Chapter 59: Punishment

Arthur watched as Susan confronted Dutch out of nowhere. "Dutch! What is goin' on?!"

"Goin' on, Miss?" he asked her.

"With you! You're not yourself, somehow!"

"Then who am I?"

"I have no idea...who are you?"

"Who are you? To question me," Dutch stood up and got in Susan's face, "I mean..."

"I have always been loyal, Dutch!" Susan walked around him. "And I shall go on bein' loyal, but what are we doin' here? We need to move and keep movin'!"

"We need...we need money, you dumb fool! And my daughter!" Dutch shouted angrily. "Money! Lilly! Or we are dead! We are all dead!" Dutch wandered near the cave. "I am doin' the best I can. Fool!" Dutch then walked into the cave.

Arthur sighed. He'd seen Dutch getting unhinged more and more every day and now he was yelling at everybody. Lilly being captured and imprisoned, again, was not helping things of course, and he could barely keep people's hopes up about Ireland. Some people were even thinking of leaving. As much as that hurt Arthur, he thought maybe it was for the best. Their outlaw way of life was dying and would soon be over, one way or another. He'd periodically ask people how they were doing, just to see if he could brighten them up, but to no avail. Even Trelawny wasn't in the highest of spirits, though he was adamant about coming to Ireland. He thought it might be fun.

Sean and Karen were fighting an awful lot as of late, even after Sean returned from Guarma, but it was mostly Karen being an alcoholic now that started the fights. Reverend Swanson would invite him to sit a lot by the fire and chat, and sometimes he would, but Arthur spent most of his time planning Lilly's rescue. Or Adair's rescue. Both of them, really. He loved Lilly with all his heart, but Adair was a part of her so in a way, Arthur loved Adair too. Mostly everyone did, except Micah, but he was an asshole to everyone. Still, Arthur was beginning to suspect something going on between Micah and Dutch lately, something about a plan, and Arthur didn't like it. Arthur walked into the cave after a while and started talking to Dutch.

"Hi, Dutch," Arthur said to his long time mentor.

"Good morning," Dutch said bitterly.

Arthur sighed. He wanted to ask about the whole Micah thing but now was not a good time, he surmised. "Dutch, I'm worried about you."

Dutch gaped at Arthur. "Me? Why?"

"Well, you been kinda short with folks recently and I was just wonderin' if you're okay."

Dutch sighed and shook his head. "No, Arthur, I am not okay. Lilly's gone again, people are losin' hope, questionin' my judgment, and all I can do is tell them to keep the faith. But they've lost it. Hosea, Susan, everyone...except Micah, Bill, and Javier." Dutch looked at Arthur. "Have you lost faith in me?"

"No, Dutch. Like I said, I'm worried about you, is all." Arthur pat Dutch's shoulder. "You are my father, after all."

Dutch smiled brightly for the first time in days and Dutch clapped Arthur on the arm. "Thank you, son. That means a lot to me."

"Sure."

"Any ideas on how to get your wife back?"

"Hosea and I been goin' over it if you wanted to take a look."

"Hmm." Dutch nodded. "Soon, perhaps. I just need to clear my head right now."

"Alright, well, I'll leave you to it." Arthur walked out of the cave and crossed paths with Micah. "Hey, Micah."

"Hey, Black Lung," Micah said.

It was a new nickname Micah gave Arthur to poke fun at his illness. Not that it mattered much any more. The Morrigan said he'd be healed soon. But he kept drinking his milk like Lilly told him to, he'd occassionally go walking through the mountains for a while and he had to admit that those times were when he could breathe the easiest and have the least amount of coughing. But it was cutting down to the wire about getting his wife back. He decided to go into Annesburg for ammo, and maybe to see if Mrs. Downes and Archie had left town. He was hoping they did, but as he got in, sure enough, he saw Archie waiting outside some door between two buildings.

"Shit," Arthur said before approaching Archie.

"Mr. Morgan," Archie said in quiet greeting.

"You still here, kid?"

"Well, yes. Momma..." Archie turned away. "Momma can't leave! Or won't leave! I don't know, I said I had the money," he turned around and pointed at Arthur, "she said your money weren't moral. She said it'd be better to die than to take it."

Arthur shrugged. "Maybe she's right, I don't know...I don't know anythin' about morals."

"She's still headin' out...workin', you know."

"I'm sorry, son." Archie walked past him. "Sorry about all of this."

"She ain't been back for a few hours." Archie turned back and the males faced each other. "She left with some fella down the railway tracks. I did not like the look of him."

"Which way you say?"

