THE WILD SLAVE

CHAPTER 4: THE BLACK ROSE

THE WILD SLAVE

Chapter 4 — The Black Rose

The corridor erupted into chaos.

Servants screamed as they rushed toward the inner rooms. Guards ran past with drawn swords while the sound of steel echoed throughout the manor.

Kael tightened his grip on the weapon he had taken.

Adrian stood beside him, completely calm.

Too calm.

“How many?” Adrian asked the wounded guard.

“At least twenty,” the guard answered. “They entered through the eastern gate.”

Adrian looked toward Kael.

“Stay behind me.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

“This isn't a request.”

“And I'm not one of your soldiers.”

Adrian stared at him.

For a moment, anger flashed across his face.

Then a strange smile appeared.

“You truly never learned obedience.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Never needed it.”

A crash came from the hallway.

Three masked men rushed toward them.

Adrian moved first.

His sword struck the first attack aside. Kael stepped forward and blocked another attacker before forcing him backward.

The third man tried to reach the library.

Kael intercepted him.

Their swords collided.

The stranger was stronger than Kael expected.

Kael stumbled.

Before the attacker could strike again, Adrian moved between them.

One precise motion sent the man's weapon flying.

The attacker retreated.

“Run!” he shouted.

The remaining men disappeared into the darkness.

Kael looked at Adrian.

“You could have let me handle him.”

“You nearly lost.”

“I didn't.”

“You were about to.”

Kael glared.

“You're impossible.”

“And you're reckless.”

“Maybe we're both.”

Before Adrian could answer, Elena appeared at the end of the corridor.

“Adrian!”

His expression changed immediately.

“Elena, get back.”

She looked frightened.

“What's happening?”

“The Black Rose.”

Elena froze.

“You're certain?”

Adrian nodded.

Kael noticed her reaction.

“You know them?”

Elena looked at him.

“Everyone in this kingdom knows the name.”

Another explosion shook the manor.

Elena stumbled.

Kael caught her before she fell.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

Adrian's eyes moved toward Kael's hand around his sister's arm.

Something unreadable crossed his face.

Then another guard shouted from downstairs.

“My lord! The west entrance!”

Adrian looked at Elena.

“Take her to the cellar.”

Kael immediately objected.

“I'm going with you.”

Adrian turned.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I need you alive.”

The words escaped before Adrian could stop them.

Silence.

Kael stared at him.

Adrian looked away.

“Go.”

Kael didn't move.

Then Elena stepped between them.

“Kael, please.”

He finally nodded.

“Fine.”

Adrian started down the stairs.

Kael watched him disappear.

Something about those words bothered him.

I need you alive.

Not the prisoner.

Not the servant.

You.

---

The cellar was hidden beneath the oldest part of the manor.

Elena led Kael through a narrow stone passage.

“I've never seen them attack the estate before,” she whispered.

“Why are they here?”

“I don't know.”

Kael looked at her.

“You're lying.”

Elena sighed.

“My brother thinks they're after you.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

Kael stopped walking.

“Elena.”

She turned.

“Tell me the truth.”

She hesitated.

Then she reached inside her dress and removed a small silver pendant.

Kael recognized the symbol immediately.

The same black rose from the ledger.

His face hardened.

“You have it.”

“I found it in Adrian's study.”

“Why didn't you tell him?”

“Because I don't know whether I can trust him.”

Kael stared at the pendant.

“Your own brother?”

“Adrian has spent years protecting me.”

“Then why don't you trust him?”

Elena lowered her voice.

“Because sometimes protecting someone means hiding the truth from them.”

A noise came from behind them.

Both froze.

Footsteps.

Someone was coming.

Elena quickly extinguished the lantern.

Kael pulled her behind a stone pillar.

The footsteps grew louder.

A shadow appeared.

Then a man stepped into the passage.

Kael raised his weapon.

The man stopped.

“Kael?”

Kael recognized the voice.

“Who are you?”

The stranger lowered his hood.

He was an older man with a scar across his face.

“I knew your father.”

Kael's heart raced.

“What did you say?”

“Your father sent me to find you.”

“He's dead.”

“I know.”

The man reached into his coat.

Kael raised his sword.

“Slowly.”

The stranger removed a folded piece of paper.

“Your father left this for you.”

Kael took it.

His hands trembled as he opened it.

Only a few words were written.

The person who ordered the attack sits among the Vales.

Kael stared at the message.

Elena whispered:

“Someone in my family?”

The stranger nodded.

“Not just someone.”

He looked toward the manor above them.

“Someone who wants Lord Adrian dead.”

A sudden scream echoed through the estate.

Elena covered her mouth.

Kael turned toward the stairs.

“Adrian.”

He ran.

“Kael!” Elena shouted.

But he was already gone.

---

Kael reached the main hall.

The fighting had stopped.

Bodies of masked attackers lay across the floor.

Guards surrounded someone near the staircase.

Adrian stood in the center.

Blood covered one side of his shirt.

Kael's heart tightened.

“Adrian!”

Adrian looked up.

“I told you to stay with Elena.”

Kael approached.

“You're hurt.”

“It's nothing.”

“You're bleeding.”

Adrian glanced at the wound.

“I've had worse.”

Kael ignored him.

“Who did this?”

Adrian's eyes darkened.

“One of the attackers mentioned a name.”

“Whose?”

Adrian looked around to make sure no one else was listening.

Then he whispered:

“Marcus.”

Kael's expression changed.

“Your cousin?”

Adrian nodded.

“He disappeared before the attack began.”

Kael remembered the message.

The person who ordered the attack sits among the Vales.

Everything suddenly connected.

But before they could say another word, the main doors opened.

Marcus walked inside.

His clothes were perfectly clean.

He smiled.

“What a terrible night.”

Adrian's hand moved toward his sword.

Marcus looked at Kael.

Then at Adrian.

“You really should be more careful about whom you bring into this house.”

Kael stepped forward.

“You.”

Marcus smiled.

“Yes.”

Adrian's expression became deadly.

“Marcus…”

Marcus laughed.

“You always were too slow, cousin.”

Then he revealed the black rose symbol hanging beneath his coat.

Kael's blood ran cold.

The enemy wasn't outside the Vale family.

It had been standing inside the house all along.