Alvin hung up and sighed, shaking his head with a sigh before he looked over at Ludger, Jude, Milla, Muzet and Gaius. "I'm heading out to meet with Rowen." Alvin called out and Milla was about to say something, yet Ludger stopped her. "Don't worry, he's probably going to see if Rowen has any more proof." He explained, before Jude tilted his head. "Why not come here?" He asked and Ludger sighed. "Madhur is getting suspicious of Rowen; Rowen doesn't want to lead Madhur here even if Madhur wouldn't follow himself." Ludger explained and Jude sighed, it sounded reasonable...but still. "What we need to do is try and figure out if we know the guy who attacked Milla." Ludger said before he pulled a picture out and handed it to Milla and Jude.
"We didn't get a good picture of the guy that Madhur is meeting with, though do you think you could recognize him?" Ludger asked and Jude hummed, looking the picture over, even as Milla seemed confused. "He looks familiar...but do you think it could be the same person who attacked me?" Milla asked and Ludger shrugged. "He's only been meeting that one white-haired man, no one else." Ludger said before he pulled a small recording out. "Plus, we heard this." Ludger said and pressed the 'play' button, before two voice emitted from the small device.
"So, she's fighting back?" A young male's voice questioned and Jude stiffened, as did Milla. "Yes, she is and I don't like it." A older man's voice replied and Milla, with Muzet, gasped. "Madhur?!" They both shouted, eyes wide and Ludger nodded, continuing to listen to the recording. "What do you plan to do Madhur?" The younger male questioned and Jude growled. "That's Ivar's voice." He said with a frown and Milla nodded, holding herself a little. "First chance you get Ivar...break her." They heard Madhur growl out with a venomous tone and heard Ivar chuckle. "Oh, I'll break her alright and kill that pretty boy too." They heard Ivar reply before the recording ended.
Ludger pulled it back and placed it back in his chest pocket, before looking at them. "We gave Rowen a copy of the recording. He plans to use it if we go after Madhur and get him trialed for abuse against Milla, also this proves he's behind the attack I believe. The man said he was asked to 'break you', correct?" He questioned and Milla nodded, holding a hand to her mouth in horror. "Why is he doing this?" She asked, shoulders shaking as she felt like crying. "Because he wants you under his control." Muzet replied and Milla looked at her in shock. "And breaking me is supposed to help?!" She cried out in horror, before the door opened.
"He planned to 'intervene' and act as though he was saving you." A voice said and they looked to the door, seeing Undine entered with Efreet. "Undine, Efreet." Milla mumbled, even as the two walked over. "Everything ready?" Ludger asked the two, who nodded. "Yes, we gave the pictures to some of the policemen who decided to continue looking into the case. They said that for it to really be won, they'd need to catch Ivar or Madhur actually hurting Milla before they really try to prosecute Madhur." Undine explained and Ludger growled, rubbing his head frantically. "How do we achieve that?!" He shouted, eyes wide in anger. "Are there any medical files you've got Muzet of Milla's wounds?" Jude asked, yet Muzet shook her head.
"Not a lot, I took some pictures because of the wounds that I sent to a friend so she could tell me the proper treatment for such wounds." She explained and Jude hummed, they needed more proof! "What do we do?" Milla asked, at a loss herself as she rubbed her head. "Why is he doing this?! What does he want with me?!" She shouted, slamming her head against the table and Jude jumped, grabbing her and pulling her against him, letting her cry on his shoulder. None of them expected Madhur to go this far, go so far as in to ask Ivar to hurt her in such a way! "We have voice evidence and you've identified the voice as Ivar and the older man's voice as Madhur. We have a single picture on them meeting, we have some medicinal files that I'm sure you could get back Muzet." Ludger began listing what they had, Muzet nodded; if she asked her friend, she'd give the files back.
"Not to mention your father, Dominus, put in security cameras in the estate to keep it safe." He mumbled, yet this caught everyone's attention as Milla looked at him warily. "How do you know that?" She asked and he paled, remembering the assignment he was given. 'I can't tell her that yet! Alvin, where the hell are you?!' Ludger thought, trying to come up with an excuse. "R-Rowen told me that you're father placed them to keep an eye on the place, w-while he was gone." He said, rubbing his head and Muzet tilted her head suspiciously, that didn't sound right. "Rowen did?" Milla asked a little confused, she wasn't sure what to believe. She understood the need for security cameras but Muzet and her were the daughters of the Senator!
