The Intrigue of Murder

In Tertinum City, the festival have yet again begun in full swing; the streets crowded in the outer layer; the taverns and squares, full of people who enjoys the luxury that the Tertin family have arranged for them. All from their own wealthy pockets.

Even the poor have been blessed from their sorrowful ways, to be replaced with bliss since assistance have been said to arrive before the winter’s cold winds. That winter which kills so many of the slums’ inhabitants every year. But if what Malinda said was true, then the will of aid shall arrive to save them before the whiteness descends upon the Kingdom.

The City’s Goddess, Lady Malinda Tertin – is what Xe’Reth wants them to believe at least. A savior to be trusted in. To worship the very ground she walks upon. And next to her, her husband to be. A commoner who goaded her to take that step into the spotlight. However, she has always been in the ray of the sun because she’s indeed an Honored One. An Honored One, who’s fair and beautiful to the core, yet she would release a volcano if crossed.

But the Outer and Inner layer have no city guard present. Only in the Outer Citadel Grounds have they been summoned to by their Lord, Maldoran Tertin.

Much ruckus had stirred among the city guard, so much so that they’d begun to protest for the baseless accusations thrown at them by their very own Lord. However, some of the more decent members of the city guard have silenced themselves, for they know how their own organization work but haven’t had the courage to speak up about the foul deeds that the more sinister members have done.

They had been gathered up at one of the training fields after the sounding of the summoning shot through the City. While the army belonging to the City, encircled them in a perfect square formation, giving them a sense of fear for their lives because Maldoran as proud and kind as he can be, showed nothing in his expression. Only those cold, lowered eyebrows which oozed worry into the members of the city guard.

…

Maldoran has stood there on a platform overlooking the whole field of red and black uniforms for over an hour. His people, his family’s long-lived organization. Yet what he witnesses, dissatisfies him.

Scrawny, fat, hunchbacked, ugly, and utterly detestable people stand there below him. Nothing like his own army who takes their training with the utmost seriousness. Nevertheless, the majority have somewhat muscular builds, but those bodies can be deceiving to the eye since muscles can be gained through simple training that’s given to them – is supposed to be given to them.

‘Surely, this hasn’t happened in the last four years… right, father, mother?’ Maldoran asks himself with hands behind his back and legs spread. But he forms fists while raising a twitching lip, ‘What was the words the boy said…? Extortionists? Rapists? Beaters? Killers…?’

“My Honored Lord,” Reconon utters, standing beside him with critical eyes scanning the field. “Forgive me. I’ve grown too old to have noticed these people in the City. But your Honored wife, she’s in charg—,"

“—I know,” Maldoran interrupts with a stopping hand raising into the air.

He has been blind as the boy said, with grief over his parents’ passing. So much that he only focused on the army and the Ebon Wall, not even looking at his surroundings when he came back to the City to see how unwell it’s being run. The city guard doing whatever they want without a proper leash around their necks; taking advantage of the less unfortunate by petty robbery and hideous acts which he has allowed by not observing it.

So many lives ruined, and for what? Even his mother’s aid was removed by his wife, his wife he loves dearly, yet he knows himself of how arrogant she can be. How her former family can be. Hiding behind smiles to cover their real emotions – those emotions that cause him to doubt their right attentions.

But was the things the boy said real?

“Honored Lord, why are you keeping your faithful citizens here?! What have caused you to do this?!”

“Yes! Why Honored Lord?! Why do you doubt your own organization so much as to imprison us here? Telling us to obey and stay silent when we haven’t done anything wrong?!”

Two of the higher ranked city guards throws out their complaints with a quaking double chin from one and a yellowed teeth mouth that’s spewing out spit from the other because Maldoran did order their silence but ultimately they broke it to voice their pathetic protests. Undermining Maldoran’s rule in the process. Humiliating him in front of his hundreds of soldiers who glare at the city guard with dread for their blatant insubordination.

“Who’s in charge of the recruiting, Reconon?” Maldoran asks as he still gazes at the loud crowd in front of him, narrowing his eyes at some of them, making them wince in fright. ‘Rotten… How could I let this happen… to my own ancestors’ City? They’re a bunch of ungrateful louts. But hmm, I do remember one who was a kindhearted old man – wonder if he still belongs to the city guard?’

Maldoran gazes at the somewhat cloudy sky to remember his name but shakes his head in defeat, not remembering. He has never been good with names. Even his soldiers’ and officers’ names are hard to recall.

“I believe the City Commander is in charge of that, Honored Lord,” he answers, gazing with a similar stance of hands behind his back and legs spread to show no fault. “Shall I summon him?”

Maldoran nods and so does Reconon upon gaining confirmation.

He waves to one of his officers who’s with the others in a spread out line on the platform behind them. Both men and women of high-born families here in Tertinum and from its surrounding domain.

Not everyone can gain admittance into the higher echelon, much less earning an honorary position beside the Lord. Though those who work hard and show absolute loyalty can get permitted to a rank fitting their place, in the process, they can be put in command of a team of soldiers. But that doesn’t often happen since a commander must be a noble or in a noble's care like Reconon is.

However, Malinda gets special treatment since she’s Maldoran’s sister. She doesn’t command a squad, yet she does have the title of second-in-command for she’s the only one other than her brother that’s an Honored One.

Malinda is more of a single entity with her handmaiden, Taryna, who follows her into battle. Since she’s much more efficient and deadly when she doesn’t need to worry about her fellow soldiers who she’d command if she were given that duty.

