Gifts.

Everyone has finished their cake, with extreme compliments to the chef for making such a delectable chocolate flavor.

"Slam!"

Jorgen slams his feast on the table.

"I believe it's time for my gift!" Jorgen exclaims, puffing his chest out more than a few inches.

He nods to the younger knight at his side, Kline.

Kline returns the nod and quickly leaves the table, heading for the doors to the main hall.

"Come on!" Jorgen shouts, motioning for everyone to head towards the doors.

Lucian and the rest begin to rise for the chairs, following Jorgen's lead.

Jorgen halts at the bottom of the podium as the others continue forward.

He motions for Lucian to come closer.

"I think you'll really like this one."

"This should be right down your alley." Jorgen says ambiguously as he reaches his arm around Lucian's shoulders.

'Right down my alley? I'm kinda worried about what he's got in store. I've never really interacted with him besides small talk. So how does he know what's down my alley?'

Lucian follows Jorgen's lead as he starts moving forward.

"Bang!"

The tall wooden doors of the main hall crash with a sudden force.

"Bang!"

'What the hell is on the other side of those doors?'

"Bang!"

The doors slam open as a four-legged animal bursts forward.

"Trot! Trot!"

A black stallion rushes forward, charging towards the circle of expectant guests.

Screams run out as the stallion threatens to crush those present underfoot.

Kline stands in the hallway behind the doors with a guilty look and a pair of loose reins in hand.

'This guy is a dumbass.'

Lucian's eyes jump to Layla.

She stands ten feet away from the stallion.

It's heading straight for her as she stands in shock, unable to move.

"Layla! MOVE!" Lucian shouts, to no avail.

'I'm gonna kill this bastard.' Lucian's thoughts race as intense anger towards Jorgen comes forth.

'Ding!'

'Killing intent present. "Demonic Instinct" now activating.'

Lucian's mind races as thoughts of how to save Layla come to mind.

'I didn't want to show them this power, but Jorgen's stallion is going to kill her if I don't act.'

Lucian's body courses with lightning.

'There's too many people in the way. I need to get around them somehow.

"Voom!"

His feet explode from the ground, creating cracks in the stone.

Leaping upwards towards a nearby pillar.

Gripping the pillar for a split second, he explodes forward again.

Soaring over the heads of everyone present and directly towards Layla.

The stallion is now mere feet from her.

'I'm too late.'

"RRAWGH!"

Iris hisses a terrifying roar as she uncloaks from a corner nearby and leaps at the stallion.

Her fangs dig deep into the stallion's throat, blood spurting from her maw as she continues to tear into its throat.

Lucian lands next to Layla a few seconds later, hoisting her into his arms and rushing away.

Iris finishes with the stallion. Its corpse lies still as blood continues to pour from the hole in its neck.

Simultaneously, Lucian sets Layla on her feet next to Frida.

"Stay here." Lucian commands.

Everyone in the hall looks from Lucian to the Panther in utter shock at the events that have just unfolded.

Lucian whistles for Iris to come.

She instantly follows his command and bounds to his side. Blood still dripping from her exposed fangs.

"Good girl."

Lucian's voice comes out cold and concise.

"Tap. Tap. Tap."

Lucian's boots resound off the stones as he approaches Jorgen.

Jorgen recoils as Lucian walks closer, his eyes dart from Iris's fangs to the burning red of Lucian's eyes.

"Sit." Lucian commands.

Jorgen crashes to the ground as Lucian shoves him down.

Lucian clicks his tongue to Iris.

She lurches forward, bearing her fangs and snarling in Jorgen's face. Her snout touching his cheek.

Saliva dribbles from Jorgen's mouth as the sheer pressure of killing intent paralyzes him.

"What kind of idiot are you?" Lucian questions, his face now a few inches from Jorgen's and his cold eyes staring deep.

Jorgen recoils further, causing Iris to snarl wildly.

"I-I-I...Just wanted to surprise you!"

"I th-ought you would like it!"

"I never planned it to be like this!"

Jorgen's words come out stuttering.

Lucian clicks his tongue to Iris, causing her to back away.

"I won't be so forgiving next time."

Lucian's words come out with an uncannily malevolent meaning.

He turns from Jorgen and heads for the door to the hall.

"I never meant for this to happen. I apologize for ruining the night." He says as a parting statement.

"AHH!"

Iris's jaws dart forward and slam closed just before reaching Jorgen's face. She then turns and bounds after Lucian.

Everyone present stands stock-still with their jaws to the floor in shock of the events that have just unfolded.

"Bang!" The doors to the hall slam shut as Lucian leaves with Iris in tow.

Lucian passes Kline on the way out, giving him a cold unbreakable gaze sending shivers up his spine.

"Sst." Harald's sword sheathes, and he begins to help Jorgen up.

"You really let a boy scare you like that?" Harald scolds.

"I-..."

Jorgen stops as his mind trails to the feeling of dread he felt looking into Lucian's eyes.

...

A few moments pass, with the party members beginning to converse about the events. With the exception of Lucian's family, Frida, and Layla. All standing together and still frozen from what Lucian has just done.

"I'm-" Frida starts.

Layla runs from the group and heads for the door.

...