Chapter 2: A Family That's Full Of Villains
Rita's eyes widened as she processed Johann's words.
She stood like a paralysed statue.
Two days until the wedding? Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest.
"Two days?" she repeated, not able to believe it.
Gunther chuckled. "Yes, dear sister. Unless you know a wizard who can stop time, you'd better start getting ready."
"I need a plan," she thought, while letting her eyes wander around the lavish dining hall.
Pedro nibbled on a piece of fruit, oblivious to the situation. "Yummy!" he squawked, flapping his wings.
Johann watched him. "Your parrot has quite the appetite."
Rita forced a laugh, trying to mask her anxiety. "Yeah, he's a bit of a foodie."
Gunther gestured to a chair. "Sit, Lirian. Eat something. You look like you've seen a ghost."
Rita hesitated, then took a seat, eyeing the plates of pastries, eggs, and bacon.
Her stomach rumbled, and she realized she was famished.
She reached for a croissant; her fingers trembled slightly.
"Did you sleep well?" Johann asked, pouring himself a cup of steaming tea.
"Like a baby," Rita lied, hoping her smile looked convincing.
Pedro hopped onto the table, pecking at a piece of toast. "Crisis, crisis!" he chirped, mimicking one of her favorite lines.
Gunther raised an eyebrow. "Does he always repeat everything you say?"
"Only the important stuff," Rita quipped, grateful for Pedro's comedic timing.
As they ate, the brothers exchanged a look that made Rita's skin crawl.
Their smiles seemed friendly, but there was something lurking behind them—something dark.
"You know, Lirian," Gunther said, leaning back in his chair, "Gabriel isn't the only one with a goal for destruction."
Johann smirked, swirling his tea. "True. We've had our share of… fun."
Rita swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. "Fun?"
"Oh, just some business dealings," Johann replied. "Let's just say we have ways of persuading those who disagree with us."
Gunther nodded. "And we always get what we want."
Rita felt a chill run down her spine.
Her brothers loved her, but their methods were far from gentle.
She needed to move carefully.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from the kitchen, followed by a string of curses.
The siblings exchanged glances, and Rita seized the opportunity to change the subject.
"What was that?" she asked.
Gunther sighed. "Probably the new cook. She's a bit… clumsy."
"Should we check on her?"
Johann shrugged. "Why not? Could be entertaining."
They rose from the table. Rita led the way with Pedro perched on her shoulder.
As they entered the kitchen, they found a young woman surrounded by broken dishes, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Oh, dear," the cook stammered, attempting to gather the shattered pieces.
Rita knelt to help, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we've all been there."
"Tha-thank yo-you, la-lady Li-Lirian," she stuttered.
Rita noticed how the cook avoided their eyes. She was shaking.
Gunther leaned casually against the counter, crossing his arms and smirking.
"You know, Lirian," he began, "sometimes a little incentive is needed to keep the help in line."
Rita glanced up. "What do you mean?"
Johann stepped forward. "Just a little reminder of the consequences of failure."
He plucked a large, heavy knife from the butcher's block. The blade was so bright it started catching the light.
Rita's breath hitched as she watched him twirl the knife effortlessly.
"You wouldn't," she hushed her words.
"Wouldn't we?" Gunther replied.
"It's all about setting an example." He nodded toward the quaking cook, who was now frozen in place.
"Please, I'll do better," the cook stammered. Her voice cracked.
She dropped the remaining shards from her trembling hands.
Johann leaned closer. "You see, every mistake has its price."
He pressed the blade gently against the cook's wrist, just enough for a bead of blood to form.
"What do you think, Gunther? A little reminder that we run a tight ship?"
"Absolutely. A little cut here and there reminds them who really rules."
Rita's heart was running faster than her will to escape this place.
"Stop! You don't have to do this!" she shouted. The words burst from her lips like the same sharp blade.
"Ah, but we do, dear sister," Johann replied.
"It's how the world works. Strength is respected; weakness…" He let the sentence hang. The implication was obvious to her.
The cook whimpered, tears spilled down her cheeks, and in that moment, Rita felt the walls closing in.
This was her family—the lords of this land, reveling in the power they wielded, unbothered by the lives they toyed with.
"Let her go!" Rita demanded as she stood, facing her brothers. "She deserves mercy."
Gunther's brow arched. "Mercy? How quaint." He stepped forward.
"Weren't you the one who said yesterday you wanted to play with our new chef?"
The cook's pleas faded into the background as Rita glared at her brothers.
In that moment, she realized she was standing at the precipice of their dark world, where cruelty was a game and lives were just silly pawns.
"Enough," Gunther commanded, lowering the knife. "For now."
Rita exhaled, but the fear didn't leave her.
"Lirian, go talk to our father."
Without a word, she nodded and left the kitchen.
"These crazy maniacs!"
The mansion was so huge, she didn't know where exactly to go.
"Now, where's the father's chamber—"
She stopped.
"Lirian, darling. Come on in…" A man that had dark red hair smiled.
"Lucius…" she muttered.
Lucius was Lirian's father, and the main reason why Lirian chose this life.
She had every reason to do what she was doing.
She hated everyone, and most importantly, she hated her father.
Lucius closed the door quietly, making sure no one was watching.
He then placed Lirian in a chair and locked her wrists and ankles with chains.
"Daughter, today only I will watch you scream, as the lords were busy."
He took out a whip. Its leather snapped as he moved.
The sound cut through the still air, causing Lirian to flinch.
A small gasp escaped her lips as she realized the situation she was in.
Each breath felt so shallow. "Fat-father…" her nose started running.
"Please don't. I'll be good. I promise. Just let me go." Sour water filled her eyes as she looked at Lucius, knowing he only wanted to hurt her.
"I told you what happens when you don't listen to me. Because of you, trying to run away, your dear husband decided to lower the price!"
And in that moment, Rita felt her chest crush as she realised her family wasn't just full of villains; they were the ones who had tortured her the most.