Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodstained Noble ❯ Crime 1: Path To Death ( Chapter 1 )

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Bloodstained Noble

By: Melissa Norvell

Crime 1: Path to Death


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Yaris stood in the midst of an elegant crowd, clad in their finest attire. The sound of light waltz music hummed melodiously through the room where high-class women spoke of the latest gossip while sipping on fine wine, and the noble men asked pretty young maidens to dance to a waltz to remember. The atmosphere was cheerful and jolly. Many laughs, both drunken and sober, were heard throughout the massive ballroom, highly decorated with lush accents.


The room was beautiful and took up the entire floor of the prince’s castle-like mansion. It contained a stage and highly rose ceilings with striking wall paintings form the most superb artists in the world. Such a bountiful place made even the nobility feel as if they had immersed themselves into the pages of a fairytale romance. The prince was truly a man of power and envy.


Pleased with the huge crowd, the prince gingerly sipped on his mandarin orange wine. Tonight would be a night that none of them would ever forget and that, he would make sure of. Yaris’ pleasant smile twisted a little to form a more deviant one. As long as she was in the crowd, then his plans could be put into action. The crowd made it all the more challenging to pull off his great plan, but he was no fool. To perform the task in public meant that he would surely be executed. He would, no doubt, have to isolate the incident and leave no clues behind. Not even the slightest trace of hair from his head could be left at the scene of the crime.


While Yaris was concocting his plans of sin, a maiden made her way through the gathering wearing a small, Lolita top-hat that tied around her head and rested slightly to the side, right above one of her ponytails, which cascaded to the ground in bubblegum fashion. She held both sides of her elaborate dress, picking the ruffled pannier off of the ground so that she would not step on the blue and white cloth. After all, her father would have a fit if she damaged the tailored material, although at the moment, that was the least of her worries.


‘This party has a bigger outcome than I had previously expected. Anyone who is anyone is here. It seems that the latest propaganda about the resurrection of Jack the Ripper hasn’t deterred anyone from coming.’ The elegant man thought to himself as he placed the glass to his lips with his usual faux smile, a master pretender adorning one of the many masks he chose to wear to fool the public of his true nature. “They probably think it’s just some scare.” He remarked at the ignorance of the people he surrounded himself with, silently reveling his secret identity.


Before he could complete the thought, he felt himself being slammed into by something shorter than he was. He took a step forward, trying to seem graceful in movement as to not draw a crowd but his wine glass took a significant hit as it crashed to the ground, sending orange liquid splattering about on the tile.


Her loosely secured Lolita top hat fell along with the wine and as she glanced up. Just then it hit the pink-haired girl as to who exactly she ran into. The man was semi-tall, regal and thin in stature with beautiful cream-colored hair. He wore a dark blue coat lined with onyx feathers that also adorned the neck of the coat and cascaded from the sleeves. Beneath it was a black ball room suit and jabot with three ruffles and a beautiful stone that looked like an emerald. Actually, she was more than one hundred percent sure that it was. The prince would not wear any stone if it were a mere imitation. From his formal, black, dress shoes, shined to perfection, to his silk twill black slacks, gloves and lavish clothing, all the way to the faint scent of rose and sandalwood that adorned his skin, the man was exquisite.


Out of all of the people that she had to make a fool out of herself by running into, the prince was the last person she had expected to come across. It was such an insult to her image. She could only imagine what he thought of her and was ready for any repercussion resulting from her acts.


The man bent down to pick up her hat. She kept her sights off of the regal man. “Pardon me. I’m so sorry,” she apologized before her hat was presented to her. “Huh?” The maiden was a little shocked and slowly took her hat, tying it around her head as she stared into those gentle blue eyes and faux bravado of a smile.


“You should watch where you’re going. The next person you run into might not be so kind,” Yaris replied. He knew the snobs who attended his parties, and of the mannerisms of many of the upper crust. Had she run into anyone else, then it would have not been too pretty.


“I’ll get you some more wine. You had peach, right?” The girl asked, trying her best to be as respectful as possible to the royal.


“Don’t bother, and it was mandarin orange, actually,” the blonde replied as he helped the girl up from her kneeling position. Bowing in such a manner didn’t fit such a lovely flower.


