"What if Lucy Billington didn't find the courage in herself to attack Viktoria Klopstock? What if Viktoria Klopstock killed Evelyn Jackson on her wedding day? What if Walter De Ville never died but lost the last hope he had from Alexanders?
What if another Alexander Girl popped up? Born out of a man who was sentenced to life in prison wrongfully after going behind his family's beliefs. Born out of a woman who killed dozens of people for her wicked magic. Would she be the third bride or would she share the same fate as Evelyn Jackson?"
The Riddle of The Merciless (Legacies FF)
FF Masterpost
Ao3 Link.
Summary:
"After moving to the states from England, running away from the streets where she had been abandoned, 13-year-old Tavia Riddle had thought she had the chance of being a child. Not as the daughter of the serial killer. Not as the troubled girl from the streets. Not as the orphan left to die.
She had a family. A home. A chance. A blank page.
Then it was taken from her.
Her adoptive parents, who had brought her from the cold streets of London, had died. She was left all alone once again. Until she met with Alaric Saltzman from a school for the young and gifted."
“If one more drunk calls out to me, I am gonna punch someone in the face.”
Hearing her friend’s words Tavia Riddle chuckled. “I would advise you not to if you wanna keep your job.” She answered smirking, “But you can't refuse to admit: they have a good taste.” She teased, checking her friend out.
Roselyn Rosier slapped her shoulder, chuckling. “You know, you flashing them like that will cost you your life one day.”
“Like it's any good while I'm at streets” The Riddle shrugged, her hands restarting the counting process.
"If you'd just accept my parents's offer, you wouldn't be." Roselyn pointed out.
"Your adoptive parents," Tavia corrected, stopping her count for a moment, "And they cannot get another child in home who is about to be out of the system anyway."
“Excuse me!” A man’s voice -which got followed by the snap of fingers- that screamed his money made both of them stop. A billionaire’s accent always showed itself around the middle class men.
“Dips,” Tavia told Roselyn as she put the money to her back pocket, already going towards the man.
“You can't even serve him alcohol.” Roselyn pointed out.
“I have only 3 weeks left till I am 18!” Tavia reminded and turned her back.
Roselyn rolled her eyes as she went into the back to change her clothes.
Only 15 minutes later, Tavia flashed her with the watch the man had been wearing. “I say a shower and a bed at that hotel for a night.” She said looking at the watch, already thinking of where to pawn it.
Roselyn grabbed the watch from her hand as she followed her into the back once again so Tavia could change. “I would say a breakfast too if we go to the correct dealer.” She added examining the watch to see a brand.
“With how expensive that watch looks, Yılmaz will definitely screw us over.” Tavia worded her thoughts taking off the bar’s uniform. “What about the one that girl who left used to go? Harvey's?”
“I don't know him, and I don't know that girl well.” Roselyn answered distrustingly. Her face scrunched in disgust as someone -the bartender- tried to open the door. “We are changing in here!” She snapped as she held the door close. They knew the deal for over 2 years by now.
Tavia slid the shirt she came with on as she heard the door open. “You couldn't wait for a second more?” She asked, rolling her eyes.
“Just thought I'd be a good coworker and give you a DNA test but fine by me if you don't want it.” He shrugged, turning to go back to the front.
“Woah, woah, hold up, what DNA test?” Roselyn stopped him, holding his arm.
He turned back smirking. One day I am going to punch him in the face, Tavia thought seeing the smirk.
“The asshole you served forgot it.” He answered flashing it to Tavia by shaking it right in her face. “Since you hate your mommy and don't know your daddy,” Tavia's eyes widened with anger as her jaw clenched, “I thought it'd be right to give it to you. Who knows? Maybe your daddy turns out to be Jeffrey Dahmer.”
Roselyn grabbed the DNA test out of his hands as sson as his words fell off of his tongue and threw him out, her hand clenching and unclenching to not curse him right here and there.
She knew Tavia's sensitivity with her parents. No one knew her father, yes, but a woman who had been in jail for over two years for multiple murders had to sleep with a felon.
