Chapter 9 Demon's crystal

Chapter 9 Demon's crystal
I entered the war room and took my seat among the generals and high nobles. Some faces I recognized— veterans who'd served my father for decades. Others were newer appointments, nobles whose names I should probably know but didn't.

Meetings like this never brought good news.

Vincent stood near the head of the table, his expression unreadable. He'd arrived at the palace just today, but he already looked like he belonged here more than I did. Professional. Controlled. Everything a King's Shadow should be.

I should have asked him why Father summoned him instead of obsessing over Silver. Maybe I was losing focus. Or maybe she'd been right all along—I'd never really paid attention to what mattered.

The thought made my chest tighten.

"Now that everyone's here," the King said, "proceed with the report."

Vincent stood straighter. "Your Majesty, we have a situation at the northern mountain pass. A merchant caravan—twenty people—was wiped out three nights ago."

Silence fell over the room.

"Bandits?" one of the generals asked.

"No, sir." Vincent's tone was carefully neutral. "The bodies were found torn apart. No valuables taken. No signs of conventional weapons."

Another silence, heavier this time.

"Any clues to the attackers?" the King asked.

"None yet, Your Majesty. But from what we've gathered, these merchants were refugees. Fleeing their own kingdom."

General Marcus waved a dismissive hand. "Then it's not our concern. Whatever drove them from their homeland followed them here. Not our problem."

Something hot flared in my chest. "It became our problem the moment they entered our territory. These travelers expected safe passage under our treaties. We failed them."

Several heads turned toward me. The General's eyebrows rose.

"So we're supposed to protect every refugee who crosses our borders?" another noble scoffed. "Do someone else's duty for them?"

"We protect everyone in our kingdom," Vincent said, his voice cool and professional. "Citizens or not. That's what maintaining order means, General. That's what the treaties guarantee."

"Easy for the King's Shadow to say when you're not the one funding—"

"Enough." The King's voice cut through the argument like a blade. He looked at me, something unreadable in his expression. Then he turned to Vincent. "What else do we know?"

"There's another matter, Your Majesty." Vincent glanced at his notes. "The prisoner from two days ago—the one who infiltrated the palace."

I straightened. The creature who'd been caught before he could complete whatever mission brought him here. Silver had interrogated him. I'd thought it strange at the time, then promptly forgotten about it.

"What about him?" the King asked.

"I reviewed the interrogation reports this morning." Vincent's tone was carefully neutral, but I knew him well enough to hear the edge underneath. " I'd like to conduct a follow-up interrogation myself."

The King's expression darkened. "That won't be necessary. We've already decided to release him."

"With respect, Your Majesty," Vincent pressed, "the reports mention he came here seeking something called a demon's crystal. I believe it may be connected to the mountain pass attack."

The room went completely still.

Demons were legend. Stories to frighten children. They'd been eradicated centuries ago, if they'd ever existed at all.

But twenty people torn apart in a single night didn't sound like a story.

The King studied Vincent for a long moment. "You believe this prisoner has information about the massacre?"

"I'm certain of it, Your Majesty."

A pause. Then the King rose from his seat. "Very well. Conduct your interrogation. If you're satisfied with his answers, you may release him with my authority."

Vincent bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

\~~~

The meeting adjourned shortly after. I caught up with Vincent halfway down the corridor.

"You think a demon kijjed those merchants?"

"I think something unnatural did." Vincent's jaw was tight. "And I think that prisoner knows what."

"He didn't talk much during the official interrogation," I said. "But Silver spoke with him alone."

Vincent stopped walking. Turned to look at me.

"And you didn't bother to ask her what she learned?"

I hadn't. I'd barely spoken to Silver since this morning, and that conversation hadn't exactly gone well.

"She wasn't in a talking mood," I said.

"Right." Vincent's expression was unreadable. "Your marriage difficulties."

"Vincent—"

"Not now, Arthur." He started walking again. "I have work to do."

