The Blood Alchemist; Chapter 3

I spin around, keeping my face neutral. "Mother! Good morning! You could have just sent a summons if you wanted to see me."

"Bastian, darling, I'm the one who taught you how to avoid answering questions. That won't work on me."

"Alright, fine. I'm going to Azymus, don't tell dad," I flash my mother an innocent smile.

Mother fixes me with an unamused gaze for a few seconds before sighing. "You're as bad at lying as your father."

I cross my arms. "Let's drop the pretenses then. What are you doing here mother?"

Mother smiles coyly. "I heard you brought a guest in last night, a female one at that. Of course, I had to come see for myself." Her eyes glide to Olivia.

"I was just leaving," Olivia says coldly.

"Oh, is that where you were going, Bash?" Mother asks as she walks past me into the room. "To see your friend out? Why not stay a little longer dear?" Mother says clasping Olivia's hands between her own. "I've no doubt my son's manners as a host were lacking. Allow me to make it up to you."

Olivia pulls her hands back. "No thank you. Like I said, I was just leaving." She brushes past mother, heading for the door.

"No you're not," mother says calmly.

Olivia freezes, slowly turning around. "What?"

Mother turns to face her. "I was hoping you'd accept my offer because it wasn't an offer."

They just stare each other down for a second before Olivia growls in frustration. "I don't have time for this." She spins back to the door, reaching for the handle.

"I wouldn't do that, darling," Olivia freezes at her words, "You may be my guest, but you don't want to test my patience. Besides, I doubt a human can make it to the gate, much less down the hall."

Even though I know what's coming next, I don't react fast enough. The door is slamming in my face as I hear mother sigh. "Quite the jackrabbit, isn't she? No matter."

Mother shoos me out of the way so she can open the door. I follow her out into the hallway. The guards scattered down the length of the hall watch Olivia in bewilderment. A simple two-word command from my mother has the ones closest to Olivia on the move.

Olivia reacts, pulling her blade out. She meets them with a storm of furry and blows. What the hell was she thinking? She was clearly outnumbered and severely outmatched. Was she trying to get herself injured or worse?

I take off, ignoring my mother's order to stop. I easily shove the first guard I reach out of the way. Olivia is focused on one of the two in front of her at the moment. He's winding up for a strike, but seeing me, he hesitates. It's all the opening I need. Before Olivia can react, I've thrown my arms around her, pulling her to me and turning so that she's mostly shielded from the guards. "Stand down!" I bark my order at them, struggling to keep my hold on Olivia while also holding a loose footing so I can move quickly if necessary. "Stop it," I hiss in her ear as the guards look down the hall to my mother, unsure of how to proceed.

"Let go of me," Olivia growls back.

The guards slowly step back. I'm sure I know what's coming after I let go of her, so I wait until they're a little further back before releasing Olivia. Unsurprising, she spins on me, blade arching up. I easily step back, lifting my hand to catch hers as she brings the blade back down. "You really need to find a better way to say thank you."

Her eyes narrow to slits, "It's your fault that any of this is happening to begin with."

"Bastian, darling, let go of our guest," mother says calmly as she stops at my side. Clyde stands behind her, watching Olivia closely.

I release her wrist, dropping my hand. Surprisingly, she doesn't launch into another attack. Instead, she stands at the ready, chin slightly upturned as she meets my mother's eyes. They just stand there, eyes locked. Mother arches an eyebrow, a silent challenge.

Olivia raises her blade, pointing it at her. "I'm leaving. Now."

Mother reaches out, wrapping her hand around the blade. "Stay one more night- I'll personally see you out the gate when the sun comes up tomorrow. Answer my questions and I'll make sure you have everything you want for your. . . Trip."

"Deal."

I blink in surprise. Had I heard that right? Had Olivia just agreed to mother's offer without arguing? I look at Clyde who looks equally surprised.

