Daily Short: Random 07

Ralph Zienfer watched as the current Duke retreated to the sanctuary room with his guards. Only members of the direct bloodline could enter, a safety precaution from centuries ago. As the door sealed behind him, the duke paused at the sight of his brother already seated in the room.

“Greetings, brother,” Ralph said from his chair at the head of the small rectangular table inside. It was no error; he had placed himself at the head, directly facing the door. The impact of his current position flashed across the duke’s face.

“You were always a jealous one Ralph. Do you think they will stand for my death? The assassination of a duke won’t be swept under the rug like your last attempt to kill me was by our Father.” Duke Zienfer said as he sat down.

Ralph could see with clear sight the curtain of Air around his brother. It was an Element he had been cursed to see but not touch. Thinking back all those years ago, that single test had removed him as the Heir in one blow. Yet, he had the blessing of Shadow, Earth, and Water. It was a shortsighted move on the Zienfer family’s part to deny him the birthright. He wouldn’t have enjoyed ruling and would likely have passed in favor of his brother. However, the choice had been taken from him along with his garden.

Fools, the lot of them. I cannot allow Charlotte to be forced to this step. Ralph thought, looking at his brother. It is better to dirty my hands one last time so she can cleanly take the reins.

“Jealous? No, I’m not jealous of you, Richard.” Ralph finally said after a long moment. “You let the love of your life die by the cup. You drove your most talented offspring into the hands of the College. Even now, rebel forces muster in the shadows preparing to remove your head. For a father and a duke, you are a failure. If it weren’t for me waking up after you destroyed my gardens, this House would fall within the decade with or without me.”

Richard glared at Ralph as his calm tone continued, “No, I am not jealous of you. I pity you, Richard. Charlotte will never call me father, but we both know who raised her. I was there when she changed from the polite, cute, gentle little girl to the cold, calculating creature she is now. I kept the assassins sent by the branch families at bay. I ensured her physical and mental needs were met because her father couldn’t be bothered. You were too busy dicking your new piece of flesh instead of being where it mattered.”

“Anise was a great match, but she was no Duke’s wife, Ralph. Everyone knew that. I mourned in my way.” Richard said with a flushed face as his voice resounded with deep anger.

“Ah, yes. You mourned by screwing that little honey trap the branch families sent you. What a proper way to mourn by fucking your brains out with the killer of your first wife.” Ralph responded with calm disdain.

Air moved towards Richard, cycling around the duke as his anger fueled strength into the power he wielded. Without saying another word, the duke reached out to his brother and clenched his fist. Pressure descended on Ralph, crushing the very air from his lungs. It would have been his end, except he’d planned for this long ago.

“Elemental Form: Water,” Ralph said with a tone of grief. It was necessary to remove his brother, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. One of the little-known secrets of water kept him alive. Water, and by extension, the elemental form, was essentially incompressible. What that meant was a fact of life, Richard would run out of mana before he caused the slightest bit of damage to his body.

Ralph watched as his brother slowly realized there was no explosion of meaty chunks. Fear replaced the anger on Richard’s face, which gradually morphed into horror.

“That’s not possible,” Richard said numbly.

Ralph rose from his seat and moved unhurriedly toward his brother, saying, “Did you know the first Dukes were not mortal? Hidden in the bloodlines are countless cross-breeding bastards like me.”

As he approached, the seated duke's several rune chains of meaning began to flicker on the room's walls. The entire series of runes ended directly underneath the duke's chair. It was a trap, made to kill, that could now ignore the elemental form and strike the soul. The runes were twisted shadowy apparitions that made one sick to look at too closely. Ralph glanced at them before finally standing next to his brother’s chair.

This is a Ritual with a horrific cost that will remove my ability to use Shadow. Ralph thought,t looking down at his brother for the last time. It is a small cost to guarantee Charlotte’s reign. Besides, a Duchess’s Gardner does not need Shadow to let the plants grow. Earth and Water will suffice for the future.

“Goodbye, Richard. I hope you make better choices in your next life.” Ralph said without inflection as shadow essences slicked up, covering his brother like liquid tar. A moment before, the humanoid figure seated in the duke’s place popped like an overripe melon under pressure. When the shadow essence dispersed, the duke was gone.

Ralph gritted his teeth as something reached deep within him to rip away the Shadow. He screamed a raw, brutal agony before collapsing to his knees and falling on his side. Pain wracked him as the runes dissipated like drifting ashes.

I hope that demoness can take care of the rest. Ralph thought as darkness filled with pain and agony pushed him unconscious.