“I should have watched where I was going,” she replied. If it wasn’t for her careless mistake, then the prince would have been still enjoying his wine.


“It’s a simple mistake, truly,” Yaris tried to chide the girl’s worries and placed an arm behind his back, bent in a formal manner as he gently kissed the girl’s gloved hand. “I am Prince Yaris Adair Staffordshire III, pleased to make your acquaintance.”


“I’m Rosillia Elaine Progmeyer,” the maiden curtseyed to the prince, “I’m Consort to Baron Rutherford B. Hayes.” As much as she hated the title, she forced it from her lips. She’d rather be a consort to a dog than that sorry excuse for a man who didn’t deserve the noble title he was blood-given.


“You didn’t seem too happy noting that fact,” Yaris noted. He admired how seemingly frail and elegant she was. She didn’t look old enough to be a consort, but he would not question the matter.


Rosillia frowned. “I’m not, the baron and I don’t exactly get along. I’d rather be single and lonely than tied down to someone and miserable.” The fact that the two didn’t seem like a true couple was a mere understatement to the true situation of the matter.


“You can always get away from him, can’t you?” She was nobility, after all and her word weighed just as much as the barons. It wasn’t as if she were a commoner who had no choice.


“It’s not that easy, my lord,” Rosillia looked downcast as her red eyes hit the floor. “I wished it was but I was forced into this position by unfair means, and if I don’t comply, the outcome will be horrible. There are more factors in play than just me. I can’t afford to be selfish.” With the welfare of her father at stake, she had no choice but to stay at the baron’s side.


“Sometimes, it’s best to make yourself happy first and foremost. All things are meant to end, all things falter, and all life dies.” Yaris stated darkly what he believed was the true nature of things. The only certain things in life were uncertainty and death.


“Yes, and my end will come soon enough,” Rosillia said in defeat. She hoped and wished that the prince would care about a girl’s well-being. As pathetic as it was, this was her final cry for help in her desperate situation.


“What do you mean by that?” With all of the power that this beautiful man had before her, Rosillia couldn’t muster the words from her young lips. Instead, she remained silent and hated the fact that it was so hard to push that bastard’s true nature from her mouth, considering the fact that he wore such a convincing mask in a public setting.


Just then her hopes were dashed as an older, refined woman in a dress in shades of red and gold walked up one of the elegant staircases. She caught the prince’s dark blue eyes. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to catch someone before they leave.” Yaris smiled as he walked away, leaving the maiden to contest with her shambled state.


As she glanced up, her red eyes held a knowledgeable gaze as she uttered the man’s name to herself in an obscure tone.




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Yaris followed the woman up the winding staircase and made sure that he was a suitable distance away, as to not arouse her suspicions. This was a delicate plan that had to be executed to the fullest extent. There could be no mistakes, not with a crowd like that.


Blue eyes studied every move that she made intently and searched for any weakness that could be presented physically. Every mannerism was monitored with the utmost precision, as well as any infraction that would be used against her. The graceful woman went up several more staircases, too engrossed in her current job to notice the devilish male who followed her like an ominous shadow. She seemed to be traveling to the rafters above. What an interesting place for a woman like her to be headed, but he knew why and the sheer thought that she was nothing more than a struggling fly in his web of deception made his criminal heart jump in glee.


What sweet bliss this moment would be! It would surely be a theatrical experience to remember!


“I always have to fix the lights up here. Honestly, you’d think there would be a better way to access the chandelier display.” The brown-haired maiden complained as she picked up her dress to walk across one of the slats carefully. One wrong step and she would be sent plummeting to the dance floor below.


‘That’s her…Madam Lafayette.’ Yaris frowned upon the mere thought of that woman’s name. ’I remember her well. She was married to my butler, and prime suspect in his murder. She was thought to be one of the seven original co-conspirators who plotted my family’s death. She is the first on my hit list. I was hoping that she’d come…and I’m delighted that she did.’ Her mere appearance made his adrenaline rush. It was such a befitting way to get in contact with an old family member.


