NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51
There was one piece of leftover business that hadn’t been settled after the events at the theatre, and that was what Felipe knew about me. He was the second person aside from Samantha to know that I was the one responsible for the killings at Beatrice’s manor and the parliament session. There was no hiding it from either of them, and I’d do it again if I was placed in the same situation. After all – the entire point of putting myself in danger was to protect them.
But since concluding that I was more of a tool than a prisoner, my motivations shifted somewhat. A lot of strange things were happening without my input and there would be reasons as to why I’d be involved with them eventually. I needed to stop overcomplicating things and accept my spot in this grand play of theirs.
Felipe was absent for some time as the trial of Cathdra Roderro came to a close. He made a witness statement during the trial, as did Claude, which cemented his fate and a decade-plus prison term. It was nothing more than a formality in truth. Cathdra had given up the ghost when his hitman, Erwin Tees, flipped on him and revealed all to the investigators. There’s no honour among thieves and there never will be.
He managed to negotiate a few years shaved off of the sentence after confessing, but it was a harsh penalty regardless. It was rare to see a man of his station prosecuted at all, and if they were they benefited from more lenient sentencing. The weight of the evidence was too much to ignore, as were the calls for accountability from the Escobarus and Booker families. Very few nobles came to defend Cathdra in the end – not after he risked the lives of their children in his scheme as well.
Even after the trial ended it was difficult to find Felipe. He was busy preparing for an exam period that would decide his final year at the academy, but I also suspected that he was trying to work through his thoughts about me. It must have come as a shock to discover that I was the one gunning down all of those assassins. I wouldn’t know what to say to me either.
It was too important to ignore, and his opportunity finally arrived two days after the robbery. I was hanging in my usual haunt in the garden. Samantha was busy doing something for one of the teachers, so I cracked open one of the books that Miss Jennings gave us and decided to spend my time constructively. I discovered that most of the books were more interested in the mythology attached to nihilist magic rather than the practice of it.
“Maria.”
I poked my nose over the page and stared at the intruder. Felipe was hesitant to encroach on my space without express permission. I closed the heavy tome and placed it into my lap as an unspoken invitation to enter the seating area. He stepped beneath the wooden archway but chose to remain standing.
“It’s good to see that you are well, Felipe.”
This was very awkward for him, I could tell by the tone of his reply.
“Thank you. I don’t mean to come off as ungrateful. It’s been extremely busy since the incident at the theatre. I’ve had to study, and attend the trial, and my father demanded a security review with the teachers, they managed to cool him down by saying that the culprits were behind bars but...”
I cut to the chase, “I understand – but that isn’t what you’re here to speak with me about, is it?”
Felipe was disquieted by my leap into the realm of the absurd. He wanted to dance around it and let me down gently with some probing questions, but here I was kicking over his plans and taking control of the conversation.
“I keep wondering about you, about how you killed those men who were coming for me. I don’t get it. Why would you go to such lengths just to help me? We’re friends, but that’s hardly enough to justify risking your life so flagrantly.”
“I was there, and it would hardly be right to leave you to your fate without doing something.”
He wasn’t satisfied with that answer, “Stop acting like this isn’t a serious issue, Maria. This wasn’t a case of stopping by and giving me a helping hand. You killed those people, you bloodied your hands and don’t seem to care one bit about it. I can only imagine two possibilities – either you care not for their lives, or you’re hiding how you really feel about it. It should traumatise you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a lady, a young lady, a girl who shouldn’t be put into a position like that. How many girls your age do you think could handle that situation and brush it off like it was nothing? Didn’t you feel anything at all when you got home?”
This was bad. I couldn’t hide how little I thought of the lives that I’d taken during those battles. I wouldn’t be a very good assassin if I got hung up on every man or woman I killed, but I’d never once tried to justify that to someone else. The ‘real’ me that hid beneath the surface was poking out from the façade. There was no delicate way of handling this aside from a blatant lie.
“It was stressful, but I don’t regret what I did. If you find that discomforting then you can say it to my face. If you want to end this relationship of ours, I will not blame you for making that choice.”
Felipe sat on the bench opposite me and cupped his face with his hands, “I don’t know what I want to hear from you, but I can’t stop thinking about it. The way you callously gunned them down without even stopping to consider it. I never knew that there was a side of you that was that harsh. I even started thinking that you didn’t care about the lives of other people...”
