia asked and could feel Talamar’s hate filled grey eyes burning through the darkness of the adjacent cell.

  �
�You really do have a lot of nerve thinking to make small talk with me after betraying me and mine.” The reply floated out of the darkness, stiff edged as a knife between his ribs.

  Sofia chuckled softly. “You talk as if your own hands are not stained with similar sins.” Silence followed. “Or are you forgetting you brought me into gypsy affairs?”

  “I tried to help you get what you wanted.” Talamar replied coldly, though the edge of conviction softened.

  Again Sofia laughed. “You tried to use me Talamar, do not try to coat your immoral intentions with anything sweeter then the truth. You will fool no one here. I wanted nothing to do with the likes of you and yours - I needed more Valerian so I could complete my task and kill Delafon. It was you that started this game and now, you are angry because I played better. I had one simple goal, one task that gave me the strength to keep going each day - revenge, revenge for my butchered family, and the soul of my tormented father so it might finally know peace and for the lost innocence and childhood of a girl who had her whole life taken from her.” A long silence followed before she spoke again. “But I failed and it was all in vain now.”

  Talamar sighed. “My wife died shortly after Zindelo was born. She was found in an alley not far from our house, her throat slit from ear to ear.” He paused for a long moment before continuing. “It was the first blood spilt against us. We arrived in Delmar with the hopes of making an honest living selling our wares. In the fortnight that followed, several more such deaths occurred. The city council and King would not listen to us. It was not long before we realised we were at war with the merchants of the city and would have to deal with it ourselves.” A loud sigh filled the pause. “I am not sure when it happened but soon everyone was looking to me for the answers. I soon found myself will little time to spend with my son. The guilt of leaving Zindelo with no parent plagued me every time I left him, so I did the only responsible thing I could. I gave him to my sister Mary to rise as her own.” Talamar’s chuckle was full of defeat. “We were fools to think we could settle down within the walls of a city and live a ‘normal’ life. We are gypsies and we will always be gypsies.”

  “Looks like we were both forced into a life we did not choose.” Sofia replied.

  “Not many are allotted that luxury.” He sighed again. “I am sorry I got you involved in all this.”

  For the first time in a long time guilt burned through her. “Talamar, I must tell you something.” She paused fighting back the waves of nausea that threatened. “None of this truly is your fault, it is mine. I killed the shop keeper... and Boldo.”

  Talamar throw himself at the bars that separated them, his grey eyes cold as death as he glared down at her. “Why?” He growled. “Why? Answer me you outsider bitch!”

  “Am I interrupting something?” A regal mocking voice cut through the stale air and both Talamar and Sofia’s attention moved to the man standing before their cells.

  “Delafon!” Talamar hissed, forgetting Sofia.

  “The one and only I assure you.” The King mocked a bow. “You must be Talamar. I have heard much about you and yet never had the pleasure of meeting you face to face.” The King moved closer and looked in at him. “You have been an annoying thorn in my side for some time.”

  “The pleasure is all mine.” Talamar spat. “Remind me to add some poison to that thorn when I get the chance.”

  Delafon laughed. “I am afraid this will be the end of your reign in my city and more so, on this earth.”

  “Better men have many similar threats you swine.” He countered. “Where is Zindelo?”

  Delafon held back a snarl. “I am assuming you mean the other gypsy filth that was brought in with you.” He flashed Talamar a white toothy grin. “I am afraid the next time you see him will be in whatever afterlife you gypsies are allowed in.”

  “You whoreson!” Talamar reached his arm out and tried to grab at Delafon, who easily back away a step to avoid him and laughed at his attempt.

  “But my real reason for coming down to this decrepit place was you Sofia Willms.” He turned to her. “Underneath all those cuts and bruises, filth and hate I am sure a beautiful young woman resides.” He stepped closer, his beady eyes peering into the cell. “It is almost hard to believe you are the daughter of the so called Demon of Ever-Dale.” He rapped the rings on his fingers across the iron bars. “It is a shame I will never get to meet Jamus Willms…alive.”

  Sofia grinned up at the King. “Who is to say you won’t? You don’t think I came all this way by myself do you?”

  “It is a shame you feel the desire to kill me, I could see myself almost liking you. But I know your poor dear old daddy is dead. It was confirmed over a month ago when my men dug him up.”

  Sofia’s eyes hardened and her body tensed at the thought that someone had defiled her father’s grave.