…

After a couple of minutes, two fully-armored soldiers in plate comes escorting a man in a red and black uniform, fitting tightly around his large mass of fat while his forehead flows sweat, running down so it drips to the wooden platform beneath him.

Every officer tracks the trembling man with their eyes, piercing his heart so it inflicts more damage to his psyche. Even Maldoran has turned to welcome the man who’s in control of the City’s defenses. But giving a quick glance at him, Maldoran flares his nostrils with teeth clenching, ‘This man… How in the Divine Queens’ names did he get the position of City Commander…? Preposterous!’

“Father, you’re the one at fault you know…” Recina sneers next to her father, shaking her head in shame since excluding Malinda, he’s the one who’s the real second-in-command, and he holds as much power as Maldoran when it concerns the City’s army. “Aren’t you supposed to have an eye for these kinds of happenings? You as well as I know, that man isn’t fit to be in the current position of City Commander. Yet you didn’t consult Lord Maldoran as you did his father?”

“Quiet girl, I’ve no time for a quarrel with—,”

“No, father, I’ll not be silent, for my Mistress wants me to see to the city guard and its complete restructuring. Meaning: out with the old and in with the new. It isn’t that hard, we have a prison here in the City which needs to be filled with scum,” Recina utters as if the words have no meaning, only following what Malinda ordered her to do.

“After confessing to having committed a crime, of course,” she adds, shrugging her shoulders since the plague inflicting the City must be purged to its last speck.

“Mm, your daughter is on to something there,” Maldoran agrees after having seen the city guard as a whole.

And there comes the man who can make that happen. For the one that’s in charge, usually is the one who looks the other way as he allows his subordinates to do whatever they want. But, something about the man causes Maldoran to raise an eyebrow because his appearance… is as if his sentence have already been judged. A wilted, shaking head; hands that rattle, and the eyes of an empty shell stops in front of the plated mountain.

He falls to the wooden floor, smashing his forehead as he begs, “Honored Lord! I ask for your Honored forgiveness!” making the majority of the city guard gasp in alarm. “Honored Lord! Please, I beg of you, forgive me! I’ve known of this day, that it would come eventually! But please, I’ve children, please don’t hang me!” That single sentence spells doom to the whole city guard, or at least for those who have something to hide.

“What in the Divines’ names is that madman spewing!”

“Hold your tongue, you rat!”

“We… we are finished…”

Maldoran has wide eyes and furrowing brows as he listens to the murmuring and shouting mass, not expecting this situation at all, for the man just confessed that he doesn’t want to be sentenced to death, meaning that he must’ve done something so evil that hanging comes to question.

Maldoran’s gauntleted hand squeezes his hilt in rage as he turns in such a slow manner toward the crowd, transforming the air into a thick dreadful ambiance as half of the members of the city guard avoids eye contact with him, while the other half gazes at Maldoran in absolute joy. For the threat of them revealing everything have finally burst into the open.

They’re free from keeping their mouths quiet.

“Tell me everything or I’ll split you into two halves,” Maldoran growls, glaring at the crowd but his words are directed at the beseeching man next to him.

Then Maldoran lifts his hand into the air. With a clean sweep forward, Reconon bellows out to the soldiers, “Formation! Let none leave the training field!”

The soldiers bang their spear-holding gauntlets on their shields as they then raise them with spears pointing toward the city guard. Their roaring voices sound out to the crowd, boxing them in.

Even some soldiers march to stand in front of the platform so their Lord doesn’t come to harm from any of the criminals who hides within the mass. Because when animals feel threatened they might lash out.

The crowd pleads to Maldoran, but he ignores them as he bends to grab the bowing man’s collar. Lifting him up into the air as he repeats, “Tell me what you and your members have done for kind of acts. Or I swear on the Divine Queens, that you’ll live the rest of your miserable life in agony.”

“P-P-P-Please, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you everything you want to know!” the man whimpers with a grimacing face since being lifted up like this strains his neck, for he’s overweight. Yet he doesn’t dare to touch the Lord’s grasping hand.

“Then speak you pig!” Maldoran shouts, slamming him into the wooden platform for being so annoying with his flapping mouth. Which turns the man’s expression into pure pain, for the wood cracks as he lands.

The crowd inhales in horror upon seeing Maldoran so easily lift and toss him. As if he was nothing but an overgrown ragdoll.

“Argghh—Haaaa!” the man gasps as Maldoran embeds his now drawn sword into the wood a few centimeters in front of the man’s face, causing the man to reel in fright. He doesn’t want to die, for a family awaits him at home, a family that’ll be taken care of as long as he does what he’s told.

He gazes up at the looming giant above who peers back at him. And with a gulp, he begins his speech, his speech that was given to him by Celyssa’s servants who were the ones that helped him handle the city guard, yet they remained hidden so no trace could be backtracked to the Madam of the City.

“I… I’ve committed and assisted with acts worthy of death, Lord. And so has many of the members of the city guard too…” he says, beginning to cry with every word because he’ll probably be sentenced to death for allowing this to happen.

But he has no other choice but to take everything upon him. To be the scapegoat for the Honored Madam because she has his children and wife – threatened him with their lives if he weren’t to comply with her demands. Requirements of utter silence and his own life to be forfeit, which he has accepted for the sake of his family. They’ll live in comfort since the Madam promised through a letter that she’ll give them enough money to live the rest of their lives in peace.

