Chapter 105: The Intruder (2)

The candle was burning low.

He needed to fix this place up.

He checked the west wing next.

The door was sealed. Boards nailed across the frame. He pressed his hand against the wood. Felt the damage beneath. Rot. Water. Time.

And then lastly, the basement.

The door was iron and it felt heavier than it looked. It was locked of course. He knew this because he tried the handle and it didn’t budge.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[BASEMENT — SEALED]

[ACCESS DENIED — WARD DETECTED]

[WARD TYPE: UNKNOWN — REQUIRES HIGHER TIER TO BREAK]

He frowned. That was weird. Why would there be a warded door in the manor. He needed to get to the bottom of it but until then, he would wait.

He turned around to leave when the system pulsed.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[EMPATHIC RESONANCE — ALERT]

[TARGET: ISOLDE ROWAN]

[EMOTIONAL STATE: TERROR]

[PHYSICAL STATE: UNKNOWN]

[DANGER DETECTED]

---

Emeric’s blood went cold.

He instantly bolted!

The halls blurred past him. His footsteps pounded against the stone. His heart slammed against his ribs.

No. No. No.

He reached the master suite. Threw the door open.

Empty.

The bed was unmade. The window was open. The curtains billowed in the night wind.

On the floor—a shattered vase. Water and the flowers it had housed were on the floor.

He crossed to the window. Looked out.

A figure. Running. Hooded. Carrying something over its shoulder.

Carrying someone.

Isolde.

Her mouth was gagged. Her hands were bound. Her eyes—wide, wet—found his in the moonlight.

She didn’t scream. She couldn’t. But her gaze said everything.

Help me.

Something inside him snapped.

His eyes locked onto the figure. The hooded man. The intruder. The one who had taken her.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[KILLING INTENT — ACTIVATED]

[TARGET: UNKNOWN INTRUDER]

[EFFECT: PRIMAL FEAR]

[TARGET WILL EXPERIENCE OVERWHELMING TERROR. MAY CAUSE PARALYSIS, PANIC, OR SURRENDER.]

---

The hooded figure froze.

He staggered. Dropped to one knee. His grip on Isolde loosened. She fell to the ground, rolling, gasping through the gag.

Emeric moved.

Phantom Step.

He appeared in front of the intruder. The man looked up. His face was hidden beneath the hood, but his eyes—his eyes were wide with terror.

"What—"

Emeric’s fist connected with his jaw.

One punch.

The man crumpled, unconscious.

Emeric knelt beside Isolde.

He pulled the gag from her mouth. Cut the ropes from her wrists. Pulled her into his arms.

She was shaking, sobbing as she clung to him.

"I’m here," he said. "I’m here. You’re safe."

She couldn’t speak. She just held him.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[INTRUDER CONTAINED]

[STATUS: UNCONSCIOUS — BOUND]

[IDENTITY: UNKNOWN — NO GUILD REGISTRATION]

[TARGET STATUS: SAFE — PHYSICAL CONDITION STABLE]

[EMOTIONAL STATE: TERROR → RELIEF]

[DEVOTION LOGGED: PROTECTING TARGET FROM DIRECT THREAT]

[DP AWARDED: +20]

[BOND METER: 100/100 — SOULBOUND]

Emeric held Isolde tighter.

He looked at the unconscious man.

Who sent you? He thought to himself.

He would find out.

Fifteen minutes later.

They had tied him to a chair in the downstairs study.

Graves had appeared within minutes—the old butler moving faster than Emeric had ever seen him. He had taken one look at the intruder, then at Isolde wrapped in Emeric’s arms, and automatically understood the situation.

He had not asked questions. He had simply helped.

Now the man sat before them. His hands bound behind the chair. His hood pulled back. A face Emeric didn’t recognize. Plain. Forgettable. The kind of face that vanished in a crowd.

Emeric stood over him. Waiting.

The man’s eyes fluttered open.

Emeric grabbed his collar.

"Who sent you?"

The man stared at him. His eyes were empty. Hollow.

"Who sent you?"

The man smiled.

Then he bit down.

Emeric heard the crunch. Saw the movement. He grabbed the man’s jaw. Forced it open. But it was too late.

The pill had already dissolved.

The man’s eyes rolled back. White. His body convulsed once. Twice. Foam dribbled from his mouth. Then he went limp.

Emeric stared.

"No. No, no, no—"

He checked the man’s pulse. Nothing. He checked again. Nothing.

Dead.

The lead. The one person who could tell him who wanted Isolde or him gone was dead.

Emeric stood.

His hands were shaking. His heart was pounding. His vision blurred at the edges.

He didn’t think. He didn’t plan. He just turned.

And drove his fist into the wall.

The stone cracked. His knuckles split. Blood dripped down his hand. He didn’t feel it.

"I almost had him. I almost—"

"Forgive me, my lord."

Emeric turned.

Graves stood in the doorway. His face was pale. His hands were clasped behind his back.

"I should have posted guards but we are understaffed right now. I should have secured the manor. This old man has grown senile. I failed you."

Emeric stared at him.

"No."

"My lord—"

"You didn’t fail me." Emeric’s voice was quiet. Controlled. "You’ve been here alone for years. You did what you could. This isn’t your fault."

Graves blinked. Surprised.

"I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, my lord."

"Find out everything you can about what happened tonight. Who was on duty. Who saw anything. Who might have let him in. Question the servants. Question the villagers. Leave no stone unturned."

Graves inclined his head. "It will be done."

"And Graves?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"Get rid of the body. Quietly."

Graves nodded.

"It will be done."

He turned and walked away.

Emeric climbed the stairs.

His knuckles throbbed. His blood stained the railing. He didn’t care.

He reached the master suite. Pushed the door open.

Isolde was on the bed. Curled against the pillows. Her eyes were red. Her cheeks were wet. But she was here and safe.

She looked up when he entered.

"Emeric—"

He crossed to her. Sat on the bed. Pulled her into his arms.

She clung to him. Her fingers dug into his back. Her body shook with silent sobs.

"I was so scared," she whispered. "I woke up and he was just—he was just there. He grabbed me. He covered my mouth. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t—"

"I know."

"How did you know? How did you find me?"