The Hourglass

Chapter VII.

**This chapter contains triggering scenes. Viewer discretion is advised.

Everything blurred in front of me as I panicked. My heart quickened as I knew this was real, everything was real. Charlotte kneeled on the floor and cradled her father's corpse in her arms and tears streamed down endlessly from her eyes to her cheeks. Some even landed on her father's colorless face which was drained away from the sudden loss of his life. She shook him, urged him to wake up for none of this to be real.

Charlotte: N-No! You can't be dead! You just can't!

Jasmin: Charlotte..

As I turned to face Lucien, it was nothing but a face full of panic and fear.

Lucien: No, this cannot be happening!

He pulled out a large, heavy coin purse and threw it to the tavern floor. The purse was ripped open from the impact which spilled coins and jewels onto the ground.

Lucien: I was never here! None of you saw me!

Charlotte: What?!

The panicked crowd now became excited as they clamoured for the coins and jewels. Lucien turned towards where I was standing and held out his hand.

Lucien: Come on, we shouldn't be here!

I took Lucien's hand and allowed him to lead me towards the tavern's exit.

Charlotte: W-wait! Where are you going?

I glanced back at Charlotte and saw her fine purple dress that she was wearing was now stained with her father's blood. Her eyes were red- although she had stopped crying, there were still remnants of pain and sorrow from the tears that trickled down from her cheeks.

Jasmin: I...I'm sorry.

Charlotte: You're sorry? But not sorry enough to stay with me?

Jasmin: I..I

Lucien: We have no time for this! We must go- now!

What am I doing? Charlotte needed me. I wasn't there for my parent's death, or I did tragically died with them but..I could have stayed by her side to comfort her, just like how Rachelle did to me when I wasn't myself for a period of time. Why on earth had I not stayed?

I was not the only ones to leave Artisan's Tavern, many others also fled the scene. Some of them were visibly distressed and others were happy for their newfound wealth. However, I did spot one man I recognised who headed towards the Tavern; it was Aurelio Fairburn.

Aurelio: Jasmin, are you alright? What happened in there?

Lucien: It's none of your concern. Jasmin, we must go.

Aurelio: I was speaking to the fair lady- not the monkey.

Lucien: What the..Jasmin, do you know this scoundrel?

Jasmin: He's my friend- Aurelio.

Aurelio: Friends? Is that what we are?

Lucien: My dear, you have questionable taste in friends.

Aurelio: She must do, if she's friends with a fop like you.

Lucien: How dare you! I should give you a sound thrashing!

Aurelio: I'd like to see you try.

Lucien: Enough of this nonsense. You could consider yourself lucky that I am in a hurry.

Aurelio: Hopefully we will meet again when you are less busy.

Lord Lucien quickly unhitched his horse, climbed onto the saddle and helped me mount the horse in front of him. With a few clicks, we galloped away from Artisan's Tavern and entered deep into the woods. Lucien rode faster and faster through the woods, as if demons of hell were on his tail. From the look of his eyes, who knows? Perhaps he fears the very thing.