“Joseph, get out of here, now!” Nathaniel bellowed, his muscles cramping.
“Three!”
***
Time slowed as the ball entered Cyprian’s chest. The fire cut through his flesh, consuming him body and soul. He stumbled backward and moaned as his mind flashed with memories of times past. Camilla’s smiles, Jacob’s childhood giggle.
He tripped and fell hard on his back, the cold floor breaking his fall as a warm liquid poured over his skin.
Voices and bodies drew near. Someone’s hands felt around his chest. Another held his head.
Cyprian strained to revive his slowing mind. Where was Jacob? He must speak with him…
More yelling, more grabbing at his chest.
He blinked, and coughed, the searing pain flowing down to his feet.
His lungs seized and for a moment his thoughts cleared. So this was death. Had Camilla felt so cold, so afraid?
The sounds faded. The dim light dissolved to black, and he succumbed, praying Camilla waited to take his hand on the other side.
***
Hands covered in blood, Nathaniel sat back on his heels and rested his arm over his leg. With a heavy exhale he shook his head. “He’s dead.”
Joseph knelt beside him and closed Cyprian’s eyelids before sending Nathaniel a look that screamed with unspoken questions.
Andrew stood at Cyprian’s feet, his arms hanging heavy at his sides. He stepped back, his shoulders squaring. “’Tis over.”
Nathaniel glanced between Andrew and the man he’d just killed. Somehow Andrew seemed taller, his face younger.
“So it is.” Nathaniel pushed to his feet. “I must go. Joseph, take care of the body—and check on Camilla.” He paused, and looked toward the stairs. “I fear she might be dead as well.”
Joseph turned his head with a quick jerk. His round eyes widened. After a moment he nodded. “You are going to look for Miss Campbell?”
“Aye.” He stomped to the door and charged into the deluge, racing across the rain-soaked roads to the Watson’s.
Nathaniel burst through the front door, praying somehow he’d find Kitty draped in a blanket by the fire. But the house was silent. Alarm scratched over him and he raced to the kitchen, then darted upstairs just as Thomas and Eliza entered from the back.
He halted on the middle step as his heart leapt in hope. “Well?”
Eliza rushed in, wringing her hands. “We alerted several in town, including Joseph and Roger.”
“Did you find her?”
Thomas closed the door and shook his head. His tone sagged with dread. “Nay. But my horse is gone from the barn.”
Nathaniel charged back down to the parlor. “Your horse is gone?”
“She must have taken it.”
Nathaniel blinked, a scowl folding over his forehead as he strained to find function in his clouding mind. He must go after her, he must find her wherever she’d gone. But how was he to know where to begin?
“Did Cyprian know anything?” Thomas grabbed Nathaniel’s arm. “You’re covered in blood.”
Nathaniel looked at his hands. “Cyprian is dead.”
“What?” Thomas and Eliza spoke at the same time.