The Darkest Dawn

Chapitre 19

Darius had wrapped his arm around Lucian's waist, pulling him along as the three hurried down the torch-lit corridors. Daniel led the way, turning them down secret passages meant for servants. The corridors were even narrower and the walls were slick with condensation. It was barely wide enough for Darius to pull Lucien at his side, but somehow the ex-soldier managed it. Daniel had them wait as he opened the servant-entrance door to the outside carefully. The ancient forest was there, no clear path was cut into the gnarled bushes and overgrown grass. Yet Lucien knew that's where they were going.

No communication was needed between Lucien and Darius to know they were going back for Malachai. Somehow they would need to get back there before Rhaelra did. That would be impossible usually since Rhaelra had the horses and carriage, but Darius had pointed out that if they cut through the woods, the two might just make it. Daniel was reluctant to go with. Despite all efforts of convincing, Daniel remained adamant about staying with his sister, Harper. Realizing the lost cause, Darius and Lucien thanked Daniel and fled into the trees.

They were hurrying through the forest, rapid footsteps echoing back at them. "Please please please...." Lucien chanted in between panting. Darius didn't ask what Lucien was pleading for, which Lucien was glad for. He assumed that meant the ex-soldier also felt the dread gripping his core. Lucien followed Darius's untied blonde hair whipping behind him. Please please please please please please please please...!

At last, there was the manor! Rhaelra's carriage wasn't there which meant they got here first. Temporary relief washed over him before the panic that maybe Malachai wasn't there swallowed him whole. The two dashed down the long foreboding hallway and bust open Rhaelra's study. Then they froze.

"STOP!" A very sick man croaked, holding a knife to Malachai's jugular. The poor boy shivered, blood drained from his face.

As bad as Malachai looked, Audie was way worse. His black long curly hair was plastered to his sweat slick face and neck. Those emerald eyes took on a more sickly fern kind of green, wide and attention jumping from place to place. Not to mention the shivering and chattering. Lucien felt he was going to have a heart attack from the way Audie shook the knife, worried the blade would plunge into Malachai whether Audie intended it or not.

"No further!" The madman demanded.

"Audie! You're sick, you don't know what you're doing...." Lucien mumbled, trying to diffuse the situation.

"I'm fine." He snapped, spit flying and he gripped the knife so tightly his knuckles were white. Lucien flinched at his cruelty. "We're going to wait here... until Master Rhaelra returns." Audie struggled to whisper through his labored breathing.

"Jesus, what has he done to you Audie?" Darius recoiled and blurted scathingly. The ill man scowled and gritted his teeth.

"NOTHING!" Audie barked, beginning to shake more violently. Malachai was stiff in his clutches. "You ungrateful wretches! Do you have any idea how good we have it?! Our master has bent over backwards and presented the moon to us, and yet you two spit in his face and play the role of rebellious ingrates!" He was unstable and ranting, eyes widening and narrowing in inconsistent patterns.

"Easy to do when he has no bones...." Darius muttered under his breath.

Lucien shot him a look then regarded Audie appraisingly. "You're right, we're sorry Audie. We were spoiled and it colored our view of what we took for granted."

Darius side-eyed Lucien curiously as Audie's hateful expression faltered into brief relief. "You... you realize how terrible you've been?" His vehement tone softened slightly, like a dulled blade, still dangerous. "You... you were his favorite. He never looked at me with the same pride or approval as he did with you...." Audie vented, shivering.

"I know Audie. Then I threw it away." Lucien offered sympathy, beginning to shift his feet forward. Darius raised his eyebrows, but stayed behind. Lucien breathed an inward sigh of relief. If Darius moved, the illusion would be shattered.

"Yes." Audie scoffed darkly. He took a moment to catch his breath, wheezing and coughing.

"Audie," Lucian said in a hushed and cautious tone. "you should lay down. We'll wait here, and you can take a seat in the desk chair." He gestured the mentioned seat. Audie's grip on Malachi's arm tightened briefly before loosely dragging the boy with him to sit in the chair, pulling Malachi into his lap. The knife lowered from his throat and down by the boy's ribcage. Lucien knew Audie wasn't dumb but he wasn't exactly smart either.

"Sit." Audie spat, saliva spraying on Malachi's pale cheek. Lucien motioned Darius to do as Audie commanded upon two chairs opposite of the desk. Darius remained on edge, posture looking as if he weren't sitting in a chair at all but doing a 90 degree squat, ready to jump to his feet at any given second. Lucien however was leaning back quite comfortably, giving Audie a pleasant smile. In reality, his heart was hammering out of his chest.

Audie was exhausted. The Frenchman didn't need to be told to see it. Of course, once poor sick Audie was settled into the seat, he began blinking much slower than usual. Eventually, the black haired man was slumped into the seat, expression slack. Lucien glanced at Darius, nodding towards Audie. "Audie is a light sleeper. Careful." He whispered in a low tone. Darius nodded, perhaps not trusting his voice to respond.

Lucien watched the pale ex-soldier creep around the desk and hold out a long and slender hand for Malachai. The young boy widened his eyes, tears pricking at the edges. He slowly shook his head, terrified. It was a heartbreaking expression on his face, Lucien thought. The black locks of his messy hair curled just above his wet eyelashes, eyes rimmed in a reddish pink tinge. It absolutely wrecked Lucien to see Malachai like this.

Darius resorted to carefully lifting the boy off of Audie's lap, minding the knife. Malachai clung to Darius, clutching his clothes in a death grip. Darius set Malachai down, who hurried to Lucian and wrapped his small frail arms around the brunette. Darius carefully rounded the desk again.

Just as they reached the door of the study to leave, there was a shrill cry of alarm. Audie had woken and hurled himself over the desk, sending important looking documents flying. Wildly slashing the knife in the air, he scrambled off the ground and lunged after the two men and child. Darius swung open the door, shoved Lucien and Malachai into the hall and turned to grab Audie's wrists. Lucien ushered Malachai behind him as Darius and Audie struggled for leverage.

"GO!" Darius roared, beginning to strongarm the madman into submission. Lucien hesitated before scooping Malachai up in his arms and dashing out of the estate. The forest was eerily quiet compared to the fighting going on inside.

After a few minutes, Lucien began to worry. "Malachai, I'm going to be right back, I need to check on Darius." He told the boy softly.

"Please don't leave me alone again!" Malachai exclaimed, suddenly panicked.

Lucien was about to reply when the front door burst open, Darius sprinting towards them. He held the bloody knife in one hand and with the other, grabbing Lucian by the bicep of his arm. The ex-soldier dragged Lucien along into the forest, Malachai clinging to Lucien desperately. "Darius! Whose blood is that?!" The brown haired man hollered as they ran. Darius didn't reply, a wild look in his eyes flicking between trees ahead of them.

"DARIUS." Lucien shouted, slowing to a walk.

"What?!" Darius stopped running, turning to see why Lucien was no longer keeping stride with him.

"Whose blood is that?" Lucien repeated the question, twisting his features into a scowl. Malachai hugged his neck tightly, burying his small face in Lucien's shoulder.

The blonde's expression turned crestfallen and he looked down at himself, at all the blood smeared on his armor and hands. "He- Audie- it was self defense. All I could think of was you and Malachai and... well he- well I...." He stammered before his eyes widened and he began shaking uncontrollably.

Lucien's heart climbed to his throat. "It... it's okay Darius, let's just keep going."