When Katarina opened the door, revealing another maid standing nearby, Akali was not surprised. It seemed the elder Du Couteau was quite a possessive man, doing his best to control everything related to his family. The ninja considered the approach annoying, but she could picture a good reason behind such a decision. No matter, a glimpse of sympathy for Katarina grew in her. It must have been a horrifying concept to be a beautiful bird in a golden cage. The more the Ionian thought about it, the more sense it made. After all, everything around was expensive and magnificent, but it only served as a distraction. Even though Akali's knowledge of Katarina's father was somewhat limited, it would be challenging to picture him as a caring figure. To the Ionian, he seemed to be manipulative and power-hungry.
Nonetheless, the brown-haired maid led them into the courtyard, where a carriage awaited. Marcus must have kept another piece from the redhead as her body language shifted unexpectedly. As Akali followed the red-haired assassin, she noticed the change once the former tensed.
"Where're we going?!" Katarina asked the brown-haired maid aggressively.
"To the hunting lodge, my lady," the servant replied quietly.
"Whose idea was it?" the young Du Couteau inquired, pausing for a moment.
"Your father… I mean, the Master," the brown-haired woman mumbled.
"I thought I'd made it clear," the young Du Couteau began venomously, approaching the frightened servant. "I've told you I don't want to see that damned cabin ever again! Why didn't you change his mind?! Why didn't you suggest other places the estate is plentiful of these?" she demanded.
"We tried, my lady," the servant whimpered. "But… but, the Master told us not to bother him."
"Do you expect me to believe that?" Du Couteau's heiress growled. "I've given you a trivial instruction. Yet, you're seemingly incapable of following it. You're useless, all of you!" she continued.
"My lady," the servant continued whimpering. "We tried. I swear, it is true," she continued, covering her face with her hands defensively.
"Pff," Katarina scoffed, losing control. "Doesn't matter; you'd tell me anything to avoid the punishment. But it's pointless," she stated, preparing to slap the maid.
"Katarina, stop it!" Akali intervened, crushing the redhead's wrist with her iron grip. "Get in the carriage," she ordered, keeping her tone cold.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" the red-haired assassin spat venomously.
"Quiet!" the Ionian said coldly, clearly in no mood to deal with Katarina's outburst. "I told you to get into the carriage. So, please do me a favour and do so," she added emotionlessly.
"You'll pay for that later," the heiress threatened.
Much to Akali's surprise, the red-haired assassin backed off once her wrist was freed. She shot the Ionian a murderous look but did as she was told and strolled towards the carriage. Although the raven-haired woman could hear her whispering curses, she did not care. As long as the young Du Couteau was obedient, she could curse all she wanted.
"What is your name?" the ninja asked when the carriage's door was shut.
"Anette," the servant whispered softly.
"For what it is worth, it is nice to meet you, Anette," the ninja said friendly. "My name is Akali, but you most certainly know that, do you not?"
The maid did not answer verbally, but she nodded three times. Still, this brief pause allowed the ninja to look closely at her. The maid was young, perhaps even younger than Akali. She was pretty short but feminine, curvaceous where she should be. Her straight, long hair fell in velvety cascades down her exposed back. Compared to the other maid Akali had met, her dress was much simpler and undoubtedly cheaper. Perhaps it signalled her lower rank within the household.
"I must go," Akali stated after a moment of silence. "I hope to see you again soon."
"Thank you, miss," Anette said unsurely. "Thank you for stopping the heiress."
"You are welcome," the Ionian commented, flashing a slight smile. "I will try to teach her some manners, but it may prove more challenging than it sounds."
Then, she walked away, heading for the carriage. Still, in the corner of her eye noticed Anette bowing gracefully. It felt good; Akali had to admit it. If she were to survive in this hostile land, she needed to find a way to siphon the pressure and exhaustion. Situations like this might serve as a perfect refreshment in the overwhelming madness she had been thrown into. Potentially, it could be a key to her survival. Yet, it was hardly a time for such contemplation. A moment later, the raven-haired woman got into the carriage, shutting the door afterwards.
…
"What was it all about?" Akali asked, giving in to her curiosity.
"Pff," the redhead scoffed, turning toward the window. "We're no friends," she added after a brief pause.
"I know, but it does not mean your frustration should not hit me," the ninja commented. "Why did you try to hit this maid?" she asked.
