The Untitled Story

Hours after he had started, Lorne emerged from his torture chamber. It was over, compete. He had is revenge. Those who had caused him so much pain could no longer do so, they were gone, eliminated, every last one of them. He had destroyed them from the inside out. Utterly destroyed them; he had their blood now, he had his revenge. 1

Yet, why did he not feel the satisfaction that he should feel? Why was there an empty hole in his soul that their blood did not fill? Why wasn’t his anger quenched? It should be- he should feel total glee and freedom now that he had his revenge. He had lived it, planned it, envisioned it for three years. He had taken it out in careful precise moves, he had stalked them, found them, terrorized them, every last one of them. So why was he not satisfied? He should be, he had everything he desired. He had seen them writhe in agony and fear just as he had; he had heard them scream for mercy and confess all their wrongs. This was supposed to calm his anger and fill his hollow soul. 2

Yet he was empty. Totally void of any satisfaction. 3

He had committed atrocities against his fellow man and all he had to show for it was horrible, horrible guilt! Lorne jerked open the door to the house and stalked out to his car. Opening the trunk he removed a tool chest. He would not be needing this building anymore. Returning to the house, he numbly ripped off the panel to the electricity box. Clipping and crossing a few wires he managed to create a spark which quickly caught the dry plaster on the walls. He walked out and locked the door behind him, returning the toolbox to the trunk he then slid into the front seat and sat for a long moment without moving. 4

What had he done? 5

So many wrongs- what right had he to create revenge? He had ruined men’s lives with out the slightest remorse. What right had he to live? He glanced over at the glove compartment that he knew housed an .87. Should he? He had become the monster he had once sworn to destroy. He had fallen to every evil trap that lay in his way, never once looking back. 6

He had fallen. 7

How could he even begin to pick himself up? 8

Agent Reed opened the door to the interviewing room and closed it behind him. Sitting himself down at the table across from Avery, he set the file down in front of him and folded his hands on top of it. 9

“Well, it appears that you are who you say you are, Mr. Horst.” Reed opened the file. “But what I don’t understand is how we have records of you being killed in J-Hall three years ago; and yet here you are.” 10

Avery sat cool and composed across the dreary table. “It is actually quite a simple thing to fake a death if you know what you are doing. I had one of the best help me out of that.” 11

“Yes….” Reed glanced down at the file, pretending to form his next question. “Which brings us to why you were a juvenile delinquent; our files tells us you were arrested for murdering your mother.” 12

“They were false charges.” Avery remained calm. “If you wish I can present you with a clear path to my innocence, along with the confession of one who helped to level the charges.” 13

“Hmm…well in time perhaps. Lets get down to business shall we?” Reed flipped the file shut and leaned back in his chair. “You said you knew something about the Seiba. Let’s hear it.” 14

“I’ll need the laptop and notebook from my backpack.” 15

Reed frowned at Avery, but nodded, darting an eye towards the dark mirror that ran the length of the one wall. Presently another agent entered and handed Avery the laptop and notebook. 16

“I don’t know why you insisted on searching them.” Avery commented, receiving both items. “Everything on them is written in the Seibacian language. He flipped open the computer and turned it on. A few clicks and passwords brought him to his information. “Okay, here we are. This is a history of events starting from the place where they began to involve myself and Lorne.” 17

So Avery told Agent Reed everything he had gleamed over the past few years. Everything about the Seiba and their illegal activities and their connection to the Horst family was brought out on the table. Avery told their names, their positions in the Seiba hierarchy, their businesses, their families and their illegal activities. It was quite a long monologue. 18

When Avery had finished, Agent Reed sat stunned and silent, in awe of this boy’s ability to collect and deliver data on a group that Reed had hardly scratched the surface on. “Is that it?” He said jovially, but Avery did not seem to appreciate it. 19

“Actually no.” 20

Reed lifted an eyebrow in wonder, how much did this boy have to say?21

“There is an urgent matter that I need your help with.” 22

“And what is that?” 23

“The Seiba Lord diKeurl is planning to kill my brother by presenting his actions before the Seiba Haurd. Lorne has broken their laws, and by their laws he must die. If diKeurl can kill Lorne, he can bring down diJavic and become high lord.” 24

