TW: Slight Blood and Abuse
I gulp at the sound of Evelyn picking up the golden teapot and pouring some tea into her porcelain teacup with a small clank. The silence in the room was deafening as she continued to make her tea as if none of us were there.
A small amount of milk, then the tea, add two sugar cubes, stir, a few drops of lemon juice from a freshly picked lemon, and stir. That is how Evelyn likes her tea, It was almost mesmerizing to watch. I found the way she liked her tea a bit strange, but I'm hardly in the position to judge her.
The clanking from the gold silverware hitting the porcelain ceased as she placed the spoon down and, with a graceful hand, raised the teacup to her red-painted lips. The bold red color stuck onto the cup as if it were meant to be there.
"Y/n."
I feel my body tense as I force my eyes away from her lips. Our eyes locked, which gave her the chance to shoot me an almost menacing glare. I swallowed the lump caught in my throat before answering.
"Y-yes m-m-ma'am?"
Her painted lips twitched into a light smirk, Evelyn is clearly getting off on my fear.
"What troubles you child? Why have you stopped praying? Has faith left you?"
I knew better. She is trying to trick me. Lure me into a false sense of security. She wants me to slip up, but I know better than that. I take a deep breath to control my nervousness before putting on a confident facade.
"Faith hasn't left me, ma'am. Nothing troubles me, and my prayers towards you and the rest of the elites have not faltered."
Evelyn looked satisfied by that answer as she went to take another sip of her tea.
"Good. I know I was a bit harsh on you when you were younger, but I simply couldn't have you play hero for the very gender that abused a handcrafted gift."
I looked down as she continued.
"You wouldn't be in such a predicament if you didn't save that boy."
My eyes furrow as fury took over me. I spoke through gritted teeth.
"That boy was about to die all for what? He was playing like every other kid, yet you give higher-ranked women the right to abuse and whip an undeserving kid all because he has a dick. What kind of law is that!"
Evelyn looked shocked before grimacing.
"Don't question my law child."
I stand to my feet as I yell
"YOU'RE LAW IS A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR! THAT BOY DESERVED TO LIVE AND SO DID HIS FATHER!"
"Y/n."
"WHY AM I BEING PUNISHED FOR HAVING MORALS?! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND THE LAST PERSON THAT RAISED ME AFTER YOU SENT MY PARENTS AWAY."
"Y/n."
"WHAT ARE YOU GONNA MUTILATE ME IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC LIKE YOU DID WITH MY FATHER -"
"Y/N!"
The ground shook as Evelyn raised her voice. Her hair spikes up like a porcupine on the defense. The chandelier light flickers as her veins glow a bright black color, giving her face and body a cracking appearance. I fall to the ground with a thud as she makes her way towards me. Her aura consumed everything in her wake.
The other elites and Aimiah cower into their seats except for Tati, who looks unphased. I quickly crawl backward as she gets closer and closer til my back hits the wall. She brings a clawed hand to my face before gripping it and lifting me into the air. I could feel blood seeping from my cheeks as her nails dig into my skin.
She forces me to look into her pupilless blue eyes before speaking.
"Don't mistake kindness for mercy child. I apologize for your parents. They were never my target, but I had to get my point across. Unfortunately, it looks like my point is fading. Do you need me to reinstall it into you?"
I shook my head to the best of my abilities as tears pooled down my face.
"I didn't think so."
She drops me back onto the floor with a thud before slicking her hair back and walking back to her chair as if she wasn't about to kill me at this moment. She takes a seat as she stares at me. I slowly crawl back to my seat before sitting down as tears continue to fall.
"Now again, I'll ask my child. What is wrong? Have you lost your faith?"
I dry my tears as I ignore the water threatening to fall from the edge of my eyes.
"No ma'am. There is nothing wrong, and my faith in you is as strong as your might, m-my elite."
Evelyn was satisfied yet again as she went to take a sip of her tea before another voice spoke out.
"Liar."
Aimiah's voice broke the silence. Evelyn pauses before her lips can touch the rim of her cup before setting the tea back door and facing her daughter.
"Aimiah, if y/n says that she is fine, then she is -"
"LIAR!"
Aimiah stands to her feet as she bangs on the table. The silverware bangs against the table slightly from the impact while a few pastries fall from the ceramic cake stand. Nadia, Valerie, and Ramona look shocked while Tati looks amused, but nothing compares to the appalled look on Evelyn's face. Has she not learned from what just happened?
