Chapter Warning: Violence
***
"Goodnight, Palette," Goth called out as his servant reached for the door handle.
He wasn't sure if he was imagining the false cheer in the taller's smile as they replied, "Night, pleasant dreams," and slipped out the door without another word. Goth hugged his pajamas closer to his chest in disquiet.
Was it him or did it feel like Palette was becoming more distant lately?
The vampire flopped backward onto the bed, going over the past week as he stared up at the ceiling; about Daria and their attempts to become closer as their wedding day approached. Daria was a sweet girl, she was beautiful, and he was sure she would make a good wife... but even on the eve of the ceremony, he couldn't bring himself to say he loved her.
It felt silly to have second thoughts now; the whole reason he had agreed in the first place was to stifle his feelings for Palette... but if anything, his attempts only seemed to make his feelings for the skeleton stand out more when compared to his lack of reaction toward Daria. He could also tell his servant's usually bright demeanor had taken a nosedive, and asking if something was wrong only got him vague reassurances and feigned smiles.
He had a feeling Daria's presence had something to do with it.
Their interactions now were purely that of a servant and master; exactly what he thought he wanted... but Goth didn't want this. Never mind being denied the ability to pursue his true feelings, the thought of losing his friendship with Palette as well was enough to make him want to break down and cry.
"I can't go through with this," Goth groaned, tossing his nightclothes aside and sliding off the bed. He needed to talk with Daria about calling off the wedding; his soul just wasn't in it. Hopefully, she would understand.
Exiting his room into the silent hallway, he crossed over to the guest wing and found the door to Daria's room. Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his knuckles against the door and waited. After a few seconds of silence, he knocked again.
"Oh, are you looking for Lady Daria?"
Goth looked down the hall to one of the female servants carrying a bundle of clothes. With a sheepish expression, he responded, "Yes, though it seems she's out at the moment. Would you happen to know where?"
Pursing her lips in thought, the servant said, "I believe she and Lord Arnest headed out; they looked to be headed down the main strip."
"Thank you, I'll head that way and ask around," Goth thanked her, taking off down the stairs and out the door. On the way, he asked more residents about Daria and her father, being directed until he came to the meeting hall.
As he walked down the corridor, he rehearsed what he would say. He would apologize and tell her he couldn't go through with a marriage where he felt no love; that it wouldn't be fair to either of them and she deserved better. He would request to maintain a friendship with her and form an alliance some other way if that was still possible.
It was likely he would be slapped and chastised for backing out last minute, but he was prepared for that.
Seeing one of the meeting room doors was closed, Goth assumed that was the room his soon-to-be ex-fiancée and her father were in. Reaching up to knock on the door, he lowered his hand upon hearing Daria cry out, "I cannot do this!"
Leaning closer, Goth listened in.
"Keep your voice down," Lord Arnest hissed, "You can and you will. We discussed this."
Daria persisted, "I do not feel anything for him and he holds no ambition to lead the coven either. He is a kind man and I do not wish to continue this farce."
Goth felt relief seep into him, a smile working its way onto his face. She didn't want this marriage either; that would make everything so much easier to explain and increased the likelihood of maintaining an alliance.
"You foolish girl, I refuse to entertain this inane sense of conscience; not when we are so close to our goal," Lord Arnest snapped, filling Goth with confusion and foreboding as he continued eavesdropping, "You only need play your part long enough for one of us to get rid of that buffoon of a leader. Afterward, we will use your marriage ties with his mortal-coddling son to usurp control of their coven and clear out the unpure filth they let roam here.
"You will not even be required to lift a finger for the cleansing, I and the unit awaiting my signal will be sufficient in handling their numbers. To human-like vampires such as us, monster-likes are pitifully weaker in comparison. Once they and the dissenters are purged, all that will be left is to salvage the remaining resources."
Goth shuddered where he stood, horrified beyond belief as Daria protested, "Dear Father, this is wrong! Please, see re-"
The sharp snap of skin-on-skin contact followed by a thud rang out as the lord growled, "You will shut your mouth and do as you are told or you will join our enemies in the purge."
The young vampire had heard enough; he had to warn his father of the plot set against them-
"Young master, is something the matter?"
Goth barely had time to swivel toward the custodian before an explosion of wood and stone engulfed him amid a terrified cry from the mortal. Rolling out of the way to avoid most of the debris, he whipped around to see Arnest's silhouette flanked by his two guards through the dust. The elder vampire's voice was soft as he spoke, "It seems some stray mice have wandered where they should not. Something must be done about this."
The smaller vampire felt Arnest's aura flare a moment before the trio launched their attack. Despite his instincts urging him to cower before the powerful vampire, Goth dodged the sword Arnest had drawn and summoned his scythe; placing himself just in time to block the attacks meant for the male custodian.
"Young master!?" The man yelped in terror as one of the guards attempted to go around him only to be blocked again.
"Go!" Goth yelled, parrying to spear jabbed at him, "Find the guards and my father! Arnest seeks to destroy us!" The man scrambled to his feet and took off without another word, rounding the corner and disappearing from sight.
"Now you have done it, and I am Lord Arnest to you!" the vampire snarled, lunging in sync with his guards. Out of the corner of his socket, Goth could see Daria struggling in the grip of their blood servants attempting to contain her in the meeting room as she screamed for the fight to cease.
Goth continued dodging attacks with some success, brushing off the glancing blows and managing a death blow against one of the guards while severely injuring the other. Moving in for the finishing slash, the elder vampire intercepted him and slung him into the wall with the force of their strike, knocking the wind from him and forcing the weapon from his hands.
Before the smaller vampire could retrieve his scythe, a polished black shoe sent it spinning away from him as the tip of Arnest's sword pressed against his sternum. Goth heaved and gasped, trying to take in air while staring up at the now seething vampire who was growling in barely contained anger, "Two of my best men and my glorious plans, thwarted by some mortal-loving whelp." Reeling back, the man bellowed, "I will destroy you at the very least!"
"Please, no!" Daria screamed.
A gust of wind overtook the hallway as Goth used his dwindling magic to transform and make his escape by air. Before he successfully could fly out of reach, Arnest's hand slammed his bat form into the wall; eliciting an agonized screech as he changed back in hopes of breaking free.
The action proved to be useless since he had no leverage held high against the wall; too worn out and disoriented to even move properly. His hazy vision could barely make out the vampire pinning him to the wall as it was.
Arnest's hand dug into the younger vampire's sternum, drawing out a breathy grunt. Goth couldn't see any means of escape this time; his father would undoubtedly be upset when they found his dust... would Palette? He wasn't so sure now, and that uncertainty combined with the larger vampire's oppressive aura pressing in on him sapped his remaining will to fight.
At least he could take solace in the thought that everyone would be warned of the traitor lord's scheme. His father, Palette, and everyone else would be safe.
"No more games; this ends now," his enemy growled, pressing the sword to Goth's neck.
***
Well, that escalated quickly...
Word Count: 1,489