The Masked General

Induratize

Rain pounded furiously against Marc's office window. He stood from his desk, pacing back and forth, his hands covered his ears. A knock sounded on his door. He looked up hesitantly.

"Come in!"

A man walked in, tall, dark featured. He smirked at the pacing prince, "Why the long face?"

Instead he put on a smile, "What long face? Everything is going according to plan."

"They're dead?" The man asked, taking a seat at Marc's desk.

Marc didn't answer, he fiddled with a pen. The rain pounded harder, and Marc began to pace faster. He looked at the man and nodded.

"Good, and their bodies?"

"Disposed of," Marc answered. He cleared his throat, and stopped pacing.

"It's too bad, but they would've gotten in the way. Avira always said she hated Hiroshi, but I-- I knew she didn't. Now, she won't be there to protect him. They would have tried to stop me. You however, I couldn't have gotten away with killing you." The man chuckled, scanning some papers.

Marc bit down hard, his fists were clenched. He walked over to the window, and leaned against the wall. The rain didn't stop, he shook his head and closed the shades.

"It is for the best, don't you agree?" He questioned the prince.

"Yes," Marc nodded once more.

"I want," The man thought for a moment, "the world. But for now, I shall be content starting with Wayollen. "

Marc repressed a scowl, "We didn't have to go through all this, there are so many better ways. Here I'll count them for you." Marc held up his hand beginning to count with his fingers, "We could form an alliance with Wayollen. That would give you more power, ya know, without causing thousands of needless deaths, or--"

"Stop! I don't want their land, I want them." The man walked towards the door, he didn't care what it took, he would come out victorious.  " Goodnight, Marc. Sleep well, for tomorrow, we prepare for war."

The door closed, and Marc was left alone with his thoughts once more. He slammed his fists against his desk. Sweat trickled down his brow. He had to find the princesses, and make sure they were out of the way for good.

-   -   -   -   -   -   -  -

Light poured into Hiroshi's office. Avira stretched as she scanned some papers on his desk. Sylvia laid on the floor next to a tall bookshelf. Avira took a deep breath, the room smelled of lilies. She stood, walking around the study.

Hiroshi walked in swiftly, "Here." He handed her a box.

Avira looked inside, and sighed. It was the mask, a volto* masquerade mask. The silvery metal wasn't exactly Avira's taste, but it got the job done. It covered everything but her eyes and mouth. She secured it to her face, and looked in the small mirror Hiroshi handed to her.

Sylvia looked up and growled.

"What? It's still me," Avira said, looking at the wolf. "She growls every time I put powder on my face too. Anything that covers my face at all."

"Maybe she doesn't recognize you?" Hiroshi wondered, but that didn't make sense, the wolf probably knew Avira's scent.

"She still follows me around afterwards, she just growls when I first put it on," Avira shrugged.

"Well, Princess, shall we get going?" Hiroshi opened the office door.

"Ha, don't act so charming, it doesn't suit you. And it's General Malou to you," Avira shook her head.