"Because I can!" the Noxian snapped.
"It is hardly believable," the raven-haired woman sighed. "I can see your reasoning behind attacking me. But she is not me; she is no match for you," she continued.
"Fine," came a low growl. "I lost control," she added quietly as if embarrassed.
"Why did you lose control? Because of your father?" the Ionian questioned, intrigued.
"How about you ask him this question?" the redhead growled.
"Something personal, I suppose," Akali commented. "Fine, I will leave you be. I am sorry for asking," she apologised.
"Fuck you!" the young Du Couteau whispered. "And fuck your pity!"
…
Reaching the lodge did not take nearly as long as the Ionian had thought. But considering the tense atmosphere residing in the carriage, the journey's quick end was welcomed wordlessly. Sitting beside a person who occasionally shot her death glances was exhausting. If the redhead had been angry before, then Akali had no idea how to describe her current state. The feud between her and her father was hard to miss, frankly speaking. But some context must have been missing, for the wounds Katarina carried seemed to be engraved within her. Something truly horrible must have happened between them. Yet, Akali's curiosity was far from being sated, forcing her to dig deeper. Akin to a moth drawn to a flame, she was drawn to the mystery.
As soon as the usher unlocked the door, Katarina stormed out, hastily approaching the building. With no better alternative, the raven-haired woman followed her in silence. It was only when they were inside that she realised she could not remember what the lodge looked like. She sighed softly, shaking her head in disbelief, for she was like a blind follower, threading an appointed path thoughtlessly. Even though she was supposedly a guest here, it was a reckless act of her, nonetheless. Akali would want to believe a mental note would have been enough to prevent this from occurring in future, but she knew better. Another heavy sigh escaped her slightly parted lips before she resumed her stroll.
The hall the ninja found herself in was unnecessarily extensively furnished. The expensive pieces of furnishing heavily contrasted with the wooden logs the walls consisted of. In Akali's opinion, that excessive vanity she started associating with Du Couteau killed the lodge's original atmosphere. If she were to reorganise it, she would have kept the numerous hunting trophies hanging from the walls and built the composition around them. But it was improbable for something like that to happen, so she hastened up, leaving the hall behind as soon as possible.
"Miss?" a rich male voice sounded nearby. "The Master is expecting you," he added.
"Uh," the Ionian quietly gasped. "Would you kindly lead me to him?" she asked once she spotted him.
"As you wish, miss," the man replied, bowing shortly. "Please, follow me."
With this sort of conversation concluded, he exited the room, followed by the ninja. He was quite a tall man with a solid and athletic silhouette. His snowy hair was cut short. Moreover, a long shallow scar marked his left cheek, tracing from the man's jaw to his eye. Yet, his grey eyes were cold and calm, evaluating her thoroughly. If Akali were to guess, he was not a servant; even a glance was enough to say so. It must have been one of Marcus's agents in disguise. The so-called servant wore a rather practical outfit, especially if compared to the maids she had met earlier.
"You are not a servant, are you not?" the raven-haired woman decided to ask.
"Hmm," the man hummed without slowing down even marginally. "Please, define the term servant. What do you mean by this word?" he questioned.
"I…" the ninja mumbled for a moment. "I think I see what you are referring to. You are his servant, but not in a meaning I used forming my question," she added.
"Atta girl," the snow-haired man commented, clapping once. "So, who did you figure I am?"
"Based on your movement… I would say you are an assassin like Katarina," she responded, picking the worlds carefully. In her profession, underestimating the opponents was the quickest way to find her own demise. "Though, you move like water, calm and directed, with a subtle grace, a complete opposite of how she does."
"I must admit, you are quite an observer," the grey-eyed man said, stopping and turning around. "Anyway, getting back to the topic, you are right. I am, but the Master's humble servant, yet I usually serve him with my blade," he added emotionlessly.
"What is your today's role, then?" Akali realised she had asked the perfect question as the man slightly shuddered. "Are you keeping an eye on me? Or… the threat level requires you to be here?" she continued questioning, recalling her unusual conversation with the general.
"Ask the Master," the man simply replied.
"I will keep that in mind, thank you," the raven-haired woman said, but there was no politeness in her voice. "I take we are done here? If so, please lead the way."
