Chapter 6 Old Grudges

Lucien's POV,

What were the odds I'd run into ghosts less than twenty minutes in a new town? Actually, that was a dumb question. The odds have always been 50-50. It was something I could never run from no matter how hard I tried. 

It was the curse of what I was capable of. The curse of my family.

The young ghost who'd almost killed me in the lobby, Tomas, had not looked familiar at all. I could almost swear I'd never had anything to do with him in the past but the look of pure murderous rage on his face only meant one thing. 

He had mistaken me for my father. 

I hated the fact that I could never run far from his shadow. For one thing, I was a spitting image of the man. For another, I was the only child born with the Orsini legacy powers. The only child who could walk in his footsteps and I had for a while. When I still looked up to him. When I wanted,more than anything else in the world, to be like him.

 All that changed the more I learnt of my powers. Of what my father could do.

Of what he had done.

I sighed as I shrugged off my jacket and boots. There was a high probability that Tomas would attempt to attack me again in the dead of night. The wise thing to do would be to set up wards or shields around my room but I was exhausted and frankly not in the mood. I was asleep seconds after my head touched the pillow.

The smell of freshly baked bread woke me in the morning. I was pleased to note I hadn't been injured or killed in my sleep. That was a good sign. I just might get through these three days without incident after all.

 I washed myself up quickly, wincing as the water ran cloudy. I hadn't taken a proper bath in days. 

I changed into fresh clothes and headed for the breakfast room downstairs. Elowen was waiting for me. Or at least that's how it looked when I reached the bottom of the stairs and saw her standing still, staring at me.

“Good morning." I tipped my hat as I walked up to her, “Everything ok?" 

She cleared her throat, looking away guiltily, “Everything is fine. Good morning. I take it, you're here for breakfast?" 

The lobby was empty but I could sense the residues of ghostly presence in the room. Particularly Tomas. The kid had a strong energy around him. Strong enough to launch a chair across a room with enough force to kill me. It wasn't typical for a ghost as young as he was.

" Breakfast would be lovely, thanks.” I smiled at Elowen, enjoying the way her pupils dilated and her cheeks reddened each time I did.

She led me towards the dining area and offered me a handwritten menu. It had only two options.

" So, I can either have bread or pancakes." I mused, staring at the very short list.

“Yup. There used to be oat porridge but we're fresh out of those for now. What'll it be?" 

I gave a light chuckle, " I think I'll have the bread with butter, unsalted please. And a cup of tea." 

She nodded,not bothering to write it down and then she was off. I watched her go, impressed with how briskly she walked. How efficiently she ran the place. It didn't look like it but I knew she was trying her best. The inn wasn't exactly handed over to her in good condition. 

A soft breeze kissed my face. A ghost who didn't want to be seen. They could do that for normal people with the gift to see them but a necromancer could see them if he chooses to. I didn't bother with it. I never did. 

As long as the spirits didn't bother me,I didn't bother them. 

Elowen returned a few minutes later with a tray of warm mini bread loaves, a tiny bowl of butter and a steaming mug of tea with a sugar bowl beside it. She placed it gently before me,gave a little courtesy and was gone before I could say anything.

I had been hoping to speak with her a little, maybe ask her to join me for breakfast. But I could do that some other time. 

I bit into a loaf and sighed with pleasure. It was easily one of the best tasting bread I had ever had. I spread a little butter on a piece of bread and bit into it.

I immediately spat it out as a wave of saltiness hit my tongue.

“What the…?!” I coughed, dropping the bread onto the tray.

I reached for the mug of tea to wash down the salt. I took a huge sip and promptly spat it out as well,spilling tea all over my breakfast tray.

" What's going on? Are you ok?” Elowen called out in concern as she rushed to my table.

" Salt…it's….salt…” I muttered. My tongue burned from the torture.

" Salt?” She picked up the cup of tea and gingerly tried a sip. " Oh my God!” She gasped,spitting it back into the cup. " How..? I didn't do this.” 

" Then who did?” I yelled even as the answer came to me. From the alarmed look on her face,I knew she knew the answer as well.

" I'm so sorry, Lucien…." 

“Even in the butter. The butter is filled with salt!" I got to my feet, wiping my hands across my mouth. All I could taste was salt and I desperately needed water to wash it down. 

“I'm so sorry. I'll bring a fresh tray." She said, gathering up the utensils. I could tell she was mortified and my yelling wasn't helping matters. This wasn't her fault. 

“It's alright. It's….I shouldn't have raised my voice at you." I said, a little calmer this time.

" No, I should've been paying attention. I'll be more careful this time. Just hang tight, I'll fetch you another tray.” She scurried off while I stood there trying to sense exactly where Tomas was. 

" You know, you could just show your face and confront me right now.” I whispered into the silence. " Just come on out and we can talk about this.” No one answered. I sensed no ghosts around me.

I settled back into my chair and waited. 

Elowen appeared shortly after with another tray. 

“I made sure to check. No salt in it. I'm really sorry about what happened earlier." She said nervously as she placed the tray before me once again.

" It's alright. It wasn't your fault.” I took a sip of the tea. Salt free. And so was the butter.

But Tomas clearly wasn't done making mischief because the bread halfway to my mouth suddenly flew out of my hand and launched itself across the room. 

" For fuck's sake, Tomas!” I bellowed.

I could sense him clearly now and would be able to see him with a simple click of my finger but I held back. 

" Tomas? Please don't do this.” Elowen called out, turning in a circle trying to guess where exactly he was.

The bread fell to the floor, rolled around a few times, lifted in the air again and came straight at my face.

I swatted it down easily and got to my feet in anger. The kid was strong. Too strong. 

Elowen groaned in despair, look of helplessness back on her face. " Oh no, not again.” She muttered just as Tomas hurled a bunch of cutlery from another table at my head.

I had enough.

I roared as I pointed my hand in his direction. Pink tendrils of light shot out, tendrils only I could see, and wrapped around Tomas's neck. He became visible instantly and the flying cutlery clattered to the ground.

I raised my hand, lifting him up into the air while the tendrils tightened around his neck and he began to choke.

" No. No! Leave him alone!” Elowen cried out. 

I felt a presence beside me suddenly and heard Isolde whisper in my ear a second later, " Please,Lucien. He's just a boy.”