Footsteps echoed through the brightly lit halls of the facility. The sound of which made Arcanus smile a bit too widely in recognition. “…Arcanus.” Arcanus mused inwardly at Victoria’s tone of voice. Soft as ever, yet so filled with anger. “Victoria, what brings you to my fine establishment this late in the evening, hm?” He questioned gently, turning his head away from the clipboard he’d been holding to look at her.
“Save it. I know what you did. It had to have been you- t-they were kids- YOUR kids! How could you do that to them?!”
His hand casually slid into his coat pocket as she yelled, nothing short of amusement shown in his stance. “I assure you dear, your meaning escapes me.” “Are you hiding them somewhere?! How have you been escaping authorities?!” Arcanus’ mood would’ve usually soured by now if anyone came in claiming such things. But for her? Oh, he could stand there smugly all day.
“Ah, this is what you’re worked up about? A claim? A claim to which you have no proof. I was hoping you’d truly come to see me for once.” “If it were up to me I’d never see your face again.” He chuckled. “Well, I didn’t exactly see anyone drag you here, darling.”
“Our kids are missing, Arcanus! My kids! They were with you, and I know you had something to do with it! Do you think I’m an idiot?! Of course I came here! I came here because you’re going to show me where they are or so help me-!” “You have no authority in this building, nor do you have proof I have the children, which I don’t. Besides, weren’t they supposed to be your responsibility anyways? The judge dictated as such. So why leave them with me, hm? Your ‘deadbeat of a husband’, as you put it.”
Her rigid stance faltered, the guilt on her face so strong that she looked ill. Contrarily, Atcanus’ smile only grew. “Y-you know I couldn’t take care of them! They were your kids too I didn’t think that you-“
“I had no true custody. If anyone is the irresponsible parent here, I believe it’s you.” His words were delivered so sickeningly sweetly he may as well have gotten a cavity just by stating them. And at her deathly silence, it only grew more condescending. Like a kindergarten teacher coaxing a small child into behaving. “Nothing to say? Good. I always preferred you that way.”
Victoria stood with her hands clenched at her sides tightly, before she started taking quick and harsh steps towards the man in front of her. Arcanus loathed the way his hand clenched just a little tighter in his pocket at the sharp gaze towering over himself. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.” She muttered, quiet enough to be near nonexistent, but more than powerful enough in emotion to make up for it. Though Arcanus was certain the only reason he let go of the scalpel in his pocket was due to the cameras he saw in his peripheral. Their gazes stayed silently locked for another hour long moment, before she turned on her heel towards the exit. “I look forward to it,” Arcanus stated quietly at her departure. He carefully removed the small blade from his pocket, his thumb and his eyes moving over the blade intently before it returned to the figure exiting through the door at the end of the hall “my lovely Toria.”
