The Madness of Duke Venomania

Chapter One: La Petite Mort

The streets were unusually quiet as I strolled down the cobblestone walk, the occasional bird chirp or broken conversation from shop owners and villagers being the only thing from sending the world into silence. I can understand why they are so silent though... Ever since a year ago, every few weeks or so a girl from the village or one of the surrounding villages would go missing without a trace. No leads, no witnesses, no ransom notes, no demands, nothing. It's rather worrisome, considering I am in the age division from which the abductees are from. My older brother Kachess would probably have my head if he caught me outside alone during these troublesome times, but I refuse to be a prisoner in my home over some perverts sick fantasies.

"Lady Krim!" I heard a young boy cry from behind me as I slowed my pace to a stop near the, now closed, tailor shop. I turned my head, my long baby blue locks flitting into my face like feathers in the gentle breeze as my eyes met the source of the call, my expression of confusion immediately turning to sympathy as I saw that familiar messy head of blonde hair.

"Hello Callen." I replied to the boy who had obviously been through alot, his sunken eyes and tearstained face being a clear sign of that. A few weeks ago Callen's twin sister Rindo was taken while coming home from the villages small nunery and hasn't been seen since. No leads, no witnesses, no ransom notes, no demands, nothing. It hurt the village when she disappeared, she was such a sweet girl, showing kindness and happiness to everyone, even moreso with her brother by her side...

"Lady Krim, what are you doing outside?! You must get inside immediately before you are taken too!" He hissed, turning me around by the shoulders and pushing me in the direction of my family's estate by the middle of my back, almost making me smile at the fact he wasn't going to get anywhere with this unless I let him.

"Firstly, Callen: How many times must I tell you to call me Seri? And Secondly: How effective do you think this method of moving me is?" I asked, digging my heels into the cobblestone path, sending us to a strained stand-still, Callen huffing and puffing from behind me, trying to push me back home.

"At least once more, as always Lady Krim. And your safety means everything to me." He groaned breathlessly, still pointlessly trying to push me to safety. My heart broke at his last statement, the fact that a simple peasent boy cared so much about a "spoiled Baroness" was enough to make my eyes well with tears. Callen was like the little brother I was never blessed enough to have, just like Rindo was like the little sister I'd always wanted, I cared deeply for both of them and always made sure that they were well provided for, despite the "major differences in our social statuses" as my mother often said. I honestly cared nothing for titles, but with my overbearing mother, it was hard to show how I truly felt when she would force me to galas and tea parties with other nobles... She's recently been badgering me about finding a husband, that my face wouldn't last forever, that I needed to take responsibilty and provide her with grandchildren with the Krim birthright. But marriage doesn't interest me, at least not right now. What I want more than anything is to see the world, since I'd only seen a small piece of it in my sixteen years of life. When I was fifteen my family took a trip to Paris, France, and I must say it was once of the most amazing places I'd ever seen in my life... The sights, the smells, the people, the art, the culture, the music... It was all so beautiful. That's what I want, to see the world and all of it's mysteries, not be locked in a house bearing children to a spoiled Aristocratic boy who only cares about the family I come from and the money we possess. And if I do wish to be married, I want it to be for love, not for bloodlines nor dowry, but love.

"Still as overlyprotective as always I see." I chuckled, turning back around and looking down at the small fourteen year old. He gave a look that wiped the coy smile from my face and I immediately found myself holding his small frame to my body, the pain on his face nearly causing my exterior to crack. His small arms slowly snaked around my waist as he laid his head on my chest, my left hand travelling to his soft blonde hair while my right held him against my body protectively, not caring who saw. Callen was alone, Rindo was gone, I was all the boy had left since his parents worked hard in neighboring villages to feed their family. I'd offered to help with money various times, but their parents always refused, so I would save them money by taking Rindo and Callen shopping every few months for new clothes, just to help their parents out a little. Many people wonder how a Baroness with such a mother could be so kind to those of "lower class", and the answer is simple... My father. Though he is a noble through his father, his mother grew up a peasant and she raised him in kind ways, showing him that kindness was far better than fear and anger. There are very few people in this world who mean as much to me as my father does, he is everything to me and I love him dearly. He is... My hero.