A Tasty Meal

We walked into the dinning room. The ominous rotten air pierced the lungs, dirtying the back of my throat. The lime walls dripped black, with murderous intent. The long, huge, gigantic table, felt miles away from the end to the top. The high distant ceilings, mirrors reflecting the true intent of the mere characters in its castle. Clean dusty curtains draping along the floors. The carpet cried from the heavy burden of the dark wooden table. Maria stood at the end of the table with evil green eyes, the wickedness in her eyes were overwhelming. 'This is very interesting indeed'. The table had juicy steaks, the buttering potatoes sang whilst the gravy danced. "This looks beautiful, Maria, I'm sure Lady Keres loves it". Castor said

"Its perfect, I bet the desserts look fabulous. I can't wait to dig in. But its a shame Castor didn't order anything" Maria looked shocked.

"Its alright, I'm not hungry for food" Castor took my hand and led me to a seat, he pulled it out the chair next to the head. I sat down and Castor sat at the table.

"Well, I hope you enjoy your meal, My Lady" Maria said looking nervous walking towards the door.

"Why don't you take a seat Maria, I do enjoy your company".

"My Lady, that would be improper" Maria said twiddling her thumbs.

"Please, sit, I think I my eyes are bigger than my stomach" (This is a saying that implies, that you think you can eat more than your belly can handle).

"But, My Lady I've already eaten, please. Enjoy your meal." Maria placed her hand on the door handle.

"Sit down. That's an order" Castor said coldly. Maria turn around and walked to the seat. I jested for her to take the seat opposite me. Whilst eating I started to realise that the food was laced with something.

"Its just what I thought would happen. Boy if I were human I would be dead as a door nail". I said chuckling. "Oh this drug makes me feel dizzy" I slammed my hand on the table, trying to find stability. "Ohhh Maria, I think you knew your plan was flawed when Castor said he wasn't hungry. I see you up the dosage this time. Seeing as last time it didn't kill the Grand duke fast enough." Maria looked panic and tried to get up, like lightening Castor shoved her down in the seat with his hands over her shoulders.

"What do you mean if you were human?" Maria questioned horrified.

"Hmmmm, this poison is quite strong, I underestimated it. Lucky I only ate 2 steaks and 1/2 and portion of potatoes. Hmmmm no the poison is in the gravy. That's why the Grand duke probably didn't die as fast, he didn't have enough gravy."

"I don't know what you're talking about I didn't poison the Grand duke. Your Highn-"

"Really, you didn't poison him. But the gravy had a citrus after taste, don't you think its weird for beef gravy to have a citrus after taste?"

"I- I, I would never, - this I" her words panic after each other.

"You would never what poison, someone. How strange, there are some many poisons with a citrus after taste. Moarte portocalie, otu lema and detestabilis. However, due to the reaction time its detestabilis, its described as the hateful poison. It makes the person feel on fire, their insides burn, and they get cold sweats, and the most interesting side effect is a foaming mouth." Her face looked pale white. "Its quite ironic, don't you think. That the Grand duke would die from stab wounds. Was it painful to find out that he was stabbed to death instead of dying to the poison that you gave him. To have your revenge taken from you."

"Who are you. You speak so differently, like you know all the answers. Like you're inside my head. Fine I admit it I poisoned the Grand Duke but I didn't want to kill him. I only wanted to panic him. He used too much gravy, I only wanted to make him sick. From what he did to me."

"What did he do?" Castor asked.

"Well, I can see it in her eyes, the familiar gaze. The Grand Duke raped her, he told her that he loved her, that he would care for her, and the baby. But, it couldn't be known that he was the father."

"..." she looked down.

"Lady Lena is your daughter and the daughter of the Grand Duke. Strangely you fell in love with the Grand duke, so what possessed you to poison him."

"He wasn't going to put Lena in the will. He was gonna leave her with nothing and give everything to his son. Please, if anyone finds out that I poisoned the him I would be killed, if they were to find out Lena would be known as a bastard child. Please I beg of you".

"If, you hadn't tried to kill me too I may have helped you. However, I'm kind forgiving being, so if you give the information I want, I'll let you go."

"Let me go, you mean, escape. No one knows the Grand duke was poisoned but us in this room. Why, why won't you let me stay here"

"My patience is thinning"

"Fine, what information do you want?"

"Well, I'm sure you and the Grand duke were extremely close, he probably told you things that he never told anyone. Who ordered the attack 50 years ago?"

"I don't know he never told me that. I was his Lover not his personal guard, Noel would have known. But, I know where he could have kept the documents, he had a secret tower, but it moves a lot and it doesn't remain in the same place for long."

"The witches tower" I responded. "Fine you have 5 hours to leave before I spread the news, I will spare your daughter and the truth of her origin. She a bitch, but she's intelligent, she'll be useful to me". Maria ran out the room, hurry to pack her life and leave.

"A witches tower. You want to wait for the witches tower. Are you out of your mind. Its dangerous, I'm surprised you survived going there in the first place, they hate Gods".

"Well, I'm also a demon. You can come and moan about me going, or you can stay here. It's your choice"