Chapter 18

After her visit to Detective Inspector's place, Diana returned back home as soon as possible. Bored out of her mind for being able to study for her exams the previous days, Diana decided to head towards the family library.

The library was a long and dark immense room, and it was quiet as a graveyard. The ceiling must have been twenty feet high. The shelves went all the way up, and there was a little stairway of iron that curved to a second level, and a balcony where Diana could reach books on that level. And on the lower level were two wooden ladders that slid along railings put there for that purpose. Diana could see the gaping spaces, like teeth, missing in the long rows of leather-bound, gold-tooled, hub bed-spined expensive books.

The smell of old books was apparent in the air and no matter how much they tried to preserve them, a long shelf life has its inevitable end. Diana could remember as if it was fresh in her mind that her mother would buy her new editions of books and taught her how to take care and preserve it so that the future generations of the Cavendish would be able to hold in their hands what their ancestors once held.

A desk was there, dark and massive, must have weighed a ton, and a tall leather swivel chair was behind it, and Diana could just picture her mother, and her grandmother and all the matriarchs before her sitting there—issuing orders right and left, and studying.

There was a dark mahogany filing system made to look like fine furniture. Two very long, soft, sofas were set out from the walls about three feet, giving people plenty of room to move behind them. Chairs were placed near the fireplace, and, of course, there was a batch of tables and chairs and things to stumble against, and an awful lot of bric-a-brac.

Among one of the secret doors from behind the bookshelves was a chamber of a secret hospital to help and cure people in need.

The night wore on. Diana returned to reading the medical books for leisure. Diana was now sitting on a cushioned armchair by the open window, reading when her phone rang.

"Hello Andrew?" she answered, putting the phone near her ear. "Have you returned home?"

"I'm fine." He cautioned in a hurried tone. "I merely called to see if you feel alright."

"Why would I be not?" Diana noticed that he was fumbling on something and possibly running. "Where are you right now?"

Andrew took a staggering amount of time before he even replied. "There are dark forces out there, Diana. Be careful."

"What on earth?" Diana's voice started rising from anger. She wanted him to start saying things without abstract thoughts, but her question was only replied with laborious breathing before his phone went off.

Puzzled, she was left to wonder what that phone call could have meant.

"What's the meaning of this Akko?" Sucy's body is tight as a coiled wire; ready to chant spells if this calm is just a trap.

"Eh? Don't ask me! I was just showing you what Chariot taught me! Calling someone on a phone picks up frequencies sometimes." The device slipped from her grasp and she had to catch it back with theatrics. "You mean this wasn't supposed to be here?"

Sucy stared at the spying device. It looked like it could be procured by anyone who has internet. She couldn't see who was beyond the listening device, whoever the spy was, was safe in their nest. It could be Professor Ursula for all she could know. She must not take any chances; however, so she grabbed it, dropped it on the floor and crushed it with the sole of her shoes.

"Uh, don't you think we could as Professor Ursula to help us track who owns it?"

The door thrown open wide made them both jump, startled out of their skin, allowing a broad and familiar silhouette to step into the room. Sucy was preoccupied with his headgear before noticing he was holding something on both of his hand. He went towards the human ragdoll and gently pressed his knuckles to the Canadian's face, urging her awake. She didn't even shift to his touch. "Wake up, Avery. Please try to get out of the spell."

Sucy expected company but still her heart jumped, adrenaline pumping at the sight of the intruder. Cavendish ought to tightly leash her lapdog. She quickly grabbed her floating doll as her lips curled in distaste.

"Oh, so you've witnessed everything."

With haste, Hanbridge ran towards Akko, shouldering her with a marked force, colliding with her. A whoosh was heard as the air went out of Akko's lungs, successfully knocking the golden hair strand out of her fingers. He wasted no time in spraying fire to destroy it.

Shocked, Akko ran to take refuge behind Sucy who stood in front of her in a protective stance, spreading her free hand as a shield from the perpetrator.