“Annnnddd…what do you propose we do?” 25

“We half to stop that meeting, half to expose diKeurl’s dirty little actions for what they are.” 26

“Well, that’s very well and good, Mr. Horst, but do you have any idea where they hold this Seebaa….seeeba hound?” 27

“Haurd. And yes, I do.” 28

Before he even entered his apartment he knew something was up. He recognized Ligment, diJavic’s lieutenant standing post outside the front steps; he sighed wearily as he walked past him. The door was unlocked when he came to it and he wasn’t surprised to fine Gwyne and diJavic sitting together on the couch. If they were drinking tea  it would be a perfect picture. But they were not drinking tea. Their faces were both drawn and tight, having the expression that someone had just died. 29

They both stood and he entered and were silent as he took his coat off. 30

‘Why, Perel, what do I own this great pleasure? Do you need me to do something for you? Another job somewhere?” He slanted ironically. 31

“No.” Her voice was cold and hard. “We are in hot water, my friend.” 32

“Friend?” Lorne snorted. “Now there’s a new one.”33

“Lorne please!” Gwyne pleaded. “this is serious.” 34

“Oh but I am serious, love! I have never been more serious in my life! Why- I owe this woman everything!” He slowly swaggered towards diJavic. “After all, I wouldn’t have any of the hellish curses I carry if it wasn’t for her! Why – she’s the one that gave me the power to kill- to hate! In fact that’s what she created me for!” 35

“Lorne!” Gwyne was abashed. 36

“What?!” Lorne whirled on her. “If it wasn’t for this person,” he pointed a finger at Perel. “I wouldn’t be what I am right now! I wouldn’t be a…a” He practically screamed in frustration. Gwyne and Perel exchanged confused looks then Perel took a step forward. 37

“What have you done, Anathema? What have you done?” 38

Lorne covered his hears and screamed: “NOOOOO!” 39

“What have you done!?” 40

Lorne fell to his knees and hunched himself over, screaming for Perel to stop. His screams gradually melted into weeping and Perel knelt in front of him. 41

“What have you done, Lorne?” She whispered. 42

“I have become a monster.” Came the weak reply. 43

“How?” 44

“I’ve killed men. I’ve tortured them. I’ve felt their blood on my hands all for the sake of revenge; and now I have it. So why am I so despondent?”     45

“Oh, Lorne,” Gwyne knelt by him and pulled his head into her arms. 46

He clutched her and wept in deep, agonizing tears. “I’m so sorry. So sorry.” 47

“Shhhhh, shhhhhh, my love. There is nothing you’ve done that cannot be forgiven.” Gwyne rocked him as she looked up at Perel. “What now?” 48

Perel sighed. “We still have no choice, we must go before the council and pray that they will have mercy.” 49

diKeurl waited outside the old and grand townhouse where the council would take place. He pulled out a .45 from his coat and checked the rounds. He would take off Lorne and diJavic before the council even convened. There was no way that the other lords would find diJavic and Horst guilty, they were too feared. He didn’t care anymore if he was high lord, he only wanted to see Lorne Horst quiver in fear before him. He only wanted to feel the glee of diJavic’s blood upon his hands. 50

They would be here soon, he must wait here in the shadows and be patient. 51

Avery jumped out of the van before it even came to a stop. Agent Reed followed him and was preceded by S.W.A.T. team members. “Okay, men! We need to secure the building, but let them all in. Sergeant! Spread ‘em out!” 52

“Yes sir! All right you men, lets move! Cover the rooftops and alleyways. No area left unwatched! Stay alert, stay hidden. I will personally see to it that the man who lets our presence here be known gets a demotion quicker than you can bat an eye! Now lets move!” The swat team moved out and Reed turned in search of Avery. The boy was peering around the side of a big brick building towards the house that he said housed the Seiba leaders. 53

“You’d better be right about this, Horst.” 54

“Don’t worry, Reed, I know what I am doing.” 55

diJavic drove them to the meeting. She was tight faced and stern, casting warning glances at Gwyne and Lorne. They were to arrive last to the council as custom demanded. Technically Gwyne had no right to come, but she would not be put off. 56

