It was on a dreary afternoon when they stormed into the house. The leader, a man in his forties, wiped his shoes vigorously on the hallway floor, leaving patches of mud prints. They headed straight to Marini's room, pushing open the door, just as Glocara was feeding Mareni liquid food as usual.
"What are you doing to my daughter?" the leader asked.
"Mareni is still alive, and the living need to eat," Glocara turned around, spreading her arms as wide as possible against the bed, shielding the girl behind her.
The man lifted his chin, glancing over Glocara's shoulder at the girl with the same brevity as one would look at a cargo container just delivered to the port. Then his gaze shifted back to Glocara, locking onto her intensely.
Tusha set aside what he was doing and walked to the back of the group, peeking into the room.
"Crazy woman," the man said. "Don't think that by doing all this, I'll show you any mercy. Your filthy hands, which touch corpses all day, make me sick when you place them on my daughter."
"Your hands are clean indeed, but it's a shame they've never held your daughter, Lassander."
"When will you realize that pretending to be sharp-tongued in the lower levels brings no benefit? Let me be brief, Lord Silversnap has agreed to meet me next week. He will make a fair judgment, and for you, the one who killed my daughter..."
"How can you say that about Mareni? Look! Look here!" Glocara urgently placed her right hand under Mareni's nose and her left hand on her own chest. "Her breath is on my fingers. She's still alive! How can you keep using that word to describe your daughter?"
Lassander fell silent for a moment.
"She doesn't speak or move. She can't wear a wedding dress and dance with her husband in front of me. She can't do anything for me. That's death."
"Trust me, she can. Even if she doesn't wake up, you can bring that so-called future son-in-law here. If you can manage that, I won't interfere anymore. Does that guy even have the guts to come to the lower levels? Mareni has her own life, not just for you..."
Glocara suddenly choked on her words.
"Life? You have the nerve to use that word. You're the one who took her life. Ah, your fingers are trembling. You know I'm right... I'm leaving now. The tailor will be here in an hour to see Lord Silversnap, and I need a more fitting outfit. I'm a frugal man, but I'm doing this to ensure you are punished for my daughter's death..."
"Don't use that word to describe her again."
Lassander shook his head. "What a pity. You know, you're quite beautiful when you're emotional... but that's only one step away from madness. We'll meet again soon, Glocara."
He and his men left the house without casting even a glance at Tusha as they passed him by.
Tusha watched as Glocara straightened the blanket over Mareni's feet, then sat motionless at the edge of the bed, her hands folded on her lap. The dim light painted a soft glow on her profile.
Tusha closed the door for her. But before the door shut completely, Glocara said, "Don't close it all the way. The air needs to circulate in here."
"As you wish, Miss Glocara." So, he left a small gap, allowing light and air to flow between the confined little room and the hallway.