"Some truth can heal, while others cause the most pain."

Truth

The world spins as they leave; millions of colours blend into one, almost like the colours of paints that Anton Sokolov uses for his masterpieces. The sound is inhumane, flowing freely and unhindered in the air and rests in Julia's ears. For a moment, she feels like she is flying or falling, she couldn't tell. However, both she and the assassin feel the ground under their feet and the sound stops abruptly, leaving only the screeching of rail-carts to replace it.

She swallows and finally speaks. "This, this is not far from..." she trails, slowly. The assassin just nods in response, glassy holes in his mask looks off into the far distance.

"Home," he reveals. Only then does Julia realize that his hand is still securely wrapped around her slim wrist. Harshly, she pulls it out of his grip looks away. He however, doesn't acknowledge the movement and instead puts the hand to his side, not allowing the aristocrat even one glance. "You can make you way from here."

She turns up her nose. "Of course!" She scoffs, and pushes past the assassin to prove a point. She does not need him anymore. She no longer requires his presence. "Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself."

"I understand that," he speaks, the tone of his voice non-existent. "However, if you require my assistance-"

Julia turns slightly and snorts. "That is not needed."

"If you require my assistance," he growls, not appreciating being casted aside like some useless mutt. "Just point your finger to the floor, and I shall come. If not me then my men."

"I do not require you anymore; I do not want you anywhere near me." She hisses. "Leave. Before I call the Overseers assassin!"

He shows no anger. No hurt. Nothing. Instead he just nods like a mere servant being given orders and disappears into the air, the essence of dark magic almost choking Julia. It is familiar and frightfully so, but she just gulps down the urge to show fear and turns around again. The day is young and as she walks down the streets, she can see how her disappearance has affected the district. Wanted posters litters the streets like some kind of new plague, her face on every single one of them and in bold letter, it speaks of:

Missing: Julia Boyle.

Kidnapped and taken into the night by an unknown masked man, current location and status is unknown. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact the City Watch immediately.

Those who hold information and don't speak out will be punished.

"They waiting. They waiting for either news of my whereabouts..." she pauses, pain welling in her chest and her throat closes tightly. "...my death."

But she is alive. She lives and Daniel is rotting in her personal cell in his attic, she could see his body lying there, pale face contorted with fear and pain, the smell of his blood tinged in the dirty air could even be smelled now. She feels nothing about that. As far as she is concerned, he got off easy, she could have got him arrested and sent to Coldridge. She can't now, and she feels angry at that fact.

The first person she runs into is not of the City Watch. Waverly. The shock on her face as she lays eyes on her niece must mirror Julia's. Waverly looks like she sees a ghost, her once majestic blond hair is limp and dull, her eyes sunken in and bags rests underneath them. She must have been stressed beyond belief. That makes a tinge of guilt hit Julia in the stomach.

The servants by her aunt's side reflect their expressions perfectly. "L-Lady Boyle!" One of them gasps, her mouth open in shock. "You're- you're-"

"Alive." Julia finishes the sentence for her. She smiles at her aunt and then hugs her tightly, burying her face into the elder's neck and takes in her scent. The need to break down and cry like she hasn't done since childhood is immense. She remains strong though and breaks away. A small noise comes from Waverly, as if she is scared that Julia would be torn away from her again, but she holds it down successfully and instead smiles.

"Julia," she starts, her voice still holding the disbelief she is feeling. "We- I- thought that you were gone for good, what happened?"

Julia's face falls grimly. "I will tell you and Aunt Lydia once we return," she explains briefly, her eyes gazing past Waverly's shoulder. "This is not the place."

She nods and takes Julia by the hand softly, leading the heir back to her castle.

-f-

The whispers and murmurs were not like those spoken by those attending the party. They were not full of malice and hatred, but rather relief and love. The guards were ecstatic of her return and her favourite briefly bowed to her. She planted a kiss on his cheek and thanked the rest for their effort in finding her, and that she would not forget their loyalty. It was rare to find such loyal friends in the suffocating walls of nobility.

Now she sits in the trophy room with a drink in her hand. Lydia stares at the roaring fireplace, pursed into deep thought. Waverly watches Julia drink anxiously, her tongue briefly darts to her dry lips and catches her niece's eyes.