Lorne felt sick. Gut wrenching, pit deep, pure agonizing, sickness racked his being. But it was more than just sickness of the body, his mind was sick. He lay on the backseat writhing with the horrible memories of the person he was. How had he let himself become so distorted? It didn’t seem possible. But here he was, about to pay for the dire mistakes of his doing. Actions inevitably redound. And in all his doings he had done nothing for Avery, his dear dead brother. 57

“Gwyne…” 58

“Yeah?” She turned in her seat to look back at him. 59

“I was the one that really killed Avery ya know. And all this time I though I could avenge him, but I can’t cause I’m the one that did it.” He sat upright, clearheaded for the first time in hours. “I see it now. As surely as I killed him, I’m the only one who can atone his death. This council must be God’s hand against me.” 60

“You are a fool to believe such things, Lorne!” Gwyne looked at diJavic in frustration. “You did not kill Avery.”61

“Yes I did.” 62

“No, you didn’t.” Gwyne gritted her teeth. 63

“Yes I-“ 64

“Lorne!” 65

He looked at her in astonishment. 66

“Stop it, Lorne!” Gwyne reached out and slapped him. “Stop it! You did not kill your brother!” 67

“Gwyne, yes I-.”68

“No! Stop it! Avery isn’t dead!”69

Lorne just stared in blank astonishment. “Wha…wha.”70

“He isn’t dead.” 71

“No..no! we buried him! I was there!” 72

“It was all a muse, Lorne…Tell him Perel!” 73

Lorne turned to Perel who was glaring at Gwyne. “Is this true, Perel?” 74

“You were not supposed to tell him.” Perel admonished Gwyne. “He was not to know.” 75

“Why!?” Lorne leaned into the front seat. “For God’s sake why?!” 76

“Because you had to come to terms with your anger, your hate, your crazy incensed desire for revenge. It was more than just Avery, it was the Anathema inside you: eating your from the center out. It had to be brought to a head.” Perel sighed. “It was for your own good.” 77

Lorne swore and threw himself back into the seat. “You have no idea what is for my good.” 78

Silence ensued for a long minute before Lorne asked the question that gnawed at him. “Soo…you’ve seen him?” 79

diJavic snorted. “Seen him! I’ve housed him for three years! Everyone has seen him except you. Even your aunt saw him.” 80

“Gwyne?” Lorne turned to his wife. 81

“Yes, I saw him.” she hung her head. “I’m sorry, I should have told you, but Avery told me not to. Said you weren’t ready.” 82

“Perhaps I wasn’t.” Lorne gazed out the window. “So then it comes down to this. I will be executed for my crimes by the council and I will never see Avery again. Such an irony isn’t it. I tried so hard to avenge him, and yet there was nothing to avenge.” 83

“Lorne you don’t know what the council will decide.” Gwyne said. 84

“But I do! I’ve listened to the secret circles. They will not allow me to walk out of there today without a sentence on my head.” 85

“A sentence yes, but not death.” Perel retorted. “Don’t despair so.” 86

“If it be so, I want to see Avery as soon as we are done.” 87

Perel nodded. “It shall be so.” 88

diKeurl smiled with evil glee when he saw Perel’s black Sedan park across the street from the house. Ah, this would be so easy! He slowly, slowly edged out of his hiding place as the couple and diJavic emerged from the car. It didn’t matter anymore. He had seen the government agents surround the place, waiting for the right moment; they would storm the Seiba lair today. Someone had obviously been talking. The only thing left for him to do now was to act before them. 89

Here they came across the street. Perel and Lorne in front followed by that despicable wife. He had to act now or never. 90

Stepping out from the shadows with practiced efficiency he pulled the gun from it’s hiding place inside his coat and took aim. Choosing to eliminate the more dangerous target first, he pointed the gun into Lorne Horst’s chest. 91

The impact and the startling pain came unexpected and unforeseen. The force of the bullet knocked him over backwards, grunting with the pain that bloomed and raced through his vanes like a wild team of horses. He clutched at the source of the pain, gasping for breath. 92

