Page 92 of The Healing Dragon
“You think I’m going to give Oliver a burial because of you?” Sorrow fills his eyes as he looks at the man in my arms. The recognition is evident.
“You knew him.” It’s not a question.
“Oliver was born and raised in the Black Castle. His family has been here for generations. His cousin works in the kitchen to this day.”
I never saw or heard of a friendship between Oliver and anyone outside of my father’s men. Looking back, he was never friendly to my father’s men. My father trusted him mostly around me, but that might also be because my father never noticed any nefarious intentions in him.
“He never said he knew any of you.” I look up at Roman.
“He left a long time ago and never came back. He told Jesse in your father’s hide out that he couldn't leave you. ”
“Me?” I sit back, but I feel as if gravity is dragging me down.
“He stuck by you, Janelle. He was your shadow in that house of horrors. Oliver was loyal to the crown, but he was more loyal to your wellbeing.”
I let my head lead forward and fall on Oli. How stupidly selfless. He always had a place to escape to. I imagined he stayed with my father because he had nowhere to go. I doubthe knew about the attack any sooner than me, but I will never know. He can’t tell me now.
“There is only one person guilty here, Janelle. That’s your father.”
“He is coming,” I say, looking down at Oli. “Oli said he is coming.”
Olis’ death is a personal attack on me. My father wanted to hurt me. The wound is supposed to weaken me for the fight. He will come for me next.
Roman calls for a soldier. “Send word to King Oscuro. The Black Castle will be under attack by nightfall.”
He looks up at the sky as if asking the sun if it would stay up longer to buy us time. There isn’t much light left. The castle is filled with powerful people, but there are far more vulnerable innocents. If rumors in the halls are to be believed, Brandon took even more soldiers when he added paying my father’s hide out a visit to his agenda.
The ones gone to the underworld might be our undoing. There is no coincidence about it.
“Attacks at nightfall.” Roman shakes his head. “What a cliché asshole your father is.”
Oli is put on a stretcher and carried to the clinic’s castle.
“We will get him ready for the funeral ceremony. He is one of us and deserves to be sent off like it.” Amy Bee gives me a gentle smile I saw her give to her patients.
In a way, it soothes the ache in my heart. As if the pain I feel isn’t unique to me. I’m not alone. But only I can do what needs to be done next. Is this what the Fates had referred to as opportunities to do what is right?
Amy Bee gestures to Roman, getting his attention. “I have a way of contacting someone at Fierno. This person might get to Brandon quicker than a messenger.”
“Please do so,” he says, then turns to me. “If only you hadyour magic. It would be fitting for your father to meet his end with it.”
Amy Bee clears her throat. “I will be back with something.”
I watch the sun slowly hide behind the mountain peaks. I know two things for certain. One, my father will come tonight and I will be here to receive him. Second, only one of us will live to see tomorrow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
JESSE
Regardless of the number of times I’ve visited Fierno, there is always something that manages to surprise me. This time it’s a festival for the dead. Colorful decorations are covering every available surface. Abandoned and nearly burned down buildings are not spared. Every light post has a crown of yellow and orange flowers and paper cut out banners connecting them from one to the other.
“Who pays for all of this?” I ask.
The place still looks half inhabited and full of rubbish, but festive.
“One of the crime families. I believe their name is Robles,” Bianca says with a pleased expression. “I love the streets during this time of the year.”
“Why?” Brandon and I say at the same time, referring to the reason the crime family does all this.
