The Lady Shadowhive and her demon butler Lucius Dracovich

The Tragedy (past)

this is as it says in the title the tragedy that lead to Jade making the contract with Lucius.

The day is October 31st, Halloween and as luck would have it Jade's birthday. Her 15th birthday, so in her honor one of her suitors hosted a big gala to celebrate. She went of course, but her sister Elsie had stayed behind with her parents at the estate.

Jade's POV

Finally the party was over and I could go home, my mind was a buzz with all the people who approached me and wished me well tonight and gave me birthday wishes. I smiled faintly as I rode in the carriage with my maid who sat across from me with her eyes closed, i was trying to determine whether she was deep in thought or asleep from the rocking of the carriage. I wan't tired, on the contrary I was wide awake as I thought of the happy face Elsie would greet me with when I arrived. I smiled as I watched the scenery go by through the window in the carriage. As my thoughts wondered I thought back to the men who came to see father months ago. I still couldn't get over the way they were so rude to father, no one had ever spoken to him that way before. I had disobeyed father when he told me to take Elsie and go play out in the garden. Instead I watched from behind the corner as the men shouted about repaying debts for the protection he requested, father had kept his face blank which is what he normally did when he was uninterested in what others had to say. As the men went on they mentioned the family ring and how they demanded it be given to them as payment. Father got angry at this remark and he stood up gesturing them to leave, the man who had been shouting turned as he clenched his fists. I noticed a long scar travelled across the man's face and I couldn't look away. The man saw me and smiled, but it was a dark smile one that made me nervous as he came closer and held his hand to me. He asked for my name and to not be rude I gave it to him, then he noticed the family ring I wore and he turned to look at father as he made a snide remark about finding the perfect place to keep it safe. Father rushed over to us and summoned the butler to escort them out, father had never looked so angry before but Elsie and I stayed silent since we already disobeyed him. After he reprimanded us he smiled and then took us to mother who sat in the living room sewing new patterns into fabric to show the ladies at the factory. My thoughts were turned back to the scenery outside as i noticed a soft glow light up the night sky. I shook my maid lightly and felt the carriage come to a stop. Did mother and father set up lights for me? Was there another party being held? I stepped out of the carriage and to my horror i saw my home in flames, my body began moving by itself as i heard my maid shout my name as i ran into the burning building. Smoke clouded my eyes and filled my lungs with a bitter sting as i made my way to Elsie's room. As i made my way up the stairs i saw father laying outstretched on the ground, i kept my pace and when i looked in Elsie's room mother was across it with blood covering the sheets. I had already been weeping as i felt hands grab my arms and drag me back outside. I breathed in the cool air quickly as i looked and saw my maid covered in black smoke cough beside me. My face was wet with tears and soon i heard her choke out that she had found a note on the bush near the entrance. I wiped my eyes and read the note as it said, Your sweet little Elsie is with us. If you would like to see her come to the Tower Bridge and bring no one, sincerest regards the man with the scar. I looked at my maid and then towards the carriage as i finished reading the note. I stood up quickly while my maid shouted for me to slow down, i ignored her as i told the driver to take me to the Tower Bridge immediately. My maid barely made it into the carriage as he took off and drove towards the bridge at a quickened pace. My thoughts were all on Elsie and of how frightened she must be, I felt rage and misery at the same time as we came nearer and nearer the bridge. Once we arrived the carriage stopped and my maid moved to get out, but i stopped her and ordered her to remain with the carriage until i returned. My voice was harsh and cold as i ordered her and she stayed perfectly still as i turned away from the carriage and walked out towards the shadowy figures that stood in the middle. I could feel the cold night air surround me as i walked closer and closer towards the man that i could now see holding my poor little sister by her arm as she stood on the railing. I began to move quicker as she became clearer to me and i could see her face distorted into fear, but as i shouted out to her she moved back towards the river as the man spoke saying, Not so fast Lady Shadowhive, we have business to discuss. I stopped in my tracks, i couldn't have been more than 9 feet away from her as i looked from her to him. I asked him what he wanted and he simply smiled and demanded the family ring i wore on my finger. I looked at it and felt conflicted, there must have been a reason father didn't want this man to have it and i wasn't going to either. Yet Elsie needs me to do this, but i can't betray father again. I looked at him and told him that i would pay any money he demanded but i wasn't going to give him the ring. The man was not happy with this and he looked at