"How dare you waltz in here, and destroy my hair collection without any regards to your well-being?" She watched him quietly, waiting for him to speak. His throat worked, bobbing between the open folds of his collar. He focused on keeping his grip on his weapon, fingers tight on the makeshift flamethrower made with a bottle of spray and lighter.

"You're insane," he muttered, settling into a wide-legged stance.

"GET HIM NOW SUCY!"

Sucy raised the doll; ready to use the Canadian to tackle him but Hanbridge swiftly directed his inferno towards them. The temperature rose, a rippling heat caused Sucy to let go of Loa, her fingers charred.

Sucy all but snarled at him and looked down, wincing. Her faithful servant on fire was screeched gurgling sounds of pain, dousing Sucy's eardrums Yet, it wasn't holy fire so as the flames evaporated; the doll seemed to be unharmed similar to a Professor from middle school merely drenched a pound with rubbing alcohol and burned it. The only purpose the fire succeeded was to lose Loa's control over the Canadian girl who fainted.

A laugh like nails on glass burst from the doll, remaining motionless on the ground. A muscle quivered on Sucy's jaw, attempting not to show her smile for Loa acted dead. And thus, gave Hanbridge feint to lure him into a false sense of security.

"Where is Cavendish?" Sucy droned. "You seem to be acting alone."

He clenched his jaw, green eyes boring into hers. "No, Diana knows... and I've got tricks up in my sleeves." something in his voice gave Sucy a pause, a low tremor of resolve.

"You're lying," Sucy said. "And even if you're not, I still have the upper hand."

They started to resemble wolves circling in the dark, predators testing each other, searching for openings, weaknesses, and opportunities.

His eyes dart back and forth, from the only possible escape route to the danger that stood, looming over them. Hanbridge was eager to be rid of this place. They needed to go. Steady with the Canadian; he slid one arm behind her shoulders and another under her knees, before scooping her up. Pocketing back his weapon—A mistake.

Sucy took the chance.

With a flick of her fingers, Loa swooped towards him menacingly. Taken aback by the sight of such demonic object, Loa managed to remove his woolen headgear and plucked a dark strand from his disheveled head.

A dark chuckle rose from Sucy's throat. "You fool! Everyone knows you need holy relics to combat supernatural forces."

His heartbeat doubled while hers stayed its rhythm.

Loa handed her the hair while she added. "And did you really think that a mere bonnet would hinder me from retrieving your hair?"

Hanbridge moved the still unconscious girl to carry her over one shoulder, glancing between her and the doll. He looked oddly vulnerable in spite of his fashioned weapon. As if weighing which he should be frightened more—the master or the cursed doll. "As you all know, adrenaline eats fear and do wonders."

"I suppose. Though I will admit, you've always kept pace as Cavendish walked around everywhere like some sort of dog tugged along on an invisible leash. I never see you acting on your own."

"Diana is born with a malignant sense of justice as you were born with diabolical monstrosity." He goaded. "And I would do anything to follow her to ensure she will fulfill her destiny. She would be the one who will bring you down."

"YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT ME!" A shadow passed over her face, Sucy squinted into him, her eyes narrowing into slits. "SHUT UP!"

Due to the intensity of her anger, Hanbridge was about to spray fire towards them once more but Sucy pressed the dark strand on Loa's head, giving him a massive headache.

Hanbridge stumbled. The unconscious girl included. It was a searing pain Sucy projected onto him like a jackhammer doing its work. He couldn't even scream for help.

"That's enough! Sucy!" Akko said stepping bodily between them, she all but hauled Loa away.

Sucy turned her away as gently as she could. Her stand was tall and purposeful. Her gaze never left the gaping and voiceless Andrew Hanbridge.

He hoisted himself to his feet, teetering as he wagged his head back and forth, trying to shake away the daze. Using the nearest table, he propped himself up, leaning heavily.

"Sucy, please no," Akko tried to speak to her and to pull her back again, but Sucy didn't budge at her plea.

