Consumed: Westlake Trilogy Book One

By J.C. Jarrett

In this the first book of the Westlake Trilogy. Payton Westlake was raised with blades in his hands and justice in his heart. From a young age, he showed skill beyond his years and a desire to protect the innocent, but now all his heart and skill will be put to the test. When a major injustice is thrust into his path. Only he can stand between a young girl's life and the hands of evil. Will he prevail or shall they both become consumed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781458328779

Book preview

Copyright Pending 2021

Jarrett Inc.

About the

Author

J.C. Jarrett was born in 1975 the oldest of three he grew up in Scott Depot WV, Graduating from Winfield High school in Winfield WV. He went on to do several jobs, from over the road truck driver, to slot machine technician.  A path that Lead him to his beautiful wife, Jacinda.  Over the years he worked on this book, using a pen and several notebooks.  Then in 2012 his daughter was born and it only seemed right to name her after the character, Payton whom he had wrote and thought about so long.

Together Payton and He lives in Scott Depot WV.

If you would like to contact the author

[e-mail]

Acknowledgments

There are several people I would like to thank for their support in the writing of this book.  First of all, Jacinda my wife and Payton Leigh our beautiful little girl (Whose name was taken from this book) they are my true inspiration and my heart, without them this would have never come to be they make me a better man.   

My sister Haley for reading this book, and cursing me for not having the next finished for her. Cindy for proof reading and helping repair my mistakes.  Finally, to the Casino for giving me a job so slow and boring that I was able to hand write most of this book on their dime.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy.

CONSUMED

PROLOGUE      Born in Blood

Pain was all she knew.  Her slender hand clutched at her chest in an effort to stop the tide of blood that flowed from the wound.  The light from the burning house cast dancing shadows across the ground and the sounds of battle could still be heard from somewhere nearby.  She managed to raise her head from the damp grass to look down at her stomach still swollen with child. 

Gods... Please save my child...If you must, take me but save my baby. Maybe she could barter herself for her baby’s life she thought.   

A squeal of pain tore from the darkness and the clashing sounds of battle ended. 

Rand...... Rand... she managed to call but her voice seemed very weak. 

A dark tall figure stepped into the fire light a large sword in hand dripping with blood and gore.  The dark figure moves to her dropping to his knees the flickering fire light sent his worried features swimming across his face. 

Jana... he spoke while inspecting her wound, he knew it was mortal and she had very little time left.  He looked down at her blood stained face. Tears welled in his eyes as his voice caught in his throat. 

    No my love she said.  Her voice barely a whisper,

You must be strong... You have to save our baby   

Rand looked down at her swollen stomach, shaking his head No... No... Please there has to be another way I can’t.  Panic in his voice very evident. 

The tears flowed freely now from his and her eyes, she reached a hand out taking his guiding it to her lower stomach right above her waist. 

Take your knife and cut here but not too deep... then you will have to reach in and pull our baby out, you’ll need to hurry, you won’t have much time. A strange calm had come over her the pain had stopped,

You must, for the baby.... for me…  I… love… her words trailed off as she released her last breath. 

Jana’s hand fell away from Rand’s for she had still held it in place on her stomach, he looked up at her.  Reaching out he lightly shook her.

Jana...... Jana? 

The wail of sorrow that escaped his lips echoed through the night.  He sat mortified unsure of what to do for several seconds. Finally, he moved to her waist pulling his knife from his belt, tears clouded his vision causing the image to swim in front of him. He gently placed the edge of the sharp blade against her exposed stomach. There he sat for several seconds building the courage for what he knew he must do.  Closing his eyes, he silently asked for the strength he needed so badly at this moment, then slowly he slid the blade, its edge opening her flesh with ease as blood seeped from the incision. 

Taking both of his hands he pushed in to the incision forcing them inside up to his wrists.  His mind was on the edge of panic but he stayed on the task at hand he could not let the horror of this moment paralyze his actions or all would be lost. 

Suddenly, he felt movement as his hand brushed against the tiny child trapped in its womb. He knew that if he did not hurry would become the poor child’s tomb. Taking hold with both hands Rand gently pulled watching the head escape the child’s departed mother.  The baby’s cry’s filled the night as if it knew of its mothers passing.  The new father looked at his newborn son covered in blood and gore.  Sobs racked the man’s body as he wept holding his son who would never know how brave and strong his mother had been. Rand removed his cloak and laying the baby on it he took his knife and snipped the umbilical cord then wrapped his son tight in the cloth. 

Rand raised the baby up See darling you did it… it’s a boy... the devastated man said his voice breaking with emotion. 

Rand held his son looking into his blue eyes as they stared back the boy now silent as if he knew the pain and grief his father now felt. 

  "Payton… That was the name you had chosen…

Payton… Our son."

CHAPTER ONE

Training

The fat man turned down the dark alley between the old weather beaten buildings.  Stopping in front of an unmarked wooden slat door he rapped his large knuckles sharply on it twice.  The door slowly opened a crack, just large enough for a dark eye to peer out taking in the bulk of the man.   

What do you want? the question came from the darkness beyond the door in a hushed whisper.   

The fat man’s huge beard covered most of his face causing his gruff and gravelly voice to seem to come from nowhere.

I’m here to make a purchase. he replied.   

The door swung open slowly on its hinges allowing the large bulk of a man to pass, just inside a small man stood holding a large crossbow pointed to the floor.  When the large man was completely inside the small man closed the door silently and pointed at a narrow stone stair case that went down into the darkness.   

The sound of his footfalls echoed off the stone walls of the stairs case as the smell of sewer assaulted his nose and the sound of hundreds of voices drifted up to his ears.  As the bottom of the stair case came into view a dim light spilled in from the room beyond.  Stepping into the dimly lit room the huge man took in the sight of over a dozen large cages each seemed to hold ten to twelve human beings of all ages. 