“But?”
“But then I remembered the way that you looked when they attacked the theatre, and how quickly you leapt into action to protect me. A callous person wouldn’t do something like that – they’d do everything to protect themselves first and foremost.”
If only he knew. The only damn reason I’d gotten involved was because of exactly that. I believed that protecting the people around me was my purpose in this new world, a karmic exchange that I had to participate in or face serious consequences. I wasn’t so selfless. Like every bone-picking businessman and self-interested noble, I only acted because I thought I was getting something in exchange.
“And if I had a selfish reason to protect you?”
“I don’t believe that’s the case.”
He was incorrect, but it was the right kind of thinking for where he was. That benefit was so abstract and hard to grasp that explaining it to him would make me sound like a lunatic. Good karma was not something that a person could quantify, because from most perspectives it would still sound like doing good for good’s sake.
The philosophy debate was put on pause because Adrian showed up on the scene.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Felipe was the one person at the top of his list who he hadn’t managed to track down yet. He must have heard he was back at the academy and wandering the grounds. Felipe seemed a little wary of him, unsure of what his intentions were.
“No, can we help you?”
“I’d like to apologise for what my Father did, even though it is not an appropriate compensation for what happened.”
Felipe sighed, “I don’t need an apology from you, Adrian. The entire story played out in court, and your Father admitted that you had nothing to do with it. I believe him when he says that.”
Adrian remained steadfast, “You don’t need to accept it, I will offer it regardless.”
He turned his body towards the floor and bowed before Adrian could stop him.
“I sincerely apologise for the actions of my family.”
Felipe was forced to reiterate, “I understand that this was your Father’s doing, Adrian. An apology is scarcely needed when the culprit is presently serving his sentence for the crime we speak of.”
Wouldn’t it have just been easier to accept the apology and move on? I supposed that Felipe did not like the idea of having people bow to him for the actions of others. Unfortunately, the reality of the academy was that your family’s reputation was always applied to you whether it was fair or not. Adrian wasn’t given the benefit of the doubt because of his abrasive and volatile attitude. He stood back up and offered another reason.
“I feel better having said it to you. You were the one who was most likely to be hurt, but you’re the most gracious in listening to an apology.”
“What’s done is done. I think we should move on from this ordeal and focus on our studies again.”
Adrian’s face twitched as Felipe brushed a raw nerve. He didn’t say anything, he bowed his head in respect and left us alone once again. Felipe was left confused about why he reacted in such a way.
“He is the head of the family now. He has a lot more to worry about than studying.”
Felipe groaned and ran a hand through his hair, “You’re right. I forgot.”
I didn’t have the full picture of what sorts of issues he was in charge of now, but at the least, he had to make big decisions about the direction of the family business. He’d be hiring and firing, managing the books, and generally keeping a close eye on how each individual venture was doing. It was only eased by the fact that the Roderro family was very small and tightly knit, otherwise, he would also have to manage their affairs on top of everything else.
“I should know better. My Father has been teaching me all about heading up a business since my betrothal to Beatrice, I can’t imagine being thrown into the sea and told to swim like he has.”
“Are you going to be in charge of things when you leave the academy?”
He shook his head, “Not until Sir Booker passes away. When I move in with her, he’s going to let me run some of his business to get a feel for how things work. I’ll assume full responsibility when he’s happy, or Goddess forbid when he dies.”
“He must be pleased with that arrangement.”
“Beatrice told me that he was very worried about the future of the family because they couldn’t sire a son, but he seems to view me as a stand-in for that experience. He revels in it. He’s always happy to see me. She’s starting to worry that he won’t see me as her husband when the time comes.”
The conversation wilted as he remembered why he came here to speak with me in the first place. A sobering realisation that the girl he was getting friendly with killed three dozen people for his sake marred his features.
“Are you worried about my capacity for violence, Felipe? I won’t blame you if you decide to end our relationship here.”
“It’s... a little nauseating – but I have to acknowledge that there are many who would see violence as a necessary means to their goals. I start thinking that you did it for my sake alone, and I feel nought but guilt.”
I stood from the bench and made my position clear; “I didn’t do this for you. Whether you wish to accept my motivations or not, I did not do this for you. If we were not friends, I would have done the same thing – because I have a selfish reason to have done so.”