“I… I have documents of those who has acted as criminals while they were bearing the City’s uniform. I’ve kept a list of everyone since I was the one who let them do as they pleased… to blackmail them if they were to disobey me…” the man continues, but his voice sounds as if he’s at peace with his decision. His shoulder throbs with ache, yet he reveals even more, “But you can be rest assured. More than half of the city guard are actually kind people of the City. However, I kept them silenced by threatening them through many acts of wickedness, my Lord.”

‘This doesn’t seem right at all…’ Maldoran contemplates, squinting down at him. To reveal everything so quickly without putting up much of a fight. It screams cover-up. But by who, his wife? “What of my wife? Did she have a hand in this too?”

“W-What… her Honored Madam…?” the man asks as if in shock. He begins to shake his head, “No, she doesn’t have a hand in what I’ve been doing… The only thing she helped with was keeping in touch with reports… nothing else than that… L-Lord…”

“That doesn’t make sense!” he roars, “She’s supposed to watch over you, to rule you, yet you’re saying she only kept in touch by simple reports?!” Maldoran’s face contorts gravely upon hearing such accusations. ‘She did say it at yesterday’s dinner table… but this? Did she support with so little? Letting them run rampant in the city? Doing whatever they want as this man covered up everything?!’

“Honored Lord, where are you going?” Reconon inquires as Maldoran steps over the piece of meat while drawing out his sword, sliding it into its sheath.

“I’m returning to the Citadel, of course, to talk to my wife about this!” Maldoran spins around, pointing at the man, then to the crowd, “See to it that the criminals are thrown into the City’s prison! Forget about the regular procedures of the DLO – when you have the documents from this monster, begin the culling! Then put my soldiers to work to take over for the city guard for the time being!”

“As you command, my Honored Lord!” Reconon salutes with a deep bow, obeying whatever is thrown at him. Then with a forward sweeping arm toward the mass, he orders the rest of the soldiers, “You heard our General’s verdict! Let none escape! And you!” Reconon swooshes his hand to point and glare at the slab of fat, “You’ll help gather the documents imminently with the support of my subordinates! Up with you! Go, now!”

“Y-Yes… at once!” the man grimaces as he springs to his feet, to run past Maldoran while being followed by all of the officers… even Recina as she snaps her fingers for her Battle-Maidens to shadow her.

With one quick look at the mass again, ‘I hope she hasn’t left yet,’ Maldoran steps onward while saying his farewells, “I’ll come back when I’ve had a word with my dear wife. And I shall expect good news when I return, goodbye for now.” He then disappears down the wooden stairs, leaving only Reconon there on the platform with a body bending forward.

Reconon turns his attention to the crowd, lowering his gray brows to display his utter conviction to fulfill his duties of keeping these criminals where they’re supposed to be, in a cage with spikes pointing inward.

‘Master, Mistress… forgive me…’ he apologizes as his eyes close to remain there, waiting for the return of the documents, which will bring the proof needed to convict the scum of the City. But he peeks with his eyes in a narrow suspicion, ‘That man was indeed covering for the usurper… Hopefully, they’ll find something to take her down… I’m sorry Maldoran my boy, but it's for the Tertin line... I'm sorry.’

The crowd has become as silent as they can be. Innocent, guilty, it doesn’t matter. Both are at fault. Many will be sent to prison, even to the gallows to be hung for their crimes, because Reconon knows his Lord all too well. And letting criminals off easy isn’t his way. He had even once court-martialed one of his officers for doing something he didn’t find… sufficient enough.

A monster of war, but in politics, he’s an amateur. He wasn’t the one who was trained in those subjects.

For Malinda was the one who were meant to rule…

……

…

“Don’t worry honey, I’ll be back right before you know it,” Celyssa comforts Merissa while hugging her. At the moment, they’re in a vast hall, inside the domain of the Bradinox family. A mansion Celyssa knows well; its decoration, beyond wealthy with servants running about doing their chores in keeping this household up to par with the Citadel itself.

“Mama, c-can’t I… can’t I come with you?” Merissa pleads with arms around her mother, scenting her regular perfume which she has felt on the way here. “I hate them… They always want to entertain me, to talk to me… I don’t like speaking… I hate it…”

“Oh I know, I know you don’t want to converse with them,” Celyssa says, bending down to caress Merissa’s cheek, then embraces her so her chin rest on her own shoulder. “But it’ll only be for a while, so do be a brave daughter, and vanquish those cousins of yours. I know you can keep them busy, okay?”

“No!” Merissa cries, clinging tighter to Celyssa as she chuckles at her child-like and spoiled behavior.

“…Honored Madam Celyssa Tertin, they’re waiting—”

“—They’ll wait for as long as her Honored One commands,” Linadra snaps at the now prostrating butler, knowing he shouldn’t have opened his mouth yet he did for the pressure is on him since they’ve been like this for over ten minutes.

Embracing her daughter one last time, Celyssa tears herself off of Merissa as her daughter’s hands try to latch onto her, but they flail about seeking her mother’s body which she doesn’t find. “Mama, no, don’t go…”

“I’ll return soon,” Celyssa says as her voice grows further and further away. “And remember, you’re an Honored One…” Merissa then loses her mother’s footsteps as they ascend to another level. But only darkness and Ellenia remain with her. To keep her company.

“Don’t worry I’m here honey,” Ellenia strokes Merissa’s braid to make herself present to her Mistress. Which causes Merissa to latch onto her instead to feel the warmth of someone she knows, for she’s terribly afraid of being left alone in complete darkness. Ellenia’s breathing, calm and steady – nothing to indicate anything out of the ordinary. “But the nerve of your cousins… To actually not come and greet you in person. Letting you instead go to them. Blasphemy…”

“H-Hehe, you don’t like them too…” Merissa giggles, calming down as her cheek is planted on Ellenia’s side bosom. Keeping her slender arms around her waist so her handmaiden can’t get away.

