## Liam''s Perspective


    I kicked open the door to Corbin Ashworth''s study with enough force to tear it from its hinges.


    The heavy oak crashed to the floor, sending dust and splinters flying. Corbin jumped from his chair, eyes wide with shock and fear.


    "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, backing away from his desk.


    I stalked toward him, fury boiling in my veins. "You know exactly why I''m here."


    Guards rushed into the room, weapons raised. With a sweep of my hand, I sent a wave of energy that mmed them against the walls. They crumpled to the floor, unconscious but alive.


    "Call them off," I growled at Corbin. "Or the next ones won''t breathe again."


    Sweat beaded on his forehead. "You''re insane! Do you realize what you''re doing?"


    "I realize exactly what I''m doing." I closed the distance between us. "Now, let''s talk about what you''re going to do – you''re going to secure Isabelle''s release from the Veridia City Martial Guild."


    Corbinughed, a sharp, bitter sound. "Impossible. The Guild answers to no one."


    "They''ll answer to you. Your family has influence. Use it."


    "And why would I do that?" Defiance hardened his features. "Isabelle''s participation is crucial. Her blood—"


    My hand shot out, gripping his throat. I lifted him until his feet dangled above the floor.


    "Her blood? Is that all she is to you? A resource?" I squeezed tighter, watching his face turn red. "Your own niece, and you sold her like cattle."


    "Put him down!" Harrison Ashworth''s voice cut through the tension.


    I turned, still holding Corbin aloft. Harrison stood in the doorway, his expression torn between anger and fear.


    "This isn''t the way," he said, stepping forward cautiously. "Violence won''t free Isabelle."


    "Nothing else seems to work." I tightened my grip. "Your brother here needs motivation."


    Corbin wed at my hand, gasping for air. I released him suddenly, and he copsed to the floor, choking and sputtering.


    "You..." he wheezed, ring up at me. "You''re a dead man."


    "I''ve heard that before." I crouched beside him. "Here''s what happens now. You contact the Guild. Tell them you want Isabelle released. Use whatever influence, whatever favors, whatever threats you need to."


    Corbin struggled to his feet, straightening his cor. "Never."


    I struck with blinding speed. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling across his expensive desk. Papers and ornaments scattered.


    "Every injury they inflict on Isabelle," I said calmly, "I''ll return to you twofold."


    Harrison moved between us. "Liam, please. This solves nothing."


    "Step aside, Harrison. Unless you want to share his fate."


    "I want my daughter back as much as you do!" <dfn ss="ref-c38975">This text was acquired from *.</dfn>


    "Then why haven''t you done anything?" I demanded. "Where were you when they took her? Where were you when they started experimenting on her?"


    Shame flickered across his face. "I tried. The Guild... they overpowered me. Threatened our entire family if I interfered."


    "Not good enough." I pushed past him, heading back toward Corbin.


    A new presence entered the room – Dominic Ashworth. Tall and imposing, his cold eyes assessed me with calcted precision.


    "Knight," he said, his voice deceptively soft. "You''ve overstepped."


    I''d heard about Dominic''s strength but had never faced him directly. Unlike his father''s obviously agitated state, Dominic radiated calm control.


    "Your cousin is suffering," I replied. "And you all sit here, doing nothing."


    "You know nothing of what we''ve done or haven''t done." Dominic stepped forward, energy gathering around him like a cloak. "But I know this – you will not threaten my father in our home."


    His attack came faster than I expected – a blur of movement followed by a fist that pulsed with concentrated power. I barely managed to block it, the impact sending me skidding backward.


    "Impressive," I admitted, flexing my fingers. "Stronger than your cousin Dashiell."


    "Dashiell is a pampered child ying at cultivation." Dominic circled me slowly. "I am not."


    His second strike caught me in the ribs, driving the air from my lungs. Painnced through my side – definitely a cracked rib, maybe two.


    I recovered quickly, channeling energy to heal the damage. "So the Ashworths do have some real fighters after all."


    Our exchange of blows shook the room. Paintings fell from walls. A crystal chandelier shattered above us, raining ss that we both ignored.


    Dominic was good – better than good. Each strike precisely calcted, each defense perfectly timed. This wasn''t an opponent I could ovee quickly.


    And time wasn''t on my side. More guards would arrive soon. The entire Ashworthpound would mobilize against me.


    I needed to end this – not with victory, but with escape.


