A Wicked Nightmare
@spect-3-r
The sun fell beneath the sky shrouding the cold kingdom of PizahโRia in darkness. Distant crows called through the quiet kingdom to their brethren, spilling clandestine tips as to where best to safely pick strewn about sausage and cheese chunks left behind the busy tavern alleys.
Lord Afton looked over the city, his city, with a certain king of hunger. These people who loved him, cheered him from beneath his balcony by day and spoke his family name with reverence, were nothing more than his pawns. Tools in his grand scheme. Tomorrow night would be the start of it, plans tying into what would someday be his great pattern. And when the picture became clear those same people would beat down the castle doors, pitch forks and torches in hand, denouncing his name in the fires of their vengeance.
But by thenโฆit would be too late.
By thenโฆtheir children will have given him the sacred Remnant coursing through their innocent souls.
Lord Afton would be immortal by the time the city folk realized what he had done. But he was nobility, a refined gentleman. Never would he soil his fine silk coat with their blood.
He turned from the balcony and peered into his workshop, grinning as he took in his metal creations.
Their children would do that for him.
Tonight would be his last night of true mortality. Unsurprisingly he did not relish it one bit. The lord moved through the workshop, past the cold hollow eyes of his constructs staring blankly ahead. In the coming weeks they would come alive with the souls of sacrificed children plucked from the city. Tonight however they were nothing more than metal husks in the distinct shape of different animals.
A chick, a rabbit, a fox and a bear.
Lord Afton turned quick on his heels once he entered into the lit hall and locked the door behind him, clipping the key ring to his belt. None but he were allowed within. His family did not know what he was plotting in the confines of such a sacred place. If they didโฆLord Afton knew they would protest.
He took the stairwell down to the dining area and found his right hand and oldest friend Henry at the table. Beside him sat Charlotte picking at her food. The house staff always ate after the noble family they served, and while Lord Afton did not think of Henry Emily as his personal servant, he was glade the man and his daughter did not forget their place.
Henry rose to his feet and bowed, Charlotte immediately did the same, albeit awkwardly.
โMy lord is there something you need?โ
Afton shook his head. โNo. I was walking, clearing my head. Have you seen my son Charlotte?โ
Charlotte paused, then shrugged. โNot since this evening before your dinner, my lord. We sparred in the courtyard and then he left rather quickly afterwards.โ
Afton nodded, looked upward and yelled at the top of his lungs: โMICHAEL!โ
Charlotte jumped at the intensity of his call, leaning into her father for support. Lord Afton took silent note of that. He knew the girl feared him. She was likely the only one who saw through his false facade of the benevolent lord of the land.
A teenager. But still practically a child. Perhaps she mightโฆ
No. He wouldnโt do that to Henry. Not unless she made herself a problem.
The lord looked to the entrance of the dining hall and awaited his eldest son.
Michael raced out of his room and skidded down the stairs, nearly tripping over the cold stones that occasionally poked out just a little too far. His father wanted him for something, and while it wasnโt entirely clear what, he didnโt like the way his name had been shouted so loudly. Everyone in the entire castle probably heard William- his voice had such a large range of volume, it was surprising. Everyone else in the family lacked it. Halting his run, Michael walked into the dining hall, taking it in. The only ones there were his father, Henry, and Charlie. Still, he couldnโt deduce what was needed of him, so he just stood there, waiting.
Lord Afton did not have to wait long. As soon as the echoes of his call died down the rampant slap of boot on stone replied, growing closer by the second. He turned to face his son, nearly a man now, and smiled. It was not a kind one, rather expectant yet pleased by his haste.
โMichael my boy. Youโve been a ghost all afternoon. I must ask where youโve been.โ
The truth was after dinner Lord Afton himself had secreted away to his workshop and made himself scarce. But dinner had been the only time heโd seen his eldest.
Afton felt a sense of pride looking at Michael. He didnโt feel it for young Christopher who cried and fretted over shadows in the night. Perhaps there was some for Elizabeth but she was not his heir and would only benefit from the work he and Michael would some day do together.
As for his wifeโฆthere was no love there. A political pairing and nothing more.
Behind Lord Afton Henry Emily bowed deeply. Charlotte did not. Instead she wore a lopsided smile and just waved.
โO-oh, sorry. Just been in my room.โ Michael shrugged. Legitimately, he had just been alone in his room, but he supposed he probably could have been a bit more social. He simply enjoyed being alone some days, and today must have been one of those days.
He waved in reply to Charlotte, smiling back.
Lord Afton suppressed rolling his eyes. The boy was quite the shut in, whereas he wished Michael could have been more like him at his age. Inspired, outgoing and calculated. Worse was his youngest boy, the poor boy jumped at shadows. Not an ounce of spirit in him. Elizabeth had more potential but as a girl sheโd never amount to more than a nobleโs wife.
โAll well, my son. I was hoping to open the castle to a few of the youths in town. Your age or younger. Perhaps you could waltz around tomorrow and find some for me? Specifically those of lesser repute. I want the people of our fair land to know the Afton family open their gates to all and wish to feed the less fortunate. Children come first of course.โ