A girl's footsteps walking rapidly on the wooden floor from the corridor of her house were heard by an individual from the inside of his study. She then opened the wooden door which was decorated with colored glass on it, then slammed it shut harshly. But that didn't make the person behind the desk budged by the sound.
"Daaaddyyy!!! Look at what that girl made me!"
She cried out with a red face while pointing at herself to her father who was sitting eyeing at his computer with an unconcerned expression.
His left hand propped up onto his jaw, while the other was active clicking on the computer with the mouse. His brown hair had already begun to fade near the ear area to gray color. His ash-grey eyes looked bored while staring at the screen.
The father thought his daughter's distress today must have been caused by none other than Roxanne Walker. Again. Elias Walker's daughter, the man he loathed back in his school days and until this existing day.
They have a complicated history, he even learned that Elias has power but he shortly locked his mouth shut from leaking the word when Elias threatened him with his creepy blue neon eyes. But that didn't stop him from disliking Elias anyway.
If it weren't for Elias' daughter, there must have been another child that has been bothering his daughter. But it was rare for his daughter to be bullied by other children. So her father thought it was only caused by Elias Walker's daughter. Because, that's the main topic that's never changed, it has always been argued by his daughter every single day after school. Her father swears she is completely obsessed with Elias' daughter.
It made his head throbbing, the headache of listening to the same complaints every day. He had to massage his temples daily to calm down the blood pressure rising to his head.
He sighed, "What is it this time, Courtney?"
She slams her foot on the floor to gain her father's attention, "Can't you just take a look at me, daddy? Look at my uniform!" She insisted while pointing at herself again angrily.
Her father sighed in surrender and then obeyed her daughter. He pulled his hydraulic staff office chair straight, dragging it closer to the table with his feet. Then, he looked at his third youngest daughter who was annoyed while waiting for him.
"Hm?" He raised one eyebrow while examining her daughter's dirty appearance.
This evening was different, Courtney's school uniform was filthy with bundles of snowballs. Her hair was chaotic, messy everywhere, lots of stiff hair were sticking out. Then, her shoes were a little wet.
"Are you out playing on the ice-skating rink, darling?"
That's what her father guessed at her stressed daughter.
"No! I was at the warehouse with my friends and we were 'playing' together with Roxanne. And she did this to me!"
His eyebrows furrowed, "Why were you playing at the warehouse?" he asked curiously.
Courtney looked the other way nervously, "U-um, I had some business to take care of. It's none of your concern anyway, daddy. Now, have you seen this!?" She's back again pointing to herself.
Her father was sighing irritably now, "Yes, yes, darling. But what did she exactly do to you?"
She took a comfortable pose then start to explain casually, "Well, she made a huge dragon made of ice, daddy,"
Giving attention to the word 'ice' made her father's eyes widened.
And she began again while studying her polished nails, "And it summoned its snowmen and they throw those annoying snowballs at ME!" She emphasized the last word then threw her hands pointing to her, again.
She sneered as she still continued, "Can you imagine, daddy? She could create that huge ice dragon and bla bla bla ..."
She goes on explaining but her words become blurred as her father focuses on Elias' daughter's power.
Then, her father's eyebrows furrowed again while his mouth opens slightly, 'It can't be. His daughter as well?' He thought, his lips rose barely, smiling wickedly.
But he lowered his smile down again, trying to look natural in front of Courtney. However, on the inside, he had already made an agenda to notify this to Lord Seifer's messenger. He'll know what to do. After all, this is what Lord Seifer has been after. Also, this could be the perfect vengeance for Elias Walker.
Courtney's father then pretended to sympathize with his daughter, "Oh, my poor poor, daughter. Come here," He invited her with opened arms.
Courtney without hesitation walked over the desk and embraced her father who remained fitted on his office chair.
"Oh, daddy, I was so scared," she says scowlingly as she indulges in her father's embrace.
Behind their hugs, her father stared seriously ahead. He thought about going to the messenger's mansion this midnight.
'Soon,' he thought as he holds his daughter for a while. After that, he sends his daughter back to her chamber.
Then, he ordered his chauffeur to get the car ready. He will be driving alone tonight, 'No one should know about this.'
~ • ~
Midnight has come when the owl makes a sound from afar. The full moon has also made an appearance by revealing its face above the sky, brightening the earth below.
A Mercedez-Benz E-Class W211 was driving through a dark dirt path with its light flashing forward brightly.
He had gone down the crooked street and have departed around the cemetery. A little more, almost reaching his destination at the mansion house.
However, he soon stopped abruptly once he saw a large, tall black fence with a needle-like tip on the top of it.