Archie pointed. "Eh, that way, around the woods, towards Willard's Rest."

Arthur nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

Adair groaned out as another hit to the face came from the iron-tipped cane of Leviticus Cornwall. "Let my niece out!" he yelled.

"No!" Adair shouted. "She does not wish to talk to you!"

"Why not?"

"Because you burned her and killed her, you moron! Even when you knew she was with child!"

"Well I'm not killing her now. I just want to talk!"

"And I said no!"

Leviticus hit her over and over with the cane before pushing the iron tip into her cheek. Adair felt it burn and sizzle and she groaned from the pain.

"Adair, are you sure this is necessary? Why won't you let me out?"

"You need to be protected! As soon as I let you out, he will put the collar on you!"

"Oh, so she does want out," Leviticus said with a smirk.

"That does not mean she will talk to you."

"Damn right it doesn't. Ya show that bastard who's boss, Adair!"

Adair snarled at the man and Brutus entered the room with an iron knife. "Brutus, please clip her wings."

"Adair, no! Let me out! Dunna let them do that tah ya!"

Adair chuckled. "Relax, they will grow back."

"Oh. Well, in that case, just breathe through it."

Adair chuckled. "That's my girl."

Adair took a few deep breaths and screamed out as she felt the knife slice through one of her shoulder blades.

Arthur got close to Willard's Rest when he heard voices.

"How about a drink, deary?" a man said to someone.

"Oh, no thank you," a woman replied.

"That's Mrs. Downes," Arthur mumbled to himself.

"Aw, I ain't a baddie, I ain't..."

"Of course not."

"Well, deary, I been in jail...but it weren't my fault."

"I'm sure."

"It's nice out here, huh? It's quiet."

"Nice? Sure."

"Feller could do...what he likes out here."

"I guess..."

Arthur approached them both. "That's enough now, partner," Arthur said to the man. "You're startin' to scare me, let alone the poor woman! Clear off!"

"And who are you?" the man asked Arthur.

"Someone who don't wanna hear no more of your nasty mouth," Arthur snapped. The man spit. "Push me, and I'll put a bullet in you."

"I-I-I presume Archie sent you?" Mrs. Downes asked Arthur, trying to interrupt the confrontation.

"I said clear off, before I deal with you!" Arthur growled as he ignored the woman.

"I'll see you again, deary," the man said to Edith.

He caressed her face and she turned away. The man left and Arthur watched him leave. "Listen, listen to me," Arthur said to the woman as he started coughing. "Excuse me."

Edith crossed her arms. "You sound like my husband," she said.

"I know. Listen...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what happened, and I was a, a fool. And I'm sufferin' for my foolishness, but don't go and get yourself killed because of your pride. You have a son, Mrs. Downes."

"I'm just so ashamed," she said, covering her face and starting to cry.

"Ashamed? For what? You loved him. You did everything for him...let's get you home."

Edith turned to him and stopped crying. "Alright. Let's go."

Arthur called for his horse Rose and they both mounted up. He turned around and started trotting down the trail. "I'm sorry it had to come to this."

"Stop sayin' sorry...sorry won't bring Thomas back."

"I know," Arthur coughed.

"So you're sick now too, and you think that affords you the opportunity for penance for cuttin' his time short?"

"No, I ain't lookin' for that."

"Okay then, so just forget about me and the guilt you're carryin', because no good can come of that for either of us. All you can do now is decide the man you want to be, for the time you have left. Help someone who can be helped, or help yourself."

Arthur sighed. "I suppose you're right."

"Or hang yourself, for all I care," she said bitterly.

"You're right to dislike me. I ain't lookin' for that to change," Arthur said. They continued in silence until they reached where Archie was waiting. "Archie should be waitin' for us just up ahead."

They both got off Rose and Arthur followed Edith to Archie. Archie saw her and smiled. "Momma! Momma!" he said as they hugged. "Momma."

Edith gasped with a cry. "Oh, you're a silly boy, you're...oh, Archie. What will we do?"

"Get outta here," Arthur said to them both. "Go. Live someplace else, start over. Here, take this," Arthur reached into his satchel and pulled out money. "I don't need it no more."

"I don't want your money," Edith said.

"Yeah, I know you don't want it."

"I don't."

"You sure as shit need it. Take it."

"No."

"I ain't lookin' for forgiveness, it ain't about that. Don't forgive me, just take the money and get outta here, please. I know I ruined your life. I suffer for it every day, but don't let yourself get killed for...for pride. I seen it kill too many folk." Arthur put his arm out, money in hand.

"I..."

