@SDB, Dragon Lord
"Fuck you, boy."
The Nobleman stared in horror as reality sunk in. Theodore was never actually a Noble, never actually "Theodore." He was a Lola! That bitch's son from years back. Everyone thought he was dead! At least, Viktor
said he was. Yet here he stood after making fools of all of them, for years at that. Had Viktor lied? Or did he himself not know either?
"W-What the hell do you-"
"Shut up," the young man standing before him hissed.
Damien Lola stood across from the Noble, his eyes like ice as he stared coldly in at the hunted. There was a flush of concentrated anger in his stare as he took one step closer to the Nobleman, and the Nobleman took one step back, and that continued until the man's back was to the wall, leaving him utterly terrified.
"Dirty cunts like you need to be cleaned," Lola scowled as he continued his slow pace toward the man. "Isn't that what you use to say to
her?"
"Don't t-take another step closer. I will screa-"
He couldn't finish his sentence before Lola was on the man, throwing a fist that made direct impact with the Noble's nose.
Thud!His head slammed against the wall, causing him to slide to the ground with a whimper. "No one would hear you even if you did," Lola said, kneeling to meet him at eye level. "There's a party downstairs. The door is locked. No one would even think of coming to this section of the estate. It's just you and me now."
Finally.
Justice. He had waited
so long for this moment.
Opening a palm, he began concentrating on his elemental ability of water. After a few passing moments, a block of water was formed and the young man guided it forward until it was placed precisely around the Nobleman's head.
The man's eyes widened. He couldn't breathe! He tried to get up, but Lola held him down. He started ringing his arms around and kicking his legs about as he steadily lost oxygen. There was a plea in his eyes that Lola had no sympathy for, and he watched those eyes until the light went out.
"I did it," he said under a breath as he got back up to his feet.
Gods. That felt good.
Lola wished he hadn't have dealt that punch, but he really couldn't help himself. He could not move the body yet, and besides, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to. The discovery of this poor bastard's dead corpse could cause just enough distraction for him to hunt down his next target. He would just need to conceal the slight bruising on his knuckles, he noted.
Standing back at the door, he listened for a few moments to make sure the coast was clear. He unlocked the door, stepped out into the hall, and rejoined the party downstairs.
--- --- ---
"Theodore" was all smiles with a spark in his eyes as he shuffled through the crowds of the Nobleman Viktor's party. He greeted many with handshakes, nods, and grins as he made his way back to the company he was keeping prior to his little side trip.
"Ah, Theodore! There you are!" one of the men called out as he approached.
"Yes, my dear boy, I had to excuse myself for a bit," he said cheerfully. "All of these spirits were starting to get to me!"
"Theodore," a woman in the group cut in with a chuckle. "You never finished your story. You were telling us about the time you had stolen those Dragon eggs?"
"Ah right!"
Ah, right. Another made up story. This was exhausting, but this disguise was worth it. Do Dragons even lay eggs? Surely they do.
The party continued to go on like that for another hour or so, when it finally happened.
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!'The sound of a scream cut through the halls, and it followed by a woman running into the open at the top of the staircase – panic and fear in her eyes.
Someone had found the body.
"I don't understand," Kathryn grumbled, her arms folded over her chest with a small pout on her lips.
Lord Edward Hahne sighed, seeing her mimicking his stance with her own exaggerated flare. "Lady Kathryn," he started, "to attend a nobleman's celebration on the arm of another noble, a proper lady must make herself known to all without saying a word. And you do that with a gown as beautiful as yourself."
The girl rolled her eyes. She hated when he called her 'lady' because she was about as far from noble status as someone could be. Then again... She was an absolutely gorgeous woman. Her pout deepened when the seamstress emerged from the back room again with a blood red gown.
This is going to be a long night, she thought.
* * *
The evening, Kathryn and Lord Edward arrived at Lord Viktor Radbyrne's home. The man stepped out of the coach, offering his hand to his guest. Kathryn squinted slightly, taking his hand after a moment of hesitation and leaving the coach. Her dark hair was tied in a thick braid, which wasn't frayed and messy for once. Her red gown - complete with corset, which Kathryn had never worn before - had a large skirt and frilled angel sleeves with bows down the front of the dress. Also, there seemed to be places where something would appear to be bunched up beneath the fabric.
Kathryn looped her arm around Lord Edward's, as they walked into the party. Her movements were stiff, and her breathing was labored. "My dear, you look lovely tonight," he whispered to Kathryn. "Though, you seem a bit uncomfortable. Is anything the matter?"
"I can't breathe, I can't move, and it's extremely hot," Kathryn said.
While they would appear to be a lovely couple, Kathryn had only met Lord Edward the day before. She was looking at jewelry in the window of a shop, and he stopped by and proposed the idea of her accompanying him to a party. The fact that Lord Edward knew she was uncomfortable had nothing to do with their bond - or lack thereof - but rather her inexperience in hiding such things in formal occasions.
"You're warm?" He asked curiously. "It's quite cool in here, though. Are you running a temperature?"
She huffed. "No," Kathryn said exasperated. "I'm wearing a million layers."
Lord Edward couldn't help but laugh. "You're wearing your normal clothing underneath that dress, aren't you?"
"Was I not supposed to?"
He nodded. "I'm going to speak to a colleague. Go on and mingle. Introduce yourself to some of the other ladies."
Kathryn lifted her brow, as he walked away. She saw the other women speaking to each in hushed voices, and from what she had learned about rich women, the topic of discussion was probably the promiscuity of a woman who wasn't attending to the party. In other words, she wanted nothing to do with anything happening at this party. Until...
A scream rang out through the halls, immediately grabbing Kathryn's attention. Her eyes went to the top of the staircase, where a woman appeared, clearly terrified of whatever had caused her to make that awful noise.
As Lord Edward rushed over to Kathryn, the girl slipped away from him. Something interesting was finally happening, so there was no way she would continue to play the part of the 'proper noble,' which no part of her actually was. She grabbed the skirt of her dress and rushed up the stairs, the corset posing more of a problem than she had anticipated. While the proper noblewoman would've gone to comfort the traumatized girl, Kathryn moved past her without so much as a word of concern and continued down the hall to see the body of a nobleman.
