>>Corvina
The oppressive silence was broken only by the distant echoes of my footsteps.
The torchlight flickered as I descended the cold, stone steps leading into the dimly lit dungeon under the mansion. The echoing sound of my footsteps reverberated off the damp walls, the air grew damp and musty, sending shivers down my spine, though I pressed on, my obsession driving me forward.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I faced the iron-clad door that held him captive – Hael, the servant whose every action had consumed my thoughts.
"Hael~" I called his name lovingly. He didn't look up right away and I walked towards him. The key clinked ominously as I turned it in the lock, the metallic sound slicing through the silence of the dungeon. The heavy door groaned open, revealing a small, dimly lit cell.
"Hael, I'm here for you." I stepped inside the cell and he finally raised his head to look at me. His demeanor now replaced with weariness, his eyes darting up to meet mine. The chains that bound him rattled as he shifted uncomfortably on the cold, stone floor without a shirt. The flickering torchlight played on the contours of his face, accentuating the lines of fatigue etched into his features.
A twisted satisfaction welled within me as I gazed upon the man who had defied me, the one who had dared to challenge my authority. I relished the power I held over him, the knowledge that it was my will that had confined him to this bleak chamber. He was a prisoner, and I reveled in the control I exerted over his fate.
"Why have you come, my lady?" Hael's voice was strained, a mixture of exhaustion and resignation evident in his words.
A wicked smile played on my lips as I circled him like a predator closing in on its prey. "What do you mean why? I always come to take you back with me." I replied, savoring each word as it left my lips. "You missed me, didn't you?"
His eyes bore into mine, a mix of anger and desperation flickering within them. "What do you want from me?" He pleaded, his voice echoing in the confined space.
"I asked you a question," I declared, my tone dripping with anticipation. "Answer."
"... I missed you, My Lady,"
"Hael," I smiled, "Tell me you love me." I took out the magic item from under my cloak, it was a heart shaped necklace that I always wore around my neck.
He looked into my eyes, "I love you," He gulped, "Only you my Lady,"
The air in the dungeon hung heavy with tension as I approached Hael, the chains on his wrists clinking faintly in the stillness. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows, creating a surreal backdrop. With a deliberate turn of the key, I unlocked the shackles that bound him, the metallic sound ringing through the damp chamber.
I stepped closer, my movements deliberate and calculated, and with an unsettling smile, I extended my arms towards him, "Right, you love me, and only me." As I pulled him into an embrace, the sinister hug enveloped us both. My grip on him was firm, possessive, like a predator ensnaring its prey, "You should tell that to me everyday," I whispered into his ear, the words dripping with a sickening sweetness, "Because I love you too. I love you sooo much," My lips brushed against his ear, ignoring the blood on it as I continued. I snuggled against him, rubbing my cheeks with his cold torn skin.
"Yes," He replied with a weary voice.
"Don't go sleeping around with someone else when you have me," I declared, the words hanging in the air, "Or next time, your punishment will be even worse."
"Yes," His voice was monotonous but I didn't care. All I cared about was that he was in my arms.
"Good," I smiled, "I'm turning eighteen tomorrow." I rubbed our cheeks together, "Be sure to give me a great present."
"Yes," His face was blank but those beautiful eyes of his were dark, "I'll give you the best gift ever."
***
The grand halls of the Count's, my father's, house were adorned with opulent decorations, a lavish display befitting the celebration of my 18th birthday. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers, and the soft glow of candlelight
My father didn't really care that it was my birthday, he just used it as an excuse to invite some people for business deals. Events like these are always an excuse but who cares, we all get what we want from it.
The evening unfolded, the celebration commenced with a sumptuous feast laid out on long, ornate tables. Guests, adorned in elegant attire, mingled in the spacious rooms. As the night progressed, the clinking of glasses and the joyous hum of conversation filled the air. The Count's house staff moved through the crowd, ensuring that glasses were never empty, and the wine flowed freely.
I spent my time mostly with older aristocratic ladies of my age but I kept looking around to see where Hael was. Unfortunately I didn't get to see him.
He's not going around flirting with other ladies, is he? He's my slave, he should know his place.
No,
He just got out of the dungeon yesterday night. I'm sure he won't do something like that right the next day.
But something felt odd. Everyone present there seemed to have their faces flushed.
Was everyone drunk? That's stupid. No one was over drinking, so why? I looked around. Maybe I'm imagining it. There's no way people would get black out drunk altogether, not this early in the night.
I turned to look at the women in my circle and ignored the whole ordeal.
But it didn't take long for the party to end. Surprisingly. Everyone was drunk and all the guests had to leave early.
