New work in Progress, The Hanged Man

Hi Everyone,

Here is the first chapter and teaser of the third instalment of The Swords Series called The Hanged Man featuring Nathan and Juliet. Hope you enjoy reading it!

Sara


The Hanged Man

Chapter One

The Adeline, Bay of Biscay, March, 1893


JULIET



The devil himself pursued my tormented soul across the ship. It seemed there was no refuge from him. He would take me from my rightful mate and have me for his own. Not even death itself would free me from the chains he sought to place around my neck to hold me to his side. But he would not take me without a fight. I would not become his as easily as he wished. I had too much to lose. I belonged to my Knight of Swords. No one would be allowed to break the bond between Nathan and I. Not even if I was damned in hell for an eternity.

''Oh Juliet, my love,' he called for me in a light hearted amused tone as I ran with Marcus's holding the hands of his two children for the stern of the ship. 'How much longer are we going to play this game? Remember if you give yourself to me willingly I won't kill any more of these boring churlish humans you care so much about.'

I faltered, slowing my pace, thinking of the unfortunate humans who had met their death at dinner, only an hour before. They all died because of my stubborn belief that I could somehow outwit the devil's power. I glanced backwards wondering if I should go to him and face my would be conqueror alone to preserve the safety of the rest of the souls on the ship. I let go of the little boy and girl to address Marcus and Richard who came to an abrupt halt beside me.

'I should go to him. Perhaps, I can . . .'

Marcus frowned and shook his head.

'As Lycan leader I made your Knight of Swords a promise when you took refuge with us that I would keep you safe. I will not go back on my word and cross swords with the most powerful Taleian hybrid vampire in your race. I would cause a war between our people. You can do nothing to save the humans,' he told me with impatience glancing back along the corridor to make sure we were not followed. 'They were doomed the moment Galen and his Shadow army stepped on board this ship. This is a man who defeated Satan and took his throne in hell. Even you with your mighty power as Queen of Talus can do nothing. We must get away and hide like the others until we can get off this ship. Now let us waste no more time.'

I became angry.

'I will not hide while others die. I must help them . . . Your children, Marcus, I will not allow any harm to come to them . . .'

I began to move back up the corridor away from them with purpose ready to face my fate alone but Richard caught hold of my arm and swung me back around to face him.

'You aren't going anywhere,' he told me firmly. 'Now let's get moving before Galen comes around the corner and attempts to take you from us.'

But I was to struggle. The weight of all those deaths preyed upon my conscience more strongly than reason and I would not be stopped.

'Let me go. I will not be told what to do . . .'

Richard's dark gold eyes burned with heated determination as he pushed me forcefully back against the wall of the corridor and held me there with a strong grip on my arms. Marcus's little girl began to cry and clutch at her father's leg. Marcus stooped to rub her back and pull his son towards him. To my surprise he did nothing to stop Richard and his temper but watched with stern approval.

'I am not letting you go to him there is no knowing what he will do to you. We . . . I won't take that chance with your life,' he blurted out in his thick Scottish accent, his own eyes widening with surprise at his words.

I stared at him. He vainly tried to avoid my gaze clearly afraid of what I would read in his eyes. Richard had never shown me any care. In fact I would go so far as to say he detested my presence amongst the lycans. He did all he could to make me feel uncomfortable when Marcus's was engaged elsewhere. His rude intolerable behaviour had become worse since the night Nathan accused him of being attracted to me in London. He had so distastefully and vehemently denied it. I confess I had done my best to avoid him. Yet now he admitted to caring for my safety. He was not the only one to feel surprise. But the feeling was not shared by Marcus. There was a knowing in his eyes and fear for his second in command but he said nothing.

I looked into Richard's eyes desperately wishing he would allow me to read his mind. I would not dare attempt it without consent out of respect and because as a race the lycans strongly defended their privacy. Still I wanted to know why he suddenly felt that way. Perhaps, Nathan was right and he had all along. I wanted to know more but I did not have the time to ponder on the matter. I made to move again but once more he was to push me back hard against the wall.

