Navigation

Gohen: Redemption

Beta: Ilye, Fimbrethiel

chapter nine

Van Buren County, Missouri, 1843

This was Maglor's fault, Erestor thought, his mood continuing to darken the more his thought of the predicament he found himself in.

Erestor stared out of the dingy window into the street below. He was beginning to truly hate America. The Noldo longed for the cool summers of Europe and the gentle refinery of the upper classes. Maglor had wanted to see America, so they had come. Now all Erestor wanted was to board a steam ship east again. But, no, he had to hide.

And hide he did.

He had been running from the sheriff for a month now. The other day, while in the general store, he had seen that the damned Sheriff had issued a 'Wanted' poster for him! 'Dead or Alive' and a bounty of $100 on his head made him someone the locals wanted to find. Erestor, though, did not want to be found. He sighed and scanned the crowd in the busy evening streets and, for the thousandth time, prayed to the Valar to let him make the six o'clock train out of Missouri.

Erestor stood and looked about the small room one last time. He did not have luggage; he carried only cash for his trip. The vampire would be happy to leave the trials of the western life behind. He left his room and started down the stairs, his heart racing. He stopped just before he reached the bottom, his dark eyes widening as he gazed over the figures milling about the lobby of the hotel.

One of the men, an elder gentleman Erestor recognized as the lackey of the Mayor of Kansas City, turned his head to the stairs. Their eyes met; the man's lips curved into a cruel smile. Erestor turned and sped back up the stairs, the shouts of the men and their footfalls on the floor ringing in his ears. He had to get out. His eyes, wild as a corner animal's, sought an exit. The only thing on the second floor for an escape was a window. And no ladder.

Erestor took a deep breath and lifted the window open, sticking his head out to scan the ground below his perch. The sun was setting and the folks who usually walked below the establishment were having their evening meals. The street was clear -- no one would see him -- and so Erestor climbed out the window and jumped. He landed soundlessly, his muscles easily absorbing the shock of his fall.

"Logan!"

The shout was rough and angry; Erestor lifted his head and saluted the man. He turned and ran off, not thinking of where he was running to, just that he needed to be as far away from those men as was possible. As he ran, Erestor pulled out his pocket watch. "Dammit!" he growled, glaring at the clock face. It was almost six -- he would miss his train.

"Logan! Stop!"

Erestor bit back his annoyance. Would these humans ever stop? He continued to run, determined to elude his hunters. There was a sharp sound behind him, something that made his ears ring, and then he was on the ground. His knee throbbed from the bullet that had pierced him from behind. Damn this race and their weapons! He glared up at the man who still held the instrument of his capture.

"Ya ain't gettin' away 'rom us this time, Logan," the Mayor's lackey said.

The vampire laughed. "I'll disappear before we ever return to Kansas City, Zack." He could already feel his body repairing the torn muscle, cartilage and ligaments.

Zack smiled evilly. "I don' think we'll hav' ta worry 'bout that, Logan. You're never gonna make it back ta Kansas City. Mayor's happy to have ya hang here."

Well, what had he expected? His 'crimes' were punishable without even a trial, though he was entitled to one. Erestor did not put up much of a struggle when the other men arrived, tying his arms behind him and forcing him to march to the Sheriff's station. He needed to feed for his knee to heal enough for him to run again, but with so many people around, it was an impossible task.

He was trapped.

Erestor rested against the cold cell wall, watching as the stars began to light the night sky. Once again, he reminded himself that his current predicament was all Maglor's fault. That Elf would be the undoing of him, he just knew it. Erestor could hear the low din of a crowd, which came closer and closer. So, it was time. The Mayor, who was safe in his warm bed in Kansas City, would have his revenge. The Noldo sighed and stood, wincing in pain when he put pressure on his left knee.

Zack appeared at his cell door. "Ya ready, Logan? The crowd's waitin' on ya... See, they don' like yer kind here."

"I doubt they like much of any kind here, Zack," Erestor snapped, crossing his arms. "Do I not get a trial?"

"No, don' think so. Mayor was very specific in 'is demand. Victor Logan was not to leave this city alive. And ya won' be. It's been weeks since this town has had a hangin'!" Zack's eyes were wild with anticipation, and all Erestor wanted to do was reach through the bars of his tiny cell and strangle the man.

Instead, he smiled. "Then hadn't we best give the crowd what they want?" If he was to be lynched then so be it, but he was not going to give this pathetic excuse for life the pleasure of seeing him panic. Erestor turned around, offering his clasped hands to his warden. Zack quickly and securely tied Erestor's hands and then opened the cell door.

