Deviating from the original plot

Chapter forty-two

"Glad that's over," Victoria sighed as the three women stepped out of the dress shop. The cold air nipped at her cheeks as she pulled her coat tighter. "You two are tyrants."

"We were only ensuring you got the best they could offer," Celeste replied, tossing her hair. "Imagine showing up to your birthday banquet looking... tasteless. Unthinkable."

"I have to agree," Evelyn said with a light chuckle. "Your birthday is a special occasion. You must shine brighter than everyone else that night." Her eyes glimmered with amusement. "Oh, it's going to be marvellous."

"You seem more excited than I am about my own birthday," Victoria muttered.

Evelyn giggled softly, her breath misting in the frigid air. The three women strolled along the busy capital streets, their boots crunching over snow-packed cobblestones. Children ran past them, laughing, tossing snowballs with shrieks of delight, while vendors called from their stalls, their voices carrying above the winter bustle.

They turned down a quieter lane, and that was when Celeste froze.

"Look—what is that man doing?" she hissed, alarm sharpening her voice.

Victoria's eyes followed her gaze. At the mouth of a narrow alley, a masked man knelt beside a small girl. He was holding out a brightly wrapped lollipop, but the child's body was stiff, her expression uneasy. When she tried to pull away, the man's hand darted out, seizing her arm.

"Hey!" Celeste snapped, her voice ringing out across the street.

The man flinched, then moved quickly, clamping his other hand over the girl's mouth. The child struggled, muffled cries escaping as she kicked her little boots in the air.

Evelyn yelled. "He's trying to take her!"

The masked man glanced their way, panic flashing in his eyes before he yanked the girl closer, dragging her deeper into the alley.

Victoria's face twisted with fury. "Not on our watch." She quickly ran and snatched a loose brick from the alley wall and hurled it at the man.

"Die, you disgusting pedophile!" she shouted.

The masked stranger froze then turned, clearly stunned by the accusation. "I am not a—ouch!"

His protest cut off with a sickening crack as the brick smashed into his face. He toppled backward, groaning, blood streaming from his nose as he clutched it desperately.

The little girl slipped free and crumpled to the ground, sobbing. Evelyn rushed forward immediately, scooping her up and holding her close.

Meanwhile, Victoria and Celeste ran toward the man, adrenaline burning through their veins. They seized whatever lay within reach—another brick, a discarded stick—and descended upon him with fury.

"You dare lay a hand on a child?!" Celeste snarled, bringing her stick down across his arm.

The man cried out, twisting to shield himself. "Stop! You don't understand!"

"Don't you dare speak!" Victoria spat, slamming the brick down against his side. "You have no right!"

Evelyn's voice snapped through the chaos. "Enough!"

Both women froze, breathing hard, their weapons still raised. Evelyn stood a few paces away, the child clinging to her neck.

"Let the imperial guards take care of him instead," she said firmly.

The man coughed wetly, blood staining his chin. His mask had slipped halfway off, revealing pale lips twisted into a grimace. For a fleeting moment, his eyes flickered with something that wasn't fear—something more harder.

Victoria exhaled sharply, tossing the brick aside, though her glare never left him. Snow crunched as people began to gather at the alley, drawn by the commotion.

The masked man wheezed, then let out a weak, bitter laugh. "Fools... you have no idea what you've interfered with."

Victoria's stomach tightened at the words, a chill running deeper than the winter air.

Moments later, the clatter of boots echoed against the snow-packed street as the imperial guards pushed through the growing crowd.

"What's all this commotion?" one of them barked.

"He tried to abduct a child—he's a monster," Celeste snapped, pointing her stick at the man on the ground.

"Stupid pedophile!" Victoria growled and drove her boot into his side.

The man cried out. "I am not a pedophile!" he shouted hoarsely.

"We saw him grab this poor girl," Evelyn said, holding the sobbing child close.

The man twisted, blood staining his teeth as he shouted, "I only needed her—for my Master to feed! I've no interest in a child's body, only her soul!"

The crowd gasped, murmurs rippling in shock and fear. Before he could continue, two guards seized him, forcing him to the ground. A rough sack was pulled over his head, and heavy cuffs snapped around his wrists and ankles. The man's muffled cries echoed as he was dragged to his feet and hauled off into the street, leaving a dark trail of blood in the snow.

The little girl clung to Evelyn, trembling. "He... he scared me..."

"It's over now," Evelyn whispered gently, stroking her hair.

Victoria stood frozen, her fists still trembling. His words replayed in her mind like an echo she couldn't silence: For my Master to feed.

Celeste's eyes narrowed, her jaw tight. "What a lunatic."

Evelyn nodded grimly. Victoria glanced at the child in Evelyn's arms, then at the bloody snow where the masked man had been. The unease in her chest deepened.

"Yeah, a serious one," Evelyn muttered as the crowd slowly dispersed. The little girl clung to her, whimpering softly against her coat.

Victoria spoke, her tone gentle. "Hey, sweetheart... where are your parents?"

The girl's lips trembled. "I can't find my mama!" she sobbed. "She told me to wait while she went to buy me a snack... but I've been looking for her forever!"

"It's alright," Evelyn murmured, stroking the child's hair in a soothing rhythm.

The girl's cries broke into a wail. "My mama!"

Celeste glanced around the street, her brow furrowing. "Strange... a mother leaving her little girl alone?"

"Could be she was delayed," Victoria said quickly, though unease prickled at her. "Or maybe she got lost in the crowd."

"Or," Evelyn added grimly, "maybe she was taken too."

"Over there!" someone from the crowd suddenly shouted.

All three women turned. A frantic-looking woman came rushing down the street, her apron dusted with flour, her eyes wide with panic. "Mina! Mina!" she cried.

The little girl's head shot up. "Mama!"

She wriggled free from Evelyn's arms and bolted across the snow, flinging herself into her mother's embrace. The woman scooped her up, hugging her tightly.

"I told you to wait where I left you! Why did you wander?" the mother scolded.

"I... I was scared," Mina sniffled.

The woman looked up then, eyes falling on the three ladies. She gave a shaky bow, still clutching her daughter close. "I don't know what happened, but... thank you. Thank you for protecting her."

Celeste brushed invisible dust from her coat. "Don't thank us. Just don't let her out of your sight again."

Evelyn's tone softened. "She's safe now. That's what matters."

"Thank you, my ladies" She said with another bow then left with her child.

"Today was something else" Celeste remarked,

"We should start heading back" Victoria said as the ladies turned down the street.