Free Rebellion by J. D. Netto

It is clear that this boy is not ordinary.”
    “Do you take me for a fool, Nylora?” He looked at me. “Of course I remember.”
    A cunning smile appeared on Bartholomew’s face. “Old man,” he said, shifting his gaze to Othaleeon. “If you do not show us the way, we will feed on you in front of this boy.”
    “Do not help me.” Othaleeon’s voice boomed inside my mind once again. I let out a frustrated breath; my hands trembled.
    Why should I not help you? I thought, hoping he would answer me, but there was only silence.
    Bartholomew walked around the suffering man. Othaleeon’s eyes swam with tears.
    “I will ask you one last time.” The sound of breaking bones merged with Bartholomew’s voice. He crushed the man’s right leg with his left foot. Othaleeon let out a deafening scream, which turned into copious sobs. “Lead us to the throne room.”
    I tightened my grasp on my sword while I watched the horror in front of me. For a moment I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. What was this man’s plan?
    Othaleeon did not utter a single word. Nylora trailed her hands across his head, kneeling beside him.
    “Since you have denied our request, we will have to find someone else. You are becoming a burden to all of us.” A smile appeared on her face. She looked over her shoulder, bearing her eyes into mine. “I believe his lack of cooperation makes him guilty, don’t you think so, boy?”
    Tears of frustration rolled down my left cheek.
    “That makes him loyal…you beast.” My chin quivered as the words drifted from my mouth.
    Bartholomew slapped Othaleeon’s face with the back of his hand. “So keep in mind that it was loyalty that led this man to his grave.”
    The bloodbath began. They mounted Othaleeon’s body. Nylora dismembered him, pulling off his arms and drinking from the open wounds. Dahmian sank his fangs into his face, ripping apart his nose and eyes.
    “Let them kill me.” His voice once again spoke to me, only this time it sounded more like a fading whisper.
    Bartholomew tore Othaleeon’s garments from his body. With his hands, he ripped the man’s stomach open, spilling his guts on the floor. As they feasted on Othaleeon’s flesh, the wall started to melt like ice. My heart pounded as fear arose inside of me. Were my companions on the other side of this wall? Had they been captured? Were they alive?
    “I guess the old man was not so loyal after all,” Dahmian laughed, pointing his blood-covered finger at the wall. All three stood to their feet, their clothes, hands, and faces smeared in blood.

VI
    The throne room sat in darkness. My eyes surveyed the room, searching for my companions, but they were nowhere to be seen. I did not know if I was to feel joy or sorrow at this moment. Had they escaped? Had they been kidnapped?
    “Where are you?” Bartholomew shouted, kicking one of the chairs to the ground. “We know you are here, Demyon.”
    All the furniture lay untouched. A low fire still burned in the fireplace.
    “How did you find us?” I asked Bartholomew as he paced around the room.
    “That is none of your concern,” Nylora snapped as she, along with Dahmian, approached the empty throne.
    “Well, Nylora. I can answer my own questions.” A smirk appeared on Bartholomew’s face. “We followed the Capios here. Once Xavier came to encounter Nephele and Erebos in the Heart of Elysium, we knew we had a chance of finding the book-bearers.”
    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard the name of the one that had brought me so much rage.
    “You saw Nephele?” My mind was polluted with memories of the last time I had seen her.
    Bartholomew pursed his lips. “Is she any of your concern?” He narrowed his eyes.
    She was of my concern. I wanted her dead.
    Bartholomew pressed his fingers against his chin, turning his face to Dahmian.
    “This boy annoys me. How come he is not dead yet?” he asked.
    “I do not think you want to kill him.” I was relieved to