Private Tales Sins of the Father, Part II: Patricide

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair did not wait long the next day before telling both Ralene and Liliana to meet him at a small shop on the outskirts of Vel Anir. It was one of several small alchemical stores that the family ran, but its primary purpose was for the distribution of drugs and other illegal goods. That really did not matter at the moment, the only reason he had chosen to meet here was that it was on the outskirts of the city and his father largely ignored the place.

His father, Amadeus, had left the house 2 days before to spend time at his 'rural estate', but really it was just a two-story building that mainly seemed grand because it was the only building for several miles in any direction. It was his father's getaway for when he wanted to conduct business with criminals or prostitutes, not that his mother was ever noticed. She was always high off on whatever his father kept giving her.

The building usually had minimal security, so Alistair and the others would be able to enter and...kill the man before anyone knew what had happened. Al finally noticed that his hands were shaking, again, and forced them to stop. There was still a part of him that kept telling him that he could call this off and his father would never know...That part of him was a coward. If he did not do this now, then he never would.

He quickly pulled out a flash that he had filled with some cheap liquor that he had bought on the way here. As he took a few swigs, the burn was rough running down his throat but it gave him something else to focus on that wasn't this plan.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

"Out of the drink, Al," Ralene's level tone sounded from just down the road, accompanied by the stacatto of hoofbeats as she rode in, "that's for celebrating victory, not for calming your nerves. You don't need it."

Even if that wasn't the point of his drinking now, she wasn't about to rove out on this mission to help him if he was any bit drunk. As an accomplice to patricide, there would be no more risk-taking than the one they were about to commit. Perhaps he'd been hanging out with Drastus - one of the few Initiate's she'd noticed like to keep a flask on him at all times and partake whenever the whim hit him.

It wasn't the drinking she cared about, but there was a time and place for it and any time preceding or during a mission wasn't one of them.

Her horse slowed to a stop a few feet away where she eased back into her saddle with a deep, slow breath. This wasn't a shop she was personally familiar with, but the sign hanging just over the front door caught her attention. Alchemy supplies ... interesting.

"This one of your family's shops?"

 

[Liliana]

Liliana did not want to be here. She did not want to help Alistair, and she most certainly did not want to get herself entangled in whatever mess he was going to make of this. Yet at the end of the day there was no questioning Cousin Elise.

The young Initiate knew fully well what path she had to take if she wanted any sort of power. It would not be through her father, nor her siblings. In their eyes she would never be anything but a tool, something they could use to enhance the name of Lorel.

For them she was nothing, for Elise?

Elise saw her as something more.

The two of them had spoken more than a few times since the Revolution. Since her father had been cowed by the Baroness and word slipped of his plan for Liliana and the little gang she’d been made to gather among the Initiates. The conversations had always been…illuminating, and with each one she learned more and more.

This little task was no different. As much as she wanted to resist, as much as she wanted to hurl and insult and offer a biting barb. She knew such venom would get her nowhere.

So as she approached Alistair she came with none of her usual jibes or abuse. ”What a lovely little place you have here, Alistair.”

Liliana remarked, steering her mount to carefully to avoid a puddle of muck. "Ralene."

Was the only cold greeting she gave.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair nearly choked on the drink as he quickly moved to put the flask away upon the arrival of Ralene. He smiled sheepishly as he tried to sputter out some excuse about the flask just having green tea in it.

Looking to change the subject as quickly as possible, Alistair was thankful for the arrival of both Ralene and Liliana who seemed curious about the shop.

"No, it really isn't but it is the families. My family does do trading, but we mainly trade in alchemical supplies...the family specializes in substances."

He left that purposefully vague. While House Krixus provided healing solutions to the poor and middle class that could afford them, they were much more likely to provide poisons and drugs to criminals and nobles alike.

"Anyways, glad you two could make it...Let's get this over with."

Alistair moved to mount his own horse and begin the short trek to his father's getaway.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

No sense in making nice with Liliana, didn't need to in order to get the job done. Ralene gave the other initiate a glance as she appeared and returned her cold greeting with a flat, "Lil," and nudged her horse on to follow after Alistair.

