Chapter 3: The Red Lotus

The flames wavered ferociously with a fiery red glow. This was the only source of light in the night and it lit the vicinity like day. It was a furnace lit only for one purpose, execution.

Around the vicinity was a multitude that howled and jeered angrily which made them a mob. And the famous one in fact, the justice mob. The custodians of illegal justice.

The mob paved way for two men dragging a disarrayed man. The man kept on bellowing screaming for help and declaring his innocence in this. But the mob as usual heard none of it and instead sympathized by battering him with rocks, tomatoes and banana peels.

The carriers placed him in the space before the furnace. Before him was a figure, gratifying and imposing like a giant. The man stared at the face and gulped largely.

A large scar spread across the right scar of the face. He had stone cold dark eyes and wore a grim expression on his face.

The man held a book on his hand which he opened as he faced the crowd with his eyes. Silence descended. He then began his monologue.

"Ladies and gentlemen, men and women of this earth, children, the doers of good. We are blessed!"

"Yeah!" the crowd responded.

"we are believers of our faith and as such we follow all the doctrines of the same. We are to dispel those who deviate from them. Yes! The ones who have made a deal with the devil. These witches!"

He threw an evil glance to the man on the ground.

"Which is why we are here as devout believers in God to get rid of those who plot against by conspiring with the serpent. Who's with me?"

The crowd roared with approval.

The grim reaper smiled wickedly and then faced the man. His eyes gleamed sinister like.

" It is by the crucifixion of the Red Lotus that I deem this man, Silas Dresden , a witch and as such he is condemned to execution by being burned at the stake."

The man gave out a cry in agony but the crowd responded by hovering him in the air. They then manned him to the furnace with a single swoop. The flames flickered as they burned bright red. The death woes receded for a while until they stopped, he was dead.

And as fast as it took him to burn to a crisp so did the crowd disperse. The statement was clear. Those who had an acclaim to witchcraft were not safe. They would be hunted by a certain group of individuals known as the Red Lotus.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Unlike most palaces that were decorated to bring grandeur, this one was designed as if literary to scare away people.

On the marble walls were etched writings of eccentric doctrines. On the windows were fiery red curtains that were decorated to depict a picture of hell. On that note these curtains were at all times closed, so it looked more like Dracula's manor.

In a certain room in the palace was a certain young man, dark haired, tall and handsome. His usual fierce eyes shone with a new light, fear and confusion.

He wavered his hand again past the fire torch. Nothing, he noticed his hand was perfectly fine. The fire did not burn him. He was thinking about trying another organ until somebody entered the room.

At first the intruder squinted his eyes beneath the messy falling blonde hair trying to decipher what his counterpart was doing beside the flame torch.

He then cleared his throat loudly, "lord Cole Lotus, we are being summoned."

Cole turned to him, "ah Eric... Um no sorry, councilor Eric."

Eric remained oblivious to that mockery and added, "Your father is waiting for you and you seem to be infatuated by a flame torch."

"Fine let's go."

He followed him through the hall way to a certain room, spaced with a round table and seven seats at the center, all of which adorned with red tapestry. Four of the seats were occupied by red robed men and one woman. The two sat at one of the remaining two while one was reserved for their leader, the king of Hesdonia and leader of the Red lotus. Dominic Lotus.

He was a giant with stone cold black eyes and a large V-shaped scar on his left cheek. His robes were dark red and just like the others had an emblem of a lotus flower.

He faced the congregation his eyes lingering at each one seated round the table. He addressed them all.

Councilor Aelis stone. One might misjudge him by his stature but he was by far the most reliable of his councilors, wise and wistful. Thus he was a trusted advisor.

Councilor Bianca sue. He did not know much about her other than the fact she came from a rich influential dynasty in the kingdom. She was of fair skin and had rare facial features.

Councilor Griffin perch. He was an old man who was councilor even during his father's reign over hesdonia. He was by far the most experienced and advised Lotus together with the middle aged Aelis.

Then there was Councilor Eric Wokabi, he probably was the most ambitious of the lot coming from a previously disgraced family he arose from the ashes and restored it to where it was now. Dominic saw the future of Hesdonia in this youth together with his son, Councilor Cole Lotus.

Dominic then stared at the blank seat belonging to Edgar Drake. He then turned to councilor Aelis.

"Where is Councilor Drake."

"Sire, I presume Drake is currently indisposed and could not attend. He sent his sincere apologies."

"Fine make sure to inform him of the proceedings. Now let's begin, shall we?"

He nodded to his personal guard who walked round the table placing a poster before each councilor.

It was a sketchy drawing of an individual.

"That is a drawing of Asura Damikaki famously known as Ash. Am sure all of you are aware of the famous druid who has not once or twice wreaked havoc in Hesdonia. He has been spotted in the kingdom of Wallace. Now king Gregory wishes for me to dispose of the walking chaos seeing that he is ours to kill and that we have are best skilled in dealing with such heathens. In simple he wishes for us to send representatives me included. What do you think about it? "

Aelis was first to answer," Certainly, sire,it is a trap to dispose of you. "

" Yes, "Dominic replied," but we can't let the druid Ash get away"

Aelis then took it up to himself to still state, "but again your majesty don't you find it suspicious that your presence is needed for such petty concerns."

"Petty concerns!" spewed Griffin from his wrinkled mouth, "don't you realize the threat Ash poses, young as you are Aelis but you have heard stories of Druids in the past who terrorized people and in particular Ash who happens to be a mage as well."

Dominic nodded, "And it is our duty to rid of such evil. We swore an oath Aelis as Red lotus to rid of magic."

Eric who had been quiet so far decided to butt in, "It could be that King Gregory had a matter to discuss with his majesty."

Dominic looked at Bianca for her opinion, "They would not dare start a war with us."

He shifted his eyes to his son, "What do you think?"

Cole felt the stare of the others waiting for his answer. Thinking back at druids and magic and then the incident back then with the flame he felt conflicted. And for a moment thought about their mission as the red lotus. Lately he felt as if they focused more on killing people capable of wielding magic rather than administer the kingdom.

Why did they even persecute magic anyway? And the possibility of him being one of the persecuted made things even harder.

He didn't even notice that he had delayed quite a bit as the others were still waiting.

Griffin then spoke on his behalf, "The boy is still new as a councilor give him time to adjust."

Dominic nodded, "Then it is decided we shall head to walace to fulfill the duty of the Red lotus."