Rise of The Abandoned Husband

The formula Colin McDaniel had given me felt heavy in my pocket as I made my way through the quiet corridors of the Avery estate. Dawn was still hours away, and I needed to find Jeremy Thornton before the bodies in the cottage were discovered.

Memories of my confrontation with the Crimson Flame Sect agents still burned fresh in my mind. I hadn't hesitated to kill them. For Isabelle, I'd cross any line, break any rule.

The eastern wing of the compound housed Jeremy's quarters, but after my experience with Colin, I doubted I'd find him there. Another workshop seemed more likely. I extended my senses, searching for the unique energy signature of alchemy in progress.

Nothing.

Strange. Most serious alchemists worked through the night when preparing for important formulations. I'd expected Jeremy to be no different, especially with the high stakes of curing Edward Avery.

I changed tactics, heading for Jeremy's personal quarters instead. Perhaps he was reviewing notes or gathering materials before beginning his work. The hallway was deserted, moonlight spilling through occasional windows and casting long shadows on the polished floor.

As I approached Jeremy's door, something felt wrong. The air carried a faint metallic scent that made my skin prickle. I pressed my ear against the wooden panel, listening.

Silence.

I tried the handle. Unlocked. That alone was suspicious.

Pushing the door open slowly, I peered inside. The room was dark except for a sliver of moonlight cutting across the floor. I stepped in, closing the door softly behind me.

"Jeremy?" I whispered.

No answer.

I moved deeper into the room, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. A desk stood against one wall, covered in papers and books. A bed against the opposite wall. And on the floor between them...

My breath caught.

Jeremy Thornton lay sprawled on his back, eyes open and unseeing. Blood pooled beneath him, still wet and glistening in the moonlight. His throat had been cut, a vicious slash that had nearly severed his head.

"Damn it," I muttered, kneeling beside the body.

He was still warm. This had happened recently, perhaps within the hour. I examined the wound carefully. Clean, professional—the work of someone who knew exactly how to kill efficiently.

More Crimson Flame Sect agents? Or someone else entirely?

I rose and moved to Jeremy's desk, searching for any sign of the Concentric Pill formula. Papers were scattered everywhere, some stained with drops of blood. The killer had clearly been looking for something too.

The sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway made me freeze. Multiple people, moving quickly. I ducked behind the door just as it burst open.

"In here!" a man's voice commanded.

Guards flooded the room, lanterns raised. Their light fell on Jeremy's body, and several gasped.

"Search the room!" ordered a tall man in expensive clothing. Even without an introduction, I recognized Herman Avery from Tilda's descriptions—imperious bearing, cold eyes, the family's distinctive sharp features.

I remained perfectly still in the shadows, weighing my options. I could attempt to slip out unnoticed, but the doorway was blocked by guards. Fighting my way out would create complications I couldn't afford right now.

Just as I was considering more drastic measures, a guard shouted, "Someone's here!"

A lantern swung in my direction, illuminating me in its harsh glow.

"Step forward!" Herman barked. "Hands where I can see them!"

I complied slowly, keeping my expression neutral. "I just arrived myself. I heard a noise and came to investigate."

"A likely story." Herman's eyes narrowed. "And you are?"

"Liam Knight. I'm here at Tilda Avery's invitation to work on the Concentric Pill."

Recognition flashed in Herman's eyes, followed immediately by suspicion. "The mysterious alchemist my sister has placed so much faith in." His gaze flicked to Jeremy's body, then back to me. "Found in a murdered man's quarters in the middle of the night."

"I was looking for Jeremy to discuss combining our research," I said calmly. "His door was open."

"Convenient." Herman gestured to his guards. "Seize him."

Two men moved toward me. I could have disabled them easily, but that would only confirm their suspicions. Instead, I allowed them to grab my arms.

"You're making a mistake," I said, keeping my voice level.

"Am I?" Herman stepped closer, examining me with cold calculation. "Jeremy Thornton was one of the few alchemists with a working version of the Concentric Pill formula. Now he's dead, and here you are."

"If I'd killed him, why would I still be here when you arrived?"

Herman smiled thinly. "Perhaps you were still searching for his formula."

Before I could respond, a new voice entered the conversation.

"What's happening here?" Tilda Avery stood in the doorway, her face pale in the lantern light.

"Your pet alchemist has been busy," Herman said dryly, gesturing toward Jeremy's body.

Tilda's eyes widened as she took in the scene. Then her gaze fixed on me, assessing, calculating.

