Chapter 33 Raffaele #2
Magistrate Caladorn scoffed. “Your people deserve protection? Since when has The Shadow concerned himself with the plight of his people?”
I stiffened. “Let’s say I’ve turned over a new leaf. But don’t think this is all about them. Your assistance benefits me, too. If you provide what you do for other territories, my resources can be allocated elsewhere.”
The words burned in my throat. I couldn’t tell them that my magic, the foundation of my rule, was crumbling beneath me.
If they sensed weakness, they’d pounce. Nor could I tell them that I’d always cared deeply about the people in my territory.
They’d see it as a sign of weakness that they could use against me.
But I couldn’t ignore the truth, either.
My illusions no longer held as they once did, and the cracks were beginning to show.
Magistrate Eldric steepled his fingers. “You ask for Veil Guards, but you offer only promises in return. Promises from a man who has built his empire on fear, illusions, and shadows.”
“Then consider this my contract. If I fail to deliver on my end, I will relinquish my claim to the Veil Guards. But if I succeed, you will uphold your part of the agreement.”
The magistrates whispered among themselves, their voices too low for me to discern.
Finally, Magistrate Eldric spoke. “Very well, Shadow. If you hold up your end of the agreement—if your territory is truly stabilized and prosperous—we will provide the reinforcements you seek. But know this: failure is not an option. There will be consequences if you do.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I replied coolly, though the tension in my chest eased slightly. It wasn’t a guarantee, but it was enough for now.
The magistrates stood, signaling the end of the discussion. I inclined my head once more before turning on my heel and walking out of the chamber, my shadows pooling behind me.
As I stepped back into the cool air of Tenebris, I let out a breath.
Reinforcements might come, but only if I succeeded in the impossible task ahead of eliminating my father.
My people deserved stability, and for the first time in years, I felt the faintest flicker of hope knowing that I would gain the magistrates’ support and assistance. I couldn’t afford to fail.
Eldora was waiting for me when I got back to the estate, her hands folded neatly in front of her, a practiced air of patience about her that immediately put me on edge. I sighed, already bracing myself.
“What now?” I asked, shrugging out of my coat and handing it off to one of the staff without sparing them a glance. “Let me guess. Staff drama? Or has my father taken to torturing my people again out of boredom?”
Eldora raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in that slight, knowing smile of hers. “Can’t I just say hello and visit with you from time to time?”
I snorted. “There’s always a hidden agenda with you, Eldora.”
“And yet, you keep me around.”
I didn’t dignify that with a response as I entered my office. I gestured for her to take a seat in the chair across from my desk while I sank into my own. Folding my arms, I leaned back, fixing her with a pointed look.
“All right,” I said, my tone clipped. “What’s going on?”
Eldora’s gaze softened, her usual sharpness tempered by something more genuine. “I wanted to check on you. How are you holding up?”
I scoffed, glancing toward the window. “I’m fine.”
“Really?” Her tone was skeptical, but not unkind. “Because you don’t seem fine. I get the sense that you have a lot on your mind.”
I frowned, my jaw tightening. Eldora had always been good at seeing through my carefully constructed walls, and it was both infuriating and comforting in equal measure. I tried to hold on to my usual stoicism, but her steady gaze chipped away at it like water against stone.
“Vivian,” I muttered finally, rubbing a hand over my face. “She’s getting on my last nerve.”
Eldora tilted her head to the side. “Is she? And what exactly is she doing to earn such ire?”
“She’s kind,” I said, the word feeling foreign on my tongue. “Too kind. She asks too many damn questions, sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong. And she’s… too interested in my life.”
Eldora laughed, the sound light and melodic, and it grated on my nerves more than it should have. “That sounds exactly like what a wife would do.”
I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Maybe so.”
We lapsed into a comfortable silence, the tension in my shoulders easing just slightly. Eldora had a way of grounding me, her presence a reminder that not everyone in my life was a threat or a burden.
“I think I might be growing fond of her.”
Eldora’s gaze sharpened, her curiosity piqued. “Fond of her? That’s… unexpected. But not impossible.”
I shook my head, leaning forward and resting my elbows on the desk. “I’m not sure if it’s even possible for me. Not after everything. But she certainly gets under my skin in ways I can’t explain. And I hate it.”