She crouched - or rather tried to with that monstrous dress - in front of the man. "Fuck it," she mumbled, quickly slipping out of the red gown. She had worn her green and grey clothing beneath the dress, so she was covered. Kathryn crouched comfortably that time in front of the body. She peered curiously at it: it was her first time seeing a dead body since the one she had killed.
Broken nose, she thought, poking its bloody nose.
How do you drown in the middle of a party on land?"Lord William Lard!" Lord Edward gasped. He grabbed Kathryn's arm, pulling her away towards the stairs. "Everyone remain calm!" He said, preparing a lie to keep the guests from panicking. "Everything's fine. The girl was simply startled by-"
"Lord Lard's dead," Kathryn said plainly, earning her a sharp glare from Lord Edward.
Lord William was dead, and everyone there knew about it. There were gasps and murmurs, the estate stunk of fear and legs were frozen to the ground with the sudden news. And Lola fucking relished it. Still, he best keep up his act, he thought, there was still work to do.
Eyes widened, breaths ragged and harsh. His hands trembled at his sides as he stared in "horror" at the top of the staircase. "Who could have done this," he whispered, mostly to the few he had been around during the event.
Yeah, that should be enough.
He briefly scanned the room through the guise of panic, searching for a reaction from his old stepfather, but to no avail. Where exactly was he?
"No one leaves until we've conducted a full investigation," one of the guards called as he and another stood heavy in front of the front door. "
There were immediate sounds of protest and feet began nervously shuffling on the floor. "I've been here the whole time," one or more said. "I would never do such a thing!" cried another, with a handful of "I just want to go home!" pleas tossed in.
"Well, this night sure hasn't turned out the way we hoped," Theodore said grimly to his "companions" as he played on the nervousness and dread of the situation.
He scanned the room for Viktor again. Nothing.
Maybe not nothing. His eyes landed on the girl, the one who rushed up the stairs from before, and to Edward's obvious dismay, announced William's death. Who was she?
She was no noble.
Taking her slightly too roughly by the arm, Lord Edward guided Kathryn down the stairs to rejoin the party. "You mustn't blatantly announce such a thing to a group of people, or chaos will ensue," he scolded, brows furrowed over a stern frown.
"What?" Kathryn said, pulling away from her escort. She wasn't rude about it, but the movement was a clear way of saying let go of me and don't do that again, or something along those lines. "Why?"
"Because humans are chaotic creatures," he said, looking at her with confusion. "You've really not learned this by now?" Shaking his head, Lord Edward took a deep breath, scanning the room. "Well, I'm terribly sorry this happened. I promised an enjoyable evening out, and I fear I've failed to deliver."
Kathryn quickly shook her head, her black eyes wider than usual. "But this is enjoyable," she said quietly. "The party was boring, but murder makes it interesting."
The nobleman looked at her strangely and pursed his lips. "You're a peculiar woman, Kathryn."
Whispers that had begun circulating already made it to Lord Edward's ears. As would be expected, most were small theories on who the culprit could be or how 'I was here the whole time' or judgments and praises of the victim. Panic was setting in, and it wouldn't be long before the nobles were at each other's throats.
Though she was instructed to stay by Lord Edward, Kathryn slipped away and started walking among the others, listening and watching. One young man in particular caught her eye, as he appeared to also be searching for something. He was calmer than the others, which struck her as interesting as well. Slowly, the girl started making her way towards the man, hoping to find out what he was doing.
She was walking straight for him.
He didn't need to be looking directly at her, instead seeing her approach from his perephreal, to realize that. He made the briefest effort to look concerned with the situation before catching eyes with the woman again, and he gave her a small smile that was almost reassuring; whatever that meant for someone who clearly didn't belong or fit in there much like himself.
Instead of waiting, he walked towards her to meet her in the middle, but quickly sidestepped, more so staring through her as he passed by and through the crowd.
Fingertips tingling, he placed a hand firmly on another guests' shoulder and whispered something in his ear, mostly unnoticeable, before shuffling his way back around to a less cluttered area.
"I have a proposition!" the man abruptly boomed and the murmurs, frantic pleas, and complaints slowly died down with it. "We all need to be questioned. Even the guards," he began to explain. "Even Lord Viktor, mind you! Do we all agree?"
There was some silence and looks in the crowd before "Theodore" stepped forward. "I'm for it," Lola agreed. "We can't rule anyone out. I will even go first if I must."
The man glanced around to witness any approving or disapproving whispers from the party's guests, most seemingly the former, when his eyes laid gently on another Noble man.
...Was that Lord Edward?
Kathryn's brows furrowed, as the man gave her a small grin. Why was he smiling? Everyone else was distraught and panicky, so why did this person wear an expression that represented joy?
She figured her questions would be answered when the man started towards her, but nope! It was like he asked her to dance, then took the hand of the person beside her, and Kathryn didn't like that one bit. Though she wasn't completely sure what the feeling was, she knew that it wasn't something she would accept.
Then an idea was proposed, a wonderful idea! Questioning everyone would surely be enough to flush out the killer, so it was the best plan, right? Not to everyone. Lord Edward quickly approached Kathryn, his arm around her securely. "We have to get you out of here," he said, voice hushed.
"Why? I like it here."
He pursed his lips, glaring in the direction of the vocal nobles. "Because you are the only one here not of noble birth," he whispered. "You were the first to rush up the stairs when the girl cried. It looks suspicious."
Kathryn shook her head. "Won't it look more so if I suddenly disappear? I'll just be honest, and everything will be fine."
Lord Edward clenched his jaw briefly, meeting eyes with the man who had volunteered to be questioned first. "You're too innocent, Kathryn."
The girl followed his gaze, then moved away from him. "I have someone to talk to," she said, pursing her lips and starting towards the man who gave her slip before.
Lord Edward was with the girl, the one who now seemed keen on speaking to Lola. The man's mind raced briefly, not knowing if that was going to become a problem or not. Sure, there's no proof that Edward had anything to do with what happened to his mother in the past... but he fit the bill. The smug, arrogance of a Noble who thinks the world caters to him.
