Page 4 of Decimation

Konstantine watches me, his lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. He lifts the crown, placing it upon his head and then takes his seat at the head of the table.

Antonio, another of our Guardians steps forward, his voice ringing out in the chamber. “The ritual is complete. Konstantine is now Grand Master.”

Konstantine inclines his head, his smile widening. “It is time to feast,” he says, his voice echoing in the stillness.

The men continue to tear at my father’s body, their hands and faces smeared with blood, their eyes gleaming with a fervour that borders on madness. I stay by his head, watching as the light fades from his eyes, as his chest rises and falls one last time.

Then he is gone.

And I am left with his final words, a secret whispered in the darkness, a truth that threatens to unravel everything.

It should have been you.

That’s it folks. You skipped some heresy, but there will almost certainly be more in the coming pages.

For a recap for those who decided to spare their souls, chapter one has Emmanuel, the old Grand Master and father to Lazarus and Konstantine, being willingly sacrificed as a Christ-like figure so Konstantine can then become the new Grand Master.

The heavy oak door creaks open, and I glance up from the book I’ve been pretending to read. Antonio and Zayn come into my suite, Antonio’s boots echoing against the marble floor while Zayn’s wheelchair moves in silence.

The air shifts, thickens, as if their presence alone has altered the atmosphere.

They’re dressed in their ceremonial Guardian robes, the deep crimson fabric embroidered with gold thread that catches the flickering light of the chandelier above. Their faces are unreadable, but their posture is stiff and that tells me everything I need to know.

I close the book slowly, setting it on the table beside me. “What is this?” I ask, my voice calm but edged with suspicion.

Antonio clears his throat, his dark eyes avoiding mine. “We’re here to watch you,” he says, his tone flat. “To make sure you don’t leave.”

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “And why would I leave?”

Zayn shifts uncomfortably in his chair, his gaze darting to Antonio before settling on the floor. Antonio’s jaw tightens, and he exhales sharply through his nose. “Lazarus,” he begins, but I cut him off.

“What’s going on?” I demand, my voice rising. “Why are you here?”

Antonio hesitates, his fingers twitching like he’s about to pull his gun and start shooting. “Konstantine is marrying Ines,” he says finally, the words heavy with implication.

The room seems to tilt, the walls closing in around me. My heart pounds in my chest, a deafening rhythm that drowns out everything else. “What?” I whisper, though I’ve heard him clearly.

“The ceremony is tonight,” Zayn adds, his voice barely audible. “We’ve been ordered to keep you from attending.”

I stand abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. “He promised our father,” I snarl, my hands clenching into fists. “He swore he wouldn’t marry her. He swore it!”

Antonio nods, his expression grim. “I know. Emmanuel made it clear to the Guardians that this marriage was not permitted.”

“Then why is it happening?” I shout, my voice reverberating off the walls. “Why are you standing here instead of stopping him?”

Zayn moves forward, his left hand raised in a placating gesture. “We’re bound by the will of the Grand Master,” he says, his voice steady but laced with regret. “We cannot challenge him.”

I laugh, a bitter, hollow sound. “You know that’s bullshit. You know what she is,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “You know Ines is Esau. Her bloodline is impure. She’s a threat to everything we’ve built.”

Antonio’s eyes narrow, and he takes a step toward me. “Careful, Lazarus,” he warns, his tone sharp. “You tread on dangerous ground.”

“Do I?” I snap, my anger boiling over. “I know you’ve been among them, Antonio. I know you’ve been working with the Esau.”

Zayn doesn’t react, his face is impassive, but Antonio’s expression darkens. “Your father commanded that I do it,” he says, his voice tight with barely restrained fury. “I am no traitor.”

“I know,” I say, my voice softening slightly. “I know you’re loyal, but how can you stand by and allow this sacrilege to occur?”

Antonio exhales sharply, his shoulders slumping. He walks over to the sideboard and pours three glasses of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the light. He hands one to Zayn and one to me, then takes a long sip from his own glass. “I have no power to override the Grand Master,” he says finally, his voice weary. “And you know that.”