He was taken aback by my bold and confrontational approach.
“I did not wish to inflict violence on anyone. I hoped that such a course of action would prove needless. I’m afraid that I was incorrect. I’d like you to think about what I’ve said and come to your own conclusion, I cannot force you to abide by my behaviour.”
“Aren’t you worried that I’ll tell somebody?”
I stared him dead in the eye and left him with my last words of wisdom, “There is obscurity in the remarkable. Who is going to believe you if you say that I did it?”
It came off as more threatening than I wanted it to be, but I did not care for the outcome. Felipe would have to make his own choices. I wouldn’t shed a tear if our fledgling friendship was severed at this point. Outside of the occasions where he stopped by during my studies we rarely spent any time together. He was a loose end that I could ignore if that was the case.
He didn’t say another word as I packed up my books and left. He came to me hoping that he could wash his hands of the guilt he felt. I was sure that this issue would come about again in time. I grumbled to myself as I wandered back in the direction of the dorms. The interruption had caused my brain to expel what I’d read like a flushed toilet. I’d have to go back over what I’d covered again later to remind myself.
It was a chilly evening in the poor district of Walser’s capital city. The underground heartbeat of the criminal element was alive and well. Police skulked the streets in search of criminals to capture, while those same criminals worked feverishly to get their share of the profits before they were discovered.
Caius Willow was preening like a prize bird as he awaited the arrival of his latest client. His latest heist was a work of art, a dazzling display of ingenuity and daring that left the authorities shocked and confounded in equal measure. Everyone was so confident that the building was fully secured that he couldn’t take it as anything less than a challenge.
He held the golden watch aloft and studied the fine inlaid details, inscribed in silver. This was no ordinary watch indeed. It would have fetched a fine price on the black market, and part of him was tempted to blow his client off and sell it on to keep the money, but once the watch was secured that client upped his offer of payment by three times the initial amount.
She was a sly dog. She knew exactly what Caius was thinking. She tricked him into believing that it was a normal job with a normal payout, only to tip him extra when the time came to hand it over. Caius was happy to go along with it since that offer was higher than what he’d get from his fence, but it aroused his suspicions about the watch. He was in tune with the magical currents that flowed through the air – and the watch was absorbing magic from the air around it to power some kind of mechanism.
But it was too advanced for him to figure out on his own. Experimenting with an unknown magical item was also a one-way ticket to the nearest hospital with some missing fingers or worse, so he made the wise choice to leave the thing alone and hand it over as planned. A friend of his had already fallen afoul of his curiosity and misplaced a thumb in the aftermath.
“I do hope that you aren’t planning on doing anything with that,” a cutting voice called. Out from the shadows marched an unusually tall woman with round spectacles perched atop a crooked nose.
“Miss Cordia, I would never dare to do something that breaks the trust between employee and contractor so flagrantly.”
“Aye, but I imagine that you have no qualms with doing so subtly.”
Caius chuckled. She was a unique client for a variety of reasons. Not only for her love of privacy but her nature as a person. Caius rarely saw women stepping into the district for matters like these, and despite her lack of public recognition, he knew for a fact that she possessed the money and influence to pay him well. Was she a new vanguard of the burgeoning upper-middle classes, or a noble from an obscure branch family making a play for influence?
“I have the watch right here, taken from the premises without harming a single hair on the children’s heads. That is what we agreed to.”
Caius handed the watch to her for inspection. She was familiar with it, from the way that she avoided pressing the buttons, to the manner in which she opened the front and studied the small details to ensure that it was the genuine article. Once she was pleased that it was real and that Caius was not attempting to scam her, she pulled a large wad of bills from her pocket and handed them to the inquisitive thief.
“I do wonder what is so important about that device that you have need of a thief like me.”
Cordia frowned, “If you knew, you wouldn’t have handed it to me just now.”
Caius shied away and clutched his chest, “Agh! you wound me with that scornful gaze, my lady! And what of the trusting connection we’ve formed? I don’t even know your real name.”
Cordia shrugged, “You’ve hardly been forthcoming with your own identity, Caius – did you not say that confidentiality was a key part of your service?”
She was not going to take part in his games.
“Apologies. Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me.”
