Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 67

 67.

 

Abram rushed to the place of meeting near the basilica as told to him by the wharf worker who found him. He turned up in time to see them gathered there. There was Lord Dante Montague standing there with some of the guards—five of them, to be exact.

“Abram, thank God, you made it. We must ……” Lord Dante Montague stopped. “We need to hurry to the basilica. Juliet may be there.”

“What happened, my lord?” Abram asked when he was handed over the schiavona by one of the guards.

“Prince Escalus was told that Vlad Tepes is hiding at the basilica,” sanctioned Friar Lawrence. The Wallachian is with some Ottoman guards.” Lord Dante Montague said. “He is fixated on the Empress Jewels.”

“Empress Jewels?”

“It is…….” Lord Dante Montague held back his explanation. “We need to rush to the basilica. She could be there to look for the Capulet lad.”

"Rushing" was the word that Lord Gencio Capulet took there too. He gathered all his guards—nine of them—and rushed there. He was told to meet at the edge of the city, before the path to the basilica, by the prince, but Lord Gencio Capulet was impatient to get there earlier.

However, he was thwarted by the presence of Magistrate Javier, who blocked his path with nine officers.

“Lord Gencio Capulet, are you in a rush there?” Magistrate Javier stood with the sword on his waist belt.

“We were told to wait and grouped here.” The magistrate was pulled by the lord to the side when told.

“I cannot wait. My son may be in there.” Lord Gencio Capulet told the magistrate. “Maybe the friar took him there.”

“Lord Gencio Capulet, I cannot……” Magistrate Javier sighed. He then changed his mind. “Go now and check, but do not confront the Wallachian till we are there.”

Lord Gencio Capulet thanked the magistrate and took off.

Chorbaji Tarmuk was a careful person, and it paid off. He had not brought his entire guard there. He was not surprised to find the others he had deployed in the city rushing to meet him from the rear of the basilica. He counted the group, which was in total of twelve Janissaries who served with him. He had kept them separately to be his spies.

“Chorbaji, we got word that you are to be attacked.” The one who addressed him was a good, loyal warrior named Ali. “They are all here to protect you.”

“Who dares?” "Chorbaji Tarmuk?" asked.

“It was the words in the city. Prince Escalus has recruited mercenaries to attack you here. They may have found out about the basilica, or the friar told him.” Ali reported. “We are unsure, but we are here now.”

“Who is coming for me?” It was the Wallachian who asked. “Tell me.”

“Prince Escalus.” Chorbaji Tarmuk replied. “He is looking for ……”

“The Empress Jewels. It was expected.” Vlad Tepes approached the Janissaries. Leave me be. Do not die for me.”

The mention of the jewels got the Janissaries looking at each other.

“Do you want the Empress Jewels too? I …….” Vlad Tepes looked to the gathered Janissaries.

“We are sworn to protect you, Wallachian. That will be our only duty.” Chorbaji Tarmuk looked at the Wallachian.

“I hold nothing of value here. I hold not the Empress Jewels here with me.” Vlad Tepes sighed. “Let them come for my life. I have nothing else to offer.”

“You have me.” Romeo called out. He was standing at the rear. “Send words to my father. He will see that I am protected. Take me as a hostage.”

“Young lad, you are …… our guest.” Chorbaji Tarmuk looked at the lad. “As of now, you are useless to us. Leave now, while we do our duty.”

“I ……” Romeo was looking for words when the friar arrived.

“Thank goodness, all of you are here.” The friar rushed in.

“How did you get here?” "Chorbaji Tarmuk?" asked.

“There are many paths to the basilica, and I took the least travelled one.” The friar smiled. “We must leave here. Follow me.”

“No!” Vlad said. “I will not run anymore. It ends here. Leave me, Chorbaji Tarmuk. I will die here like a warrior.”

“You will, but we are not dead yet. Give him a weapon.’ The Ottoman’s leader told his men. A kilij was handed over.

“The kilij. A sword fitted for a warrior.” Vlad Tepes grasped the hilt.

“Remember your training, Wallachian. I have taught you then, and do not fail me.” Chorbaji Tarmuk then turned to his warriors. “We are Janissaries by oath. We will live and die as one.”

