Cassel — POV
I witnessed the transformation that took over John's face—a sudden spasm of fear that seemed to seep from his bones.
His bravado, his arrogance that had made him so dangerous before, was vanquished in an instant. It was as if his mask had been torn off, revealing the shaking uncertainty behind it.
It seemed that deep inside, he had finally begun to understand the consequences of his actions.
The weight of what he had done and what he had intended to do.
The instant the voice of General Zan crashed through the room, John fell to his knees with terror.
It was almost as if the sound shook his body to the marrow.
The initial words which wrenched themselves loose in his throat were cries of mercy, unadulterated and unbridled.
"Please… forgive me… father I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I won't do it again!"
Every syllable was filled with real fear; yet every syllable was also tainted with the selfish quality that had ever characterized him.