…
The dinner was a mess, to say the least. To Akali, it resembled a battlefield where Katarina and her father bombarded each other with accusations. The whole meal could have been divided into a series of more-or-less heated conversations and arguments. Even though these two played the leading roles, occasionally, the general tried to talk with the ninja, but the effort was mostly fruitless, given the circumstances. Fortunately, this farce did not last long, for after about an hour, an incredibly pale man entered the room and caught Marcus's attention. The atmosphere changed within a few short exchanges, becoming somewhat dark and heavy. Then, the general stood up hastily, excusing himself before leaving, closely followed by the ashen-skinned man.
Afterwards, the passage of time became somewhat blurry. Akali could not recall anything distinguished happening till the inevitable return to the estate's main complex. Then, however, Katarina surprised her.
"It's still early day," the redhead said, her eyes glued to the carriage's floor.
"It is," the ninja agreed, somewhat intrigued about where this exchange would lead.
"You mentioned something earlier about the training session, right?" the Noxian asked, not moving an inch. "Is… is this offer still up?"
"Is it, not my job here to train you?" the Ionian asked rhetorically.
"That old snake forced you into a pact that suits him better," the red-haired assassin commented, finally looking up.
"You are right," Akali said, nodding slightly. "So… do tell what does that leave us with? What do you offer?"
"It's neither the time nor the place to talk about the future," Kat scoffed, slightly offended. "For now… I propose a truce. It's hardly a secret that I disagree with my father in many aspects. I need these feelings ejected, erased. Hence, I ask whether the training session offer is still on the table," she explained.
"It is," Akali slowly replied, considering the assassin's words. "Would you like the session focused on physicality?" she asked.
"Well… it depends on what physicality means?" the red-haired woman replied with her own question.
"How about we work on your overall fitness? If you want to get rid of some emotions, I know the best way to achieve it," the ninja stated.
"I guess we'll see," Kat commented.
…
Regardless of Katarina's eagerness to train, the session did not last long. After a mere hour, Akali learned much about the woman she was to coach. The first and most important realisation was that the redhead was skilled, but her stamina was abysmal. Moreover, her attitude was horrible, which she had shown a few times throughout this session. The ninja concluded that the red-haired assassin could work her ass off, but she needed to deem it worthwhile. And, the workout the Ionian had come up with would massively pay off, yet it would require time and dedication.
"Fight me," Katarina breathed out heavily. "If you plan to kill me, at least do it properly during the duel."
"When did you get such an impression?" the ninja asked.
"When you asked me to run in this heat!" the assassin growled, wiping sweat off her brow. "It's too hot to train here. If you told me about your plan beforehand, I'd suggest using the training ground below the surface. There, at the very least, the temperature wouldn't tire me up so damned quickly!" she complained.
"It was not that bad," Akali retorted. "I did the same exercises you did," she added. "I know this is unpleasant, but you will see the results with time."
"Bullshit," the redhead spat.
"Come on, one last lap," the raven-haired woman said.
"I hate you."
"You can hate me all you like, but later," the ninja giggled, flashing a reassuring smile.
…
The dusk came too fast, in the ninja's opinion. Akali opened the shutter, sitting comfortably on the sill, awaiting the seemingly dying Sun to cast crimson red rays. Moments like this reminded her about much easier and happier times. But, it had its price, for the woman stared at the horizon, entirely forgetting about reality. Yet, it was the price she was willing to pay.
The raven-haired woman sat like this for a long time, completely losing the sense of time. Consumed by guilt, regret, and sadness, she kept staring but could see nothing, or at the very least, her mind would not register these images. When she heard the clothes rustling rising behind her, she finally stirred out. Glancing for the last time over the horizon, she noticed that the Sun must have hidden long ago. It was a sad realisation, for she could not recall the exact moment the giant orb of flames faded away. Yet, it mattered not.
The ninja slowly stepped away from the sill, turning around. In the doorway, she noticed a brown-haired maid. It was the same servant she had protected from Katarina's outburst earlier, she realised after a moment.
"Something happened?" Akali asked politely.
"Not necessarily, miss," Anette replied immediately. "I wanted to personally inform you that the Master appointed me to you, miss," she added, allowing a slight smile to form on her beautiful face.
"It is surprising news," the ninja responded with reserve. "Nonetheless, it will be thrilling to work with you, Anette," she added hastily afterwards.
"Likewise, miss," the maid said, taking a deep bow.
