Pathetic

“What happened?” I ask Louisa.

She looks at me, her body trembling.

“Louisa?”

She flinches. “Sorry, just remembering you like that sends chills down my spine.”

“Like that?”

“Your hair was pure white… and your eyes were crimson. The black aura surrounding you was intense but calming. Vicious, but benevolent. The ground quaked beneath our feet. We passed maids and guards on our way here, but they were all unconscious. We suspect those weak of heart will faint near your presence. And when we arrived in the room, there was no fire or signs of an explosion.”

“What else?”

“You were speaking, but the language you spoke was nothing I could comprehend. Your voice also echoed. Like two people were talking simultaneously.”

“This is all… unbelievable.”

“There’s more.”

“More?”

“Yes, and this is likely the worst of all. I could feel your overwhelming power; however, you had no presence.”

“No presence? That’s not possible if you could feel overwhelming power.”

“I know it’s unbelievable, but that’s the truth,” she says.

I look at Niklaus, who has an unconscious Selina in his arms. “A monster will always be a monster.”

“Niklaus, now is not—”

“So?”

“What?”

“So, what if I’m a monster? What if I destroyed Trist? Killed thousands. Scarred even more. What difference does it make? Are you going to condemn me? Criticise my every being? Am I an outlet for your petty pride?”

“My… what?” Niklaus places Selina on the ground and walks up to me. “What did you say?”

Louisa shoves herself between the two of us, and says, “Stop it, both of you. We have enough problems as is. We don’t need your in-fighting as another issue.” Niklaus glares at me for another second, then turns around and walks away. “What’s gotten into you, Haruki?”

“Nothing.”

‘A lady’s secrets are her own to reveal. No matter how gut-wrenching,’ Hafiz’s words ring in my head as she stands before me. That voice said something similar. Is Louisa hiding something from me? Or am I being manipulated?

“Haruki? Is there something on your mind?”

“No, there’s nothing. Let’s go. The assailants could still be in the vicinity.”

Louisa looks at me, sceptical of my refute. But she does not pursue the matter further. We leave the room as it was and make a swift escape out of the east wing. When we arrive at the courtyard, we see Niklaus staring a group of cloaked people down.

“Are those…?”

“Yes. They are the assailants.”

“Assailants, you say?” asks the centre-most assailants. “Is that all we are to you? Mere assailants, Haruki Ryu.”

“Yes. You all are nothing more to me. I don’t need to know your affiliations, nor do I care for it.”

“Tch, You damn monster. How dare you look down on us?”

“Do you know there are monsters that hide in plain sight? These monsters are cowards, you see. They are quick to blame others to cover up their insecure thoughts.”

Niklaus tilts his head over his shoulder and looks at me. “Are you calling me a monster?”

“Think what you will. I said what I said.”

The man from before draws a sword from under his cloak. He runs forward as the four behind him chant a spell. Niklaus reacts faster than the man can attack. In three simple steps, he draws his sword, slashes his opponent's neck, and sheathes his sword. Just three steps. One second for each step and the central man dies. Niklaus glares at the four, who are cowering. The sudden pause in chanting disrupts the formation of the spell and a massive explosion scatters the four mages like dust in the wind. Niklaus leaps onto this chance and attacks each mage, one by one. And one by one, each mage witnesses their demise.

“And you say I’m the monster.”

Louisa and I watch as Niklaus stands over five corpses. Droplets fall from the sky before turning into a shower. The rain washes the blood from Niklaus’ sword, but not the guilt from his eyes. His hands, trembling, reach for his face. When they do, he drops to his knees and cries out like a weeping child.

“Niklaus!”

Louisa runs to her guilt-ridden brother. Monsters hiding in plain sight are cowards. They are simply… “Pathetic.”

“I see you’ve taken care of my problem.” The duke arrives with an armed army on his tail and a butler at his side, holding an umbrella overhead. “And here I thought you’d take forever to solve it.”

“Is there a problem, Duke Reinhart?”

The butler raises the umbrella to show his crooked brow and grimace. “Why, you ask? Well, this is my land. The feet intruding here do not belong, so I came to solve an ageing problem. But to my surprise, that problem’s initial solution finally arrived. It came in the shape of a heartless beast. I saw the way Niklaus pounced on his prey. Savage and ruthless, like a wolf.”

“Monstrous, you mean.”

