Tainted Blood

Chapter 6

The manor was quiet when they got back, there was no one arguing, no maids scurrying about the halls with purpose. Spencer slowly ascended the stairs towards her bedroom, the double doors were open as she slowly walked into them.

"Adriana?" she calls, yet there was no answer, Spencer slowly walked into the bathroom, yet no one was there. She exits her room as she descends into the foyer; the sound of high heeled footsteps enters the sitting room as Spencer steps onto the plush carpet. Her mother rounds the corner, in her hands was a vase full of carnations. Her hands were softly caressing the petals, as she looked up, there was a slight jump in her stature, however, she quickly recovered.

"Spencer, my love," she beams as she places the vase down on the nearest table, "how are you?"

"I'm fine," she answers, "where is father and Alistair?'

"They were called to a meeting with the council, it was urgent, and they could not delay." She answers abruptly as she sits on the nearest couch.

"Why does he never include me in matters with the council?" Spencer questions, "it's not as if I haven't spent my life preparing for matters like this."

"You don't know the full story, my child," Liliana answers, "and unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss such matters with you."

"Full story? What full story mother, is there something you are keeping from me?"

Liliana goes quiet, she was unsure if she was able to tell her daughter and anticipate the consequences of her actions. Instead, she looks towards the ground, dodging the question. Spencer huffs, her family wasn't telling her the truth and she knew it, all that was holding them together was a lie that only her father seems to hold the answer to.

"If you are not going to answer that, will you at least tell me if you have seen my maid, Adriana." she retorts, anger clear in her features. Her mother looks back towards her, confusion on her face.

"Adriana? I didn't think there was a maid that worked here under the name Adriana."

"What do you mean?" Spencer begins, "she has worked for me for the last 5 years."

5 years. The same space of time that Jonathon was sent to infiltrate her family; perhaps Adriana was a backup for the infiltration.

"Sweetheart, I apologise but I do not know who you are talking about."

Spencer quickly leaves the room and ascends to the bedroom. She quickly looks around for anything that was misplaced, or out of the ordinary. However, everything seemed to be in the exact place that it was left. If Spencer's father was the target, why would they send two different people to get close to her; was she seen as the weak link in the family? Did they not realise what she was capable of? People were quick to dismiss the horrors of what life was like before that wall was built. How many people died because they weren't strong enough, and yet her she was, alive after hundreds of years of torment and pain. Spencer Mercer was here. She traded her knives and her suit for dresses and functions instead of battles and blood. She had spent so much time being the perfect symbol of purity for her family that she had forgotten what it was like to be herself, to wear her strength instead of hiding it. She became what her father wanted, what he needed to succeed as the "ruler" of the immunes; yet now, she couldn't be trusted with the truth and that angered her.

Spencer stripped off her clothes as she replaced them with a training uniform. She descends the stairs and towards the small room on the far corner of the manor. In it held her weapons. The perfectly balanced blade was cold to the touch as she ran her finger along the perfectly decorated hilt. The small blade was weightless as she picked up her prize, her sword. The perfectly crafted metal felt right as it sat in her hand; her fingers curved around the hilt as she swung it. It had been centuries since she last used it. The "peace" in the kingdom didn't require her to, so instead, she played with the throwing knives, but her heart always belonged to her sword. Picking up she moves towards the training room.