Even when I left the party hall, my world spun. I barely had a few sips of wine but I felt dizzy. I did somehow make it to the room but I passed out even before I could make it to the bed.
Odd
I barely had a glass myself, so why?
...
My eyes snapped open, startled by an unsettling noise that had pierced through the veil of my dreams.
What the-!?! The echo of a distant thud lingered in the air, disrupting the tranquility of the night. My heart raced as I sat up in bed, my senses on high alert yet my head spun. The darkness pressed in around me, and a cold sweat coated my skin.
I heard a scream
!?!?
Then it went quiet.
What's happening? Something feels wrong.
Ignoring the knots of fear tightening in my stomach, I stumbled out of the bedroom. A chilling premonition gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.
"Hael?" My voice wasn't coming out right, "Tracy!?" Noone responded to me.
As I ventured into the corridor outside my room, a strange odor invaded my senses. The air was thick with an acrid, metallic smell that made my stomach churn yet the hallways were empty.
Where is this rancid smell coming from??
Dread clung to me like a shroud as I moved cautiously through the eerily silent halls of the mansion. The usual soft creaks of the floorboards were replaced by an unsettling hush, broken only by the occasional murmur of the nocturnal breeze.
A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as I descended the grand staircase to the first floor. The flickering candlelight seemed to cast long shadows that danced eerily on the walls, heightening my sense of unease. The air grew more oppressive with each step, and I could almost taste the tension in the atmosphere.
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, the sight that awaited me was a grotesque tableau of horror. Lifeless bodies lay strewn across the elegant foyer, their still forms bathed in an otherworldly pallor. The opulent surroundings now served as a macabre backdrop to a scene that defied reason.
I gasped, my hand flying to cover my mouth in a futile attempt to stifle the horror that threatened to escape. A cry caught in my throat as I stumbled backward, the enormity of the nightmare unfolding before me too much to comprehend.
I wanted to scream but my voice wouldn't come out
MY GOD!!! What happened here!?!?
My eyes darted frantically across the carnage, seeking an explanation for the unimaginable.
That's when I saw him—Hael, standing amidst the chaos. His bloody hand glistened in the dim light, and my father lay lifeless at his feet.
Time seemed to slow as our eyes locked, the weight of the truth settling over me like a suffocating blanket.
"H-hael?" My voice trembled, "W-w-what are y-you doing?" I managed to whisper.
He smiled at me, then stepped towards me. Panic clawed at my throat and I took out the gemstone necklace, pouring the little mana I had into it to attack his heart.
But nothing happened.
Hael laughed, "That little toy of yours won't work anymore."
I attempted to retreat, but an invisible force held me in place, rendering my attempts at escape futile.
What!!?? What is this??! Why can't I move?!?! It was as if an unseen hand had shackled me.
Like magic. Magic that denied me control over my own movements.
But whose magic?! Hael isn't a magician!? I looked back at him and noticed his cloak.
The realization of my helplessness intensified the terror coursing through my veins. That cloak... It's the cloak the magicians of the magic tower wear. But, only highly skilled magicians are allowed to wear that.
My pupils shaked.
When did Hael...?
Hael's steps echoed ominously in the stillness as he approached, a sinister smile playing on his lips. The candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced across his face, emphasizing the malevolence in his expression.
"Happy Birthday My Lady," He stopped right in front of me.
"What...?"
"This is your birthday present," He said, the words cutting through the silence like a chilling wind. "You told me to give you a good present." His eyes looked clouded, "I chose to give you the best one."
I strained against the invisible restraint, desperation etched across my face. Fear and confusion mingled with disbelief. My eyes darted everywhere and I found the dead body of my brother as well, "By killing everyone?"
He smiled, "Don't worry, I'll kill you too. All of you can be together in hell."
"B-but Hael," I tried my best to keep my eyes on him, "I love you," I gulped, "You can't do this to me. I love you so much."
Hael circled me slowly, reveling in the power he held over my paralyzed form, "Yes," His mood turned off, "You love me," I could feel the weight of his gaze, and that was probably the only moment in the past six years where I saw the depths of his hatred.
The invisible force that held me captive intensified, my limbs feeling like lead, leaving me utterly defenseless, "Hael!!" My voice came out stronger, "
His gaze locked onto mine and he let me loose, "You love me?"
I nodded at him in a frenzy, "I love you,"
He passed me a disgusted smirk, "But I don't love you,"
Huh???
With a swift, merciless motion of his hand, the invisible force crushed my body, severing the final thread of my existence. The world blurred, and the darkness claimed me