"I heard through the grapevine—"
"What is it now that you've heard?" asked Frederick. He rolled his glorious hazel eyes at Rafael - a kind-looking person except for the long scar running from his forehead to his right cheeks and ending at his jaw. Like some grizzly teddy bear - scary but cute!
"That one of the Bloodsworth —" Rafael paused dramatically, gouging for his attention.
"Spit it out or scram, I want to rest," Frederick spat as he took a huge drag out of his cigarette.
"Again? You're taking an awful lot of rest lately, Mortcombe. You sick?"
The villainous young lad knew his men were bound to be suspicious of him if he kept on staying home. They are not stupid. Just plain ol' ignorant.
"What about the Bloodsworth?" He asked, changing the conversation.
"Oh yes. As I was saying one of them ran away to that country."
"Tsk! What a pest! Make sure to finish him before another rebellion started," Frederick flung his lit cigarette away and stormed off.
He went straight to Audrey's room and called her out, "Princess!"
"Yes?" She was already on her feet with her hands tucked nicely.
He took a seat on the couch and lit a new stick. The captor was exuding a charismatic aura and asked, "What do the Bloodsworth have in Country G?"
"I believe one of my cousin's maternal grandparents is of that nationality."
"Are they civilians?"
"I do not have the info to answer you."
Frederick shook his legs with frustration and ran his fingers through his soft, dark hair. He closed his eyes and took a puff, racking his brain thinking about what outcomes he wanted.
"Are they big-shot?"
"I'm truly sorry as I have yet to possess information in regards to them."
Rage was starting to build up from within as he recalled his trusted ally betrayed and attempted to assassinate him. Annoyed, he flung the ceramic ashtray to the wall causing Audrey to tremble with fear.
"Surely there must be something you know!!" He shook her shoulders, unable to contain his anger.
"I apologise for my lack of information," she whimpered, trying to make her voice stable and clear even though her eyes were pooling with water.
"Are you freaking sure you're Bloodsworth??" He screamed right at her face, not bothered at the glassy brown eyes that reflected his frightening demeanour.
He anticipated her to fall down on her knees and wept as most of his victims do. But when she remained firm on her feet and the tears that trickled down her cheeks were left as is, he became even more furious!
'What the FUCK?!'
Frederick saw her behaviour as an act of defiance. Like a teenager in their rebellious phase. Top that with the poisonous subconscious feeding him that she is a Bloodsworth, he became even more enraged. He tore her clothes, intending to scare his prisoner to appease his rage.
But when he saw her in lingerie, his body became frozen. Frederick's eyes bulged. His hands dropped the ripped clothes unceremoniously to the floor and his flame of wrath died instantly.
'What the... fuck???'
Yes, she was trembling with fear, which was a normal sight for him. But to see that she still remained standing tall in her spot? That seemed to be one characteristic she possessed that never changed.
Yes, she did cry but it was not the usual wailing. Instead, if he did not see her pooled brown eyes and the endless tears streaming down her cheeks, he would not have realised she was crying. Especially not the type of cry where a single sound should have escaped her full lips.
Despite the weird traits she unleashed at the moment, it was the thousands of slashes, cuts and injuries on her body that chilled him to the bone.
The first thing that crossed his mind was self-inflicted harm. However, he quickly dismissed it when the angle did not fit the criteria. When he saw red thick rings around her wrists and ankles, he knew without a doubt that she had been abused.
'But who? The Bloodsworth?'
"Are you sure you're a Bloodsworth?" He asked once again. But this time with a softer gasp and tenderness in his eyes as regrets filled every inch of his body to brim.
"Yes."
"Wha— But how? Who? I mean, who dared to do THIS to a Bloodsworth?" Frederick was speechless. His curiosity and interrogation about Country G had been long gone. He wanted to find out whether she is truly a Bloodsworth. But he could not confirm it. All her relatives had been disposed of by his own hands.
"I deserved it."
Her voice was soft but he heard it loud and clear. He turned himself away from her and threw his coat in her direction. "Cover yourself."
'Holy shit! I never realised the Bloodsworth would do this to their own blood! If she is truly a Bloodsworth, to say the least.'
He left her room and called Pearson, his intel.
"Pears, do me a favour and give me Bloodsworth's family tree ASAP. Oh, make sure to include all the tiny details as well. I want every rock turned!"