Chapter 13 PENITENCE

NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW

The chirping birds outside the window entered her mind, she’s in a state of numbness, hearing all sorts of things but not opening her eyes at the fear of facing reality. She wasn’t sure if she was dreaming, but something inside her tells her she is.

The door of the room opened. In walks a man holding a small pail of purified water. He stepped closer, asserting that heavy footsteps anyone would fear. He stopped as he reaches the bed. He stared for a second and let out a playful smile. Seeing the woman in a deep, sedated sleep irked him deeply. He lifted the pail up high, hummed for a second and the subtle thrash of water greeted her unsuspecting consciousness. The stream hit her face. Some even entered her mouth and was the reason she frantically woke up. Agatha coughed several times, slowly feeling the cold as she realizes her naked-self exposed to a bucket of cold water drenching the cushion of his bed.

It took her a moment before calming down, and that was the perfect opportunity for him to spill his thoughts. “How repulsive” he started off by gaining her full attention, she was confused and scared whilst covering her bare skin but he has no interest in speaking tenuously. “for you to have the temerity of manipulating me and sleeping beside me is outrageous. How can a low-born like you lay before me?” he said every line with unmatched anger, showing his abhorrence at the occurrence.

Agatha gaped whist shivering. What happened last night was started by her. But the reason why they ended up sleeping together was because of him. He was uncontrollable and by the looks of it, he had recovered and has completely shut off the idea of him starting the move. She couldn’t answer “clean before this mess and make sure you change the sheets” he uttered with gritting teeth. He then stepped away, slamming the door shut.

He was out of the room, but he laid his back beneath the door as he breathes heavily. Regret, he regrets getting swayed by his delusions. He remembered everything, it was as if a rush of needfulness pushed him to that extent. He stared at the ceiling, “what is it that makes it hard to forget you? Emily…” he said as if he’s talking to her. He clicked his tongue, “you look so much like her, it’s vexing to let go” he chuckled in defeat as he strayed downstairs.

Furrowing his brows, he marched through the hall and into his office. He trudges his way to his seat, plopping down fully as he stares down at the newspaper that came this morning. The headline wrote the success of the unveiling that happened yesterday. There it shows Lord Baron joyously waving and shaking the hands of the merchants that cheered before him.

If you were to look at it, you’d believe that he had great intentions, no sort of forging whatsoever. Just like any aberrant men of parliament, he put on a warm façade. Far from the hideous man disgusted with the idea of sharing the land with penury-stricken individuals.

A hideous smile formed in his lips as he laid his hand on the paper, crumpling it to express his distaste. “I can’t wait to taste you, Lord Baron” he chuckled as he pulled out a pen and paper from under his desk. “I’ve enough evidence to use against you” he uttered as he wrote down every single detail. “your forgery, your past killings and your desire to overthrow the palace…” he continued narrating every line as if using it as a guide for a better and eloquent writing, “and lastly, your to be blamed for her death if you were to come forward dragging me into this mess”

Attaching his initials, he stood up and lit up a candle to melt the golden wax. He pointed it to the edge of the envelope, pressed the wax using a stamp, and sealed it neatly. Now all that's left is to have it delivered.

Piled papers, strings attached on his pictures and the sickly hue of the tangerine lamp made Ezekiel’s head hurt. He examined the piece of evidence left by his Father, the locket displayed the picture but he still think its irrelevant if he were to believe that he left her alive. He clicked his tongue out of vex, “why does this bother me so much?” he asked himself thinking about the young woman. Right then, the memories of the tales his Father told him came flooding, severely making his temple hurt more than ever.

-------

The hitching of the guns cornered his sharp ears, he’s surrounded and he never thought it would come to this. He carried the kid in his arms, holding her tightly to avoid mishap. He could kill her that instant, but he refused to do so as it’ll not bring him satisfaction. His plan merely involves enslaving her for her royal blood, a settlement that will greatly fill his contentment for getting back on the people of Bridgeton. He can run fast, but the hits he took earlier was a heavy toll. Good thing they missed his heart. If they were to hit it precisely, he’d be dead by now since the curse was yet to take effect. If he were to die, it would mean the end of their bloodline, the eradication of the Vatcheruns.

“Show yourself Lawrence! Do us a favor and stop running away” One of them yelled, he determined that he’s close judging by the sound of the crashing bushes. He held the side of his chest as it continued to bleed. He hid atop of a tree as he felt the weakening of his system. He breathed heavily. Perhaps centuries of living was the reason, but he felt the glimpse of yielding right then, right there. His blood-shot eyes concurred as he remembers how it came to this.

The people coming to the house of Vatcheruns, impaling every single one of them in attempts to bring back the heir. The leader, his sisters and brothers, and the one who stood as the parents were all killed except for him. He was the one who fled to the bounded quarters, taking the child and bringing her away in attempts to get back at them. Now that he had fled to another continent, he never expected that he’d still be on the run. The Reeves never gave up, the clan who hunted them for a century came running after him.

He grits his teeth in anger, and that’s when he heard her. A small and warm voice ringed his sensitive ears. “dada”

He froze for a moment, the wind whirled and the branches of the trees snapped as her eyes glimmered. The kid had a smile despite the stressful situation she’s in. He gaped as he was reminded of someone, the jade eyes and warm smile of the toddler brought his memories with Emily back. This is her grandchild after all, they bear the same beauty.

-------