Mother smiles, releasing Olivia's blade. "Wonderful. Come, let me show you to your room." Mother begins walking and Olivia follows, sheathing her blade. "I have some things I must attend to, so I'll let you settle in for now. I should be done by lunch but if not, we'll chat at dinner."

I look over at Clyde. "What just happened?"

Clyde stares off after them, eyes narrowed. "Something's not right."

I look back down the hall to where mother and Olivia disappeared around a corner. "Glad we're on the same page."

xXxXx

I rap my knuckles against the door. "Olivia?"

Silence follows for a second. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to ask you something."

"Not interested."

I grit my teeth in annoyance. "Why did you accept my mother's offer?"

Silence falls again. I've begun reaching for the door handle when I hear her sigh. "Fighting is pointless, you people are the worst, I might as well get something out of this."

I can hear her padding across the floor, and something being moved. "Are you looking for something?"

"No." Her voice is sharp for such a rushed response. "Will you just leave me alone?"

I debate trying the handle for a second. "Fine. I'll see you later."

xXxXx

"Just let this go," Clyde sighs.

"No. I want to hear everything, even if it's exactly what she told us." I glance at him. "Are you honestly telling me you aren't the least bit curious?"

Clyde's expression remains blank. "Not in the slightest." His attention falls on something behind me, and he cocks his head. "But that is curious."

I pause, following his gaze. A servant walks down the hall, carrying a bag. And it's not just any bag, it's Olivia's bag. I take off after them, easily catching up. "What are you doing with that bag?"

The servant glances over in surprise. "Oh, your highness. Her majesty tasked me with taking to the drawing-room."

"And where did she get it from?"

"Not sure. I would guess the witch though as that's who she was with when she gave it to me."

"Ah, and once you've delivered it you are to take the guest to the dining hall?"

"I. . . Wasn't told to. From the way the queen spoke, I assumed the guest had already been taken care of."

Already take care of? That didn't sound good. "Thank you. Have a good day." I take off before they respond. Clyde is at my side keeping pace shortly after. "Something's not right."

"Nothing’s been right lately," he comments.

Reaching Olivia's room, I knock on her door. I pause, listening for any sound or response. I knock again. "Olivia? Are you there?"

Again, silence follows.

"She's probably already at lunch," Clyde suggests.

I reach out and try the handle. It doesn't move. I look at Clyde.

He points to the handle. "It locks from the outside, genius."

"Unlock the door," I order the guard standing in the hall.

Obediently, he comes and unlocks the door.

"Now it's like you're trying to piss her off," Clyde says I turn the handle again.

I give him a look as I push the door open and am met with resistance. "Still think she's already at lunch?" Clyde rolls his eyes as I push harder, and something scraps across the floor. Having opened the door, I walk into the room. One of the chairs sits pushed against the door. Outside on the balcony, something white flutters against the railing. A quick glance at the bed shows that the top sheet is missing.

"Well, now we know why she agreed," Clyde muses.

I give him a pointed look. "But where is she now?"

He returns my look. "I suppose there's only one way to find out."

xXxXx

"The dungeon?!" I spin to follow my mother as she heads for the door. "You threw her in the dungeon?!"

"Bastian, darling, she injured a guard and clearly I can't trust her to sit in her room. What would you have me do? I went out of my way to make sure we could chat over lunch so she could be on her way, but now I have to take care of the mess she made."

"Let me try to smooth things out-"

"No. I've made my decision and it's final. She's staying there until we get to have our chat." Mother pauses at the door to look back at me. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go lie to your father about why there's an injured guard."

xXxXx

I glare at Olivia through the cell door. She glares back at me.

"You couldn't just wait?" I demand.

"Is there something you don't understand about the fact that I'm trying to help my friend?" She shoots back.

"No, I understand that. What I don't understand is why you won't accept help."

