Free Origin of the Body by H.R. Moore Page B

find her before turning his attention back to Austin, sick to his stomach at what he had seen.
    ‘I...we...’ Austin had no words.  For a moment he seemed almost as shocked as Anthony, but as he looked down and took in his father’s lifeless form, his uncertainty vanished and he hurtled towards Anthony with furious passion.
    Anthony was caught off guard, only just making it to his feet in time to meet Austin’s assault and falling to the floor again at the impact of his attacker’s first punch.  Anthony bore very little resemblance to Alexander; where his son was tall and muscular, Anthony was average height, with a slight build and no interest in Body disciplines at all.  Austin on the other hand was muscle clad and interested in any Body discipline involving violence, the fight between them anything but fair.  Anthony never again made it to his feet, Austin on him before he could, landing punch after punch on Anthony’s untrained flesh.  Austin carried on long after Anthony’s body went limp, brutally bashing Anthony’s head against the alter steps when Peter and Alistair turned up with a third, unfamiliar man.
    ‘By the Gods,’ said Alistair as he took in the scene, inadvertently alerting Austin to their presence.  Austin snapped out of his blood rage, dropping Anthony and snatching up the knife his father had used to end Clarissa’s life.
    ‘Stay back,’ he shouted frantically, shooting a sideways glance at Mia, judging whether he could get to her and get out before the others reached him.
    The third man followed his gaze and found Mia’s terrified form, rage engulfing him when he saw who it was.  He plunged forwards, towards the front of the Temple, towards the only adult survivor of this horrific atrocity, the need to tear Austin limb from limb all consuming. 
    ‘Jeffrey,’ Alistair shouted, knowing no good could come from further violence, but Jeffrey didn’t even hear him, let alone respond.  Austin whirled around and fled, no time to pick up Mia as Jeffrey careered after him.  He rounded a corner and grabbed a fire stand, pulling it over, throwing the flames towards the generous swathes of fabric that adorned the nearest archway.  Jeffrey barely noticed the flames as he pursued, the devastating need to catch Austin all his brain would allow room for, the clear night sky now visible through the Temple entrance ahead, urging him ever faster.  He lost sight of Austin, but was certain he would make for his residence, a safe haven where nobody could touch him, his father’s private army on hand to make it so.  He’d almost reached the entrance, all his energy focused on the opening when he thought he saw a movement, something gleaming coming at him from behind the nearest pillar on his left.  He swerved, ducked his head and pulled his hands up to protect his face, but wasn’t quick enough to avoid Austin’s blow.  A solid, terrible force met with his head, his hands only able to dull the impact of a large candle stick against his temple, knocking him backwards, his feet going out from under him, sending him plummeting to the ground.
    Jeffrey tried to sit up, but was met with a ringing in his head and a blackness at the edges of his vision that threatened to engulf him so he slumped back to the floor.  Austin appeared from behind the pillar, discarded the silver candle stick and pounced, pulling out his knife and digging it into Jeffrey’s torso without so much as a second’s hesitation.  He stabbed and stabbed, stopping only when he heard the unwelcome sound of running footsteps closing in.  ‘You know Mia’s not even your daughter,’ he hissed viciously, ‘she’s Peter’s.  Only right you should know before you die,’ he said, smiling as he pushed himself to his feet and fled.
    The footsteps belonged to Alistair, who could do little to hide his horror at the sight that lay before him.  He fell to his knees next to his best friend, desperately trying to staunch the