Elsie and then back at me again his smile was still devious and made me flinch. He stated coldly that i was to do exactly what he said and he would let Elsie go. I breathed a sigh of relief and it seemed to me Elsie did too as she reached out to me with her delicate hands. The man smacked her hand away and Elsie cried and then pointed at me as he spoke coldly. Turn around and walk to your carriage, if you have anything you want to say to your dear Elsie do it now, but if you turn around at any point i will drop her into the river. I swallowed hard and turned my back to her and listened to Elsie whimper and cry saying my name. I held my tears back and told her that we would go home together and that i loved her dearly. I began walking and heard Elsie's screams as i got further away from her. I felt on the verge of bawling and when i heard her scream in pain i instinctively turned and looked at her. As i did the man released her from his grasp and she began falling through the air plummeting down towards the icy cold waters of the river below. My eyes were wide in fear as i ran off the bridge screaming her name, my maid stepped out as i went past her heading towards the river bank. Elsie went into the cold waters with a chilling splash as i went down the steps of the stairs. Tears went down my face as my maid caught my arm just as i was about to jump into the river saying that she wasn't going to allow me to drown. The man was gone, but my voice rang out in frantic screams filled with pain as i said her name. I finally pushed my maid off of me and jumped into the river and dove down after her, Elsie had been swimming up to the surface but she had run out of air long before i reached her. I assumed she was knocked out from the cold as i grabbed her hand and swam as quickly as i could up to the surface holding her to me. When we reached the surface i gasped for air as i dragged her to the riverbank, my maid was there and she was shouting as she tried to take Elsie away from me. I screamed at her and ordered her back to the carriage as i huddled over my now deceased sister. I cupped her face and cried as i babbled through tears grasping on to her cold lifeless body. My screams echoed through the night piercing the hearts of anyone who heard them as i held her to me. My Elsie, my dear sweet sister was gone and i had failed her. I kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear muttering that i would never rest until whoever did this was found and brought to the same fate. Suddenly a voice filled my ears whispering, what would you give to avenge your family. I thought maybe Elsie's spirit was surrounding me as i looked at her and stifled my tears as i spoke with harsh words, I will give everything, my name, my wealth, my very soul will go to the one who will help me with my vengeance. In an instant the world was dark and the sound of water filled my ears as i suddenly found myself on a dark lake where a man stood a few feet from me smiling. He knelt down beside me and placed a hand under my chin tilting my face to look at his. He offered me everything i wanted, revenge on everyone against my family and then the man who took Elsie from me. In exchange he wanted my soul and my eyes widened. I asked him who he was and he simply chuckled as he told me he was the demon of the river who watched my horrible plight. My wailing awakened him and my vow peaked his interest and he simply wished to fulfill my darkest wishes. It would be my luck to find a demon willing to help me, but at the exchange of my soul, could i do that? Yes, yes i could, i would take out anyone who stood against my family and the man who killed Elsie. I stared at him and declared that he would be my closest servant and personal butler. He smiled and picked me off my feet as the contract was finished and i felt a small burning sensation as a star formed on upper arm. He asked what his name was to be and I thought of a character from one of my stories I would tell Elsie and replied Lucius Dracovich. I looked at him and saw his hand was covered with a star marking as the world returned around us. Elsie was back in my arms as i felt the cold wind blow through my hair, i heard my maid's voice ring in my ear saying we need to go to the inn before i catch my death of cold. I smirked and began laughing softly as I turned my head up and saw Lucius dressed in a black suit with a long coat, his hair was still the Dark blue from before and his eyes reminded me of the cold river before us. I stood up and wobbled as Elsie's weight grew heavier from the dead weight and Lucius caught me holding me still. He guided me back to the carriage and my servants simply stared at me in wonder as this new man suddenly appeared. I relieved them of my service and Lucius took me to a local inn. Once at the inn and after a hot bath, I sat by the bed staring at the wrapped body of my dear sister as Lucius tried to get me to sleep. Sleep didn't come to me easily, not with her lying there.

That was a year ago, and we have yet to find the man with the scar, but i have managed to gain the queen's favor as her spy. I keep her updated on what everyone is doing as well as taking care of unwanted pests in the most discreet manner. She once commented that her guard dog would make quite a team mate if we were to join forces, but i see no need to intermingle myself with some man. I had no idea, that the guard dog would come to me.