“Monstrous? How so?”

“Ruthless, yes. Savage, I agree. But so is a monster. You see, a wolf hidden in sheep's clothing will become a sheep. And the longer it remains a sheep… The longer it feeds on grass… The more it waits, patiently… that’s when it becomes a sheep. But when it finally reveals itself… When this ‘sheep’ pounces, that’s when it realises its cowardice. Blood that bled red now reveals itself to be grey. The succulent meat it digests tastes bland. And the pride it envisioned becomes a nightmare.”

“Then the wolf dyes itself in sorrow, you say.” Duke Reinhart looks at Niklaus. “Is he broken?”

“No, he’s just realising himself.”

Duke Reinhart bursts into laughter. “Realising himself? Now? After he’s committed an atrocious act?”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“When did you realise yourself?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Monsters hiding in plain sight are cowards.”

“So, you say.”

“But monsters who do not hide themselves are just monsters. Duke Reinhart, your empire will fall. Selina will leave you to rot. And the ‘toys’ you play with will revolt. So, I’d watch my back if I were you.”

“You’ve got a big mouth on you, boy.” He signals to a guard, who draws his sword and raises it to my neck. “I should watch my back? Boy, remember whose yard we’re in. Intruders should watch their backs.”

“Intruders burnt your yard down before. Don’t you think they can do it again?”

He keeps a glare focused on me. “By tomorrow I want you gone.”

“Believe me, I don’t want to stay here for another night.”

Amidst the crashing water droplets, Niklaus’ cries travel through the corridors of Duke Reinhart’s manor. An entire night of wailing soon tires him out. The arrival of the new day, however, did not bring a fresh Niklaus.

“His door is locked.”

“He feels guilty.”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“No.”

“Same. Those people were part of the Illuminati. As demi-humans, Niklaus and I were targets for their new world. So were you. I didn’t know them, so their first impression made me hate them.”

“Enough to kill them?”

“Enough to put an end to their organisation.”

“That’s harsh.”

“What can we do about it? We live in a harsh world.” She looks at the locked door, her eyes drooping with grief. “Do you think he’ll recover?”

“I don’t know.”

“Couldn’t you give a more positive answer?”

“I couldn’t.”

She looks at me, confused. “You’re different.”

“Am I?”

“Yes. It’s kinda cool.”

“Is that so?”

She pouts, “And a tad annoying.”

I’ve changed? Well, I do feel… different. Was it my conversation with that voice? No, I think I’m becoming more like my old self—

“My old self…?”

“Did you say something?”

I shake my head. What was that? I feel like my memory is a mess right now. ‘My old self’. Just what does that mean?

Later in the night we dine with Duke Reinhart again. “So,” he says, angrily chopping away at a steak, “You want to stay here for another few days?”

“Yes. My brother is still—”

“Declined.”

“What? Why?”

He looks at me and smiles, “Because intruders are targeting my life.”

This sly bastard. If I could, I would rip his throat from his pigish neck.

“Duke Reinhart, if you are referring to our conversation yesterday, then I must humbly apologise if my words seemed threatening.”

“Hmph, No amount of apologising will—”

“But I must say, you are a brave human.”

“Hmm?”

“Well, how could I do anything but call you brave? Even after the assailants swore to exact their revenge by sending their absolute best, you will send us, your saviours away to brave this impeding danger.”

“They will… what?”

“Yes. It was quite the show of revenge. With his dying breath, Jacob (Alleged name) swore that the upper echelon of the Illuminati would avenge his untimely death. And you are confident you can stop an army whose sole aim is to kill you and every person in this mansion. I applaud your brave choice.” I stand up and grab Louisa’s arm.

“Wai—”

“Let’s not keep this confident man occupied. He has much to tend to.”

“Wait!” The duke’s sudden outburst silences the room.

“Is something the matter, Duke Reinhart?”

“I…”

“Don’t concern yourself with us. I will make sure we are out of your hair as soon as humanely possible.”

“Please… don’t think you’re overstaying your welcome. We… welcome you with open arms.”

“Is that so? I thought intruders were not allowed here?”

“Well, you’re in luck, since none of you are intruders.”

“That’s good. Then, Louisa and I will not bore you any longer. Let’s go.”

“Was that wise?” she asks.

“It was the best solution.”

This should buy us enough time to solve your problem, Selina.