10/10/2015

Antionette Villa

Joseph Antoinette always despised parties, not because they were a waste of money or because he considered himself an introvert. Yet rather, the number of dreadful people that attended. However, today was different; it was his sister Marie's 15th Birthday. In which he was now in charge of planning after inheriting his mother's lands and his father being sick and not of 'important blood'.

As Joseph and his sister were the last living Hapsburgs in Europe with his family having hidden their identity from all but a small royalist faction that still supported them to this day, hoping to see a rise of monarchies across Europe once more.

As Joseph continued planning his sister's party in the parlor he was interrupted by the very star of the show. A jovial Marie stared at Joseph with a smug grin plastered across her face. "What's gotten you so happy all of a sudden Marie, can't you see I'm trying to get everything ready for this weekend" "Well you see brother, I just got accepted to attend the all-girls Parisian Academy, isn't that so cool! And I did it all by myself." spoke Marie, now grinning like a Cheshire cat. "That's awesome Marie like mother said us Hapsburgs can accomplish anything it just shows we were meant to rule" Joseph said while closing his eyes imagining a day when his family can once again rule over all of Europa. "Sure sure whatever you say brother" said Marie somewhat deflated having felt a bit robbed of what she thought as her own accomplishment. "Anyways, brother, let me tell you what I first planned to ask. Can you please lower my security restrictions on my birthday? I know its important, but please some of my friends will be here, and I don't want to scare them. Just for 1-night pleasee!" pleaded Marie with her puppy dog eyes that seemed to always cause her brother to melt to his sister's desires especially with this being her birthday.

"All right, all right I'll tone down your security detail, but you have to promise me you won't leave the estate and have at least Zessick your personal knight with you at all times. You can just introduce her as your cousin." Joseph said quickly dotting down changes to be sent to the security of the estate, sneaking in a note for a guard to trail his sister and contact him and alert the security team if anything seems dangerously amiss. "Thanks Joseph" half whispered Marie, as she scampered away to go ask Zessick if she could take her shopping and horseback riding.

Before Joseph could respond to her, he found himself interrupted once again. Yet, this time it was for some more so unpleasant business. Involving matters he dare not speak of to his sister. "Report" spoke Joseph assertively at the new arrival that entered the parlor with a facetious smile plastered across his face. "Yes sir. I've come to report that the loaning of equipment has been a success and I have not been recognized nor followed" reported a Frenchman dressed in a black suit and cloak with a few purple accents. "Very good, Emanuel; we are finally making progress. Just make sure none of this will leak back to us otherwise it will be your head" Joseph said in a very grave tone. "Haha, yes, yes, I understand no need to be so serious, Joseph for only being 18. Come on, lighten up your majesty. It is your sister's birthday this weekend no way would I allow anyone to follow me, to be doubly sure I even arranged an accident for the last man I spoke to." replied Emanuel with a devilish smirk that Joseph soon copied upon remembering how alike he and his Knight are.

Sewers, Paris

This was going to be a big day. Gabriel had finally met with a man promising his cell some 'equipment' He had received more 'equipment' then he'd ever expected by a man claiming to be a fellow patriot. But who was this fellow patriot Gabriel questioned. "Victor, Louis, the meeting was a great success. We will receive new weapons and explosives from this man I've been meeting with." Gabriel shouted in jubilation to his friends and fellow patriots.

"Gabriel, how do you know you can trust this person? You've never even seen their face." Victor questioned in an accusatory tone "Our lives are in the balance, and here you are trusting this person claiming to be a fellow patriot. How can you be so sure this is an act of goodwill" "Victor, it's okay I wasn't followed back here everything will work out you'll see" Gabriel reassured Victor while patting him on the shoulder "Now that's cleared up. We must prepare for our attack, which will begin next week. Here are the locations and people we hit. Now I must attend to other business." Gabriel said as he placed a homemade cigarette in his mouth, climbing out of the sewer drain to head back to his home.

As Gabriel walked home, he felt as if the air was colder tonight, as if he was being watched. Could it be the secret police he thought, have they found me? Yet, before he could ponder further, he felt his breath hitch and then blackness. Gabriel had crumpled over into the alleyway with a dagger through his trachea and the back of a hammer in his skull.

Gabriel would be found two days later by a prostitute, with someone having torn out his entrails and tied them like a noose around his neck. A warning the prostitute was sure of, so as all smart people do, she turned and ran, never looking back.