The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

Even with the possibility of aneternity within the city to do my work, I knew that there werepractical constraints on the time that I had. Eventually Mal’gorothwould wonder at the lack of communication from his underlings andcome to check on them. Whether that was a matter of hours or daysor longer, I couldn’t be sure. I had decided to give myself onlytwenty-four hours, one day, before ending the effect and moving onto my next target.

That meant my deadline was sunset. Iintended to end the enchantment at the same time I had begun it.That would make it even more difficult for them to realize what hadhappened. I laughed even more when I thought of the confusion thiswould create for those who charted the year and marked the phasesof the moon. Someone would figure it out—eventually, but I wouldn’tbe the one to tell them.

I laughed again and began to skip.Death does not come to us solemnly, but rather with a smile and aspring in his step. Or at least, that day in Albamarl, he did. IfDeath didn’t like my stylistic interpretation of his job, he waswelcome to come and discuss his differences with me.

While I concerned myself primarilywith official buildings and places where the usurper’s men wouldbe, I encountered numerous interesting doings on the streetsthemselves. Here and there I found people fighting, and each time Ichose one to slay. I couldn’t be certain of the reason for each ofthe fights, but since I was representing the underdog today, Ialways slew the person who seemed to have the upper-hand, unless Ihad some way of telling if one of them served Tremont.

It was a night full of delightfulchoices, and by the time I reached the palace itself I had alreadyslain thousands. My inner voice argued and railed against some ofmy choices, but I didn’t care. The euphoria of so many lives takenmade it impossible for me to feel down. Most of the time, if theywere clearly in the service of the usurper, my conscience kept hisdamn mouth shut.

The palace was full of surprises.Along with the expected soldiers, I found ten of the ‘god-seeds’.The weakened Dark Gods were no more trouble for me than the others.I drained each one of its power, and then, when they were reducedto virtually nothing, I trapped the remainder of each one within aspell. I stored them as small glowing spheres within one of mypouches. I had no way of destroying the spellweaving that sustainedeach one, but I could imprison them indefinitely. Later I plannedto create a permanent enchantment to hold each one, similar to theone that had created the God-Stone.

I saved the best for last.

Andrew Tremont was in the feast hall,preparing to sit down for dinner. After I killed most of theothers, which was nearly everyone being served, I turned to him. Ihad left the palace servants and maids unharmed, but they wouldhave quite a shock when the enchantment ended.

Tremont was standing, witha frozen half-smile on his corpulent face. Looking on him, I felt aburning hatred that seemed to be echoed by my inner voice.If anyone deserves to die today, this onedeserves it more than all the others combined.

The bubble of normal time around mewould free my victims once I had approached to within a couple offeet of them. I moved close and watched with enjoyment as Tremontbecame aware of me, but I didn’t kill him—yet. His face cycledthrough a gamut of different emotions—surprise, shock, anger, andthen fear. I liked the last one most of all.

“Did you miss me, Andrew?”

He was nearly unable to speak. While Ihad divested myself of the majority of my power when empowering theenchantment around the city, I had gained almost another fullCelior in strength from drawing the life out of so many healthypeople. The pressure of that much concentrated aythar right next tohim nearly crushed his will instantly. It was the same effect I hadencountered so many times in the past when facing the ShiningGods.

I didn’t bother trying to shieldmyself or dampen the effect at all. I wanted him todespair.

“How?” he managed tostammer.

“Did you think Mal’goroth was going toprotect you? You’re just a toy to him, a plaything. He’ll gain justas much pleasure from hearing of your slow death as I will gainwhile giving it to you,” I taunted, whispering in his ear. I wascareful not to touch, lest I inadvertently kill him.

“But you’re dead…”

I suppressed the urge to laugh. “I amdead, or more appropriately I am death. Unfortunately for you, Istill have a considerable grudge against you, and your actions oflate have not endeared you to me. In fact, I think I might hate youeven more than Mal’goroth.”

His face twisted into a defiantgrimace, which I hadn’t expected. Apparently Tremont was made ofstiffer stuff than I had thought. “If you’re going to kill me, justget it over with. I’d rather not listen to your whining drivel,” hereplied.

“Your wish is my command, Majesty,” Ianswered sarcastically, “but it will not be quick oreasy.”

Andrew Tremont attempted to spit then,but his mouth had gone dry from fear. “You haven’t got the guts,boy. I know you better than you know yourself. You’re too craven totorture anyone.”

“You really are a sick bastard,” Itold him, “to think that cowardice and torture have anything to dowith one another. It’s quite the opposite really. My consciencethinks you should die swiftly, painlessly, for justice and nothingmore, but I don’t care what my conscience says anymore. Today I’mmaking a special exception. I’m going to lower myself to yourlevel.” Finishing that sentence, I used a tiny bit of aythar toremove one of his thumbnails, ripping it free with little more thana thought.

He screamed and I smiled, althoughsomewhere, far away, I felt a sickening twist in my stomach. Iignored it, and began removing the other nails, one byone.

That task took less than two or threeminutes, even including the toes, and I realized I would have to bea lot more creative if I didn’t want things to end too quickly. Idecided to burn his digits off, one by one. Fire had the addedbonus of