Villain's Oath

Chapter 7

As Lucien walked away from selene, his mind was still heavy with the truth about Eryndor and the war, it was all starting to unravel and yet he still felt like he was only at the surface of it all.

Back in his chambers, the silence in the room was thick and pressing. He sat at the edge of his bed, rubbing his temple.

A soft knock came at the door 

“ come” he called out

A young servant stepped in holding a seal scroll.

“my lord” The boy said bowing slightly 

“ A message from the council” the boy stepped forward to hand him the scroll

Lucien took the scroll and the young boy stepped back and bowed.

He broke the seal and scanned the content, his eyes narrowing.

He was being summoned to the court at noon.

“ Did they say say?” he asked the young servant 

“ No my lord” the boy replied

Lucien exhaled slowly, tossing the scroll to the side

“ You can go” he said dismissing the young servant with a nod.

He glanced up at the wall clock above him, he breathed in and expelled it slowly seeing he doesn't have any time left.

He got up , grabbed his cloak and left for the court.

The council chamber was full. Silence fell the moment Lucien stepped in, his black cloak brushing the floor behind him. His face was unreadable as he walked forward, stopping in the center of the hall where every eye turned to him.

The great hall was lined with nobles and scribes, seated in neat rows. Guards stood along the walls, their expressions tense. 

At the head of the room, the council table rose slightly above the rest, occupied by the council members.

Among them sat Elias, watching him closely. Beside him was Aric, his expression smug and satisfied.

Lucien scanned the room with cold eyes. “Why am I here?” he asked flatly, his voice cutting through the silence.

The council members exchanged uneasy glances before one of them leaned forward, clearing his throat.

“Lucien Ardent,” one of the council members began, his voice firm, “you’ve been summoned to answer for the death of Lyra, a servant in your household.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed as he looked directly at the speaker. “And what business does the council have with matters in my home?”

“He’s a madman!” Aric snapped from his seat.

“I’ll repeat,” the councilman said, keeping his tone even, “you are here to answer for the murder of your servant.”

Lucien tilted his head slightly, a cold smile tugging at his lips. “A servant or a conspirator?”

A few shocked gasps echoed through the chamber.

“She worked under your roof,” Elias said sharply, leaning forward. “You had no right to take her life.”

Lucien turned his gaze to him. “ She poisoned me” he said calmly “ I assume you know that by now seeing as my dear brother is now seated at your side”

“Enough!” Elias shouted, slamming his hands on the table. “Mind your tongue, Lucien. Don’t speak lies here.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” Aric added, standing to point at Lucien before sinking back into his seat.

Lucien didn’t flinch. He ignored them both and looked straight at the council. 

“If the council wants to accuse me, then do it. But don’t insult my intelligence by pretending this is about justice for a woman sent to kill me.”

The hall fell silent.

A council member cleared his throat. “Given Lucien’s growing instability, perhaps it’s time we vote to strip him of his title and lands.”

The room broke into murmurs and shocked whispers.

Lucien let out a quiet laugh. He crossed his arms, his eyes turning cold. 

“You all know better than to try that,” he said, voice calm but sharp. “You want to take everything from me based on lies?” 

He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping across the council table. 

“Go ahead,” he said, locking eyes with each member one by one. “I’d like to see you try.”

“You will not speak in this hall again!” Elias roared, rising to his feet.

Lucien turned to him slowly, calm and unfazed. 

“Then silence me,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Elias snapped his fingers at the guards. 

They stepped forward hesitant but none of them dared get close to Lucien.

Lucien noticed the way Elias’s hands trembled at his sides, his jaw clenched tight. 

Something had broken in him, and Lucien could see it.

Without waiting for a verdict or saying another word, Lucien turned around and walked out of the chamber.

The hall erupted into noise and confusion behind him.

He returned to his chambers in silence. 

The court session had drained him, but he felt a bitter satisfaction at least he had wiped the smug look off Aric’s face.

As he closed the door behind him, the metallic clink echoed through the quiet room, bouncing off the cold stone walls.

He walked to the table and poured himself a drink. But he didn’t take a sip.

Slowly, he moved to the window. The wind blew his hair back as he looked outside. 

But his thoughts were far away still on Eryndor.

“Eryndor died sixteen seasons ago,” he muttered, before he took a sip of his drink.

He closed his eyes. The room was quiet.He let the silence hold him.

Then he heard something.

A whisper.

Soft. Barely there.

“You’re not him anymore.”

His eyes snapped open.

He turned quickly. 

The candle flickered wildly. 

The shadows in the room seemed to stretch and darken.

Lucien reached for the dagger at his waist. 

His hand passed right through it. 

“What?” he whispered. 

The dagger was there. He could see it. But it wasn’t solid. It was like air.

Then it hit him.

A pulse. 

Cold and sharp. It moved through his body like ice water.

His eyes darted across the room.

Black tendrils were sliding out from the cracks in the stone wall. 

They moved slowly like they were alive. Like they were watching him.

Lucien stepped back, heart pounding. 

The glass slipped from his hand. 

It hit the floor and shattered.

Then everything stopped.

The tendrils were gone. 

The room was still. 

The shadows returned to their places. 

The

candle burned steady.

Lucien looked at his hand. 

It was shaking.

He swallowed hard.

“What are you?” he asked the room.

No one answered.

But he knew. 

The Abyss was back.