Chapter 10: I Am The God of Hellfire, Part 10

Jaiden was following Ivor through the park on the mansion grounds, going around the trees, more inside his head than out.

He himself was processing... the recent events.

Of course, barely a day had passed. And it had been so sudden and violent.

Fortunately, his mother had covered his eyes before he saw too much, but even so, the blood staining the fountain water had been too much for him. At the very least, it had made him faint... In a way, hearing about the state of the corpse while his imagination raced was worse than simply seeing it. But that was something he could only say because he hadn't seen it, it could also be true that...

But he was getting off track.

The thing is, as much as it had affected him, he understood that it had affected Ivor at least twice as much. He wasn't stupid, he had known it long before he told him, but on top of that, he had told him. Loud and clear and without mistakes. He had told him, and now this.

Evelyn was the one he hadn't been able to tell, and now he never could.

His head was a mess.

He wanted to do something to help his cousin, but he had no idea what he should do. What to say, how to say it. He was just a child after all.

Death was something dark and complicated. From another world.

But Ivor remained quiet, barely looking where he was going, occasionally moving his lips, as if talking to himself. Whether he was good at it or not, it was clear that he was the one who should start the conversation.

Jaiden scratched the back of his head, cleared his throat several times, more to kill time than anything else. He was afraid. Afraid and full of doubts, nothing more.

"I still can't believe it. That she died so suddenly. Not even an hour had passed since we said goodbye to her and... And that." It wasn't a terrible way to start, was it? Honesty, inviting him to share his feelings.

Maybe they couldn't fix anything, but they could go through it together. That was something, wasn't it?

"She didn't die."

"What?"

For a moment he thought he had heard wrong. That he had to have heard wrong.

"Don't look at me like I'm crazy! He pushed her, for sure. He's always been a weirdo."

Oh.

That was just the second possible meaning that had occurred to him. Much less crazy, but still... He supposed it was easier to think that it had happened for a reason than that it had simply been bad luck.

He couldn't express it in those words, he was too young. That was just the feeling he had.

He swallowed.

"Come on, man, why would he do that? Deep down you know that Evelyn liked..."

There it was. He had refused to say it out loud for years in his presence because he didn't want to hurt someone who was not just a relative, but a good friend. But now Evelyn was dead, it really didn't matter anymore.

The best thing for Ivor would be to discard those kinds of crazy ideas soon.

"We're talking about Sam," Ivor said, almost shouting, "not her. He was always a weirdo."

That was true, but from there to killing someone, someone who loved him, who would probably be willing to help him secure his position as the heir, just because...

He didn't believe that.

"Dude..."

"Help me prove it," Ivor begged him.

Just like that. As if it were easy, even if Sam had really done such a thing. Jaiden looked his friend in the eyes. He barely recognized him. Barely, but there was still something, and the rest was simply hidden under grief and anger.

He had to help him by preventing him from doing something stupid.

——

Now that he had taken care of the housekeeper, for now, Sam left the room and went to the library. The one inside the Wright mansion, of course. Maybe he couldn't avoid it, but he had no intention of leaving the grounds until he fulfilled his mission. Of wasting time, even a second.

The hidden massacre he would perpetrate in this mansion was just the beginning of his dark legacy and his grand plans.

The library was empty. Some things didn't change, even in another world.

He preferred it that way, of course.

He picked up some books related to magic and started reading. He lacked memories, he lacked the education he had presumably received, so much of it sounded like Chinese to him. But he didn't need to understand everything, just what could interfere with his murders.

He was especially interested in the healing capabilities of this world or any spell that could be used for investigation.

As for the former, it wasn't much, and he found no mention of the latter. It didn't mean it didn't exist, of course, he hadn't been reading for that long. But for now, nothing.

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Who would have thought that studying about real magic would be so boring?

"At least it doesn't require anything stupid like waving a wand."

Okay, he had no intention of wasting time learning human magic, he had better things to do and doubted he would ever need to demonstrate the magic that the other Sam had learned, but it was still worth reading all this.

If he had any obstacle, it was lack of information.

After all, he hadn't even been in this world for a week.

"Studying? Live and learn." Much to his chagrin, Violet's voice made him start.

He recognized it instantly and it's not like he was doing anything wrong, nothing he had to hide, but it still happened. He had been too immersed in the books, ceasing to pay attention to his surroundings. It didn't matter and it was natural, it's not like he was surrounded by enemies, on the contrary, he was the snake egg eating the bird's nest eggs.

But still, he felt ashamed.

It shouldn't have caught him by surprise, damn it.

Besides, there was the comment itself. It should be the most annoying thing. It wasn't, but it should be.

It was just a joke, but he wasn't behaving like the other Sam, at least as Violet had known him. That was dangerous. This was real life. Even if he started acting like a completely different person, people wouldn't immediately jump to the conclusion that he actually was. They would look for explanations that fit common sense, trusting their eyes and ears.

Still, he hadn't liked hearing it.

"There's always a first time for everything," he responded. Words that took no risks.

Violet pulled out one of the chairs and sat down beside him, crossing her legs. He didn't know, among many other things, how close she had been to Evelyn. Maybe they only knew each other by sight. But at least for him, there was a shadow on her face.

It didn't sadden him to see her like that, but it didn't please him either.

"Hey, Sam. I'm sorry. Christina and I looked for you after what happened, but you didn't answer."

