Chapter 153: Dolores Noir

Chapter 153: Dolores Noir

Dolores ran to Loh and embraced her tightly. Its been so long, your father and I have been worried sick.

Elzri sidestepped the reunion and went to have breakfast with his vampire lover, Lily.

Let go of me, Loh said impassively.

Dolores released her and took a step back. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Hehe, sorry. One of the maids told me you were here and I ran over as fast as I could. Your father is still sleeping, but Im sure hell be ecstatic to see you.

Save the wrinkles around the edge of her eyes, Dolores looked the same, a beautiful elegant dark elf. Her white hair and high cheekbones were the same as her fathers, Elzri. Yet, Dolores eyes were not a cold grey like his, they were a warm blue like her daughters. Loh hated her mothers eyes.

Im not staying, Loh turned to leave.

Wait, surely you must stay for breakfast at least. We have so much to catch up on, Dolores hurried after her.

Thats rich coming from a woman who never cared what happened in my life.

Dolores frowned, How can you say that? Of course, I cared about what happened to you. You have no idea how many sleepless nights Ive had ever since you left home.

Heh, its a little late for that, dont you think?

What are you talking about, child? Dolores placed her hands on her hips.

Loh groaned and spun around to face her, I was already a master mage when I left home. I didnt need protection from anyone and certainly not the worries of a woman who spent half her days drunk.

Dolores lip grew thin, Im sorry if I didnt give you enough attention after Aizel passed. You have no idea the pain that a mother endures when she loses her child.

Loh laughed bitterly, Oh, please. Attention? You never even looked at me long before Aizel died. Tell me, do you remember my 15th birthday?

What? Of course, I remember.

Then tell me, where was I that night?

You Dolores furrowed her brow, You were at your birthday party, obviously.

I didnt have a party, Loh snarled.

What? Doloress face paled.

I was training with Grandfather. He shackled me with iron manacles and threw me in a cave in utter darkness, with no food, no water, Loh took a long shuddering breath. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. I didnt have any magic. All I had was my wit and will. But I fought hard to escape because Grandfather said my birthday was coming in two days. I didnt want to miss my birthday party.

Loh swallowed, Because it was the only day you and dad werent looking at Aizel. It was the only day you ever looked at me. So, for two days I struggled in that cave. My wrists were chaffed and bloody from the shackles, my throat was raw from screaming, and my elbows and knees were bruised and bleeding from all the times I tripped and fell.

Dolores covered her mouth in horror.

Loh bit her lip, I didnt stop though, and eventually, I managed to escape. I found a carriage waiting for me outside the cave. It was already dark by the time I arrived home. I could see the party was already going strong from outside the window. I could see guests dancing inside the ballroom. You were there in this beautiful red dress, you lit up the room as you walked by I wanted to be like you, I wanted you to see me the way everyone saw you, the center of their attention. Then I noticed it. Everyone was raising their cups in honor of Aizel.

Loh clenched her fists, It turned out Aizel had finally managed to cast his first proper spell and you decided to celebrate it with an enormous party, on my birthday. None of you remembered it was my birthday, none of you even noticed I wasnt there.

Dolores eyes teared, Loh, I didn-

Loh pointed out the window, I stood out there in the dark all night long, watching everyone dance and drink merrily. Grandfather was the only one who came out to sit with me, he stayed there all night. Yet, he only said two words the entire time, Happy Birthday. Then he gave me a silver bracelet with a sapphire on it, the dark elf symbol of the bond between master and apprentice.

Loh rubbed her wrist and touched her new silver bracelet, the one she had gotten for Stryg and herself. She sighed, Thats what I got for my birthday, a reminder that all I was good for was being the great Elzri Noirs apprentice.

Dolores brought her hands over her heart, Honey, I swear to you I didnt know.

Who cares if you didnt know! You didnt care to begin with! Loh screamed.

Dolores looked away in shame, ...When I turned eighteen my father took me to be tested for magical talent. Everyone expected great things from me, the daughter of Elzri Noir, the most powerful arch-mage in all of Hollow Shade. Come to find out, I had no talent for magic, I was barely even a mageborn.

Dolores small shoulders trembled, I was the greatest embarrassment of my father and of House Noir. I thought I was going to be thrown out of the family, but I was my fathers sole child and my aunt, Una, had left years before I was born. My mother was only ever able to give my father one child before she passed. My father had no other heir besides me. He blamed me for the dire predicament my family was in.

What? Lohs voice caught in her throat.

Dolores smiled bitterly, I wasnt the mage apprentice House Noir deserved. I should have been more and my father made sure to always remind me of that. He shunned me, ridiculed me, and shamed me in public, all in the hopes that it would somehow make me a better mage. I have never managed to cast a simple spell.