She made no further effort for discussion - given their proximity to the Krixus patriarch's estate, it behooved them to keep their mouths shut and their ears and eyes alert. They rode for just short of an hour along a forested road, passing traders and farmers along the way. There didn't seem to be much in the way of anything aside from farmland for as far as the eye could see along the rolling country hillsides.

The Krixus Estate manor peeked into view as they crested over a particularly steep slope, flanked on either side by an orchard and a field of sheep. It was very open, and the three of them likely would have seemed quite out of place if spotted, but Ralene kept the thought to herself. Alistair had said he'd formulated a plan, so she just had to trust he'd thought it out well enough for such ... complications.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana kept herself quiet as they approached the estate.

One hand lingered on the reins of her horse, the other idly played with a small coin that slowly dropped between her fingers over and over again. She played with it idly, eyes flickering over the scenery that unfolded before them.

Her lips pursed for a moment.

Cousin Elise had told her what she was to do, and she would see it done. A part of her wondered why the head of House Virak had sent her along and not someone else, but such questions were better left unasked. "So."

Liliana mused as they approached.

"How do you intend to do this, Alistair?" She asked simply.

The little Lorel knew her part in this, but it would come after the deed was done. She had never been told what would happen before.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair looked up the estate with trepidation upon their arrival, readjusting himself in the saddle as he felt a little fidgety. The look of the estate was strange for Alistair. Growing up, he had studied every asset of his family-owned, so he knew of the estate. Yet, he had never stepped foot inside the structure that for some reason had occupied a position of dread inside Alistair for years.

The outright appearance of the building did not fit the dread that it gave to Alistair. The building was a modest, but well-kept mansion strangely alone in the countryside. It featured a small outer wall for security. The only other building inside the walls is a storehouse.

As to group continued forward, Al did not bother initiating any plan. He figured that the security would not be anything that could possibly stop them. Surprisingly, he was disappointed to find that he was correct.

Standing in front of the gates were two bedraggled-looking individuals that were lazily put there for security. Their appearance and demeanor made it clear they were not soldiers, probably criminals that were cheaply hired thinking it was an easy gig. After all, who would pay this random place a visit?

As they approached the stench of alcohol rolled off them in waves. One managed to step forward after finally noticing the three when they managed to get far closer to the wall than they should have.

"Halt, who goes there." His words stumbled over each other making them difficult to understand.

Alistair looked on with disgust at the two men. His hand gripping tightly at the sword hilt on his waist. These two men were going to die. They had to. There could be no witnesses.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

SSSHHK.

A spray of blood and brain matter exploded out the back of the man's skull as a crossbow bolt sheared clean through his head. The body staggered on the spot for a brief moment while life sputtered away and then crumpled to the ground in a slovenly heap.

Ralene calmly pulled back the lever to reset the string as she shifted both her gaze and her aim at the second guard, and set it upon him with the poignant click of a fresh bolt sliding into place. He wavered drunkenly, dropped his sword, and raised his empty hands up in defeat.

She waited exactly one second for his mouth to draw open and speak, and shot him straight through his gaping jowl.

No witnesses.

Resetting it the crossbow once more, Ral dismounted her horse and approached the gate. It was unlocked but the hinges were rusty and any amount of movement in or out would likely result in announcing that something was amiss. She couldn't see any more guards within the gate, but that didn't mean they weren't there.

"We should leave the horses here, tie them up in the treeline and go in on foot. Anything more than that will draw too much attention."

 

[Liliana]

Liliana watched the display of violence with the disinterest of a Queen watching a play she had seen seven times.

Her expression was a mask of listless boredom.

"So inelegant." She remarked dryly, though hadn't expected anything less from a brute like Ralene. The art of subtlety was often lost on rampaging bison like her. Liliana rolled her eyes as the ogre made her suggestion, but didn't argue.

With the grace of a dancer the scion of House Lorel dropped down from her mount, wandering with the others until they were just out of sight of the manor. A few seconds later the horses were tied up, and the three Initiates made their way back towards the gate.