    I channeled energy into my palm and mmed it into the floor. The resulting explosion created a blinding sh and a cloud of debris. Through the confusion, I grabbed Corbin by his cor.


    "Remember what I said," I hissed in his ear. "For every drop of Isabelle''s blood they take, I''ll take a pound of yours."


    I threw him aside and headed for the window. ss shattered as I leapt through,nding three stories below in the courtyard.


    rms red throughout the estate. I sprinted toward the perimeter wall, evading guards and automated defense systems.


    As I vaulted over the wall, Dominic''s voice carried to me on the wind.


    "Run while you can, Knight! Next time, I won''t hold back!"


    I didn''t respond, focusing instead on putting distance between myself and the estate. The confrontation hadn''t gone as nned. Dominic was a more formidable opponent than I''d anticipated – a fact I''d need to remember for our inevitable next encounter.


    ---


    Three hourster, I sat in a small café in Eldoria, a town fifty miles from Veridia City. My ribs had healed, but the encounter with Dominic had left me drained.


    The television mounted on the wall yed a news report about increased security at the Ashworth estate following an "attempted assassination" of Corbin Ashworth. The report mentioned a "dangerous fugitive" being hunted by authorities.


    My phone vibrated in my pocket. Unknown number. I answered cautiously.


    "Liam Knight." The voice was deep, authoritative, and instantly recognizable – the Lord of the Celestial Apothecary Guild.


    "My Lord," I replied, keeping my voice low. "This is unexpected."


    "I heard about your visit to the Ashworth estate." No preamble, straight to business. "Bold but reckless."


    I sipped my coffee. "How did you hear already?"


    "I have my sources." A pause. "I also know about your infiltration of the Veridia City Martial Guild."


    My grip tightened on the phone. "Then you know about Isabelle."


    "Yes." His tone softened slightly. "A terrible situation. The Guild has overstepped its bounds."


    "They''re bleeding her dry," I said through clenched teeth. "Using her blood for their experiments."


    "I know. The Ashworth bloodline has unique properties – properties the Guild has coveted for generations."


    This was news to me. "What properties?"


    "That''s a conversation for a more secure line." His voice grew urgent. "Listen carefully, Liam. I''m returning to Veridia City in three days for an emergency conference of the Five Great Powers. I want you to apany me."


    The Five Great Powers – the five most influential organizations in our world. Their gatherings were rare, convened only for matters of extreme importance.


    "Why me?" I asked.


    "Because this meeting concerns you directly. The Veridia City Martial Guild has formally requested permission to hunt you without restrictions – a bounty with no boundaries."


    Cold reality settled in my stomach. "And will they get this permission?"


    "Not if I can help it. But I need you there, Liam. Your presence will send a message."


    I considered my options. Showing up at such a gathering was risky. But the alternative – hiding while decisions about my fate were made without my input – was worse.


    "Three days," I agreed. "Where should I meet you?"


    "The eastern border of Eldoria. My people will contact you with details." He paused again. "And Liam? Be careful. The Guild has already dispatched Julian Radford to capture you."


    The name sent a chill down my spine. Julian Radford – the Guild''s most feared enforcer.


    "I''ll be ready," I assured him, though uncertainty gnawed at me.


    "One more thing," the Lord added. "Word has reached me that Jim Cobb''s Master is on his way to Pyro. He intends to arrive in three days as well, seeking revenge for his disciple''s death at your hands."


    My mind raced back to my confrontation with Jim Cobb – the fight that had ended with his death. I''d known there would be consequences, but facing his Master so soon was unexpected.


    "Two powerful enemies converging at once," I muttered. "Not coincidental."


    "Indeed. They''re coordinating their efforts against you." The Lord''s voice hardened. "Stay alive for three days, Liam Knight. Then we''ll change the game."


    The call ended, leaving me staring at my reflection in the café window. Outside, rain began to fall, droplets racing down the ss like tears.


    Two of the most dangerous fighters in the world were hunting me simultaneously. The Ashworths wanted me dead. The Guild wanted me captured or killed. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Isabelle remained a prisoner – suffering, waiting for me to fulfill my promise.


    Three days. I had three days to prepare, to survive, to gather my strength for the battle ahead.


    I drained my coffee and left money on the table. There was no time to waste.


    "Hold on, Isabelle," I whispered as I stepped into the rain. "Just a little longer."


    Thunder rumbled in the distance, a fitting apaniment to the storm that wasing – a storm with me at its center.