Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lusio shoved his hand into his pocket and scoffed. "So you can what? Poison them as you did the dart?"

A dangerous smile curled onto Tegan's lips. "We were commanded by your friend Domini to protect you. He didn't say we couldn't hurt you."

The man's eyes bulged out of his hand and he stumbled back. "Y-you wouldn't! I have money! I have influence! I have-"

"Nothing we want, need or care about," Tegan warned him as he beckoned. "Now hand over the die and let me prove to you your danger is closer than you know."

Lusio's eyes flickered between Tegan's outstretched hand and his face. He didn't look too pleased as he drew the die out of his pocket. "Fine." The man dropped the die into Tegan's palm and jerked his hand back.

"I generally don't bite," Tegan assured him as he held up the die even with his eyes. He cocked his head to one side as he tilted the counter over and over in his hands. "But this might."

Lusio scowled at him. "What do you mean?"

Tegan furrowed his brow before his eyes lit up. "Do you have any more of Conrad's blood around? The kind magicked by Clara?"

Our host narrowed his eyes at us. "What do you know of that?"

"Should it be a secret?" Tegan countered.

Lusio pressed his lips together and puffed out his chest a little. "Whatever you know about it, it shall not leave this estate. Is that understood?"

"I'd leave my memories of this place behind if I could," Tegan quipped as he grasped the die in his fist. "But do you have some of that blood?"

The man glared at him a moment longer before he moved over to the desk. He unlocked the top right drawer and drew out a small box which he set on top. A small keyhole denoted a lock and Lusio drew a chain from inside his vest and used one to unlock the box. He drew out one vial out of four and I glimpsed a few folded papers. Lusio locked the box again and held out the vial.

"I would prefer you not partake of it in the house. The stench is revolting," Lusio told him.

"Then you won't be happy when I do this," Tegan mused as he expertly popped the cork with a thumb and dropped the die into the liquid.

"What are you doing?" Lusio shouted as even my mouth dropped open. The die settled on the bottom of the glass and a few air bubbles escaped to the surface. Our host stomped around his desk and tried to snatch the vial from Tegan who, being a head taller, merely stretched his hand out of reach. "Give that to me!"

"Not until you see it," Tegan insisted.

"See what?" Lusio snapped as he waved a hand at the glass. "Nothing is happening!"

My eyes widened and I stabbed a finger at the vial. "Look!"

Lusio's eyes rolled up and his mouth dropped open. A faint glow came from the contents and the bubbles out of the die came fast and loose. The pressure was extreme enough that Tegan raced over to a waste basket beside the desk and tossed the glass inside. I heard an explosion before the vial even struck the bottom and a small volcanic eruption occurred. Blood and bits of die were sent flying a foot above the rim of the basket before splattering over everything close at hand.

Lusio and I gaped at the mess before our host shook his shock off. He whipped his glaring face about to Tegan and stabbed a finger at the splattering. "W-what in the world was that?"

Tegan reached into the basket and drew out the die, or what remained of it. Part of one corner had been sheered off and there was a gaping hole in the opposite end. "There was a strange scent on the die that I noticed when I passed it to Kate," he explained as he turned the remains over in his fingers. "The magic of Conrad's blood reacted to the other magic and that caused the explosion. I must admit I didn't expect such an impressive display of me being right."

I snorted. "The display matches your modesty."

He grinned. "It does, doesn't it?"

I decided not to continue to feed the bears and nodded at the basket. "Why would anyone want to rig the order of the people?"

Tegan shook his head. "If we knew that then we'd probably know our foe. As things stand, the order is all we have to go by and should be watched with the utmost care tonight." He returned his attention to Lusio and held out the remains of the die. "Would you like this back or do you still not trust us?"

Lusio's cheeks had reddened and he balled his hands into fists at his sides. "You are sure of everything you just said?"

Tegan nodded. "Positive."

"Then the die were tampered with by magic?"

"Most certainly. Did anyone touch them besides you before the dinner?" Tegan inquired.

"Only one," Lusio answered before he snatched the die from him and marched over to the corner where a servant's rope hung from the ceiling. He grabbed the rope and furiously jerked on the cloth until the edges began to fray.

Footsteps raced down the hall and the door opened to reveal Miles out of breath and with his stoic expression a little shaken. "Is something the matter, sir?"

Lusio marched over to him and practically shoved the die into his servant's face. "What is the meaning of this?"

Miles had to cross his eyes to see what his master held. "A-a broken die, sir?"

"Someone placed a spell on this die to rig the order of the competitors," Lusio growled as he examined his servant's face. Miles had some nice beads of sweat forming on his brow. "You fetched this from my desk this morning. Did you do it?"

Miles' eyes widened and his mouth fell slightly agape. "M-me, sir? I do not know the first thing about magic!"

"Then how did the spell come to be on the die?" Lusio demanded to know.

Miles shook his head. "I-I don't know, sir! I swear it!"

Lusio stepped back and sneered at him. "So you say, but what assurance do I have?"

You could have knocked Miles over with a feather, so stunned was he. "B-but sir! I have been in your employ for decades! Why would I do such a thing?"

"I think you're swinging your paranoia around again," I spoke up.

Lusio whipped his head around and glared at me. "Do not interrupt this conversation."

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared right back at him. "I'm just trying to avoid you looking like an ass. Where would Miles even learn about magic?"

"Clara knows magic," he reminded me.

I rolled my eyes. "So now she's in on the conspiracy? Are you going to include the clams on the beach, too, because they're just outside the house?"

His lips tightened but Tegan stepped into the fray before he could reply. "This squabbling is wasting time. We should work with what information we have and stop leaping to conclusions at the slightest whiff of suspicion."

Lusio's eyebrows pointed down but he turned to Miles. "You are excused."

The color drained from Miles' face. "P-permanently, sir?"

Lusio rolled his eyes. "Of course not, you fool! Return to your duties!"

Miles was only too eager to bow out of the room. He even left the doors open in his hurry to vanish from sight.

Lusio shuffled around the desk and collapsed into his chair. He cupped half his head in one hand and closed his eyes. "Why have the gods sought to curse me with this ill luck?"

"I doubt the gods have anything to do with the cause and consequence of this ‘ill luck,'" Tegan mused.

Lusio's eyes flew open and he gave Tegan a sharp look. "What do you mean?"

"Your vampire employees could answer that question better than I, but if you'll excuse us, we have a trial location to inspect."

Tegan took my hand and led me out of the room. I was glad to be away from the testy Lusio and his oppressive paranoia.

"That guy can't have too many friends," I commented as we strode down the hall.

"And many enemies," Tegan added as he pursed his lips. "That won't make our job any easier."

"Do you think it could be one of the-" My suggestion was interrupted by the appearance of Morrigan and company as they walked down the winding stairs.

The trio stopped at the bottom and she inclined her head to me. "I see you're going out. Would you care for some company?"

I snorted. "From you? Hell no."

Tegan grinned and bowed his head to her. "I second that motion, now if you'll excuse us we have some grass to trod."