Aimiah quickly covers her mouth as her mother glares at her. Aimiah slowly removes her hands as she opens her mouth to speak until a loud smacking sound resonates through the room. Aimiah holds her cheek after her head snaps to the side.
Evelyn stands to her full height towering over Aimiah as she looks disgusted by her daughter.
"Have I taught you nothing, you ungrateful child?! IT IS UNLADYLIKE FOR A LADY OF YOUR STATURE TO STAND HERE BEFORE GODDESSES AND DISREGARD ALL TABLE MANNERS AS YOU ACCUSE OUR GUEST!"
Aimiah lets out a small whimper as she cowers back into her seat. Tears flowed down her eyes, yet she still looked beautiful. As if every tear fell strategically down her face to give her an almost ethereal look.
My mouth dropped in shock as the scene played out in front of me. I knew Evelyn wasn't the kindest to her people and was never the best mother figure to Aimiah, but I never knew that it went to a physical extent when concerning her own flesh and blood.
I felt sick to my stomach as Evelyn regained her composure and gracefully sat back down as she took a sip of her tea once more. None of the elites looked phased by Evelyn's show of dominance over her daughter and continued to eat and make themselves a spot of tea while Aimiah continued to cry silently.
I couldn't help but feel bad for Aimiah even though I still have a nagging feeling that boy strung from my ceiling was her doing, and it wasn't all in my head. I stayed stiff in my seat as Evelyn went to speak yet again.
"I'm sorry about her behavior, y/n. I don't know what has gotten into her. It's probably hanging around that Chantel girl for so long."
Nadia places her half-eaten Danish back on her plate as she quickly gives Evelyn a heavy glare.
"Don't blame my child for your daughter's behavior. My little raindrop has nothing to do with your failure to properly raise a child."
Nadia's words were laced with venom as a low growl can be heard rumbling from her chest. Evelyn looks at her with a bored expression.
"Oh, put your canines away it only makes you look more like an animal than you already are. Besides, do you really want to challenge me, Nadia?"
Evelyn spoke in a calm voice, yet the meaning of her words screamed the opposite. Even I knew that the simple question was truly a threat in disguise. 'Challenge me if you dare, but I can't guarantee your survival' is what Evelyn really meant.
Something about the look in Evelyn's eyes unsettled me to no end. How can she be so calm? Nadia emits a low growl that dies down to a small hiss before she leans back into her seat. It doesn't take long for me to identify where Chantel gets her attitude from.
Evelyn lets out an arrogant scoff, knowing full and well that she has won the argument. I think it's time for me to go.
"W-Well as lovely as this has been I-I am afraid that I-I-I must g-get going now."
I rise from my seat while everyone stops what they are doing to look at me. Even Aimiah looked at me through blurred eyes and wet lashes.
"Leaving so soon?"
Tati spoke in slight amusement. I gulped yet again as I stared into the black abyss she called eyes. I could hear Valerie and Ramona giggling in the background while Nadia lets out a small snort. Evelyn only looks on with a small, close-lipped smile as Aimiah looks confused and pissed off. There is another emotion flashing in her eyes as she watches me and Tati, but I can't seem to put my finger on it.
"Y-yes m-m-ma'am. I just have a-alot of things to-to do at home today."
"Pity"
Tati picks up a cupcake from the ceramic cake stand. While still looking at me, she brings the cupcake to her mouth and takes a small bite, leaving behind some frosting on her lips. Without breaking eye contact, she licks the frosting from her lips and slowly licks the frosting from her fingers. One digit, two digits, three digits, four. A popping sound resonates after each icing-covered finger is thoroughly licked.
I trembled as a chill went down my spine. My mouth opens and closes as I try to find words to say. At this point, all the elites are letting out a hearty laugh while Aimiah is fuming beside her mother as she watches us.
They are all playing some sick, twisted game with me, and I'm sick of playing. I bawl my fist as I shut my mouth and turn to leave. I opened the door to walk about while Evelyn spoke.
"You walk out of that door y/n, and you'll regret it dearly."
I hesitated as I could hear Evelyn stir her tea before taking another sip. Without turning back, I forced myself to walk out. Out of the room, out of the house, out of the neighborhood. My walk turned into a full-blown run as I let my tears fall once again. No one paid any mind to me. Who would? I'm only a rank in the system.