The Darkest Dawn

Chapitre 11

The horses were loosely tied to a fence. All Darius needed to do was pull an end of the reins and off they go. This gave Lucien no comfort. The mission was to infiltrate the mansion, get Malachai and hightail out of there. Easier said than done. Darius said to stick together. Follow him. Lucien didn't know that entailed trying to keep up with an ex-soldier familiar with these kinds of tactics. So that's how Lucien ended up wandering the dark rooms of the large estate. The first room he checked were the slave quarters.

The beds were overturned, sheets thrashed. There were dents in the walls, from a large object applying a lot of force. Lucien shivered, imagining this was Rhaelra's wrath. He shuddered further, trying not to picture what he did when Audie returned. In any case, Malachai was not here hiding in shadows so much like that basement in the shop.

The next room was the parlor. It contrasted with the slave quarters greatly in the feature that this room was not wrecked. Plush cushions remained fluffed on the couch and arm chairs. Watered flowers sat straight in pristine china vases, untouched. There was no evidence of two Seivohn perched on the seats and no evidence of savage slaves on leashes brought in here and sold after some financial debate. There was also no evidence of a small child scared witless. Lucian exited that room and into the hall. He had a feeling where Malachai was and it stuck him odd he had not run into Darius quite yet. Perhaps he took the back door?

Lucien padded down the hall, his footsteps echoing softly off the walls. He slowed to a walk, heart hammering at his ribs. The unsettling thought of not knowing where Rhaelra was gave the man a pause. He shook his head, glancing at the familiar grey wallpaper. The hallway was long and narrow, unnerving him further. He pressed his hands outwards in an attempt to push the walls wider, hoping it would set him at ease. Of course it only troubled him further to find that they were closer together than originally thought, his arms bent at the elbows slightly. The walls pushed back, resisting Lucien's forcing palms.

He pressed onward, withdrawing his hands and tucking them under his armpits. The air felt unbearably heavy and humid the further he travelled. Sweat cooled his skin which crawled with hyper electricity, raising micro hairs. Lucien coughed to soothe an itch in his throat, then froze. He didn't dare move a muscle as he waited for a raging Seivon to charge from the end of the dreadful hall. His ears strained for something past silence, his pounding heartbeat the only sound. Lucien wished his heart would quiet down, afraid it could be heard throughout the estate.

He continued to slowly approach that awful mahogany door. He touched it's smooth surface but paused. The sound of something moving softly leaked from the space under the door. It was almost inaudible, yet there was the unmistakable sense of something sliding along the wooden floor. Something wet, or perhaps the floor was wet. Then there was dripping. Terror flashed and gripped Lucien, holding him still and silencing his breathing. The dripping ceased, and was replaced by what sounded like wet chewing. Chills ran down Lucien's spine.

A hand startled him. He twisted around, almost shouting but remained silent when he simply saw it was Darius. "Did you find him?" The ex-soldier whispered.

"No, but shh, listen...." Lucien hissed then pointed at the mahogany door. Darius leans against the wood, silent. His hair shifted aside as he pressed his ear on the solid surface.

"I hear nothing." Darius huffs quietly. "Why? Did you hear something?"

Lucien glanced at the door, uncertain. "...Perhaps it was nothing." He reluctantly agreed.

"Welcome back, boys." The familiar voice like mint flavored honey called from the other side of the door. It swings open to a pale and shivering Audie, sick as he were the first night Darius entered the estate. Lucien's jaw dropped.

"Dear God, Audie! You've fallen ill, why aren't you resting...?" Lucien quipped, as if he had never left. Audie's feverish pupils sank to the floor and he stood aside, revealing Rhaelra leaning over his desk. Lucien's blood ran cold. Darius entered the study, cursing under his breath.

"Shut the door and leave us, Black." Rhaelra commanded. Audie shakily bowed out of the room, the door closing with a thud. There was a moment of heated silence. Lucien shifted his weight, meticulously studying the floor. It was definitely wet, and slimy almost. What was Rhaelra doing? Was he the one making Audie sick? "So there you are, darlings." Rhaelra finally says. Despite his word choice, his tone reminded Lucien of that cold ichor feeling. "Well, it's relieving to have you back. You will need your beauty rest, heaven knows what you were up to in that savage and cruel world. I blame myself really, I should've let you outside more often to get everything out of your system. Perhaps you were going stir crazy, hm?" The Seivohn rambled. "That would explain your incompetence, Penndrake. You saw Wood and you were reminded of the great unknown world he must've seen. I am aware of his past after all." What was this insane creature talking about? "Right then. Off to bed you two."

"Now, wait a second-" Darius growled, taking a step forward.

"Ah yes, you are completely correct. I've almost forgotten." Rhaelra dipped his head, black eyes glittering menacingly. He stood and slid across the wooden floor on his curling tendrils. He pulled a small boy from the corner of the room.

"Malachai-" Lucien gasped.

"So that's his name then? Splendid. He looks as delectably pale as Darius, so his last name is now Wood as well. " Rhaelra sighed. "Young Wood here is staying with me. He may join you after your restful slumber." It was a threat. He was holding Malachai hostage. Lucien didn't trust what Rhaelra had planned in the morning but if it meant getting Malachai away from those terrifying talons, he was willing to endure.

"Okay." Lucien said. Darius spun to face Lucien, shocked and angry. Lucien raised his hand to steady Darius' temper. "Okay. I think we are all tired, and need our rest. Let us go to sleep." He glanced at Malachai, who stared back with dull and empty eyes, like the child was expecting to be caught at some point.

"Well said, Lucien." Rhaelra hummed.

"Come on...." Lucien muttered, grabbing Darius' arm. He pulled, worried that Darius would resist. He didn't. Instead, he came as easily as pulling unravelling thread. The closer to the slave quarters they grew, the more Darius unravelled. The Englishman let his head hand loose in defeat, blonde locks falling forward. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Lucien opened the door and stepped down the few stairs into the room. Then, Darius pinned Lucien to the wall like a whip gone taut. "What was that?!" He roared.

"Ever heard the phrase... 'live today to... fight tomorrow'?" Lucien heaved, struggling against Darius' arm pressing against his chest. Darius snarled and let him go.

"Dammit!" Darius cursed. "I hate it when you make valid points!"

"Yes, because I'd rather not die of strangulation." Lucien coughed. Darius grabbed Lucien by the face. "Dear God, you need to stop doing that, it startles me!" Lucien grumbled after jumping.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we have to stay together. Do you hear me? We have to stay together!" Darius demanded.

"Alright, yes! I know!" Lucien grunted.

"Say it!"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Lucien scoffed. Darius squeezed his face harder. "God! Fine, yes, we stay together!" Darius let go and wrung his hands.

"Sleep. We need our energy for whatever comes next."