Praetorian Series [3] A Hunter and His Legion Read Free Page B

silence.
    I probably shouldn’t have snapped at him earlier, but my mind was growing ever more difficult to reign in these days.  My eyes reflexively peeked toward the bag at my feet, but I looked away just as quickly.
    “So… ” my companion started, never one for awkward silences or missed opportunities to annoy me, “…about that sister of…”
    “Don’t even think about it.”
    “What?  All I wanted to know is whether brown is her natural hair color or not.”
    “This conversation is over.”
    He chuckled.  “Keep telling yourself that, buddy.”
    “She’s off limits,” I said flatly.  “God knows how many STDs you’ve picked up since we’ve been here.”
    He laughed out loud this time .  “You wish.  I’m clean.  Trust me.”
    “Not .  Happening.”
    “Lighten up, Hunter.  I’m just busting your balls.”
    “ Please … for the love of everything sacred… leave my balls out of this conversation,” I pleaded.
    He snorted and I couldn’t help but smile as well.  In that moment, I hardly cared about Artie’s innocence or keeping her away from this smiling buffoon, because all I felt was that old tingle of happiness at the banter and idiotic levity he never failed to offer.
    Which was why I kept this particular idiot around.
    Because I loved the guy.
    Platonically , of course.
    “ Just get out of here,” I told him with a wave of my hand.  “I’ll let you know what happens later, but I wouldn’t expect a fairy tale ending if I were you.”
    He held his hands out in front of him.  “I’ve read enough.  Don’ t bother.  Just remember that this didn’t happen to you.  It happened to him .”
    I nodded, knowing the truth behind Santino’s words, and like always, was thankful for his random bursts of clarity and insight that were so unbecoming his normal character.  I glanced at the closest friend I’ll ever have and watched as he melted into the shadows while I remained, keeping my ass firmly planted on the dry, hard, uncomfortable rock.
    A nd read.
     
     
    … need help.
    I’m terrified.  Made so many mistakes.  Every one led us… me… here.  There’s nothing to do.  No more tricks.  No more friends.  No mre magical blue balls.  Nothing.  Nothing left.  Just me and this box.  My grave.
    A ir is thin.  I can feel it.  Could use orb, but Im done.  Finished.  Ready to die.  Ready to join my love, my life, my… everything.
    Helena.
    I regrt.  Much.  Most everything.  All my fault.  Would never b in Rome.  Only no regret is helena.  But i killed her.  Kill her baby.  keeled them both.  my Son.  my grl.  WIL nevEr kno.she wuld have be great mom.  uch A woman.  the prfct womn.
    s ory.  Head feals lite.  Gting dark.
    r grets.  Regret what I did 2 timeline.  i know it brokem.  nothing is will besame.  I feal it in m bons.  Evrything is gainst me, an theres nothing i do.  not thing.wouldt no wht do if ere ws
    my falt.
    Falt.
    i …
    I…
    sorry.  Trying to focus…
    i m ramblng.
    I dont kno wht to do.
    H ELP
     
     
    I stopped .
    The Other Me continued on for a few more paragraphs after that, but I didn’t see the point of continuing.  He had clearly lost his grip on reality long before his final words, and I was certain the orb had led him down the dark path we all suspected it could, and that it had plagued his mind, taking him on a quick trip toward insanity.  He had been just as insane as Caligula in the original timeline and Claudius in the last.
    I’ d read enough.
    M y heart was pounding against my chest as I thought about it all, a rhythmic thumping that seemed to beat faster by the second.  I placed a hand there to steady it, and felt the drum of my beating heart begin to slow, but the pain in my head continued to linger.  The Other Me’s journal had more of an effect on me than I’d first suspected it would.  It wasn’t so much from the content but from the fear of what had happened to him, and how I knew it could happen