"Don't say anythin'. Don't thank me." Mrs. Downes took the money. "Just take the money and pack your bags. That's all I gotta say."

"Thank you, Mr. Morgan," Archie blurted out.

"I said don't thank me. Get outta here. Please."

The mother and son turned, opened the door and walked in. But then Archie stopped. "Mr. Morgan. That woman that was with you, when you helped me at the mine."

"Yes?"

"Is she your wife?"

"Yes."

"You're married?" Mrs. Downes said in shock.

Arthur held up his left hand to show his wedding band. "Yes. And we're uh, we're expectin' twins." Arthur tipped his hat and walked away.

Adair sat on her knees shaking as blood oozed from her back. Both her wings had been cut off. Of course they'd grow back, but she wasn't healing thanks to the iron chains shackling her.

"It hurts, Adair. It really hurts," Lilly said in Adair's head.

"I-I know," Adair replied with a quivering voice. "But fear céile will be here soon enough."

"That mother fucker better hurry up."

Adair cackled. "You are a most amusing human. Aside from the fat man, of course."

"Yes, I love how you keep sayin' you're gonna eat him. Gets him every single time. But why do you like to pick on him so much?"

Adair smiled. "I like a man with girth."

"What? You like a man with girth? You mean...you are attracted to Mr. Pearson?"

"Yes."

Lilly laughed. "Oh my God."

"What?" Adair asked with both amusement and confusion in her voice.

"Out of all the men you choose to be attracted to, you choose the cook? He's not even a warrior!"

"He says he was in the navy."

"Yeah. As a cook!"

"Well, I do apologize, Lilly, but as I said, I like a man with girth."

Lilly put a palm to her face. "You have got to be kiddin' me," she laughed.

The door to the room opened and Mr. Cornwall walked in with a tray of food and a glass of water. "I thought you might be hungry," he said, putting the tray in front of her. It was cooked prime beef, green peas, and a potato cut open with butter on it.

"I can go on without eating for days."

"Yes, I suppose you can, but Lilly can't. She hasn't eaten in two days and I'm sure her babies are hungry." Leviticus crouched down. "I promise to only keep the collar on Lilly, just during the conversation, if you let me talk to my niece. She needs to eat."

"I am rather hungry, Adair."

"Lilly, you cannot trust his word."

"I know but I can't go on starving my children."

Adair sighed, and light enveloped her. Lilly came out and she groaned, feeling very weakened from being in Adair's body for so long. "Oh, that feels so much better," she said.

"What do you mean?" Leviticus asked Lilly.

Lilly glared at him. "I mean this whole time you've been torturin' Adair, I've been feelin' it."

Leviticus' eyes went wide. "Really?"

"Yes." Leviticus put an enchanted collar around Lilly's neck and grabbed a chair, putting the tray in his lap and cutting up the steak. He helped Lilly drink the water then started feeding Lilly, and she was slightly grateful, not that she would admit to it. "I have questions."

"Alright. Ask away."

"You said my father failed his mission. What do you mean?"

Levi fed her another piece of steak. "He made a deal with The Morrigan."

This shocked Lilly to the core. "What? Before or after he killed Adair?"

"After. You see, after Adair died, The Morrigan cursed your mother with fertility problems before your parents even met. Brian was a miracle child, but she had several miscarriages afterwards. So, your father went to the fairy mound and begged for Abigail's curse to be removed, and The Morrigan removed it on the condition that the next child would be allowed to, well, be watched over by her. He agreed, and then your mother became pregnant with you."

Lilly had always wondered about the age gap between Brian and herself. They were ten years apart in age. "How many miscarriages did my mother have?"

"Six."

Lilly frowned. "She must have been devastated."

"Yes, as was your father." Levi fed her some peas. "Any other questions?"

"How come you think Adair was responsible for the famines?"

"We were told by someone."

"Who?"

"I'm afraid I can't answer that." He gave Lilly a bite of the potato. "Is your meal sufficient in taste?"

"Yes."

"More questions?"

"No, but I will tell you that Adair was framed."

Leviticus smirked. "Who told you this?"

"The Morrigan."

"Hmm. Well, forgive me if I don't believe that."

Lilly sneered at him with a scoff. "I wouldn't forgive you for anything, Cornwall."

Leviticus chuckled. "You are so much like your father."

Lilly's expression softened. "How did you find out I was a reincarnated goddess, anyway?"

"Same person I can't tell you about."

Lilly sighed. "But this is why we escaped to America? Because you wanted me dead?"