Yeah. He would keep a watch him over the course of the night.
"You first, then, Lord Alcott," one of the guards said, bringing Lola back into reality. "Come with me to the next room so we can question you."
Lola nodded. "Sure," he replied, and shifted through the crowd until he was behind a closed door with one of Viktor's guards.
They weren't in there long. Two, three minutes, maybe,, and the door swung open and the two men emerged back into the main chambers. "He's clean," the guard announced rather absolutely. "We've requested Lord Theodore Alcott to aid us in our questioning. Please answer any questions he may have."
Damien shrugged lightly and took a quick glance around the hall. "Who would like to go first?"
Kathryn stayed where she was, arms folded over her chest and legs crossed at the ankle, as she leaned casually against the wall towards the back of the room.
When the guards came back out with the news that the noble would be assisting in the questioning, something didn't sit right with Lord Edward. Especially when Lord Alcott's question was answered.
"I'll go first," Kathryn said firmly, kicking off the wall and moving through the crowd gracefully. Lord Edward shot a hard glare at the girl, which she ignored completely, as she made her way to the front of the room with a slight smirk.
Don't become a problem, Lord Edward.
That was Lola's thoughts whenever he noticed the look. The look of doubt, the look of being troubled, and perhaps the look of suspicion. It wasn't immediate, but whenever his date for the evening volunteered, he saw it.
"R-Right," Lola said wearily as the woman so gracefully approached. "Right this way."
He extended an arm to point out a door in the back of the room, and then turned to lead her to it. While turning, he caught eyes with Edward for a brief moment. The look in the Nobleman's eyes were troubled for reasons other than that someone had been murdered that night, and he had a hard time assuming it was because he was luring his "date" into a private room away from the party.
The exchange was brief, and almost unnoticeable, and just a few seconds more Lola had entered the room with the woman and closed the door behind them.
"Why are you happy?" Kathryn asked, barely letting a second pass after Lord Theodore closed the door with them inside the room.
Subtlety never was the girl's strong suit, but she was certainly never at a loss for words! Realizing that she was in fact in a room with a nobleman, though he didn't really seem like the typical noble, she backtracked quickly, waving her hand in front of her dismissively.
"I meant..." Kathryn started, giving a quick and informal bow. "You seemed more - what's the word - joyful than the rest of the party's attendants, m'lord. Do you find joy in death?"
Lola ensured the door was fully closed before turning around. He didn't acknowledge her question immediately, nor did he meet her eyes right away. Instead, he moved a little further into the room until he grabbed a wooden chair sitting in the corner, dragging it in front of him and sitting on it backward as his arms rested on the back.
"What on earth would possess you to say such a thing?" he finally asked, his voice sharp and his eyes suddenly stern. "Who would find joy in death? No, I think you mistake me for something I am not."
"It's only joyful when I kill them myself," he thought alongside his spoken words.
"Take a seat," he said, motioning at another chair that rested against the wall. "I'll try to make this quick because I don't think you had anything to do with it, but just who are you exactly? I've been here most of the night, and I know most of the guests, but I can't say I've ever seen you before."
Kathryn watched the man curiously. You're sitting on it wrong, she thought, as Lord Theodore leaned his arms on the back of the chair.
Regardless, at his direction, the girl moved towards the other chair. She pulled it forward and turned it around, mimicking the way he was sitting with her legs straddling the seat. Something about that position was surprisingly comfortable, and she didn't know why it wasn't the normal way to sit!
"My name's Kathryn," she said simply. Who was she? Now, that was a good question. "I don't-" She started to tell him that she wasn't sure who she was, but remembered that it probably wasn't an appropriate response. "I just came as Lord Edward's guest. I'm not a noble." She deicided that was a good enough answer. "Your turn. Who are you?"
Damien's stern glare faded and was replaced with a light, and an almost amused, smile. He lowered his head to rest them on the back of his hands that were propped up by the chair's back rest. "Theodore," he said simply. "Not a noble, eh? I'm not much of a Noble either."
He closed his eyes and sighed. Probably not the best thing to say. "Not at heart, at least," he added after a moment. "Regardless, you are not missing out on much."
So...
Not a Noble, just a guest of a Noble, parading away in a Noble's house and clearly not belonging. As Lola eyed her up and down curiously he could almost consider her a friend - though that was yet to be determined. So far the only difference between the two of them was that Kathryn wasn't pretending to be someone she was not.
"Do you fancy Lord Edward?" he asked, deciding to pry. "Can you tell me more about him?"
"I met him yesterday," Kathryn said plainly with a shrug. "Barely know him, but he asked me if I wanted to go to a party. I'd heard parties are fun, so I agreed." She went quiet for a moment, pursing her lips in a poorly hidden grin. "I was right."
If he had been in the room with them, Lord Edward probably would've silently scolded her behavior for being informal and inappropriate for a tragic setting, but he wasn't there!
Her black eyes narrowed, and her head tilted slightly to the right, as she eyed the man again. "Why were you avoiding me?" Kathryn asked. "In the other room. You kept walking away. Why? Isn't it the proper thing to mingle without exclusion?"
Part of that question was directly aimed at Theodore, but the girl was genuinely curious. There were so many rules nobles had for social interactions, so she wasn't sure if his actions were improper or if she was wrong for trying to approach him.
Well she was certainly to the point.
He wanted to see what he could find out from the woman without using his glamour on her first, but it appeared she didn't know any more than she did in regards to William. Still, something told him to hold off for a little while.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I was a little intimidating," was the casual lie of a response. "You appeared different from the other women in the party, and I've never seen someone with eyes quite like yours.. So I turned the other way at the last minute."
Blushing on command, he shook his head to stir the conversation elsewhere. "Enough about that," he said through clearing his throat. "Can you keep a secret, Kathryn?"
She might not have had very much experience with humanity, but bullshit was something the girl was exceptional at spotting. And he was absolutely bullshitting her with that little speech about being intimidated. Though, the sudden blush made her curiosity overpower her need to call him on his lie.
What... she thought to herself, watching his face take on a slight hue of red. What's he doing? Why's he changing colors?
