I woke up feeling like I was drowning.

Having watched my father die thirty-ninth night is quite exhausting.

It was like sitting in the library alone and coming out to realize there was no one around. For days you never see a soul, it's not until months past, you start feeling the nagging sensation. Something just doesn’t feel right without your friends calling you over to do something stupid or your parents nagging at you.

I was feeling like that in a way but that I wanted to be left alone. I wanted to hide away from the world. I wanted these covers that felt so warm to embrace me.

I turned my head over to the side to see Cath drooling on another pillow.

I wanted her to be more than just a stress reliever.

Sighing, I flipped the covers off myself. Ringing the bell, my fleet landed in some fluffy warm slippers. My personal maid brushed into the room like a silent color appearing on a blank canvas. After draping a warm robe over my shoulders, she disappeared into the bathroom. Prepping the bathroom while I sluggishly made my way over.

I walked in to see petals spread from the door to the tub. Candles lit upon the tables, a fresh book on the table beside it, a glass of wine freshly poured, and my little maid dipped her hand into the tub to check the temperature.

Maybe, I should date her. That would be an epic love story, right? I’ll give her hints to see if she is into other women.

I dragged my feet over and she quickly removed my robe upon my half-assed arm raised. I slunk into the hot waters. What a hot bath can do to you is wonderful. I already felt good just inhaling the steamy fragrance.

Her magical fingers just added plus points to my day.

I didn’t mope for long, putting on riding breeches and black blouse. I had my hair done up in a bun. I grabbed a pair of riding gloves, an old faded pair.

“Tell the knights that I will be busy and that if I have any guests, reschedule the meeting until tomorrow.” I said upon walking out of my room.

My brain switched gears when I entered the basement stairwell. The clicks of my riding boots sound extra loud on the stone steps. A knight followed me with a torch, casting dim reddish glow upon the greyish stone block walls.

I could almost feel someone panting in fear.

Staring out the bars to see who's coming down. Trying to determine if they were behind bars awaiting execution or in someone's hands who wanted information. Probably praying for the latter, while licking their lips in a bid to prepare to spill the beans.

The knight walked ahead of me after we reached the bottom. She lit each and every one of the torches, illuminating the once dark cellar. Only the shadows deep within the cells resisted the invasion of light.

I began walking down the roll of cells. Looking at the men with their faces to the bars, looking slightly dirty as if they rested here for days on end, instead of overnight.

I ignored them and headed to a blonde haired nobleson. I think he was the fifth son of some baron. Someone who agreed to work with rebels for the money it brought him. According to some reports, he put that money to good use. Sustaining a traveling merchant convoy, visiting brothels in every city, sleeping under the stars like a true adventurer.

I glanced at my knight upon standing in front of him. He looked awfully worried. His eyes were red rimmed as if he had been crying. The odd thing is, I didn’t capture him nor cared about him. Sadly, he must have had more contact with the rebels than I first thought. Even if he didn’t, he had something that Cath wanted and I needed to vent some pain.

My knight grabbed a set of keys off her belt and began unlocking the cage. I dragged a chair over and picked up a thick bundle of rope. Unwinding it as my knight wrestled the little nobleman into the chair.

Ha, it was a bit troublesome tying him up. He really was a fighter on the inside.

“I don’t even know your name. I am sure, though, as sure as the sun rises and sets. That you must know something if you were caught in the company of these men. So I’ll give you one chance. One tiny little chance to confess your sins…” I stood up and looked him in the eye.

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“Tell me everything you know.” I smiled.

Not the one I used on Elena or Cath or even the hot casino guy. No, it was the one I used when looking at myself in the mirror, realizing my father killers were still alive.

The sad patronizing smile.

I stepped back and sat in a chair across from him. Two more knights came in with a bucket of water and a leather bag of tools. I grabbed the bag and began unzipping it. It unfolded out like two slices of bread, flipping one off the top of the other.

I began placing the tools in a neat line.

He licked his lips and looked at the knights then me. They just stood back with notebooks in hand, ready to take his confession.

“Oh, you can start now. Trust me, you would really want to speak up first.” I played with a pair of knitting needles and he gulped.