"This is absurd," she said finally. "Liam has no reason to kill Jeremy."

"No?" Herman raised an eyebrow. "Competition for the Concentric Pill isn't reason enough? The reward my father has promised isn't motivation enough?"

"If Liam wanted to eliminate competition, he'd have gone after Colin McDaniel or Matilda Wright first," Tilda countered. "They're the ones with actual working formulas."

I kept my expression neutral, though inwardly I noted the information. So Colin had lied about his formula's efficacy.

"Besides," Tilda continued, "we need him. Father is getting worse by the day. If Liam can produce the pill—"

"If," Herman interrupted sharply. "A significant 'if' for a man found standing over a murdered colleague."

Tilda stepped fully into the room, her spine straight, chin lifted. In that moment, I saw the steel beneath her polished exterior.

"Brother," she said quietly, "do you truly wish to explain to Father that you've imprisoned the man who might be his last hope?"

Tension crackled between them. The guards holding my arms shifted uncomfortably.

Finally, Herman's jaw tightened. "Release him," he ordered reluctantly.

As the guards stepped back, Herman turned to me. "You have three days to produce the Concentric Pill. If you fail, or if I find any evidence linking you to this murder, I'll personally see you executed. Are we clear?"

"Perfectly," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily.

"Good." He turned to leave, then paused. "And don't think about leaving the estate. You're under constant surveillance now."

After Herman and his guards departed, taking Jeremy's body with them, Tilda remained. She closed the door softly and leaned against it, studying me.

"Did you kill him?" she asked simply.

"No."

She nodded, accepting my answer without question. "Someone's trying to sabotage our efforts to save Father."

"The Crimson Flame Sect," I suggested.

Surprise flickered across her face. "How do you know about them?"

"I encountered some of their agents earlier tonight. They were threatening Colin McDaniel."

"And?"

"They won't be threatening anyone again."

Understanding dawned in her eyes. "I see." She pushed away from the door, moving to examine Jeremy's desk. "The Crimson Flame Sect is powerful in the Eastern Province. Not someone you want as an enemy."

"Who leads them?" I asked, joining her at the desk.

"A woman known only as the Crimson Mistress. No one knows her true identity." Tilda sifted through the papers. "But why would they want to prevent us from saving Father?"

"That's what I intend to find out." I picked up a blood-spattered page, scanning its contents. "Were you serious about Colin having a working formula?"

Tilda nodded. "He claimed to have refined a version of the Concentric Pill that would temporarily alleviate Father's symptoms."

"Interesting." I thought of the formula in my pocket. "He gave me his formula tonight, after I saved him from the Sect agents."

"May I see it?"

I hesitated only briefly before retrieving the sealed document. Tilda broke the seal and unfolded it, her eyes moving rapidly over the contents.

"This looks similar to what he showed us yesterday," she murmured.

"And you believe it will work?"

"Father's healers seemed optimistic." She refolded the paper and handed it back. "Will you try to create it?"

"I'll analyze it first," I said, tucking the formula away. "If it's viable, yes."

Tilda's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thank you." She glanced around the blood-stained room. "You should go. It's not safe for you here."

I nodded, turning to leave, but paused at the door. "Tilda, why is your family so important to the Crimson Flame Sect?"

A shadow passed over her face. "Our families have... history. But that's a story for another time."

As I made my way back to my assigned quarters, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something crucial. Jeremy's murder, the Sect's involvement, Colin's formula—all pieces of a puzzle I couldn't yet see clearly.

Back in my room, I unfolded Colin's formula and spread it on my desk. The Man with the Mustache was mercifully absent, probably seeking entertainment elsewhere in the estate. I welcomed the solitude as I began my analysis.

The formula was complex, utilizing rare ingredients and precise measurements. At first glance, it seemed legitimate. But as I compared it with the knowledge from my inherited memories, discrepancies began to emerge.

Where Colin had specified Bloodroot Extract, my memories indicated that Crimson Sage would be more effective for this type of toxin. His proportion of Spirit Lotus was far too high, risking severe side effects. And most concerning, he had included Midnight Thorn, which would interact catastrophically with Edward Avery's condition.

If created as written, this pill wouldn't just fail to cure—it would kill.

I sat back, cold realization washing over me. Either Colin was dangerously incompetent, or...

Or this formula had been deliberately designed to murder Edward Avery.

And I had just been handed a perfect motive for killing Jeremy Thornton.

I chuckled coldly, the pieces falling into place. "So that's it, I understand now..."