Another curiosity wave crashed over. "I'm very skilled at keeping secrets," she said, her eyes widening with anticipation. It almost didn't matter what the secret was at that point. Her entire self became excited at the thought of knowing something everyone else didn't.
She wasn't a noble, maybe that's why.
He had a soft spot for her, for who she was, and that is why he wasn't entirely keen on the idea of enchanting her like he did the guards. It was tiresome, sure, but he needed to keep her in that room with him for as long as he could.
It was a good thing that he duplicated himself while in the room with the guards, allowing himself to entertain Kathryn while a mirror image of himself was free to roam about the house a little more - and still get any information that he may need. While the two engaged in conversation behind a closed door, the imitation Lola made his way through the crowd. Approaching the woman's companion of the night, he placed a hand on the back of his shoulder. "Lord Edward," Lola said quietly. "I've cleared Kathryn, and she has excused herself to the bathroom. If you could follow me upstairs I can clear you as well."
"I don't think he physically did it," the real Lola began, leaning in a little closer as his voice dropped to a whisper. "But I think Lord Edward has everything to do with Lord William's murder." He placed a straightened finger over his lips before she could respond. "This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but many Nobles like him are not what they appear to be. When someone has power, they seek to use it, and will often times get away with it.. but I know a wolf in sheep's clothing when I see one."
In another room upstairs, faux Lola sat across from Lord Edward with a concerned look in his eyes. "I didn't want to tell you this around the others," he began cautiously. "But it's Kathryn. I don't think you know just who you brought to this party tonight, and who she works with."
His eyes glowed for a moment as he locked eyes with the Noble, and a false memory of Kathryn bringing along a friend with them soon found its way into Edward's mind. "How much do you know about her friend, Elijah?"
"A wolf in sheep's clothing?" The girl mused aloud. She'd never heard that phrase before, but she liked it. It gave her a sensation of daring and adventure, but she had yet to figure out why. "But why? He was just as surprised as I was when the girl screamed. Actually, he was probably more surprised! It seemed...how do you say...uh, genuine."
Lord Edward's eyes glowed suddenly, mimicking the illumination of the other noble across from him, as false memories began to worm their way into his mind. When he spoke, it sounded almost like he was telling a story, rather than recounting a personal experience.
"I don't know him well," the nobleman said plainly. "When I met Kathryn and invited her to this affair, she wanted to bring her friend. I spent the day teaching them both how to act at a nobleman's celebration, and they both seemed to grasp the manners well. Next thing, I brought them here."
His eyes released the glow, and Lord Edward looked at Lord Theodore questioningly. The memories were firmly planted in his mind, so the man had no way of distinguishing them from reality.
"Why do you believe Kathryn has anything to do with this, Lord Theodore? What evidence do you have?"
"And that's exactly what he wanted you to think," Lola replied sharply. "Don't you see? Anyone can appear genuine if they want it bad enough."
A sigh escaped his lips as he buried his face into his hands. "I'm worried for you, Kathryn," he said quietly. "When I spoke with the guards, they said he was acting suspiciously toward another Noble earlier.. Like he was keeping eyes on him. A man named Gael Dacey. Have you met him yet? I believe that's his next target, and.."
He trailed off before meeting her gaze with sincere concern. "I think he plans on pinning the murders on you," he continued. "Tell me, why would someone like Lord Edward bring you to a party like this? What would his end-game be? To fuck you? No, I think anyone could tell just by looking at him that he prefers the company of men. There's another reason he brought you here tonight."
"The guards I spoke with earlier have had their eyes on them the whole night. It's not every day you see common folk at a party like this," the duplicate explained. "I am not faulting you for wanting to bring her, I'm really not. Hells, if I could have a pretty thing on my arm like that I would've done the same thing. But.. They told me they overheard something.. something between them during the earlier commotion."
Lola leaned forward and placed his hands over Edward's, a look of horror washing into his eyes. "Something about the plan being in motion, they name dropped Lord Gael Dacey, and something about the 'poor bastard' Edward not knowing what hit him." The man sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "I think there will be more killings tonight, and I think they're going to pin it on you."
The imitation's eyes glowed once more, locking Edward into enchantment for the second time. "You brought these criminals into this house, and it is your fault that people are going to die tonight. You need to lay low and say nothing, and suspect only Kathryn and Elijah. Do you understand?"
'Lord Dacey, might I have a word?'
As if awoken for the first time that night, Gael Lacey let out an exasperated breath and stood from the chair he had previously occupied since the discovery. "I'm tired of waiting," he announced to those around him. "When the guards are ready to question someone else, tell them I will be in the room down the hall."
Before his company could respond, he swiftly made his way through the crowd and into the lone, out-of-sight room down the hall. As he entered and closed the door behind him, he was met with the grin of another man.
A third Lola stood there with his back leaned against the wall and fire in his eyes.
"Lord Dacey," he said firmly. "Take a seat."
Lord Edward's eyes glowed once again with Lord Theodore's. "I need to lie low," he said. "Kathryn and Elijah could be after more people."
His response was almost monotone, but he seemed to really believe it. The glow disappeared from his eyes, and he looked shamefully at the man across from him.
"She seemed like such an innocent, young thing..."
The girl listened intently at first, but her attention was slightly lost when he told her that was worried about her; so much so that she actually let a breathy chuckle escape. "Thank you for worrying, Theodore," she started, "but I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I think I'll go find out just what he's planning."
Kathryn stood up to leave, even taking a few steps towards the door before stopping herself and turning back around to face the noble.
Her black eyes narrowed at him suddenly. "You said, 'anyone can appear genuine if they want it bad enough,' right?" She whispered. "Then, why should I believe you're being genuine?"
Rising from his seat, the faux Lola placed a supportive hand on the Noble's shoulder and offered him a semi-comforting smile. "It happens to the best of us, Edward," he said before moving toward the door. "Try not to let it bother you too much, just remember what we talked about here. Now if you'll excuse me.. there are still many people here I need to speak with."
Lola didn't wait for a response before opening the door and exiting the room. The room, like many others in the home, was isolated enough from the party to where no one else was nearby on the other side. After taking a few steps away from the room, the duplicate vanished into thin air.
