It was night in the human Kingdom of Trios. A starless night with clouds across the sky blocking even the moon. This was perhaps the reason why the mansion shined brightly.
Moans . . . grunts . . . cries and screams echoed through the halls. Dark, the only illumination was the torches mounted on the walls. Stains of blood on the walls with a thick smell of rot in the air. Thankfully, the bone-chilling breeze that circulated in the windows brought in gulps of freshness.
The old Baroness walked, her immaculate dress clutched. Her face twisted in disgust as she looked at the Elves and the Demi-humans in the cells. She walked to a cell where the noises originated. The guard outside stood motionless his face inscrutable, hidden under his peaked military cap.
"He is at it again, I thought I told you to make sure that idiot does not touch our best merchandise." the old woman complained.
"My Lady, let the young man have his fun." said the guard.
She smiled. "Just make sure the Kage clan's Nekomata are not touched. They are priceless."
She turned and walked past the cell to the adjacent cell. Chained on the wall were three girls, with cat ears and tails. Bruise marks on their skin ragged clothes, all young about the age of eight to ten years old. She grinned at the site of her precious merchandise. After a while, she walked away.
The guard, tired and sleepy went into the room. The young master grunted heavily and let the young lady drop. He then pulled up his pants and tied the belt.
"Young Master, some of us have to sleep you know. You can fulfill your fetishes in the day."
"It's more fun at night." he looked at the whip on his hand and smiled, "Indeed stimulating."
The guard looked around and sighed. The three Elven girls stripped naked crying, with bruise marks from whips on their skin and white semen on their thighs and bodies. They cuddled together trembling their faces devoid of color.
"I really can't understand noblemen's desires," thought the guard.
"I met a woman I want," said the young master as they walked out.
"Oh is that so, who is she?"
"Jhana Helmsman, her thighs, her breasts, her body. I want it,"
The guard looked at him in surprise and chuckled.
"Alas my Lord, she is a price you cannot have, Don't forget she is a daughter of Aterxerxis."
The thought of him sent shudders in their bones. The Young master recalled her, the thought that she was leagues away from him made him lust for her even more. This brought his recent tantrums which he took out on the slave.
At the dining table, his thoughts were preoccupied with the thoughts of her that his sister noticed.
"Brother, I heard you have been acting up lately," said her sister, "You still can't get over that girl?"
"Don't worry sister, I always get the girls I want,"
She laughed at his remark, which was half true. Though they were one of the minor nobles he had always had a charm to flatter even royalty.
"Whatever, am just hungry, where is the food."
She turned to one of the maids who had suddenly begun trembling. The maid knew if the Young miss was kept any longer, she would pull out her eyes. It was an occurrence, anyone who annoyed her was met with death. She was a sadist. They all understood, the house, those people were devils.
"Right away miss." She said quickly her voice trembling.
Before long the table was set. The entire family was soon seated but could not begin as the head of the family, the old lady, had yet to arrive. There were murmurs and chatters and finally, her patience completely waded the Young miss decided to begin.
"I can't wait anymore!" she shouted pulling the dome cover off.
As she did, she screamed out and stumbled back horror written across her face. Drawing the attention, they all turned to see the pale human hand on her plate. Screams . . . people stepped back quickly others held their mouths swallowing hard at the noxious feeling in their guts.
"This is Grany's . . . I recognize that jade ring," she struggled to say.
She noticed a black letter beside the hand. It had two dove wings symbol, silver in color, on the top. She slowly opened it with obvious anticipation. Then, she laughed and dropped to the ground.
Each knew the letter, and with dread, they opened their dishes. Fingers, toes, kidneys, lungs, and various body parts were distributed. And in every one of them, there was a black letter. After reading it, a myriad of reactions came to their faces. Mostly terror.
Finally, the young master opened his. There was a heart, bloody and fresh. His letter was thicker, folded severally. He swallowed hard and then opened it. They all looked in horror at the long letter. They knew what it was, a list of all his crimes and adjacent punishments.
The last dish had not been opened. The young master silently walked over. His knees hit against each other as he walked, and his entire body was drenched in sweat as he thought of prayer but could find none. Heavily, he pulled open the lid, and everyone who had been holding their breaths choked on mouthfuls of air. Some vomited others sat down, others fainted, and some soiled themselves.
Indeed, the severed head of the old lady and the look on her face suggested pure agony. She had died a very painful death. The lights went off, screams followed, and the blood soaked the halls of the Baroness of Saint Luis.
Meanwhile . . .
A letter was written and given to the postman. Promptly, along with a hundred others, it was taken to the post office. The letter then traveled through a mailbox. It was picked up and delivered to another mailbox. Before it reached its final destination, it had gone through fifty different mailboxes.
Finally, in a lone and dark room, a young man picked it up. It simply read.
"Kill Jhana Helmsman."
The man who was titled the Grim Reaper placed it above a candle and watched it burn. He looked at a pendant and then placed it in his pocket. After a while, he left the house.
* * *
Budget for the new training equipment, report on the expenditure for the previous year's spendings, signing letters of recommendation. . . and so on. The workload for Jhana as she sat in her office.
Her assistant was equally placing seals on papers adjacent to her. She was seven years older than her and had risen to the position fairly decently.
"Jhana, you've been rather in high spirits lately," she said.
"Whatever do you mean?" asked Jhana barely paying attention.
"You wear a little makeup which was never your habit."
Jhana was startled as well as impressed by her observation. She had applied lip gloss a few times but did not think anyone would notice. She looked at her resting her head on her palms.
"Are you seeing anyone?" her assistant asked.
"Of course not!" she said defensively.
"Now am interested, is he handsome, is he from a prestigious family . . . "
"I told you are not . . ." she was pinching her cheeks, "but . . . that ass should just die."
"What do you mean?"
Her face turned red as she recalled sleeping on the same bed, but he did not move on her throughout the night. She was just pissed off, that maybe he did not even see her as a woman.
"Come on Jhan, tell me the deets,"
"Drop it! My romantic life does not involve you, now can . . . "
Her long monologue was cut short by the sudden opening of the door. She turned angrily to the intruders but came but the sight of black silk halted her, she was perplexed as she came face to face with her superior.
"General Goldenvilla," said Jhana and her assistant standing at ease with a salute.
All the while thoughts ran through her mind. Why was he here all of a sudden? What did he want? Why was she not informed of the visit?
Two guards came in and stood facing each other. A beast of a man walked in. He had an eyepatch with a scar on his cheek that made him intimidated. He wore a double-breasted military coat with several budges, and a black cape with a firm collar that swept behind him as he walked.
"Jhana are you well?" he asked, his voice deep.
He gazed at the secretary and Jhana as well. This was a questioning gaze, immediately they understood their mistake. Holding their dresses, they curtsied and avoided his gaze.
"I am honored sir, it's a pleasure to have you, but I think you should have informed us first before you came, to make better preparations," said Jhana.
"I am not here to stay long depending on your cooperation. Jhana Helmsman your regimen shall fall under my jurisdiction following the ongoing investigation."
"Investigation? What do you mean?" asked Jhana surprised.
"Hasn't the news reached you? The Baroness of Saint Luisiana was murdered last night. You are to be under constant surveillance until the truth is uncovered."