A Sinner’s Chance

Author's Note: 3rd Person for a bit

King Wesley Rymiz passed a hand through his graying hair as he read the scroll that had just been delivered. It was not a pleasant read and it was giving him a migraine just thinking of how to resolve the problem. The scroll was the official investigation notes regarding the murder of Vellithra Eldur the third daughter of Duke Alcrem Eldur, head of one the four duke houses that protected the kingdom. To make matters worse the offending party was the Yin-Yang Clan of Elves. While the incident had yet to spread it could potentially lead to war something the king wanted to avoid.

Arya claimed that it was an accident but refused to elaborate on the method of death or why there had been wards that prevented entry that Vellithra had gotten through. The evidence made it look like it was a premediated assassination yet no one could figure out why. Duke Eldur was beyond outrage and was demanding various unreasonable demands as compensation for his daughter. While many took this as the act of a enraged father the king knew better.

Alcrem was a cunning and calculating man, without a caring bone in his body. He'd pursued and married his own cousin just to increase the chances of bearing children that would inherit the Phoenix's blood, and once she had served her purpose she was forgotten and left isolated from her own children. 

The fact that he was angry was caused by something else but the king couldn't figure out what was the actual cause. If it weren't for his perfect management of the Forest of Darkness he would have been replaced long ago, but there was no one in the history of the kingdom who'd managed to contain the monsters as well as Alcrem had, making him a major support to the stability of the region.

The king rubbed his temples as he tried to think of the best way to resolve this. It would be easy if the churches were willing to get involved but they had declined so far without stating the reasons.

Deep in the central area of the Forest of Darkness sat a beautiful manor that could only be described as out place. Looking through one of the windows was a tall broad shouldered man in a dark robe with white hair tied into a tight bun. In his hand he swirled a glass full of wine before he suddenly shook and dropped the glass.

He leaned against the window for a moment and blinked a few times in disbelief. "The branded is dead, how?"

It took a moment for the man to collect himself and stand straight once again. He shouted what sounded like a command in a strange language followed by the sound of something hard against wood before a large door slid open to reveal an Arachne who lowered herself and bowed before the man. "What is it you require my Lord?"

"The Vessel has been broken, send a team of Shadow Weavers to confirm the situation and recover the it if possible."

The Arachne visibly shook as she heard the orders from her lord. She silently cursed the traitor who had stolen the Vessel before nodding and exiting the room.

The Dark Lord Demonweb took a deep breath as the Arachne left before once again looking out the window, a look of regret on his face.

Marian took a deep breath as she looked at the white cloth that was lain over Vell's corpse. Both Elaine and Reine were beside her and looked sorrowfully at the cloth as they rested a hand on Marian's shoulders.

"Are you sure you want to see her? It isn't a pretty sight." Elaine asked the worry and concern for her old friend clear in her voice.

Marian nodded. "I need to see her just one more time." Her voice shook but her resolve was strong as she took a step forward and pulled the white cloth away to reveal the disfigured corpse of Vell. Just as Elaine had said it wasn't a pretty sight, in fact she looked more like a zombie than a person with how much flesh was missing. Parts of the ribcage were visible along with some of the skull where her left cheek should have been. There were char marks all over and there were even a few places where one could see straight through the body, as if something had pierced straight through. The only parts in good condition were her limbs, still encased in carapace, though it was heavily cracked in places.

Marian ran a finger across the still face of Vell as she felt hot tears rush out of her eyes. She couldn't understand why out of all her children she had become closest to the one that wasn't even hers. Despite Kalista and Gabriel seeming to have been on good terms with Vell they didn't show any signs of mourning, almost as if they didn't care that someone they had lived with for five years had been killed.

Her husband was even worse as she recalled the torrent of abuse that left his mouth when he learned of Vell's death. She would have been fine if it was because he was upset with her death, but all she could hear was that he was insulting someone that was no longer in this world. All he was concerned with was getting the most profit out of her death as he could. 

Reine looked at Vell with a deep sorrow in her eyes, though no tears fell. The only thing that escaped were a few words in an almost non-verbal whisper. "I thought you'd be with me as long as I wanted."