“You’ve already surmised that this is no ordinary watch.”
He nodded, “The magical signature it emits is distinct, like the scent of a fine rose. Dare I say – I’ve never sensed a magical item like it.”
“It is one of a kind,” Cordia revealed, “There isn’t a man or woman on this continent who could recreate it. I hope you understand my need for discretion, as I would like to keep your services in mind in the future.”
Caius tipped his hat, “Of course. I will refrain from asking needless questions if they make you uncomfortable. I will find my own answers in time, you did not steal it merely to admire the craftsmanship.”
“An astute observation, but I’m afraid that this particular item is insidious in its true function. The only person who knows it has been activated is the user themselves.”
“Interesting! But I would refrain from saying any more before I get too excited. You do want to walk away with the watch still in hand.”
Caius unfurled the notes and started to count through them. It was an astonishing amount of physical cash to have in front of him, and he was a man who didn’t accept cheques.
“I appreciate your discretion in this matter. There may be more payments like this in the future if you continue to assist us.”
Happy that everything was in order, he slipped the cash into the front pocket of his suit. Another job well done. He resisted the urge to jump into the air and click his heels at the prospect of more jobs that paid this well. He cleared his throat and calmed himself. He always wanted to act his best in front of the ladies – and her crooked nose did little to distract from her natural beauty. A woman like her wouldn’t be involved in something as crude as bare-knuckle boxing, so it must have come from an accident.
“Part of that payment is for your silence. I don’t want to hear a word of this leaked to anybody else. It’s sensitive information.”
“I thought you were just a generous tipper!” Caius laughed boisterously. She did not find it quite as amusing as he did.
“I mean it. You may be a master of escape – but there are people involved in this process who are much scarier than the likes of me. They will not hesitate to hunt you down like a dog if they discover your duplicity. It won’t matter where you go or how you hide, they will find you.”
Caius blew off her threat with a click of his tongue, “I’ve heard the same threats a million times before – you have my word that I will remain silent, cross my heart and hope to die.”
“It’s a friendly warning. I don’t particularly agree with those methods, but my compatriots will take matters into their own hands if they see the need. This is a productive business relationship for both of us. I’d hate to see it come to a premature end.”
Caius was not convinced. Every two-bit plotter and criminal thought they could control the flow of information from one person to the next, unaware of the fact that they were often the source of any leaks. Caius boasted knowledge that could make some people very uncomfortable indeed. That was what provided him with the freedom to do as he wanted. There was no dagger sharper than the secrets that men held.
Cordia was the rational sort, but from the sound of it, her allies were not. Those who believed they existed above common society, hidden in the shadows with the divine right to shape it as they pleased were destined to be humbled. It was impossible to truly fight against the tides of change. The underclasses possessed an increasing amount of sway over politics in Walser – and that came about from their understanding of how they could organise themselves.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Be careful out there,” Caius smirked. He took a close look at her features for the last time before spinning around and taking his leave. He was committing the details to his memory for later. He had a distinct feeling that her face and name would be showing up in the papers after getting arrested.
But before that came to be, Caius intended to gather more information on who he was dealing with. He had met Cordia once before – she was the one who gave him the job, but even then, she made it clear that it was at the behest of someone else. She was a flunky. An errand girl who did the dirty work that nobody else was willing to handle.
If she was moving back and forth, then it was certain that the information networks he was a part of knew about it. A bit of digging and some money would grease the wheels nicely. Nothing put fear into an employer’s eyes like revealing their true identity at an opportune moment.
Caius was a happy man when the relationship remained professional. They had a strange perception of what ‘professional’ meant. Nobody ever taught them that threatening to murder your business partner was in bad taste. He didn’t want to burn his own clients, but some believed that they could take advantage of his lowly position on the criminal ladder, but the structures they built were only as strong as their foundation. The men and women doing the grunt work knew things that would put the untouchables away for a long time.
If all else failed, Caius had his own dirty tricks that were more personal and pettier than ratting them out to the police. It was easy to plant evidence in a house, and Caius was a very good storyteller. Severing relationships with a piece of strategically placed lingerie was a personal favourite of his. They’d have a hell of a time explaining to their spurned partners that a thief broke into their home and placed it there.
“You’re not the only one with friends in high places, Madame...”
