A Musician’s Tale - Chapter 7

-3rd Person POV-

The three were all nearly the same height and had very similar physiques. In addition, the shawl and long gloves makes it so Jade could easily hide her skin color.

Ingrid was slightly taller than the two which was why she wore flat shoes. Jade had asked Catherine to wear heels beforehand so that they had the same height.

Marie was also wearing high heels so that no one could tell who was who unless their faces were revealed.

“Cannon De Lorre, we are here for you. Surrender yourself and no one will get hurt.” A cold, yet familiar voice said.

“Natalie Linderman…. Me and Marie will attract their attention first.” Ingrid said, walking towards the doors.

“Come on, Catherine, we need to move the kids to a safer spot.” Jade pulled Catherine carefully to where the kids were playing.

“Kids!” Jade quietly shouted. “Over here!” Whispered Catherine pointing to a sunflower bed.

The two women ran to the bed of sunflowers, but carefully, to not be noticed. “Kids, go to the place that Custodia prepared for you guys. Your parents showed you right?” Miya nodded and led the kids to a secret bunker under the willow tree where the fairies had made if there were ever any incidents.

“Wait, I need Melodious and Skyler to stay here with us.” Said Jade taking Melodious and Skyler’s hands.

Catherine looked at Jade with panic in her eyes. “What are you saying?! I thought the point of all of this was to protect the kids!” Exclaimed Catherine shocked.

Jade turned to the kids ignoring Catherine, “You kids want to protect your mother right?” she asked.

The twins nodded determinedly. “Great. Catherine, you need to trust me–” Jade was interrupted by a sudden shout.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Shouted a male voice. It was another musician supporting the Renaissance, Kyle Acharya.

“No way… That’s Kai!” Melodious yelled out, shocked. Quickly exchanging gazes, Jade and Catherine ran to the garden maze.

They met Ingrid and Marie there, Marie gave Jade a guitar, Marie was holding a small harp and Ingrid was holding a flute. Then they heard footsteps approaching, “Hide!” Whispered Marie.

They all split up going in different directions. “Ugh, you should stop hiding! It’s no use!” Shouted Kyle frustrated.

“Really? If not, then come find me.” Catherine shouted back tauntingly. “Cannon? You really should stop hiding now before someone gets hurt.” Said Natalie coldly.

“I’m not hiding! You’re just too much of a coward to come find me!” Laughed Catherine. Kyle had a hot temper and darted towards the spot where Catherine was.

“Pfft–” He stopped suddenly when he heard someone laugh at him and decided to abandon his current target and catch the one who laughed at him instead.

“Idiot,” Said Natalie scowling, walking towards Catherine’s spot. Catherine laughed as Natalie hesitated.

Natalie saw in the corner of her eye someone peeking from another corner of the maze. Natalie had hesitated for a while, she knew she had to decide which one to pursue. The one she saw in the corner ran away as Natalie decided to chase her.

When Catherine thought it was all clear she came out from her hiding spot. But it wasn’t clear. Kalis had been watching silently.

“Cannon?” He called as Catherine flinched. Catherine had instantly regretted her decision, keeping her head down.

As Kalis slowly approached Catherine decided to make a break for it in Jade’s direction.

-Marie’s POV-

I had Natalie on my tail as she caught up. I purposely tripped and let her catch me when she pinned me down and removed my wig.

“Wrong choice Natalie~,” I said cheerfully, I used her temporary shock to kick her off of me.

I grabbed my harp and started playing a beautiful but deadly tune from my favorite play, Phantom of the opera. ‘All I ask of you’

“Ugh, Marie,” She said my name with disgust, disdain, and disrespect.

She reached slowly for her ocarina. I didn’t even wait for her to reach her instrument this time. I move fast and kick it away from her.

“Natalie, it has been such a long time since I last saw you! Why, may I ask, are you here of all places?” I say, stepping on her hand with my heel digging in her skin.

“I don’t have time for this.” She grabbed my leg with her other arm, but I didn’t budge. These shoes are the ones she gave me 3 years ago. Jade had made them special, a retracting knife was placed in the heels so if I clicked my heels together…

“Gah!” The blade went through Natalie’s hand effortlessly. “My dear, Natalie, you are very rude. But you are also very young and smart! Why not work for Jade instead?” I said, grinning brightly.

“No!” She grunted in pain and spit on my shoe. “Oh my! You have ruined my shoes!” I lift my shoe off of her hand and stomp on her wrist. She yelped from the pain.

I continue strumming on my harp, the music slowly crescendoing, louder and louder. “I usually don’t like hurting people, especially children but… You are in my way…” With every pluck of my harp, the more painful it feels to my target.

Natalie is very new to this business. It feels like only a year ago that Kalis had picked her up from the streets when she was only 5 years old. It breaks my heart to see her like this but if this is what is needed then I have no reason to hesitate.

“That’s right, Natalie, close your eyes. This world is cruel. I just wish for you that we will not cross paths again.” Natalie started closing her eyes slowly.

With the last pluck of my harp Natalie’s eardrums burst. Blood seeped from Natalie’s ears and hand.

“Bonne-Nuit, Natalie, may your dreams be painless and sweet, child of night,” I kissed her forehead and stood up to wipe the blood off of my heels.

Natalie will not die but she will not be able to hear for the rest of her life.

“It is almost time! I must not be late!” I clicked my heels again as the blades retracted. I gathered my skirt and ran to the place Jade had told me to go after I dealt with loose ends.