Zack tugged at the sleeve of Erestor's shirt. "C'mon. Don' wanna keep yer public waitin'."

Erestor was led from the small building and into the streets. Everyone in the town had assembled, holding torches and jeering at him as he was walked to a tall, thick-trunked tree. Erestor's heart beat wildly in his chest, and he limped painfully alongside his captor. Zack's hand tightened on his upper arm, reminding Erestor that escape was not an option.

Another man, taller and more muscular than Zack, tossed a long length of rope over one of the thicker limbs of the tree. Dangling on the end that now hung loose was a noose. He closed his eyes as he was turned to face the crowd of onlookers. Erestor opened his eyes again when the noose was tightened around his neck; Zack laughed near his ear.

"We should jus' string you up, let ya die slowly. But, we have women folk in the crowd, and they won' like that much." Zack motioned for a cart, drawn by a horse, to be brought to the tree. "Up ya go, Logan."

Erestor climbed onto the back of the cart awkwardly, his injured knee throbbing and his bound hands hindering him. He stood tall, his eyes forward and his lips set in a grim line. Hanging was not something he had endured before, and there was a small knot of fear in his stomach.

"Let 'im drop!"

The cart was wrenched out from his feet. Had Erestor been mortal, the sudden jerk of the rope would have broken his neck. Even with his enhanced stamina, the pain of the rope was not inconsiderable. Erestor did not need to breathe; that is, the lack of oxygen would not kill him, but it would still be damned uncomfortable and do damage to his body that only feeding would remedy. The rope was tight around his neck, cutting into his flesh and working to collapse his throat.

He struggled enough to satisfy the gathered crowd, made strangled noises, and counted to one hundred before he sagged heavily from the rope. Erestor remained still, listening to Zack recount the 'crimes' he had committed followed by the crowd's hissing and derision while someone else tied the rope off to a stake in the ground. In his mind, though, he was ticking through all the reasons he still had not killed Maglor.

By the chill and silence, Erestor supposed it was well after midnight. His neck hurt from the weight placed on it, and he had one hell of a splitting headache. The soft sounds of a horse, laden with rider, came close to where he hung.

"You know, Zack is a bitter man," the musical voice called up to him. "And he hates you."

Erestor pulled at the rope behind his back, easily pulling his hands from his bonds. He slipped his fingers under the tight noose and looked down into the glittering eyes of Maglor. "Really?" he rasped out sarcastically. "I couldn't tell."

"Now, now, is that any way to behave?" Maglor chided. "It isn't my fault that Zack convinced the Mayor that it was you he'd seen leaving the saloon that night."

Erestor pulled himself up as much as he could so that he could bellow, "Of course it's your fault! You're the one that was leaving!"

"Twaddle! I'm sure Zack would have tried to pin it on you even if it hadn't been me."

"And the fact that from the back, in the dark, we look almost identical had nothing to do with it, I'm sure."

"After the way you cleaned him out in the poker tournament, he'd been looking for something to blame on you."

"How nice of you to provide him something, then. Now, are you going to get me down or not?" Erestor's fingers were beginning to ache from the strain of holding his body up.

Maglor sighed. "Oh, very well." He drew a revolver from his holster, took a casual aim, and fired. The bullet split the rope just above the tie-off at the stake, and Erestor fell heavily to the ground in a heap.

The younger Noldo struggled to his feet. His knee was still twisted at an odd angle from the gunshot wound, and his muscles were weak from the lack of oxygen and the strain of hanging for so long. "Thanks," he muttered.

Maglor reached down with one hand and lifted Erestor onto the horse behind him. He turned the mare and started slowly back on the road out of town. For a long time, the only sounds were the dusty footfalls of the horse and the whistle of the wind. Finally, Maglor said softly, "Well, I suppose I owe you a dollar, then."

Erestor chuckled roughly. "I told you he was the Mayor's son."

"Yes, but who would have thought that such an uptight man would have had such a beautiful son!"

"Even so, Maglor, you could have shown a little more discretion!" Erestor wrapped his arms tighter around his lover's waist and leaned in close. "I mean, honestly, renting a room for your little tryst in the saloon and not expecting anyone to notice! Especially with the way you carried on!"

"If you'd had that mouth on you, you'd not have been able to control yourself either!" Maglor laughed.

Erestor shook his head, unable to control his own laughter. "Oh, very well. Keep your dollar. Just tell me all about it!"