Eldora opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the door to my office creaked open. I turned sharply, irritation flashing, but it was quickly replaced by intrigue when one of my guards ushered in a familiar figure.
“Sir,” the guard said, his tone respectful but firm. “Your lead scientist insisted on speaking with you immediately.”
The scientist stepped forward, clutching a folder of documents to his chest. His face was pale, and his gaze darted nervously between me and Eldora.
He adjusted his glasses, then fidgeted nervously with the edge of the folder. “I have information to share with you concerning the crop incident. You won’t believe it, but the white substance was simple salt,” he said, his voice hesitant, as though he couldn’t quite believe the words himself.
“Salt?” I repeated, my tone sharp, cutting. “You’re telling me the blight on my farmland—hundreds of acres of destroyed crops—was caused by salt?”
“Yes, sir,” he said quickly, glancing down at his notes. “It’s highly concentrated, far beyond what you’d find naturally. It had to have been introduced deliberately.”
My jaw tightened, and I leaned back in my chair, shadows curling at my feet in restless waves.
My mind immediately went to the Ashen. Those coastal-dwelling bastards controlled the sea, the islands, and miles of shoreline.
Who else could orchestrate an attack like this?
This had been a blatant provocation meant to cripple my resources and incite a response.
Before I could voice my suspicions, the door opened abruptly. One of my guards stepped inside, his expression grim.
“Does anyone around here fucking knock anymore?”
The guard inclined his head but didn’t apologize. “We’ve encountered a situation, sir.”
“Of course we have,” I muttered, gesturing for him to speak.
“There have been reports of creatures crossing into our territory,” he said, his tone clipped. “Random appearances concentrated near the border.”
“What kind of creatures?”
“Hellhounds,” the guard replied.
Hellhounds. My shadows hissed in response, as if they could sense the threat.
Those feral beasts didn’t wander into civilized territory on their own—not without a reason.
My illusions of my territory being an impenetrable fortress had always kept wild magical creatures at bay.
The fact that they’d broken through now was troubling.
“Multiple guards engaged them in combat,” the guard continued. “They’re struggling to keep the civilians safe.”
My mind raced, and my first thought was Vivian. I didn’t want to entertain the idea that she might be in danger, but the bond was tense, stirring my protective instincts.
“Send someone to check on the imprisoned vampire in my wing,” I said coldly, masking my urgency.
The guard nodded and left without question.
I turned to the other guard. “Mobilize our best defenders. Secure the border and eliminate the hellhounds immediately. No collateral damage. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” he said, hurrying out the door.
My gaze shifted to Eldora. She met my eyes, her expression calm but alert. “Alert the civilians,” I said. “Shelter in place until the situation is resolved.”
She nodded and stood gracefully. “Consider it done.”
When the room cleared, I dragged a hand over my face. My illusions had failed. My defenses, ones I’d relied on for years, were faltering. My powers were slipping through my fingers, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
The thought chilled me to my core. My family’s curse was a legacy I’d always feared, a shadow that loomed over me even in my most confident moments.
For generations, our magic had been unmatched, but it came at a cost. Madness.
Weakness. Death. Every member of my bloodline eventually succumbed to it, their power consuming them from within.
Was this the beginning of my end?
The door burst open again, and I shot to my feet. “What the fuck now?”
The guard who’d been sent to check on Vivian looked pale, his breathing uneven. “The prisoner is missing.”
My shadows coiled tightly around me, reacting to my rising fury.
“What do you mean, missing?” I growled, stepping toward him.
He flinched but held his ground. “Her room was empty. There’s no sign of forced entry. It’s as if she vanished.”
My mind raced. Had the hellhounds been a distraction? Was this part of a larger scheme? And why now, when everything else was already slipping through my grasp?
“Double the patrols,” I ordered. “Find her. I don’t care if you have to tear apart the entire estate. Find her!”
“Yes, sir,” the guard stammered before rushing out.
My enemies were circling, and now Vivian—my wife, my prisoner, my biggest distraction—was unaccounted for.
A storm brewed within me, darker than anything I’d felt before. This was no coincidence. Someone was testing me, chipping away at my foundation piece by piece.
And I’d make them pay for every fucking second of it.