Samuel and Omar followed George Somersby's carriage into Hyde Park, through Cumberland Gate. The horses they rode were identical bay mares. They both wore grey pants, boots, white shirts, vests and beige jackets with round top wide-brim hats. The fabric was coarse and scratchy compared to the loose fitting qandrissi pants, tunics, djellaba and burnoose Samuel had been wearing over the last year in Omar's care.

The coach took North Carriage Drive. Instead of turning left into West Carriage, the coach continued on toward The Long Water then turned into the tree lined dirt lane. Samuel and Omar hung back and headed into the woods. When they came across the carriage it was stopped. They hid in the trees and waited.

George Somersby climbed out, stood, spoke to the driver, and then waved him on. The coach turned left toward West Carriage. George watched it go, and then hurried along the track that followed the lake.

"I'm going to follow him on foot." Samuel climbed from his horse and handed Omar the reins. "Wait for me in the trees on the West Drive. I'll make my way there. It'll look less suspicious if we ride out that way."

Omar nodded. "You have the dagger?"

"Yes." The small curved scimitar was sheathed and hidden in his belt under his jacket. Samuel nudged his head. "Go. I won't be long." He followed the path. George had disappeared out of sight.

Samuel continued as quietly as he could. This was an isolated area that looked like it was only ever used by people who came here to fish. Thursday was not a popular day. At a bend in the track, Samuel saw an old red brick building that looked like it hadn't been used for years. As he got closer, he recognised it as being a gunpowder store. Samuel heard a man speaking as he approached, and then the voice of a female who sounded like she was crying. There was a crisp slap and the woman pleading.

"I tried," she gasped. "I promise you I did. I need more time."

Samuel crept closer, keeping his body hard up against the bricks. He heard George growl in a low tone, "If you don't want me to tell your dear papa what a bad girl you've been, you'll get it for me."

"Please, George. I promise. I just need more time."

"This is the second week you've promised me, Selene. I'll give you another. If you don't turn up with it next week, you won't look so pretty when you go home."

Samuel heard the woman whimper. He could only guess George was hurting her in some way. He crept to the path and back the way he had come, then hid in the trees where he could see the building. Both parties had to come back onto the path to leave the structure, and then either go left or right. Samuel figured George would head back the way he had come, and meet the carriage near North Drive. He waited.

The woman scurried from behind the building dabbing her eyes. George Somersby followed and stood with a smirk on his face watching her hurry in the opposite direction. He then turned and walked the way Samuel suspected he would.

When George passed Samuel's hiding place, Sam stepped onto the path and followed, not bothering to try and dull the sound of his boots on the hard earth. He kept his head hung and waited for George to hear.

"Where did you come from?" Panicked, George stopped and turned around.

Samuel moved closer. "Hello, George."

"Who are you? If that bitch has hired someone to try and scare me, she's got another thing coming." George sneered and stepped toward Samuel. "Show yourself."

Samuel pulled off his hat, lifted his head, and then quickly lunged, grabbing George by the throat. "I'm disappointed you don't recognise me."

Gasping loudly, George clenched Samuel's hand and tried to pull it from his throat. "You."

"Me," Samuel said and punched him in the nose.

"Ah..." George staggered. Samuel held him on his feet and forced him into the trees and up against one of the trunks.

"You took my father's life, George. You took my brother's life. You took my life. Now I'm here to take yours."

"No... it was Caroline." George struggled. Blood ran from his nose over his lips and dripped onto Samuel's hand. "She made me do it. She suffocated your father. She poisoned Frederick. She did it."

Samuel pushed the point of the scimitar up against George's diaphragm. "Don't worry, she'll meet you in hell. Captain Lios is already waiting for you there." He pushed the razor-sharp blade in slowly, and then turned it upwards. George tried to cry out but the knife's entry into his lung left him breathless. Samuel kept his black eyes on George's face as the blade, on its upward trajectory went deep into the man's heart. "I can begin to live again," he hissed at the dying man. He let George drop, but spun him as he fell, so he landed on his face.

Taking in a heavy breath, Samuel stood for a moment, and then went to the lake and washed the blood from his hands and knife.  It was done. He buttoned up his coat to hide the blood splatter and rubbed the top of his boots on the grass to remove any trace of George Somersby. Now he would try to return to his world as a whole man.

Finally, it is done.  I hope Samuel can live a normal life now.

Artwork copyright - Hexen. I feel the painting depicts Samuel's emotions in this chapter. An angel of death, perhaps.