The grave expression of worry on the real Lola's face faltered and was replaced with a small, but satisfied smile. "You shouldn't," was his reply as he stood from his seat. "Trust has to be earned, and I don't think I've quite done that yet. In due time, perhaps."
He made his way to exit the room but stopped when he was side by side with the woman. "Always trust your instincts, Kathryn," he whispered. "You'll do just fine."
After that, he left the room.
"It's about time," Gael huffed as he made his way over to the armchair that sat just in front of Lola. "Just how long is this going to take? You and I both know I had nothing to do with this! William was a friend of mine! I'm more upset about this than anybody!"
"...A friend, huh?" Lola responded softly, eyes dull on his prey. "And how long have you two been friends?"
"For many years," the Nobleman replied quickly. "I want to find the bastard that-"
"And you said you're more upset than anyone about this?" Lola interrupted, the tone of his voice giving the indication that he was already bored of the conversation. "So that makes you more upset than William's wife, then? She must be a real bitch."
Lord Dacey sat up in his chair a little bit, a quizzical, and understandably angered look forming in his expression. "W-What did you just say? How d-"
"Oh shut the fuck up, Dacey boy, it's all just a game."
Before the Nobleman could respond, the duplicate of Lola vanished right before his eyes. Mouth agape, the man shot a look behind him, and then in front of him again, and then behind him once more before he started to rise to his feet.
The door opened, and the real Lola entered with weary eyes. "Thank you for your patience, Lord Dacey," he said softly as he made his way into the room. "Did you wait long? I know this mustn't be easy for you."
Gael froze. 'What the fuck is going on?' was his initial thought, followed by an 'Am I going crazy?'
"What's the matter, Lord Dacey?" Lola asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"...Y-You.. You were just right there!" he managed to say, pointing at the wall in front of him. "You were right there and you disappeared!"
"Theodore" tilted his head at him with a puzzled look, but forced a small smile shortly after. "How much have you had to drink tonight, my friend?" he asked quietly. "Still, I applaud you for showing humor is such a dark time."
Silence.
The nobleman didn't know what to say or just how to respond.
"Well then," Lola began. "Let's get started."
Kathryn watched the façade fall from Theodore's face and an intrigued smirk tugged at her lips, as she watched him leave the room. Waiting a minute after he left, the girl walked out and glanced around the crowd.
Lord Edward followed Lord Theodore almost immediately, impressed by the man's speed at rejoining the crowd, as he was nowhere to be seen. Against the other noble's advice, Edward made his way back to the party, catching sight of Kathryn, who seemed like she was looking for someone. He moved through people, whispering warnings about the two commoners who had 'infiltrated' the affair. Finally making it to her, Edward grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the party. Though the girl was confused, she let herself be led into a more private setting.
"How could you?" Lord Edward spat, closing the door behind them. "This is an upscale, noble gathering of terrific people. I did you a favor by bringing you and allowing you to bring Elijah along. How could-"
"What did you just say to me?" Kathryn asked, her face paling as though she had seen a ghost. "Did you just say Elijah?" Lord Edward nodded, as though she was a fool for needing confirmation. "How do you know about him?"
This only seemed to further his anger. The man came to the party with them! "Do you take me for a fool? Insolent girl!" He shouted, bringing his arm down towards her.
Kathryn grabbed his wrist, easily able to stop his strike, and gave him a cold stare. She forced his hand down, spraining his wrist in the process. "I killed the last man to raise a hand to me," she hissed. "And that was Elijah." Releasing her grip on him, the girl pointed at the door. "Get away from me, or I won't hesitate in doing the same to you."
He didn't need to be told twice, hurrying out of the room with a pained expression on his face.
"I know what I saw!" Gael Dacey barked, panic rising in his voice. "Y-You were, you were just fucking right there!"
Damien stood there for a moment, his expression one of worry though he fucking relished every second of this man's meltdown. "Let's get started," he repeated, this time a little more commanding. "Where were you approximately a half hour before Lord William's body was found?"
Gael's face grew red. Theodore was actually going to question him?
"Now, listen here, boy," the man nearly growled. "You know good and well that I-"
"No comment, then?" Lola interrupted, his persona beginning to mimic his duplicate rather than the one of concern. "And how long were you two friends?"
The Nobleman shot out of his chair with clenched fists. "I already told you that!"
"....Did you?"
"I don't know what kind of game-"
"And you like to choke your victims when you rape them, correct?" Lola interrupted once again, a devious grin curling into his lips. "Until their pretty little faces turn blue. Right?"
Gael shut his mouth instantly, his emotions and attitude changing as quickly as Damien's questions came at him. Cautiously, he took a step back. "I-I don't know.. I don't know what you're talking about," he lied, his voice shaky and whispered.
Damien took a confident step forward, his hands resting behind his back as he stared menacingly at his prey.
"Does the name Violet Lola mean anything to you?"
The party attendees were getting restless. It had been some time since Lord William's body had been found yet no one has been named the culprit. There were rumors going around that the girl, Kathryn, was the one behind it all; her and her accomplice that no one but Lord Edward could seem to remember.
"Has anyone seen Lord Dacey?" a fresh duplicate form of Lola asked as he made his way through the crowd. "I was going to question him next, but I can't find him anywhere."
There was some rustling among guests before someone informed "Theodore" that Lord Dacey had already occupied a room down the hall, waiting for his turn. "Thanks," was Lola's simply reply before heading in that general direction. Before he entered the room, however, he looked over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being watched, and instead entered the kitchen across the hall. He needed a diversion.
There was only one chef in the room. Perfect. Completely skipping on any formalities, he stepped up to the man, placed a hand on his shoulder, and whispered in his ear.
"Go into the main hall and stab Lord Edward with your butcher's knife. He's the one who killed Lord William. Shout it as loud as you can."
The glow in Lola's eyes faded and he vanished through the doorway.
Kathryn sat in the room with the door closed, her legs crossed on the floor with her back against the corner and her hands on the walls. Her black eyes were completely white, as she began looking through the house. There was a surprising amount of statues and armored suits around the building, making Kathryn suddenly annoyed by the host's boastfulness. Luckily for her, the pride of the man made her job extremely easily.
