Audrey did not know if the exclamation was because of the state she was in or the gutted and violently convulsing body in front of her. she did not know and she really did not want to. "What in the known worlds is that?!"
There were a few seconds of shocked silence before someone else kicked into gear. "We can think about that later. Help her."
Audrey was gently levitated off the ground and glided with them. "How was all this happening and no one heard a thing?"
"No clue."
"Is that a barrier?"
"Sure as hell looks like it. Who in Osadai's ass put that up?!" A man swore.
"Language!" Another man chided.
"Who put that barrier up? What was it supposed to keep out anyway?"
"To think about it, did anyone see the Takilya girl at the ceremony?"
"I did not. Did you?"
"No."
"What was she doing out here?"
Audrey scoffed. Of course they would not have heard anything, Aunt Minerva likes her barriers soundproof.
"Did she say Minerva?" someone whispered.
Shock seized her for a few seconds. She had not meant to say those words outloud. She had not meant to say anything outloud.
"Minerva? Minerva Mosit?"
"That barrier does look like one of hers."
"Certainly feels like her mana."
Laila and another person got to healing her. She must have lost the vision in one eye because it was all dark on the left side.
"Where did this thing come from?" Laila asked. Looking at the beast's body, wrinkling her nose in revulsion.
"This or should I rather say that, was Augusto's handiwork."
The beast's body started to convulse even more violently, its spiney tail whipping wildly, mouth open and clamping down hard before it slowly morphed back to its original form. Her bed. Broken, slashed down the middle and as bloody as her.
"Do not start blaming your cousin!" The pain in her chest came from more than her injuries. The words had come from her mother. Audrey could feel her approaching. She did not want to look at her in fear her tears would start all over again. The last thing she wanted was cry in front of her or everyone present.
"This was obviously one of your experiments." Her father accused. As usual, always blaming her. Finding her easier to shift the blame on. Better her than anyone else, even himself. Always has, always will.
"I cannot believe you are trying to spoil Tonight for everyone." Rosalia cried. Audrey turned to meet her gaze. Rosalia stood a few ways away from where she was being healed. She was in a pink knee length dress, covered in intricate hand stitched lace and studded with pearls. It was nothing short of beautiful and it complimented her skin, figure and the colour of her familiar. She was just mad that, she no longer had everyone's attention anymore. The bird was just as annoyed as her.
Behind her was her mother with a hand on her daughter's shoulder, and behind her mother was Augusto. He was in a lavish outfit, A crisp black dress shirt, an emerald green vest, with pearls stitched on and the Most family crest on his left of his chest, pants that looked like they had been dyed ten times in black ink and the finest leather boots. Nothing but the best for the heir of the family.
Anything to cover up his knack for hiding behind someone. Much like her father. When she got her hands on that brat he was going to regret ever being born. She felt a small ring in her ears as she continued to pin her eyes on him. She was so focused on him, she zoned out. All she could see was her hands around Augusto's neck, choking him and tearing him apart. Him and that scruffy weasel familiar of his. She could hear him screaming for mercy. Smell the iron tang of blood.
"Even more unbelievable is how you want to pin the blame for your mistake on my mother and my brother." Rosalia ranted. Audrey blinked, she had forgotten about her. She had completely tuned her out and focused entirely on Augusto. The bloody thoughts flee her head, leaving her with the unnerving chill it always did.
"Are you not ashamed of yourself? Raila, Vertich control your daughter. How can she say such things about her family?" Her other Aunt shouted, shocked at her words. If Audrey could, she would have sniggered. Her Aunt Lucia was very good at weaving false emotions into her words. Her pristine white fox stood beside her, not looking quite as aggravated as its owner.
"You should respect your betters instead of accusing them." Augusto said, stepping out from behind his mother. A triumphant look on his face.
"You could at the very least respect your age, cousin." Alanic added.