The morning after my attempted assassination was near silent. It almost seemed anticlimactic, I was alone in my bed, and I was safe. Separated by a wall from Ms. Macabre. My fathers’ words echoing in my head.

---

“Gae Lia,” he said as we entered his office. “Please sit down, I’m going to pour us some drinks.”

I nodded, sliding into one of the comfortable leather armchairs. I watched him walk over and turn on the kettle, before sitting down heavily in his chair.

“To think, they’d be so brazen as to attack my daughter,” he muttered, speaking in the mother tongue. “They’ll be lucky if they make it as far as my torture room.”

“For your own safety,” he spoke aloud this time. “You aren’t to go further the edges of our territory.”

“But Ms. Macabre got me back unharmed,” I said surprised.

“That she did, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were targeted while in Genovese territory. I trust Giet implicitly, but I don’t trust the streets out of my control,” he paused as the kettle whistled and he poured us each a mug. He handed me mine before continuing. “We don’t know motives or goals or anything besides whoever behind this being a sick bastard.”

“He’s progressively moving up the ranks, killing people closer and closer to you and the others, correct?”

“That is our assumption at least,” he said settling into his own chair. “Though the incident today proved that is likely the case. I’m calling an emergency meeting for tonight of me and the other heads. They’ll need to reinforce their own protection. As soon as we’re done and you’re safely back in your wing I’m calling Giet and telling him what happened. He’s going to be pissed.”

“I feel that is putting it lightly.”

He let out a soft chuckle.

“You’re right, he’s going to raise all nine hells when he finds out…I don’t hold him or his at fault of course,” he took a sip of his tea.

“I’d hope not, the Genovese’s are good people and good allies.”

“The Alliance is one of the most important decisions we made, and we’re better for it.”

“I know, sales are up 15% thanks to Fangs allowing us to sell to her bars,” I took a sip. “But we’re getting off topic.”

“Right,” he paused. “But you understand what I’m asking, and why?”

I knew he wasn’t asking, but he was being courteous to me as his daughter.

“Of course, Otet,” I said finishing the last of my tea.

“Thank you Rassvet,” he said, finishing his before standing up.

Gods I hope I don’t destroy our relationship.

---

Back in my room, approximately twenty minutes later, I sat pondering my decisions. My choices would have serious consequences no matter what I did. Choose, to go after the killer and I risk destroying the bond I have with my father. Potentially losing my place is his heir. However, if I were to ignore this and stay safe in this house, who knows who could die? Would it be Jaden? Rodolfo? Higher up than that? I morally, couldn't not do this. I must do this, whatever may come of it.

“Gae Lia?” Ms. Macabre knocked on my door.

“Yes?”

“Would you like some cake?”

“I-- did you make cake?”

“I bake when I'm worried," her voice was softer than usual. “Today scared the hell out of me, but I feel better about my capabilities as your guard now. Anyways I hope you like blueberries.”

I walked to the door and opened it, looking down at her as she held out a plate with slice of blueberry dappled white cake.

“I've never had blueberry cake before; did you create the recipe?”

“No, it was my mother’s actually. It's a variation on a cultural dish from my homeland.”

“I'm honored then Ms. Macabre,” I said taking the plate from her. “Shall we eat together?”

She nodded, and we made our way over to the couch. I took a bite, delicious.

“This is incredible!”

“Thank you,” her cheeks deepened from their vibrant green to a more purple hue.

We sat in silence for a few minutes eating our cake before her voice broke the silence.

“You still wanna do this don't you?”

“I very well can't back down now,” I said wiping my mouth from the crumbs.

“You could very well die.”

“I trust you to keep me safe, but I am very well aware that if I do this you have no obligation to follow. I am capable of protecting myself, but I would like you to help me.”

“Of course, I'm going to help you, I swore an oath to your father to protect you. My word is truer add more accurate then predicting a sunrise some days.”

“With your promise, I promise to do the same. If you fall I will defend you with my life.”