Hanbridge was no longer making any sound. He was just kneeling there, staring back with the blankest look on his blood-drained face.

"I have put up enough with this one," Sucy growled from the deep of her chest. "You might be as good as dead. When I'm through with you, you'll be in a vegetative state"

"Sucy, don't do that!" Akko cried.

As much as she loved her, Sucy didn't listen and merely held Hanbridge's empty stare. His body started trembling in a seizure.

"Say goodbye to your sanity, asshole," Sucy muttered icily. She then tied the short hair around Loa's accommodating neck and started chanting in Latin and Baybayin—the lost language of her ancestors.

In the process, Sucy's eyes burned with unnatural light. Her clothes ruffled, and her bangs that typically covered her left eye lifted from a jarring breeze that circled her. This was also the first time Akko saw both of her eyes before it all turned black—even her sclera.

Whatever Sucy was projecting was probably the same thing she witnessed either in nightmares or real life. Sucy imagined a thousand things. A million different forms of violence and pain, but no one would fill the void of her emptiness, only this time it was more sinister and painful. And now Hanbridge was on the receiving end of this highest form of brutality. Sucy didn't know she was already capable of doing this high tier spell.

The Brit was probably right. Adrenaline can eat fear and can do wonders.

Then Hanbridge's pale face contorted. His hands went up to clutch his head, scratching his hair. He threw his head back and screamed in a strangled choking voice.

"Sucy, please stop!" Akko cried again and came to put herself between her and the tortured young man. Her tears flowed freely over her frightened face. "Please listen to me!"

It was only when Sucy heard Akko sobbing that she blinked and turned to look at her. Her eyes stopped glowing and stopped. Hanbridge finally collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Why are you doing this?" Akko lashed out and pounded her chest with her small fist.

Blinking, Sucy pulled her back by the shoulders, searching Akko's gaze in distress and bewilderment.

"Akko?" she said, schooling her features into something softer, more caring, as she shifted closer to her to whisk away her beloved's tears "Why are you crying?"

"No, Sucy! You're being cruel!" she yelled and nudged her hand away. "You did worse to me than him. You're so mean, and I hate you!"

"What?" Sucy looked at her long and hard like she did have the slightest clue of what Akko just said. She genuinely couldn't comprehend why Akko was upset.

"You know what!" she huffed, puffing her cheeks stubbornly.

She sputtered; blinking at her like Akko told her to cut out her own beating heart. "I don't know why you're so angry at me. I just saved our lives from that sorry piece of shit!"

Sucy must get to the bottom of this. Akko was acting like those prissy characters from whatever superhero movie she was forced to watch with her. Sucy gave one look at Loa and commanded. "Stay here and close the shop. Make sure they don't stir awake and not let anyone get in. Also, better make sure no one saw what went through the binds."

"As you wish, Sucy," she said floating away towards the door. "I don't want any part of this mercurial drama at all."

Just like that, Sucy wrapped her strong arms around Akko and forced her to walk away with her from the spot towards the back door.

Akko tried to shrug her hold off, but she wouldn't let go. "Where are you taking me?"

Sucy begged. "Please. We need to talk."

"So now you want me to listen?"

"Akko..."

"Don't Akko me!"

Sucy grunted in her throat and only sped walking even faster towards the small greenhouse room where some of the flowers were naturally grown. They skirted around the garden. She released Akko and pulled her by the hand instead, and she stopped near the red flowers to help her calm down.

She turned around to Akko at last.

"Now tell me. What the hell is that? Why are you acting this way?" she demanded.

"You knew what you did, Sucy," Akko spat and turned her back at her like a sulking child.

"Akko, for fuck's sake what did I do to make you like this?" Sucy came around to face her again.

"Well damn! You want me to tell you? Alright, first of all, you need to know that it's wrong to kill an innocent person! Especially that way, it was horrible to see him unnaturally punished. It's against humanity..."

