Chapter 312: Consequences
After a thorough search of her belongings and person, Edna was seated in front of the stern looking Lady.
Not an ounce of warmth transpired on her face as she glared at the blonde from the highest hair on her head down to the sole of her feet.
"Care to explain these then," she half asked, looking down at the objects on the table in front of her.
"These are... Mere keepsakes from my friends," she stammered so many times on her own words, it was hard to understand them.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe that, girl?" Persephone picked up a vial that harbored a bluish liquid.
"I swear! None of these would cause any harm to anyone!" her fists clenched, her legs got ready to spring up from their position, but she held in place.
"What is this potion for?" the Lady inquired, eyes still on the vial.
"It is simply a potion to keep my skin rejuvenated," she trembled, her eyes refusing to meet the Lady’s.
"Is that so?" Persephone raised an eyebrow, "Well, then you won’t mind ingesting it in front of me, will you?"
That question got Edna’s full attention. Her ocean blue eyes had opened wide and fixated on the vial, "You want me... To ingest it?" she muttered.
"You heard me, girl!" the Lady extended the vial towards the maid, "Drink up!"
Very hesitantly and shakily, Edna’s hand took the little flask, unplugged it and brought it near her lips.
After a number of long, agonizing seconds, the tip still grazed her mouth, but not a drop had traveled to her throat.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as her entire body continued to tremble until the Lady broke her silence.
"You know, I really tried with you," she looked her dead in the eyes, "I promised your parents I’d care for you and I did my best," her tone rose, her voice deepening, "I’ve given you so much, perhaps even more than I should have and this is how you repay me? By stabbing me in the back?" she growled under her breath.
"No, my Lady! I would never," Edna cried.
"You always were entitled, and I realized that on the first day I laid my eyes on you. You always had this conviction that you deserved the world without ever contributing to it," the Lady picked up the small piece of parchment that Edna kept hidden between her breasts at all times, "The only reason I kept you was to keep my word to your parents and not because you are special in any way,"
Through the tears that clouded her sight, the twisting of Edna’s features was visible. Her face reddening, she clenched her jaws to avoid speaking out of terms and land herself in hotter waters.
"But you’ve really outdone yourself this time around," Persephone waved the piece of parchment around, "Though I doubt you worked alone so out with it! Who helped you? Who are you working for? Admit it and your sentence might just be lighter than what I have in mind for you,"
The blonde quivered in her seat but kept her lips sealed.
"Why?" she spoke again, "The Mirari alone wouldn’t make you act this much out of line so why?"
"I didn’t do anything..."
When it became apparent to the Lady that Edna wasn’t ready to speak, she piled on, "You almost destroyed him. You selfish brat! Contrary to what you might think, I am grasping at straws of sanity in order not to rip your throat open right this second! My son is my everything and anything or anyone that might threaten his peace will have to go through me first,"
Persephone placed the piece of parchment flat on the table before bringing an inked quell down upon its surface.
She scribbled a few lines before Edna’s bloodshot eyes.
Nothing... No response.
Persephone’s frustration became clear through the loud inhales and exhales.
"I haven’t even mentioned Katherine yet in all of this," her void-like eyes stuck to Edna, "I understand wanting to push Arabella out of the picture, but Katherine did nothing to you, didn’t she?"
When Edna said nothing, Persephone continued, "She too is dear to me. I’ve raised her since infancy so why would you think harming her would yield anything good for you?"
"I did not!" Edna burst into tears, "I did not hurt anyone! Not ever!"
But the Lady did not seem to buy it one bit.
"I am done talking to you for now," she looked away, "Just the sight of you disgusts me,"
With that, Persephone picked up the summoning bell and rang it. There was that darkness that made her glare all the more terrifying.
Not a second after and a member of the nighttime staff showed up, bowing before the Lady.
"I’d like you to escort her down to the dungeons," she said, "And make sure she doesn’t interact with anyone until I come down myself,"
"Understood,"
The vampire maid gripped Edna by the arm and did not struggle to shift her entire body weight along despite all of her protests.
"No! Please, My Lady!" Edna cried, "I would never have done anything to hurt you or Master Silas!"
Persephone turned towards the balcony doors, avoiding all eye contact with the pleading blonde.
"I did nothing wrong!" she screamed as she was being dragged out.
Throughout her tirade and storm of begging, Edna maintained that she did nothing wrong and that she’d never hurt Persephone or Silas.
She wasn’t lying. The blonde genuinely believed her doings were justified. To her, all she did was get rid of an obstacle.
Though aside from all of that, the only other thing that trotted her mind were the Lady’s words when she said, "You almost destroyed him,"
What did she mean by that? Why would she use such terms to describe it?
The tears kept on falling as her feet dragged behind her across the hallways, for some reason, a new thought popped in her mind.
A new face... That of Lauden...