Distantly he heard a crack and saw the fuzzy form of Perel diJavic collapse beside him, then there were screams, many of them. He felt his beloved Gwyne by him. He was pressing on his chest, at the heart of the pain. And then…there was another figure above him in the hazy sky, someone that looked rather familiar. 93

Avery’s scream had been ripped from his throat just as he ripped his feet from the sidewalk when he heard the crack and saw his brother fall. He was running in a daze; it wasn’t supposed to happen this way. No one had been commissioned to kill his brother, that had never been a consideration. How had he missed the possibilities? 94

Perel had fallen as well, but he ignored her and fell to his knees by his brother. Gwyne knelt over him, applying pressure to a soaking red wound on his chest. From first glance, Avery saw it was bleak. The bullet had not pierced his heart, rather striking a large vein near the heart. Lorne was loosing too much blood too fast. 95

Avery let out a despondent cry and reached down to help Gwyne stop the flux. Perhaps they could stop it, perhaps Lorne might yet live. But the wound would not stop bleeding and Lorne was now gasping weakly for breath. 96

“Its no good.” Gwyne said chokingly, tears running in rivulets down her face. “We can’t save him.” 97

Avery looked down at his brother. He had tried so hard, only to fail when his brother needed him most. 98

“Ave…” Lorne’s weak whisper barely reached Avery’s ears. 99

“Lorne, I’m here.” 100

“You’re alive.” 101

The simple proclamation brought tears to Avery’s eyes. It couldn’t end this way. “Yes, I’m alive.”    102

“I’m sorry…so sorry.” 103

“For what?”104

“Monster…” 105

Avery looked up at Gwyne and she shook her head. “Lorne, don’t-.”106

“Shh.” He cut her off. “Ave…” 107

“Yeah.” Avery leaned close to hear the softly spoken words. 108

“Gwyne…take care of her.” 109

Avery closed his eyes and nodded. It was no use trying to deny the inevitable. “I will.” 110

“Wife.” 111

“Yes,” Gwyne leaned in to catch the final words. 112

“C-call the baby…call him…”113

“Call him what?” 114

“Call him..” Lorne struggled for breath. “Nation Tahaird. For he is here to change this nation, an…and he is the son of my strength.” 115

“I will.” Gwyne answered nodding. 116

Lorne’s eyes searched hers for a moment then a look of peace swept his features and he breathed no more. 117

Avery accepted the towel from the medic and began to wipe the blood off of his hands, arms and face. It wasn’t his blood, it was his brother’s. The though twisted his gut and he pushed it away. As he worked, he turned to watch the coroner load the secant of three bodies into the truck: Lorne Horst, Perel diJavic and Landor diKeurl, who apparently had committed suicide after shooting his victims. 118

Handing the towel back to the medic, Avery went in search for Gwyne. She was sitting on the sidewalk hugging herself and watching the coroners. He sat down next to her and was silent for a time. 119

“He was different at the end wasn’t he?” 120

“Yes,” Gwyne answered. “He was repentant.” 121

“I’m glad.” 122

Gwyne didn’t answer, leaving him in silence again. But then a though nagged at the back of his brain. “Are you really pregnant?”123

“Yeah,” Gwyne sniffed and wiped moisture from her eyes. “I don’t know how he knew. I just barely found out about it.” 124

“Lorne could always sense things…but…we will half to keep this to ourselves.” 125

“Why?” 126

“There were not as many of the Seiba leaders in the council as I had thought. Many are still out there. You know what they all believe about children of Anathemas.” 127

Gwyne folded her arms over he knees. “They have no evidence of what a child would be, they only speculate.” 128

“They are a superstitious people, Gwyne. It would not be safe.”  129

Gwyne laid her head down on her arms and began to weep. Avery put a comforting arm around her as she rocked back and forth. 130

“Don’t worry. I promised Lorne I’ take care of you and I will. We’ll move away. After the time of grieving and mourning we will bury Lorne and disappear off of the Seiba map.” 131

Gwyne lifted her tear stained face to his. “Can we do that?” 132

Avery gave a weak half smile. “For Lorne I would do anything. He’s my brother after all, and though he made this war, we do not half to continue fighting it.” 133