The prince nimbly crossed the board as the woman struggled with a panel of switches that controlled the display. Her voice got closer and closer as he heard her continue to grumble about the task at hand. “Now, which one of these switches works the display?” She asked herself as she looked back and forth between her options. “I forget which one Earl Hamilton told me. If I just flip any one, I could end up accidentally killing the power. That would just send the crowd into a panic.”


“What a predicament you have there, Madam Lafayette,” Yaris’ familiar gentle voice rang through the woman’s ears and startled her enough to make her slam the door on the box shut out of sheer instinct, widened brown eyes and curls, pulled back tightly on her head, whirled around at the sight of the prince, who was balancing himself on a beam of wood that was only wide enough for two people to stand on. He was as calm as ever but what was his reason for being up there with her? Yaris had a public to entertain and should have been distracted with some lovely woman or engrossed in a beautiful waltz, not in a dismal setting like this.


“Prince Yaris! What are you doing here? This area is for staff only,” Madam Lafayette advised, as if she were concerned for his safety. How ironic of a killer to be concerned with one’s safety, or perhaps she simply didn’t want to face the repercussions of being the only one up there with him if he happened to fall. That would only add to her criminal record and guarantee her execution.


“I own this vacation home. I do believe that qualifies me to come up here. My question is, what are you doing up here?” He asked nonchalantly, as if he truly were curious about the woman’s involvement into whatever project she had been participating in.


“The main switch for the chandelier display is broken downstairs, so I had to come up here to operate it but I’m unsure of which switch runs the display.” The madam explained, convinced that he had just as much right to be there as she did.


Yaris hopped daintily from the board and plucked the rare blue rose from his pocket, lightly inhaling the sweet scent before his blue hues trailed to the woman. He spoke simple words while his mind played Satan. “Perhaps I can assist you. However, I’ll need you to walk onto the rafter.”


Madam Lafayette seemed confused by that command. The box was before her. Why would she need to walk onto the rafter? “Why?”


“I’ll need you to check on the display and tell me if it begins to work.” Judging from the architecture of the grand ballroom, she’d be able to see the giant chandelier from her location on the rafter. It was right over the ballroom, simply perfect for a classic event of murder on the dance floor.


“It’s hard to keep balance in this formal dress,” the brown-haired woman looked uncomfortable as she struggled to keep feet on the board and pivoted, looking through the ropes to the massive display. As she did, she momentarily lost her balance and nearly plummeted to her death if it wasn’t for grabbing one of the ropes to save herself.


“Watch out there,” Yaris warned in a tone that seemed genuine, “I wouldn’t want you to accidentally die on me, Madam.”


Lafayette nervously glanced down at the dance floor. “If you fell down there, there’s no doubt that you’d more than likely die. It’s nearly a three story drop.” The woman guessed their estimated elevation from the dancers below as she clung to the rope.


“Perhaps you should hang onto that rope. That way if you fall, you could possibly save yourself.” Yaris educated the woman on her options for safety in such dangerous conditions.


“I could walk back over there,” the madam hinted that she really didn’t trust herself in her current position, but Yaris seemed adamant about her staying in that specific position.


“I’ll need you close by, incase something happens,” his tone was filled with an uncertainty that gave Madam Lafayette chills.


“What could possibly happen?”


“There are always unforeseen events in time, in which the slightest infraction can cause a series of unfortunate events. More than anything, time cannot be recovered.” He reminded her of what a precious entity it was.



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Below the giant chandelier that was centered in the middle of the room, a group of women stood dressed in elaborate ball gowns huddled in a group along with Rosillia Progmeyer, who looked substantially younger than the rest. Even though she was in her late teens, she held the appearance of a much youthful girl with large, oval eyes framed in full, dark lashes.


She could hear the chatty, older women talking about a subject that caught her ears, so she decided to join in their conversation. One of the maidens complimented her dress and told her that she was most certainly there to impress. The woman in a green dress with blonde ringlets next to her mentioned that she was shocked that any women attended the prince’s ball at all. This sparked Rosillia’s curiosity.


“What do you mean?” She had wanted to ask, but another woman beat her to the line.


“Haven’t you heard about the latest strong of murders?” A woman with long, curly black hair, clad in a long-sleeved, purple dress commented.