We reached the holding room in silence.

The guards opened the door without question. Vincent's authority superseded theirs.

Raven sat by the window, looking completely relaxed despite being a prisoner. Afternoon light caught in his pale hair. When he saw Vincent, his lips curved into a smile.

"Vincent Noir." Just the name. No title. A deliberate insult. "And Prince Arthur. To what do I owe this honor?"

Vincent didn't waste time on pleasantries. "The demon you're hunting. Is it in this region?"

Raven's smile widened. "How perceptive. Did you figure that out all by yourself?"

"Answer the question."

"I might. If you ask nicely."

Vincent's expression didn't change. "Did it attack the merchant caravan at the northern mountain pass three nights ago?"

"Do you think I'd tell you if it did?"

"Twenty people are dead—"

"People are always dying, Vincent. That's what people do." Raven leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. "It's the natural order of things. Why should I care about twenty more?"

"Because if that demon is hunting in our territory, it's a threat to everyone. Including you."

"Oh, I'm well aware of the threat." Raven's red eyes gleamed with amusement. "That's why I'm here."

Vincent moved closer, his voice dropping. "Get to the point. Where is it?"

Raven studied him for a long moment, like he was deciding whether this was worth his time. Then he shrugged. "Your kingdom is already ruined, you know. Nothing can save it now. The demon has probably claimed the last crystal by now."

"Where?" Vincent's voice was hard as iron.

"The Blackwater Caves. Northwest, in the Ashenmount range." Raven's smile turned sharp. "The last demon crystal is there. That's what it's protecting. And if I were you, I wouldn't go. But you will anyway. Humans always do."

"What's a demon crystal?" I asked.

Both of them looked at me like they'd forgotten I was there.

"A source of concentrated dark magic," Vincent said without taking his eyes off Raven. "It's used to summon the demon lord."

"My, my. Someone's been reading the old texts," Raven said softly. "I've been tracking it for two months. I was close to finding the crystal when your guards so rudely interrupted me." Raven stood, moving to the window. Despite the chains on his wrists, he moved with perfect grace.

Vincent studied him for a long moment. Then he turned and walked toward the door. "Lets go, Arthur."

I followed him into the corridor.

\~~~

Vincent was silent as we walked, his expression dark.

"You believe him?" I asked finally.

"He's not telling us everything, but I'll need him for this mission." Vincent paused. "What I can't figure out is how Silver convinced him to cooperate."

"What's the big deal? He's probably just cursed. Maybe demon-touched—"

"No, Arthur." Vincent's voice was cold. "He is a vampire."

The word hit me like cold water.

"That's impossible. Vampires are extinct—"

"Red eyes. Pale skin that doesn't flush or sweat. Doesn't breathe unless he's speaking." Vincent's tone was matter-of-fact, like he was listing evidence in a report.

My mind raced back to the interrogation. The creature's unnatural stillness. The way he'd moved despite the chains. His casual mention of tracking a demon for two months.

"You're certain?"

"Yes." Vincent started walking again, his stride purposeful.

"If he's a vampire, why are we releasing him?"

"Because he's hunting the demon." Vincent's voice was flat. "And if he fails, we're all dead anyway. The crystal needs to be destroyed before the demon can fully restore itself. Raven knows where it is. We don't."

Vincent stopped at the end of the corridor, his hand on his sword hilt. "I'm leaving for the Ashenmount range at dawn. The King gave me authority to handle this however I see fit."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not."

"Vincent—"

"You're the Crown Prince, Arthur. You can't just leave the capital to hunt demons." Vincent's expression softened slightly. "The kingdom needs its heir. Especially now."

The way he said it made my stomach turn. Like something bad was about to happen.

"Be careful," I said.

Vincent paused at the corridor's end. "Take care of Silver. She'll need it."

Before I could ask what he meant, he was gone—footsteps fading into silence.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty hallway.

She'll need it.

What did that mean?

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