A Study of Poisons

SIX

According to Surano, someone has done the same in court. A maid was found dead at the gates due to blackthorn poison.

The second the moon rose I woke up and headed to the servants quarters. Apparently, the Vampire that died was named Maggie. I've never learned the name of someone I've killed. It doesn't sit right with me. Surano was on the other side of the line as I entered her room. "So they hate you?" He asked me.

"I can't blame them, I'm the enemy." I closed the door behind me and locked it. Unclamping my sword from my side I put it on the floor. Moving across the room as I flipped the light switch on.

I could feel my friend rolling his eyes over the phone, it made me miss him. "You're trying to protect them. You're putting your life on the line for them, can't they understand that?" I started with Maggie's desk, opening the drawers and removing the things inside of them with ease. Files and papers I began to flip through them.

Nothing was in the first stack, I moved on as I put my phone on the floor. His voice on speaker. "I don't care if they like me or not. I'm here to do a job." I explained but I would never tell him that I was a bit annoyed by it. My pride would be too hurt for that.

At first, Surano was silent. "What's the Prince like?" He interrupted the peace, the Prince was the last person I wanted to talk about.

"What's the Queen like?" I avoided.

Surano let out a sigh, almost as if he was in love with her. I chuckled. "She's regal, never making sure she shows anyone she's stressed. She reminds me of my mom." I could hear it in his voice that he missed his family, and to be completely honest. I missed mine too. I only got to see them for a week before I was dragged off to the manor. I didn't even get to have dinner with all of them in the same room yet.

"The Prince is protective. From what I've seen he's very loyal to his people, it's like it physically hurts him to see them in danger." I wanted to tell him all of the bad things about the Prince, but I decided to hold off. It wasn't the time for that.

The boy over the line chuckled. "Like a King?"

I nodded but knew he couldn't see me smile. "Yes, like a King." I will confess that I think the Prince will be an excellent King when he inherits the throne. Right now he's too naive but once he learns the ropes of how cruel this world truly is- he'll be the most powerful King I've ever known. Not like I've known many, just from the story books.

"Have you talked to your parents yet since your assignment day?" Surano was always good at poking at old wounds. I had the urge to hang up on him, I fought that urge as I threw another stack to the side. I went to Maggie's dresser and began throwing her clothes out of it.

Taking a deep breath I continued with our conversation, "No, my father is still angry at me for not cutting ties with Kate completely." I remembered our last fight. There was only a few times where my father raised his hand to me. This one was the one that scared me the most. Usually, his abuse was emotional. Calling me useless and a reflection of my mother- my true mother that is. My hands clutched Maggie's skirt as I threw it to the side.

"I get it. He just doesn't want you to get in trouble." I want to hang up on him.

Shaking my head I went to the bottom drawer and found her maid's outfit. Clean as ever. "You still talk to your last host, why I am the one in trouble for talking to mine?" Surano's last host, Ivy, they still saw each other. Once a month they meet in St.Louis where the assignment was. At least I wasn't meeting with Kate, they were just letters.

Nothing. I was growing exhausted with this scavenger hunt. "Because you're a councilman's daughter. It'll look bad on him." I didn't want to think about my father's position or how he personally made sure I went on this mission. All of it a ruse to make him more powerful and I more stronger. Our last name insisted on it, every head of household for the Greersons has held a seat with the council. Then again, Surano poked at another wound. "Is he still trying to find you a marriage partner?" Why am I still talking to him, I thought.