There was no need as they had servants and bodyguards around the estate that would protect it...unless it was more of a preventative measure just in case something DID happen. "Maybe father is just being cautious?" Muzet commented, shrugging a little and Milla nodded; their father was rather protective and cautious, always had been ever since he took office. Ludger sighed in relief, opting to ignore Jude's scrutinizing gaze and Gaius's narrowed eyes. Suddenly, Undine seemed to notice something. "Wait, you said the security cameras were within the estate, right?" She asked and Ludger shrugged.
"I'm guessing, Rowen didn't specify." Ludger continued the act, he didn't want them to know who he worked for just yet, he rather Alvin be there as well. "Then we might have video tape evidence as well." Undine said, yet Efreet scoffed. "Not going to do much good if we can't get the albino boy locked up as well, he'll still carry out his task, even without Madhur there to encourage him." He grumbled, making Undine smack his arm and he gave a surprised yelp of pain, rubbing the sore spot he slapped. "Shut up Efreet!" She snapped out before turning away as she crossed her arms. "If there is evidence on the video tapes that they've met, maybe at the estate, it would be on there, right?" Jude asked, all the Judge's would really need is the videotapes, everything else was icing on the cake!
"Me and Gaius will head to the estate, see if we can get the tapes!" Muzet said and Undine nodded with Efreet. "We'll go with you just in case Madhur tries something." She said and Muzet nodded as her, Gaius, Undine and Efreet left. Ludger looked at his brother and Milla, seeing how Milla was leaning against Jude and he sighed, rubbing his head. "Get some sleep you two, you look like you need it." Ludger said and Jude frowned, not looking pleased yet he and Milla stood up and headed to the bedroom anyways, yet before Jude entered the room, he stopped and turned toward his brother, eyes judging him. "I expect an answer soon Ludger." He said and Ludger tensed, he knew that tone. "I hope you'll understand that you can trust me to tell me the truth instead of made-up lies." He growled out and Ludger was about to protest when Jude walked into his room, slamming the door shut behind him and Ludger sighed.
He looked at the table, hands clenched and shaking, before he punched the table and stood up, walking to the living room. 'It's not that I don't trust my little brother,' Ludger thought, turning the T.V. on, not really watching anything. 'it's just that I'm not allowed to tell him anything!' He thought with a frown, not interested in anything. "I want to tell him the truth...I'm just not allowed to unless they say so!" Ludger grumbled to himself before his phone vibrated and he grabbed it, eyes going wide as he read the message. 'It's time to tell them.' Thus making Ludger smile, he could finally reveal the truth...suddenly he frowned, now he just had to get Jude and Milla out of the bedroom.
[~~~~~*~~~~~]
Alvin sat down, sighing as he took his jacket off, draping it over the back of the chair before leaning back, looking at the menu with a blank stare. "May I help you sir?" A waiter asked, yet Alvin shook his head. "Just waiting for someone." He said with a smile and the waiter nodded, leaving and opting to come back once his friend had arrived. Alvin sighed, wondering how to tell his friend about the suspect they have; how would he take it? How would he take, knowing his closest family was at fault for what happened?! About ten minutes later, a male sat down with a sigh, sounding exhausted. "Sorry it took so long Alvin," The male began, making Alvin look into a pair of red eyes, seeing his friend. "traffic wasn't kind to me." The man said, shaking his blonde hair and Alvin shrugged.
"Nothing to be ashamed about Dominus." Alvin said to the Senator, who leaned back as he crossed his arms, looking serious. "Now what's going on Alvin? Who attacked my daughter?" He asked concerned, despite the hidden anger within his tone, Alvin knew the Senator wasn't mad at him. The Senator was mad at whoever attacked his daughter, which Avin could understand as he acted the same way when that one boy, whom he couldn't remember the name of, attacked Jude when they were younger. "We're not sure, though we already have at least an idea of who might've been behind the attack." He said and Dominus gave Alvin his full attention. "Milla mentioned that the guy said he was asked to 'break' her," He began and Dominus's face contorted in horror. "so we know he was doing it because he was asked. Though who we suspect...you might not like." He said and Dominus frowned.
