Chapter 144: Execution

Chapter 144: Execution
Jason stopped and spun around.

"Do not be afraid Jason, for it is me," he told him.

His sentinel looked perplexed, a combination of joy and disbelief was visible on his face.

Therefore, he did not come close, he asked cautiously from his position at the door "Is that really you, my lord?"

"Yes, it is." He responded.

"Praise the heavens!" Jason exclaimed "I am so happy you are back to yourself. Let me quickly go and inform his lordship, Rojan."

Jason had once again turned toward the door when he called him back.

"Jason, wait!" He said.

Jason halted in his step and turned around expectantly "Yes, my lord?"

"I do not have much time before my beast takes over. Listen carefully to what I am about to say and promise me you will do it without hesitation."

Jason frowned, his enthusiasm fading away. An expression of unease settled over his face "I am listening."

"Promise me first," he urged.

The unease grew more pronounced as Jason looked nervous, as though he sensed what he was about to demand from him "My lord, I cannot make promises at this time."

"You must, the future depends on your ability to carry out this instruction properly," he cajoled him.

"I am at your service my lord, you know I will do anything for you," Jason told him.

Yes, he knew he could always count on his unwavering loyalty.

"Good, take out your sword," he instructed him.

Jason's frown deepened, but he did as he was told.

"Now strike me with your sword," he said "Aim at the base of my neck, and strike with a brutal force to get it done in one clean swipe."

The sword fell to the ground in a clatter from Jason's hand as he grimaced "Why ask such a terrible thing from me, my lord."

"Believe me when I say that it is for the best," he tried to persuade him.

"How can beheading you be for the best?" Jason asked, incredulous.

"If I am to perish anyway, I will rather do so on my own terms. So, wield your sword soldier," he urged him.

"The heavens forbid that I will use my hand to strike you down. I swore an oath to protect you and your household with my life. Far be it from me that I will be the one to take your life," Jason vehemently refused.

"Draw your sword sentinel, it is an order from your king," he said pointedly, eager to get it done as quickly as possible.

"No, my lord, forgive me this once. But I cannot fulfill this order," Jason took a step backward.

Oh Jason, his devout and rigid sentinel who was fiercely loyal.

He remembered when he had picked out the twin brothers when they had just turned eighteen from the warrior training camp.

According to their family ranks, all pups born to fathers who were sentinels automatically assumed that rank and started training at the camp when they turned eighteen.

He wanted young adults that he could sharpen and mold into the type of soldiers that would fit in with his needs.

So, he had visited the camp personally, surveying and observing all the warriors in training. Both new and old, until the twins had caught his attention.

While Jason was more level-headed and reserved, Jordan was more daring. Both traits he had considered valuable at the time.

Now he was giving Jason a task, one he knew would be more suitable to Jordan.

Moreover, he could count on Jason to handle it discreetly, if he agreed to it.

The real issue here was getting him to agree, for he was his only option. The only one present at the moment.

Therefore, he needed to push him and pressurize him till he broke and gave in to his demand.

"Why are you so painstakingly loyal? Who will reward your diligence?" He began his plot.

"I am only loyal to you, my lord. I do not expect a reward in return as it is my duty," Jason informed him.

"Duty?" He snorted, "Who cares about your duty? Despite your loyalty, I tried to kill your twin brother when I suspected him. Remember? I would have killed you in place of him had Candice not spared your lives."

Jason's face paled "Why do you speak so harshly to me sire? I know you don't mean these words. You are only trying to get me angry so I can kill you."

"You wish I didn't mean it, but I do," Wayne retorted even as his chest tightened. He did not mean it at all and was deeply sorry he had tried to take their lives before in his paranoia.

He braced himself and went on "Here is your chance to take revenge for all those times I have acted arrogantly. I am giving you an opportunity to get back at me. For all the times I have scolded you, distrusted and abused my authority."

"Yet you took us in when we were teenagers. We had just lost our father during the second war with Waylon, but you took over the role of a father, the responsibility of grooming and teaching us," Jason sniffled, wiping a tear that had escaped his eyes "You bought our mother a nice house in the city. You pay us handsomely when we don't even do much around here. You taught me how to fight, how to wield my sword, and be confident in my skill."

Oh no, things were not going according to plan. He was trying to make him angry, but instead, he was becoming emotional.

Jason took a deep breath, to reign back his emotions and said "You are a good man, my lord. I am sure a lot of people that know you truly, would agree with me."

"I am a user, I only help those that I can use," he countered.

"You may want to believe that, but I have witnessed your generosity, and experienced your kindness. So therefore, I will never lay my hands on you, no matter the reasons you have for demanding such a thing from me," Jason stated.

Wayne was defeated. He wanted action, not a confession.

"Do not go about saying those words to the hearing of others. It will do my image no good," he warned him.

Jason's lips parted in a half smile "I wouldn't dare."

"Good, now call me Jordan," he ordered him.

Jason's eyes darted.

"Call me Jordan and do so discreetly," he repeated.

"Err…my lord. My brother is not here," Jason replied.

"Send him to me when he returns," he said.

"He is not coming back. He left to seek his own path, outside the plane. Abandoning his oath and his duties, I am afraid you were right about him," Jason said with disappointment.

That means he had no more options left, the only people who came to him were Rojan, Earnest, and the twins.

Would Earnest agree to it? Should he give him a try?

He was still considering what next to do when he felt his beast stir in his chest, it was beginning to rouse from its slumber.

His claws started to lengthen, his fangs shot forward and the hairs that had receded briefly started to sprout out once more. His beast was rising to the fore, wanting to take total control.

Wayne knew his time was up.

"Jason it's happening once again, I feel an incoming rage. Quick, strike me now!" he quickly said to Jason.

Jason took a step back "No."

"Don't be a coward, come on. Do it!" He yelled as all the muscles in his body began to stretch and pull.

"Forgive me," Jason shook his head and scrambled out of the room, taking flight.

His wolf had sensed a potential threat and was rising back to the fore. He needed to do this now before he was relegated to the background once again.

Jason had run out without killing him.

So, he needed to do it himself.

He scanned the room for any object sharp enough to slit his throat all the way or pierce his chest and remove his heart.

Behold, in his haste Jason had forgotten his sword and left it behind.

Perfect.

He dived forward, lounging to grab the sword. He had landed a few feet from it, so he stretched his right hand, propelling himself forward with all his might.

And finally, his hands touched the sword.

A wave of satisfaction washed over him. In the end, he would leave this world by himself. On his own terms.

He would miss Rojan, he wished he could say goodbye to him. He would miss Jason, also Jordan who had deserted him. Earnest, his humorless butler, and Candice, the woman…he loved.

The realization made him stagger on his feet.

It was in this moment, the last moments of his life that he had finally accepted to himself that he loved her.

If nothing had changed from how he felt about her, that meant he had always loved her from the beginning.

He was just too proud to admit it.

His feelings for her had not changed, it was only his perspective that had been re-vamped.

How stupid he was to realize that he was in love at the very brink of death.

A pitiful reality.

He held the sword against his neck and puffed out three nervous breaths as he whispered to the thin air;

"Goodbye Rojan, I will go ahead and wait for you. Someday, we will reunite again. Goodbye my subjects and people of plane Weode, this is me taking a bow. Goodbye Candice, I hope you meet someone better."

Goodbyes were the saddest thing to do, his life flashed before his eyes and he smiled at a few memories, and frowned at many.

Deciding that his heart would be a better option, he removed the sword from his neck and pointed it toward his heart.

"Father, your son returns to you, receive him," he said and jammed the sword into his heart.

The room swirled around and he collapsed to the ground.

His eyes glazed over in death.