[Book II Chapter 159] ROSE: Confronting Jonathan Bark

  ------------------------------------------------

  It’s changed quite a lot… From the crest of a hill, they observed their destination, which had grown several folds from what she remembered. The Thornbridge Manor was now a palatial complex, and its garden was so vast that its far side disappeared in the distance.

  “Will its size be an issue?” Rose asked.

  Roxanne shook her head. “I can easily burn it to the ground, as long as no one gets in the way.”

  “I’m more worried about those.” Roxanne pointed below, where the bodies of dozens of moonlit denizens grimly hung impaled on roots flowing over the outer wall.

  “I guessed they weren’t welcome.” Free joked darkly.

  “My fire should work wonders on whatever is guarding the property.” Roxanne declared. “Let’s go.”

  As they neared, the roots came alive, writhing slowly together in the form of a giant. It spread its arms, causing a mass of twisting wood to rise on its either side. That must be some variant of an ent, a tree monster.

  “Do you think this vegetation can block my way?” Roxanne demanded, her staff flaring with crimson fire. Before she could release her magic, a deep voice rang out.

  “Hold, hold.” An impeccably dress man landed between Roxanne and the ent, raising a hand to both. “No need for violence.”

  “That’s Alucard.” Carol whispered anxiously.

  Roxanne frowned, lowering her staff. “This tree is obstructing me.” She informed the vampire lord.

  “Is that so?” Alucard replied. “One moment please, Raeld doesn’t speak with outsiders.”

  Looking towards the ent, he engaged in a silent conversation.

  “I understand.” Alucard pointed to Carol. “Rald believes your fears attract too much attention, and he refuses to let you past. Appologies, but I’m loathed to override his decision.””

  “The rest of you are free to enter.” He added, before glancing at the moonlit denizens gathering in the distance. “I’ll leave you to confer while I dispatch some pests.”

  They huddled together. “It would be ideal to reach Jonathan without fighting.” Rose began.

  “Agreed, I’d also rather avoid facing Alucard and this Rald at the same time.” Roxanne said.

  “Then the issue is whether we can leave Carol out here alone. I don’t believe she’d last long…” Rose continued. The fearmancer nodded.

  “I’ll stay with her.” Free volunteered. “You two carry on.”

  This didn’t sit well with Rose. “Are you certain you can keep her safe? You’ve seen their numbers.” She judged without Roxanne, it would take all three of them to fend off the monsters.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “You forget that we’re next to Thornbridge Manor.” Free countered. “If we stay near the wall, that makes one less direction they can be attracted from. Besides, it’ll be a defensive battle in a garden setting, something I excel at. We’ll be fine. Right, Carol?”

  The fearmancer grimaced. “After coming this far, Free’s suggestion makes sense. But please hurry back. We won’t last forever.”

  “You ladies done?” Alucard asked. Spotting him back at the wall, Rose searched and realized the land was cleansed of living beings no matter how far she looked. That was fast.

  “Roxanne and I wish to speak to Jonathan.” Rose announced.

  “But of course,” Alucard invited them in with a gesture. “He’s on the far terrace. Follow me.”

  They slipped by the giant ent, crossing the manor’s ground and rounding the sprawling building. Soon they saw two men sitting at an outdoor table. Rose frowned recognizing the younger, handsome one. Raphael Lange!? Why is he here? This thought was more a lament than a question. Having last seen the man mingling in a courtyard filled with Torak’s disciples, she could guess the answer.

  “Good evening, Rose.” Raphael stood and bowed elegantly. “It’s been a while since we last met.”

  Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “You know each other?”

  “I bumped into her once at Xarst.” Raphael revealed.

  “A brief, chance encounter.” Rose admitted. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was the one who convinced Jonathan Bark to assist us in unleashing the Nightmare King.” Raphael answered smoothly. “I’d long been an admirer of his works, so I approached him with the concept. I was overjoyed when he proved receptive and put him in contact with my comrades.”

  “From that point, Adam Bishop and Aldric Moonkin took over leadership of the project. If I have one regret, it’s losing Adam for its completion… Powerless to assist in other ways, I chose to monitor and safeguard the keystone his sacrifice created.”

  Rose grimaced. He’s not here to protect it himself ——Alucard is enough for that task——, he’s here to make sure no one changes Jonathan’s mind. Persuasion would be difficult

  “What did you come here for?” Jonathan asked.

  Rose was certain the man knew the reason but replied anyway. “Hundreds of thousands are dead, and your Nightmare King threatens to kill millions more. Would you permit us to burn down Thornbridge Manor?”

  “Apologies, I refuse.” Jonathan replied. “I wouldn’t have involved myself if my resolve was that weak” He waved a hand, and a maid appeared in flash of static, one eye glowing yellow and the other green. “Could I interest you in some tea?”

  Roxanne stepped forward, ignoring the offer. “You’re even older than I am, yet I’ve never heard of you directly harming innocents. Betraying your fans and allying with the world’s enemies seems horribly out of character for you. Why do it?”

  “That’s…” Jonathan struggled for words. “I’m afraid I can’t answer.”

  “Is that so,” Roxanne sighed. “Then I’ll destroy this place by force.” Her staff flared with crimson fire.

  “Such violence will not be tolerated.” Alucard said. In an instant, he moved next to Roxanne and, with a shove of the arm, knocked her off the terrace into the garden.

  “You’re pretty swift…” Roxanne said, landing on her feet. She then eyed the maid standing at attention.

  Alucard noticed. “Worry not. I am the agent of Jonathan’s will. Dorothee is his bodyguard. She will not interfere.”

  “Besides,” Jonathan added, “My confidence in Alucard is absolute. Should you defeat him by some miracle, I won’t stand in your way.

  “Roxanne…” Rose objected miserably.

  Her mentor smiled back. “Forgive my selfishness. Talking wouldn’t get us anywhere.”

  I can’t stop her… Rose’s eyes flick to the handsome man seated at the table. And it’s all his fault.

  “Raphael Lange, I challenge you to a duel.” She announced. If she could defeat the necromancer, she might yet sway the horror author’s opinion. This was the only chance to end the conflict between her mentor and the vampire lord.

  Raphael turned to Jonathan. “Is that permissible?”

  The man nodded. “As long as its outside the manor and both parties consent, I have no objection.”

  “Then I accept.” Raphael got up. “Let’s move somewhere isolated.”