“Why of course… I’m yours… And what you hate, I hate,” Ellenia whispers right as a pair of handmaidens and butlers comes upon them so they don't hear their little conversation.

“Honored Lady Merissa, forgive our Masters and Mistresses, but they want everything ready for your most Honored arrival,” a well-dressed man says with his full black suit of the Bradinox family. He spins to form lines with the others so she can walk in between them. “Now please, they await you.”

The two butlers on one side and the handmaidens on the other are curtsying in their most decorous way they can, even if Merissa doesn’t see it for herself. Because her watchful guardian peers with narrow eyes at them. Inspecting any unwanted attentions.

“Keeping the Honored Madam here with my Mistress will not work out so great for your… Mistresses and Masters…” Ellenia taunts, beginning to walk forward, straight past them toward the Bradinox’s livingroom. “Whatever they’ve prepared will be for naught since my honey here won’t go along with anything her cousins tells her. We’ve only journeyed with her mother, so don't throw excuses, telling us something we don’t want to hear.”

The man gains a hidden grin, responding to Ellenia’s back in a voice so kind that it’s almost disturbing, “As you say… Honored Handmaiden…” The other three people of servitude stare too with leering expressions which remain unseen by the two ladies.

‘Why does everyone sound so phony… Mmm, I don’t like it when they talk like that. Why can’t they speak their real feelings instead?’ Merissa does a slight headshake, rubbing her cheek on Ellenia’s bosom without a care in the world. Which Ellenia responds by holding her tighter to prepare her for the meeting with her cousins…

But what awaits her; darkness…

Darkness…

…

As the double doors’ oiled-up hinges resound, Merissa strains her ears to catch anything. Absolutely anything to gain her footing of how many people will be surrounding her. She knows her cousins, but she doesn’t remember their faces; a foggy memory before she went blind swirl around her mind.

Merissa’s eldest aunt’s daughter and sons. Celyssa’s younger sister’s daughter and son. And her little brother’s daughters and sons. Many cousins, many to remember, but she does remember their names.

As it has been awhile since she last visited them, she gulps as gasps declare their joyous mood upon witnessing their youngest cousin. Their rough diamond which will bring them into their wanted status, yet hidden to the younger members of the family. Only their parents and grandparents know of what Celyssa will be speaking about. Not even handmaidens or butlers. Well, only the highest of them at least knows a little.

Then the voice of a man greets Merissa with such a jubilant tone that it causes Merissa to cringe with her eyebrows, “Ahhh… Our Honored beautiful cousin! Welcome, welcome!” The man’s voice comes closer and closer, which tightens Merissa’s arms around Ellenia. “Please forgive us… but we just couldn’t keep ourselves in check! We haven’t seen you in such a long time!” His footsteps plant on the soft sounding floor right in front of her. “We’ve prepared… so many activities for you… Merissa…”

“Now, now, you’re scaring her brother. Don’t walk so blatantly up to her without thinking!” a woman’s voice this time ring in Merissa’s eardrums, who too, begins to come closer to her. “You know how delicate she can be, so be careful, otherwise, I’ll tell mother.”

Merissa hears a tsk sound from the man’s mouth as he retorts, “I only wanted to kiss our Honored cousin’s hand. To welcome her accordingly.”

“You’ll do no such act,” Ellenia interjects as Merissa’s arms squeeze harder around her waist. “Haven’t you learned anything from your attempts with the Honored sisters? You. Are. Not. Worthy. Or don’t you remember being so utterly humiliated by them… in front of such a large crowd? Both of the times?”

“Y-You… How dare you spe—*slap*.”

“Quiet brother,” his sister says with a calm tone. But Merissa heard that slap… to the head? “You’re in front of our Honored cousin, so go sit down on the couch with the others.”

Another *tsk* resound in Merissa’s ears as the soft footsteps walk away from her. She breathes out in relief, since being touched by a man – she hates it. Even a kiss on the hand makes her sick to the stomach. Though, as she can’t see, all she can do is wait for the sister to continue.

But, the quietness of the living room, only the hearth’s battling fire sounding, frightens Merissa. For it must be around twenty people in the chamber. Her cousins and their servants. All eyes upon her. Ogling with their eyes of expectations.

It takes a couple of seconds before the sister’s voice sounds again, which cause unease in Merissa’s heart, for she must be inspecting her thoroughly.

“Guide our little moon to the prepared couch – see, there,” she says while Merissa raises her head in anxiety, not knowing where she’s going to be seated. But Ellenia does what the sister says.

Merissa walks with her handmaiden until she stops; the breaths surrounding her exhales and inhales in an ecstatic rhythm.

Only darkness in front of her.

As she descends, her butt plants on a durable surface. Leather? She traces her one hand to feel the texture, and yes, a leather couch, but a comfortable sofa nonetheless. It’s so quiet. She hates it when none talks. It makes her lean at Ellenia to still remain in her embrace with arms around her handmaiden’s waist.

However, the surface next to her pushes down as another person sits, though Merissa sighs out in relief as that person asks, “Now then, Merissa dear, what would you like to do? We’ve prepared a lot of activities to keep you busy while you wait for your mother’s return. Want music? Songs to be sung? Or maybe, you want to play a game of The Ebon Wall?”