"Because your 'help' is wasting my time!" She pushes to her feet. "I have no idea if my friend only has so much time! He could be running out of time and here I am, sitting in place instead of doing something!" She grabs the bars, leveling her gaze at me. "Would you patiently sit by and do nothing if your friend was possibly running out of time and there was something you could do?"

I hold her gaze. I want to argue, but I can't. She makes a valid point. I sigh looking away. "Fine. I'll see what I can do." I turn towards the exit, and I don't bother looking back.

Just how was I going to convince mother to let her leave now? I could just go over her head and let her go myself. If I personally walked Olivia to the gate, no one would stop me. Unless word got back to my mother first. I could sneak her out. I'd snuck out enough on my own. Surely getting someone out with me wouldn't be too difficult.

I slam into someone coming around the corner. My mind pulls from my thoughts to register that I just ran into one of the dungeon guards. He glowers at me, dark eyes covered in shadow. Two pits of black scowl at me until I move. He walks off without a word, a shiver running down my spine. I never had liked the dungeon guards.

Upon entering the watch room, the first thing I notice is the smell. The room reeks of blood. It hadn't smelt the most pleasant when I had first entered, but it certainly hadn't reeked of blood. The smell, mixed with the dead silence of the room, has all my senses on high alert.

My eyes dart around the room and stop on the two dead guards. The one still sits in his chair at the table. His cards are on the floor, spattered in blood, just like the wall across from him. The other guard lays on the floor, weapon half drawn. His face still set in shock, spattered with blood.

What the hell had happened? Had someone come in here just to kill the guards? Why not kill the third guard as well?

Unless. . . His eyes hadn't been black because of the shadows. He had been on the move though. She had said they didn't move. Was it possible her knowledge on hollows wasn't complete? But then, what was a hollow doing here?

Only one way to find out. I turn back towards the hall as a call for the guards echoes down the hall. Definitely not good. I take off at full speed.

I turn down the hall in time to see him reach down and wrap his hand around her neck. Before she can react, he lifts her up, holding her aloft for a second before slamming her back against the wall. Her feet reach for the ground, searching for leverage as her hands claw at the hand around her neck. He's reaching out with his other hand when I slam into him.

He loses his grip on her but quickly recovers his footing. He spins on me, drawing his sword. I really wish I had at least brought my dagger. As he attacks, I search for an opening to disarm him. As long as he has his sword, there's no winning.

"The cell," Olivia, manages to call out between coughs.

I glance over. In the split-second I have, I see what she means; the key is still in the lock. If I get him in the cell, I can lock him in there.

I barely dodge his next blow. This wasn't going to be easy.

He lunges, aiming right at my chest. I quickly step back, pivoting. I need to get him to move.

His head snaps right a second before Olivia slams into him, knocking him off balance. I move quickly, grabbing Olivia and pulling her away as he regains his balance, a hand shooting towards her. He lunges forward and I dodge to the side shoving Olivia ahead of me. I don't fail to notice how his free hand changes directions, following us in our movement.

"Run for the cell," I whisper to Olivia.

"What?" She demands as the man pauses for the first time, studying us.

"He's not going to stab you."

"Did you miss the part where he was choking me?"

"Just go!" I shove her towards the cell as I move the other way.

She stumbles for a second but lets the momentum carry her into a run. I just happened to have perfect timing. He had just been starting towards us but seeing us separate he pauses, eyes tracking Olivia for a second before looking back at me. "She's going to get away," I taunt him.

He springs into action, spinning towards Olivia, who's now pulling up short. Not that it matters her path crosses his. I wait just a second before moving. His attention moves to me, but it's too late. I slam into him, but I lock my hands on his arms this time. He can't bring up the sword to strike at me. I don't stop moving, using our combined momentum to close the distance between us and the cell.

I stop short at the threshold, shoving him in. The time he takes to recover isn't long, but it's long enough for me to pull the door shut and lock it. Thanks to Olivia pulling me out of the way, I miss getting impaled when he stabs his sword through the bars.