He only knew one meaning when it came to 'breaking someone'...and that meant forced intimacy, the actually word Dominus didn't even want to use it. "How is she?" Dominus asked and Alvin sighed. "Jude's helping her cope, she seems alright when she's with him, though it will take time before she's herself again." He said and Dominus growled, hands shaking in rage and Alvin sighed, deciding not to ask him to calm down. It would only result in Dominus lashing out in anger. "I know I'll regret asking," Dominus said and Alvin tensed, even as Dominus took a deep breath. "but who do you suspect?" He asked, looking Alvin in the eye as the brunette sighed. "...Your brother…" He began and Dominus's eyes widened in horror. "Madhur."
[~~~~~*~~~~~]
Muzet and Gaius nodded to the security guard in the estate as he handed the tapes to her. "I'm glad we're finally doing something about this," The Guard said, leaning back in his seat as Muzet put the tapes in her purse. "I can't stand watching Milla continue getting hurt like this." He said and Muzet nodded, smiling brightly. "I know Vutek, none of us can." She said and the Guard nodded, before one of the screens flickered to Madhur walking through the front doors. "Shit!" Vutek said as he stood up, looking at the screen and growling. "Madhur's back already." He said with a frown, before turning back to the console and typing a few buttons.
"If Madhur finds you two here, he'll know somethings up." Undine said with a worried frown, even as Efreet nodded. "Especially if he sees us walk out of this room." He commented and Undine nodded, gaze concerned. Suddenly a door opened to the left of them and Vutek turned toward the Gaius and Muzet. "You two can go through there and get this back to the Judge's and policemen, I'll get Undine and Efreet out of here. I'll explain that we thought someone was lurking about, only to realize it was Volt sleepwalking or something." He said and Muzet gave a relieved smile. "Thank you Vutek, be careful everyone." She said before her and Gaius ran toward the door which lead down a flight of stairs, this would take them to the garage. The door closed behind them...moments before the door to the security office opened.
As Muzet and Gaius got in their car, Gaius pressed a button on the car ceiling and drove forward a little as the garage door opened and they left the estate, making sure none of Madhur's bodyguards saw them as they took a back road to leave the estate. "Hopefully the Judge will find this as good enough evidence." She said and Gaius nodded. "We'll have to reassure him that we haven't tampered with it." He said and Muzet frowned. "Now you of all people know I'm the least intelligent when it comes to computers and stuff." She mumbled and Gaius chuckled. "And you plan on replacing your father when he steps down or retires." He mumbled and Muzet huffed. "Everyone wants to re-elect him anyways, he's done more good for everyone than any of the other contestants and besides, I'm learning all I can." She said and Gaius nodded. "I know Muzet, I know." He said with a fond smile, before the headed toward the courthouse, making sure they didn't break any speeding laws; they would make sure Milla never had to suffer again.
[~~~~~*~~~~~]
Dominus was staring out the window as they passed by buildings as Alvin drove him to their small house, knowing Dominus didn't want to be in the limo. He had asked Takeda to go on home and get some rest after the limo was safely at the estate and Takeda had agreed, saying he hoped all was well. "Dom, you haven't said a word." Alvin commented and Dominus sighed, closing his eyes with sorrow. "What is there I can say? That I'm 'not surprised my brother attacked Milla'?" He asked in a mocking/sarcastic voice and Alvin winced, even as Dominus glared out the window. "Sorry Alvin but it doesn't work like that. I had you and Ludger watching over Milla because I knew something was wrong with her...but I didn't know what it was." He said with a sigh and Alvin shrugged.
"Madhur is your brother, I'm not surprised you didn't want to believe it." Alvin commented and Dominus scoffed. "You have proof from the recording, I can't believe my brother wants her broken." He said, before looking to his lap. "What I want to know is...why?" He asked himself, rubbing his shoulder that was starting to hurt and Alvin sighed. "From what me and Ludger are able to understand, Madhur planned to intervene and act as a hero who saved Milla, thus gaining her trust and then, Madhur would use that trust to get her to believe that you stepping down would be the only way to keep her safe from people like Ivar." Alvin said and Dominus growled. "He's doing this all because he's power hungry?" He questioned and Alvin narrowed his eyes.
