Sebastian
No sleep came to us as we waited for my guards to drag Duke Spry into my house. He must have been putting up quite the fight for them to not have come back yet. The sun rose as I kept re-reading the papers. I was going insane. They kept running into the same dead end I ran into repeatedly. The victims disappeared, and no trace can be found to where they were led.
A knock came at my door. I swiftly strode to it, flinging it open. A guard stood there, standing up straight.
"Prince Sebastian, per your orders we have taken Duke Spry into custody." He saluted me.
"What took so long?" I hissed as I pushed by him.
"He... resisted and demanded time to send out a crow to the other dukes." He looked down at the floor.
"And you let him?!" I snapped back towards him. He shrunk into himself. I can't believe Sir Garrett left all the newbies here with me. What was he thinking? I grumbled as I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Where is he now?" I asked sharply.
"He's in the prison cellar." He followed behind me closely. I turned the corner and headed to the courtyard. The prison cellar was set up just outside behind the barracks. My father rarely used them because, well let's face it, my father didn't need to. And we're starting to see the consequences of reigning the way he does.
I passed by several maids and butlers cleaning up the mess from yesterday's fiascos. I need to give them a nice bonus pay. I fumbled in my pocket, pulling out a tie for my hair. I pulled it up as I weaved through the barracks, making my way to a drab little rock structure. I halted at the door, before inhaling deeply, turning to the guard who followed me.
"You..." I raised a brow at him, I didn't know his name, I didn't quite care. "You whatever your name is. You're not to come in here. At all. Neither is anyone else. You do..." I leaned over him, grinning, "I'll gut you like a fish."
"Y... Yes sir!" He saluted then hastily turned away from me to guard the entrance.
I pushed open the rusted door, as it let out an eerie creak that made Azazel groan. I walked down the small stone steps that descended into the dark cavern. I heard Duke Spry cussing and demanding to speak with me. His voice was ten times more irritating than normal due to the echo.
I stopped just at his cell's entrance, he was sitting by himself, tied down with a sack over his head. I rolled at my eyes at how cliche that was. These guards will never learn, will they?
I ripped the sack off the top of Melvin's face, he flung his head around wildly. His disgusting face was bright red as snot hung from his nose. He was an unimpressive man. Normal height, terrible looks, the only thing he had on him was his status. What good is that when I'm here.
"The hell Prince Sebastian?! What is the meaning of this!" He spat at me. I walked over to the corner of the cell, there was a wooden chair sitting there. I grabbed it, dragging it across the room, making sure to make the sound ear-piercing. Melvin tried to hide his ears in his shoulders as the legs scratched across the floor. I pulled it up in front of him, spinning it on one leg. I then stopped it once the back was facing him and sat down on it. I crossed my arms and plopped my chin on my forearms.
"You know why you're here." I sucked my teeth as I stared at him. He looked at me, slightly confused.
"You're too late on that part, Sebastian, I sent a letter to the Lahnust clan yesterday!"
"Excuse the fuck out of me..." I stood up, knocking the chair over. I quickly grabbed his chin. "YOU DID WHAT?!" I dug my nails into his chin, drawing blood. He winced and cried, trying to pull away.
"I swear... it was just... a thank-you letter!" He sobbed. I tore my hand away from his face. Azazel rumbled, he wasn't happy that a letter was sent, even if it was a thank-you letter.
"I have you here for another reason... Duke," I seethed at him. I started to circle him like a predator would do when they're zeroing in on their prey. I placed my hands on his shoulders and squeezed them.
"You're here because I want to know where you got that drug for your cousins to use on Lilith," I released his shoulders as I made my way to stand in front of him. He looked up at me, at first confused, then his face switched to angry.
"I don't know what you're implying, but I didn't..." Cutting him off, I scoffed. I went and grabbed the chair, pulling it up. I took a seat, crossing my legs as I leaned back.
"Cut the shit. I have no patience today. You're going to tell me what you know..." I leaned forward with a look that made the man tremble. "Or I'll make sure to send you back home, in tiny... cut up pieces."
"You wouldn't dare!" he hissed. My hand shot out, grabbing him by his short neck. His eyes bulged out of his noggin as I tightened my grip. I snarled as I got close to his face.
"I'M NOT FUCKING AROUND!" Spit flew out of my mouth, splattering on his face as he tried to beg to get air. His face started turning purple, his lips turning blue and that's when I released him. He choked and gasped for air as his head flopped forward.
"I... I don't know who we got it from! I swear!" He cried hoarsely.
"LIAR!" Azazel roared inside me as I lunged at Melvin. My nail grew into a talon, I stuck it in his forearm and drug it downwards. I leaned into his ear as blood flowed from his arm, spilling onto the floor.
"You can't do this! When your father hears of this!" He sobbed out.
"My father? When my father hears of you and the other dukes conspiring behind his back, selling and distributing this drug, what do you think he'll do? Give you a gold medal?" I removed my nail from his arm. I grabbed him by the face again, this time squeezing harder. I could feel the jaw joint groan under the pressure.
"You and your little buddies will be eradicated when he gets back. You have no protection; titles can be striped, you little weasel. Now tell me... who sold that to you?"
"No one! Someone in a purple hood with gold etchings on it gave it to us for a trial run!" He cried out. I let go of his face. Purple hoods? Gold etchings? That doesn't sound familiar. I paced back and forth, pondering over my notes in my head.
"There's an old man who you can contact... from what I've heard." Duke Spry meekly spoke up. I stopped, glaring down at him.
"Spit it out then!" I hissed.
"He works at Cranston's book store!" He winced into himself. He. WHAT?!
I stormed out of the cellar, leaving him crying, begging for me to come back to untie him. I busted through the door. I snapped my fingers at the guard who was standing there.
"Get me a horse and a couple of guards, we're heading to Cranston's bookstore." I snapped orders. They didn't hesitate, they saluted me and moved quickly. I can't believe Lilith was put into this situation all because of my curiosity. I dug my nails into the palms of my hands.
Two guards rode up with a horse. I quickly hopped on.
"Thank you..." I tilted my head as I squeezed the sides of the horse, trotting towards the gate exit.
The sun was set in the sky, indicating to me, it was noon already. We quickly trotted into the shopping district; people were looking curiously up at us as we pushed our way through the crowds.