Read Online Marcii (The Dreadhunt Trilogy Book 1) by Ross Turner - Free Book Online

religiously as Kaylm’s kin did, but they certainly wouldn’t oppose it.
    “Look, Marcii…” Kaylm said warningly, taking her hands in his. “Things are bad, and they’re only getting worse…”
    Marcii sighed yet again, torn, knowing his words were filled with nothing but truth.
    “Don’t you remember how we used to talk about running away?” He pleaded with her. “The rumours…” He continued. “Witches, these hangings, there are only going to be more of them. More and more people are being accused of witchcraft every day!”
    “I know…” Marcii breathed. She looked up at him through the dim light that still just about remained. “And yes, of course I remember. I think about it still…”
    “Then let’s do it!” Kaylm urged for the final time.
    Marcii drew breath to speak again, all but ready to accept, filled with joy at the idea of leaving with him.
    But then something appeared in the darkness beside them, startling the wits from them both.
    With her drawn breath Marcii went to scream, and Kaylm to shout, but a small hand covered each of their mouths, and a firm, young voice cut through the early night, silencing them both.
    “Hush.” Vixen instructed, and instantly they were quieted.
    “What are you…?” Marcii started, still in shock, but Vixen’s tiny hand went to her mouth once more.
    “Quiet!” The little orphan hissed under her breath. “There are men coming.” She told them. “They will find us. We must leave.”
    Marcii went to speak again, but didn’t get the chance. Sure enough, after only a few moments, they heard the sound of urgent voices approaching.
    Vixen dove out from the inlet behind the vines without hesitation and Marcii and Kaylm followed instinctively, confused and afraid.
    Driving through the meagre dusk Vixen led them immediately down the side of the enormous, stone church wall, around the corner and out of sight. She moved silently and with a certain grace and assuredness that quite simply forced Marcii and Kaylm to follow her, leaving them helpless to her every whim.
    It was as if she was much more than just a simple orphan girl.
    Barely moments later, right where they’d just come from, a dozen or so figures appeared, skulking through the eerie dusk.
    Amazed, Marcii looked back to Vixen.
    But, unsurprisingly, she was gone.
    With no time to think on that as she usually would have done, Marcii turned her eyes, and her ears, back to the figures Vixen had gone to such lengths to protect them from.
    She couldn’t make out their faces for they were too far away and the light was fading too fast. She could only tell that about half of them were priests, and the other half were enforcers.
    That much at least, by their opposed attire, was obvious.
    Their voices at first were quiet, subdued, and Marcii couldn’t make out their hasty words, spoken on harsh, hushed whispers.
    Suddenly one voice cut over all the rest. The sound of it sent chills crawling menacingly up and down Marcii’s spine. She felt Kaylm shudder at her side too, though he hid it well.
    “Do it!” Tyran ordered sharply. “Do it now!”
    Feeling her trembling and hearing her quiet breaths shaking, Kaylm took Marcii’s hand gently in his, interlocking his fingers with hers reassuringly.
    A soft mewing began and though she couldn’t see them, Marcii could hear at least three cats amongst the group, if not four or five.
    All of a sudden the mewing turned to hissing and spitting and then shrieking, as the steely ring of metal against bone grated out through the night.
    Marcii only just about caught her breath on her tongue, holding back a faltering cry.
    There came a gruesome, gurgling, choking sound, followed the desperate whimpers of futile, helpless struggle, as the felines were heartlessly slaughtered.
    “On the wall!” Tyran’s barbaric voice pierced the courtyard again, now almost fully cloaked in darkness.
    But, unfortunately, Marcii and Kaylm could still just about make out what came next,