My dArlin' estella,
Sweetheart, your father and i miss your smile.
Is everything going well at the castle? you aren't Hiding away from your royal duties. right baby?
Under stand that you are our only hope. The house needs repairing for Protection before the winter hits us. Of course we have the money for it, don't you worry sweetie. just focus on being a good queen. we got a new boy. Michael is a sweet lad and helps us with our chores. he plays a lot of games though, says his alias to be Knightblood. looking at him i realize, childhood really doesn't ever come back. In all The time he's worked for us, we've never had any Real trouble coming our way. his dream is to work at the Aningmoon Castle one day. The boy reminds me of you. so much.
Shadow is doing quite fine as well. your father and i took her out on a walk around the Empire. her tail was wagging all day.
Is there something that you need from the county market? i bought a model of Waning moons last week. your father had it down with a
Strike! Now, what am i supposed to do with him?! he loiters around all day playing ball with the county folks, humans that is. i hope he does not Repent Later.
we miss you.
we love you.
we are here for you.
love, papa <3
Her fingers trace over the heart scribble as her lips phase into a soft smile.
Estella creased the letter into multiple folds and tore it along the lines. Having seven horizontal strips of paper in her hand she folded them into origami stars and dropped them inside the hollow holes of the decaying basement wall. Letting the fungus feast over it.
Then, she sprawled herself on the basement floor and closed her eyes shut. All the capitalised words from the letter chronologically displayed themselves over the cover of her closed eyelids. Her head processed the information thoroughly.
With newfound knowledge in her system, Edith sighed a breath of contentment.
<3
Julius pulled at his hair in borderline madness. At this rate he would be bald before thirty! Well, that is, if he magically happens to survive the hounds today and live to tell the tale.
There is no way Czar would let him out alive with his limbs and freedom intact.
Absolutely none. Not until Julius finds the paper that has disappeared from the very face of their blessed Earth.
"Did the moons consume you or did the hell fire devour you, paper dear, paper dear, where are you?" Julius sings with a tone of misery, staring at the clean cold ground and trying not to re-live the horrors that the morning had brought him.
The trees flutter merrily with the wind, possibly conspiring against Julius. He knew, for sure, that the wind was the culprit. It must have lured the paper away from his grasp.
"I miss you when the sun is about to rise, never a man existed so wise, paper dear, paper dear, paper dear, I shall call upon you thrice, come to me when the weather is nice?"
You know Julius was a man befallen into the pits of depression when he was making trash poetry to keep his brain from imagining his overtly detailed death scenarios.
With the crestfallen expression of a lass lorn lover, he rounds another tree, rubbing his back against its bark, eyes staring longingly at the cobbled ground.
It stares back with visions of horror: The smiling face of Toril Maley saying, "It's a deal", the vengeful face of Edith cursing at him, the aggravated face of his brother choking him.
Julius shudders, rubbing his palms over his arms to generate some warmth.
"Will you be there when the sun sets? Will you be there when the night visits? Paper dear, paper dear—"
Julius' miserable recitation was cut short by the figure of Sabrina rushing out of the uneven castle doors with a paper in her hand.
Julius' sprits fly.
Joy consumes him.
Beethoven explodes in his head.
He runs to her, as she runs to him, in slow motion.
There is a remarkable bounce in his step.
He wears a smile rivaling a man who just got a deed for some unending wealth.
She stops, sweating, with a smile, and bows in courtesy.
Julius dramatically wipes a non-existent tear drop from his cheek. "My angel, the light of my life, dearest, darling Sabrina, you're here!" Julius exclaims, eyebrows smushed together and lips pushed out like some of his 'smoldering' faces.
Sabrina's left eye twitches.
"Y-yes, your majesty. This is what you asked for," Sabrina coughs out, handing the paper and his phone to Julius.
Julius all but snatches the paper, happily opening it with an expectation to witness concerning symbols and his godforsaken writing over them.
If Julius ever went to Paris and ever reached the top of the Eiffel Tower and ever had a dedicated enemy who would follow him across countries and push him off the top— that's how he'd feel.
Expectations crashing along with his life.
For instead of ancient symbols and figures, Julius finds the contact of the Necromancer scribbled on it. With a winking face beside it.
"Promised a nice date with the librarian for you. Wouldn't give me the pamphlet otherwise," Sabrina chokes out, breathing in heavily. "It's next Friday. Dress nice, will you?"
Julius gulps, looks up to stare at Sabrina with an unforgiving glare, then swings the paper in his wrist and walks away with vehemence.
He seethes in puffs of air, trying to calm himself down.
"It's alright Julius, it's quite fine. It doesn't matter, Julius, be optimistic. Something is better than nothing," He tells himself repeatedly circling a dirt patch on the ground.
"Killing people is bad, Julius. Hurting people is a sin, Julius. Unless they're both Czar, then it doesn't matter. We must choke, throttle, kill and leave nothing behind—"
Sabrina, who was staring at her master with brimming concern, coughs before Julius could say something he'd absolutely regret.