"Do try to keep some alive, Ralene." Liliana admonished as they stepped through the rusty gate. "Someone has to tell the right story."

As she said the words she looked at Alistair. Only a fool unable to put together her implication.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was not surprised by Ralene's sudden actions. In fact, he was thankful for them, as he nodded toward her.

"Agreed, let's go."

It did not take long for them to get the horses tied up. They made their way back to the gate where Alistair was looking at the wall. It wasn't too tall. They could all get over it with relative ease. The proctors would have their asses if they found out that they could not get over something like this.

Alistair suddenly sharply turned to Liliana with a look. Killing everyone had definitely been his plan.

"Do you have a way of ensuring that they tell the right story?"

He knew only the basics of Liliana's magic from working with her. It had something to do with emotions, but how strong or specific she could use the magic was a mystery to him.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

Inelegance was at the very bottom of Ralene's list of concerns and she let the comment slide off her like rain drops over oilskin. With the horses tied up and her weapons all accounted for, her boots followed in the footsteps of the blond as she pushed open the gate just enough for them to slip through without making too much racket in the process. A glance was given to Lil at the suggestion of leaving live witnesses, then to Al.

Ralene narrowed her eyes in frustration, but bit her tongue. Wasn't he supposed to have discussed this with Lilian already? Was that not the entire fucking point of him going to talk to her the morning after he left her room? In-fucking-credible. If they hadn't even bothered to plan this out, the whole operation could turn into a shit show. Rounding on Alistair as he sat flat-footed by the proposal, she stepped to his front and leaned in with all the appearance of a seething dragon, "We're not taking another step toward that house until this is settled. Get your plan figured out, Al, and do it now."

It was good and well to be friends. It was not good and well to drag a friend into an ill-conceived jaunt of patricide that could potentially fuck up each of their futures if not thought out. Ral backed off, the glint of her glacial gaze enough to pierce Blackguard armor, and gave Lilian the floor.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana let out a long sigh. "Don't you think there is a reason that Cousin Elise wanted you to bring me along?"

She said simply, her head shaking as though she were feeling a semblance of utter disappointment.

A part of her didn't blame either of her companions for not knowing. Secrets were the currency of politics. Neither of them were quite...equipped to handle it. They hadn't been trained it in, or rather, they hadn't quite yet opened that door.

Although she suspected that Ralene never would. "Patricide, my dear Alistair. Is very frowned upon in our dear Vel Anir."

She smirked, looking at the both of them.

"As much as I am sure we, all wish it weren't." Her eyes glinted with mischief as she looked at Ralene. "So a story must be spun. A tale of the loyal son, and courage he showed."

Liliana gestured. "I am here to make sure that story has it's seed."

Her gaze flickered between the two of them.

"But that little flower cannot sprout from any of us." She said firmly. "So keep a guard or two alive, and I will make sure they tell the right tale. Whatever else you choose to do..."

Liliana trailed off, shrugging. She did not much care what fate father Krixus met, nor what else happened. She was here to ensure the right story was told after. Everything else? It was incidental. "Understand?"

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair could not help but wince at Ralene's biting comment. To be fair, he had a plan. It just might need to change depending on what Liliana told him in the next few seconds.

He looked around the estate, primarily to see if they were in danger of being found out by anyone else, but they seemed safe for a brief moment. Al was listening to Lil, but he wished she wouldn't necessarily talk at him or Ralene like they were dumb. They might not be as skilled with politics, but they could put two and two together.

"Ok, I got it...We will kill everyone except for one...Let's be sure to leave one of the staff that isn't security that leaves more of a likelihood that they aren't complete assholes. As for your story Liliana, don't involve me or any of us in it. We were never here...Father is likely in the library that is also where his office is, so let's go."

He looked to Ralene as if to ask her was she satisfied and then he moved on ahead to enter the main building. He wasn't sure who was scarier at the moment, his father or the two girls behind him that could likely kill him in completely different ways.

