I stood at the entrance of the Celestial Apothecary Guild, my body tense and ready for battle. The morning light cast long shadows across the courtyard as I faced the Ashworth delegation. My gaze locked imdiately on Corbin Ashworth's smug face, then shifted to Harrison—Isabelle's father—whose eyes couldn't quite et mine.
"Where is my niece?" Corbin demanded, stepping forward with the arrogance of a man used to getting his way.
I felt my anger rising, hot and dangerous. "She's safe. Away from people who would harm her."
"You have no right to keep her," Corbin said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "Isabelle is an Ashworth. She belongs with her family."
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Family? You an the sa family that handed her over to the Veridia City Martial Guild? The sa family that let them drain her blood until she was nearly dead?"
Harrison flinched visibly at my words. Good. He should feel the sting of his failure.
Dominic stepped forward, his handso face twisted into a sneer. "You're a nobody, Knight. A forr live-in son-in-law with delusions of grandeur. Return Isabelle to us imdiately, or we'll involve the authorities."
"The authorities," I repeated flatly. "You an the sa Guild that tortured her? Or perhaps the city officials you've bought with your family's gold?"
Corbin's face darkened. "Harrison is Isabelle's father and legal guardian. She is unconscious and unable to make decisions for herself. By law, she should be in her father's care."
My eyes shifted to Harrison, who stood slightly behind his brother. He looked thinner than I rembered, with dark circles under his eyes. A man eaten by guilt, perhaps, but still too weak to stand against his family.
"You want to talk about care?" I snarled, taking a step toward Harrison. "Where was your care when Isabelle needed you? Where were you when she was strapped to a table, needles in her arms, being drained like a resource?"
"I... I didn't know," Harrison stamred, his voice barely audible.
"You didn't want to know," I corrected him harshly. "It was easier to believe Corbin's lies. Easier to look the other way while your daughter suffered."
Harrison's face crumpled. For the first ti, he looked directly at , his eyes swimming with tears. "Is she... will she recover?"
"No thanks to you," I said coldly. "The Pavilion Master is treating her now. Her ridians are damaged from the constant blood extraction. Her body is weak. But yes, with ti, she will recover."
A flicker of relief passed over Harrison's face, quickly replaced by sha.
"Enough of this," Corbin snapped. "Harrison, tell him. Tell Knight that you want your daughter back."
All eyes turned to Harrison. He hesitated, looking between his brother and .
"If Isabelle returns to the Ashworth compound," I said quietly, "Corbin will either kill her or hand her back to the Guild. You know this, Harrison. Deep down, you know what kind of man your brother is."
Dominic laughed. "More baseless accusations. My father only wants what's best for the family."
"Your father doesn't give a damn about Isabelle," I retorted. "He only cares about controlling her power. The sa power that makes her valuable to the Guild." My Virtual Library Empire (*)
I could see the calculation in Corbin's eyes. He hadn't expected to know about Isabelle's special blood. His montary hesitation confird my suspicions.
"Harrison," Corbin barked. "Tell Knight you want Isabelle returned to you. Now."
Harrison looked torn, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. I could see the conflict in his eyes—years of submitting to his brother's will versus the love for his daughter.
"I need to know she's safe," Harrison finally said, his voice stronger than before.
Corbin's face darkened. "She'll be perfectly safe with us."
I'd had enough. These people—except perhaps Harrison—had no real concern for Isabelle. They saw her as property. An asset to be controlled.
"Let make sothing perfectly clear," I said, my voice dropping dangerously low. "Isabelle stays here, under my protection. Anyone who tries to take her will die."
To demonstrate my resolve, I fixed my gaze on one of Corbin's bodyguards, a burly man standing at attention behind his master. In an instant, I activated my ridians, channeling energy into my palm. Before anyone could react, I released a dart of pure energy that struck the man in the heart. He collapsed without a sound, dead before he hit the ground.
