Page 9 of Immortal Burden

I had no choice.

It was the only way to spare him.

4

~Lucian~

Overbearing. Sanctimonious. Kingmaker.

Holding my tongue with a humility that did not come easy to me, I listened to the concise instructions being imparted by Cornelius Martel. My fingers tightened around my phone, an iron-fisted grip that threatened to crush the thing to dust.

Fortunately for the almighty commanding force of the Guardian Movement, I was in his debt. He had saved me at a time when my self-destructive ways had almost caused my destruction. He’d made me into more.

It was what he did. He had the inexplicable ability to identify potential in others and nurture it, guiding them toward a higher purpose, their true life’s purpose.

Now, I was forever at his disposal, unable to turn away from the spotlight, to sever my ties to the outside world.

Vampires, particularly Ancients, like myself, often craved long periods of solitude. That often brought forth the danger of mental instability, though, bringing with it the potential of cutting yourself off so completely that apathy reigned. With that state of mind, the killer within gained traction, risking a destructive killing spree of epic proportions.

Cornelius was well informed on the subject and he kept me on a short leash, as a result.

Now it appeared he desired me to act as both babysitter and influencer to a certain magic-wielder. He wanted me to employ my infamous persuasive skills to make him bend the knee.

How incredibly distasteful.

I started in surprise as the barely-perceptible, translucent film erected throughout my building shuddered into being for several intense seconds.

“I believe you have downplayed the young sorcerer’s power, Cornelius.”

Over the years, I’d seen the being in question in action several times, yet I’d never witnessed the full breadth of his magical prowess. As was the case with the majority of magic-wielders, he held back greatly. It was a safeguard they all employed, in order to reduce the chances of them losing control, of their power becoming unstable.

“Your inhibitor is straining?”

I watched the normally invisible wall flicker into being once again, indicating that the field I had in place to void the use of magic in the building was struggling.

“He tries its strength, yes.”

The only other persons capable of eliciting that effect were Immortals, or the great sorceress, herself.

“Unless, Draco has decided to pay a visit to this den of debauchery,” I proposed pointedly. It was how Cornelius referred to my club. He abhorred it.

“Polaris is actually too tame by his deranged standards,” he informed me. “It is clearly Mr. Morgan.”

“You hold a distaste for him,” I accused. “It is why you downplayed his ability. It vexes you.”

“Perhaps,” he admitted, surprising me. “His emotional volatility is a concern.”

It was clearly more than that. Personal.

However, I knew well that prying would be a fruitless pursuit. It was unprecedented enough that he had even admitted slight fault at all. He was usually infallible.

Trust the very concerning news of Draco rising to have him wavering.

Without a doubt, that monster was his Achilles Heel.

“Rest assured, I will see to him.” In the way I saw fit.

We had barely disconnected when a determined rap on the door refocused my attention.

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