How would they be getting in either one of his allies may ask. Well, they were going to go right through the front door. No reason to be stealthy if they had to kill basically everyone. They just needed to be quick.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

Unlike some within their class, Ralene had not allowed her own power and strength to go to her head. Her missions and training with Captain Holstag of the Anirian Knights had kept her humble(er than most), reminded her of her place within the Anirian Guard. She could follow plans and orders from another she might've deemed beneath her so long as those plans or orders made sense and got the job done right.

The moment they didn't was the moment she took things into her own hands. Thus far, neglecting Liliana's attempt to sting some form of emotional response out of her about her father, the plan sounded solid. Regardless of how Ral felt about Walter Banick that was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. Right now? Her priority was seeing Alistair and, yes, even Liliana, through this little jaunt alive. Politics be damned; strategy of war, battle, and survival were top of Ralene's marks. She had no trouble following Lil's process and even found it to be fairly solid.

Fuck, she hated agreeing with the blond.

At Alistair's glance, Ralene nodded in the affirmative. Ral waited for him to lead the way and for Liliana to follow, then took point at the rear, unsheathing a short sword while he invited himself in to the forbidden foyer of his father's retreat.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana shrugged in response to Alistair. "As you wish, make sure it's a man."

It was always easier to control men.

Cousin Elise hadn't specified what sort of story needed to be told. Just that Alistair must not be suspected in the killing of his father. She had thought turning him into the hero of the tale would do well, but if he did not want it…

Then she would tell her own story.

A smile tou he'd her lips for a brief moment as Ralene jerked her head in agreement and yanked her short sword free. Liliana rolled her shoulders, shifting the black leather armor that clad around her chest.

Then she pulled the blade tipped whip free from its place on her belt. Leaving it coiled, but wrapped only in her fingers if she need to have use of it.

Without another word she followed behind the other two Initiates. Letting Ralene and Alistair do most of the killing suited her well enough. Liliana had never been one to get her hands dirty if she didn't need to. She had Jaxan for that sort of thing.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair pulled a knife from his belt as he entered the house. He would not waste his sword on all of this. The place was relatively silent, and he would aim to keep it that.

Just as they were rounding the first corner, Alistair moved quickly as he saw a foot step out from the other side of the corner. The woman never even knew how she died, as Al planted his dagger threw her throat and out her spine. She died instantly.

The way to the Library was relatively quick, as the building wasn't that large. They encountered a few more servants or security, but they were all handled quickly. None of them had a chance against three dreadlords.

Still, every step closer felt a little bit heavier to Alistair. Until finally, he stood in front of the library door. The others would watch him take a deep breath before slowly pushing the door open.

---

Amadeus Krixus had begun to spend more and more time out in his countryside estate over the years. It was a nice retreat to get away from his drug-dependent wife. It was also the only place where most of his unsavory business contacts would meet...Not to mention, Amadeus would always have some slave girls discreetly brought in to satisfy his desires. Overall, it was a great little vacation spot.

It was still primarily used for work which was what he was doing at the moment. He sat in his office doing his best to keep his family's finances out of the red. It was getting harder and harder to do that every year.

He heard the door open and frowned. The maid knew to knock before she entered, and he had not requested anything. Amadeus turned to criticize the help when he stopped with his mouth agape and his eyes wide.

"Alistair? What in the hells are you doing here? Who are these girls?"

The boy did not reply, his face a stoic mask of indifference.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

As requested, Ralene left a single male guard alive - albeit unconscious and with a few scrapes, bruises, and minor broken bones. He would be perfectly capable of playing host to whatever fabrication Liliana dreamt up for him while having proof of his own participation to show for it.

Everyone else in the household met a swift and final end. It was not work that Ralene felt particularly good about. There was barely any honor in what they did here, baring the nefarious nature of the primary target and what dastardly business he involved himself and his people in. She told herself it was for the good of Vel Anir and that putting this criminal and everyone who was implicit with his crimes to justice would only help to weed out the corruption of the city.

That was where her head sat as Alistair lead his way into the study where they found the man of the hour. Somehow, Ral thought to herself, she had imagined him ... different. Greater. Perhaps the romanticization of the noble houses, even the lower ones, had given her a false pretense of expectations.

