Oh Hell

Chapter Two: Favor

ONE YEAR LATER

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There is a freedom in having a skill set that others wish they could have, but can never mortally possess. I have been the child without scandal for 366 days, making it difficult for either of my brothers to be too happy for me.

Dreyfus was caught making deals with girls in clubs for very unsavory, and strange, acts. Father threatened to take away his crown if he didn't start acting the part of a prince. Needless to say, Dreyfus has only done work to cover his tracks better, not that it has done much good. Father still knows about all this misgivings, buttoning them down until which time the crown will be handed over.

Maethus, on the other hand, has completely lost his right to use our last name and cannot be in the lands of Candleberry or Rhyosengaard henceforth. His experiments got completely out of hand. Father was notified by cloaksmen in the area concerning Maethus stealing cadaver bodies in order to make a Frankenstein like project. "RUSE Project X", according to all his paperwork and notes. He made 10 bodies, all different, all Ruse. All of them connected telepathically and communicated all sorts of national, and international, secrets that Maethus had been entrusted with knowledge of. His memory was wiped clean and father cast him out of Candleberry with no blood, no letters, no money, no luck.

As for me, things have been peachy keen.

Father has taken me under his wing and has begun to teach me all about the laws and rules of the lands we govern. It was incredible at first to play Chess with him while he had his goblet, now it's war strategy. He is always so impressed when I beat him.

We have started going to events out together and, believe me, the dressing up is always so incredibly nice. Lavish gowns, the eyeliner so sharp it could cut and drain a man. Mother tells me there are many suitors that have come to ask Father for permission to court me. He has denied them all.

Tonight, I am going to an art exhibit with him. He says this is a great way to learn vampiric history and get out to actually meet people instead of staying in the company of staff all day. Our in house tailors have weaved a lovely dress for me to wear. Black lace with a silver satin panel underneath it. It fits me well and I am sure the six inch heels they have paired with it are to bring me closer to my father's height. Even for the house, I am small in stature, but curvier than my mother. Think...Jessica Rabbit means Morticia Addams.

Notification: New Message

From: High Lord August Sylverthorne

Kala, please remember to be ready before midnight. The carriage will arrive promptly at this time and we cannot afford to be late.

Part of me wishes to roll my eyes, but I don't. I'm excited to see Haelstrom House art. Their house isn't quite known for it, but there are many creative types within it. They are typically weather control and lightning based, typically stationed at ports or on ships with Jacques sailors to make sure goods arrive to destinations safely.

Response

I will be waiting at the exit door, father at 11:59.

I don't expect a further response and I don't get one. However, a knock does come to my door before it flies open, a half drunk Dreyfus stumbling in well before vampiric breakfast. His shirt is wrinkled, stained with wine, his hair is a mess, dark circles are beginning to form underneath his sunken black eyes.

"Going with dad to Haelstrom house, huh? Don't they just worship you there because you're red aligned, with all that hellfire?"

"Maybe," I grin. "I would really hope they do like me. I don't think it's good for anyone to worship me or any other God right now, but you can't quite tell people that."

He scoffs.

"All my friends keep asking me about you. You need to come to Sebastian's party on Saturday, sis. There will be all sorts there. Wine, champagne...even the best of Red Snow."

I shake my head.

Red snow has never appealed to me, not in any form. Dreyfus offered it to me once not long after I had arrived. The smell of it was revolting to me. A terrible chemical mess that reminded me of a hospital disinfectant mixed with iron rich blood. No, not for me.

"Hard pass," I tell him as I pull my dress from my closet.

"Come on. Live a little. Don't be a stick in the mud like Maethus was."

"We aren't supposed to talk about him," I whisper.

"We do a lot of things we aren't supposed to," he shrugs. "Step out after the exhibit and meet up with me at Draco Vert. It's a Roth club so they have great drinks, rare wines even. Reginald Roth has been asking after you."

"That's a bold lie," I laugh.

"Oh? Is it?"

"I know he's been seeing that silverhaired elf girl for a while now," I tell him. "A lot of red there between them. Even if I wanted to be with him, in any capacity, there are some red strings you cannot hope to break."

"Starting with all that soulmate crap," he laughs. "You sound like dad. Wait for your soulmate, become better for them. All a bunch of junk. You know who my soulmate is?"

"I could probably find them for you by looking for the red..."

"She is some cam girl that turns it on on Tuesday night while wearing knee high socks," he grins. "That's my soulmate. That's all I want."

"It's fine to have low standards," I tease him, trying to keep a straight face.

"Really," he rolls his eyes. "Come out. You might meet some souls you want to collect at the very least. Candleberry is full of people from all over the world looking to vacation in luxury. High collar criminals among them."

To this, I pause.

Could I really just hunt these people? I hadn't truly thought of it before, mainly because father subverted the idea long before I could even entertain the notion. He didn't want me to make people afraid of me. I understood his reasoning. If I ever wanted to be High Lady, the first of our nations, I would have to show that I had discernment, grace, and self control.

"I'll think on it."

To this, he stood and in a flash, embraced me.

"Great! I will tell the guys you're coming!"

And with that misinformation, he was gone.