“String of murders?” Rosillia finally got a word in edge-wise amongst the group. She had remembered hearing something about them, but she wanted to gather information on her theories behind the violent happenings.


“Oh yes, it’s said that they were all caused by Jack the Ripper.” The black-haired woman replied.


“Jack the Ripper?”


“Jack the Ripper existed back in the 1800’s, there’s no way that he’s still around. It’s obviously someone who wants to bring back that old name,” Rosillia crossed her arms over her mid-sized bust and scoffed pessimistically at their claims. Whoever was doing this was either was deeply inspired by Jack the Ripper, or was trying to make a mockery of his infamous name.


It was ridiculous, even if the guy was a killer.


“They even refer to themself as Jack the Ripper. No one knows who they are. All they know is that it’s a male who blatantly kills women with a weapon that they think are steel claws. The marks on the victim’s bodies are like giant lacerations.” The woman with the golden ringlets informed everyone.


“You’re married to a private investigator, Lady Rowing. Do you know if they have any leads, or how long these murders have been going on?” Rosillia questioned.


“From what everyone’s learned, the murders were committed by someone of high class. They don’t leave any evidence behind, so it’s hard to track them. It’s obviously someone who knows how to kill because the victims died easily without any signs of struggle. From what I know, the murders have been happening for a month now. Everyone’s taking special precautions and they’re telling women not to come out past sunset.” Lady Rowing divulged the information regarding the string of ‘Jack the Ripper’ murders.


“What kind of women are being murdered?” The pink-haired girl asked. She wondered if there was a set pattern to this individual’s killing technique, or if he had a specific preference. If he did, it would be easy to put this man in jail for his false bravados.


“The killer has no set pattern and his victims range anywhere from prostitutes to a countess,” Lady Rowing further informed.


This complicated things.


Clearly this was not who Rosillia had thought she was dealing with. This ‘Jack the Ripper’ character was more than just some off-the-street joker. He was a criminal who took his work seriously and made sure that his tracks were well covered.


“A countess? That means that not even high society is safe!” Another woman blurted out in shock and fear upon finding out what she had. “I certainly hope that they find this murderer. He truly is a twisted man.”


“Does this Jack the Ripper guy kill anyone after big parties like these?” Rosillia questioned. Could it be possible that Jack the Ripper could be at the very party they attended, especially if he attacked those of noble blood? She’d give anything to watch him rip Baron Rutherford’s heart out with his warped tool of massacre.


“I don’t think so, or at least, there haven’t been any documented events.” Lady Rowing chided the worries that she thought the girl had on the issue. “They were all isolated incidents that happened after midnight.”


“I wonder if Lady Lafayette has returned yet?” The black-haired woman questioned, as she reminded the group that one of their members had gone off in search of fixing the switch for the display.


“Where did she go?” Lady Rowing wondered. She had noticed that there was no sign of the other lady in the ballroom. Even when she glanced around for a second check, she didn’t appear to even be on that level floor with them.


“She went to trigger this chandelier display. The chords were severed so she couldn’t turn it on from down here.” The third woman that had been engaged in their conversation noted as Rosillia excused herself from the group to get some punch. Or at least, that would be her justification. Their conversations tended to get a little boring after a while and she felt herself being suffocated by all of the rumors and lies they spewed.


On her way to the punch bowl, she noticed something sticking out of the wall. It was mostly hidden behind the table, which was strategically placed, where the circuit was sticking out. ‘Are these the wires for the display?’ She wondered as her eyes widened upon her discovery.


“If that’s the case…” Rosillia trailed as she casually filled a glass with the green liquid. ‘Then this was all planned by someone here…but who? Who would have a motive against Madam Lafayette?’ Then it hit her like a sack of bricks.


‘All things falter, all life must come to an end.’ She could hear the sweet, young voice of the prince chime into her mind. Now that she thought about it, that very phrase seemed foreshadowing of the events to come. Surely it wasn’t the prince himself who was Jack the Ripper.


But then again…he was suspicious.


Rosillia decided that it was best to keep her eyes on him.


‘Simple words…but could they hold a deeper meaning?’ The girl thought to herself as she gingerly sipped her punch. “This floor is large, but even so…I don’t see him.” She murmured as she made her way back to her group. The girl glanced around the ballroom to catch even the slightest glimpse of the black and blue clad man.