Merissa perks up in her seat, turning her head to the sister as she thinks, but she lingers in her thoughts. Her cousins know of her anti-social behavior. She’s so innocent and easily traumatized to tears. Before when she had visited them, they were so persistent that she began to cry, causing them to rethink of how to act in front of her.

Yet now, she’s thinking of accepting that last part, for she so enjoys to play that game. A game of The Ebon Wall which she has played with her father a couple of times. Times of joy, times she misses, but they haven’t played in a while, so it oozes her on to accept their proposal.

“Oh, I nearly forgot,” the sister startles as she claps her hands. “Our best chefs conjured up your favorite chocolate cake. Your mother’s recipe which you so love.”

“R-Really?” Merissa asks with eager blinking eyes. She bites her lower lip as her head turn to Ellenia to seek her counsel, but she lowers her gaze in sadness. “M-Mama doesn’t allow me to eat that anymore… She stopped giving me sweets since it isn’t healthy for my body…” However, she gazes up again at Ellenia with her dark empty eyes that stare into oblivion.

Licking her lips, she asks with a pleading tone, “Can’t I eat… just a little bit? Please Ellenia, can I…?”

Staring down at her little Mistress, she grimaces upon witnessing her eyes that stare at her but yet not. She avoids those globes by turning her head away as she answers, “A little bit w-wouldn’t hurt.”

“Really?!” Merissa declares as her whole face brightens with a smile. But laughter starts to sound among the people that reside in the living room, laughter aimed at Ellenia for being so utterly kindhearted to her Mistress. She would get into so much trouble for even letting her eat or drink anything belonging to this family, but those eyes just can’t be declined.

“Yes, but only a little,” she responds, glaring around at the people who smirks at her. She wants to escape with Merissa, but the Madam has ordered her to stay, so she must abide by her rules until her arrival.

Merissa gasps in joy as she hugs Ellenia, rubbing her head again on her bosom, “Thank you!” But only a brief hug as she lets go to strike forth her hands, “Gimme, gimme!”

Unbeknownst to her exhilarated mind, she misses those giggles of her surrounding cousins. She has forgotten all about where she’s at since she hasn’t eaten her mother’s cake in such a long time, making her throw away her fears of the eyes that peer at her.

The sister then snaps her fingers, causing movement among the people inside the room to quicken their steps. As soft footsteps arrive in front of Merissa, she spasms her hands for the person to give her her delicious cake.

“Merissa, cease your hand movements, you’re causing trouble,” Ellenia scolds for making it hard for whoever stands in front of Merissa, not being able to give the saucer of cake to her.

Her Mistress does relax her hands so they remain still as the cold porcelain plate touches Merissa’s outstretched hands. Moving the plate closer to her face, Merissa smells the sliced chocolate cake, and with fingers touching it, she breaks off a piece at the tip to try tasting it. But Ellenia snatches the plate as Merissa puts the piece into her mouth, making grumbling noises because of her handmaiden’s theft.

“You said I could have it… Ellenia!” Merissa whines without restraint, not caring about who witnesses it. As if she’s beginning to change into a child who wants her sweet. A child like yesterday.

“Yes, you can have it, but don’t act like a gluttonous pig, all right? Take it slow. You have time to savor the taste until your mother returns,” Ellenia says but barks at the one who gave her the plate, “Where is the silverware? Go get some!”

With a brief pause, Merissa hears the footsteps leave and come back within a span of ten seconds.

Ellenia sounds out, opening her mouth, “Aaah…”

Making Merissa also say, “Aaah,” with a broad smile since her handmaiden wants to feed her. And with Merissa’s mouth closing, Ellenia slides the silverware out as she takes out a napkin from her uniform’s pocket to wipe away any smudges.

“More! It is just like mother’s cake! Hurry, Ellenia, hurry!” Merissa yells still with a smile on her lips.

With a sigh, Ellenia does begin to feed her with slow flows with her hand. But what she can’t stand; that grin on the sister’s mouth. And on all of the other people who starts to eat the brought cakes and delicacies. Yet, only Merissa eats the chocolate one. None other.

However, before she can say anything, the sister interjects because of Ellenia’s narrowing eyes of suspicion, “Ah, yes, the cake. Since we don’t know how much she’s going to eat, we’ve decided to let only her have it. But enough about that, how about some tea? Juice? Or something else, Merissa honey? Of course, you’re welcome to eat too… Ellenia…”

She scoffs at her condescending tone when she said her name, responding with, “Water will do. And no, it wouldn’t be proper for me to dine when my Mistress is in need of my aid.”

“Really…? Merissa honey, haven’t you learned how to eat by yourself yet…?” the sister asks, but still shrouded in darkness. However, her voice, as sweet and kind as it can be.

Merissa remembers that she’s the eldest of them all. She’s the leader of the Bradinox’s children. A woman to not be trifled with since her mother holds her in a tight leash. So tight that she has no personal life. Can’t speak to whomever she wants. No man, nothing. A life of celibacy like many other women that chooses to adopt that way than to anger the Goddesses with their own infidelities of desire.

“Y-Yes…” Merissa says with a chewing mouth, pouting with her lips. “I can… I can eat by myself, Ellenia. I’m no… no...—.”

“—Child?” Ellenia interrupts, shaking her head at her Mistress’ susceptible mind. Or at least most of the time when she lets herself loose, which she has now ‘cause of the cake. It’s as if she’s too trusting. Like giving a bone to a dog. “That’s what you are, a child. I decide what you do when your mother isn’t here, or do you want to argue with me over an act which I do willingly? To feed you like I always do when your mother isn’t looking? Which you’re asking me to do?”