She used all of the statues and suits of armor as eyes and ears around the building, looking through their eyes as though she was standing in multiple places at once. What confused her was seeing Theodore actually in multiple places. Her mouth opened slightly, though she was intrigued by what he was doing. There was a man he was speaking to in a hallway, so she focused on that interaction, listening to every word spoken.
The chef's eyes glowed with the nobleman's, then faded as the other man's did. The single thought in his mind was needing to obey the orders that were just given to him. Despite his job, the chef left his post and tucked the large knife into his sleeve, a blank stare in his eyes. "I'll get the bastard," he hissed. "He deserves it for killing Lord William." He started making his way through the crowd, searching for Lord Edward.
A tear streamed down Kathryn's face, as she heard the questions Theodore was asking Lord Dacey. Though it was once curiosity that drove her interest in him, she then realized just what it was that drove him.
Her eyes returning to normal, the girl leaped up and sprinted out of the room. Careful to avoid the crowds, she raced around the halls to reach Theodore and the other nobleman before either did something he'd regret.
Stealth. That's what the chef was feeling as he made his way silently through the crowd, his target within sight and knife in his sleeve. Lord Edward certainly looked a little nervous tonight, he thought as he shuffled around one person after the next. Only a guilty man could look that nervous.
He would be a hero today, he thought. The hero that brought Lord Edward to justice for his heinous crimes.
Edward's time was running out. The hero stalked closer until he was within arm's reach, and he quickly drew the knife out of his sleeve and sunk it into the nobleman's back. "MURDERER!" he cried at the top of his lungs as the steel cut through the other man's flesh. Screams, gasps, and panicked movement all swirled through the room as Edward shouted in agony.
The chef pulled the knife out and went for another stab before he was tackled onto the ground by one of the guards.
"How do you know that name?"
"Awful hot in here, isn't it, m'lord?" Lola asked, airing out the collar of his shirt to emphasis the heat. "Almost hard to breathe. As if you were being choked."
Lord Dacey's face was grim, chest tight, and the overall sensation of panic was starting to visibly sink into his expression. "How the fuck do you know that name?" he asked again, a slight tremble in his voice. "I don't know what game you think you're playing, Lord Theodore, but-"
"Oh for the love of the gods, are you really that fucking stupid?" Lola snapped. Quickly, he moved forward and kicked the leg out from under the noble's chair, sending him toppling to the ground. The sound of cracking rung through the air as he landed on his right arm and it was followed by a hiss of pain. Before the man could respond, Lola was on him again, hovering over his body as he jabbed a finger forcefully on his forehead. "My name is not Theodore you pitiful sack of shit," Damien growled. "My name is Damien Lola. Remember it."
Lola followed that up with several quick punches to the man's side, causing the noble to gasp in pain and shake violently. "That's your liver," Lola began to explain. "If you hit it just right, your body starts to shut down and your brain short circuits. The only thing you feel is terror. Must be what my mother felt every time you put your filthy fucking hands on her!"
Another punch. Another cry of pain.
"P-Please," Lord Dacey gasped, his words mostly covered up by his struggle for air. "Y-You have to understand!"
"No," the man quickly retorted. "I understand nothing about what you are. You're a monster that needs to be put down, and I'm here to make it right."
Gael Dacey began to sob, and with a satisfied smile, Lola stood tall once more and made his way over to the door, leaning his back against it. "Like I said," he started. "It's awful hot in here."
His eyes flashed.
"This room is running out of oxygen quickly, and there are no exits. Your ability to breathe is rapidly deteriorating. You will die soon, Lord Dacey, and you will look at me while you do so. I will be the last thing you ever see."
The look in Damien's eyes washed away, and he folded his arms over his chest as he looked on his soon-to-be victim. Lord Dacey's eyes could only be described with fear as he found himself surrounded by four walls with no doors, no exit, and the feeling of fingers gripping his neck, choking the air out of him quicker than he could process thought. All he could do was follow orders and look helplessly at Damien as he met his demise.
Lola watched the man struggle, pawing at hands that weren't actually there, waiting for the sweet relief he always felt from watching the enemy die.
Rounding a corner, Kathryn heard Theod... rather, Damien's voice, as she then learned. Feeling a slight sting of resentment at being lied to, she pushed that from her mind and saw a closed door. Trying the handle, she had no real hope that it would be unlocked.
Immediately, she ran further down the hall, bounding into a neighboring bed chamber. Kathryn sprinted inside, disturbing two nobles who were obviously not married at their panic of being disturbed. Not paying them any attention, she ran into the walk-in closet and then into the room where Damien and Lord Dacey were. She closed the door and watched, as the man clawed at his throat desperately.
The girl pursed her lips and turned her head away, knowing that there was nothing she could do to save the man's life, short of killing his killer which wasn't an option in her eyes. It wasn't a long wait before Dacey went limp.
Kathryn sighed, looking at the man leaning against the door and opening her hands to show she wasn't going to hurt him, as she slowly approached. When she was about three feet from him, Kathryn looked up and gave him an empathetic smile. "I'm sorry, Damien," she said softly, standing on her toes slightly to wrap her arms around him.
...What?
How did she get in here? How did she know?
"Kathryn," he said softly, not quick to return her embrace, but instead just standing there and taking it with shock rolled into his gaze. Not only had she discovered what he was up to, she knew his name, and she seemed to be... accepting it. "How did you.. what did you.. " he tried to speak, but kept stopping short, unable to find the right words.
He gave Lord Dacey a quick glance while wrapped in the woman's arms. He was dead, and yet another name could be scratched off of his list. Quickly, he removed himself from her embrace and lightly placed his hands on her arms. "If you know who I am, then you know what I must do," he said firmly.
He didn't have time for anything more than that. Any explanation, or defense, or further talking in general would just throw a wrench in his plan. There would be time for that later if she decided not to turn him in.
"You need to get out of here. I'm sorry." That was the last thing he said to her before swinging the door open and rushing back into the main hall.
