Dorian Wraith's Arc

Chapter 24 of 27

Dorian stopped at the threshold and turned to Evander. "Stay here," he said. "If this is a trap, I need you clear of it." Evander opened his mouth to argue. Dorian pressed the flat of his hand to Evander's chest. "Please. Watch the yard." Evander stepped back into the sun. Dorian followed the king into the dark hall alone. The corridor was lined with tall stone men. Each statue stood bare chested their pecs and and carved in great detail, arms thick, faces blank. Their shadows fell across Dorian as he walked. King Ambrose said nothing. He led Dorian through a second iron door into a wide room with a high seat at the far end. A woman stood beside the seat. She wore a white dress with a lavender sash. Her black hair fell past her waist. Her eyes were the same color as the sash. Dorian stopped walking. "Mother," he said. His voice came out thin. "What are you doing here?" Elara did not answer at first. She reached into a fold of her dress and drew out a curved black knife. She held it flat across her palm so he could see it. "I am taking your magic," she said. "I always wanted to be a witch. You were born with what should have been mine. Now I will have it." Dorian shook his head. "Put that down. Please. It's me." He took a step toward her. King Ambrose moved fast for a man in armor. He caught Dorian from behind, one arm across the chest, the other locking his wrist down. Dorian tried to pull shadow up through the floor. Nothing came. His hand was pinned flat and his focus was gone. "Mother, don't. Don't do this." Elara looked at him without moving her face. Then she laughed, one short sound. Ambrose laughed too, low against Dorian's ear. Elara stepped down from the seat and walked toward him with the knife. Dorian threw his weight against the king's hold and it did not give. He thought of Evander in the sun outside. Heat rolled up his arm. A thin line of fire ran from his shoulder to his wrist and burned across the king's gauntlet. Ambrose swore and let go. Dorian dropped to one knee. He raised his free hand toward his mother. He could not make himself close it. She was already on him. The blade came down and drew a shallow cut across the back of his hand. Cold went up his arm to his shoulder and into his chest. His fire went out. His fingers would not move. Elara looked at the knife. A thread of blue light crawled up the black edge and sank into the metal. "There," she said. She stepped back. "Some of it. The rest will take time." Ambrose hauled Dorian up by the collar and dragged him toward a low door in the wall. “You had your chance to steal his magic woman. You failed. Now it’s my turn to hurt him.Dorian tried to call Evander's name. His voice would not come.