	Navigation multi-story arcs previous next		Gohen: Redemption Beta: Ilye, Fimbrethiel chapter nine Van Buren County, Missouri, 1843 This was Maglor's fault, Erestor thought, his mood continuing to darken the more his thought of the predicament he found himself in. Erestor stared out of the dingy window into the street below. He was beginning to truly hate America. The Noldo longed for the cool summers of Europe and the gentle refinery of the upper classes. Maglor had wanted to see America, so they had come. Now all Erestor wanted was to board a steam ship east again. But, no, he had to hide. And hide he did. He had been running from the sheriff for a month now. The other day, while in the general store, he had seen that the damned Sheriff had issued a 'Wanted' poster for him! 'Dead or Alive' and a bounty of $100 on his head made him someone the locals wanted to find. Erestor, though, did not want to be found. He sighed and scanned the crowd in the busy evening streets and, for the thousandth time, prayed to the Valar to let him make the six o'clock train out of Missouri. Erestor stood and looked about the small room one last time. He did not have luggage; he carried only cash for his trip. The vampire would be happy to leave the trials of the western life behind. He left his room and started down the stairs, his heart racing. He stopped just before he reached the bottom, his dark eyes widening as he gazed over the figures milling about the lobby of the hotel. One of the men, an elder gentleman Erestor recognized as the lackey of the Mayor of Kansas City, turned his head to the stairs. Their eyes met; the man's lips curved into a cruel smile. Erestor turned and sped back up the stairs, the shouts of the men and their footfalls on the floor ringing in his ears. He had to get out. His eyes, wild as a corner animal's, sought an exit. The only thing on the second floor for an escape was a window. And no ladder. Erestor took a deep breath and lifted the window open, sticking his head out to scan the ground below his perch. The sun was setting and the folks who usually walked below the establishment were having their evening meals. The street was clear -- no one would see him -- and so Erestor climbed out the window and jumped. He landed soundlessly, his muscles easily absorbing the shock of his fall. "Logan!" The shout was rough and angry; Erestor lifted his head and saluted the man. He turned and ran off, not thinking of where he was running to, just that he needed to be as far away from those men as was possible. As he ran, Erestor pulled out his pocket watch. "Dammit!" he growled, glaring at the clock face. It was almost six -- he would miss his train. "Logan! Stop!" Erestor bit back his annoyance. Would these humans ever stop? He continued to run, determined to elude his hunters. There was a sharp sound behind him, something that made his ears ring, and then he was on the ground. His knee throbbed from the bullet that had pierced him from behind. Damn this race and their weapons! He glared up at the man who still held the instrument of his capture. "Ya ain't gettin' away 'rom us this time, Logan," the Mayor's lackey said. The vampire laughed. "I'll disappear before we ever return to Kansas City, Zack." He could already feel his body repairing the torn muscle, cartilage and ligaments. Zack smiled evilly. "I don' think we'll hav' ta worry 'bout that, Logan. You're never gonna make it back ta Kansas City. Mayor's happy to have ya hang here." Well, what had he expected? His 'crimes' were punishable without even a trial, though he was entitled to one. Erestor did not put up much of a struggle when the other men arrived, tying his arms behind him and forcing him to march to the Sheriff's station. He needed to feed for his knee to heal enough for him to run again, but with so many people around, it was an impossible task. He was trapped. Erestor rested against the cold cell wall, watching as the stars began to light the night sky. Once again, he reminded himself that his current predicament was all Maglor's fault. That Elf would be the undoing of him, he just knew it. Erestor could hear the low din of a crowd, which came closer and closer. So, it was time. The Mayor, who was safe in his warm bed in Kansas City, would have his revenge. The Noldo sighed and stood, wincing in pain when he put pressure on his left knee. Zack appeared at his cell door. "Ya ready, Logan? The crowd's waitin' on ya... See, they don' like yer kind here." "I doubt they like much of any kind here, Zack," Erestor snapped, crossing his arms. "Do I not get a trial?" "No, don' think so. Mayor was very specific in 'is demand. Victor Logan was not to leave this city alive. And ya won' be. It's been weeks since this town has had a hangin'!" Zack's eyes were wild with anticipation, and all Erestor wanted to do was reach through the bars of his tiny cell and strangle the man. Instead, he smiled. "Then hadn't we best give the crowd what they want?" If he was to be lynched then so be it, but he was not going to give this pathetic excuse for life the pleasure of seeing