"HELP!" he cried as he ran back into the audience chamber, purposely tripping over to cause a further state of panic. They were already both confused and terrified from the events that transpired between Lord Edward and the chef, both currently detained by the guards, when "Theodore's" sudden entrance shook them even more.
"L-Lord Dacey is dead!"
She understood why he was doing what he was, but Kathryn found herself at a fork in the road regarding what her next move was going to be. That wasn't the time though. Damien had alerted the guards, and either direction she ran, she would be thought of as a suspect. If she went the way Damien had, she'd be following after he cried out of another death, but if she went the opposite direction, the adulterous couple would see her fleeing from the scene.
The girl looked around quickly, seeing the window. She knelt next to Dacey, gently closing his eyes, before she hopped onto the windowsill and pushed open the windows. "Fuck," she whispered, looking at the three-story drop as she stepped onto the ledge of the building and gently pushed the window closed. She had gotten surprisingly skilled at climbing, as she never seemed to be able to keep her feet on solid ground, but it wasn't her favorite thing to do.
Making it halfway up the next floor, she grabbed onto the horn of a gargoyle statue and her eyes flashed silver briefly. The stone came to life and started flying upward, pulling her onto the roof of the building. Kathryn smirked, letting go of it and crouching to catch her breath. At that point, there were probably already guards in the room looking for the culprit, but she still needed to figure out what to do about Damien and her own conscience. Running with the newly animated gargoyle, she jumped onto its back and it flew her to a balcony on the other side of the building, then returned to its stone form on the roof.
Kathryn listened again, hearing shouting from another room. She opened the door to see the chef tied up with blood on his shirt, crying out about Lord Edward. The girl furrowed her brows, then hurried out to find out what was happening.
As soon as she rejoined the party, she walked right up to one of the guards. "I know what happened to Lord Dacey," she whispered. The guard took her by the arm and started escorting her into the same room she was in when Damien had questioned her originally, only that time Edward was also in there with a healer. She glanced around the crowd, catching eyes with Damien. She then looked at the guard and walked into the room.
No.
She wouldn't.
That's what he told himself, though he didn't know what to believe. He watched with a pounding in his chest as the woman was escorted by the guard into the room for questioning. If she understood why he was doing this, then why on earth would she offer up any information on Dacey's death? Was she going to help him, or did she have a change of heart?
He didn't have time to think about it.
"Are you okay, Lord Theodore?"
Lola, still on the ground from his staged fall, looked up to see another one of the guards with a concerned look. "O-Oh," he started the act, getting to his feet and dusting himself off. "Y-Yes, thank you. I'm just a little shaken up."
His eyes darted toward the door again. Anything could be happening behind those walls.
"Can you take me to a private room to calm down? I'll answer any questions you may have," he said to the guard, rubbing his arm where he fell.
The guard obliged and they made their way to an empty room.
The door closed behind them and Damien immediately whipped around with the enchanting flash in his eyes. "I told you as much information as I possibly could, and once again you have cleared me of any wrongdoing. Other than that, you have no real leads on who the culprit is. We are going to wait here for five minutes before returning back into the audience chamber, and that will be your story if anyone asks. Do you understand?"
"I understand, m'lord," the guard replied in a monotone voice. "In five minutes we will return to the audience chamber, and you gave me your full cooperation. Thank you for your assistance in helping us track down the culprit."
As the guard spoke, a second Lola formed from the shadows next to the original. The faux Lola took position next to the guard with a blank face, waiting on their next move, and the real Damien slipped out of the door.
He could enchant one person, or perhaps even multiple, but if Kathryn revealed him for who he was he wouldn't be able to enchant everyone. Still, he couldn't do anything against her until he knew exactly what she was up to.
He had to act immediately.
Kneeling down next to the older man, Kathryn stealthily took a small potion bottle from his belt and dumped the contents onto the carpet. "Is he going to be okay?" Kathryn asked the healer who was treating Lord Edward. The healer shook his head with a shrug. He wasn't sure what could be done for the injured lord, but he was doing his best.
The guard sat the girl in a chair and folded his arms. "Alright, spill," he said. "What happened?"
Kathryn felt her heart pounding. She didn't want to turn Damien over, but she also didn't condone coldblooded murder. And he didn't offer her any explanation that justified the murder of the man. Dacey should've been arrested and tried, but that wasn't what Damien had done.
"Lord Dacey was a piece of scum," Lord Edward mumbled. "A rapist and a thief, and everyone knew it."
The girl looked over to Edward in shock, then back to the guard. "It's true," she said. "But he didn't deserve to die." Kathryn took a deep breath and shook her head. "Apparently, he thought he did." The guard was obviously confused, but stayed quiet for her to continue. "It was probably guilt and pain from losing a friend, but I saw Lord Dacey take a potion," she lied, adding an easily conjured tear for effect. "I tried to stop him, but it was too late." She squeezed her eyes closed and lifted the empty bottle for the guard to see. "He...poisoned himself, and I just froze."
Kathryn's quick lie was enough to fool the guard, who took the bottle and looked at it. He nodded to her and sighed, thanking her for clearing up the mishap. The guard walked out of the room and relayed the story she had given to the rest of the crowd. During that time, the girl smoothly darted out of the room from behind the guard and briskly walked into one of the many hallways to work out her thoughts.
Lola walked away from the room moments before the door swung open. He can't believe he almost went in there, but he was lucky enough to hear the interaction before entering and taking matters into his hands to protect his plans.
She covered for him.
He was grateful, but he didn't have the time to spare to find out why just yet, though he was sure he would learn that truth eventually. Kathryn didn't turn him in and he had a duplicate that would be entering the audience chamber with the guard soon, giving him another alibi.
He made his way up the back staircase and through the halls of the household that no attendee occupied, heading straight for Lord Viktor's bedroom. He hadn't seen the bastard since the beginning of the night, meaning that he had either fled the property after the first kill or was hiding away somewhere in the house. Something told Damien that smug piece of shit was too proud to leave while guests were still in the building.
Stopping in front of the bedroom door, he placed his ear gently against the wood, listening in for any sign of movement.
Nothing as far as he could tell, but he wasn't convinced.
