Episode 25 - Movement in the Shadows
I swallowed something hard as I stared at the drink settled at the dining table, watching the soft bubbles from the soda fizz and raise to the top.
I narrowed my eyes down at it, watching it suspiciously.
“Master Yumi…” that Claudia girl said, voice soft. “Aren’t you going to eat your dinner?”
I gazed up then, lips thinning. “I’m not that hungry, actually. I don’t know how you all are after all that’s happened.”
Madam Beth set down her chicken leg, gazing up at me in boredom. “At least drink your soda. You don’t have to be so wasteful.”
“Mom’s right,” Matilda said then, voice back to its snotty-self. “Eat your food, you selfish brat.”
I just closed my eyes and set my napkin aside.
Now that they assumed Sebastian was gone, they thought they could treat me like trash again.
A slight smile curled my lips.
Well… they were in for a rude awakening.
I sighed as I set my drink down and stood, brushing the wrinkles off my dress. “Well, I shall head back to my study. I have some work to do.”
I then continued forward, glancing over at Matilda as she tore into her dinner and chewed loudly.
Their confidence sank back in despite all of us lying before death’s door. How unfortunate.
But—suddenly—Jamison stole my drink from where it stood, immediately gazing up at me. “If you are so wasteful, I’ll drink it for you!”
I smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Why not?” Kate said then, eyes narrowing in distaste. “You’re not going to drink it, you selfish brat! Is she not allowed to touch your things? Are you possessive over them? Poor thing.”
“No, she’s right, Jamison,” Madam Beth said then, voice soft. “Don’t steal someone else’s drink, alright?”
I just glanced over at her, watching her from the corner of my eye.
My lashes lowered.
“Why not, mom?” Kate snapped. “Not everything belongs to her, you know.”
“That’s not my concern,” I said then, smile sharpening as I closed my eyes. “I’m just saying don’t drink it if you want to live. That soda’s laced with cyanide.”
All of their faces paled, and they gazed over at me in question.
“How do you know that?” Aunt Beth said then, eyes growing in fear. “Someone’s trying to kill you, too?”
“It seems as if you’re correct, Madam Beth,” I said, looking over at her. “And how I know?” I tapped my forehead. “Intuition.”
I then turned and stepped out the door, my dress blowing with the act.
And Sebastian warned me of it.
I honestly should’ve never fallen for “Sebastian’s death”. The mark in my eye had been there the whole time. If only I’d looked in the mirror and saw it existed, I wouldn’t have assumed that he was gone.
As I continued down the hall, a shadow rushed around me.
I stopped and turned to the right, eyes narrowing as a figure leaned against a wall of the hallway, tapping his long, black nails on the whitened paint.
“I was wondering when you’d show yourself,” I said then, lashes lowering. “Overtaker.”
He just giggled and set his head against the wall. “Oh, Little Phantomhive. How it’s been so long. I longed to see your face since the day I last saw you.”
“And I longed to shove a dagger in your throat the moment I realized all of this has been you,” I snapped.
“Oh, my,” he said then, giggling, “someone’s feeling feisty tonight. Aren’t you a little on edge?”
“Everyone’s being murdered,” I answered darkly, “I wonder why.”
“Oh, I know nothing of it,” he said then, tapping his fingers on the paint again. “I just snuck on the dock to get a little ocean air is all.”
“I find that hard to believe,” I growled. “You—of all people—don’t care about typical lifestyles, Overtaker. I swear I will figure out what you’re up to and destroy what you’re planning.”
He just smiled. “What I’m planning?”
“The dolls,” I stated then, lashes lowering, “those people you murder and model into dolls. It’s heartless.”
“Oh, my.” He lightly touched his chin. “Someone is misinformed.”
I stared for a moment, lashes lowering in annoyance. “What?”
“I am not the mastermind,” he said, giggling again. “I am simply the underdog. Kind of like you, but in a more secretary manor.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You aren’t the father?”
“Ah, no,” he said, smile widening, “although that would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
“Then what part of this game are you playing at?” I snapped.
“I am merely an underdog,” he responded, “as I said. I get the bodies and prepare them. I create the machinery that can turn those ugly humans into gorgeous perfection.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, teeth gritting.
But I remained calm.
He makes machinery for me. It makes sense that he would prepare the parts.
I could ask him who the father was, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. Or he would lead me in the wrong direction.
That’s what the Overtaker does.
I just gazed up then, eyes narrowing. “Did you bring any of those… creatures with you?”
“No,” he said, pouting a little, “sadly. They would make great staff, though, but there a little fidgety with their brains all scrambled. Sadly, I had to leave them home.”
I glared. “Pity.”
He gazed up then, lips curling again. “I’ve been watching the game you’ve been apart of. It’s quite fun. I wish I was intertwined with your murders, too. It’s quite a mystery to solve, indeed. Let alone that you are the only one who knows Sebastian is alive? How interesting. The more the blood splatters, the more the murderer doesn’t see what’s coming their way.”
I just glared sharper. “You’re sick.”
“I am a grim reaper,” he said, lashes lowering over his florescent, green eyes, “I live to see death.”
I just clenched my fists tighter.
“You know…” Overtaker said, eyes glowing a bright green, “you should watch out. Your little butler isn’t the only demon roaming around here.”
I lowered my lashes. “Edward’s here, too?” I scrunched my nose in disgust. “I knew it. I knew he was the one killing all these people.”
The Overtaker just smiled, chuckling darkly. “I never said that, did I?”
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvzTNCPPQw
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0gc6k0YEd
