Purpose (34 page)

“Who are you?” Ryan’s dad had stones; he’d give him that. “How dare you break into our home?”

“Shut up and listen or I’ll forget my promise to your son and kill you both.”

Another gasp from Ryan’s mom.

“Sit down, sir.” He stared at the older man, waiting for him to comply. When he didn’t, Will “told” the man’s nervous system to make him comply.

“Your son was a beautiful, decent man. Had you taken even a moment to return his love for you, you would have known this. But instead you ignored him. Worse, when he needed you most, you cast him out, alone and frightened.”

Changing appearances, he chose a dark, shadowy figure that made them both gasp. “I am the Spirit of Vengeance. I’ve killed thousands of murderers to satisfy my purpose. In all my years, I’ve never wanted to kill anyone more than I want to kill you two. Despite your worst efforts, Ryan was a good man who never lost the capacity to love.

“I loved him more than either of you ever did, and I knew him such a short time. Killing you would momentarily ease the pain I haven’t felt in forty years. But he would never forgive me if I did that, so you’re fortunate.”

Moving swiftly, he laid a hand on each forehead. “Instead, I’m going to give you something you lack: feelings. You will mourn his passing and show him more love in death than you did in life.”

Reaching into both minds, he forced their brains to acknowledge Ryan’s death. A choked sob escaped their mouths. Manipulating their emotions, he forced them to confront their failings.

“Honor his memory, or you will suffer his pain.”

He let himself out, unable to smile at what he’d accomplished. It was supposed to ease his pain, but it didn’t. Then again, he’d never really believed it would.

His old Porsche sat waiting, engine still running. He climbed in and buckled his belt. “I hear Seattle is nice. Did you still want to go there?”

Ryan nodded but didn’t look over. “As long as we’re together, anywhere but here.”

After a minor in creative writing in college,
A
NDREW
Q. G
ORDON
decided to become old and stodgy and went to law school. At the urging of his partner, he returned to creative writing almost two decades later. Still working as a lawyer, he and his husband of seventeen years and their dogs live in the DC area. In 2011 they welcomed their daughter into their family. Andrew still manages to write after the last diaper is changed and he unwraps himself from his daughter’s little finger.

You can find him online at http://www.andrewqgordon.com.

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A
NDREW
Q. G
ORDON

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