Alexander reared back as if Mitch had just stated he had the Black Death.
“What did you say, boy?” Alfred seethed.
“Let’s face facts. You capture a Uile-bheist[1]”—Mitch used the name given to the shifters that his family hunted and pronounced it the correct way: ewl-uh-vehst—“torture them to death, which is unnecessary. Why abuse them? Torturing, as you do, speaks only to your cruelty, not theirs. That shows your hate and bloodlust, but none of theirs.”
“They murder our men!” Alfred yelled, almost jumping out of the chair.
“The Uile-bheist don’t play, mistreat, or cause deliberate pain to them. It’s war, a war which has gone on for millennia. Rarely do they harm someone and commit unspeakable offences against them. No, Uile-bheist kill cleanly and move on. It doesn’t say a lot for you with the shit you pull,” Mitch snarled.
Alexander regarded his son with disgust. “Mitchum, you shame your ancestors.”
“Actually, you both do. You forced me to read those dusty tomes. At the beginning, they didn’t harm them; they just decapitated them and burned the bodies. It’s only when the Romans came along that it became a thing to commit abuse,” Mitch stated.
“You sound like you’re on the Uile-bheist’s side, son.” Alexander narrowed his eyes.
“There’s something else you should consider. You claim they spread the Sins. Yet history shows that after one of them is killed, their Sin rampages freely. Unless they die, their Sins are contained. Once dead, the Sealgair Uilebheist[2] release the Sins and infect humanity,” Mitch said.
“Lie!” Alfred yelled.
“Check your facts, Grandfather. Every time one is murdered, their Sin ravages the world because it’s been set free. Unlike you,who follow unthinkingly, I research, investigate, and use the brain God gave me. But you two keep bending over and showing your arses for the leaders to fuck over. Not me. The Uile-bheist contain the Sins, and you fools are releasing them and helping the Devil end this world quicker.”
“Blasphemy!” Alfred screeched.
Mitch sighed and rose to his feet. He looked down at Alfred and Alexander. “You blindly follow with no thought. You maim, kill, and harm people, enjoying the grief you cause. It’s got to the point that the Sealgair Uilebheist don’t even care if they torture humankind now. As long as you’re getting your rocks off, causing agony to someone, nothing else matters.” He looked at them both with deep disdain for being related to these men. “You’re disgusting.”
“You think that? We enjoy inflicting pain?” Alexander roared.
“That’s what the evidence shows,” Mitch said.
“They’re traitors to the human race!” Alfred erupted.
“And there you go. The ability to justify every wrong action you do. I can’t live with that. I have a conscience and free will. Why on earth did you ask me here today? You both know I don’t agree with your life choices and the level of hate you live by. I haven’t for twelve years,” he exclaimed.
“Because we thought you might have come to your senses,” Alfred hissed.
“I did, when I realised you were nothing more than thugs and psychopaths dressed in expensive suits,” Mitch retorted as his gaze fell upon his family. They’d never listen to him, never understand why they were wrong. They were so entrenched in the Sealgair Uilebheist’s existence that they’d excuse anything.
“Mitchum, you can’t walk away from this life,” Alexander threatened.
Mitch stared at his father in disgust. “Is that a threat,Dad? If so, be warned, I’ve taken protection against my unexpected death.”
“What’s that mean?” Alfred stood up and pulled his shoulders back.
Mitch faced off against him. “It means, grandfather, should I die, then the records and evidence I gathered on the Sealgair Uilebheist will be released. And don’t think I’m so stupid that it’s in just one place. I learned my lessons at your knee very well. With over a dozen copies, you’ll never locate them all. Should you decide to kill me, be prepared for me to tear down your lives and all that it contains.”
“You dare threaten us!” Alexander threatened, pointing his finger.
“You told me years ago there’s only one way to leave the Sealgair Uilebheist. Guess I don’t want to die. Try it and find out. Let’s see what your precious ruler says when I bring the world crashing down near his ears. Every single murder, and the evidence pointing to the murderer—I’ve got it all recorded. You’ll not be able to stop the flood,” Mitch warned and turned his back to leave.
“Mitchum!” Alexander yelled. “You’re disowned, you’re no son of mine!”
“And you’ve no idea how much that relieves me,” Mitch replied and walked away.
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
“Want to go swim?” Garrett asked, approaching her.
“I actually do feel the need to; Ness is pressing hard for a shift,” she agreed.