They were sharpened to a fine point. Even I felt a bit of a tingle looking at them. I bet they would slide right in.

He glanced at the knights before opening his mouth. “I-i don’t know m-much about t-their operation. I just helped launder their stolen goods and got a cut from it. Sometimes I would provide information about when merchants had a set schedule based on their frequencies of meeting me or the Merchant Guild register. All major towns had one and you could see a list of what they were carrying.” He spilled all he knew without even a single touch.

How accurate was it? To be determined.

I untied him and the knights sent him back into the cell. They pulled out another by random or maybe they didn’t like the look of this guy. He was way too clean compared to his friends. I mean, his face was washed, his clothes were neat, and he had only a bruise to his cheek. He didn’t fight when forced to sit down nor tied up.

I picked up a dagger and began cutting away his clothes.

This guy was a smooth talker, you could see it in his eyes. He thought he just had to talk like the last guy but there was no real fear in his features. His hands weren’t clenching the armrest like the last fellow. His ass never lifted off the seat when I picked up a tool.

He was too calm and calm people had information. Whether he spilled it or not, well. Let’s see how amazing I was.

I walked behind him and ran the knife along his shoulders. The blade ‘accidentally’ digging into his skin until blood trickled down his back.

I gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, attempt two?”

He had big boy tears flowing down his cheek by the time I reached fourth try. Sadly, I had reached the bone of the second knuckle on his index finger.

I glanced back to see that the guards look a tad bit sick but they were writing down the process. Had to be thorough, you see.

“So, my first attempt at skinning was a failure. You still have three other fingers and a thumb. Well the other hand too. So let’s give you some rest time, okay?” I asked in an upbeat voice.

He only breathed out in that annoying sobbing tone. Like crying makes the world a better place, if that was so. Wouldn’t I have cried on the roof top back then?

“What is your name?” I asked a base question. I was sure I had a report on my desk that would tell me his name. Even have a short half decent drawing of him.

Though it was these baseline questions that help point out someone's tails. Pain made it hard to not react by subconscious will. Or so I have been told, whether it was honestly true or not. Well, we will be finding out.

***

I had just changed into a gown for dinner and sat down at my desk with the three notebooks. When I received word that someone from the City Lord’s Investigation squad was here to see me. Intriguing how utterly useless those guys were on good days but they at least knew how to pester the innocent parties.

“Bring them in.” I said, flipping open my file of reports and the first notebook.

It was interesting the differences between training. Each knight even with leather gloves or metallic gauntlet, could write in impressive calligraphy. The swirls only had a little quiver in them. Must have been when I began peeling the first guy flesh that the real mistakes happened for two of them. Only one kept her hands straight the whole time.

I would have to keep an eye on her. Maybe use her for more than just recording my dirty deeds.

I glanced up as the inspector walked in. The young bearded fellow bowed before taking a seat.

“My lady West, I would like to start by first apologizing for the loss of your father and the effort my people put into searching for his killers. We were..” He had a nice baritone voice.

I held up my hand, looking up from both reports.

“If you do not have anything to tell me that involves the capture of those men. Then there is no reason to speak, you can leave.” I added a tad bit of frost to my words.

He studied me for a second. “I’m sad to say that I don’t have more to add but I am not here for that case. I am here because a certain group of people we were monitoring was taken out last night. We are just doing our duties by questioning all those who might be a suspect and well. The timing of your return and your recent freedom from teaching musical lessons makes you very suspicious. With your past training and newfound grudge against a certain group of people.”

He seemed as if he was going to go on forever. So I held up my hand.

“Mister dumbass. Being free from work does not imply the capability of hunting whatever groups of people that seemed to have passed away. While I am sorry for their deaths, it has nothing to do with me. Please stop wasting my time with this low level efficiency that you useless sacks of shits are showing. Take your leave before I truly get upset and you find out how a pretty little thing will beat your ass in a dress.” I gave a mocking smile while pulling a crossbow out of my desk drawer.

He gulped and stood up, bowing. He backed away slowly before walking away in a hurry upon turning the corner.

I rolled my eyes and went back to studying the confessions with verified knowledge.