Threads Of Fate

Family Ties Unraveled

Madame Delphine sat at her ornate desk, her expression unreadable. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume. Zenith could feel the weight of her past pressing down on her as she faced the woman who had once been her mother.

"Zenith," Madame Delphine said, her voice cool and detached. "You've returned. But I must remind you, I am no longer your mother. I am a powerful business owner who tolerates no mistakes."

Zenith's heart ached at the words, the finality of them cutting deeper than she expected. "You were never really my mother," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "No mother would watch their daughters being forced to drink a whole bottle of whisky and then throw them to the next hungry man for money."

Madame Delphine's eyes narrowed, anger flashing across her face. "You will be silent, Zenith," she snapped, her tone sharp as a blade. "You are ungrateful. Without this establishment, you wouldn't be alive. We provided for you when no one else would."

Zenith felt a surge of defiance rise within her. "I didn't come here to renew our mother-daughter bond," she said, her voice firm. "I need information about a client. Duke Alistair."

Madame Delphine's expression hardened, her red lips pressing into a thin line. "I refuse to discuss him with you. Get out."

Zenith's heart raced, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "You can't just dismiss me like this. I need to know what he was planning. It's important."

Madame Delphine leaned back in her chair, her demeanor icy. "You think you can waltz back in here and demand information? You have no idea what you're asking for. The Duke is not someone to be trifled with."

Zenith took a deep breath, her heart racing as she faced Madame Delphine once more. "Duke Alistair is dead," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "And my friends and I need to find out who killed him. If we don't, Anya could be wrongly arrested for his murder."

Madame Delphine's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. It was only then that she noticed Anya standing behind Zenith, her blonde hair catching the light. The older woman rose from her chair, her gaze narrowing as she walked toward Anya, a predatory glint in her eyes.

Madame Delphine traced a finger along Anya's cheek, her touch surprisingly gentle. "Innocent," she exclaimed, her voice dripping with a mix of admiration and something darker. "So pure, without a man's touch. A symbol of perfection."

Zenith felt a surge of protectiveness as she watched the interaction unfold. "What do you want with her?" she demanded, stepping forward.

Madame Delphine turned her attention back to Zenith, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. "I'll give you all the information you need about the Duke," she said, her tone calculating. "But Anya will stay here and work for me."

Anya's eyes widened in disbelief, fury igniting within her. "You can't be serious!" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger. "I'm not some pawn for you to use!"

Before Anya could say more, Zenith moved with the speed and agility of a cat, drawing her knife from her belt in one swift motion. The blade glinted in the dim light as she slashed it across Madame Delphine's neck, a single drop of blood trickling down.

Madame Delphine gasped, her eyes widening in shock and pain. "What are you doing?" she yelled, her voice a mix of surprise and fury.

Zenith pulled Anya close, the knife still poised threateningly at Madame Delphine. "Something you never did for me. If you ever look at Anya like that again," she warned, her voice low and fierce, "the cut will be much deeper."