Grover the tall thin man called out to him, his neatly trimmed beard and fine clothing made him stand out in this dreadful place.   

The large man put his hand out in greeting Karl it’s good to see you he said as the two clasp hands in friendship.   

Karl looked at the huge man So what can I do for you? he asked.   

I’m wanting one that would be easy to train… and not too bad to look at. Grover responded. 

Karl raised his hand pointing toward a cage and the pair moved off toward it.

Here you go Grover take your pick, all the women in here are around sixteen to eighteen years the slave trader spoke when they neared the cage. 

About a dozen women set huddled in the cage all barely covered in filthy rags.  Most would not raise their heads to the two men but the few that did had the look of fear set in their eyes. 

The large man walked up and down the length of the cage inspecting each young woman in turn.  All of them were grim covered with their hair matted to their heads but Grover’s eye apprised each one with an eager gleam.  Finally, the fat man stopped, his dark eyes coming to rest on the slender frame of a young girl whose eyes stared at him like emeralds shining in the dark.  Though filthy the girl’s hair showed a bit of its red tint through the grime.   

That one, how much? the fat man asked pointing through the bars, with a little too much eagerness in his voice

Karl looked at the girl while scratching his bearded cheek.

Oh… I don’t know. How about fifty gold? he said.

The harsh laughter filled the room as Grover thought about the price. 

She’s not worth a coin over thirty the fat man said knowing that was all he had and regretted saying it as soon as it was out of his mouth. 

The slaver looked at the girl knowing he only had ten gold pieces in the girl and maybe another coin in food, so at thirty he’d be making a good profit. 

OK… Grover you got a deal at thirty.   

Grover’s eyes narrowed at the slaver his regret turning to anger at himself for offering way too much and knowing Karl so well he knew he would never get the price down a single coin. 

The girl was pulled from the cage by two large guards.  She fought for just a few seconds against them before she realized the futility of it.  The green eyed slave girl’s hands were bound and a leather collar was placed around her slender neck with a lead rope attached to it. 

She looked back into the cage at the other girls with tears reaming her eyes as she was drug off toward the stone staircase where Grover stood in waiting.  As she approached the fat man inspected his purchase, the filthy rags the girl wore did little to hide her womanly curves and though just sixteen she was a sculpted beauty.  A large smile spread from ear to ear on the fat man though no one could see it through his huge unkempt beard. 

Night had fallen over the city of Port Haven by the time Grover and the slave girl exited the illegal slave pit.  In the cover of darkness, the fat man had little trouble getting the girl loaded up in his wagon and out of the city before anybody could ask questions.  Once on the open road the fat man relaxed and kept eyeing the young beauty hungrily. 

The slave girl set in silence as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.  The thoughts of what this man would do to her paralyzed her with fear as she cursed her own father for selling her to the slavers for a handful of gold coin.  Looking up in to the clear night sky she begged a higher power for help, but she knew none would come.

.    .    .  .

Good, Good. Now again. Rand said as he brought his huge two handed sword in an overhead strike. 

Faster than the slender young man expected but he still managed to get his twin straight sabers crossed over his head blocking the incoming attack.  The ring of steel echoed off the hillsides as the three blades crashed into each other again and again.  Sweat beaded on both combatants brows as the morning sun beat down upon them but neither seemed to notice.   

Over and over the huge blade came in fast leaving the young man on the defensive, his blond hair flying behind him he ducked under a wide arcing swing of the huge sword.  Tensing his legs, the young warrior launches himself from the ground sending his shoulder into his opponents’ midsection.  The wind blasted from Rand’s lungs from the jolt of the impact he gasps for air as he tried to keep his balance, but it was all for not Rand tumbled over landing hard on his back as his sword skidded away on the soft dirt.

The large man looked up to his opponent in defeat as the young man stood over him.  A huge smile spread across Rand’s face as he looked at the young man.   

Very good, Payton.  You never gave a single tell of your upcoming attack.  But speed and skill are only good if? Rand said still smiling at his son and taking his offered hand to help him from the ground.   

If your mind is as sharp as your blade.  Payton responded to the question.    I know father you ask me that everyday the young warrior said as he raised his hand to his blue eyes, shielding them from the sun to look off in the distance at a small dust cloud moving along the road to Port Haven.

Rand followed his gaze out to the dust cloud about a mile from his small three room house.   

Looks to be a small wagon probably Grover Payton said as his father started toward the water barrel beside the house. 

Rand leaned against the water barrel after dunking his head in to rinse the sweat from his hair.  He stared at his reflection for several seconds then shook his head in frustration. 

Rand Westlake you are getting old and slow he said to himself in the water seeing the grey on the sides of his once stark black hair and the lines etched across his face. 

Rand stood looking at his son who he had raised alone after Jana had passed.  He could definitely see Jana in his son from his dark blond hair and ice blue eyes to his slender build and barely Five foot ten stature.  Thoughts of Jana always caused him to wish that Payton had been given a chance to meet his mother it saddened him deeply that he never would. 

The dust cloud moved ever closer and now Rand could make out the great bulk of Grover bouncing and jiggling in the seat.   

It is Grover he said And someone else with him his son finished his young eyes keener then his fathers. 

The father and son stood and watched the wagon roll past the turn in the road that would take it to the Grover homestead.  Causing Rand to curse to himself, he could not stand Grover who acted like the world owed him everything and was a great braggart and liar.  Rand wasn’t positive but he was pretty sure the man preyed on travelers from time to time robbing them of their goods and coin but he had never been caught.  He was nothing more than a bully and a thief and on more than one occasion made sure his son knew this. 

It’s a girl Payton said with excitement in his voice pulled his father from his own thoughts who looked back out at