As she neared the group the giant display flashed on, illuminating everything in a barrage sparkles and a warm, yellow light that resembled that of the sun. Rosillia snapped her head up, instantly drawn to the chandelier as the rest of the audience was. She could hear the voices of the women in her group complimenting the beauty of the object, crafted from the finest metals and glass that shimmered like diamonds.


“Oh my!”


“It’s beautiful!”


The compliments were showered upon the massive series of intricate lights.




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High above, Madam Lafayette looked to the light was an expression of awe. She couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful and amazing the centerpiece was. The madam smiled at its splendor as Yaris walked over to the rafter with her, both of them peered down at the structure and looked quite content being side-by-side.


“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Lafayette asked calmly.


“The light of a chandelier is both wondrous and pristine. However, pristine things fade and become tainted over time.” Yaris told her in a tone that lacked emotion entirely, even if he was smiling, his eyes were as hollow and detached from reality.


“What do you mean by that, Prince Yaris?” The brown-haired woman questioned as she glanced at him a bit nervously. She knew that the prince had been on to her for quite some time and suspected her of several things that he could not prove. Yaris was older now, no longer the fifteen year old, spoiled child who was vulnerable to everything.


He had grown up and become a rather frightening man, both in power and mentality.


“Tonight will be the night of bloodstained glory,” his smile held a dark presence about it. It was as if the same gesture undertook an entirely different meaning and Madam Lafayette could feel the air around her grow thick with tension as her heart raced and her breathing escaladed.


“What?” The woman sank back in fear as the prince took a step towards her, his posture changed from that of a formal gentleman to that of a predatory wildcat, careful and precise in its foot movement.


Then, the words poured from his lips and cut through her soul like cruel ice. “I wish to paint the white roses red….with the color of your blood.”


He was mad! The prince had turned into a madman! “Prince Yaris….What’s the meaning of this?” Madam Lafayette took another unsteady step backwards, only to still be met with the prince’s youthful presence. Those dull eyes, shrouded with the darkness of the shadows, had taken on an evil gaze.


“Mr. Kosei Yudaiji was my butler as a child.” The prince’s voice was dark, yet held a faux gentle tone that made it eerie as his warm breath beat against her cold skin. It hit against the cold sweat she had broken out into and made her tremble in fear. Yaris was like a spider- calculating, controlling, and precise. He could lash out and strike at any moment. “He also worked as my personal tutor and was loyal to a fault and a vital part of my family. Kosei died valiantly defending them in a murder plot. He, along with a maid and my parents were all slain. I was the only survivor of the vicious onslaught.”


Brown eyes looked at the noble, who was so close he could have kissed her. “Why are you talking to me about this? It was something that happened when you were fifteen.” Subjects of the past were meant to stay in that time frame, not be brought into the future.


“Because Madam Lafayette, you were one of the seven conspirators who had a hand in my family’s death.” His words rang realization into the frightened woman’s ear as he stepped behind her after cooing the words eerily to her. Brown eyes widened at what he said.


Whipping her head around, ponytail of cascading, spring-like curls following, Madam Lafayette shot him a glare of defense. “Who told you that?” Her words were frigid. How did the prince find out that she had a hand into the murder of his family and more importantly, what would happen to her now that he had found out?


“I’ve been doing a little investigating. I’ve found the names of all of your conspirators: Teito Ushiboro, Lydia Umbugula, The Pink Flower and the two twins. However, there is one person missing from that list.” Yaris pointed out, as his two foot claws met the skin of his newest victim’s neck. Razor sharp edges threatened to slash the throat of the woman if she dared to give him the wrong answer or any false information. “Who is behind all of this?”


“I’ll never tell,” Madam Lafayette was defiant as she felt the cold steel against her skin. She tried to sound brave but the pitch of her voice faltered. She very much valued her life. The elegant woman teetered on a plummet that would render her dead or paralyzed, or getting her throat slashed.. Either way, she would eventually meet a fate most unwanted. Even with paralysis, the prince would hunt her down and kill her easily. “You already know too much. You should have been killed, too.” She spat in resentment. The very fact that the blonde lived disgusted her. They should have gone through that mansion with a fine toothed comb to find him.