Really, having been disappointed by her own father, she should have known better.

Her gaze shifted from the Krixus Patriarch to the remainder of the room. Seemed they'd entered through the only doors, but there were still plenty of windows to leap from - if he had the balls to do it rather than face death. She placed herself in that very doorway, bloodied blades held loosely and body ready to react. This was Alistair's solo now.

 

[Liliana]

"I don't understa-"

"Shhh." Liliana said, patting the guard gently upon his cheek.

Her hand crawled gently over his skin, and within the expanse of his mind a net weaved itself into place. It latticed over his thoughts, dragging at the core of him and putting together new strands of ideas he had never hoped to have.

A smile touched her face as a glassiness flickered over his eyes, lips parting as he let out a long breath. "That's it, just remember."

Her thumb gently pressed against his forehead.

"And awaken when we're gone." The man was about to say something else, and then slowly his head lulled back against the wall. Eyes flickered shut, and Liliana slowly stood.

She took quick steps, the heels of her boots clicking as she stepped down the hall and quickly followed after her fellow Initiates. Liliana knew that the story she wanted told had set into the man's mind, and once he awoke the weave would have long settled.

He would find himself the lone survivor of a brutal attack. A massacre which would point just the right finger.

She caught up to Alistair and Ralene just as the former stepped into his father's study. Her face remained blank and impassive, her more lithe form slipping in behind Ralene just in case the old man had any ideas or tricks up his sleeve.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

It felt so quiet to Alistair. He could hear the thumping of his own heartbeat as he stared down his father. Maybe it was some kind of joke by the gods, but only now did Alistair start to notice how he looked like his father. The dark hair, his build, and the cold eyes.

He felt like he was moving in slow motion, but he watched his father's eyes grow wide. They were looking down at his hand. He followed his gaze to the dagger that Alistair now held in his hand. Oh, when had he pulled out the knife?

Alistair came to meet his father's eyes once again.

"I'm done letting hurt this city...hurt this family...I'm done."

Al was surprised at how steady his voice was at the moment, but it was likely from his attempts at shutting down all emotion. He knew that if he let one crack show up then several more would follow.

Alistair continued to move forward, his eyes starting to glow with magical energy. Some of the runes along his body also began to glow.

---

It took a moment for Amadeus to understand what was actually happening. There was a brief moment of disbelief as he tried to wrap his head around his son's betrayal, but with the acceptance of the events, his eyes hardened.

"You would kill me? After everything, I had done for you? After what I have made you? I have poured everything that this family has to make sure you succeeded. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't even be a dreadlord."

He remembered the near bankrupting of the family to acquire illegal materials from Elbion, all in the hopes that it would give his soon-to-be-born son a magical affinity. It had worked, at the price of harming his wife's mind while he forced her to take the drugs. It would have been simpler if she had died back then.

"Everything that you are is because of me!"

Alistair finally took a step to a point that Amadeus had been waiting for and pressed a button beneath his desk. A crossbow bolt shot out from a hidden slot in the side wall and it flew directly for the side of Alistair's neck.

---

In that regard, his father was right. Everything he was was because of him but in Alistair's eyes that was not a good thing. He was a cold-hearted killer who had been tortured most of his life and knew more ways to torture someone than most veteran soldiers. He was a weapon, the scars on his back were a mark of that.

He also knew that everything that had been done for him was not for his success, but all for his father. It was always his father first. That belief was reaffirmed as his runic eyes spotted the hidden crossbow. He moved out of the way in time to watch the bolt sink into the opposite wall.

Alistair's eyes turned back to Amadeus, but they were now sad. A small part of him had hoped his father would apologize to him or try and make up for everything, but a scorpion can not change their nature.

"It's funny. You made the weapon for your own demise."

By now, Amadeus' one defensive mechanism was thwarted and he shot to his feet and pulled out a dagger to defend himself. It was clear to see by the way he held it that he had no real skill with the weapon.

