Chapter 38: Manor
Rudemyer manor, a massive structure that dwarfed the size of the one before by almost triple its size. A shining ocean blue building that seemed to laugh in the face of the expansive desert. Not a single blemish appeared on its walls. A beautiful and well maintained building, yet as they walked towards the manor, only a foreboding coldness could be felt.
Hidden towards the outskirts of Aurora, the manor was gated off and guarded by several heavily armed people. Watching as security did their rounds, Damien reasoned that this place was locked up nearly as tight as Sheildon’s vault. Damien felt himself shudder a bit, what shiny valuables might he find in here?
They approached the door of the manor. A massive structure that required the combined strength of both twins, using augmentative wattiez, to open, “Your parents are waiting for you in the study, so please don’t keep them waiting,” said the bald bodyguard as the two reclosed the door, locking them in.
“Melody,” Dante spoke slowly as he eyed her mask, “Mind explaining why we’re stuck here, in your parent’s house, instead of being on our way to Soaring Sun?”
“They’ve been… more difficult than usual,” Melody said with her calm voice, “I’ll be turning 25 soon, so they think it’s about time I think more about my future.”
“You can’t be serious,” grumbled Dante as the door behind him opened.
A well-dressed elder man held the door, and behind him was a middle-aged man and woman. The study, rather than housing a storehouse of books, were replaced with a plethora of instruments. Many different forms of string, wind, and percussion instruments, most of which Damien was familiar with but many that he wasn’t, filled the room to the brim. The middle-aged man sat behind a grand piano, playing in harmony with the woman using a clarinet.
The butler ushered them into the room but kept them out of the two musician’s sight “Lord and Lady Rudemyer will see to you in just a moment mistress. You know how they can be if they are interrupted.”
Melody stepped forward and held her hand out to the butler, which he took and kissed the top off, “Thank you Walter, we’ll just wait right here.”
Walter deeply bowed and motioned himself into the corner of the room, all but disappearing from sight. It was impossible to tell if it was due to wattiez, or if he was just very good at erasing his presence.
Melody’s mother and father played in perfect harmony, but there was no warmth to be felt within their music. A cold chill permeated throughout the room, holding them in place. The same chill ran into their bodies, freezing their lungs. It was only when the music stopped that they could take a breath.
Melody was the only person who was seemingly unaffected, “Mother, Father. You wanted to see me?”
Mr. Rudemyer stood from his seat, a well-groomed and grizzled man, he wore a navy blue slim trimmed suit that fit perfectly on what was probably a well-toned body. Had he worn glasses, Mr. Rudemyer would have reminded Damien a lot of his father.
Out of his seat, he finally acknowledged the presence of the others in the room, “Melody, I had hoped you would have come to see your mother and I’s perspective since returning to us, but now I see that you haven’t.”
Mrs. Rudemyer moved her husband’s side. A beautiful woman, in a sort of picturesque way, no doll-esque would be more appropriate. Shoulder length perfectly maintained brown hair, skin like honey, with deep brown eyes to match. All held together with the flawless smile that appeared perpetually on her face.
When she spoke, it was in the exact same cadence as her daughter, “Your father and I have discussed this in length. It is unbecoming of the sole heir of the Rudemyer estate to associate herself with something as unbecoming as Shining Twilight.”
Damien wanted to agree. Any chance to belittle Shining Twilight was something he was more than willing to take, but a sharp jab to his ribs from Krista’s elbow kept him silent.
Melody stepped forward to defend her friends, “The Rudemyer estate had been in decline for the last decade . Shining Twilight not only has connections with the royal families of both Soaring Sun and Falling Starlight, but they have also organized summit between a majority of Stellar’s political leaders.”
Melody spoke in that same measured tone that she always did, thickly layered with that hidden venom from before. Her father briskly walked to his daughter. She was a tall girl staring eye to eye, or rather eye to mask with her father.
“Take that ridiculous thing off when speaking to me and your mother!” Her father had raised his voice for a moment but quickly caught himself, “Borealis is already over, it’s about time, is it not?”