Fingers tingling, fire in his eyes, and enchantment at his disposal, he swung the door open and entered the room ready for a fight.
Only to be disappointed. The bedroom was empty, and the only thing in sight was a little black book on a bedside table. Cautiously, Lola took a seat on the bed and picked up the pages, flipping through them curiously.
"...What is this?"
With her hands in her pockets, Kathryn walked through the halls. She shook the top of her hair lightly, freeing some out of the tight braid so it was looser, freeing her from the bit of formality that she was still holding onto. There were so many questions running through her mind, but she couldn't figure out what she would say to the man when she saw him next. Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to prepare.
The girl rounded a corner, quickly ducking back and pressing against a wall when she saw Damien approaching.
What the hell is he doing up here? She thought to herself, watching him listen and open the door. Silently, she walked over to the open door when he walked inside.
Looking into the room after him, Kathryn furrowed her brows. "Now you're spying on someone?" She asked curiously in a forceful whisper. "That doesn't matter." The girl waved her hand dismissively. "Why did you lie to me about so much? You made me believe that Edward was guilty, and you told him about my rapist and captor. How did you even know about that?"
Kathryn.
He shouldn't have been surprised anymore, but he was nonetheless. She was certainly not the typical folk at these sort of events, and he knew this confrontation was inevitable, albeit sooner than he expected. At this point, he really didn't care how she knew about him, or how she discovered his secret activities.
"Sometimes you have to lie to get things done," was his soft reply, eyes locked on her for only a moment before he continued skimming the names on the pages. "I don't know you, Kathryn. I don't know who you are, or what your intentions are, so I really didn't have a choice."
He placed the book in his lap and glanced back up to her. "As far as Edward goes, I was never going to let anyone take the fall for something they didn't do. I just needed to keep you off of my tail, because out of everyone at this party, you have been the only one suspecting of me." He stopped only to let out a soft sigh, then continued. "And as far as your rapist goes, I have no idea what you are talking about, but I hope you hurt him. If he's still alive, I'll kill him myself, because that's the person I am."
He dropped his head again, eyes back in the book as he whispered, "These bastards don't deserve to live."
"Elijah," she said, dropping her eyes momentarily. "And I killed him four years ago."
The girl approached, sitting on the floor across from him as he flipped through the pages. "And as for suspecting you, clearly I'm the only one here who listens to their instincts!"
She quieted herself. There were dozens of things that she wanted to say to him, but they would serve no purpose in the long run. She just wanted answers at this point. Even so, she didn't think someone like Damien wouldn't give them up for nothing, so she just decided to take a shot and hope it worked.
"Who's Violet?" Kathryn asked quietly. "No ring, so not your wife. Your sister?"
He waited for a moment before he spoke. "I'm sorry that happened to you," he said softly, ignoring her question for the meantime. "No one should have to go through something like that. Elijah was just a name I made up when I was enchanting Edward, I didn't know."
He stood from the bed, the book still clenched in his hand. "Violet Lola," he said firmly. "She was my mother. The host of this party, as well as Gael Dacey and William Laird, as well as many others on my list, repeatedly and violently raped and tortured her when I was a child. And apparently.. she was not the only one."
Without warning, he tossed her the book. "I saw her name in there. Along with many others. Some scratched out, like my mother's, some not. That means some of them are still alive, living the same nightmare she did. There's an entire secret fucking society of these monsters."
No sense in lying anymore.
"What else do you want to know about me?"
Though the small book came towards her without warning, Kathryn was able to catch it with ease. She flipped through the pages, catching sight of Damien's mother before continuing to the end of the book.
She closed it and looked up at him from the floor. "I'm sure you'll tell me about you in time, so there's no point to rush it. I just have one question."
Kathryn got to her feet, slightly evening their eye level, though Damien still had an obvious height advantage. At that point, she just didn't want to speak up to him from the floor.
"Believe me," she started, "I understand what you're doing. And I'm not going to try to talk you out of it, but as someone who was in the same place your mother was and all of these other women are, I have to voice my piece. There are many women still alive in this book, and you can save their lives. But if you continue down this path of death, you will kill your light. All I want to know..." She held the book out to him. "Is killing these people's darkness worth strengthening yours?"
Lola's eyes fell to the book in her hand, thinking carefully on how to answer. He still didn't know who she was exactly, or if he could trust us, though at this point in time he really had no choice. Still, that question. Would could possess her to ask him a question like that, and more than that, why should he have to answer her?
It was an interesting question at least, one that he never quite thought about. Those that knew him well enough might refer to him as an addict - a man who's thirst for blood and revenge so great that it could only be described as addiction. Fortunately and purposely, no one was close enough to him to make that assumption, and he was certainly not an addict. Not in his eyes.
Still, there was need inside of him that he could not shake, nor did he want to. The need for blood, need for revenge, need to take a life. It was the feeling inside of him that would build overtime until he could feel the sweet relief of watching the light fade from another man's eyes.. like trying not to blink for a certain amount of time. It was almost impossible.
It was his need, and he needed to kill someone.
"Yes," he finally said, grabbing the book from her hand and walking to the door. "And I'll ask you to stay out of my way."
"Who's next?" Kathryn called after him, knowing there wasn't anyone around to hear them. "I'm not going to try to stop you, but you won't be able to do it without me seeing. Might as well tell me."
The girl wasn't even sure what her end game with that question was, but she felt compelled to ask it. Whether it was to get him to say the name out loud or just satisfy her curiosity, Kathryn wanted some kind of answer.
Lola was on his way out of the door but stopped under the frame. There was a smirk on his lips when he glanced over his shoulder.
"I am," he said firmly. Not giving her a chance to respond, he continued down the hall before descending the flight of stairs.
Kathryn frowned, clenching and unclenching her jaw briefly, as Lola disappeared from the room. She didn't chase after him, thinking about what he said. It took her a minute to understand what he meant by 'I am,' but once it clicked, the girl released a soft groan.
She meant what she said before about not stopping him, but she also meant it when she said he couldn't do shit without her seeing. She sat down in the corner of the room and put her hands on the walls, watching through the statues in the estate for whatever Lola was planning to do next.