Sinister Justice

I tap my foot with the soft beat of Coralie's pianoforte playing. Coralie is in the room next to my study full of many musical instruments.

She rarely plays music nowadays, and the song she is playing are quite melancholy.

Tapping my cigar into the ashtray, I place the cigar down. I don't normally smoke; it is more Maverick's liking rubbing off, but these days one is necessary.

A knock echoes through my study, and I rub a hand down my face.

"Come in," I bark.

Nikolai's changed appearance is still quite jarring. We are all trying to get used it, but the castle staff are yet still stiff. He glides through the room, fixing an ajar item on the shelf. I had filled him in with all the latest information, and he has been taking it in stride.

"Good evening, your highness. Daniel has awoken from his coma a couple minutes ago."

I jerk to my feet, swaying like a drunk man.

"Is he coherent?"

"Yes. He caught one of the maid's off guard, injuring her. Luckily, there was another maid checking in on Lady Ardele and has called for help. We restrained him, and he is demanding to see you."

My mouth curves into a sinister smile. "Let's go pay him a visit then."

Daniel is chained to the wall in the dungeon. The cuffs are laced with a magic dampener spell, being able to stop him from shifting.

The familiar stench of death and despair oddly brings comfort. I haven't been down here in awhile.

The transfer down here was quite a challenge, but Nikolai handled him fine. Daniel's ruddy face is drenched in sweat, and he grunts when Nikolai's fist meets his stomach again.

"You're so pathetic. Just kill me already. You aren't going to get anything out of me."

I meet Nikolai's eyes, and he backs off. Walking towards Daniel, I tilt my head down to meet his unwavering gaze.

My elbow meets his jaw, and he grimaces in pain. Blood sputters out of him, painting the walls in a stunning shade of red.

Yanking his head up by hair, I bare my teeth at him.

"Who were you corresponding with?"

Daniel huffs out a laugh. "Don't ask me questions you already know."

Placing my hand out, Nikolai hands me a small blade. Daniel's eyes widen. Most people bluff when they talk about death.

No one actually wants to die. Everyone just wishes to have different circumstances. I grin, and I can hear Daniel's heartbeat increase in horror. What a lovely sound.

"Was there a shapeshifter here in Arcana?" I ask, as I idly spin the blade between my fingers.

There is a pause, before he glances up. "I don't know."

I slice a finger off, the blade seamlessly cutting through meat and bone. Screams echo off the walls.

"I will not ask again."

Daniel's eyes are dulling out. "Kill me. I dare you."

"Oh, I will. Don't rush me."

His head lolls to the side. "It wouldn't make a difference if I told you. Arcana will fall."

I hum. "If that is so, there is no harm in answering a simple question, is there?"

The blade runs through another finger of his, and he shudders in pain, grinding his teeth.

"Yes. There was one here."

"What is the shapeshifter's name?"

Daniel's amber eyes crinkle in the corner. "K. Have fun with him. He's truly a monster."

"How did King Maximus lure him out?"

"I think I have answered enough questions," he mutters.

"Who let you be the judge of that?"

I bring the blade up to his ear, and he starts struggling against the chains. His ear falls to the ground and he cries out in anguish.

"Be cooperative, Daniel. Ardele played into your little plan. Now play into mine."

His laugh is tinged with madness. "I should have killed her early on. I was having too much time playing with her. I wished I had gone back and bedded her."

With no hesitation, I stab his shoulder, dragging the blade down his arm.

"It is quite sad that you underestimated her. Ardele could have killed you in an instant. However, she let me have the honors of questioning you. Don't dirty her with your filthy thoughts."

Nikolai grips my shoulder, and I grit out a curse before stepping away. I have to get a grip. I need to finish questioning him before I kill him.

Dragging the dagger out of his arm, Daniel's heart starts to slow.

"How did King Maximus lure the shapeshifter out?"

"Eaverslaina, my queen."

Eaverslaina? To my knowledge, King Maximus of Clairemont is unmarried.

"Who is Eaverslaina?"

Daniel mouth curves. "The queen. My eternal queen. The queen of all. The queen of all queens. The queen of all witches."

His final breath leaves him, and his heartbeat slows to a stop from the amount of blood lost. Such a pity.

Turning away, I place the bloodied blade into Nikolai's hand. I shove the iron door open forcefully, and as usual, Nikolai cleans up the corpse.

Out on a rack by the stairs, I wipe my hands on a piece of cloth. Eaverslaina. Where have a heard that name before?