The House of Marcellinus

Arc 1: Trickster - 6

She thought she would feel better after getting it out, but instead she felt the room spinning. The five sets of eyes on her made her feel vulnerable and exposed. Images passed through her head: streets lined with broken glass and burnt out husks of buildings– images of the slums. Where she had come from, and perhaps where she would be returning to.

But Markus smiled. A knowing smile without a trace of panic. She wondered if he had misjudged her. She was going to tell them. She would let him try to talk his way out of it, but she was determined to come clean here and now.

"You're right, of course, Alexia. I know you have a strong sense of right and wrong, so I thought you might speak up. Don't worry your little head, I'll reveal everything now."

The words gave her no reassurance. Whatever came out of his mouth next wasn't going to be the truth. That damn self-assured smile told her so. Markus shifted his body slightly to face the others, but kept his eyes on Alexia.

"The truth is, I became suspicious based on a conversation Merrick and I had a few weeks ago."

"You're referring to when I consulted you about Alexia's annual performance review?" asked Merrick.

"Yes Merrick, you made some rather... suggestive comments that put some doubts into my mind about possible misdoings. After that, when I realized I was being framed for this theft, I knew immediately who must be responsible."

Markus glanced at Merrick, then looked once more at Alexia. Suddenly she understood what he meant. He was threatening her. She was drawing a salary under a fake name. Markus had set it up. He had chosen the name and put her on the payroll. He had done everything– but she had accepted it. She didn't even know how he had done it. He had even made her the one to deliver the final letter. If she wanted to defend Merrick, he was going to shift the blame onto her instead. It wouldn't be just a matter of going back to the slums. She could do time in prison.

She wondered if she had sold her soul to the devil when she allowed him to help her. The only way to save herself now was to keep quiet and let him commit whatever vile acts he wished.

If there was a choice to be made, she had made it long ago, when she lost her parents– when they had been killed. She was going to survive, no matter what she had to do. She still had a conscience, she told herself. She was willing to lose her job to save Merrick, but prison... not prison.

She broke his gaze and looked down. Markus took that as his cue to continue. He turned to face Merrick and said in an even, calm tone:

"I made a little joke and told Merrick he could embezzle some money if he gave me a cut– and what you said stuck in my head. I believe it was 'Wouldn't it be easier to steal from the servants- what are they going to do about it?'"

"That was..." Merrick answered, but there was a look of dawning realization on his face.

Markus stared hard at Merrick. The only sound was the muffled voices from the grand foyer, where Juris still argued with the police. Jeorge looked at Markus thoughtfully and said:

"Young master, Merrick has served the family faithfully for many years. This is not the right place to make such accusations. But if you are serious, then I'll take this to your father, and he can judge–"

"Hah! How convenient for me! Both the plaintiff and the judge share the same last name! I look forward to a favorable verdict."

Merrick looked disturbed at the mention of Lord Marcellinus. His eyes darted between Jeorge and Markus.

"After all I've done for this family... am I to be crushed for... for a rotten video game?!"

"Merrick, I assure you, Lord Marcellinus is a fair and ju–"