Call Of The Dark

Gladys took a shaky breath as she looked at the glass Lazarus was holding. It was bubbling ferociously now. The little air bubbles would come up and pop on the surface making a sound. In her nervousness, she could hear every popping sound. Sweat trickled down her spine.

"I don't need this medicine, Lazarus," she insisted, this time with tension. "It is Emma who needs it. And I don't know why you are doubting the healer? It almost looks like you are doubting me!"

The tension that oozed out of her words was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Emma got up from her place with a dry throat. She didn't know what was going on and why Lazarus was so doubtful. It could be because they were drugged at the inn that he was overcautious. But this was Gladys. And Gladys had been so sweet with her all the time. She was very concerned about her and really worried about Lazarus. She was the only friend Lazarus had apart from Magnus in this whole palace of anacondas. "Lazarus…" she said in a low voice. "Maybe I should—" He shot her a glare and she became quiet instantly. What was going on in his mind? But she didn't utter a word after that.

Lazarus turned his attention back to Gladys. "Here, Gladys, have it. I want you to squash my suspicion. And I know that you think a lot about me." He stepped closer. "Then how about a little test for your brother?"

Gladys appeared nervous as she darted her gaze from Emma to him to the healer. "I don't know why you are creating so much fuss, Lazarus. I am not your enemy. You know who all are against you. I am always only looking out for you. And yet you doubt me? She spat. "I won't tolerate this nonsense. Maybe you don't deserve loyalty!"

Lazarus jerked his head back. He circled her and came to stop behind her. "Now where are you going with this conversation when all I am asking you is to drink this potion. Be a good girl and have it. We can talk about loyalty after it." He played it rather coolly.

She clenched her hands into tight fists. "Lazarus!" she shouted. "You are insulting me. I will not drink that potion because I feel insulted. Because you are doubting me. If you would have asked me nicely, I would have drunk it, but now—" She turned to face him. "Now I won't have it, because you are trying to prove something which isn't there. If you want to believe me, you can, if you don't want to, then it's up to you. I am not forcing you!"

Lazarus's lips lifted in a mocked surprise. "Then you may say that I…" he looked into her red eyes. "…don't want to believe in you."

Gladys gasped. Her mouth fell to the floor. "What?" She stepped away from him.

"Now drink it," he ordered. "If you won't, I will have the healer drink it. If anything wrong happens, both of you will be thrown into dungeons and whipped so much that your skins will come out!"

The healer began shaking. "My lord!" he cried sank to the floor. "I— I—"

Afraid that he would speak it out, Gladys kicked him with her boot. "Silence, you ass!" The healer tumbled on the ground and let out a small cry. Emma wanted to rush to him and help him up but once again, Lazarus's stern glare stopped her.

"This healer is a human!" Gladys said, irritation lacing her voice. "That potion is not for humans!" As soon as she said that she realized her mistake and slapped her hand on her mouth. Then she sputtered. "I mean— I mean n— not for old humans."

"Very well then," Lazarus scoffed. "Then it shouldn't affect you at all." He bared his fangs, peeling his lips back. He let out a low snarl. "Now drink it. Or do you want me to force you?"

Gladys took a step back from him. He was looking so dangerous that he could snap her into two if he wanted to. He was too powerful. Her gaze went to Emma who was looking just as skeptical. Gladys was trapped. She took another step back. In order to save herself, she put her chin up and said, "I am going away from here. I don't want this toxicity from you. I was here only to help Emma and you have done nothing but humiliated me in front of her." She spun on her heels and strode towards the door, but the moment she reached the door, Lazarus traced there and closed the door shut.

He ordered the guards, "Do not let Lady Gladys leave!"

"Lazarus!" Gladys shouted. "You are insane!"

He crossed the gap between them slowly, like a predator. She was about to turn and go when he caught her wrist, twisted her hand behind her back and shoved her against his chest. With his other hand, he pinched open her jaw. Gladys couldn't do a thing against him because of his sheer strength. She thrashed her head against him but he poured the potion in her mouth. She spluttered it and tried to throw it out, but he closed her mouth and forced her to gulp it. As soon as it was down her throat, he left her and pushed her away from him.

Emma and the healer watched him with horror in their eyes. Gladys caught her throat and started coughing. "You bastard!" she retorted in a coarse voice as if her throat has been burned and she was having pain while speaking. "What have you done?" She started to walk towards the door, but every step that she took was like lifting a huge mountain. Her vision became blurry and her breath labored. Her stomach was burning as if someone had poured acid in her gut. She had done it all because Maeve had asked her to do it, and she was trapped in her own web of deceit. "Lazarus, you are making a mistake."

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