The Curious Case of the Cursed Crucible by Constance Barker

Author:Constance Barker [Barker, Constance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Constance Barker
Published: 2018-05-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The idea that the DuLac family had been using the crucible and other artifacts to earn money over the years didn’t come as too much of a surprise. That was less of a concern than the Cabal’s antics. But learning that they did it at Leopold’s expense did shock me. They knew that the time they sold people came from Leopold’s life did unsettle me. Who did that to their own family?

I saw that Bel didn’t seem the least bit shocked. I suppose, given his background... if you were born of this magic, were integrally part of it, that might give a person, assuming you considered Bel a person, a different perspective on the matter.

Clarence asked what had to be the most obvious question. “If you know that this happens, what using the crucible does to you, why are you using it? Isn’t that why you left?”

Leopold sat back and folded his hands. “As it happens, I was born to privilege. From the time I was born, I was given everything I could possibly want. But that luxury, all that lavish life came at a cost. My family had a lengthy history of collecting and then using its hoard of artifacts to sustain that life. They prostituted them, taking advantage of their powers to earn gold and jewels, and these days even stocks and real estate.” He laughed. “My father recently even started accepting Bitcoin. That money has given them the opportunity to buy power and protection. Over the years that power has accumulated so that now they own politicians across the globe, they have their fingers in every imaginable financial pie.”

“But no one hears about them,” Clarence said.

Leopold nodded. “That’s part of what they buy. It’s a sophisticated way to run the world. In a way, using artifacts that harm the family isn’t much different than some aspiring financial deal maker using cocaine to get a perceived edge, although the profits from using the artifacts are far more of a sure thing.”

“I suppose that’s a valid comparison,” I admitted.

“It should be no surprise, therefore, that my family considers the Cabal thugs with no tact. They want nothing to do with them or whatever their plans might be. The family is insular. Yet, they have no problem with them. The world is big enough for more than one group to control certain aspects. In general, however, we steer clear of one another.”

“I still can’t see how they could use the artifact knowing it hurts you,” I said.

He sighed. “That’s the benefit of an outside perspective. Every member of the family is born into the life. We grow up in that world, and honestly have little choice in the matter or even any suspicion that it might be otherwise..”

“But, obviously, if you broke away...” I began.

“As I suggested, I grew disenchanted with this crass manipulation. Not so much of me, but of the world. I didn’t like the way the family used its power. I decided I wanted to do some good—compensate for what the family did.

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