“For the honor!For the Sultan. For our family.” The warriors roared out. Unseen by them, the friar rushed towards Romeo.

“Take to the rear by the tall cupboard. Move it, and there is a tunnel leading to the woods. Go now.” The friar told him. “Juliet awaits you at the cottage. Go now and take her with you.”

“Juliet? Where is she?” Romeo was confused.

“The cottage. She is …… dying.” The friar said. “Go now. Only you can revive her. Kiss her lips and declare your love.”

“But……” Romeo hesitated then.

“Go!” The friar grabbed Romeo by the arm and led him to the rear. He approached the cupboard and pushed it aside. It revealed the tunnel that he knew was there. It was designed by the builders for three means of escape if needed.

“Friar…,” Romeo said. “How is she?”

“Young Romeo. You must see her. Remember this: she needs your love to live. Kiss her.”

“But……”

“Romeo, you fool. You are not needed here. You are a lover and not a warrior. Get your father to understand your love for her.”

“Take this dagger for your safety.” With that, the friar pushed the other into the tunnel, and then he pushed the cupboard back. He then rushed to meet the others. He saw Lord Dante Montague facing the Janissaries. There were six men besides the lord with their weapons drawn.

“Chorbaji Tarmuk, I came for my daughter. Is she here?’ Lord Dante Montague asked.

“No, she is not. We do not have her.’ Chrobaji Tarmuk replied. “We are only here to protect the Wallachian.”

“Hello, Lord Dante Montague. I am here.” Vlad Tepes stepped forth. “Are you to kill me too?”

“No, Voivode. I am not. I am here for my daughter. She is missing, and I feared she may be here.” Lord Dante Montague sighed. “I……”

“Are you Vlad Tepes? The Impaler?” Abram stepped forth to confront the other.

“Yes, I am. Do I know you?” Vlad Tepes asked.

“You may not, but once before, you killed many of my friends.” Abram said. “You are the Impaler. You staked the innocents on the roadside.”

“A bloody display, but it worked. I held my enemies in fear for many years.” Vlad Tepes smiled. “Their blood seeped to the ground for all to see. Was there anyone you knew or loved?”

The men gathered by Lord Dante Montague murmured then. All of them have friends or families killed by the Wallachian.

“I did those acts then. It was war. It is still now.” Vlad Tepes looked at them. “I hold no disrespect to your losses, but if you want my life in repayment, take it now. I may resist you.” 

Abram rushed at the Wallachian, but Lord Dante Montague held him back.

“Not now, Abram. We need to find Juliet.” Lord Dantr Montague looked at the man he trusted as his guard. “She is my family.”

“The beast killed my family.” Abram voiced out. “What man am I if I do not avenge them?”

“In time, you can …… Buy it, but not now. Today, we need to find Juliet, my daughter. She may be held here.” Lord Montague looked back at the Chorbaji. “Is my daughter here?”

“We hold no hostage here, Lord Dante Montague. We are here to protect the man standing here.” Chorbaji Tarmuk replied. Lord Dante Montague then saw the friar.

“Friar Lawrence, why are you here? Are you with him?”

“I am ……” Friar Lawrence struggled to speak. “I……”

“Lamin, tell him. You are not a friar. You are a Janissary.” Ali was the one who interjected and then looked at Lord Dante Montague. “He is ours. He had been for many years. He lived here to inform on you. All of you.”

“Friar……” Abram looked at the man he had trusted. “Is this true?”

“Yes, it is. I am a Janissary, but I have lived here... I do not want to harm any of you.” The friar sighed, “I am here on orders. I am ……”

“A traitor!” Abram said. “No, you are not one. You are the enemy. And I used to trust you. You are …. Not anymore to me. You were family, but now, we are enemies.”

“I did not betray your trust, Abram. Or family. I took care of Lorenzo… and the others. Please understand. I am… torn between family and… loyalty.”

“The family gathers here. Good.” The voice was Prince Escalus, who had arrived then at the basilica. He was with seven mercenaries in his employ. “We shall have a bloody feast then.”