  “Do you miss him?” The King taunted, rattling his rings on the bars once more.

  “My life may be forfeit and I may not get the pleasure of ending yours, but I promise you this,” as she spoke she limped closer to the bars, “I will wait for you by the gates of Hell and will have my vengeance!” She spat.

  Delafon hadn’t noticed that he had stepped back several paces in fear of the sheer resolve in her tone and quickly tried to regain his composure. “I wonder if your father will be waiting for you. Why don’t you ask him?” He sneered waving his hand and two guards shuffled forward a tightly wrapped bundle held awkwardly between them. “Toss him in.”

  Sofia staggered back in horror as the exposed rotting corpse hit the floor. Her eyes locked down on the decaying features of her beloved father.

  “I wanted to see the great Jamus Willms for myself.” Delafon said. “Not much of a man I would say. It would explain why he ran like a coward all those years.”

  A feral growl escaped Sofia’s lips, as she threw herself at the iron bars, causing them to groan under the sheer force. She shook them, dislodging dust from the stone roof above. She thrashed against the bars like a wild animal no audible words could be discerned - only primal screams of bottomless hatred.

  Talamar found himself pressed up against the far wall of his cell - he had not even realised he had distanced himself from Sofia. Yet as he stared through the bars he did not doubt even the bravest and strongest willed man would not have done the same. His hands covered his ears but that was only minimal help in blocking out the horrifying sounds that came from the cell beside him.

  Hours passed and he could not say for certain when she had finally passed out from exhaustion. Yet the ringing reminder in his ears remained for some time.

  Unforgivable II

  Part Twelve

  The Demon Within

  Sofia stood inside the cabin in the mountain woods once more - the stench of decay nearly overwhelmed her even within this lucid nightmare. There were so many more bodies now; they nearly consumed the entire floor. She went for the door to her father’s room, knowing she wanted to be away from this place as soon as possible. Before she could move, a hand latched onto her leg. Sofia swallowed back the flood of fear and looked down at the scalded woman.

  “Why?” The woman groaned, her skin blistering and peeling as her matted hair singed away by an unseen fire. “Why did you...”

  Sofia kicked her foot free and went forward, watching the body of the woman crumple lifelessly to the floor once more. Quickly, she turned back and crashed into a middle-aged man with long silver-brown hair. His head was tilted as he looked straight into her.

  “How could you?” He muttered, raising his hand for her.

  Sofia slapped the hand away and his head titled back as if someone had grabbed a handful of his hair. A line appeared across his jugular and blood poured forth staining his shirt, as he fell lifelessly to the floorboards in a heap.

  Sofia cried out and again went forward trying to reach her father’s room. She stomped her foot down at a head that began to rise and kicked past several more hands that grabbed for her. She reached the door, b
ut it showed no signs of allowing her entry. Movement behind her forced her to turn back around and Boldo stood beside her. His dead, milky white eyes glared down at her, as his wounds oozed dark crimson.

  “You killed me, you little bitch.” He spat.

  “You... you... you got in my way and left me no choice,” Sofia stammered back pressing against the door, “I did what I had to.”

  “There is always a choice.” He countered reaching out for her. “You killed me in cold blood,” he grabbed her throat, “because you liked it!” He hissed. “Just as you killed him.” His eyes went to the side, where the fat merchant she was to collect Talamar’s coin from, stood staring at her.

  “I...I... leave me alone!” She cried. The door gave way and she tumbled back, barely keeping her footing. A hand touched her shoulder and she spun around. Her breath caught in her throat, as her father’s green eyes looked down at her with sorrow. “Father.” She barely managed to whisper.

  “My sweet darling Sofia, how I have failed you,” Jamus said his voice mournful.

  “No father you haven’t... didn’t.” Sofia spluttered back tears coursing down her face.

  Jamus’ cold, pale hand caressed the tears from her cheek. “But I have.” She was about to protest went his cold fingers touch her lips and silenced her. “Look at you - look at where you are what you’ve done.”

  Sofia pulled her head back. “I did what I had to. What I needed to - to try and avenge you and mother and Nate! I did no different than you did to save me.”

  Tears escaped down Jamus’ face as she shook his head. “No child, you did not do as I did. But it is my fault.”

  “What is?” She cried.

  He reached forward and pulled the pouch of Valerian from her belt. “This Sofia…has corrupted you and twisted your soul.”

  “What? No, no it just helps me sleep.” She protested. “You took it too.”