In Another Life- chapter 7

The strange man’s feet did not touch the ground, he levitated instead. He went behind Lady Penny circling her.

“You’re interesting! You’re just like him.” The man said.

“Like who?” Lady Penny asked.

The man backed up as Vince stood in front of Lady Penny. His sword held out, sharp and directed at him.

“Like Luthor. A servant of ours. He’s very…skilled.”

Lissana stared at the strange man. His laughs, his almond eyes, even his relaxed posture.

“You seem like a member of the Synx household.” Lissana said.

The man paused, he laughed out loud.

“Me? No way! I’m just a wandering ghost.”

“You did say that you’re the one who got away.’ Lady Penny said.

“So…the deceased son of the Duke.” Vince mumbled lowering his sword.

“What? You think I cannot cause harm?” The man said.

All three of them stared at him before he slumped his shoulders and flew past them.

“Yes I can’t. I’m stuck because I have to find a way to get rid of his hatred. Or else he’ll keep me here forever!”

“Your brother?” Lissana asked

“Yes my brother Olse…” The man turned to her.

“Do you know of him?”

“I do.” Lissana smiled.

“You’re Euno Synx. Of course your brother will be well known!”

Lady Penny glanced at her friend. She cleared her throat, matching her enthusiasm.

“He deserves all the help he can get. What can we do?” Lady Penny says with her hand over her heart.

“If you three could go to the Synx’s cemetery and lift a red six-petaled flower off my headstone, I believe this can unbound me.”

Lissana nods, “And to prevent Olse from being immortal?”

“I know Luthor had always directed him to go to this shop. Perhaps the answer lies there.”

Lissana smiles, “We shall support you. No matter what.”

“Of course!” Euno smiled. He waved as they left the wash house.

“What were their names again?”

***

“If the ritual takes place in that shop, then we must first remove the flower on Euno’s grave.” Lissana says.

“We’ll get caught. We need to get to the shop he always goes to. Only then we can intercept.”

“How about baiting them? He always said he’d come for you. Direct a message towards him and he’ll send his outcasts.” Vince said.

Lady Penny smiled, clasping her hands together, “That’s a great idea Vince!”

He looked away, the tips of his ears reddening as he nodded.

“If I serve as bait…you two could unbound Euno. I will gather any information through the attack and we meet at the shop?”

“Suppose we have our plan set.” Lady Penny smiled.

***

Two days later

Lissana was all alone at home. Aside from the household servants, she had sent her mother and two younger siblings for a trip. She wandered the halls with a hum. She stood by a window, admiring the moon. How full it looked and its silver brightness that had seemed to captivate her. She reached her hand out, as if that would bring her closer. As if she’d be able to graze her fingers against it and whisper all the wishes she so dearly wants to come true.

One moment she was lost in thought, the next glass had shattered beside her. A spear lodged into the wall beside her. Lissana glanced at the direction it came from. Three masked men. Each with their one spears. She lifted her nightgown and ran down the hall. One of the spears gets thrown in front of her, scratching a wound on her ankle that has since healed. She hissed, turning to her left. No windows for any spears to go through but the footsteps thudding behind her said otherwise.

“There is no information to take. This is a death sentence.” She whispered to herself. She had hoped one would show up and babble nonsense before attempting to send her to the afterlife. But, instead she got three very serious outcasts who wanted her dead.

She ran outdoors to where the stables were. She brushed her hand against one of her horses.

“Hello there.” She cooed.

The horse brushed its head back against her palm.

Soon as Lissana attempted to mount her beast, one of the outcasts had already caught up to her. He pointed his sharp spear to her throat. Tilting his head as he said, “No where else to run too.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Lissana said, stepping back.

“Oh? What makes you say that?” He said, stepping closer.

“My guards are very talented.”

“Really? Your household is empty, so empty that not even a single rat is here.”

“Hm. I suppose your master would be the type to attack a lady while she’s all alone.”

“Don’t you speak ill of-”

“Of Olse Synx? The unclaimed child of the Synx’s household?”

The man thrusted his spear forward and Lissana had moved away just in time. She pointed at him.

“Your master sent you here to silence me didn’t he? How come he isn’t here?”

“Why should someone with such dignity as him come down for a mere lady? He is one with radiance who helps those in need to which he sacrifices himself to make sure those in need get the help they’ve been begging for!”

The man looked away for a moment.

“I was one of the ones he took pity on. Do you even know what it feels to be an outcast? To be told that there will be no one waiting for your return?”

Lissana hummed. “And where did he find you? Has he ever interacted with you before?”

“How could he when he was outcasted in his own home!”

“See, this is where you have been blindsided. I at the very least am a lady who was accepted the very moment I was born. Unlike your master who has to cower and sneak around others..”

“My master is a chosen one. He speaks with the highest of spirits in the realm. He has no need to mingle with the powerless.”

Lissana backed up until her back hit the stable walls. The two other masked men finally arrive. They stand behind him, waiting for him to finish Lissana off.

“And yet you are a powerless who is doing his bidding. Say, has it ever come to your mind that perhaps he was the one who pushed you to be an outcast. To serve him in the dark? There’s a reason why countless sons and daughters from fortunate families across the kingdom fall every passing month. He needs an army and you are foolish enough to take the enemy's hand.”

She watched his spear lower for a moment. But it was enough for her to say, “That’s exactly why you’re expendable. I suggest you go back and see if he won’t get rid of you because you have failed to take me out for his pleasure.”

Lissana clapped twice, two of her guards appeared from the roof, their swords slicing the spears in half. She gets on her horse, watching her two guards surround the trio of outcasts.

“Thank you for allowing me to confirm. That he deserves no pity even if his upbringing was full of sorrow.”