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“Tell me about him,” Melisandre demanded, deciding to figure out why Nicholas was so against Lord Lucian Norton.
“Those Norton bastards were roughly the same age as us. Lucian was the eldest brother, followed by the twins, who were a year younger. After them was another son and a second set of twins. Lucian would have been six and twenty if what you say is correct about his year of death. The twins, Elias and Isaac, were five and twenty, while Benedict would have been three and twenty and Kit nine and ten. Their sister CeeCee, or Cecilia, was his twin. And they were mad as hatters, worse than the Rakehell Six!” Nicholas exploded.
“How so?” Melisandre asked.
“They were crazy and untamed. Their mother died young, and their father was more interested in wenching and drinking. They were raised by a nanny who more than had her hands full with five lively boys and a girl. CeeCee ran as wild as her brothers. Hell, CeeCee makes Henrietta look tame.”
“So, in other words, Nicolas, they were as lawless and controversial as the Rakehell Six, and you were rivals?” Melisandre asked astutely.
“Yes!” Nicholas exclaimed. “No, I’m not admitting that!”
“Too late, husband mine, you just did.” Melisandre giggled.
“There were some strange rumours about them that none of them ever discouraged. It was said a paranormal creature murdered their mother. And they themselves hunted and killed those creatures with evil in their hearts,” Nicholas mused.
“Was any truth discovered?” Melisandre asked.
“No, but understanding what we know now, Melisandre… I have to wonder. They were known as God’s Scourge. Some people thought it pretentious; others ridiculed them behind their backs. But never to their face. The power and wealth the Norton’s held were legendary.”
“Bit like the Rakehell Six,” Melisandre added, and Nicholas nodded.
“Are you sure it was Lucifer?” Nicholas asked plaintively.
“Not really, but his portrait is hanging above the fireplace there,” Melisandre said. Nicholas’s expression, which momentarily showed hope, collapsed.
“They owned a set of inns in the Cotswolds. Six of them, one each amongst many other business interests. Sounds like them. Blast it; the others won’t be amused!” Nicholas snorted.
“They despised them?” Melisandre asked.
“We were rivals, Melisandre darling; we hated each other,” Nicholas responded with a chuckle.
“Well, Maggie needs our help and help we will!”
“Fine,” Nicholas said, pouting. “But I’m not telling Tristian!”
Maggie
Maggie was prepared the next day for Lucian’s tricks and wasn’t disappointed. The smell of rotting meat assaulted her nose, and the rooms were thick with black smoke. Maggie gagged and rushed to open the doors and every window in the pub. The two smells mixed were enough to drive her into the toilet, where she emptied her stomach.
“I’m getting an exorcist!” Maggie swore as she returned to the bar. She screamed stupidly when a bloated, rotting, disembodied skull floated towards her. Maggie darted past and headed out to her car. She opened the boot, yanked something from it, and walked into the inn. The head seemed to grow larger and green gunk was falling from its eyes while its mouth was a raw mess. And the entrails trailing from it made Maggie heave again. But Lucian would not win!
Maggie took a hitter’s stance, and as it came towards her, she yanked the tyre iron out from behind her and whacked the skull as hard as she could. Lucian shrieked as he was belted backwards and dematerialised before he hit the wall. He passed through it in his ghostly state, bewildered and seemingly in pain as to what had happened. Lucian shaped into his next creature with a determined growl and dashed back through, making Maggie scream at his sudden appearance.
Maggie yelped and darted away as a giant hellhound appeared in front of her with glowing eyes and sharp teeth. Drool dripped from its mouth as its jaws gnashed together. Hell on a stick, Maggie thought as she watched the monster creep forward. She shuffled backwards as the hellhound snarled, growled, and she stumbled over a bucket of water. Without thinking, Maggie bent, snatched it up, and threw it straight at the creature.
The bucket flew true and landed just right to cover the monster’s head. Lucian stopped moving because he couldn’t see and drowned in the bucket. He instantly changed into a human shape, but his head remained stuck in the metal canister. Maggie charged and whacked the bucket with her tyre iron, making the metal ring. A loud groan sounded inside, and Maggie beat it several more times. Lucian disappeared, and the bucket fell to the floor.
Maggie collapsed to her haunches as she sighed in relief. A noise came from behind her, and Maggie spun around on her bottom and searched for the intruder. Mariah popped out, her eyes wide and covering her mouth in amusement.
“I recorded all of that!” she said, laughing finally. “That was bloody amazing, honey!”
“Oh Lord, I give up; he’s getting worse,” Maggie gasped out.
“For now, mine keeps shouting at me, but I hate to think of him starting stuff like this!” Mariah exclaimed.
Maggie sank to the floor, shaking her head. This was nuts. Was the Jekyll and Hyde worth this? Maggie ruthlessly shoved the thought aside. Yes, it was. She loved this rambling old inn, and Lucian Norton would have to get used to sharing! Or she would exorcise his damn fine ass!
Lucian