'Do I have to remind you that you and your power are the only thing keeping this sinking steamship afloat and keeping the water out of the hole he has ripped through the hull,' he informed me in a deep angry tone holding my gaze to stern attention as he pinned me against the wall. 'If you go to him, he will be able to find a way to stop you then all of the humans will die anyway. You owe it to them to stay free.'

'I don't know how long I will be able to hold it upright on the water. The effort is draining energy from me. If I go to him and give him what he wants . . .' I protested trying to wriggle free from his tight unrelenting grasp.

Richard's hold tightened making me cry out. 'Do not push me any further with this nonsense, Juliet. My temper will not take it,' he told me in a dark, deep menacing voice forcing my wayward tongue to silence. 'Concentrate on keeping the ship afloat and drifting towards land as you have been doing. He has not been able to stop you doing that for some reason. Let Marcus and I worry about Galen and his army.'

I moved once more with frustration, conflicted in my plight, my own temper threatening to erupt. My resolve was sound to my mind. I would see no more die.

'Leave me Lycan or I will make you more aware of my power,' I shouted with my own menace.

But Richard would not be deterred.

'Do your worst Queen of Talus. I am not afraid. It will do no good. I will not let you sacrifice your life,' he leaned close to me his dark golden eyes firing with an orange red glow. He was so close and the way he studied my mouth, I thought for a strange moment that he might kiss me. I intensified my struggles and considered using my power against the lycan. But I refused to resort to violence even though I sensed the lycan would confusingly relish the experience. Triumphant that I had backed down, Richard seized his chance to make me capitulate.

'There is only one way to deal with such obstinacy and stubbornness in a woman, human or otherwise,' he informed me, quickly bending his form and winding an arm around my legs to lift me up into the air and swiftly over his shoulder. I gave an indignant cry but he was to pay it no heed. I heard him tell Marcus and the children to run and suddenly we were moving down the corridor.

We ran past some humans hurrying the other way. Galen was near for the humans fell to the ground with a cry, dead before they hit the carpeted floor. I let out a sob, screaming for Richard to put me down, beating my fists at his back as I watched their helpless forms fall like marionettes in a heap just as I had witnessed at dinner. He ignored me and picked up speed but we were to be thwarted. For at the end of the corridor Galen's handsome tall form emerged with a wide grin. Richard and Marcus stopped dead.

'I think you have something of mine, gentlemen. Now be good chaps and hand her over or bear the torrid consequences,' I heard him say in an eloquent English voice. 'Remember, you have seen what I can do.'

Richard's grip on my form intensified and I knew he would not give me up without a fight, perhaps to the death. I could not let him do it. I begged him to let me go but he resolutely refused.

'You know, it isn't just the humans who can be affected by my power so can the lycans and the vampires of this sorry little world,' Galen said amused.

I heard Richard give a growl of pain. Marcus followed suit and the children began to cry. suddenly Richard was down on his knees, still carrying me over his shoulder. His free hand rubbed at the intense pain in his head. I tried to move but he held on to me with shaking hands. I pleaded with Galen to let them go. Richard tried to lunge for me as the devil beckoned with his hand and a beguiling smile for me to come to him like a child. I looked upon my lycan companions including the helpless children, all in severe pain with horror. I made my choice without further hesitation. I went to the devil in the hopes of finding a way to stop him. I did not know what I was to endure before I found a way but I prayed God would give me strength to endure it. We were defeated. As I walked to Galen with his short swept back brown hair and his red golden eyes framed in a young handsome face, I did the only thing I could do in my present state. I opened my mind to Nathan and pleaded for his help on behalf of my friends, for the humans. I did not ask for myself. He believed I had betrayed him. I believed he would not find me worthy of saving.

With trembling fingers, I nervously caught hold of Galen's hand he held out to me. He pulled me to him sharply, with a laugh. He caught my shaking reluctant form in his arms and held my chin forcing my head up so he could bestow a kiss upon me. But his kiss was not a gentle one. He bit my lips with passion causing blood to drip untidily from my injured mouth. He continued his torturous assault. I screamed Nathan's name in my mind so loud and verbally against the devil's lips that I fancied I heard it reverberate off the ship and across the water. I prayed my Knight of Swords would forgive me and come to my aid for I feared I could not keep the humans alive on the boat much longer.