Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

once been his hall, and dropped the old man in a heap at Finn's feet. He lay there, gasping and shuddering, while Finn looked thoughtfully at the thugs in their Church Militant armor.
    They stirred uneasily under his gaze.
    "Did he put up a fight?" said Finn. "I wouldn't have thought the old man had it in him."
    "Not… as such," said one of the thugs. "But he said things…"
    "Oh well," said Finn. "I don't suppose it matters. I never liked him anyway. And I do so admire zeal.
    Bring him outside."
    Finn led the way out of the house and across the devastated grounds, until they came at last to James's grave. William stumbled along and had trouble keeping up, but the Paragons kept him moving with kicks and general abuse. They were having a good time. Finn finally let the old man drop to the grass at the foot of his eldest son's grave, while he looked casually out over the artificial lake. Dead swans lay floating in the bloody waters. Finn's smile widened. He approved of thoroughness. William slowly struggled up onto his knees, and looked at Finn, his bloody mouth quivering with outrage. One of the Paragons placed a heavy hand on his shoulder, to make sure he stayed on his knees.
    "For God's sake, why, Finn? What's the meaning of this? DoesDouglas know you're here?"
    Finn took his time answering. "DearDouglas knows very little about what goes on, these days," he said, smiling charmingly. "But it wouldn't matter if he did.Douglas is a spent force, as are you; and neither of you matters a damn in the scheme of things anymore. I did all this… because I could. Because it pleased me. Don't look for rescue. All of your own people are dead, and no one will be coming from outside.
    Your day is over, William. And mine is just beginning."
    "How could you do this, Finn?" William said numbly. "You'reDouglas 's friend. You were always welcome here. You and he used to have such good times here…"
    "Things change, people change," said Finn. "You might say I've grown up since then. You never really knew me, William. But you do now.
    William looked uncertainly at James's grave. "What do you want here? What could possibly be worth all this death and destruction?"
    "I'm glad you asked that, William. I'm here for James. No good to anyone just lying in the ground, but I have a use for him." He leaned over the headstone, and casually blew out the eternal flame that burned there. "Dig him up, boys."
    William cried out angrily, and tried to surge to his feet, but the Paragons hit him, and he fell helplessly to the ground.
    "Ah, William," said Finn. "Children are such hostages to fortune, aren't they? Even when they're dead."
    Finn's people dug up the grave while William watched helplessly. It didn't take them long to get down to the coffin, break open the lid, and reveal the corpse. The funeral technicians had done an excellent job.
    Still perfectly preserved, all of James's many injuries had been cunningly disguised. He might only have been sleeping. William made a soft low sound of distress, but no one paid him any attention. Finn clambered down into the open grave, so he could look James in the face, close up. Finally he nodded, smiled, and then leaned forward and kissed James on his dead lips.
    "You'll do. Du Katt, take your samples."
    "No names!" hissed the clone representative, as he hurried forward. "You promised, no names!"
    "Oh, get on with it," said Finn.
    Du Katt waited for Finn to vacate the grave, and then clambered clumsily down to take his cell samples.
    He was swiftly efficient, though he was careful never to look at the corpse's face. When he was finished, he got out of the grave as fast as he could, and Finn then nodded to one of his people, who dropped a small transmutation bomb into the hole. A few seconds later, the mortal remains of the noble James Campbell had been reduced to undifferentiated protoplasmic slime that might have been anyone or anything. William cried harsh, racking tears while Finn smiled on him.
    "Don't blame me," he said airily. "This is allDouglas 's fault. None of this had to have happened. But he should have made me Champion."
    "You always were a petty-minded little shit," said William.
    "Take him back to House Campbell," said Finn. "Lock him up somewhere secure, then set up a rotation of guards for the house and the grounds. No one gets in or out unless they're with me. Oh, and boys, you can play with William, but don't break him. I may have a use for him, later on."
    He looked out over the