The Call of the Elements: A Kiss of Fire Page 6

his mouth spread into a vicious grin. “Kill him.”

  “No!” Marcus screamed, even as several of the guns barked, the sound deafening. Anthony's body jerked, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings, then crumpled down amongst the lilies. “Anthony!”

  He had to get to his brother, had to reach him, to make it better somehow. His foot hooked behind the knee of the man holding him, and he threw a blind elbow back that sent the traveler reeling away.

  “No no, no no no,” he babbled, collapsing to the dirt next to his brother's body. “Anthony, Anthony, you need to... need to...” His brother's eyes were staring sightlessly back at him, a clean hole marring his pale forehead, blood just beginning to well up from the wound. Lena started sobbing as rough hands took Marcus's shoulders, pulling him to his feet and spinning him to face Garren.

  “Another fighter!” the man exclaimed. “It must run in the family.”

  “I'll kill you,” Marcus whispered under his breath.

  “What was that? You say something, boy?”

  “I'll kill you!” Marcus screamed into his face, thrashing against the men holding him. “Kill you all!” He spat on the captain's shirt. The man just looked down and, laughing, turned away.

  “Well, men.” Garren clapped his hands together and rubbed them together. “We've got some work to do.” He squinted at the setting sun just as the first flakes of snow started to fall. “Gather the villagers up in the town square. Make sure they all know to stay indoors tonight and to have nice, hearty meals. Tomorrow, they're going to be helping us pick some flowers.”

  “P-please.” Garren glanced over to see Lena leaning forward, blinking back tears. “Please, don’t do this, don’t hurt anyone else. Please, we haven’t done anything to you, just leave us alone. Please!”

  The man chuckled, giving Lena an appraising look. “And I believe we've found the face for our new product back in Sanctuary.” Grabbing her chin roughly, he turned it back and forth, inspecting her face. “Pretty,” he murmured, licking his lips. “We'll take her! And as for that…” The captain made an off-hand gesture toward Marcus, evil smile growing. “That will be an example.”