Chapter 7 - The Fragile Remedy
Vivienne lunged forward, throwing herself across the Persian rug with reckless abandon. Her fingers closed around the slender glass cylinder just inches before it struck the hearthstone, the sharp edge of the brass fender grazing her shoulder. A sharp grunt echoed behind her as Julian and Thomas collided against the heavy mahogany bookshelves, sending leather-bound volumes crashing down in a flurry of dust and torn paper.
Clutching the vial to her chest, Vivienne scrambled to her feet. She looked back at the tangled brawl; Julian had managed to draw a concealed snub-nosed revolver from his ankle holster. The click of the hammer cocking echoed loud in the high-ceilinged room. Julian warned Vivienne that if she walked out that door with the antidote, he would burn the entire estate to the ground with everyone inside it.
Vivienne did not hesitate. ""You won't get the chance,"" she said, slamming the library door shut behind her and throwing the brass bolt into place. As a gunshot splintered through the heavy wood paneling, missing her shoulder by mere inches, she bolted down the gallery toward the sunroom. When she burst back through the double doors, she found the velvet settee empty. Camille was gone, and a trail of crimson droplets led directly toward the open iron grate of the cellar stairs.
