A fight for dominance and nobility

chapters thirteen : Master manipulator

'What is it that you seek from her ?' Gerard asked and I sighed as I peeked out the carriages small window. 'This is not about the gold anymore.'

'No , it's not.'

'Then what is it about ? She is nothing special just a kere thief. An amateur who thought she will get away from this.' Gerard spat. His anger will do nothing but lead him to make stupid decisions which is absurd to me.

'There is something about Zadie that has piqued my interest. A normal perosn would have died from the curse in my hand , but she is fighting it like she is a living antidote. I do hope you remember that ny family's relic had been forcefully taken away for centuries. I do not know where it is buried but I have a slight premonition that miss Zadie knows a thing or two.'

Gerard stared at me like I grew two heads , but I just shoved it off as I examined my own dark atrocities on my arms. Dark veins are getting darker each passing day , but I do not think I should be concerned about it. It was expected , meeting her at the royal coronation drove my inhumane senses wild and I just knew she must be the one to break my family's curse that has doomed my ancestors in the worst way possible. An inevitable tragic death.

'There you go with your nonsensical theories. I am your butler, and do nit forget I served for many years , and I was very much alive during your father's business days. He has never said anything about any curse let us just say you believe in things that do not exist. Miss Zadie's offense is theft and that's it. You are not going to drag a mere criminal into your family affairs, Alexander. '

I quickly took off KY gloves revealing my bare hands. Dark veins encircling them like a creature capturing its prey. I grabbed his arm and squeezed it earning a shuddering breath from him. I glared deep into his eyes with mime glowing an odd light brown colour as I reveal what I have hidden for years. At first , I thought he believed me but clearly, he did not. My dark veins turning greener and scarier as they protrude my skin like they years to escape. 'If this does not look like a curse to you , I do not know what will. Tell me you know the history of my family instead of hiding it.'

'This is not the time not the place to discuss this.' He spat.

'Oh really ? What is a suitable place to discuss this then Gerard?' I tightened my grip on his arm and he glanced away from me , but I gripped his chin and forced him to face me. The minster side of me.' Has it not occurred to you that Zadie awoken it? I am a bloody monster and wait till the whole of England acknowledges this gruesome secret. If this is not the time nor the place to discuss this , it is a colloquium that you desire , and I shall arrange it.' I sat back on my seat and glanced outside while trying my best to keep the beastly nature inside.

'If it's the truth that you desire , I hope you are ready to taste its bitterness.' Gerard stated.

The ride to my estate was a quiet one but I cannot get Gerard's words out of my mind. Everything I have feared is starting to occur like a nightmare I tried escaping but it has its way of coming back to me. It has been twnety-five years of hiding ever since my father died , I have been experiencing the worst things I cannot find answers to. Did I affect her with my disease ? Did I turn Zadie into a monster? Why do I eveb care about her especially when she stole from me. She is like an angel but instead if gracing me with her lovely presence on her own accord she tends to escape from my clutches just when I have her.

The carriage stopped right in front of my mayor's doors , and I got out. I looked around before I felt an intense wave of fear. It is her feelings. I can sense her. I have been feeling every weak emotion that were clearly Zadie's and not mine. This is hard to understand. I stride towards the doors and before I can have the chance to open the door Gerard does that for me. There is silence between us , tension , anger and trying my utmost best to keep my own fury inside.

I walked to my room and stared at a portrait of my wife. We we'd when she was twenty and I twenty one. At Twenty-five she passed, and I jad to live with the guilt for years. Something in me changed , I have noticed something different in my appearance. I have not aged a bit , for decades and if someone were to ask for my age , I would deliberately lie to them.

I brushed my fi years against my wife's portrait lightly and chuckle.' I promised yo protect you and I failed. I want to hold you , badly. Feel your soft touch caressing my skin like fine silk draped over my flesh, I want to feel your hot breath warming up my cold body as you wake from your deepest slumber.' I whispered.' We Saud forever but little did I know forever was a word for the dead , not the living. I soar to see your blue eyes like the deep ocean we explored in Greece. The way the sun brightened your Hair whenever you stepped outside and greeted it with your beautiful grimace.'

I took off my glove and touched the portrait while closing my eyes in the process. What is a man without his queen? I have never wanted something more than to avenge her death knowing very well that she will rest peacefully I'm the land of the dead. My selfish ess of wanting to face the offspring of the monster that created this mess is insane. I wish to rip her in pieces, torture her relentlessly and scar her mercilessly the way my wife died but something in me is constantly refusing. I do not jnderstand whether it is her force of manipulation  on me or just a part of me nit wanting to hurt an innocent soul that has nothing to do with it all.

In the end, one must lose and the other must gain. Life has never been a fair fight from the beginning. Nothing has ever been equal and if she thinks I have time to reason she will have to think again.

'Lord Alexander.' A feminine voice called , in haste , I put on my glove before turning to face her.

She curtsied and slowly raised her head to meet my eyes. 'My name is Lucy.'

'I know , one of Zadie's friends?' I cocked my brow and she nodded.

'A letter was sent to my house , and it has all the details about Zadie. She fished for the letter in her small back and handed it to me.'it is from a lad named Cayden.'

I opened the letter and read it's contents.

I will deliver her on river Thames , it just be public to avoid suspicion of foul play.

~Cayden

'What is your name again ?' I asked her and she smiled.

'Lucy Crawford.'

I needed.' Do you loathe miss Zadie?'

'Without hesitation.'I handed her back the letter and raised her chin to urge her to look at me. ' You are going to tell the entire world about Zadie.'I said softly. ' She needs to understand that her stupid tricks on a powerful man like me will never work. 'I kissed her cheek , I could already sense her seeking for more.

'I will do it.' She spoke up and I smiled. 'What should I tell them ? The raid or the way she is hiding a deep dark secret she has been hiding for years?' Lucy smiled mischievously and she immediately piqued my interest.

'What deep dark secret?' I brushed her cheek with ny gloved hand , and she appeared to love the touch and it worked to my advantage.

'Zadie cannot control her emotions. There is something strange about the way she clutches tightly at her chest whenever she is angry. With every emotion she clutches tightly at her chest and when the ladies asked her she refused to tell us.' She whispered. ' But I eavesdropping her conversation with Lady Crowe, and it turns out she is ailing. I have not yet figured out the disease from which she is suffering from.

I lowered my hand and narrowed my eyes at her. ' What do you mean she is ailing ?'

'She has been like that for as long as I have known her.'

I pulled her over toe before placing a gentle, liveless kiss on her lips and led her to my chambers. Father did tell me that women react quickly to their emotions. Whether is it a kiss or a small peck on the cheeks. They will yearn for more and I used that as my advantage. Only one act of pleasure will make her sing like a canary.