“…N-No… I’m sorry…” Merissa says as her head sinks low, forming also lowered lips while her slim hand grabs Ellenia’s dress in a pleading way, tugging it. Because Ellenia has been together with her since her birth. Yet she isn’t in league with neither Celyssa nor anyone else. A neutral force in the Citadel, which many other are too, but haven’t spoken up of their allegiance since they only care about their work. And Ellenia’s work; Merissa’s safety and happiness.

It grows dark with no one speaking, but as the sister sighs, she adjusts in her seat while putting her hand on Merissa’s shoulder, “How about a game of The Ebon Wall then?”

Merissa doesn’t even flinch away from her hand. Instead, she nods her head in distress, since Ellenia only cares for her well-being, so angering her puts a blow on Merissa’s mind.

With a caress on her cousin’s shoulder to test the water, she responds with a victorious grin directing at Ellenia, “Then would you like to be the defender or the attacker?”

“Defender of course,” Ellenia says, pulling Merissa closer to her with one arm going around her waist while holding the plate of cake in the other. In the process, removing the sister’s hand from her Mistress.

“So be it,” she answers, seeing that Merissa isn’t giving her own opinion of which side she wants.

“Clear everything on the table, and bring out the game!”

……

…

“Never!” Celyssa shouts, slamming her fist on the large round table in front of her where four people sit, excluding her. “I’ll never put my daughter through that! Never!”

“Everyone has sacrificed something for the family…” a man says with slow words, sitting across from Celyssa. His appearance; full of riches on his fingers, neck, and body. Jewelry of gemstones. A man whose hand shakes as he points at Celyssa, a man with little time to spare. “Our dear broken moon. It’s time for her to offer something to the family.”

“Indeed father,” a woman sitting next to him says, who’s identical to Celyssa but more beautiful with her hair set up in an adorned fashion of sparkling colored stones and silver chains running through her hair. Her voice, beyond pleased with their current topic. “Merissa’s turn has come, as our turn came, dear sister.” She gives Celyssa a sinister smirk displaying on her lips, causing her to peer with mocking eyes.

“Over my dead body… you big breasted whore,” Celyssa barks with an even deadlier scowl.

“Cease this foolishness, sisters, no need to begin again like you always do!” another man shouts, striking forward his slim hands to stop them. “It was just a suggestion, nothing set in stone yet… But, as you haven’t gotten pregnant in over fourteen years… we’re starting to get worried. Hence the need for Merissa’s turn to aid the family, instead of being a child that does absolutely nothing with her time.” This man’s facial features, handsome but average. No jewelry. Only an expensive suit that fits his thin body.

He sits as if he owns the whole room, but his sitting position adjusts in a panicky way as he gains the peer from her elder sister, Celyssa.

“Be quiet! You’ll speak when spoken to!” Celyssa points while shouting as he flinches away.

“I… I… Forgive me… I-I’ll be quiet…” he gets out a whimpering apology as he averts his grief-stricken stare.

“Always as pathetic as you can be…” Celyssa’s sister clicks with her tongue, being so disappointed in her brother’s submissiveness toward Celyssa. “And it wasn’t a suggestion, it is an order. We must get a child inside our little moon, and quickly too. We have the perfect candidate in mind—,”

“Never!!” Celyssa protests with everything she’s got, even throwing her prepared beverage at the hole in front of her, in the middle of the table, splashing the carpeted floor with crimson wine. “My daughter will never be forced to marry anyone! I’ll not say it again!”

“You're unreasonable! You and I had to get married when we didn’t want to! We were forced, and now you’re saying that your daughter doesn’t need to?” she retorts, throwing her own cub in the hole, staining Celyssa’s lower dress. “She will marry, even if I have to force her myself!”

“…Was that just now… a threat? Planning to murder me, huh, sister? Like you murdered your own husband?” Celyssa reveals while beginning to chuckle. “Ha-Hah, you seriously killed him didn’t you?” From the surprised expression on her sister’s face, it can only mean her suspicion is right. “You took so many precautions, yet you forgot one thing…”

But Celyssa pauses in her speech as her chuckling doesn’t stop. Instead, she laughs right in her sister’s face, trying to keep her smile in check but fails.

“That… that’s untrue… I loved my husband…” she averts her head, supporting Celyssa’s reveal even further.

“As you said: you didn’t want to marry. But my dear sister, you and I are different because I wanted to marry Maldoran, who you wanted to marry too. Yet I was chosen,” Celyssa snickers, raising her head in utter dominance.

“Yes! Yes, I killed him! So what?! He gave me what I wanted, and he served his purpose,” her sister confesses with a roar while white teeth show. “We’ve murdered ten thousand more, so why does it matter?! You even did the deed in killing the Lord and Lady Tertin while utterly disobeying father’s and mother's orders in kill the sisters too.”

“I should’ve been the one that was chosen to marry Maldoran, not you! Because I would’ve killed those two bitches without a second thought! Yet you… you’ve ruined everything! Everything!! Our plans destroyed when you didn’t poison the sisters too!”

“Which caused us to blind your daughter to keep you in check, sister. Merissa’s blindness is your fault, not ours! You doomed your own little moon to darkness! While we have the antidote… Heh-Hehehe.” This time, she begins to chuckle at Celyssa, showing her real appearance of a jealous and downright evil woman.