"Are you using humanity to protect that asshole?" she said. "Akko, can't you see? He caught us and he spied on us!" What would happen if we hadn't found out? I'm only trying to protect you as Professor Ursula would! This guy deserves more than this. He would tell Cavendish and she would send us to jail!"

"Diana?" she echoed, voice breaking.

"Yes, do you even know you were being used? She was only close to you to get to me!"

"No, that's not true!" Akko retorted back. "She's not like that! She's a good friend!"

Akko's hopeful friendship with Cavendish caused Sucy's heart to break. It fueled her anger, coupling with disappointment and heartache to wag like a feral storm.

"You've fooled yourself then!" she snarled.

"I'm still angry at you." Akko went on. "If you didn't mean what you said to me, you don't have to pretend like you do anymore."

"Said what?"

"That you love me and care about me!"

"But I really do!" She snapped, "How else should I say that? Damn it!"

"You're a liar, Sucy," Akko said, "Your actions proved otherwise. That was borderline psycho! You could have at least listened to me!"

"But I showed you everything. I made myself vulnerable to you. I trusted you enough to witness everything of what went on these past few weeks... you've seen my secrets, my fears, my motivations!"

Akko shifted her weight to her other foot as if weighing her words. "Then at least spare their lives."

"That's non-negotiable Akko."

"At least one of them?" she asked hopefully. Her disposition changed entirely.

"Fine," Sucy rolled her eyes. "For my scheme to work, I need one of them dead."

Akko was lucky that she was not standing under a conductor of electricity, for Sucy's anger passed like a storm cloud, leaving the threat of trembling thunder in its wake.

Sucy actually hoped to maintain innocent in the eyes of the law, if killing Cavendish's friends were not her objective, she might entertain the idea of torturing them. Not for spite, but to hopefully give Diana Cavendish some insanity. Killing one of them was the motivation, a carrot for Cavendish to follow. The Brit had so many weaknesses, and Sucy needed her weak. She needed her distracted.

As Loa said, Diana Cavendish will face the wrath.

"Okay."

"Akko, if you're done crying over paper cuts, I could use some help destroying the pieces of evidence."

Diana awoke from her sleep and found herself alone in her bed as always. She got out of her chamber and took her fragrant bath. Going through her morning with an unexplainable heavy heart, perhaps it would be attributed to the fact that she knew she spied on Akko or the fact that Andrew called her in the middle of the night with a vague message. Perhaps it could be even the tea she accidentally spilled during breakfast.

She frequently checked her phone and all of the attempts to call and text Andrew remained unanswered. Due to this unsettling feeling, after breakfast, she called for her chauffeur to drive her to the Hanbridge manor to visit him herself.

For some reason, Diana wished to see his face again. Maybe because when she had something that troubled her and she couldn't tell anyone, Andrew had become a brother she never had, a comfort and faithful confidant.

Diana settled herself on the passenger seat as Carter pressed a key on the remote control and the engine automatically hummed to life.

Throughout the ride, the weak sun shone but the sky was dark. It's about to rain in the afternoon. Diana had a sensory overload. In order to ease her coming headache, she pinched the bridge of her nose and decided to have a power nap.

Lowering her senses proved to have its weaknesses. For once Diana hadn't realized a mob just outside a nearby recreational park near Andrew's home. If not for Carter's worried voice waking her up.

"I wonder what's happened out there."

The car had stopped running for the number of people and police directing the cars away blocked the road. Diana blinked certain that it was the Criminal Investigation Department.

"I will see for myself," Diana said as she got off the passenger seat.

"What? But Miss—" Carter glanced at her through the rear view mirror.

Diana frowned and snapped her head to him. "I will return shortly."

Walking through the whispered filled crowd, she came across the police tape and stared further, hoping to get a glimpse of the crime scene but it was too far inside the entranceway of the park.

There was a constable who possibly was taking statements from those present in the mob that gathered. "Have you seen or heard anything suspicious surrounding the area prior to this event, sir?"

"No, not at all chap."

