Page 103 of Castle

“Shut up and keep walking!”

Finally, we made it downstairs, and he led us outside of the mansion, into the mansion gardens. Theo was nowhere in sight. He was probably sleeping, unaware of what was going on. Chandler would be confused when he finds out that we are dead. I felt bad for them. They would find out their oldest brother was gone and their sister-in-law slaughtered in the process.

What would happen to Theo after we were gone? Devin would no doubt make his life miserable.

We stood facing each other in the mansion gardens.

The moon remained hidden behind the tall pine trees. The gust of wind reminded me of how thin the gown’s fabric was. It didn’t matter what I was wearing anymore; I was going tobe buried in the family cemetery on the grounds. I wouldn’t be allowed outside of this property even after death. The irony was laughable and sick in equal measures.

I hated this place. It reminded me of a luxurious prison, but I had hoped with the return of Castle that it would change.

I had wanted a good life for us.

Castle and I both deserved it.

I looked up at the mansion’s top-floor window and noticed a dark figure against the glass. Grandpa Hugh continued to watch us as his mad step-grandson held us at gunpoint.

“Get down on your knees, both of you!” Devin commanded.

“Dev, can we talk this out, please?” Castle asked him. “I promise you no games.”

A gunshot roared through the air, and I yelled loudly. A bullet was shot in the ground, “Down, or the next bullet goes through her.”

Reluctantly, I kneeled.

Castle kneeled beside me, his hands above his head.

What was all the staff doing?

Couldn’t they hear the gunshot?

Where the hell was Winston?

I imagined Devin could have threatened them to ignore tonight’s occurrence. It wasn’t unusual for Devin to threaten people to get things done his way.

I had images of our bodies on the ground next to each other. And the news headline that I’d killed him and then killed myself.

“Devin, you don’t have to do this.”

“Sure I do.” He said, his face contorting in anger. The veins in his forehead almost popping, “This is all your fault, if you hadn’t meddled in my family business, you wouldn’t be here and Castle would have been dead like he should be.”

“You can kill me, but let her go,” Castle said.

“Not a chance,” Devin snapped.

“I just need to know something. You carried out those rituals, didn’t you?” Castle asked.

“So what if I did?!” Devin was breathing hard, still holding the gun to me. “Grandpa needed someone to carry out the rituals, the cult needed to move forward with a leader and I was the perfect candidate! The best!”

Devin was not just crazy, but also delusional.

“I know what you’re doing, talking to me like this. You’re buying time.” Devin chuckled, “It won’t work. The police want nothing to do with us, Cas. You of all people, should know that. They are aware of the power we wield, and nothing that happens here tonight will make it out of these gates.”

Castle and I exchanged looks. He wasn’t giving me any signal, nothing that could prove that we were getting out of here alive!

Had he given up so easily? Was he only trying to gather information so he could die knowing the truth?

“What do you want, Devin? Name it and it’s yours.”

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