Chapter 51: Fire at the Door
Chapter 51: 51: Fire at the Door
Adrian, Tina, her cousin, and the guards were already moving toward the Marovain shop entrance when Lucard and the others stepped outside.
Dorian Velkhur walked in front of them like the street belonged to his grandfather and everyone else was only borrowing dust from him. His red coat moved behind him. Heat shimmered faintly around his shoulders, bending the air like the world itself was uncomfortable standing too close to him. Tina walked behind him with her chin raised, though her swollen cheeks ruined half of her pride. Adrian came beside her, pale and weak, but his eyes were burning with ugly excitement. Behind them, Ravencroft guards and Velkhur guards spread out, forming a half circle.
The people in the merchant square felt the change immediately. Some stepped away. Some hurried into nearby shops. Merchants were brave when counting money, but when noble fire mages came with guards, even brave merchants suddenly remembered they had very important business somewhere else.
Jenny’s hand tightened around the healing potion. Jake moved closer to her side. Peter’s eyes sharpened, and the two Marovain guards, Orven and Malik, stepped forward at once.
Dorian looked at them first, then his eyes stopped on Lucard.
Tina pointed at Lucard like she had caught a rat in her kitchen.
"That is him, Cousin. That bastard slapped me. He beat Adrian. He threatened House Ravencroft and ran here to hide under Marovain’s roof like a coward."
"So," Dorian said, smiling. "This is the Mudblood."
Lucard looked at her swollen face with calm interest.
"I see the medicine helped," he said. "Now both sides of your face are almost equal."
A few people nearby almost made a sound, then wisely swallowed it.
Tina’s face twisted. "You still dare talk."
Adrian took one step forward, though the movement made him cough. "Lucard, you should have stayed kneeling when you had the chance. Now even if you beg, I will not let you live."
Jake whispered to Jenny, "He says that a lot."
Jenny whispered back, "Do not answer him."
Lucard heard them anyway and almost smiled.
Tina pointed at Jenny next. "And you. Do not think I forgot you. You acted proud because your bastard brother stood in front of you. Today, I will tear that pride apart. I will kill all of you here. I will leave your family name in the mud where it belongs."
Jenny’s face went pale, but she stepped forward before Peter could stop her.
"Adrian," Jenny said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "Brother will remove the spell from you if you leave our path. You are still alive because he allowed it. Do not make this worse."
Adrian flinched at the word spell. His hand touched his chest unconsciously. Tina noticed and looked angry at him for showing fear.
Dorian, however, was no longer looking at Lucard.
He was looking at Jenny.
Up close, Jenny Vardros was far more beautiful than he had expected. She had been tired for days. Her clothes were simple compared to noble ladies of rich houses. Fear and worry sat in her eyes. Even then, her beauty had a quiet kind of dignity. She did not shine like someone trying hard to be noticed. She stood like someone born in a house that had fallen, but had not yet agreed to remain fallen.
Dorian’s smile changed.
"Well," he said softly. "The fallen Vardros house still has one treasure."
Jenny felt something cold crawl up her back.
Lucard’s eyes became still.
Dorian took another step forward. "Jenny Vardros, was it? You are wasted beside these people. I can be merciful. Serve me on my bed, and I will let you live."
Peter’s face darkened with rage. "Watch your mouth."
Dorian did not even look at him. "I will do more than let you live. I will help you rebuild your family. A pretty face with old noble blood still has some value. All you need to do is give me Jake and Lucard. We need the boy for something. As for Lucard, he dies."
Jenny’s fingers trembled, but her voice came clearly.
"No."
Dorian tilted his head. "Think carefully."
"I already did."
Dorian sighed as if someone had wasted a good cup of wine.
"Such a waste of beauty."
His smile vanished.
"Then you all die here."
His right hand rose. Fire gathered around his fingers, curling like a living snake.
"First Ember Bolt."
A line of red fire shot toward Lucard’s chest.
Lucard moved before the spell reached him. He twisted aside, the fire passing close enough to burn the edge of his cloak. The bolt struck the stone behind him and exploded with a sharp crack. Pieces of stone statue of Marovain shop gate decoration flew outward. Jake yelped. Jenny pulled him back.
Lucard stepped forward instead of retreating. His fingers opened, and a thin blade of dark red blood slid from his palm. To others it looked like some strange low magic, but Peter’s eyes widened because he could feel there was nothing normal about it.
Dorian’s brows rose.
Lucard slashed.
Dorian raised his left hand.
"Cinder Guard."
A shield of orange fire appeared in front of him. Lucard’s blood blade struck it and hissed, steam and smoke rising where blood met flame. Dorian’s smile returned.
"Interesting. A blood trick."
Lucard did not answer. He stepped in again, faster than Dorian expected. The blood blade bent like a whip, aiming for Dorian’s face. Dorian leaned back and laughed.
"Second Flame Lash."
A whip of fire snapped from Dorian’s hand. It cracked across the air and struck Lucard’s blood blade, scattering droplets across the street. The droplets hit the stone, then crawled back toward Lucard like red insects returning to their master.
Dorian noticed.
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"You are stranger than I was told."
"I hear that often," Lucard said.
Dorian laughed and attacked again.
"Burning Wheel."
A ring of fire spun out from his palm and rolled across the street toward Lucard. The heat forced nearby people to retreat even farther. Lucard jumped sideways, but the wheel turned with him.
"So it follows," Lucard thought.