Dance of the Damned

Plot

Micah and Briar walked back from Philip's house, satisfaction written on all their faces as they approached the estate.

"Your father should be a cook," Micah said, turning to Briar. "If only he could come and live in this house."

"I understand your sentiment," Briar said looking at the large building in front of them. "But I don't think he could bear to live here. The day of your attack was the first time he set foot in here in ... a long time."

"I know," Micah said, staring at the building in front of them. There was something ominous about that place that he could tell this building from others even if they are just a mile away.

"Well, never mind that," Briar said quickly, clapping his hands together. "Shall we begin planning?"

"Planning?" Micah tilted his head to the side. "For what?"

"Your birthday silly!" Briar shook his head, pressing his temples like a tired parent. "Did you forget that it is on the seventeenth of this month already? Next week!"

"I know. I know." Micah said sheepishly. "I just don't think it is important. You know? It happens every year."

"And every year you just have dinner with us and Elise." Briar looked at him, annoyed. "But not this year. I will not allow it!"

"Allow what?"

The two turned to see Elise behind them, well, Micah already knew beforehand but that is beyond the point.

"Nanny Elise!" Micah greeted her brightly.

"Smiling at me is not going to make me forget my anger at the two of you for disappearing like that." She scolded. "What if something happened to you?"

"We had breakfast at Philip's place," Micah explained. "I am so full."

"I am glad for that," Elise said softly as Micah began to tell her about Philip and how good his food was as she came down immediately.

You are way too easy Elise. Briar thought, watching her listened to Micah intently. Well, I am like that too so I don't have any right to say anything really.

"Elise!" Briar shouted, startling the woman.

"Why are you so loud, child?" She asked, placing a hand on her chest. "What is it?"

"You have to tell the young master to celebrate his birthday this year," Briar complained. "He thinks it is unimportant."

"This year is special, young master." Elise began as Micah forced a smile on his face. "Do you remember what was written on the will when you turn fifteen? It is so important that ..."

Micah stopped listening as he noticed a flicker of orange and yellow in the distance, a sly smile coming on his face.

So the planning has begun on your end? I suppose it is a little late but ... better late than never.

Please don't disappoint me. Not like that is hard to do.

________________________

Briar snuck away from Elise's talking and walked to the bushes beside the house, hiding there in case she would come to look for him.

That was when he heard whispers coming from the room behind the bushes.

"His birthday is approaching, what do we do?"

Is that the ... Lady of the house? He thought, moving closer to the window to listen though it was quite high from where he stood.

"I don't know. I am too busy with work that I am not able to even think." Another voice came, this time it is a man's. "That boy is the least of our worries now."

Are they ... talking about Micah?

"What do you mean?" The woman asked, "It is only next week! We have to do something!"

"Shut up!" Briar heard a loud slap and quickly covered his mouth with his hands to stop himself from laughing out loud. "Do you know that we are in this mess because of you?"

"I did nothing wrong!" She shouted back.

"Really? Why did you send him out that night? Don't you know anything about timing?" He shouted at her, sounding like he was fuming.

"I did no such thing." She argued back. "I was in my room until the King came. You should know that."

"I was not in the house and all the servants said that they saw you walking with the boy in the garden." He spat out. "Do you know how much I had to threaten them to not say a word about that? Our reputation is tainted!"

"I did not go with him to the garden." She insisted. "I was having my beauty rest in my room! I do not know why people keep accusing me of sending the boy out!

"I know that we planned to send him out in that faulty carriage. But I didn't know that we were going to send men to kill him!"

"Shut up!" Another hit. "You are giving away our plans! Not like there is anything we can do now. The public suspects and are wary of us. If anything happens to that boy before his fifteenth birthday, forget the law, the people will shun us.

"The King is quite fond of the boy as well, he will not allow us to live comfortably either. Perhaps if we showed a little more concern that day."

"How were we supposed to know that we were the prime suspects?" She screeched. "We did nothing wrong!"

"Will you keep quiet for once in your life?" The man sighed. "For now, we do nothing. Make sure the boy is treated well and give him everything he wants."

"But, he is turning fifteen!"

"Did you not hear me?!" The man shouted as Briar heard a thud. Ok, that is taking things a little far.

"Do you wish to be shunned by everyone in this kingdom?" He shouted as there was a continuous thump. "If you don't want to. Just stay here and do not do anything otherwise I will kill you myself and blame it on the boy!"

Briar pressed himself against the wall as he heard movements and then the movement of feet followed by a door closing.

Thinking of sneaking away, Briar was about to move when he heard a frustrated scream, “This is all your fault! I will kill you!”

Covering his mouth again, Briar sat on his spot until he was sure no one was there in the room anymore and quickly snuck out, running into the building.

Micah. I have to warn Micah. Or Elise. I have to tell them.

As soon as he reached the door, he met with Rodger, well, more like bumped into him as the boy fell on the ground. Breathing heavily.

“Briar?” The man asked, looking at the boy on the ground with a terrified look on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Rodger?” Briar asked, breathing in and out as he tried to look around the room. “W-where is the l-“

“What is happening here?” Briar froze immediately. This was the voice from before.

“My Lord,” Rodger said, getting to his feet. “I apologise, the boy and I bumped into each other so he is a little bit dazed because of that.”

“We cannot have that.” The man said, grabbing Briar by the arm and pulling him up.

It took everything in Briar not to pull his hand away from the man in disgust but he could not reveal that he listened in on them.

“A strong boy like you should not be knocked down with just one bump.” The man said as Briar stared at the ground, not looking at him.

“Thank you, my Lord.” He said, moving out of the way as the man spoke to Rodger about the supplies they have and what else they would be needing.

When he finally left, Briar breathed a sigh of relief, sliding down to the ground as his heart drummed against his chest.

“What is wrong, Briar?” Rodger asked, looking at the boy intently. “You can tell.”

“Rodger-“ Karla appeared from the kitchen doors and paused when she saw the look on Briar’s face as he sat on the ground, a terrified expression on his face. “Briar? What’s wrong?”

“I have to warn Micah.” He mumbled, shaking from head to toe as the two exchanged looks. “He is in danger.”

“Micah is resting at the moment,” Karla said kindly. “Would you like to tell us first?”

“I can’t tell here,” Briar said, quickly looking around the room.

“Take him inside,” Karla said to Rodger as he picked the boy up and took him into the kitchen where some other servants were there.

Instantly they crowded around Briar who, after having a shaky drink, told them everything that he heard from being outside their door as the servants listened with horror.

"The Lord and Lady," Karla said, sitting down on a crate of flour. "I just can't believe it. Do they not feel any affection for their blood?"

"Greed can be a factor here," Rodger said as everyone in the room nodded. "They are not wealthy and once the young master comes of age, they will lose everything."

"What do we do then?" Another servant asked. "Is there anything we can do?"

"I have an idea," Briar said, looking at them with determination in his eyes. "But we will have to wait until the young master's birthday."