Library of Mages (9)

"Who is this?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth when meeting his daughter after almost three years.

"Father. This is my boyfriend, Dominique. Dominique, this is my father." But Emily didn't look like she cared, her words sounded cheerful, but in her eyes, there was not a sign of any positive emotions. It seemed like there were no emotions in them, empty of any feelings for her father.

"… We will discuss this later. There are a few people I want you to be great. How about your 'friend' brings you a drink in the meanwhile?"

"I don't drink," Emily responded. Her voice was cold as words fell upon her father. "And I didn't come here just to entertain your guests. I want you to leave me alone, the same way you were ignoring before I want you to keep doing that."

With a look as if he is about to spew fire, he said, "Maybe we should take this outside." His arm moved in an attempt to grab Emily's shoulder, but before it could reach it, I grabbed his wrist. Barely, but my strength stopped his advance. He was an expert and with a base strength similar to me… he will be much stronger once he uses his martial technique!

His eyes moved to look at me. Filled with astonishment and disbelief his mouth slightly opened. Rapidly emotions flashed through his face before it calmed and a smile reminiscent of a snake steeled on his face. Moving his hand back he spoke. "Dominique? Tell me, who exactly are you?"

It was weird, he suddenly started giving off a greedy vibe. Is he…? Trying to get me on his side? It can't be… Emily said he only strives for power, but it can't be that he came up with something so quickly. Should I try him out?

With I quick glance I checked Emily's expression, and it looked like she also caught onto her fathers' thoughts. She gave me a small nod and smiled. I responded with a smile and started talking. "Like Emily said I'm her boyfriend, as well as classmate and teammate. My full name is Dominique Blake."

"So, you are in S-class as well. If you don't mind me asking… what makes you so special to get into the S-class?"

"My elemental essence is… very special. Unlike any other elemental essence."

"Really? Hmm… what about other talents? Is there anything?"

"Fighting and Seals. But it was only recently that I started learning seal crafting."

"That's truly admirable. I won't take any more of your time for now. Emily, your mother, really wants to see you. How about you introduce Dominique to her."

Emily couldn't hide her surprised expression as her father walked away. "What is he thinking?" she asked while looking at her father's back. "He definitely wants to use you after seeing your strength, but for what and how is the question. At least it's not the worst-case scenario."

"He definitely wants us both now. Who would take one diamond if you could take two." I said.

"If the other diamond is coated in poison, no one would touch it. But you know that that's why you gave him your full name." Emily saw through me as if I was truly made of diamond. "There is nothing that he can find on you in a short time."

"There is one thing actually. An article about me singlehandedly killing a Leshy and dragging it to the town. This is also the only thing that connects me to the Algonquin town."

This article is what I believe brought the guy in black that was after us there. But there was no need for me to think about the past, it was now and the future that matters the most.

Hearing my words Emily smiled and grabbed my hand. We knew it was now a waiting game to see how her father would react, but in the meanwhile, there was a party.

Fake smiles like fake diamonds were easy to spot, and the room was filled with them. Laughing could be heard constantly, alcohol flowing like a river down the thoughts of thirsty animals. Food worth more then a car was served every minute, filling the long tables.

Emily moved through this place filled with lies and deceptions like a master dancer, not letting those with masks instead of faces come anywhere near us. She introduced me to her mother, which unlike her father was more kind. Emily told me the story of their marriage, and how it stopped a huge feud between two families.

Her mother, just like Emily was beautiful, and even if she had a kind and calm manner, but I could see through the cracks of her character. There was darkness just like in Emily's father, not as deep or overbearing but darkness nonetheless.

Being here listening to people lie through their teeth, acting before their family and friends, it opened my eyes. This place was rotten all the way down to its bones.

Together with Emily, we spent some time talking with people, and all this while I tried to keep track of her father's movements. He said something to the butler and went back to talking with guests. After this, he did nothing else until the butler came again whispered into his ear. With a wide smile, he looked around and found me looking at him.

I gestured to Emily bringing her attention to her approaching father. "Let's talk. Outside." He said.

He led us to a side room, where no one will be able to hear our conversation.

"Emily, I understand you don't want to be a part of the family, but the blood in your veins belongs to us, and no matter how hard you hate it… it will be there until you die. So why don't we make a deal?"

"Go on."

"You and Dominique will join my faction."

"No." An instantaneous answer. Emily didn't even consider it for a second.

"Let me finish. You will still attend the University, do whatever you want, only from time to time you two will show up on some events, maybe a fight or two. And after I take over the family… you can do whatever you want, be it completely cutting off or staying."

"How is our presence is supposed to help you take over a family?" I asked.

"Listen, in this day and age people don't kill each other anymore, at least not often. Principally in the case of families, we don't attack our family members. Now its all a competition of who has more powerful artists under their name, especially if it comes to the younger generation. If you show up on a party, have a spar with someone, it will show that I have more power and in the future… it will only increase. More people will be swayed, and if everything goes well, next year I will lead the Flores family!"