The courtyard erupted into chaos. The remaining guards drew their weapons, while Corbin and Dominic stumbled backward in shock.
"The next person who takes a step toward this guild will et the sa fate," I warned, my voice carrying over the panicked shouts.
Harrison alone seed unmoved by the display of power. He stood rooted to the spot, his gaze now fixed on with a strange intensity.
"Harrison!" Corbin shouted, regaining his composure. "Tell your daughter's kidnapper that you want her back. Use your authority as her father!"
The courtyard fell silent as all eyes turned to Harrison. This was the mont—would he fold under his brother's pressure as he had so many tis before?
Harrison took a deep breath, then straightened his shoulders. "No."
The single word hung in the air like a thunderclap.
"What did you say?" Corbin hissed, his face contorting with rage.
"I said no," Harrison repeated, louder this ti. He took a step away from his brother and toward . "Isabelle is safer with him."
Dominic's mouth fell open in shock. "Uncle Harrison, have you lost your mind? This man just killed soone in front of us!"
"Yes, he did," Harrison acknowledged calmly. "And he did it to protect my daughter. Sothing I failed to do."
He turned to face fully, ignoring his brother's sputtering rage behind him. "I've been a coward, Mr. Knight. I let my brother dictate my actions, even when it ca to my own daughter. I stood by while Isabelle was taken, believing the lies I was told because the truth was too painful to face."
His voice grew stronger with each word. "But I won't be a coward anymore. If you say Isabelle is safe here, under your protection, then that's where she'll stay."
I studied the man's face, looking for any sign of deception. But all I saw was raw, painful honesty and a father's belated courage.
"You can't be serious," Corbin snarled, grabbing Harrison's arm. "Have you forgotten who provides for you? Who gave you a position in the family business after your wife died and you fell apart?"
Harrison yanked his arm free. "I haven't forgotten anything, brother. Least of all how you've used my grief to control all these years."
Dominic stepped forward, his handso face twisted with mockery. "Such brave words from a man who's never stood up for himself or his daughter before. How long will this newfound courage last, Uncle? Until the next ti my father reminds you of your debts to him?"
I watched Harrison carefully, wondering the sa thing. Would his resolve crumble at the first real test?
But Harrison surprised . He turned to his nephew with calm dignity. "Threaten all you want, Dominic. Nothing matters more to than Isabelle's safety. Not the family na, not my position, not even my life."
Sothing shifted in the air between us. For the first ti, I saw not the weak-willed man who had failed Isabelle, but a father finding his strength at last.
Dominic's face flushed with anger. "You'll regret this, old man. When this is over, you'll have nothing. No position, no ho, nothing."
"I'll have my self-respect," Harrison replied simply. "And my daughter's forgiveness, if I'm lucky enough to earn it."
Corbin had heard enough. He signaled to his remaining guards. "Take them both. Knight and my brother. We'll sort this out at the compound."
The guards hesitated, looking between their master and the man who had just effortlessly killed their comrade.
I stepped forward, allowing my energy to flow freely. Golden light began to emanate from my body, swirling around in visible waves. My hair lifted slightly in the energy current, giving the appearance that Harrison had seen when I'd killed the guard—an invincible War God.
"Your guards are smarter than you, Corbin," I said, my voice deadly calm. "They know what happens if they take another step."
I turned my attention to Dominic, whose arrogance had always grated on . "You want to test your skills against mine, Dominic? Step forward. Let's see if the great Ashworth heir is anything more than empty threats."
Dominic's face paled, but pride kept him from backing down completely. "You think you're invincible? You're just a man, Knight. A man with a death wish."
I smiled coldly, allowing more of my power to manifest. The golden light around intensified, crackling with barely contained energy. I took a single step forward, my gaze fixed on Dominic's frightened eyes.
"Try ," I challenged, my voice carrying across the suddenly silent courtyard. "Let's see which of us walks away."
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