Ch 23: The end of A Lady

The moon hung high over Lady Fourie's estate, casting its cold light through the grand windows of her bedroom. The noblewoman lay sound asleep, unaware of the shadows moving silently in her chamber.

Fenrir and Mary Ann stood over her, their expressions cold and resolute. Lady Fourie had become a liability, her scheming and arrogance too dangerous to leave unchecked. Her greed had led her down the path of ambition, and now it would be her undoing.

Fenrir leaned closer, whispering a spell in a language that sent chills through the air. The room grew darker, the shadows deepening as an unnatural force filled the space. Lady Fourie stirred, her breath hitching as the spell took hold.

Morning broke over the mansion, the first rays of sunlight illuminating the ornate corridors. A maid, bringing in fresh linens, opened the door to Lady Fourie's chambers—and let out a piercing scream.

The noblewoman's lifeless body lay sprawled across her bed, her face pale and bloodless. Two puncture wounds marred her neck, a macabre signature left by the supposed "vampire."

The news spread quickly. By noon, the mansion was filled with people offering condolences to the grieving Mary Ann, now the head of the household. Fenrir, ever the devoted servant, stood silently by her side, his expression unreadable.

Among the mourners was Lord Joseph, a stern and imposing figure from the nearby temple. He approached Mary Ann with a bow, his voice calm but firm. "Lady Mary Ann, I am deeply sorry for your loss. However, I must request to see the body. We need to confirm whether this truly was the work of a vampire."

Mary Ann exchanged a glance with Fenrir, a flicker of tension passing between them. "Of course, Lord Joseph," she said, her voice steady. "You may see her. My servant will guide you."

Fenrir led Lord Joseph and his small entourage to the chamber where Lady Fourie's body was kept. Unbeknownst to them, the once-dead noblewoman was no longer entirely lifeless. The dark ritual Fenrir had performed ensured her transformation, a final act to tie up loose ends while creating a distraction for their next moves.

As Lord Joseph leaned over Lady Fourie's body, inspecting the wounds with a critical eye, the room seemed to grow colder. The air crackled with an unspoken tension, and the faintest movement caught his attention.

Before he could react, Lady Fourie's eyes snapped open, glowing with an unnatural light. With a guttural snarl, she lunged at him, her fangs bared.

"Guards!" Lord Joseph shouted, but his voice was cut short as she sank her teeth into his neck. Blood sprayed across the room as the once-noblewoman reveled in her newfound power.

The commotion drew the attention of another temple official, a young priestess with a commanding presence. She burst into the room, her hands glowing with divine energy.

"By the light of the divine, be gone!" she cried, thrusting her hands forward. A burst of radiant light enveloped Lady Fourie, her screams echoing through the mansion as her body disintegrated into ash.

Lord Joseph slumped to the floor, his lifeless body a grim reminder of the encounter. The priestess knelt beside him, her expression grim.

As the ashes of Lady Fourie settled into silence, Lord Joseph turned to Mary Ann, his face somber. Though he was a man of the temple, his voice carried a softness uncharacteristic of his usual demeanor.

"Lady Mary Ann," he began, his words measured, "I am deeply sorry for your loss. To lose a sister in such a... brutal manner is a tragedy no one should endure. Rest assured, we will not cease until this vampire is brought to justice."

Mary Ann lowered her head, her veil casting her face in shadow. Her voice, however, rang with quiet strength. "Thank you, Lord Joseph. Your presence and your efforts to grant my sister peace mean more to me than words can express. She was strong-willed, as you must have noticed even in her final moments. It is a comfort to know she was not alone when she... passed."

Joseph inclined his head respectfully. "It was the least I could do."

Mary Ann placed a delicate hand on his arm. "Please extend my gratitude to the temple for their assistance during this trying time. For now, I must bid you farewell. My grief is a weight I must bear in solitude."

With Lord Joseph and the other officials gone, Mary Ann turned her attention to the remaining mourners. Each one offered their condolences, their eyes filled with a mixture of pity and curiosity.