"I didn't notice. I must have fallen asleep," he said sincerely.

Although it was also true that he wouldn't have bothered to answer even if he had noticed. He had been too excited, between the murder and his new telekinesis power, to pretend sadness in front of anyone. So he had pretended in the best way he could think of: locking himself in the room and letting the rest of the world draw conclusions.

"I understand. What I mean is, if you need anything, anything at all, that's what we're here for."

Very good girl, but...

"We're?"

"Well, Christina has probably taken a more direct route."

"What does that mean?"

Violet shrugged, as if she herself didn't know why she had said that, but she gave him a clear answer anyway. He would like people to be clearer. What was the point of that gesture, then?

"She'll be waiting for you in the room, probably."

"You call that being direct? You're here, now."

"At least you're as picky as ever," Violet elbowed him, smiling. "I mean your room is a more intimate place. Although this is very empty." She looked around as if she had just realized that fact.

"The thirst for knowledge of youth, you know. They must have read all the books already."

Violet laughed. She had a nice laugh.

But it didn't last long, the shadow fell over her face again. Well, anyway, before laughing he preferred to hear her moan underneath him.

"You don't have to force yourself. I know how much you must be suffering. Come here." She extended her arms, inviting him.

Sam gladly accepted the invitation and returned the hug. It felt good against those big boobs.

"I'm really sorry. I wish this hadn't had to happen, especially so close to your birthday."

If things were as they appeared, yes, it would have been a very bad way to start his eighteenth year in this world. Violet's sympathy, of course, didn't make him feel anything at all, much less contradictory to his objectives. He simply felt pleased because the woman was still treating him like the brother she loved. She didn't suspect the truth. She couldn't.

"Things happen, sister. They simply happen..." He chose his words carefully, modulating his tone.

He wasn't going to make a melodrama, but he couldn't give the impression that it hadn't affected him at all, it wouldn't be congruent. Sam hoped to make her believe that he was acting tough, with some cracks showing in his facade.

Like an inexperienced actor, the best he could do was use the truth.

Besides, she loved the other Sam too much to want to realize that he no longer existed in this world, that he had died for all intents and purposes. She herself would help him deceive himself.

"Yeah. There's rarely good news on your birthday, but this is too much."

"Why do you say that?" he asked before he could think better of it.

He realized it was a mistake as soon as the words left his mouth. Although it didn't make sense to him, if she said it, it would be for a reason. But it was too late to regret it. He could only hope that what he should know wasn't too obvious.

"You know. Because you were born on the day of the start of the family conference."

Ah, so that's why there are so many bastards around the mansion. Not just my siblings, but distant cousins. All gathered to see who gets the biggest piece of the cake.

It made sense.

He hadn't heard about it, but it was already a regular event (he assumed it would be held annually), why would they be going around talking about it? That would also explain the tense atmosphere. As if everyone was waiting for something to happen.

And thanks to him it had, of course.

But what was really important was that he had screwed up big time.

What do you mean?

Damn, with how obvious it should have been for the real Sam. He couldn't say he had forgotten the meaning of his own birth date. An auspicious date, which realistically had defined his life.

He thought quickly, looking for a way out.

Hoping there was one in the first place.

"Well, yes. But that has nothing to do with me... I'm tired of all that, sister."

It wasn't a good answer.

It didn't make complete sense. He supposed that above all he was trying to elicit pity, to distract her from the truth. He supposed.

He wasn't scared. He had screwed up, but realistically this didn't expose him. It was too little. What he was was angry with himself. He wanted to do things right, like a fucking professional.

He couldn't think clearly being so angry.

"I know, honey. I know."

An idea occurred to him.

Nothing would erase the fact that he had made a mistake, but maybe he could turn it into an advantage thanks to his genuine anger.

"Hey, sister, I've been thinking..." Sam started to say, pretending to be hesitant. Although at the same time anger shook his voice, and he made no effort to hide it.

"Yes?"

"Maybe it wasn't an accident. I'm racking my brains over it. If I hadn't left her alone..."

It wasn't any risk.

Although Violet certainly hadn't thought for a second that he could even be the culprit, she would have imagined that there could be a culprit. That it could easily have been a murder, in this family, among these 'nobles' who were taught that they were superior to common people since they were born. Accustomed to getting their way. He didn't need to know the other Sam's life to understand common sense things like that.

"It wouldn't be your fault even if they had killed her. But I don't think so. If she had been more influential, it would be a possibility, but she was just a distant first cousin."

Oh, so she was just a first cousin. It was good to know before the funeral. Still, it didn't change anything here and now.

"But I'm one of the favorites. And she... She liked me. She told me."

Violet hugged him even tighter, digging her nails into him. Sam winced, but said nothing. He just wondered to what extent she was suffering for her... and to what extent she was suffering for him, jealous. Yes, they were siblings, but in these times it wasn't exactly a great taboo. Among nobles, at least.

Keeping the line pure.

That's what he intended.

Well, dirty jokes aside, the line was already stained with demon blood. From the demon.

"Okay, but it would still not be your fault. Alright?"

"I'm not so sure." An asshole intervened.

He recognized them. He had played cards with them just yesterday, after all. Although he hadn't caught their names. It wasn't something he could simply ask. Well, like most things.

They had made an appearance again. And they weren't sure, or at least he wasn't.

Great.

I Am The God of Hellfire, Part 10: END