Just as her teeth had grazed Turpin's palm the door creaked open. She would have never expected Heisenberg to be the one to open the office door. He lingered there for a moment, his frame outlined in warm light from the hallway behind him.
“I leave you alone for five minutes, and this is what you get up to?" The question was directed at Lana, who received a bewildered look from Turpin as he removed himself from her. Turpin inched away, a nervous smile pulled at the corner of his lips letting out a loose chuckle before speaking.
"My Lord, Heisenberg… forgive me, I—"
“Save the bullshit for your sermons, Father. I don’t give a damn.”
Turpin and Karl shared a long, daunting look before Karl entered the room fully. Each step is more tantalizing than the last. The only sound was the soft echo of Heisenberg’s boots against the wooden floor, and the occasional crackle from the fire.
Smoke rolled from his cigar as he puffed away at it, Lana’s eyes followed him as he made his way to Alcina’s desk. She pressed her back firmly into the mantle behind her, hoping to disappear into it. Not out of fear of Lord Heisenberg but of Father Turpin. If he didn’t have his way with her now he would when they were alone.
Karl stared Turpin down as he let the ash from his cigar fall onto Alcina's desk. Surely, he would leave it there just to add salt to the wound he tore into her earlier. It was petty but good enough for her.
"Once this all gets out, you might be out of the job." He continued, "It’s not exactly fitting for a man of your station to go around assaulting maids…”
Lana watched wide-eyed at how Karl's presence made this once arrogant man squirm. Turpin stammered, he shook his head and picked at his palms. His face flushed pink with embarrassment. "My lord, please, you don’t understand—“ He tried again, then as he opened his mouth to further explain; Karl snapped.
“Shut your goddamn mouth.”
Turpin visibly jumped at Heisenberg’s change of tone, causing Lana to bite her lip to keep from smiling. This was just what he deserved. A heavy silence fell over the room as Turpin realized he wasn’t going to be able to worm his way out of this. His mind began to race, Mother Miranda wasn’t a forgiving patron. She would make an excellent example of his defiance if she found out.
He whipped his head around to look at Lana, as though she would attest on his behalf. Instead, she did nothing.
Turpin was a worm of a man, who had dedicated his life to climbing up the ranks of the village by strategically getting rid of anyone who questioned him. If he didn’t have his church or the villagers under his thumb, he had nothing. In the brief moment they shared Turpin looked petrified.
“Get out,” Heisenberg ordered. A mix of guilt and relief plagued her as she watched him stumble over furniture trying to get out of the door. Heisenberg followed briskly, shutting the door behind him.
On one hand, Turpin deserved all of what Heisenberg had dished out to him and more. On the other, what would become of him if he lost all of the eggs he had so carefully placed in his basket? He would take it out on everyone, and she would feel partly responsible.
Once the door was closed Lana met Karl’s gaze for the second time that night. For a moment she figured he would chew her out as well as it seemed to be a habit-- instead he engaged her calmly.
“Well?” He asked, leaning against the door frame. Lana maintained her eye contact, mostly out of curiosity, she could almost make out the shape of his eyes if she squinted.
She understood his appeal to the noble women who threw themselves at him. Not only was he confident, he was tall and well-spoken. He had a rugged charm to him, wavy hair, wiry facial hair, and scars that adorned his face and neck. It all worked together in a way most men couldn't pull off. She couldn't deny her attraction to him.
Lana ran a hand through her hair as she moved away from the mantle, closing her eyes momentarily. She hadn’t realized how firmly she had pressed herself into the stone.
“Lord Heisenberg,” Lana greeted with a small smile, meeting his eyes again. Her voice was partly breathy from the air she had been holding during their exchange. “Tell me, do you save women often; or am I just lucky?”
It was risky to be so, informal of who she was speaking with; however realization had yet to set in for Lana. Her body was still processing the adrenaline it had been pumping so intensely.
At the very least she knew he was looking for some sort of explanation– why had Father Turpin attacked her? What were the two of them doing in Alcina's office, to begin with? It wasn't like she could just outwardly tell him.
Alcina's office had been misplaced since the kerfuffle between the two. One of her chairs was crooked, ash had pooled on Alcina's desk, and the letter opener that had been such a useless weapon was discarded to the floor.
"I suppose I owe you a thank you," She said, sliding the chair back to its place. "As well as a couple of answers.."
"Earlier this afternoon I was called to meet with Father Turpin," She began, glancing at him and then back to the room focusing on nothing in particular. "He wanted me to sign some things saying that I had been attending his sermons for the last year. On his desk was this," Lana produced the letter from her pocket and offered it to Heisenberg.
"Father Turpin decided to stop teaching Mother Miranda's gospel." She continued to explain, "In doing so, those who spoke out or threatened to let her know were led to be slaughtered by Lady Dimitrescu. He gave her a ledger of names, which I came here to collect and do away with."
She turned her body to face him, watching him with a doe-like expression as he read over the letter. He could very well kill her for being here, for meddling with Alcina's belongings, for talking to him like they were equals. Lana was naïve and extremely trusting; never suspecting foul intentions from anyone. It was a habit that often got her into trouble.
It has come to my attention that you are no longer in compliance with Mother Miranda's teachings. If she were to find out, your head would be found at the end of Lord Heisenberg's hammer. However, I say what she doesn't know won't hurt her.
Please send the names of those who are no longer attending your services, and I will ensure that they are dealt with.
Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, "
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