Alistair moved quickly, knocking the dagger from his father's hand and knocking the man back into his seat. He held the knife directly over his father's heart, but he paused for a moment. Amadeus' face was pathetic and he started sputtering out anything that he could think of. Promises to be a new man, to start taking better care of his wife, even to give everything he had to Alistair and then banish himself far away.

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

Ralene remained the unmovable monolith in the doorway, her gaze breaking from the Krixus Patriarch only when Liliana slithered by her. As the moments dragged on she felt a modicum of impatience. The longer they lingered here, the more likely they were going to have to deal with undesirables.

If he wavered now, even for a moment, it could all unravel so fucking fast.

She watched Al make his advanced, silent in her support up until the moment he hesitated to drive his dagger home. Ralene's hands tightened their grip around her weapons and the line of her jaw drew taught as her teeth clenched.

"No second chances," she intoned levelly to Alistair, her gaze honing in on the old man though who she'd directed the words to was anyone's guess.

 

[Liliana]

As Ralene stepped forward into the room Liliana took to leaning against the doorway.

Her lips parted in a yawn.

She had every little patience for anyone else, less so for such emotional affairs. It was not lost on her that this moment was likely the defining flicker of Alistair's life. That he'd built up to it, sought and thought about it for likely years.

Perhaps some day she would as well.

Yet in the moment the waiting was so boring.

Do it already. Liliana thought to herself with a roll of her eyes.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Those three simple words while simple and unexpected sent a jolt through Alistair as felt himself kicked over the metaphorical cliff that was his resolution.

Alistair acknowledged the words with a simple nod. He drove the dagger down with so much force that he felt the bloody viscera surround his knuckles.

He heard a deep gasp as Amadeus's eyes locked onto his son's in surprise as if he did not expect his son to follow through with the endeavor. Alistair watched the life drain from the man's eyes and with the last gasp of life, Alistair felt all the rage that he had bottled up for most of his life just disappear with it.

The dagger was slowly pulled free, after all, no evidence should be left behind. Alistair finally turned to look at Ralene and Liliana, with spurts of blood covering his face. He felt far more tired than he should feel given the minimal exercise.

"Thank you, both of you."

Ralene Liliana

 

[Samantha Black]

She was almost proud of him, but that wasn't her job and the idea of feeling proud of a fellow Initiate for killing someone just felt like a waste. All three of them had been killing since they were children. This was just another fucking Thursday, except the main target shared a last name with the killer.

Ralene gave him a silent look over followed by a nod, "Let's get out of here," then turned to lead the way back out through the manor and into the open air.

There were no further guards to cross or house help to cull. They'd made quick but thorough work of clearing the entire residence. Ralene stopped just outside the gate to wipe her blade on the tunic of one of the downed guards, sheathed it, then moved to fetch the horses.

 

[Liliana]

Well that was all rather anti-climactic.

Liliana wondered if it would be the same when she killed her father. The Patriarch of House Lorel had more pedigree than Amadeus Krixus could ever hope to have, and he would probably put up more of a fight, but something told her he would quibble away in much the same way.

They were all just human after all.

Stepping out from the courtyard Liliana swept her whip back into it's place on her hip. Walking to her horse and grabbing it's reigns. "You would do best to return to the Academy swiftly."

Liliana said, no command in her voice but simple suggestion.

"Make sure you are seen." She looked to Alistair in particular. "My Cousin will take care of the rest."

Once she was properly informed.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Everything else felt relatively numb to Alistair, and no one would probably blame him. He had just killed his father. Leaving him as the only surviving male heir to his family. His mother and soon-to-be sibling would need to be taken care of, and he would have to do that...How would the family hold up? Would they fall from nobility? Had he just ruined his entire family?

He was taken out of his thoughts when he watched Ralene clean her blade off. He mechanically moved over to wipe his hands and dagger of the blood that covered them. He did the best he could, but he could not help but feel like there was still a stain on his hands.

The three moved to their respective horses, and only then did Alistair seem to regain any sort of semblance of awareness.

"Oh, no. Ralene and I are actually leaving the city. The Academy has assigned Ralene a mission that we will both be participating in. We figured it would be a good alibi to be out of the city when it was learned what happened."

Ralene Liliana