Mr. Punch and Cecil also removed their cloaks and tossed them to Robert who wrapped Naasir in them as he continued to gently pat the man who moaned in agony.
Iolanthe Evangeline screamed. “How dare you?” She ran wildly toward the men, bellowing like a madwoman. “Stop! Let him burn!” She looked at Barbara who stood—as still as stone—holding the drooling child. “Help me, Barbara Allen! You sow!”
Barbara didn’t move.
Iolanthe flung herself forward.
Cecil grabbed Iolanthe by the waist and stopped her. She beat at his hands and arms with her fists and screamed incomprehensibly with piercing, animal shrieks which had long ceased to be words.
“Why?” Naasir rasped. “Why?”
“Who can say why she’s done this?” Robert whispered to the suffering man.
“No.” Naasir panted, “Why…did…you…ssss…” Suddenly, Naasir’s voice locked in his throat and his body became quite still.
Robert uncovered the man. He studied the damage done by the flames. Robert shuddered.
“Chum?” Mr. Punch said nervously. “He ain’t…”
“No.” Robert shook his head. “But, we need to get him out of here.” Robert’s eyes met Mr. Punch’s and held there for a second as if to say, “It’s not good.”
Mr. Punch glanced at Naasir before Robert covered him again. He, too, shuddered. The man’s body was almost unrecognizable.
“Damn you!” Iolanthe bellowed. “Damn you to Hell! All of you! I’ll see to it that you all burn for this! I’ll murder all of you!” She continued to pound Cecil’s hands with her own fists. He let her go and she fell to the floor.
“We must get Naasir out of here—now!” Robert said. “Mr. Punch, run out to the street, would you? See if you can find a carriage. We can’t carry him back. The pain would be too much for him.”
“Sure, Chum.” Mr. Punch said quickly.
“Julian, wait!” Barbara shouted, finally moving. She hurried toward Mr. Punch—still holding Egil, Iolanthe’s child.
“There’s someone else who needs to be carried from here.” Barbara said.
“What? You?” Mr. Punch shook his head. “Last time we gave you shelter, you stole me lady chum’s jewels and silver. Don’t care if you are me master’s sister, I ain’t takin’ you nowhere. I’ll help you, I will. I’ll help you be free. I owe that to me master, I do. But, I can’t let you in the same house with the folk what are now me family.”
“Your family?” Barbara growled. “Your mother is upstairs in this very house—drained of her blood!”
“Barbara, please!” Iolanthe rose from the floor and grabbed for Barbara. “Please, Barbara, be quiet.”
“Your mother, Julian! Tortured!” Barbara spat. “I don’t care about myself. I deserve what I’ve got here, but don’t let our mother suffer.”
“What do either of you know of suffering?” Iolanthe screeched. “Look at him!” She pointed to the child in Barbara’s arms. “Look at his face! Listen to him breathe. He grunts like an animal. Born of an animal.” Iolanthe began to sob. “Give me my child!”
Barbara gently handed Egil to Iolanthe.
“All of you—get out of here! You’ve ruined it! Ruined it! I swear on all that is wicked that I will murder you three men—slowly and painfully, and I’ll make sure that that bitch Adrienne and your baby watch!” She narrowed her eyes and looked at Barbara. “As for you, Barbara Allen. Don’t forget. I own you. I don’t want you thinkin’ that I don’t. Get to your chamber.”
“Julian, please, help our mother!” Barbara pleaded as Iolanthe pushed her from the room with her hip.
Mr. Punch looked around the room. He heard Naasir’s moans and knew he had to hurry to find a carriage.
“I’ll be back in a tick!” Mr. Punch said quickly.
As he ran into the entry hall, he passed some of Iolanthe’s henchmen who were being led by Mala into the altar room.
Mr. Punch heard Iolanthe bellow. “Now? It’s too late! Get out of here! You’re all useless.”
Once outside, Mr. Punch searched frantically for an empty carriage for hire. The cold air felt good on his face. He thought of Naasir’s face. The fire had not been kind to it. He wondered if Naasir would live, and, if he did live, if he’d ever look the same.
“Poor fella.” Mr. Punch mumbled to himself.
Robert and Cecil soon joined Mr. Punch. They gently carried Naasir—still wrapped in their cloaks—between them.
Mr. Punch finally waved down a carriage and helped Cecil and Robert delicately carry Naasir into it. They settled in on either side of the man to keep him from rocking as the carriage moved.
Mr. Punch remained in the street.
“Do hurry, dear Punch,” Robert said. “There’s not a minute to spare.”
“I’m not goin’ with ya,” Mr. Punch shook his head. “I gotta get his mum, I do. Just because she’s been a monster to Julian, don’t mean she should stay here to be eaten by this ogress. You know I gotta help her.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-121? If so, you can read them here.
4 comments:
Poor Naasir. I hope he lives. I'm sure that Robert will find a way to save him.
And now we'll have to remain gripped until we find out what Punch can do in that house full of devils.
Naasir has both Robert and Marjani to look after him. We'll see if they can help him. As for Mr. Punch, he just end up on his own.
What a chapter! It had me on the edge of my chair. I'm so glad Nassir wasn't burned to death and hope they can ease the pain of his poor burned body.
Mr. Punch is very brave to go back into that house to try and save the Duchess. His sense of honor it touching.
Thank you, Darcy. Mr. Punch seems to have gotten all of the sense of honor in the family! Have a good evening!
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