Dolores opened her arms wide, This mansion became my prison where I hid from the world and your grandfather was my warden. He was desperate to hide me from the world, the shame of House Noir. Until one day, he managed to arrange a marriage for me.

Dad? Loh mumbled.

Dolores nodded, Your father came from a commoner family. He had no wealth and no political power. Truth be told, he was also a bit of an airhead. But he was a very talented mageborn and that was all your grandfather cared about. I married your father and he married into our family, he adopted the surname Noir. Eventually, with the help of your grandfather, your father rose to the rank of arch-mage and the future of House Noir seemed secured when I became pregnant.

Dolores tears fell down her face unabashedly, I was so happy that my son would not suffer the way I did. That he would make my father proud like I never could. Except, when Aizel became eighteen it was discovered he had inherited my woeful lack of talent. I had failed my son and your grandfather would punish him the same way I had been.

Dolores clenched her fists and took a deep breath, I couldnt let that happen. I wouldnt let Aizel grow up feeling like his life was meaningless, that he did not matter. I dedicated my time to making sure he felt valued and not alone. When Aizel managed to cast his first proper spell, even if it was a small accomplishment, I was so proud of him. I threw him a huge party to celebrate.

I remember well, Loh said sourly.

What do you mean hectic? Is Cal okay?

Stryg scratched his pointy ear, Last I saw him he was unconscious.

What!? Unconscious!? Kithina shot to her feet. The stool was too tall, her feet landed on the ground with a loud thud, and her chin smacked the edge of the table.

Ah, motherfucking human tables! Kithina squirmed around in pain.

Are you okay? Feli looked up from her book.

They throw her off buildings as part of her yellow mage training, shell be fine, Stryg sipped his drink.

Ahem, may I sit with you all? Clypeus asked with a strained smile.

Sir Gale, it is an honor! Rorik stood from his seat and saluted.

Every soldier in Hollow Shade knew of House Gale and their military exploits. Rorik had once had the honor of seeing a Gale on the battlefield fighting alongside a Veres general. He had watched in awe as the Gale swordswoman had decimated a band of enemy raiders single-handedly.

Clypeus nodded with a silent thanks. Stryg said nothing. Clypeus sat next to Rorik and fiddled with his mug as he stared at Stryg.

So, how are you, Stryg? Clypeus asked.

Stryg stared at him in silence.

Its good to see you, Mister Clypeus Gale, Feli smiled politely.

Please, just Clypeus is fine, he chuckled.

So, what brings a son of the renowned House Gale to our humble tavern? Feli asked.

Carla, the barmaid, brought Clypeus a mug full of mead, bowed, and left as quickly as she had appeared.

Ah, thank you, Clypeus called out.

Carla laughed happily and sashayed away.

Clypeus swallowed and cleared his throat. I came to apologize to Stryg.

You hurt, Stryg? How? Feli frowned.

I didnt mean to, Clypeus said quietly.

No, I mean, literally. Strygs skin is tough, like I cant scratch him if I wanted to. He is the literal definition of thick-skinned, Feli laughed.

Stryg grumbled under his breath.

Im just teasing, Feli kissed him on the cheek and winked.

She turned to Clypeus and mouthed silently, Hes not thick-skinned at all.

Well, what happened? Kithina hopped back on her stool, she was still rubbing her chin.

When I got Callum on the Dread Shadow ship, the captain had us set sail immediately. We left you behind, Clypeus admitted.

You mean you abandoned Rhian and me, Stryg narrowed his eyes.

Believe me, I didnt want to, but you have to understand, everyone on that ship was loyal to House Veres. We have sworn to protect the Veres, the Gales are the shield of the Veres. I must put the life of a Veres before my own, even if that means leaving my best friend behind. Nonetheless, I urged the captain to wait for you, he did not listen.

Tribemates dont abandon each other. Friends dont abandon each other, Stryg hissed.

Clypeus walked over to Stryg and bowed low. Rorik gasped, Felis jaw went slack, Kithina coughed on her drink. The tavern grew quiet at the sight of a son of House Gale bowing to a commoner, albeit a mage commoner.

Clypeus kept his head down, I am sorry that we abandoned you. I understand if you wish to end our friendship. Just say the word and I will leave, and I will not bother you again. But, if you let me stay, I promise I will not let you down again.

Stryg recalled the dark lamia cave from Vulture Woods. It had seemed so long ago, yet he could still hear the dying screams of his tribemates.

Stryg sighed, Get up, its time I beat you in drinks.

Clypeus broke out in a grin, Youre on.

Boys, Feli rolled her eyes.

Drinking contest! Kithina jumped on the table and yelled.

Woot, woot! Rorik raised his mug.

The Merry Crescent tavern broke out in cheers.