him panic. Erestor turned around, offering his clasped hands to his warden. Zack quickly and securely tied Erestor's hands and then opened the cell door. Zack tugged at the sleeve of Erestor's shirt. "C'mon. Don' wanna keep yer public waitin'." Erestor was led from the small building and into the streets. Everyone in the town had assembled, holding torches and jeering at him as he was walked to a tall, thick-trunked tree. Erestor's heart beat wildly in his chest, and he limped painfully alongside his captor. Zack's hand tightened on his upper arm, reminding Erestor that escape was not an option. Another man, taller and more muscular than Zack, tossed a long length of rope over one of the thicker limbs of the tree. Dangling on the end that now hung loose was a noose. He closed his eyes as he was turned to face the crowd of onlookers. Erestor opened his eyes again when the noose was tightened around his neck; Zack laughed near his ear. "We should jus' string you up, let ya die slowly. But, we have women folk in the crowd, and they won' like that much." Zack motioned for a cart, drawn by a horse, to be brought to the tree. "Up ya go, Logan." Erestor climbed onto the back of the cart awkwardly, his injured knee throbbing and his bound hands hindering him. He stood tall, his eyes forward and his lips set in a grim line. Hanging was not something he had endured before, and there was a small knot of fear in his stomach. "Let 'im drop!" The cart was wrenched out from his feet. Had Erestor been mortal, the sudden jerk of the rope would have broken his neck. Even with his enhanced stamina, the pain of the rope was not inconsiderable. Erestor did not need to breathe; that is, the lack of oxygen would not kill him, but it would still be damned uncomfortable and do damage to his body that only feeding would remedy. The rope was tight around his neck, cutting into his flesh and working to collapse his throat. He struggled enough to satisfy the gathered crowd, made strangled noises, and counted to one hundred before he sagged heavily from the rope. Erestor remained still, listening to Zack recount the 'crimes' he had committed followed by the crowd's hissing and derision while someone else tied the rope off to a stake in the ground. In his mind, though, he was ticking through all the reasons he still had not killed Maglor. By the chill and silence, Erestor supposed it was well after midnight. His neck hurt from the weight placed on it, and he had one hell of a splitting headache. The soft sounds of a horse, laden with rider, came close to where he hung. "You know, Zack is a bitter man," the musical voice called up to him. "And he hates you." Erestor pulled at the rope behind his back, easily pulling his hands from his bonds. He slipped his fingers under the tight noose and looked down into the glittering eyes of Maglor. "Really?" he rasped out sarcastically. "I couldn't tell." "Now, now, is that any way to behave?" Maglor chided. "It isn't my fault that Zack convinced the Mayor that it was you he'd seen leaving the saloon that night." Erestor pulled himself up as much as he could so that he could bellow, "Of course it's your fault! You're the one that was leaving!" "Twaddle! I'm sure Zack would have tried to pin it on you even if it hadn't been me." "And the fact that from the back, in the dark, we look almost identical had nothing to do with it, I'm sure." "After the way you cleaned him out in the poker tournament, he'd been looking for something to blame on you." "How nice of you to provide him something, then. Now, are you going to get me down or not?" Erestor's fingers were beginning to ache from the strain of holding his body up. Maglor sighed. "Oh, very well." He drew a revolver from his holster, took a casual aim, and fired. The bullet split the rope just above the tie-off at the stake, and Erestor fell heavily to the ground in a heap. The younger Noldo struggled to his feet. His knee was still twisted at an odd angle from the gunshot wound, and his muscles were weak from the lack of oxygen and the strain of hanging for so long. "Thanks," he muttered. Maglor reached down with one hand and lifted Erestor onto the horse behind him. He turned the mare and started slowly back on the road out of town. For a long time, the only sounds were the dusty footfalls of the horse and the whistle of the wind. Finally, Maglor said softly, "Well, I suppose I owe you a dollar, then." Erestor chuckled roughly. "I told you he was the Mayor's son." "Yes, but who would have thought that such an uptight man would have had such a beautiful son!" "Even so, Maglor, you could have shown a little more discretion!" Erestor wrapped his arms tighter around his lover's waist and leaned in close. "I mean, honestly, renting a room for your little tryst in the saloon and not expecting anyone to notice! Especially with the way you carried on!" "If you'd had that mouth on you, you'd not have been able to control yourself either!" Maglor laughed. Erestor shook his head, unable to control his own laughter. "Oh, very well. Keep your dollar. Just tell me all about it!"