The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 30 [death's harvester]

Larkin’s grip tightened to the point where my bones creaked in protest.

“I think it is Dizelde’s own choice, and you and I both know that she would choose to stay here,” Luke said, not even looking at me and yet somehow knowing my preference. Why did he even want me here? Why did any of these guys care?

“I’m sure,” Scythe said with a peaceful smile, “that she would prefer to stay here, with boys her own age, but she’s sixteen and I am her lawful guardian. I don’t even know you kids, how can I trust her with you?”

“You never adopted her,” Larkin said in a low voice, his entire body still tense.

Luke lifted his hand off the table slightly and whatever Larkin was about to say next was held back.

“What my friend says is right,” Luke said, his eyes boring into Scythe. “There are no documents anywhere saying that you are legally her guardian. It is good that you keep her best interests under consideration however Dizelde isn’t going anywhere. Not with you, or with the ten people you’ve had surround the house. You won’t take her by request or by force. You may have told nothing but the truth, Michaels, but none of us here in this room is fooled.”

My eyes widened. He had seemed so relaxed, calm, but Luke was definitely aware of his surroundings, as much as a highly paranoid person.

Scythe actually looked nervous rather than angry. “What reason do you have for keeping her here? You’ve known her for less than a month and I’m not taking her away to be harmed.”

“Your life’s at stake in this, isn’t it?” Larkin said suddenly, his expression changing to a sneer. “You’ve gotten yourself into a bit of trouble, haven’t you?”

I was missing something, something that Larkin and probably Luke had picked up on. If Scythe had gotten into trouble, which meant there was another person or party involved in this. He wanted me out of this house because if he didn’t, his life was in danger?

It hit me like a slap in the face with a leaded hand. The phone call last night. The man had threatened twelve hours. And I was still here so he had sent someone to collect me.

Pieces began to connect, information sliding around until Scythe’s ‘honest’ explanation fit what I now knew. The man who wanted me, to use me, had told Scythe to get me to escape. He was the acquaintance who was meant to pick me up. And since Scythe had failed in getting me to him, my former guardian had been threatened, and now he was here. I looked at Scythe with a new insight. He had given me the opportunity to leave one hell to find another. I’d had conflicting feelings about him all of my life but now it was just distaste and anger, as well as that small amount of fear that had always been with me whenever he was around ever since I was a small child. I hated this man.

“She’s coming out of here with me whether you like it or not!” Scythe hissed.

“She is not,” was all Luke said in return. He rose from the table and lifted his hand in the direction of the door. “You can make it simple and leave or you can invite your friends in and leave at a later time. Either way, Wesley, you will not be leaving with Dizelde.”