Valerian Empire

The fireplace crackled at midnight as Lord Alexander sat on the grey Downing street chair in front of it while reading the documents the Council member had given him yesterday.

Mathias was his ears when it came to reports on the proceedings that took place in the Council court. Alexander didn’t trust anyone on a whim. He trusted the man because Alexander was the one who had gotten​ him the job there and the man had been extremely faithful till today.

It was a different thing that the man was wary of the Lord, knowing full well of his treatment towards people who were unfaithful. Very few, like the slow-witted human Lord of the South, dared to be on the bad side of the Lord of Valeria.

His men had reported on the possibilities of Lord Norman associating himself with a certain dark witch. Seemed like he would have to go and attend the Council proceedings.

Areo meowed. In the room that was lit by the fireplace, the shadow of the cat could been seen walking towards its master as the size of its body increased to turn to a big black panther. The cat went and laid down near Alexander’s feet, purring softly while rubbing his head to his master’s legs to get Alexander’s attention.

“You’ve grown so big and yet you still behave spoilt,” Alexander said placing the documents aside and gently rubbing the cat’s chin with his bare feet to only get a contended sigh from Areo.

The cat had been his mother’s gift to him when he was a little boy. A big black panther that disguised to be small and harmless. A cat that was no less than a lethal weapon to protect him when needed. In the past, at the time of his mother’s death, some had tried to kill him. Some who had claimed to be his family, people who were responsible for his mother’s death.

As he grew up, he killed each and every one of them, giving them an agonizing death in a much worse way than what his mother had to experience.

He closed his eyes remembering the past and felt himself smile. There is nothing more satisfying than having blood on your hands due to revenge, he thought to himself.

The cat continued to purr and he wondered if Areo had just come back to the mansion after hunting for food in the forest.

Recollecting the day’s events he chuckled softly, making the cat lift its face to look at its master, but soon it went back to lay its head down again.

Katherine.

The very thought of her brought a twinkle in his eyes.

His previous female escorts were an utter bore, some who behaved coy and some who were prude; he didn’t mind breaking their facade before pushing them away as nothing but dust.

He had enjoyed the night theater while sitting beside her as the play went. Her reactions were open and pure, letting him read her like his favorite book.

He was glad that he had got the tailor-made dress for her. It was the same man who made Sylvia’s clothes. After what happened in the Weaver’s house, Alexander was skeptical to send Katie to the town alone. Alexander himself had recommended the design of the dress a few weeks ago: getting rid of the hideous cage and instead adding layers of fine cloth. The color and the dress suited her well.

He hadn’t meant to kiss her but seeing her happy as she spent time with another male in the theater that evening had irked him. If it wasn’t for the papers he wanted to acquire from Mr. Barton he would have turned down his daughter’s invitation and instead would have taken Katie along with him.

But there she was all dolled up to be Quill Travers’ companion. Unlike his sister and father he knew the boy had no ill intentions; nevertheless, he was a man. By the end of the night it was clear that his butterfly had caught the young man’s attention.

Lord Alexander had known about Katie’s interest in him since she had stepped into the mansion at the Winter’s celebration. It wasn’t hard to know when a woman was interested in him.

As time had passed he had teased her lightly even though Elliot would give a disapproving look; not that he heeded to it. He usually did as he pleased. She would turn red with her wide eyes and it made him laugh. It was quite refreshing.

Seeing her blush at another man’s words and actions had surprised him. It brought the jealousy out of him -something he wasn’t aware that he could feel, especially when it came to a woman; a human to top it all.

His cat had led her into his room, just when he wanted her, leaving them alone.

He had meant to kiss her only once but when he did he couldn’t stop. Her lips were soft underneath his, warm and sweet as he kissed her. His teeth had nipped her lips to draw out blood and it was something he craved since then.

When he pulled back he realized the look she held was something he wouldn’t want anyone to see, just his to look and touch.

He had weaved his web ingeniously for the butterfly to get caught but just when he thought he had her, she had spoken about another man right after they had shared a kiss.

He didn’t mean to hurt her but she kept insisting that she was a maid and had to go to another man’s room when there were so many other servants to take care of such a simple task. It annoyed him, leading him to snap at her, asking her to leave the room.

Glad that everything turned out well in the end, he got up from the chair to go to bed.

When Katie woke up the next day, she stretched herself on the bed before getting up. Turning her head towards the wall clock her eyes widened. She was three hours late to work!

Scrambling from the bed, she hurried towards the closet to pick her clothes. As she turned around ready to go to the bathroom she saw an envelope that was placed at the bedside that had ‘Katherine’ written on it. Walking towards it, with her free hand she picked the envelope and opened to read it.

“Dear Katherine,

Knowing that we returned late at night, I have informed Martin that you would be joining work late today.

The bottom was signed with Alexander’s name.”

She sighed in relief. At least she wasn’t going to get scolded.

The following day Katie was asked to put a few boxes back in the attic. She didn’t like the attic. It was dark and eerily quiet with lizards and insects. Not to mention the long, narrow stairs.

Still caught up with last night’s events, she smiled to herself. Placing the boxes one after another, she walked across the room to hear someone cough and she turned around in that direction.

“Who’s there?” she asked in the deserted room to receive no reply. Taking a deep breath she walked ahead but there seem to be no one.

Turning away she placed the last box and ready to leave when she heard someone whisper,

“Turn around.”

Out of fright she did turn around to see someone run across the two big shelves, the maid’s uniform disappearing in the shadows. Whoever it was seem to vanish behind it when she reached there.

“At least it isn’t a ghost,” she sighed.

“The living are scarier than us,” she heard the voice that spoke before to her again. As though someone was standing right next to her. She felt goosebumps form on her skin slowly.

Not standing there anymore she ran down the stairs hurriedly and turned back to see no one following her.

“Omph!” She collided right against someone, “I-I’m sorry,” she apologized.

“Right in my arms,” she heard Lord Alexander speak only for her to hear with his hands around her waist to support her and she stepped back with a blush on her cheeks.

“Princess Katie!” she felt Elliot pull her to his side to hug her and the man sent a silent glare towards the Lord before going back to smile at the young girl, “Happy belated birthday.”

“Thank you, Elliot.”

“Katie,” she heard Sylvia as she bought a thin box which had a ribbon tied around it, “This arrived just in time. Happy birthday,” the woman wished heartily.

“This wasn’t necessary,” Katie said as Sylvia pushed the gift to her.

“You don’t have to be modest. Every person deserves a gift. If only Lord Alexander would have told us sooner we would have been able to celebrate your birthday right,” she looked at the man with her brows raised.

“It was Martin’s fault,” Lord Alexander said and looked at the butler who stood not far away from them, “Isn’t that right, Martin?”

“It was my fault, pardon me for not relaying the news beforehand,” the old man replied seriously bowing his head.

“He would agree with anything Alex says,” Elliot shook his head thoughtfully and caught hold of Katie’s wrist, “Come with me. I have a gift too,” dragging her away from the other two.