A.N. And here's chapter 1.5. It's not really chapter two, I'll explain at the bottom of the page where you may find my notes for this chapter and response to reviews.


Soulina Evans, second child and only daughter of Baron Evans, hated knitting. She hated siting in the parlor with her governess pulling the threads of yarn across the pattern with the long metal picks. She hated the vapid conversation she was expected to maintain while doing it. She hated that her hats, and her scarves, and her gloves never came out quite right. The only thing she hated with the same fervor as knitting was needlework…and perhaps painting. But a lady of her station was expected to know these things, and her father had been most insistent, so here she was.

A light spring breeze blew in through the window, and Soulina could hear the birds sing. The wind carried the faint aroma of crushed pine needles and freshly cut grass, a testament to the labors of the grounds keeper. She wished for nothing more to leave the parlor, to run among the flower beds. But that would not do, a lady was prim and proper, a lady did not romp around the garden. So she sat and knitted.

It could be worse the young girl mused, it could be Sunday. On Sundays she was dressed up in full court regalia. The governess said she needed to become accustomed to it. Her long snowy tresses were pulled up into painfully intricate patterns, her movements impeded by the veritable mounds of frill wrapped around her legs, and her breath stolen by- Shinigami preserve her- a corset. Upon further consideration Soulina decided that she hated high fashion, and corsets in particular, far more than knitting or needlework.

But today was not a Sunday, today was a Tuesday. Today her hair was pulled back into a comfortable reasonable ponytail, and her attire was a loose crimson one piece dress with long sleeves which matched her eyes. Of course she also wore her ever present wide brim hat, and as always she had a scarf wrapped around her neck and pulled up to cover her face. Her condition necessitated their presence.

As she worked the threads back and forth mechanically she let her mind drift, filtering out Miss Bennet. Despite being stuck knitting she couldn't bring herself to be unhappy, her brother was coming home. She loved it when Wes came back to visit. He spent so much time at court, and he had been her favorite family member and closest confidante since mother's death. And he always brought back such magnificent stories. She loved to hear tales of dances, of faraway cities and train rides. She had never been on a train, and she hadn't left the family estates in years. Normally a girl of her age and social position would have already made her social debut, but due to Soulina's condition she had been hidden away.

Eventually her lesson ended, and Soulina was left to her own devices until supper. Tossing the fruit of her labor- a slightly lopsided blue cap - to the side, she made her way outside intent on enjoying the beautiful spring afternoon. The Evans estate and grounds were not large. Though he was lord of several towns and a large parcel of land in the Ohio, in addition to a small holding in England, Baron Evans was not rich. The baron chose to live modestly and devote his resources to expanding his political powerbase and improving his lands.

Of course when we say that the Baron was not rich, or that he lived modestly, we are of course speaking subjectively. By the standards of the English nobility, some of whom had been known to purchase entire menageries of exotic animals for their children's birthdays, Baron Evans was not rich. His home, a pretty two storied affair, was modest only in comparison to the veritable castles built by some of his peers. A prime example being the home of Viscount Noah, a man who delighted in acquiring anything and everything that struck his fancy, and who would have long since bankrupted himself if not for the precious metals on his lands.

Still, though "modest" the Evans manor was quite lovely. With a wide open porch, a pair of balconies, and a great many windows to let in the sun. Standing on either side of the path like great silent sentinels were towering pine trees, and the grounds were blanketed in a sea of well-manicured grass dotted with flowerbeds. Soulina wandered, weaving around said flowerbeds, her shoes discarded in favor feeling the soft grass beneath her feet.

Eventually she came to rest beside a patch of white flowers. She didn't know what they were called, her governess instructed her in the three R's and proper feminine activities, not the names of flowers. Caught up in her study of the drooping white bells she failed to notice the man behind her until he quietly cleared his throat. As she looked over her shoulder at the source of the noise her eyes came to rest upon a figure of middling height. He wore a well-tailored beige vest over a crisp white shirt with and a matching pair of trousers. His ensemble was completed by a cravat and leather gloves. His auburn hair was beginning to thin out on top, and his beard was starting to grey. He was by no means a physically imposing man, but he had a certain presence which demanded respect.

"Hello father" Soulina said turning and rising into a more dignified position, looking up to gaze into his dark brown eyes with her own crimson orbs "too what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" her father did not answer, staring pointedly at her for several moments until she remembered to perform an –admittedly belated – courtesy. He nodded at that, and formalities completed, began to speak.

"Daughter" he said the word completely devoid of any emotional inflection. They had never been close. Following her mother's death Soulina had been passed from one tutor to the next, her father's involvement in her life had consisted of quiet dinners and meetings in the hall, and he was often away on business. "I wish to discuss your future."

Her heart sped up at his words. Her future? Would she finally be allowed to leave the manor? Working very hard to keep her voice under control, a proper lady was calm and collected, she asked "what is it you wish to say father?"

"I know how much you wish to see the world and i believe it is time you left the manor. In truth it should have been done last year, for that reason I have arranged to send you to New York." She could hardly believe her ears, it was time! She was leaving the manor, she would see the world! "Your escort will arrive this Friday, and you will depart the following morning."

A dream this had to be a dream, she surreptitiously pinched herself behind her back where her father couldn't see. "Escort father"? She asked, attempting to buy time for her mind to organize itself.

