Chapter 4: Bizedras' Secret

Bizedras' Manor

The enormous iron gate is the entrance of the Bizedras' mansion. Starting from this gate to the vast forest of Chison is the front yard of the Bizedras. From there the family's manor stood proudly.

Bizedras were known for their wealth. The richest next to the queen, the one who owned an immense part of the Cuwran Kingdom. Bizedras family is a vieuz riche, a lineage possessing inherited wealth. Their money goes beyond time that even the long line of the royals didn't know where the money came from.

Now lead by the General Symon Rauze Bizedras. A rank in the army just next to the Marshall and the Minister.

It seems like the General Symon was bound to be successful in life as he not only a wealthy and high ranking in the army but he's also popular to the circle of the upper class.

The infamous Master of the House Bizedras who sweeps all the girls with one glance. He's a young bachelor that any young mistress would want to marry because of his handsome looks and his endless wealth plus the pride of being the youngest general.

At the age of 16, he inherited the Bizedras' wealth and power. At 21 he becomes the youngest Major then at 25 he become the highest ranking General. The President is his godfather and now that he's at the age of 30 he is bound to be married to a mage, no correction it's an Archmage now. He is the best of the best. But there's one thing, although it was not public, he's known to have a son.

To reach the main mansion, you need to drive through the forest up to the mountain, for hours. And when you reach the top of the mountain, you will be greeted by the grand courtyard of the mansion.

At the center, stood the huge fountain, the soft gurgling of the clear water melodic as it resonated in the surroundings, muted music coming inside the mansion. The courtyard was full of grandeur and lights as the people start to come out of their saloon.

Rows of luxurious cars are parked outside the Bizedras mansion. The night just started and the atmosphere was jovial. Inside the mansion, soft music was playing and the hushed small talks. Above you see a harmonious party.

Beneath the mansion was a secret that only the family knew.

The dungeon hidden was the secret only the Masters of the house Bizedras knew. Underneath where sunlight can't penetrate trough, the air is damp and chilly.

Butler Geros, took a deep breath as he fixes his bow tie and grabs the torch to light his way down. He's been working under the Bizedras House for many years now. Trained from a young age 'till now.

Geros' family has been loyal and dedicated to the Bizedras House. From his ancestors to now generation their family always been under the Bizedras House. Probably because of the close age of the now House Master Symon, he was trusted fully and treated like a family. He knows the secrets of the mansion.

The mansion was passed on by generation after generation. The mansion attests by time and eras.

His loyalty is towards the Bizedras family and nothing else.

When he reached the lowest part of the stone stairs he was greeted by a massive pair of granite doors, the entrance to this dungeon. Beyond the pair of granite doors lies a grand, clammy room. It's covered in puddles of water, broken stone, and rat droppings.

The torch he's holding allowed him to see the remnants of what was once decorated room with a now unknown purpose, pillaged and desolated by time itself.

Further ahead are two paths, but the right is a dead end. Its twisted trail leads passed several empty rooms and soon you will enter a crumbled area. Geros chooses the left path without thoughts.

He passes countless passages, it's one big labyrinth of twists and turns. And eventually, he makes it to what is likely the final room. Inside you can see light seeping through the cracks of the wooden door.

This door looked old and looks like can't hold a gush of wind but this wood is a magical piece. It was sturdy as metal and can keep noises inside. A perfect piece if you want to hide something. As soon as Geros opened the door, wails and screams could be heard as the torture continued. He walked silently as he reaches the end of the hallway, a prison cell was waiting for him.

The prison cell was a hollow cube of concrete, one way in, no windows. In there you could have no idea how much time had passed or even if it was night or day. It was disorientating by design. Given enough time a person could forget their name in there. No sound, no light, no furniture or cloth of any kind.

Inside the cell, a man with a chain at his ankle curled up at the corner. You can smell the metallic taste of the combined blood and urine of the man. Blood covered the man's skin, naked without any clothes, it was already winter and he's shivering from both fear and cold.

The prisoner is called Anslo. A servant inside the mansion.

Anslo's whole body was mutilated and no part of the skin was spared. Sometimes, if the torturer Ono is in a good mood and wants to hear his scream, he will burn him with a glowing hot metal rod forming a shape of a flower. It was the brand of Bizedras House.

Other times Ono just sit and simply talk to him as if like a friend, but the problem was the stories he's telling. He talks about his passion for torturing the prisoners, how he compares his pleas to the other people that he tortured. He also tells him that with a wide grin on his face and glee in his eyes as if there's nothing wrong about it.

Anslo wished he could die.

Now there's another person inside, it was the master of the house, Symon Rauze Bizedras.

He looks at the man, he's wearing a simple shirt and buttoned it up fully to support the graceful bow tie he's wearing. On top of the shirt he's wearing a trendy vest with 7 buttons, it has a fairly deep v-line, it's just narrow enough for the top to remain visible, adding another layer to the overall look of the suit.

The jacket is a perfectly tailored fit for him. It has an elegantly simple black color which radiates confidence. The 4 buttons of his single-breasted jacket have been left unbuttoned, it's a casual look that still manages to look classy.