Julius looks up at the interruption and nods, jaw clenched. He unlocks his phones and dials to the Necromancer.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three rings.
Thinning patience.
Four rings.
Killing is bad Julius, we don't gain anything by killing people. It's just a lot of blood stains to wash.
Five rings.
Burying them alive is fine. Yeah. If it's Czar, we can do that. To Toril as well, what a traitor!
Six rings.
And Edith Chambers. That disrespectful piece of human shit—
"Ello, Dis da Necromancer. Lord o' da Dead. Whad ye comin ad? Whad ye need?"
The line connects. Julius scowls on impulse.
"Drop the accent sweetheart, it's me."
A thick scoff resonates in his ear, "Ah, Julius, stop being a wussy to my pussy. I was in character!"
The redhead prince rolls his eyes before speaking, "Work first, fun later. I want you to find someone."
There were some casual slurping noises before words came through, "By devil, you know I'd love to. Whatcha got me in return?"
"Anything that you're into lately."
"Why that's stocks, my mate."
Julius' eyebrows stretch away from their origins. This man knew no limits. "Are you... okay in the head?!" He whisper-shouts into the speaker.
"Whad yer dalkin' abod, ye pardy pooper!"
Julius heaves a breath of patience.
"I got no stocks on me, my man! Anything else, keep it on tab. You know I never disappoint."
Lord of the Dead tsks through the phone line.
"Correction, my mate, you have YET to disappoint. Everyone disappoints."
"Your point?" Julius presses his lips in a thin line.
"Who do you want to find this fine day?"
Fin-fucking-ally!
"Toril Maely. I heard he's on the run from my brother," Julius speaks in hushed tones, walking further inside the forest and rustling the leaves on purpose.
There is a hitch, squeak and a choked laugh that gives way to the thick voice, "Blimey, what fate! He's sitting right here, in front, signing his soul away!"
"Wo-ah, wait, h-how, why?!"
"He wants to invade the the Aningmoon castle with my army."
Necromancer's army of the undead. Why that's single handedly the best and worst thing he'd heard all day.
"EXCUSE ME?!" Julius all but screams through the line.
"You're excused."
The line goes dead. The redhead scoffs.
You've got to be kidding me!
Julius redials.
"DON'T YOU DARE HANG UP ON ME!"
"Chill, my mate, I thought you wanted to take a piss or something," The necromancer snickers.
"I certainly do not! Now tell me, what is Toril the traitor after?!" He's almost tipping over toes, almost jumping in excitement, almost dancing with his hands, almost ready to shout out loud in bursts of happiness.
"His poor lass, of course."
Never mind the bursts of happiness. Life was playing him today.
Julius hangs up.
Toril Maely was after Edith! It has to be! She knows something! She's the key! Julius is so sure of his conclusion.
"Sabrina, give me keys to the basement!" Julius orders, shoving his phone in his pocket and striding towards the Dame.
"Yes, your highness, will you be visiting Lady Crowne?" Sabrina questions, pulling a big bunch of keys from her waistband and going through them.
"No, I will be visiting the hostage," Julius replies, foot impatiently tapping against the ground.
"Sweet Selene mercy, they're in the East Wing, your highness!" Sabrina informs with brimming innocence.
Julius sucks in a breath, dawny pupils blowing wide. "For the love of the moon, did I not order for her to be in the basement?!" Julius seethes through gritted teeth.
No body survives the East Wing.
Sabrina cowers away, snuggling her shoulders closer to her chin. "I-i apologize, your h-highness, it was Lord Czar, he, u-uh, wanted them to be moved and i-"
Its the playhouse for runaway spirits from Anubis.
"Damn you Czar!" Julius curses under his breath, already dashing inside. There's no way his brother is going to kill the closest piece of evidence regarding Marlin Stewart.
That means he doesn't know anything about Edith yet!
Yes! This was his chance! To be the first one!
Julius runs as if running from a plaguing fire. Pushing through packs and couples making out, he runs like is life depends on it. Jumping over scattered furniture, breaking a few vases of Mr. Florence and flinging a cake to the Royal Chef's face, he runs like he has never before.
He runs for an opportunity to meet his destiny. In time. He needs to make it. HE HAS TO MAKE IT.
No one survives the East Wing. No bravery could get you through the Quilibet.
It was an easy game of wit and somehow, Julius knew that Edith lacked short in that department.
He climbs the staircase, jumping two at a time. He cannot pick up a scent. She had none to begin with— wait.
What's that? The air is laden with something metallic and damp.
Julius' nose twitches from the metallic scent of fresh blood.
Did she get herself killed already?!
No! This can't happen! Julius wouldn't let it happen!
With sheer desperation, he runs to the door like a madman, following the scent, he pushes it but they're locked. So he punches the lock through the door and it's adjoining wall. The iron invention jumps to it's inevitable death and the door creaks open.