"He's also wanting to hurt you, as much as possible." He said and Dominus seemed confused. "Why me?" He asked as Alvin stopped at a red light. "Because your married Manah." He said and Dominus's eyes went wide, because of his late wife? "I remember, hearing from Rowen, how both you and Madhur had fallen for the same woman. You managed to win her affections unlike Madhur, who was enraged at the fact that you got married to Manah." Alvin explained, yet Dominus nodded, that was true yet he didn't know Madhur was angry at the fact.
"When Muzet was born, she looked more like she was from your side of the family, despite you and her looking nothing alike." Alvin said and Dominus chuckled. "Muzet takes after my mother's side of the family." He explained and Alvin nodded. "Madhur noticed a lot of similarities between Milla and your wife though. The eyes had a more pink tint than your red eyes, exactly like Manah's. Her hair had blonde in it, once again from Manah and she also has Manah's body build and facial features." He said and Dominus nodded. "If Milla had a blue sheen to her hair like Manah, people could've sworn she was the exact replica of Manah." Dominus said and Alvin nodded.
"The odd thing though is Milla is an exact mix between you AND Manah. She has the noticeable brown in her hair that you have, the gold tipping that both you and Manah had, and she has a mix between pink and red eyes, magenta." Alvin said and Dominus nodded, pulling a picture out of his wallet. In the picture it was him with his hands on Muzet's shoulders as the young Muzet waved at whoever was taking the picture, with Manah beside him holding a very young Milla. Manah was a splitting image of Milla, except she had a blue sheen to the brown in her hair, something that was more prominent in Muzet while Milla simply had brown and yellow hair, with the gold color being more prominent as both Dominus and Manah had yellow in their hair. Dominus sighed heavily, missing his late wife as he put the picture back, eyes holding a deep sorrow. Alvin looked at him and sighed, not sure what to say.
"If Manah were still alive, I doubt any of this would've happened." Dominus said and Alvin snarled a little, glaring at the road as the light turned green. "Dominus I doubt that, I think Madhur would've begun hurting Manah if she were still alive. Madhur is trying to hurt YOU, because YOU married Manah." He emphasized and Dominus winced, he had known how he acted. Muzet though never really seemed jealous, instead she doted on Milla a lot; almost like a competition between him and his daughter when it came to spoiling Milla.
"He knows that you cherish Milla above all else, you dote on her more than Muzet; so he figured that you would be hurt if Milla was hurt, even if you don't see it." Alvin explained and Dominus growled, glaring at the road. "With Milla having the same eyes and body as Manah, the same hairstyle and slightly similar hair...Madhur must've seen Manah in her." Dominus mumbled and Alvin nodded. "Exactly, that's why he hurt Milla and not Muzet, Muzet didn't have Manah's eyes or body type, Milla did." He said and Dominus slammed a hand against the door. "Why was I so stupid?!" He shouted and Alvin jumped a little, glancing a Dominus in shock before turning his eyes back to the road.
"I should've seen the signs!" Dominus shouted, suddenly remembering how his daughter acted around his brother. He had seen the times she looked at her uncle in fear, the way she'd hang her head when Madhur passed by, the way she tensed and how she'd excuse herself early from eating when he walked into the room. How some days it took longer than normal for her to get dressed and how she winced sometimes when a limb would brush against something. He also remembered the random trips to the hospital she took. At first, he was worried she had obtained the same illness as Manah, except his brother assured him that was not the case and that Milla got hurt playing a sport at school.
"How could I have let him fool me?" Dominus mumbled brokenly into his hands as he held his face and Alvin lowered his eyes a little, still keeping them to the road. "He's your brother, he's family; people don't always want to believe the truth." Alvin explained and Dominus sighed, removing his face from his hands. "So, are we doing something about it?" Dominus asked and Alvin nodded as they pulled onto the road they lived on."We plan to officially prosecute Madhur once more, we have a few detectives who kept the case open because they wanted to know the truth despite them having been paid to keep it closed and not dig further." He said before explaining everything Milla told him to Dominus.
He explained how the abuse started a few months after Manah died, how badly Milla had been hurt and how Muzet tried to get Madhur arrested for the abuse. Yet with power, influence and money, Madhur had paid for them to close the case and stop investigating and keep it quiet...then it got worse for Milla. Constant hospital visits, broken bones, scars that never seemed to fully heal until recently and even the recent attempt to break her. Dominus was horrified and stunned, so much pain...and he had no idea! "I'm a horrible father." Dominus responded with a groan and Alvin sighed. "Milla would disagree." He said as he parked outside the house.