"Do tell me, Anette: have you asked for this transfer?" the Ionian woman asked, intrigued.
"No, as a matter of fact, the Master surprised me with this decision as well," the servant said honestly. "I would like to give you one more hint."
"Hmm," the raven-haired woman hummed, interested. "What do you mean?"
"This place, the estate, is not what you think," Anette said, approaching Akali. "Here… you should consider everything you hear a lie. It is difficult to describe, but it is akin to the web, a web of lies," she continued, picking her words carefully.
"Then, how can I tell whether you lie or not?" Akali questioned, analysing the maid's words.
"You can not," a simple answer sounded. "In my case, I can assure you, all I say is true."
"Why would you tell me the truth, then? It does sound suspicious, does it not, Anette?"
"Because… because you saved me from the heiress's wrath," the maid replied, stopping a mere step away from the ninja. "Goodwill is not common here. People lie because it can gain them something; whether it is position, money, or power, it does not matter. I decided to speak openly with you because you are so much different to them. You treated me like a person, not like a thing, a tool, or a piece of meat," she added.
"It is a lot to take," the Ionian ninja commented, slightly confused and conflicted. "First of all, I do think people deserve to be treated right. The way I approached you is the least I could do. But… but… something else bothers me greatly. Why did you use a piece of meat wording?"
"How do you think?" Anette responded with a question of her own, allowing it to sink in.
Suddenly, a gulp of an unknown source formed in Akali's throat, choking her. If what the maid had said was true, then surviving here would have been far more challenging than she had anticipated.
Author's notes section:
[2023-07-06]: Hey, here is a preview of the story's next chapter. Please, bear in mind that it is, as mentioned, a preview. Some parts of it might not be included in the final release. I will try to finish this chapter as soon as possible. I would like to clean up some of the tasks in my schedule, and right now, there are many chapters queued there.
[2023-07-08]: Hey, I have a minor update for you. I was not content with what I had written. So, I tried to adjust the preview. In the end, I applied some fixes and added some additional segments.
[2023-07-10]: Hey, I have a major update for you. I am not 100% content with the current state of the chapter, but I should finish and polish it with the next update. It will be most likely tomorrow.
[2023-07-11]: Hey, I have finally concluded this piece. I'm sorry that it took so long.
Don't forget to comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Note that the dialogues written in italic are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2023-07-06]: A preview has been released.
[2023-07-08]: A minor update focused on adjustments was applied.
[2023-07-10]: A major update focused on adjustments and expanding the chapter.
[2023-07-11]: A major update that concludes the chapter.
Info: I have included more stories in the schedule as I'm not 100% certain what I want to write next. Please, keep in mind that I might add or remove positions from the list. I might rewrite some of the older stories or extract some of the longer stories from `The story of one lost soul`.
Schedule:
- See the world through my eyes (finish the WIP)
- Exiled you say? (finish the WIP)
- Life is full of surprises (finish the WIP)
- Lifetime of war (finish the WIP)
- The shadows can be deceiving (new chapter)
- Until my last breath (new chapter)
- Hidden in the mountain's shadow (new chapter)
- The war call (new chapter)
- The rise of the Blood Moons' servants (new chapter)
- Black Diamond (new chapter)
- When the clock is ticking (Warhammer 40k new story)
- Sometimes it's just better not to know (new chapter)
- My home is where my heart lies (rewrite chapter 4)
- The heart not so cold (rewrite chapter 2)
- The family tree (revisit the previous chapters and apply adjustments)
- Will you look past my mistakes? (new chapter)
- The silence of the shackles (new chapter)
- The broken heart (new chapter)
- The Prisoner of Your Eyes (new chapter)
Bonuses' section:
A new story taking place in the Warhammer 40k universe.
Story of one lost soul: The war call: rewrite.
An entirely new story (possibly Akali x [Irelia, Syndra, Katarina]).
A new short story (Vi x Cait).
An entirely original story (possibly even two stories, one taking place in medieval times, the other in the far future)
Bleach story. (Byakuya x Yoruichi / ?)
Naruto story. (Neji x Hinata / Neji x TenTen / Nagato x Konan)
Fairy Tail story. (most likely Erza x Mira)
Maybe some Star Wars?
References:
- Judas Priest - Prisoner of your eyes
*bonuses will be worked on when I don't feel like writing the chapters pointed out in the schedule :D
End of the author's notes section.