Levi frowned and fed Lilly more food. "You act as if I enjoyed killing you. I didn't, not at all. It pained me, in fact. After all, I was named your godfather."

Lilly quirked a brow. "I don't even remember that."

"I guessed so. You were very young when you left Ireland. I doubt you remember much."

"The Morrigan said I was bound. What does that mean?"

"Your father hired a special priest to bind Adair from you once he found out who you were, but only a part of Adair was left in the oak tree. That is why it died when you left. It was his duty to kill you but he refused. I mean, who could kill their own child?"

Lilly inclined her head with a hum. "I see."

Levi helped her finish the rest of her food. "I do have questions too, Lilly."

"Like what?"

"What happened once you, James and Brian got to America?" Lilly hesitantly explained all the things that transpired from the moment she set foot on American soil. When she got to the part about the school in Saint Denis and how she was beaten so as to make her barren, Levi frowned. "That's horrible."

"Yeah."

Then she got to the part about Brian's death and killing fifty three men in his name. This shocked Levi. "You were The Fidus Er Audax Hunter?" He laughed. "I did think it was odd that the person used your family motto as their mark. Bronte must have trained you well."

"Yes."

"And the other students? What happened to them?"

"Oh, they all died. Bronte sent them after me."

"Did you kill them?"

Lilly laughed. "No. See, Bronte had them taught to fight, and they fought well. Unfortunately, they were not taught to survive the swampy wilderness like I was by The Morrigan. They got eaten by alligators or killed by Night Folk."

Levi laughed. "Well, that was dumb of Bronte."

"Yes, it was."

Lilly continued her story about leaving Saint Denis to track down Steven and Travis for her family's pocketwatch and how she became a member of the Van der Linde gang.

"So, Arthur, he's been your guardian ever since?"

"Yeah, although for the last four months I have not made his job easy at all."

"I'm sorry he won't see his children, but I figure it best that I take them into my care instead."

This angered Lilly but she knew it wouldn't come to that. She knew Arthur was coming to get her. "He wouldn't anyway."

"What do you mean?" Leviticus asked her, crossing his legs.

"He's dyin' from tuberculosis," she said sadly.

"I see."

"I have one request."

"Go ahead."

"I'm havin' a boy and a girl. The boy will be named after Arthur, and the girl will be Aoífe. Please honor my wishes."

"I shall, my dear. You have my word. Now," he leaned forward to unlock her collar. "Is Adair ready to come back out?"

Adair needed rest but she wasn't about to tell Levi that, so she lied. "Yes."

Levi unlocked the collar and as soon as he did, Lilly pounced and tackled him to the ground. She started choking him and he struggled to breathe, flailing his limbs about. He grabbed his cane and hit her with it, but she didn't budge. She punched Levi in the face and knocked him out. She got up and yanked on the iron chains, breaking them apart. The door opened and some men came running in to subdue her, but she only smiled and knocked them all into the walls with a swing of her arms. She ran out the door and through the dark hallways. She had to get out but which way should she go? As she past a corner a collar was clamped on her neck and she went backwards onto the floor. Lilly looked up and saw Brutus standing their, looking victorious.

Lilly groaned at him. "Son of a bitch!"

Brutus laughed and pulled her up rather aggressively. "Come on, back to your room," he said with his thick, Cockney accent.

Lilly struggled in his grasp but with her collar on, Brutus was a lot stronger than her. The man was built like a beef cake and he was at least six foot four. She was guessing, of course. He dragged her back into the room and slammed the door shut. He looked down at an unconscious Leviticus Cornwall, then at the broken chains and growled in frustration. He opened the door and shouted, still hanging on the squirming Irish woman. "Oy! I need some help over here!"

Mr. Pierce and a few other men came walking in a minute later and surveyed the damage. Brutus held her in a lock with his arms as they decided to bring her to another room. They woke Cornwall up who had a broken nose and Lilly silently congratulated herself. They dragged her to another room and chained her up on her knees, this time making the chains tighter and giving her less room to move around. "Okay, Mr. Cornwall says to remove the collar now, but hold her down."

One man put her head to the floor and she struggled as they took the collar off. They beat her back repeatedly, flogged her with another cat o' nine tails whip to bring Adair out but Lilly refused. Her back healed instantly but it still hurt to be whipped by burrs. And she'd have to explain the extra scars on her back. But eventually the pain overcame her and she passed out, turning into Adair once more. Adair's wings didn't grow back this time. The iron was preventing her from healing. They flogged her with the iron burred whip and blood splattered across the floor, but the goddess did not scream. No, Adair was no longer going to give them the satisfaction of hearing her howl in pain.