Night had fallen over the Viremont estate, draping the stone walls in heavy shadows.

  ?Through the small window of her servant’s quarters, Lassandra gazed at the full moon. It hung heavy and bright in the sky, illuminating the world with a ghostly silver light.

  ?She knelt beside her narrow bed, clutching a simple silver necklace in her hands. She pressed the cold metal to her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut.

  ?“Lord Aelther... please protect my family back in Oryndel. Keep them safe, prosperous, and happy.”

  ?She paused, her breath hitching slightly.

  ?“And please... watch over Lady Aelira. Bring her home safely.”

  ?She finished her prayer and stood up, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  ?In her hometown, the full moon was a symbol of new beginnings. It was said that pure-hearted prayers made beneath its light would always be heard.

  ?But tonight, the moonlight felt cold.

  ?A shiver ran down Lassandra’s spine. An unsettling feeling swept over her—like cold, wet fingers brushing against her neck.

  ?What is this feeling?

  ?She rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself.

  ?Is it because I’m worried about Lady Aelira? Or is it because of Master Celdric’s threats?

  ?The memory of Celdric’s voice—“Send them my best regards”—echoed in her mind. It made her stomach churn.

  ?“Aaahhh...” She stretched her arms with a forced yawn, trying to trick her body into relaxing. “I’m just tired. I should sleep. Tomorrow will be busy.”

  ?Hopefully, Lady Aelira would return tomorrow. She needed to prepare her favorite tea and listen to all her stories about the capital.

  ?Lassandra lay down, pulled the thin blanket up to her chin, and closed her eyes.

  ?Thud. Thud. Thud.

  ?A sharp, rhythmic knocking sound.

  ?Lassandra groaned, turning over. She tried to ignore it.

  ?Thud. Thud. Thud.

  ?Louder this time. Insistent. Not asking, but demanding.

  ?Her eyes snapped open. She sat up, heart pounding against her ribs.

  ?“Mmh... Who could it be at this hour?”

  ?She tied her messy hair back quickly and walked to the door.

  ?Creak.

  ?“Ah.”

  ?A girl stood in the hallway, her fist raised to knock again. It was Aisha—a fellow maid with pale amber eyes and curly blonde hair.

  ?“I was worried you wouldn’t open the door,” Aisha said. Her voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. Like a doll speaking.

  ?“Aisha? What are you—”

  ?Before she could finish, Aisha clamped a hand over Lassandra’s mouth.

  ?“Quiet,” she whispered, her eyes darting down the hall. “People are sleeping. You wouldn’t want to wake them.”

  ?Lassandra’s eyes widened. You were the one making all the noise!

  ?“You have to come with me,” Aisha continued, removing her hand but keeping close. “It’s Lady Vivianne’s order.”

  ?Lassandra searched Aisha’s eyes for a hint, a clue, a trace of warmth. But they were empty pools.

  ?“Lady Vivianne? Why?”

  ?“Sorry. But she said it’s urgent.”

  ?Urgent? At midnight?

  ?Lassandra didn’t remember ever being summoned this late. Dread coiled in her stomach like a snake.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  ?“O-Okay. Just let me change.”

  ?Aisha nodded and leaned against the wall, watching her.

  ?Lassandra closed the door but didn't lock it. She grabbed the first dress she saw, her hands trembling so much she could barely fasten the buttons.

  ?It’s hard to believe Lady Vivianne would call me like this. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong.

  ?She took a deep breath, trying to steady her shaking hands. She opened the door.

  ?“Follow me.”

  ?Lassandra followed. But instead of heading upstairs to the opulent main chambers, Aisha turned toward the narrow service stairs leading down.

  ?“Aren’t we going upstairs?” Lassandra whispered.

  ?“No. She’s waiting downstairs.”

  ?Downstairs?

  ?They descended into the basement—past the laundry room where she had scrubbed clothes until her fingers bled, past the wine cellar, into the damp, cold storage area where the light barely reached.

  ?Finally, they stopped at a dead end. A solid stone wall.

  ?“Aisha, are you sure? There’s nothing here.”

  ?Aisha stepped closer. Too close. Lassandra could feel the girl's body heat.

  ?“Move.”

  ?Lassandra flinched. “W-What?”

  ?Aisha pushed her aside gently but firmly. Then, she pressed a specific brick in the wall and pushed a nearby rusty candle holder downward.

  ?Click.

  ?Grind...

  ?With a heavy, grinding noise, a section of the wall slid open.

  ?A secret tunnel.

  ?Lassandra stared, mouth open. I’ve worked here for years... I never knew this existed.

  ?“I need your hand,” Aisha said, straining against the heavy stone door.

  ?“Eh? Ah—of course!”

  ?Instinct took over. Together, they pushed the door fully open.

  ?Inside, it was pitch black. A stale gust of air hit them—it smelled of rot, damp earth, and something metallic. Like old blood.

  ?“What is this place? Why would Lady Vivianne want to meet here?” Lassandra asked, her voice echoing slightly in the dark.