Mary Ann accepted their words with grace, her composure unshaken even as she spoke of her plans to close the mansion temporarily for mourning. "I appreciate all of you for coming," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "But my sister's death has left a void that I must face alone. I hope you understand my need for privacy during this time."

The guests nodded, offering final words of sympathy before departing. The mansion, once bustling with whispers and footsteps, gradually fell silent.

______

Rui sat in the shadows of a narrow alley, her back pressed against the cold stone wall as the noise of the bustling marketplace filled her ears. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread made her stomach churn with hunger, but she dared not step into the light. Her ashen complexion and hollowed cheeks would draw suspicion.

As she watched the flow of people, snippets of conversation drifted toward her. At first, they were the usual hum of city life—merchants haggling, children laughing, travelers sharing tales. But then, a more somber tone began to weave through the chatter.

"Did you hear about Lady Fourie?" one woman whispered, clutching a basket of apples.

"A tragedy," another replied, shaking her head. "They say a vampire got her."

Rui's blood ran cold. She leaned forward, straining to hear more.

"They found her in her chambers, completely drained of blood," a man added, his voice low. "And poor Lord Joseph... gone too. Some say the vampire was still lurking when he arrived."

"But Lady Mary Ann survived," another voice interjected. "She's taken over the estate now. Such strength, to carry on after losing her sister."

Rui's hands clenched into fists. Fenrir. He had to be behind this. The timing, the circumstances—it all pointed to him.

As the day wore on, the rumors grew more elaborate. Some claimed Lady Fourie had dabbled in forbidden arts, drawing the vampire to her. Others suggested the attack was part of a larger, more sinister plan.

Rui's mind swirled with uncertainty. She had come to New Portland hoping for sanctuary, for a way to bury her past. Instead, she had stumbled into the aftermath of Fenrir's schemes.

She stood abruptly, her resolve hardening. If Lady Fourie was gone, Mary Ann was now the one in power. And Rui needed answers. Perhaps Mary Ann could help her—even if it meant confronting Fenrir once more.

Rui pulled her hood lower over her face as she slipped into the throng of people. The path to Lady Fourie's estate was clear in her mind, but so was the risk. Fenrir would be there, and he was more dangerous than ever.

Yet Rui couldn't turn away. Not now. Not when she was so close to the truth.

As she disappeared into the crowd, the whispers of the tragedy followed her, growing louder with every step. She needed to visit the mansion and end Fenrir once and for all. Otherwise, she was afraid that she might end up joining him on his journey and lose her real self.

______

The path to the mansion felt longer than Rui anticipated. Her legs ached from days of relentless wandering, and the gnawing hunger in her chest had become an unbearable weight. The scent of blood on the air, carried by the city's hustle, only deepened her torment.

As she approached the gates of Lady Fourie's estate, Rui hesitated. The towering iron bars seemed more like prison walls than a welcoming entryway. Yet, she knew she had no other choice.

She wrapped her tattered cloak tighter around herself and stepped forward.

The mansion loomed ominously, its grandeur now draped in black fabric and solemnity. Guards at the gate eyed Rui suspiciously. "Who are you, and what business do you have here?" one asked gruffly.

Rui kept her hood low, her voice soft but steady. "I am a friend of Lady Fourie. I came as soon as I heard the news. Please, let me pay my respects."

The guard exchanged a glance with his companion before nodding. "Be quick about it. Lady Mary Ann is not seeing many visitors."

The interior of the mansion was eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of muffled weeping echoing through the grand halls. Rui's gaze flicked across the opulent surroundings, searching for any sign of Fenrir or Mary Ann.

She passed a group of maids huddled together, their whispered words barely audible.

"The vampire might still be out there," one said, her voice trembling. "I heard the priest said there's no trace of it, but who's to say it won't come back?"

"Hush!" another hissed. "Do you want Lady Mary Ann to hear you? She's been through enough."

Rui quickened her pace, her heart pounding.