Chương 80: Tainted
The central capital of Wahrheit.....
"Today is the third day of the festivities.And still no sign of them?"
"Y-your evilness we sent a messenger this time. Surely the mad hound would not disobey his master." His aide tried his best to keep Zavaikal convinced.
"What's the update on today's events?" He frowned and gazed at the skeleton flowers blooming in the west garden.
"About five hundred sacrifices were sent from the four empires from human realm. Nearly all of them are branded criminals from their lands. The two percent among them are for sacred sacrifice, young virgins that will be sacrificed on the final day of the festivital."
"The time when the lord of underworld will briefly resurface to pick one among them and consummate her for a new overseer. That too Infront of the entire crowd watching."
-"The part which these devils eagerly await. Until she bleeds floods, they won't be satisfied."
"Your evilness...it seems that the night of blood moon is approaching. What do you suggest we do?"
Zavaikal had enough of troubles keeping him for the day. He had no intention of visiting the underground lair just to report things during a festival he was hosting.
Vlad had told him to focus on the festivities. He would take charge of other matters in his place.
"Sometimes I just wish to go back to the old days...back in the small cottage near the lake with fearie nettles growing and the old tree with white bark and orange leaves. Working in the little smithy by the cottage and earning simple meals."
-"With my brothers and sisters."
He sighed and closed his eyes resting his forearm over them to prevent light from reaching his eyes.
It was but a brief moment he imagined himself carefree when the doorknock disrupted his imagination and his aide asked for the visitor.
"Your evilness, it is time to attend today's ceremony."
Zavaikal groaned and stood up exhaling in exhaustion.
"Just when will this farce end?"
-------------------------
Stygian Fortress...
In the meantime Jafar and Mina sat in cold sweat with Luciana inquiring them slowly.
"W-well milady ...as you see that our oldest sister isn't mentally stable. So that is why we were concerned about her coming here. We simply didn't want to be of inconvenience to you."
Mina nodded vigorously but it did not very much stand with her.
"If Lilith was mentally ill, mister Derran would never have recommended her to me. Moreover I don't think she would've come here willingly on her own knowing the consequences."
The brief silence was deafening. Hardly anyone one of them could utter another word.
" Milady, sister Lilith likely took up this job for her son. He is weak with a disease since he was born. She has tried several ways to make a cure for him and has constantly failed to do so. Other than that I don't think that she needs the job."
This time Jafar's expression was a disturbing one. His eyes showed distress.
"E-even brother has been sending most of his earnings for our nephew's sake!"
"Mina! Don't bring unnecessary things without knowing what is right."
Luciana felt remorsed on the estrangement between them. She was merely concerned about the unresolved matters between them but didn't expect things to go south.
She dismissed Jafar and looked at her maid who was nearly in tears.
It was the first time she saw her welling up like that.
She stood up and poured water into the kuksa cup and placed in on the wooden table.
"Mina I need you to tell me everything you know." She sat beside her and offered her handkerchief to wipe off her tears.
"B-but brother will get mad!" She sniffed and looked at her tearfully.
"Its alright. I will handle the rest. You can trust me."
She gently caressed her cheek and wiped off the last tear with her thumb.
She slowly started to speak up relaying what her memories could best remind her.
"Before sister Lilith got married off, she worked here with us in the fortress. We started to work when one day Master visited us in our cottage. Brother was away at that time. He was with head butler Blake."
"Wait Blake was from the capital?" Luciana interrupted her tale.
"Y-yes. As far as all of us recall he is the only person we know came from mthe capital."
-" But Blake told me that he was found buried under the snow by Erebus. He used to serve in borderline military before he came here."
Luciana furrowed her brow subconsciously.
"Milady?" Mina got her attention back to her tale.
"Yes please continue." Luciana instructed her.
"It was late summer time I still remember the vibrant colors from our hometown. We packed up our essentials when brother came back. Sister was most excited to leave that place and come here. She said that she could hardly recognized how much he'd grown.
We left that place and settled here. Master had no problem if we stayed here but Blake insisted us to be separated from him. Sister felt that we were being disdained. However, master had responded us with a lukewarm reaction.
Brother was concerned about him aswell. But he remained silent. From time to time he would advance to make him remember something I never understood.
One day they had an argument. Brother left the office and flew out when we came to him in a worry.
We were assigned maids in this place. A week passed by and Master was ever insensitive towards us. But things became worse when we found out what she had done."
Mina pursed her lips and lowered her gaze reluctant to continue any further.
"Have some water. You must be parched."
Luciana took the wooden cup and held it infront of her.
She gladly accepted it and drank down every last drop from it.
"On the night when master came from his expedition...he found sister Lilith in his chambers. Furious by her unforgivable actions he ordered brother to be summoned urgently. I too hurried with him in case there was an emergency.
But what we saw was indeed unforgivable. She was in hopes of seducing Master and wanted to become his lady.
But it backfired at us. Master was about to order us to be thrown in abyssal prison where not ever air could pass through. Only worst criminals are left to slowly die there with mice eating away the flesh slowly and the lack of air to suffocate them to their deaths."
Luciana was horrified. It was not like the punishments in Amanécer were lenient. But to torture a living being that they writhed in pain and their screams deafened the ears. It was way too brutal. She felt blue just imagining what the prisoners went through each day.
"My lady are you alright?" Mina suddenly caught her from collapsing.
"Yes...I'm fine. It's just a little overwhelming."
She laid on the couch by the hearth as Mina got up to bring her a fur blanket and some water to drink.
She silently watched the flames eating away at the firewood.
"Milady, Shall I continue from where I left?" Mina asked.
Luciana turned her head to look at her.
Worried that she had pushed the young girl to remember what maybe her greatest scar she shook her head.
"Please... No more." She choked.
And no more was said.
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