She looked at me startled, our eyes met, gold against indigo. I felt like I could see into her very soul, and the warmth that resided there. She said nothing. Only gave me a curt nod and looked down at her hands.

I took her plate and headed upstairs to wash them. Breathing out a breath I didn't even know I had been holding, where had that come from? It was true but why did I say it?

As I headed back downstairs, I looked at her and her voice spoke to me again.

“When are we doing this?”

I was about to answer when a knock came at the door, I made my way over peering through the little peephole to see who it was. Zauvith stood holding a singular envelope. I opened the door, and he handed it to me.

“Have a good day miss,” he smiled before turning back and disappearing around the corner.

I unfolded the envelope, immediately recognizing the handwriting as Rodolfo's. as my I scanned the pages, my resolve settled itself.

I looked up into Ms. Macabre's goldeneyes, folding the paper as I did so.

“Tomorrow night, we kill the bastard at midnight.”

---

The recollections of the previous day's events having subsided, the dawning determination was beginning to settle in my gut. Tonight, it was happening tonight. One less bastard roaming the streets, my place in my family unsure for once in my life. My friends at my side, and a person I was deeply coming to care for guarding me. The thoughts were swirling in my head, as I roused myself from my bed. It wasn't even moments past dawn. A gently creeped open the door, knowing that she'd be asleep for another hour at least. Making my way into my study I pulled off a book from the shelf that I figured would be useful. Studying over the runes and etchings, I took note of a few spells that I would need and transcribed them over into my personal spellbook. Similar to what I had prepared for my last major fight, fire, ice, poison, among others. I knew that I would be doing the most damage to whoever this was. But I was also the most vulnerable. I sighed, searching in my room for the straps I used to holster or my book to my hip.

I would need to be ready, edging out of the house at around nine to not arouse suspicion. so many things could go wrong tonight, I prayed that our lives were not one of them. Despite my efforts to follow my father's orders and have Ms. Macabre follow me anywhere. I glanced out the window into the courtyard, where a ceremonial grave for my sister sat. Her actual body resided in the final battle's location, I'm still not ready to visit that one yet. Perhaps though, I can pay a visit to her before tonight. Scribbling down a quick note and pinning it too her doorway, I made my way through the hallways, down the steps, and into the courtyard. Sitting in a little plot of land, was her battleaxe. Positioned head down, and resting up on an area at the base of a headstone. Her name, written in the mother tongue, etched beautifully into the stone.

Nabeo Shulaya

- daughter, sister, warrior –

On my knees, I looked and ran over the words over, and over, and over, again. I felt a tear run down my cheek period.

“Hey sister,” I murmured. “it's me Gae Lia. I hope you're settling into the afterlife well, settling here without you has been very hard. Well, that's putting it lightly honestly, brother has disappeared again enter the unknown exploring. I think that's how he deals with his grief; I can't blame him, I might have disappeared too if I had the freedom to. Mamushka is coping, she tries to keep her naturally Stony face but it's cracking some days. She avoids looking at your portrait, I think we all do though. I'm sorry we do. You look beautiful in it, but I can't see your eyes without wanting to breakdown. Otet has thrown himself back into his work, he's working on infrastructure and protection and keeping us safe. He's somehow more protective of me now than he was even then.”

I paused, letting my finger trace the lettering on her tombstone.

“Somebody is copying Deitrum’s actions, some sick individual is killing again. This time though, he's targeting us, he's targeting every one of the families, moving his way up until he has killed as high as he can reach. Rodolfo and Jaden, you remember them right, you're probably good friends with his sister and her daughter at this point. They're helping me, we're going to take him down. I was also assigned a bodyguard after what happened to you, she's helping too. I think, no I know that I have feelings for her. It's too early to say love, but I am devoted to protecting her and she is with me too. So, we'll be okay, I promise.”

I sat there for a few more minutes, watching the sunrise over the horizon, before making my way back up to my feet. And turning the head back inside, my resolve renewed. And my heart set on what I must do.