Courtney's father, Charles McKnight, got out of his car leaving the lights still on, in need of the spotlight to shine forward. For he couldn't see anything ahead because of how dark the area of the mansion was. He had to swallow his fears several times to gather his guts together to drive here.
He then mustered up the courage to press a doorbell on the sidewall of the black gate.
Before long, the dogs started snarling and they rushed to the gate. They then stopped at the barrier and barked from the inside while pulling out their snouts. Charles gasped in surprise and then hastily walked backward.
There were several breeds of dogs among the gate, there were four black German Shepherd, three Bull-mastiffs, and four Rottweilers. They are the most ferocious dogs in the world. Charles gulped hard while he fixes a gaze at them. He didn't dare to come forward anymore, he was too afraid to let himself be bitten by those dogs.
So, he sat on the hood of his car. He started to doubt on going inside. He even wondered if anyone was home since the lights of the mansion were all lit up. Except, the area of the gate here.
A while later, there was a figure who appeared behind the gate and walking towards Charles. But halting at the railing. The man was wearing a creepy smiley face mask, and he's smartly dressed in a suit and tie. He looked formal as if he was running a meeting. But still looking very intimidating and frightening as ever.
The dogs were then quieted by him in an instant, just one hand signaling for them to come back soon when they are needed, they then returned to their respective guard posts.
The man then opened his arms, as if to give Charles a welcome sign from the inside of the gate.
"Ah, Sir Charles McKnight, what a pleasure to have you here. It's been a while, isn't it? Now, what is it this time? How may I help you in this humble house of mine? I hope there are no more unnecessary messages like usual." he asked in a cheerful tone but moderate.
Charles then rose quickly from the hood of his car and tidying himself up. He was already sweating from all the ruckus made by the dogs, and now meeting this man as he walked towards the gate, approaching the messenger.
"I have an urgent message for Lord Seifer. It's about the daughter of Elias Walker."
Hearing this, the messenger leaned his head to the side, his hands were crossed while he raised one hand near his face. Intrigued by the message that was to be conveyed, he then clapped his hands twice to open the gate.
The gate soon opened by itself.
"Come on in, Charles. You must have had a long trip," said the man in an even tone. He then walked into the mansion leaving Charles to take care of his business.
Then, without any further ado, Charles got back in his car and drove into the mansion.
~ • ~
"So, what do you know?" asked the masked man straightforwardly, sitting on his seat like a throne, lifting his feet on his desk while inhaling his smoking pipe through his mask. Then, exhaled a thick smoke from the hole in the mouth, as soon as Charles going into his majestic study room. It is filled with luxurious old furniture, with a touch of vintage royal style.
Charles sat on one of the antique sofas in front of his desk in an upright position. He then coughed to clear his voice, "Actually, I just heard this earlier from my daughter, Courtney,"
The man's eyebrows rose, "Oh, you mean your spoiled little daughter?" he casually quipped.
As much as Charles hates anyone who taunts his daughter, for this one he could only agree in silence. Moreover, he is in the messenger's lair mansion, which is known for him like a lion's den for a psychopath. He then ignores the masked man's witty remark and continued stating his aim.
"I heard from my daughter that Elias Walker has a daughter who can wield ice as well. She said they were 'playing' in the school warehouse, then the girl created an ice dragon with all her little troops out of snow. I think she has as much power as her father. I don't know what will happen in the future if they're still hanging around. They're like monsters and must be stopped. Please send this message to Lord Seifer well, a warning to be careful of what will be coming to him."
The man's eyes then widened. Not long after, he chuckled viciously under his mask.
"My, my, what a wonderful news today. For years, we've been tracking him down. But that damn Elias Walker had disappeared out of the blue, who knows where he went. But, the good thing is, now our Lord has his own throne in the Kingdom of Oryn, without any interference from anyone,"
Charles just listened intently.
The man then sighed dramatically as he continued, "Sadly, there's still one more serious disturbance left. He couldn't enjoy his throne for long," he said in a playful tone.
Then, he huff-and-puff his smoking pipe.
He continued, "I certainly have to deliver this message to Lord Seifer as soon as possible. No one should bother our beloved master," he said sinisterly.
Charles who saw this could only swallow hard with sweats dripping from his forehead. He stayed silent.
Then, as if realizing Charles's existence, the man turns his gaze at him.
"Thank you, Charles, you may be dismissed. You don't want your spoiled daughter to miss you dearly, do you?"
Charles's eyes twitched when he heard that again but he dismissed it. Then, he bowed respectfully and left the mansion.
The man snickered at the behavior of Charles who actually cared about his daughter but he did not dare to fight this masked man. But as soon as he recalled Charles's message, he then re-inhaled the pipe and let out a long wisp of smoke.
"Elias Walker's daughter, eh? We shall meet soon." said the masked man in his real deep tone voice.
~ • ~