Evening.
Courtyard, Theodore Mansion.
Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.
*******************
Dorothy woke up early today and she then sneaked out of the room she shared with Joyous, she didn’t want to wake her up.
As the morning sun cast its golden glow across the sprawling courtyard of the dark mansion, Dorothy moved to where she assud the cat would be.
Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted the mansions and her beloved cat, Red, nestled amongst the fragrant blooms.
With a delighted gasp, she dashed across the manicured lawn, her steps quickening with each stride.
Red, sensing her approach, lifted his head and emitted a soft, welcoming ow. It sounded more like a growl but as Dorothy drew nearer, a shimring aura enveloped the feline, his form expanding before her astonished eyes.
In an instant, the petite white snowball transford into a majestic creature, his sleek fur now adorned with intricate patterns and his amber eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intelligence.
It was suddenly in its enlarged form. She refused to call it a beast.
With a joyous laugh escaping her lips, Dorothy extended her hand to the magnificent beast, its playful deanour belied his newfound size.
They frolicked in the verdant garden, their bond unbreakable as they chased one another in a dance of pure delight.
Dorothy’s laughter echoed through the courtyard, mingling with the deep rumble of Reds’ contented purrs and the occasional playful growl.
In this enchanted mont, amidst the splendour of her family’s estate, Dorothy and Red were not rely companions, but kindred spirits united in a tiless bond of love and friendship.
She had been in a terrible mood after waking up from a nightmare about her days in the slave establishnt, the building ward had been attracted to her and would use her body however he deed fit. She’d had a motto, why let it be rape when you can just pretend to agree? So she let him through every ti until Lord Theodore ca and picked her amongst the others. There’s a way she felt safe and unconditionally loved by Red and that makes her co back to him.
She was hugging his neck, his feet almost dangling when she heard a grumbled question. "Dorothy?"
Startled she turned to find Hound staring at her with a darkened gaze. "Hound!" she breathed, unnecessarily loud. "You are back" she added with a smile.
He nodded. There was an air around him that made her realize Joyous was right about him. She should stay away. "Please call down the lord for ," he asked.
She frowned. "Oh yes, okay" she agreed and patted Red before she left, she ignored the way the beast groaned and how Hound followed her with his gaze.
anwhile, Hound had just reached the mansion this morning with Mira, he was exhausted yet livid, he dragged her sorry ass to the dungeon and then he didn’t want to enter the building of the mansion which is why he had co here only to be surprised as he caught Dorothy playing with Red.
Everyone, himself included considered that creature a beast, it was rciless and too large for its own good but here she was, he was proud of her but she had looked kike she’d seen a ghost.
He believed she was more ghost than he because she had seen the beast and was still comfortable with it.
He wondered how Lydia would react to it, unbeknownst to him that she had already seen him and for reasons no one knew, she had forgotten about the encounter.
*
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Dusk.
Bedroom, Theodore Mansion.
Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.
***************
Sleep ca late for this couple yesterday but then it beca so sweet they wouldn’t wake up and they kept tangling up in the sheets, but they’re nobles and it was morning.
Dorothy hated that she had to be the one going up to call them because it appeared they were in a good mood yesterday but the lord had co back late so maybe the air might be different today and she didn’t want to face it alone.
"Theodore soone is at the door" Lydia grumbled into Theodore’s chest when soft knocks and sighs penetrated their bedroom entrance.
"I know, let them" Theodore groaned a reply.
A clear of throat. "Lord Theodore, Hound is back"
His body went rigid under Lydia.
She raised her head to look at him, wondering what made him freeze until it struck her, Mira.
She quickly untangled herself.
"Go" she advised, her morning hair was ssy and tangled. His morning dress is crumpled with his hair is no longer tad.
He quickly started to leave the bed, not after dropping a kiss on her forehead, and as he left the bed she asked. "Should I co along?"
He watched her motionless. He was contemplating how to advise she doesn’t but she must have read the thought on his face making her raise a palm.
"I should co along" she declared and started off the bed too.
His jaw clenched. "Lydia..." he trailed off.
Lydia turned to the door. "Dorothy tell Hound we are coming" she yelled to her maid.
"Yes, lady Theodore" the maids’ voice returned and they were a retreating motion of feet.
The couple briskly got ready, at least Lydia but he was faster. "You do not have to co Gooseberry," he said before stepping out of the room.
"Yes, but I want to, I have questions for her" she clarified with a pointed look that he wasn’t arguing with.
They marched out and were t with Joyous. She bowed and left the way for them, kindly.
The air crackled with tension as Lord Theodore, a figure of imposing stature and commanding presence, strode purposefully through the corridors of their mansion.
His jaw was set in a firm line, and his piercing gaze bore the weight of unspoken fury, a dangerous aura enveloping him like a cloak of shadows.
Lydia glanced at him but she also could not speak.
With each step, the echo of his polished leather boots reverberated against the cold stone floor, a harbinger of impending judgnt.
He approached the entrance to the mansion’s dungeon, and a chill swept through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those unfortunate enough to cross his path.
It coated Lydia’s arms with goosebumps but he wasn’t paying attention.
The heavy iron door lood before her, its rusted hinges groaning in protest as Theodore pushed it open with a resounding thud.
Inside, the dungeon is dark and uninviting, Theodore took a light from Hound and before he marched forward he asked.
"Do you want to stay back?" His stance is a hopeful prayer she refuses to enter perhaps because of the darkness or eerie feeling.
"No" Lydia persisted and they resud walking together into the place that had housed a lot of criminals and later dead people.
The light casted long shadows across the damp walls, the air was heavy with the scent of must and decay.
Shackles dangled ominously from the walls, a stark reminder of the punishnts that had been ted out within these grim confines.
At the centre of the room stood the forr maid, a trembling figure cloaked in fear and desperation.
Her eyes widened in terror as Lord Theodore’s gaze fell upon her, his features were twisted in a mask of barely contained rage.
Mira had fled after poisoning his beloved wife, an act that had not only endangered her life but had also resulted in the tragic loss of their unborn child and he could never forgive that.
At the sight of Lydia behind him, Mira the maid sobered up, she started to smirk. Lydia t her eyes making her draw a breath.
"Mira"
"I see you are alive and well" she snapped viciously.
The betrayal stung, she had been a fine person to the maids.
"Why did you want to be called Mira?"
With a scoff Mira replied. "To haunt and taunt you"
"Since when did you know ?" Lydia asked softly.
Mira didn’t respond, she only watched Lydia like a lunatic.
Lydia nodded and with a wobbling chin she asked. "Why did you kill my baby?"
Mira now rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Oh please, If I knew they were a powerful bastard in your stomach I would have given you all the bottle, the poison was for you sweetheart"
"You wanted to kill " Lydia breathed out, disbelief dripping in her voice.
Mira nearest the bars to reply. "Why is that such a surprise?, I thought you would have gone past that or I could help you overco your denial" she snickered, her eyes glancing at Theodore who stood silent since but oozed an active rage.
Lydia asked yet softly. "Was that why you pushed into the lake?"
"Oh, you finally rembered, you are so eager and trusting you refuse to see but I comnd you, the witch was a vicious one I am surprised your mind cleared"
"I could not swim that day" Lydia pointed out
"Just when you were about to die, Theodore had to show up, as an assassin you don’t need to know about your killers before ending them"
Lydia gulped. "What did I ever do wrong to you?"
Mira nodded. "Co closer, I might just tell you".
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