"Yes, I have hired a Shibusen mercenary to ensure your safety on the road. It is a long journey and I wish to ensure that you arrive unharmed." At this her heart beat faster still, a Shibusen mercenary! She had heard stories, but to really meet one! It was so exiting, but her father's words left her somewhat confused.

"A long journey? Surely we will just take the train?" True it still took some time, but a train ride could hardly be called a long journey, and could not possibly be so dangerous as to warrant hiring a Shibusen mercenary.

"I am afraid that the trains are not an option. I do not trust those contraptions, far too dangerous, you will be much safer traveling in a carriage." Soulina thought her father was being silly. But since she was being let out into the world she didn't question it, besides the display of concern for her well-being was kind of cute, paternal.

"Very well" she said, before another thought occurred to her. "You said I would be leaving Saturday?"

"Yes" he replied

"But my brother does not return until Monday"

"That is correct" her father told her. "I am afraid you will depart before you have the chance to see your brother." Soulina was mildly distressed at this piece of information, but her discomfort did not last long. Knowing her father her stay in New York would likely be short and Wes was going to be back for two months. She would see him when she got back, and this time it would be she who told the stories. After all she would be traveling with a real Shibusen mercenary!

"I suppose it cannot be avoided" she said "I will be able to see him when I return." Her father frowned when she said this, and he paused a minute before speaking slowly to her in his heavy basso voice.

"Soulina I don't believe you understand" he rumbled "you're not visiting New York, I am sending you to live there." He paused before continuing. "Since we cannot present you to the court, I have arranged for you to join a convent. I would not have you spend the whole of your life trapped in this manor."

Soulina said the first thing that came to her mind, her dream was turning into a nightmare "so you would have me spend my life trapped somewhere else" she accused, leveling her finger at him. "I don't want to join a convent" her father's face was beginning to turn purple.

"That is irrelevant" he hissed "I am your father and I have decided. You can no longer stay here, people are beginning to talk. Claims of poor health and frailty can no longer explain why you have not once made an appearance. To join a convent is a respectable and honorable action. No one would pry, you would in fact be very well thought of for your decision, and I know the abbess and she assures me your secret would be safe with the sisters."

"And now the truth comes out" she hissed back, going so far as to actually poke him in the chest. "It all comes back to politics, all you want is to hide me away, and if you can push me farther from prying eyes and earn respect for the family by claiming it was my choice why wouldn't you? After all what are my feelings compared to the opportunity to better your position!" She could see the veins in his neck throbbing, and when he opened his mouth she was sure that he was going to bellow his rage to the heavens, but when he spoke it was quiet and far more intense than any fit of yelling could ever be.

"I have made my decision" he said "this Saturday you, your maid, and two manservants will leave in a carriage with the mercenary. There will be no discussion, I acting in your best interest. When you come to your senses and realize that, I will be in my office waiting for you to apologize for your impertinence."

Soulina watched as her father turned and stalked up the drive, and she waited until several minutes after he had gone through the manor's front door, before running in and making her way up the stairs to the second floor and a little room at the end of the left hand corridor.

Inside was a grand piano, ivories worn smooth by years of roaming fingers. It had been her mothers. Some of her earliest memories were of her mother, a heart faced blonde woman, sitting at the bench serenading her. When she was seven her mother had contracted a disease, the doctors didn't know what. She had lasted less than a year, slowly wasting away. The loss of his wife had driven Baron Evans to bury himself in his work, and to distance himself from the daughter who reminded him of her. She had begged him to spend time with her, but when that failed she asked for piano lessons instead, and her father had obliged.

She never felt better than when she was playing, it made her feel close to her mother and let her pour out her emotions. It comforted her to press down on cool ivory and listen to the sounds produced, to let it all out and lose herself in the music. She needed that comfort now, as she threw herself onto the bench and began striking the keys. Under her ministrations the piano began of moan a haunting dirge. There was something worse than knitting, worse than corsets. Something she had found that made all her previous "hatreds" and discomforts inconsequential, the indescribable pain of having no control over her own life.


A.N. So anyway that's that, hoped you like it. My apologies for how long it took to update, I've been busy and my muse is an ass. As i was writing chapter two i realized something was missing, so i went back and decided to write something different deciding that chapter two would become chapter three. As i was writing i realized what i was writing really belonged as part of chapter one, which i always thought was somewhat lacking. I decided i would post it as chapter two under the name Patriarchs and Pianos until i finished the real chapter, at which point i would roll it in with chapter one rename the first chapter Priests and Patriarchs, and fix a few typos i noticed while rereading. My apologies for my failure to format properly. I promise to fix it as soon as possible with my next update. Speaking of updates i actually hope to get the next chapter up within the next two days, because after that I'm going to be busy for several weeks. Still i refuse to do a rushed job, so if i don't finish in time my apologies in advance for the wait.

If you have any constructive criticism or points of concern, please inform me via review or pm. I am willing to work with my readers to improve the story.

Thank you all for reading

Sincerely

Contaminated Angel

Now on to responding to the review

GlitterGoat

Thank you for reviewing. I'm glad you like it, and i hope that as i continue the story it remains something you can enjoy. To answer your question, i would have to say the manga. Partly because i prefer the manga, and also because in future Arcs i will use information from the manga not found in the anime to explain certain character's actions.