The jacket is the same length all around, it has vents at either side, there's a single pocket on one side and there's a breast pocket which contains a stylish pocket square.

He's wearing pants which copy the style of the jacket, both in color, they're a perfect match for his shoes.

To top it all off he's wearing a refined watch and accompanied by cuff links.

Obviously, the master is tailored to fit for the celebration party going on up at the mansion. He didn't wear that just to watch Anslo be tortured. He's the master of the Bizedras house he meant to be at the party since he's the host. He just here to watch him be tortured for entertainment. He's even eating while watching him mutilated and hear his screams as music.

Anslo's mouth was bloodied from the tooth they took out, just now, manually. Ono was excited because the housemaster was there to watch and seems content at his art. After all, the master was eating with gusto.

The truth was that Symon just in a hurry to eat since the party is getting started, it is impolite to be late at his party. He signaled Ono to continue his torture, Ono then was elated.

Ono was interrupted by someone opening the door of the torture chamber, making the people inside look at the man. It was Butler Geros with his torchlight on hand.

The sound of the keys from butler Geros was heard by Anslo and as if it was practiced he trembled in fear. If Ono in front of him is crazy and a creep this man with keys is on a different level. This man was expressionless the whole time he was being tortured, the same expression how he usually uses while making tea for Master Symon. He was treated not as human, he was just an object in his eyes. Butler Geros didn't even talk, he just proceeds at torturing him as if it was an errand. At least with Ono, he was treated like a masterpiece.

He was conditioned that every time this man came he will torture him until he almost dies. When he fell unconscious he will wake up with cold water and healed, then torture continued. It was a cycle, an endless loop. A hell loop.

He just wants this end. He knows he's going to die. The anticipation that he's going to die in the end but only to wake up and to be tortured again, is what makes him crazy. He just wants it to stop.

"I..." he started, his voice cracked. His throat is dry and he needed to swallow multiple times to be able to speak. "I'll tell you... I'll tell you everything." He confessed. He will tell them who instigated the plan or how it all started or where is the Young Master Marion kept in. He was tortured enough that he just spills everything.

But Ono just laughed at his desperation.

"Kuahahahhahahhahahahhahahha!!!"

Ono's manically laugh echoed inside the chamber. For a moment Anslo looks at Ono in surprise and into confusion. He didn't know why but he felt a chill run down his spine up to the tip of his hair. He looked at the man giving him the chills, he was meet by a pair of blue eyes. It was so blue that it shines under the dark.

He trembled as he realized the truth. Why's Ono was laughing. Memories flashed inside his mind. Why is it easy for him to get inside the Bizedras Mansion. How the man who hired him knew that there's a vacant position to be a servant, in the first place. How they easily accept him. Or how it was all harmonious.

He realized too late. If only he knew. If he knew earlier that Bizedras power wasn't on having endless wealth. Where would that wealth come from? Information, he remembered how Butler Geros said to him as he looked down on him while torturing him.

They never ask anything about the disappearance of the young master. They just have given him a few days of freedom and took it away after. All along his was the insect trapped inside the spider's web.

A spider flower. The brand of the Bizedras House.

"Haha..." Anslo laughs at himself. Even if he knew earlier, there's still nothing he can do. The moment that person hired him to kill the young master was already calculated by this cruel man. Hell, he bet even the man who hired him was also one of his people.

"Get his tongue." Symon frowned at the broken man. He finally realized that he won't be going anywhere aside from being entertainment for Ono and Geros.

Symon gets his coat from the chair, he's already done eating but he's still in a bad mood. He wants to be entertained as he watches Anslo be tortured but somehow his mood worsens.

Last night they came to the Calles a place at the lower class. It was the place where his son was taken. He was being kept in an abandoned warehouse but when they came Marion was nowhere to be found. The only heir of Bizedras House is still missing. That child probably acting up.

When the child was kidnapped he took his coat, Symon's coat, but neglected a watch that he knows has a tracking device? No way, Marion is not that dumb. It could only mean that, wherever he's going, he knows where it is.

It also means he doesn't want to be found. Damn kid, he thought to have a headache.

This party is important, one reason is that he will announce an engagement. The engagement was full of political reason and Symon is not getting younger. Having someone who can take care of Marion is a great relief to him.

The other reason is that this mage promised him to heal his son from his curse and also to be an aide towards the threat of the newfound Zerg Queen.

Now, he can only postpone it for the time being, since the child is still hiding. Tsk.

He was annoyed that the child's plan is actually working.

Symon who left the chamber ignores the wailing Anslo to his life. Geros followed him out of the dungeon and up to the main mansion.

"Master, there's blood stain in your left hand." Geros reminded his Master.

"Leave it, I know that the enemy is within the ranks."

"As you please Master."

"Go find him." Symon as he fixes himself "You still have six hours left."

"Yes Master." he bowed and disappear at the corner of the hallway. Symon then gives a sign to the doorman to open the double doors to announce his coming.

In the night, The Shadows move.

Moon was at his behind as he stood on the top of the mansion, observing the night. Leading the group Geros wore his mask and vanished.