She needs to be alive!
She has to be alive!!
But he hears no breathing. Damn Selene!
He kicks the lock away. The room is a mess, as always, with broken furniture scattered all over the floor.
"QUILIBET!" Julius shouts, voice booming with authority.
His hasty searching gaze lands on her bleeding body over the bed. Her forehead has a thick patch of dried blood and so does her nose. But the most concerning part is the wet circle of blood underneath her nape.
No! He can't be late! Not this time!
So close yet so far.
Julius gulps desperately, not knowing what to do or how to help. The room gets increasingly colder.
"QUILIBET! I WANT YOU OUT, THIS INSTANT!!"
She lies there, so still and patient. It scares him. This is the coldest body he had seen after his mother's.
Where are the curses?
Where are the bad words?
Where are the flailing hands and feet?
Why is she so silent?!
She has to give him answers before dying!
A mere human will not trample his fate!
Julius realizes that hands are shaking when he cups her small cheek with his big palms. What is he so terrified of?!
He doesn't understand.
But what he does understand is that, SHE'S WARM. She isn't cold. Not yet.
There's hope.
"She's dying. I can see her heart flicker slower by the minute," a cold breath breathes words in Julius' ear.
Julius juts out an arm and chokes the shadow by its neck. The creature resists and Julius' hand is overcome by a burning sensation. He grinds his teeth to swallow the pain. It felt like he was voluntarily boiling his own hand.
"Quilibet of Anubis, I want you to give me a wish."
A broken stool flies across the room to hit him but Julius kicks it before it could reach their proximity. It shatters into miniscule splinters.
"I have you captured," Julius grits out only to be responded in high pitched laughs.
The splinters come in a roundabout, piercing his back.
The shadow grins maniacally, laughing in its deep guttural baritones.
"You haven't captured the King of Everything yet, Prince. You only have a mere hold on my great being!"
The sofa comes at him, aiming death, but Julius is quick to kick the dressing table in its way and deflect it. The dressing table falls over the sofa— until they both rise in attack against him.
Julius gulps. His brain reels back to a random lecture that he got from his brother when he broke a few important jewels and hid in the East Wing only to get traumatized by a Quilibet. He had returned deadbeat and bruised and that was one of the only times when Czar had hugged him... Julius feels a weird twitch in his heart.
— "A Quilibet is one of the ancient spirits from the Anubis Empire. Quilibets have no form, they have no magic because they have all forms and all magics. The absurdity of their existence depends on the imagination of their opponent. The one at Aningmoon castle is a tormented runaway stuck without a master to serve. A masterless Quilibet can only do as much as one fears him to do."
Julius let's go of the shadow with a smash, hand almost black with burns.
"Kekeke scardy cat! You don't stand a chance against the Ruler of all Rulers!!" The shadow cackles around the room. The sofa and the dressing table zoom at his frigid form at an unprecedented speed.
Julius closes his eyes shut.
— "A Quilibet materialises three minutes after feasting on one's fears," Czar had once said.
The easiest way to defeat one's enemy is through your mind.
Julius feels the sheer force of the sofa and the dressing table crashing against him. But it's only the force. It doesn't hit him.The gust almost knocks him over though.
The furniture falls on his feet. Well fuck, that was uncool! The prince whines around jumping on his heels while shouting, "ah! It hurts! Ah! Selene! Help! It stings!"
And in that frantic frenzy, he squishes something under his feet.
There is squelching noise as Julius grimaces and looks down to see the crushed body of a cockroach with green smile surrounding it.
The prince grins is satisfaction. Today would be a good day.
—"A Quilibet, when conquered, gives you a wish."
"Now that I have your dead remains, betty dearest, you are bound to give me a wish! Swish a flick, Roach-God-father, make it happen!"
Julius is all but bumbling around the room with the wispy green tentacles of the Quilibet's crushed and utterly captured form.
"What is it that you want from my greatness. Say the word..." The creature's voice isn't deep or guttural or scary anymore. Its barely a twinge above a squeak.
Julius chokes on a laugh.
"Quilibet of Anubis, I want you to bond with the human girl. Accept her as your mistress and serve her through life and death. This is, my wish."
Julius wishes it with such theatrical dramatics that the Quilibet adds some thundering light and sound effects behind his exaggerated princley form, just because.
"You will come to regret this," The creature concludes in a bored tone.
"I don't live with regrets," Julius replies proudly.
The roach groans in reluctance, but he can't help it. He can do nothing but compile. Why was it pretty easy to capture a beast like him?! With dismay, sheer reluctance and super veiled excitement, the Quilibet joins it's limbs together with his body and hops on the bed.
A cloud of darkness surrounds the old Victorian bed.
Everyone disappoints. Everyone lives with regrets. Julius had yet to learn it.
And that's how Julius made Edith a Creature of the East Wing, spiralling into a chain reaction of mass destruction yet to come.