She was supposed to be chosen, but because of the age gap between Maldoran and her, her parents decided that it would be better to have Celyssa of the same age take her position as the wife of Maldoran. She loathes Celyssa to the core of her emotions. So much so that killing her own sister would please her. But she must concede to her parents’ will. However, when they’re gone, she’ll be the head of the family.

“Enough… you two!” their father shouts with two shaking index fingers directing at both of them. “We’ve matters to—*Cough Cough*” He begins to cough as Celyssa’s sister takes forth a napkin to hold it in front of her father’s mouth. As he finishes with his coughing, blood stains the fabric. Revealing the dire situation that the Bradinox family is really in.

“Where is our mother by the way?” Celyssa asks, raising an eyebrow around the room, only seeing her elder sister, younger brother, her father, and her quiet younger sister sitting to her left.

“Sister…” her younger sister finally begins to tremble with squinting eyes ready to cry, “Mother is dying… Father too… They’re ill, both of them are sick Celyssa!”

“Yes… my dear ungrateful daughter… your parents are dying… Soon we’ll leave this world and be lifted up into the Divine Sky… To suckle on the feasts of ages with our Queens…” he rambles with arms raising to tribute the roof of the room. “Ah, we’re unworthy! So unworthy my Queens! Yet the Goddesses’ divine forgiveness is given to all who chooses to repent! Ah… ah… *Cough Cough*” He starts coughing again while the Eldest has the napkin to his mouth.

With a hand pushing away his helpful daughter, he cackles with such madness with his whole body shaking, “As we’ve discussed… That boy…must be eliminated at all cost… He can’t be left alive… He must be killed, he must! Use whatever means possible to succeed my dear ungrateful daughter! Use poisons, hire the best assassins from the guild! He shall not be left standing! We can’t… we can’t… *Cough Cough*.”

“Salveron, Widerya! Take father to his chamber and tell the doctors to give him his medicine, go now!” Celyssa’s sister orders, causing both of them to raise from their seats to go support their father. They then leave while nodding to Celyssa.

“Goodbye for now s-sister,” Salveron says as Widerya follows up with, “Take… Take care…”

As the double doors close shut, her sister too ascends from her seat to go around the grand table, tracing her fingers on the smooth surface of the wood as she walks nearer and nearer to Celyssa while she chuckles the closer she gets.

With her whole body towering over her, she grins with such sinister curves rising, “Father wasn’t explicit in what he wants. But you should use the same process that you used to kill your dear husband’s parents. Though this time, do try not to fail, like you did with the sisters, all right?”

“Ahh…” she sighs, “It’s a shame that mother and father are feeling so ill… isn’t it, sister?” Her grin grows even wider, having her one hand on the backrest’s knob while having the other on the table, making her lean close to Celyssa’s level. “Hehehe… Soon I’ll be the head of the family, and I won’t let you off so easily if you fail. We may have slain every single one that knows of our deed, but nonetheless, do not think for one second that I haven’t got a plan to reveal everything if I were to die.”

Celyssa doesn’t even stare into her sister’s eyes. She glares straight ahead toward her father’s seat. Ignoring her sister all together.

“Fine, be a stuck up bitch for all I care,” she hisses, drawing in closer to whisper into her ear, “But it doesn’t matter… for you’ll come bowing before me when I stop supplying your daughter with the medicine she needs… hehe…”

Celyssa whips her head to give her sister such a grimacing scowl, but she doesn’t say anything. She keeps her cool. Though her lips can’t help but raise with clenching teeth.

“Though, of course, when you’ve come seeking my aid and have begged on your knees before me, I might give her her medicine back… I might… It depends on how well you grovel, sister. Licking my shoe would be a grand sight. Hahaha, an Honored One licking the sole of my shoe! That would be a beautiful sight indeed!”

“Are you finished…?” Celyssa asks as she gets off of her chair to stand on the other side to be away from her grinning sister.

“No, I’m not finished with you yet… Sit down… now!”

“I’ll not be degraded any further...” Celyssa turns to leave, but her sister launches at her, grabbing the rims of her neck. But, what her dear elder sister doesn’t know, is that Celyssa has trained with her husband to defend herself.

With her own hands grabbing her sister’s shoulders, her leg swings with a sweep while she tilts the upper body of her sister. And with Celyssa’s leg connecting with her ankle, she puts all her strength into her sweep, slamming her sister’s mature body to the floor.

“Don’t be so overconfident, you whore,” Celyssa says, puffing her chest out while she raises her head to gaze down at the shriveling woman beneath her. “All you’ve got are your pathetic threats… and that daughter of yours who you fantasize of trying to be. To make her as perfect as the Goddesses themselves... To be a pure maiden…”

“It’s pathetic really. Will you keep her in a bubble for the rest of her life? Probably… but you will always be a withered up cow. You’ve been used, sister, used by our parents as I’ve been used to further our evil ways,” Celyssa shakes her head, not wanting to remember her wicked deed of ordering the death of her husband’s parents, Malinda’s parents. “As you said… You’ll be the head of the family soon enough, so why not cease this insane plan to become Honored Ones? It will never happen, you know that… All that we’ve managed to do is put me on the throne.”

“Celindia, please, I beg of you, ceas—“

“Get out…” Celindia growls with hands supporting the floor.

“Please, sister—“

“Didn’t you hear me?! Leave and do what you’ve been ordered to do, you dog! You bitch! Go!”

Seeing her sister in such a miserable state saddens Celyssa.