"Constable!" A Detective Sergeant in his uniform and trench coat strode over towards his subordinate. He looked newly appointed to the area. "Have you informed the victim's family?"

"Uh yes, sir!" The young man said, keen to please his boss. "The servants replied that the father's unable to meet with us a few hours cause he's sick."

"Suspicious," his brows furrowed, planting fingers on his chin, "Definitely sounds dodgy."

"Is the death related to the serial killings happening in the area, sir?" a middle-aged woman from the crowd asked.

"We haven't ruled it out as a murder yet, madam."

"Well do something about it! Blytonbury's supposed to be a good neighborhood!"

"Don't worry. I plan to make this town less dangerous."

"You do not have to save the world alone, Sergeant," Diana spoke out loud, prompting everyone's focus to shift to her. "Hello, sir. I would like to offer you my services."

The Detective Sergeant gave Diana a contemptuous look. Passersby gathered around them. They were probably curious as to how the copper would handle this situation like Diana needed to be taught a lesson; otherwise, his authority will be undermined. "I wouldn't worry your pretty head about police work. You leave that to us, hmm?"

Diana's facial muscles twitched. She clearly knew what that phrase meant. Those were among the few lines and body language of coppers' shushing her away.

"Detective Inspector Croix Meridies finds my help invaluable."

"I'm sorry," he staggered, "Who?"

"Senior Detective Inspector Croix Meridies from the Yard would be thrilled to think I could be of assistance."

His eyes widened, caught off guard but he offered her a tight smile. "Well, I will be telephoning my report to her shortly, so I'll ask her directly."

When they focused their attention elsewhere, Diana grabbed the police line tape and moved it over her head as she crouched.

"Hey, you!"

Diana sprinted towards the scene and halted on her tracks, thinking that her eyes might be playing tricks on her.

Red spattered the earth, drying.

Diana's vision spotted, hazy with every emotion as her own brain overloaded. Everything narrowed, edged with the color of blood, until she can't hear the mass behind her. Even the yelling of the cops' voices faded, their barking orders disappearing.

There he was, his feet tied to a branch of the tree and he hung upside down. Neck prodded with a sharp knife, crimson blood spurted down his face, as it ran into his mouth and over his chin. Diana could taste the iron tang of his drained blood, upon the grassy earth, gushing in an open river at the ground; next to a beautifully arranged bouquet of red roses and tulips with a golden bow.

She saw black, red in a dizzy spiral. Andrew had slit his own throat.

Diana was frozen by what she saw, rooted and unable to breathe.

It reminded her of Frank's body and it haunted her still. When she opened her eyes, Andrew's corpse was still there, hovering in her vision. She can't shake the sight off.

"ANDREW!" she bellowed, almost sprinted when someone caught her, springing out from around the corner. She resisted the unfamiliar urge o deck and claw her way out of the grasp. "Unhand me!"

The figure grabbed her beneath the arm, dragging her through the dirt. Diana was still in shock, still paralyzed by fear, unable to do much more than kick the ground with all her might.

"It's me," a woman's voice said. "You need not see this, Diana. You should have stayed away and please resist the temptation to interfere. That way you won't have to see his body."

Diana's eyes were burning in their sockets, and she blinked desperately, trying to keep those scalding tears at bay. She wanted to scream but found her teeth welded together.

Detective Inspector Croix gaped at her, seizing her shoulder, forcing her to look her in the eye and then before Diana could react, the woman had pulled Diana's arms away from her chest and enveloped her in a tight hug.

"By Jove, Diana," the older woman whispered into her ear, her warm breath fluttering through the locks of her blonde hair, "You can be so daft." Detective Inspector Croix withdrew slightly, not stepping out of the embrace but backing up enough so that she could look Diana straight in the eye. "You can't save everyone."

The teary waterfalls came then.

A/N

This chapter was actually rewritten twice because I lost the file. Nothing major changed. Just the way its phrased and worded. I myself prefer the first version, but oh well.