"Do not worry," she mumbles. "I'm not going to suddenly turn into my mother."

"But what-?"

"We weren't thinking that Julia." Lydia interrupts, finally tearing herself away from the hypnotising dance of the flames. "Waverly is just glad you are back. We both are."

Her sister interrupts her. "But exactly how did you get kidnapped? You were in your room and the maid just left!"

The clank of ice against the smooth glass of her cup is the only sound. Waverly's voice dies and is swallowed by the ever-hungry mass that is silence. Swiftly, Julia's eyes darts to the window and her mind plays over how the silent footsteps came from her bedroom window, the smell of the cloth and chemicals still lingering despite it being weeks.

She takes a shaky breath. "It was a Whaler-"

"An assassin?!" Waverly growls, her hands protectively holding her waist. "What would want with you?!"

Lydia turns her head and carefully places her hand on Waverly's thigh. "Calm yourself Waverly, Julia is safe, she's fine."

Snapping her head to Lydia, Waverly spits. "I know she is fine! She is right here! I want to why a Whaler kidnapped my niece!"

"He was working for someone," Julia continues, nipping at the skin at the end of her slim finger. "Daniel Brisby."

The silence resumes as the words leave her mouth, and slowly Julia could see her aunts' expressions change, one of panic and coolness to both being angered. "Him?!" Waverly snaps, jumping from her seat. "He took you?!"

"It makes sense," Lydia frowns distastefully. "He is completely infatuated with her, just like his father."

Immediately, Julia's thoughts drift over to audiograph that sits comfortably in her pocket, alongside it is her mother's hairbrush. She stands swiftly and excuses herself, feigning tiredness and ignores Waverly's questions about whether she wants the maids to run her a bath. Her feet dance up the stairs like feathers, her head elegantly brushing against the smooth hand-rail as she ascends. The hallways are flowing with the movements of the servants, their happy greetings mostly ignored by the Boyle.

The door to her bedroom creaks open and she enters. It is just like how she left it, or rather how the assassin left it, except that the note Daniel written to her is gone. Slowly, she sits down in front of her prized mirror and repulses at her reflection, not daring to look at it unless necessary. She pulls out her audiograph player from underneath the desk and places carefully on the wooden surface. The audiograph is taken out of her pocket alongside the hairbrush, but whereas the latter is placed on the desk next to the audiograph player, the former is placed inside.

She sighs loudly and presses a button that plays the audiograph. "Let's see if your whole family are sick people Daniel." She whispers. The sound starts as static, and soon she jumps as it sparks to life, the sound of a male voice speaking quickly and quietly.

My dear Esma. My beautiful Esma. How I wish you would turn to me and ask to dance or take me out to your garden and kiss under the pale moonlight. Now I know, you will never love me, no matter how many times I try to win you over.

You pick everyone but me. That Pendleton was the only one before our Lord Regent to see the romance between the both of you. Why? Why him? I would gladly kill him, tear him limb from limb and then have you as my own.

*The sound of a sigh*

Your daughter, she resembles you so. Our Daniel will not stop speaking of her. Maybe if we can't be together then our children could have that blessing. Oh how I wish to see that happen.

Damn him! Damn that bastard! I gave him one job! Take you down to the basement where I would be waiting and then we would disappear together, no one would know what happened to you but that would not matter, we would be together forever! Outsider's eyes I would have even let you take Julia with you! If it kept you happy...

But you had to be drunk. You had to try and see Corvo's face. You had to call for the guards! Now look what happened! He returned covered in blood, your blood Esma! He apologized to me, saying that there was no way for him to take you into the basement when you screamed... And in front of your own daughter now less.

By the Void, I really can't do anything right. I'm just like what you called me, 'spineless', 'not a man', 'useless'. Don't worry my love... *The sound of a gun cocking*

...we will be together soon.

*The sound of gun going off*

Julia moves to stop the audiograph when she hears the door in the audiograph open, quiet gasps that of a young child could be heard. She pauses and her eyebrows furrow together, her lips pursed together in confusion.

A young boy calls out. "Daddy? Daddy?!"

Click. Her finger presses against the button and her eyes widen in shock, her breathing coming through in short gasps. She couldn't believe it. The little boy was Daniel. He saw his father kill himself.

Just like she saw her mother die.