A Daughter's Duty

Epilogue

Michael dropped to his knees as the girl's eyes lost their life and her body went limp. He looked like a part of him had died with her, pain visible in his face, tears starting to form in his own eyes. He was shaking, and the sound of him weeping echoed in the large room. Blood poured out of the girl's skull, and Michael's clothes soaked in it. His tears were flowing freely and he wailed at her loss, apologizing over and over, and he rested his forehead on hers.

Young love. Such an insignificant and futile thing.

He cleared his throat, yet he ignored him, his cries starting to get annoying.

"That's enough, son." He said loudly, making sure he could hear him.

Very slowly, Michael sat up straight, resting on his heels, face stained with blood. He wiped his bloodshot eyes and nodded, standing up with his head lowered.

He let a moment of silence pass, which he knew his son needed. The loss of a friend had never been something one could grow accustomed to, especially someone who was more than just a friend. Being the betrayed was tough, but being the betrayer was tougher. He could say that from personal experience.

He opened his mouth to offer words to consolation, but Michael spoke first.

"I proved to be a trustworthy person to her." His choked voice began. "She was my best friend."

"I know." His father sighed, preparing for a long and sad monologue.

"She was absolutely brilliant." Michael said, and scoffed at himself and shook his head. "And I took advantage of her. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, that was my reason."

He knew this day would come, when his son would feel that everything they had achieved so far was evil. He was too innocent.

"I used her smartness to figure out the mystery of the statue." He continued. "And the girl's parents, that was just a plan to gain her trust, wasn't it? After I saved her life, she started trusting me completely, and helped me figure out what Dunaway had planned. She broke into his office to find out about his deeds. I broke in to find his weaknesses. She found the key to her parents' house, but it was trashed. He'd gone there to find the book after he killed her parents and Hiden, but they were smart to hide it in a place no one would think it was it - no one except her. She found out about his operations, and planned a sabotage on his oil factory so she could get proof for his arrest. She trusted me to find proof." He paused as he balled his fist, furious with himself. "But I found his dirty secrets, and sent them to you so you could break him out of jail and blackmail him into signing all his property to over you. And then," He gulped, and his voice cracked again as he said, "Then we kidnapped her grandmother, and killed her when she let the secret out. But Eve didn't break." He looked up at his father and met his eyes. "She didn't lose hope even then. She was still so strong. And even when her life was threatened, she didn't give up. And I killed her."

He sighed again, as his son softly cried into his blood-covered hands. He gave him a few minutes to calm down, before he asked quietly, "Have the Dunaways been taken care of?"

Michael nodded, as his father took off the fake mustache and thick eyebrows that had fooled the girl. And, without being dismissed, turned around and walked out of the room.

Jason Jenkins sighed. It had always been difficult with his son, but he knew the two of them shared qualities that couldn't be denied. Both were ambitious and had a thirst for vengeance. In fact, it was Michael who had willingly offered to kill Evangeline if she didn't give him the key. Even after the divorce with his mother, both of them shared the mutual understanding of the need to be powerful. It was hereditary.

He just hoped his son would realize that sacrifices were necessary when they would succeed.

Abigail Edwards-Jones walked towards the conference room of the large mansion next to her mother. It was her first day as a part of the organization that her mother was now the head of. She took out her smartphone to check the time for the fifth time, making sure they weren't late.

"Calm down, cupcake." Mum laughed. "You're on time."

"I know, I'm just kinda nervous." She rubbed her tattoo on her arm anxiously. "What are they gonna make make me do?"

Her mum looked away from her and into the distance. "Today, you'll be hearing the true story of your family."

"The Hardinge story?" She asked. "I know that one."

"No, not that one. You'll be hearing about somebody who literally changed the course of history."

Abby looked at her mother confused, but stayed silent as they made their way into the large room. Twenty-seven straight-backed wooden chairs surrounded the long table. Twenty-five of these were occupied by men and women. They turned at the sight of them walking in and sitting down. Her mother sat at the head as usual, and spoke in reverence.

"It is on this day that my daughter, the new Ms. E becomes a part of the Regiis Ministerium Aequitatis. And it is on this day we tell her the history of quite possibly the bravest minister that had ever been a part of us. It is because of her intelligence that our queen had been warned and was able to prevent an attack by the mastermind, Jason Jenkins, who, if he had succeeded, could have toppled our government and stripped us of all our resources. My dear daughter, I hope that you always follow the example that was set by my very own niece, Ms. Evangeline Roberts."