  ?Aisha didn’t answer. She just stared into the abyss.

  ?“If you don’t answer me, I won’t go further,” Lassandra said, planting her feet. Panic was rising in her throat, choking her.

  ?“...”

  ?“Answer me, Aisha!”

  ?“...About your question—I can answer that.”

  ?A calm, cold voice spoke from the shadows.

  ?Lassandra froze.

  ?A figure stepped into the dim light of the doorway.

  ?“Lady Vivianne?”

  ?“Good work, Aisha. You may leave now.”

  ?“Yes, My Lady.” Aisha bowed deeply and retreated into the darkness of the basement. As she left, she cast one final glance at Lassandra.

  ?It wasn't a glance of malice. It was a glance of pity.

  ?The stone door did not close, but Lassandra felt trapped.

  ?“I’m sorry, My Lady,” she stammered, curtsying clumsily. “Why am I here? What is this place?”

  ?Vivianne stood with her hands on her hips, looking around the tunnel with distaste, as if the very air offended her.

  ?“This is a secret passage beneath the mansion. Few know of it. Now, you are one of them.” She turned her silver eyes to Lassandra. “As for why you’re here... you should know better than anyone.”

  ?Lassandra’s heart skipped a beat.

  ?Master Celdric.

  ?“Is this about Master Celdric?!” she cried out, desperation taking over. “I swear on my name, I never betrayed you, My Lady! He cornered me, he threatened me, but I didn’t tell him anything! I swear!”

  ?Vivianne’s expression didn't change.

  ?“Of course you didn’t,” she said smoothly.

  ?Lassandra exhaled, a wave of relief crashing over her so hard she almost collapsed. She believes me.

  ?“Then why...?”

  ?“Because you weren’t with us from the beginning. Were you?”

  ?“Wha—?”

  ?Before she could process the words, a shadow moved behind her.

  ?A massive, gloved hand emerged from the darkness.

  ?It clamped around her throat like an iron vice.

  ?“Ghk!”

  ?Lassandra clawed at the leather glove, digging her nails in, but her strength was nothing against the brute force holding her. Her feet left the ground. Her knees hit the stone floor with a sickening thud as she was forced down.

  ?Vivianne stepped closer. She leaned down, her face inches from the gasping maid.

  ?Her eyes were beautiful. And empty.

  ?“You know, I actually liked you, Lassandra,” she whispered softly, almost maternally. “You supported that girl. You did the work. You caused no trouble. Perfectly harmless...”

  ?Lassandra’s vision began to blur. Black spots danced in her eyes. Her lungs burned for air.

  ?“But kindness makes you vulnerable. Did you really think we wouldn’t notice the money you sent to your family in Oryndel every month?”

  ?Money?

  ?The realization struck her harder than the lack of air.

  ?Celdric’s words flashed before her eyes. “Send them my best regards.”

  ?And now Vivianne knew.

  ?They both knew. She wasn't a person to them. She was a leak. A vulnerability. A pawn that knew too much.

  ?She tried to scream. She tried to beg. She tried to explain that she just wanted to help her mother.

  ?But only a choked, wet gurgle escaped her lips.

  ?“Ughh... p-plea...”

  ?Vivianne lifted Lassandra’s chin with a cold, manicured finger, forcing her to look into her eyes one last time.

  ?“How pitiful. You really thought you could outsmart this family, didn’t you?”

  ?Vivianne stood up, looking bored again. She waved her hand dismissively at the figure holding Lassandra.

  ?“Finish it.”

  ?The grip tightened.

  ?SNAP.

  ?The sound echoed through the cavern like a gunshot. Sharp. Final.

  ?Lassandra went limp.

  ?Her pain vanished. Her fear vanished.

  ?Her final thought wasn’t of betrayal. It wasn’t of the cold stone or the dark tunnel.

  ?It was of a small girl with silver hair and lonely eyes, waiting for her to come home.

  ?I’m sorry, My Lady... I promised...

  ?The hand released her.

  ?She collapsed to the floor like a broken doll, her eyes staring unseeing at the ceiling.

  ?Vivianne nudged the corpse with the toe of her boot.

  ?“Was that truly necessary?”

  ?Wilkram stepped fully out of the shadows, shaking his hand as if he had touched something dirty.

  ?“We cannot leave loose ends,” Vivianne said, turning away. “It had to be done. Celdric was sniffing around her. Now, the trail is dead.”

  ?She looked at her husband.

  ?“I leave the body to you. Dispose of it.”

  ?Wilkram bowed silently. He lifted the body with surprising ease and carried it deeper into the tunnel.

  ?“I almost feel sorry for Aelira,” he murmured, his voice echoing in the gloom. “She was fond of that maid.”

  ?“She’ll believe Lassandra returned to her hometown,” Vivianne said, her voice echoing as she walked back toward the entrance. “She’ll cry, but she’s only six. She’ll forget soon enough.”

  ?She paused at the door, glancing back one last time.

  ?“What matters now is the future.”