“Such boorish things for a refined lady to say,” Yaris commented, as if they were engaged in casual conversation and he was merely correcting her on her presentation. “You know, this doesn’t make your predicament any better.” He laid a hand flat on the woman’s back and applied pressure, which caused her body to be knocked off balance by leaning forward a little. If she dared to lean back, she would have to face his claws on the other hand.


“What are you going? No!” the brown-haired aristocrat said as she dug her heels into the wood of the beam and tried her best not to plummet to the floor.


Yaris leaned his head over her shoulder and leveled her with that same creepy smile. “So…You’ll tell me?” His question was quaint, as if his polite personality was unaffected by anything.


Was he that good at holding a façade, or was he simply that sadistic?


“I’d rather die,” stern words were forced from her mouth. Madam Lafayette didn’t truly wish for death but Yaris didn’t have time to play her games. If she wouldn’t tell him, then he had plenty of other conspirators to go through. One way or another, he would get his answer.


His time with her was at its end, and soon she would be but another casualty on his long toll of deaths. Quickly, he placed the loop of the rope she was holding for support around her neck. The brown-haired woman gripped the noose, frantically trying to get it off in any desperate way she could. As she tried to free herself from her death trap, a familiar song ran through her ears.


London Bridges falling down

Falling down

Falling down

London Bridges falling down

My

Fair

Lady



“What? What nonsense is this?” She strained as Yaris continued to chant the lyrics of the song over and over again, his voice was that of a sinister angel of death. It sounded pleasant to the point of being haunting. It was as if he were singing an elegy to send her to hell with. “Why are you singing that ridiculous song?”


Her question was never answered as he shoved her from the rafter. The woman’s body was sent plummeting towards the dance floor, only to be met by the sudden stop of the rope. Upon her descent, she heard the last words of his song trail through her mind.


My fair…

Lady



Yaris looked down at his deed with spectator’s eyes. “Farewell Madam Lafayette. My heart is at least a little satisfied with this blood bath.” He reasoned with himself. Even if he didn’t get the answers he sought, he would at least be satisfied with his grand appearance as Jack the Ripper. It was truly a night that no one would forget. The thought of freshly spilled blood brought a smile to the hellish prince’s face.



XxXxXx



In the crowd below, everyone wore horrified expressions as several yells and an uproar of commotion busted through the room like a clap of thunder as everyone’s sights were directed to the woman’s body, which dangled in the middle of the dance floor, splattering bodily fluids all over the tile floor. Gasps, sobs and screams were heard.


Rosillia’s head whipped around as one of her long, bubblegum ponytails swung over her shoulder and her red eyes widened. “What’s that?” She asked as the room flew into a panic and several people ran out and off of the dance floor, making their way to the nearest doors or up the stairs.


“Madam Lafayette!” One of the women from the crowd yelled in aghast.


“Why would anyone do such a thing?” Another asked in horror. The prince’s ball had been ruined and a murder had been committed but what was the reason for Madam Lafayette’s death? Who killed her? Could Jack the Ripper have made an appearance? Could he have been walking among them, dressed in a façade of formal attire?



XxXxXxXx



After all of the guests were calmed and evacuated, the paramedics came in and declared Madam Lafayette dead on the scene. Many of the attendants and coordinators of the ball stood on the side lines and watched in grief and shock as the madam’s body was wheeled out on a stretcher with a black silk sheet covering her , signifying that she was indeed, dead.


They led her into the back of the ambulance as the remaining crowd stood around and chatted amongst each other regarding the recent turn of events. Rosillia seemed calm as she watched the broken body being taken away.


“How truly unfortunate that my ball was ruined by such a savage event,” Yaris commented from beside of her, seeming rather sympathetic towards the murder. He frowned as he closed his eyes and wore, what seemed like a genuine look of sorrow. “I wonder if Jack the Ripper is at work here.”


Red eyes trailed to the blonde in suspicion. ’He acts too calm for someone who just witnessed a murder. Plus…I haven’t really seen him at the party until now…Something just isn’t right here, and I want to know what exactly it is.’




…To Be Continued