"Here," She handed the box to her, not caring about what was inside. She was an orphan, alright, but she had some sort of family. She didn't need the test, not as much as Tavia did.
"Thanks," Tavia muttered putting it in her bag, not talking as she began putting her things in her bag - not in the locker she usually kept them in.
"Via," Rose stopped her, "Your belongings will get stolen when we get back," She reminded her.
Tavia stopped for a second and didn't move then started putting her things back in the locker, not talking.
"Don't mind him, he doesn't know what he's talking about," She assured her.
Tavia seemingly ignored her words, but Rose could see the little nod she gave. "So which pawn are we going?"
---
As Roselyn got out of her shower in the hotel room they had rented for the day, her eyes landed on Tavia and her figure.
Her black curls had fallen over her face as she drew on her tablet -the tablet she was protecting as if it was her life on the line- something she rarely did thanks to not being able to focus more than 5 seconds outside with that tablet out in the public.
“Another project?” Roselyn asked as she dried her red hair with the towel.
“No, I just… got inspiration, I guess,” Tavia answered, not wanting to admit she was terrible at digital and was just trying to practice without Roselyn knowing.
Roselyn knew she hated digital and would not just ‘get inspiration’ and start drawing. But she didn't push it. If Tavia kept it from her, she wouldn't push around to find out. “You should take a shower,” She said instead, “Unless you want to meet your family smelling like that.”
“If I have a family, and if I decide to actually take the damn thing.” Tavia corrected. “I am starting to have second thoughts.”
Roselyn’s head tilted before she could stop it as her lips curved. “Octavia Lyra Riddle,” She gritted out of her teeth, “You are 17, unadopted, unfostered, about to be 18 and homeless in 3 weeks. Use. It. Before you get it stolen and lose your chances of having a decent family.”
“But what if I got a worse family?” Tavia pointed out.
“Nothing is worse than streets.” Roselyn argued.
“Smiths,” The last name of Tavia's first and last and abusive foster parents at 12 did shut Rose’s argument up pretty quickly.
Roselyn stuttered for a moment before speaking. “You can always run. Come to me. If you would just accept, Kathryn and Mark would love to have you as their daughter.” Roselyn reminded sitting in front of her. “Also who knows, maybe your felon father is a white collar felon.” She teased trying to lighten the mood.
“Can you even have a life sentence at white collar?” Tavia asked, mocking her a bit.
“The longest was 150 years, so not in the lines but…” Roselyn played along, not able to hold back her smile.
“Ok, ok, we get it, law nerd,” Tavia joked getting up to take a shower.
“Via,” Roselyn stopped her, “If I were you, I’d take it in a second.” She shrugged as she continued, “What's the worst that could happen?”
Tavia stopped and tilted her head thinking. Yeah, what's the worst that can happen?
After moving to the states from England, running away from the streets where she had been abandoned, 13-year-old Tavia Riddle had thought she had the chance of being a child. Not as the daughter of the serial killer. Not as the troubled girl from the streets. Not as the orphan left to die.
She had a family. A home. A chance. A blank page.
Then it was taken from her.
Her adoptive parents, who had brought her from the cold streets of London, had died. She was left all alone once again. Until she met with Alaric Saltzman from a school for the young and gifted.
What if Lucy Billington didn't find the courage in herself to attack Viktoria Klopstock? What if Viktoria Klopstock killed Evelyn Jackson on her wedding day? What if Walter De Ville never died but lost the last hope he had from Alexanders?
What if another Alexander Girl popped up? Born out of a man who was sentenced to life in prison wrongfully after going behind his family's beliefs. Born out of a woman who killed dozens of people for her wicked magic. Would she be the third bride or would she share the same fate as Evelyn Jackson?
Wattpad Link.
AO3 Link.
Tumblr Chapters
Chapter 1: The Forgotten Test
Chapter 2: The Rejection and The Vision
Chapter 3: The Meeting of a Cousin and of a Lover
Chapter 4: The Family and The Kiss
Chapter 5: The Reveal and The Unravel
Chapter 6: The Agreement and The Start of a Rebellion