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Melody did as she was told, revealing her face. The spitting image of her mother, the only way someone could tell the difference would be due to her shorter black hair and eyes that never seemed to open.
“I am not staying Father,” answered Melody.
“Malissa, you are a young, blind woman in the prime of your life,” Ms. Rudemyer added, “We only want what’s best for you and-”
“My name is Melody,” She interjected, “Music has been the only good you’ve introduced into my life, and you both nearly ruined that for me but no more. If you’re afraid of me associating the Rudemyer name to Shining Twilight, then I no longer need it. This can be the last time we need to meet ever if that’s what you’d prefer.”
“No, Malissa we… This is all your fault!” Mr. Rudemyer shouted as he pointed accusingly towards Dante, “Whatever false ideas you implanted into her head is making her act out like this. Give back our disciplined daughter you savage!” Without no hesitation, Dante grabbed onto the arm that was pointed at him. Holding Mr. Rudemyer in a tight grip, “Unhand me! Walter!”
Walter had only moved a step before Raven was behind him with a long nail wrapped around his throat, followed closely by Shix holding her wooden sword to his stomach.
“I-I’m sorry sir, but I don’t think I’ll be off any help,” said Walter sheepishly.
Dante took the opportunity to say his piece, “Disciplined? I think you mean subservient. Let me say, sir , I really don’t appreciate the way you’re speaking to my friend, Melody .”
“Do you know who I am boy?!” Mr. Rudemyer cried, “Who my daughter is?!”
“Please do enlighten me,” Dante mocked.
“We are the wealthiest family in Soaring Sun, the Rudymers,” Ms. Rudemyer answered in a calm tone unbefitting for the situation, “and that is our daughter Malissa Rudemyer. Guards!”
The twin guards burst in from before, both clad in a red aura, both rushed towards Dante. Krista was going to step in to help, but Cleo held her back, “We have this under control.”
A line of six Jikans appeared in front of the two guards blocking their path. The two guards boosted by their augmentative wattiez were only stunted for a moment before the bald one broke through.
Unfortunately, that left the not hairless one to get dog piled by all the combined Jikans. He would have probably gotten out of the pile if Bits hadn’t dropped Phive onto a nearby corner to help pin him down. Bits Broke himself apart and began holding down all of the haired twin’s appendages, restricting all further movement.
The bald guard had all but reached Dante swinging at the back of his head. Without even turning to look at the incredibly fast strike, Dante nimbly dodged, but didn’t strike back, “Sorry, but you’re probably going to regret doing that.”
The guard reacted in confusion, but the man who paid him was still in danger. Readying another fist, he pulled back hard wanting to end Dante in a single strike to center mass. The bodyguard threw his hand forward… or rather he tried to. His arm, he couldn’t move it forward.
He looked behind himself and down, the little masked girl was holding onto his arm stopping him from moving. Before he could register just what was going on, the guard found himself weightless, soaring through the air. The little girl had tossed the man almost three times her size with little to no effort. Sending him careening back down to the floor. He did not get back up for quite some time.
“Y-You savage!” Mr. Rudemyer choked, “This changes nothing! Stay away from my daughter.”
Dante finally let go off Mr. Rudemyer’s arm, letting him retreat to his wife, “I think we’re done here. Don’t worry, I won’t mess with Malissa,” He said as he walked in front of her and held his hand to her, “It’s a good thing that we have Melody .” With no more to say, Dante lead Melody out followed by everyone else, “I really hate dealing with those two,” sighed Dante.
“I told you that there was no way I could convince my parents to come along,” complained Melody.
“You sure that was the best way to go about that?” Damien inquired as he held back a laugh. “I thought you needed them for your little meeting.”
“Just give her a moment,” replied Dante.
Almost as soon as he said that, Walter opened the door letting Cleo out, “They’ll be there.”
“And that’s why we need you,” said Dante as he walked past Damien. As he watched him go by, Damien could have sworn he saw Dante smirking at him.