Reynaud's Redemption, стр. 30
“Reynaud,” he said on a breath.
Reynaud turned with wide eyes. Baptiste raised his hand, and a blast of fire shot out of it, knocking Reynaud head over heels. Reynaud’s shocked cry of pain filled the room as his body slammed to the floor. Baptiste looked at his hands. His stunned gaze morphed into a sly grin. He moved across the room with both palms aimed at Reynaud. Reynaud tried to roll onto his hands and knees, but before he could, the second blast sent him sliding across the carpet into the wall.
“I should have known she would have found a loophole or something to keep you alive,” Baptiste said, kicking the chair out of the way.
Reynaud grunted as he tried to rise, but Baptiste was on him again. The two kicks he delivered to Reynaud’s gut lifted him from the floor. He rolled onto his back, wrapping his arms around his midsection. Baptist continued his assault by stomping his foot into Reynaud’s stomach then landing two straight punches on each side of his face. With a growl, Baptiste lifted Reynaud from the floor and threw him across the room. The trajectory sent Reynaud flying out of the nearby window instead of against the wall.
Baptiste walked over to the window. Reynaud lay on his back, holding his chest and sucking in harsh breaths.
“Shit. Now I have to go outside.”
Chapter Ten
Reynaud barely had a chance to catch his breath, let alone assimilate what Madame Cousteau had done before Baptiste had attacked him. He had just noticed that Baptiste was even there when he felt the first blast. His body ached all over. Reynaud had always known that Baptiste was a despicable being, but this recent assault showed a new low in his honor. Concentrating on mending his injuries, Reynaud became astutely aware of the new magic that flowed within him. It enhanced his healing abilities, expediting the process.
His eyes popped open. Springing to his feet, he gasped. Reynaud patted his body down as he processed recent events. Suddenly he snapped his head around to peer over his shoulder.
“On your feet already? That’s surprising—but it doesn’t matter,” Baptiste said, coming around the corner.
“Baptiste, Madame Cousteau has told me of your continued depravities since you set me up.”
“Did she? Well, I hope she told you enough to put you on guard.”
The blast that hit Reynaud did not have the same force as it did earlier. He stared at Baptiste and saw the same stunned look he knew had to be on his own face.
“Fine. I don’t need magic to deal with you.”
Baptiste surged forward, ramming his head into Reynaud’s gut. They stumbled backward with Baptiste holding onto his waist, but they didn’t fall. Reynaud beat Baptiste’s back with both fists. Baptiste grunted in pain with each blow and finally released him, falling to the ground.
Reynaud turned him over, and Baptiste yanked him forward. They rolled across the ground, punching each other until Reynaud gained the upper hand. He rose onto his knees, grabbed Baptiste by his collar and landed two punches to Baptiste’s face, dazing him. He dropped him back to the ground, knelt beside him then pressed down on his shoulders to hold him in place. Baptiste shifted back and forth trying to dislodge him, but Reynaud’s superior strength prevailed.
“No one has more reason than I do to hate you, Baptiste. I fully agree that you should be punished for the crimes you have committed against me and countless others, but I am not the one to administer it. That sentencing still belongs to the council elders.”
Baptiste’s cynical laugh sounded harsh to Reynaud’s ears. “Are you serious? You have been gone too long. There are no more elders, you fool. They’re dead. Madame Cousteau led the council because she held the power to control all the elements. She was the last, but I saw the dust. I know she is gone. Did she die before you got here?”
Reynaud didn’t answer. He remembered Madame Cousteau’s words and they kept him silent.
“The men who sit on the council now are under my control. Who will punish me?” Baptiste asked in an unbelieving tone. “You? What will you do? Kill me?” he added with a mocking laugh. “That is the difference between me and you, Reynaud. Given the chance, I would kill you in a heartbeat. You, however, don’t have the balls to do what needs to be done.”
Reynaud met Baptiste’s challenging look. He leaned forward, causing his amulet to fall free from his shirt and dangle in front of Baptiste’s face. Baptiste’s eyes widened as he stared at it.
“You’re right, Baptiste. The power to reprimand you would have been Madame Cousteau’s, but since she has passed her magic to me, it would appear that her duties are now mine.”
He shook his head wildly. “No, no. This can’t be.”
“And I know of only one way to deal with a power-hungry maniac.”
Reynaud pressed his palm to Baptiste’s chest. Knowing no spells to invoke, he concentrated on what he wanted to do and trusted the magic inside him to carry it out. Baptiste’s jaw dropped open but no scream escaped. His body sank into the soil farther then shook all over. Abruptly, Reynaud snatched his hand away from Baptiste’s body then jumped to his feet.
Baptiste lay on the ground for a few moments then rose onto his elbows. “What…? What have you done to me?” he asked in a panicked whisper.
Reynaud sighed and turned away from him. “I did what was necessary.”
Baptiste’s breathing quickened. He grasped his chest, shaking his head. “My magic is… gone. No. No! What have you done?” he shouted. “What have you done?”
Reynaud continued walking away, leaving Baptiste’s anguish-filled screams behind. He picked up his pace, eager to return to Cameron’s arms.
The journey home didn’t take