She can’t help but lower her lips as she turns around to walk out while opening the double doors. Giving one last glance at Celindia, she shuts the doors, leaving her sister with deadly eyes planning who knows what next…

……

…

“How did it go…? I got the damned medicine while you spoke to them. Mistress?” Linadra asks as they walk down a long corridor with servants bowing at the sides. But Celyssa remains silent with downcast eyes while her friend honors her wishes, keeping quiet too.

Descending the stairs to get to the main hall where she left her daughter, Celyssa sighs while having her hand covering her eyes, as if ready to faint. Which snaps Linadra into action with arms supporting her, yet Celyssa waves Linadra away with her hand.

“Ready the carriage, I want to leave this place as soon as possible… And you should’ve waited with my daughter when you got the medicine. Instead of standing where you stood,” Celyssa says as they reach the bottom floor of the manor. And as they separate from each other, Linadra heads to the entrance while Celyssa goes to the living room where Merissa is at. She doesn't even want to visit her ill mother.

However, upon getting close to the doors, she hears her daughter laugh uncontrollably, as if she’s being tickled, which makes Celyssa burst through the doors, causing everyone in the room to gasp as they see her mean glare directing at everyone.

“Hehehe, I won, I won again!” Merissa shouts with her body bouncing up and down in her seat, clapping her hands too as Celyssa strides into the room without her even noticing her mother since her mind is too exhilarated about the recent victory.

“Ellenia! We’re leaving, now!”

With that, Ellenia puts her hands under Merissa’s armpits, lifting her up as she keeps on giggling away into her own unconscious happiness.

She doesn’t even realize being in Ellenia’s embrace and being carried out to the hall until she wants more cake. But as she notices having her own arms and legs around Ellenia, she cries out, “Nooo! I don’t want to leave! I want to play more! I want to play more!”

Her mother keeps quiet, letting her whine as they continue onwards, reaching the entrance, then heading out into the radiating sky. And with cries resounding behind her, Celyssa frowns because of her daughter.

Enjoying herself with the likes of her cousins? Preposterous! But inside her, she knows it isn’t her daughter’s fault. It’s because of her condition. A condition which Celyssa is trying to cure.

Slowly but steadily, she and Linadra’s husband have figured out a way to detox her daughter’s poison by giving her a minor done of medicine instead of her regular large dose. But it causes Merissa to be more sensitive to her ailment. But Linadra’s husband have assured her of full recovery as long as she keeps to her small done.

“I want more cake, cake, cake! I want mama’s cake, I want it!”

Terror shoots through Celyssa, turning around with a slow spin as she hears what her daughter said.

“Cake…? What does he mean by my cake…?” Celyssa utters, growing so pale. “What is she talking about… I told you to not give her anything…. …Ellenia… don’t say you allowed her… allowed her to…” Her eyes widen as she sees the brown chocolate covering her daughter’s mouth, which grows her eyes even fuller. “Take her to the carriage! Go, now for the Divine Queens sake! Run!” Her voice shudders at the thought. The idea of her family spicing the cake with a dosage of Merissa’s medicine.

It can ruin everything and set her back to the point where they started to give a lower dose.

With stumbling legs, Ellenia does run with haste toward the carriage which is located on the outskirt of the mansion’s estates, where Linadra stands at the ready, but gawks at the sprinting handmaiden whose eyes show only anxiety at her Honored Madam’s shuddering words. And with Celyssa also running behind her, Linadra yells, “What’s the matter?!”

“Get something so she can puke, now! Hurry, damn you!” Celyssa shouts while running, which turns Linadra’s gaze to Ellenia.

“What have you done…?” Linadra asks as if she’s looking at a ghost. But Ellenia doesn’t respond, she instead opens the door to the carriage as she disappears inside while the other three fiddling carriage servants are in conflict of this unexpected situation.

“Linadra!” Celyssa orders, stepping inside the carriage too, which snaps Linadra out of her shock.

She goes to the carriage’s rear to open a trunk to see if she can find anything for Merissa to puke in. But upon not finding anything, she grimaces as her own whimpering starts to shudder out, making her heave herself into the carriage to apologize, “I’m sorry… I couldn’t find anything…”

Celyssa in her flustered state raises her hands to peer at her nails. Too lengthy and can cause damage, “Show me your nails, now!”

Both of them raises their hands; Linadra’s, long and trimmed, while Ellenia’s are clipped and filed.

“Make her puke! Now!” Celyssa orders with a shaking snarl, holding her daughter forward while Merissa struggles as she cries out her tears, not understanding what’s going on. Her body is quivering in fright, beginning to be too much for her mind. But what awaits her… “Do not bite, my sweet, sweet Merissa, do not bite… Do not bite…”

Celyssa’s own tears course down her cheeks without her realizing.

Then, with Ellenia’s two fingers down Merissa’s mouth, she’s forced to puke…

……

…

Thanks for reading!

Hmm, chocolate... Not that good with history but the Aztecs used it as some kind of beer and currency. The cacao seeds I mean... Meh, it's fantasy! xD Though that puke will look like... Hehehe! :D

Boy, messed up families.

I tried to use Merissa's perspective in the living room, but she's blind so it was hard. Noise, touch, smell... Ugh. Remember, she's older than she acts. Fourteen years old.

Oh, when I use two spaces like

this, it usually means it changes either time or perspective. While only using one space means it's the same perspective... Or something like that.

Don't forget to voice your thoughts as always!

Until... next time.

Oh, I almost forgot to say that the Character sheet will be pushed up since I kinda wrote a little bit too much information. Though it'll come out sooner or later.

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