Perhaps it was the mundanity of the day that had put Earl Kaspin on edge.
An odd thought, something that the Earl himself acknowledged. What about mundanity, normalcy, could be off putting? But the Earl had an admittedly odd fascination with meteorology, considering his normal daily duties. And he knew better than most that there was often an eerie calm before a superstorm.
He'd had a good day. Not excellent, not terrible, just… good. The kind of day that normally provoked no thought, the kind that would most likely see him watching a holo-opera before bed to end it. But the Earl didn't have only good days. That was not an indulgence he was afforded in his position.
"Lord? Did you hear me?" The aged, familiar voice of his friend and loyal attendant drifted in from the front seat of the hovercar, momentarily pulling Kaspin from his worry.
"Ah… forgive me Jean. I was lost in thought. What were you saying?" Earl Kaspin asked, readjusting in his seat, allowing the plush cushion to pull him into its embrace. He glanced at the rear-view mirror, catching the concerned look Jean was giving him.
"Nothing of import, Lord. Only if you wished to make any stops before home. Sir Elias, I know, has missed your company." He said, though the concern had left neither voice nor expression.
This drew a wry chuckle from the Earl, as he laid his elbow against the door of the car and rested his cheek against his palm. "How strange. Why is it that I find myself thinking it wasn't Elias who complained about the lack of my presence, but rather my granddaughter?"
Jean subtly cleared his throat, his eyes finally peeling away from the mirror and staring straight ahead, his non-answer an answer enough for the old Earl.
"You be sure to tell my son that he doesn't have to make requests of you, and by extension of me, on behalf of Liala. She's old enough to call me herself." The Earl instructed, but in a light enough tone that Jean knew it wasn't a serious order. Grumble as he might, Jean knew the Earl found his granddaughter's shy way of letting him know she missed him cute.
"I'll be sure to do so, Lord." Jean replied, a small smile of his own finding its way onto his lips. "Straight home then?"
The Earl nodded, and the car hummed to life with a quiet purr as it lifted into the air. Kaspin made no further conversation, and Jean had known him long enough to not attempt one. And so the trip to the Earl's tower was made in silence, Kaspin content to watch the city pass by beneath them through tinted windows, other cars mere ants in the distance from this height.
The silence allowed the Earl to once again ponder just what it was about the normalcy of the day that made him so nervous. He ran through the events in his mind. He'd woken a bit later than intended, but a quick enough breakfast ensured that it hadn't mattered. He'd ignored a call from his ex-wife, much to the chagrin of Jean when she'd called him instead. A meeting with the Counts under his rule, to ensure the Duke's new policies were implemented.
Running through the day in his mind insisted that nothing about it had been strange. Except for…
The raven.
The Earl paused, his nervousness turning to dread as the car landed softly on his penthouse roof, and he saw the creature perched at the railing of the landing pad. Its black feathers were glossy, with a healthy sheen to it made more evident by the bright, warm lights on the penthouse. Intelligent eyes stared straight through the tinted windows of the car… directly at him.
"We've arrived, Lord." Jean announced, his tone carrying none of the sheer terror the Earl had just been beset by.
That's what it was. That's why Kaspin had been so on edge. He had seen a raven outside of the conference room he'd had his meeting with the Counts in. At the time he'd thought nothing of it. But where a raven was, a Crow would follow shortly after.
"Jean." Kaspin said, ensuring that there wasn't so much as a tremor in his voice. There was no need to trouble his friend.
"Yes, Lord?"
Kaspin swallowed thickly, but again, made sure to keep the mounting terror from his tone. "Tell me, are ravens, crows, or any such similar birds native to Asteria?"
Jean glanced in the rearview mirror again, but the Earl was faced away from him, looking out of the window. "Um… no, I don't believe so Lord."
Jean continued to look at the Earl. But from the angle he was turned, Jean was unable to see Kaspin, for the briefest moment, bite his lip. Likewise, he was also unable to see the steadying breath the old Earl took.
What he did see, finally, was Earl Kaspin turning to look into the mirror with a slight smile on his face.
"Forgive my sudden question. I had just been hit with the idea to perhaps surprise Liala with one. She's taken a recent liking to birds."
Jean was a bit confused, but nodded anyway. "I see. If you'd like, Lord, I could search for exotic aviaries close to the city? I'm sure they would be honored to gift the young miss with one of their specimens."
The Earl only shook his head, ensuring he kept the smile on his face. "No, that won't… that won't be necessary." He cursed the swallow he had to take, to wet his dry mouth. Cursed the tremble that had crept into his voice as a result, when a look of concern visited Jean's expression.
"Is everything alright, Lord Kaspin?"
The Earl, despite so desperately wishing to tell Jean of his fear, to yell at him to floor the pedal and take him anywhere but here in this moment, forced himself to nod and open the door. He would face his fate with the grace and humility befitting of his position, without endangering the life of his old and faithful friend.
"Everything's quite alright." He replied cheerfully, stepping out of the car, but pausing for a moment before leaning his had back in. "Jean?"
"Yes, Lord?"
The Earl paused for a few moments. This was a moment of weakness, and he knew it. But he had to tell the man who had been by his side for so many years one last thing. It felt wrong not to. And so, steadying his breath, he spoke. "You've been a dear friend of mine. I hope you know that."
Now it was Jean's turn to pause. It sounded too much like an informal goodbye for him not to be concerned, and he began to open the door. "Lord Kaspin, are you s-"
"Stay in the car, Jean." The Earl said sternly. And this time it was a command.
"But-" He began, pulling on the handle, but to his confusion the door wouldn't open. Only after budging it slightly did he realize that the Earl himself was holding it closed. And only when he noticed that, did he see the raven.
The Earl knew he saw it. He could tell by the immediate sorrow and fear on Jean's expression, and the way he was now frantically trying to push the door open.
"Kaspin! Kaspin, get in the car!" He hissed, but once again, the Earl only shook his head. The smile was there again, but it was smaller. Resigned.
"I cannot, old friend."
"KASPIN! GET IN THE DAMN CAR!" He shouted. But to Jean's horror, he noticed the glow in Kaspin's eyes that signaled the use of kinesis. And the door, without mercy, despite how hard Jean pushed, closed shut.
"We always knew this day would come. But there's time enough, hopefully, for you to still go." The Earl said quietly, and Jean swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'm only sorry I made you aware of it."
For a time, they both said nothing. Until Jean finally spoke. "Is there anything… anything you want me to tell your family?" He managed, swallowing thickly again.
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Earl Kaspin looked up at the stars above, the drain of using kinesis in his old age leaving him with a slight headache. When he did finally reply, it was while he was still looking up towards the stars.
"Only that I love them." He murmured, and Jean nodded. Without another word, the passenger door closed, and a slight breeze brushed past the Earl's hair as the car pulled into the air, slipping past the thermal dome of the penthouse and flying towards the twinkling city lights below.
The Earl took one last deep breath, the sorrow of his fate finally catching him as he once more looked at the raven perched on the railing.
"Apologies. I'll be down in just a few moments." He told it, his voice cracking slightly. "Just… just let me gather myself."
As the last word left him, the Earl began to cry. Quietly, silently, the tears slipped down his cheeks as he looked at the city below, his shoulders shaking with every muffled sob.
And the raven watched, just as silently, before fluttering down to the patio. And it waited.
For the dead man to follow.
-
The Crow waited quietly for Earl Kaspin Voldt in the dark interior of his penthouse suite. He idly admired the Earl's elegant taste in refinery and interior design, while sitting in a treacherously comfortable chair that faced the entirety of the lounge area of the suite.
He had heard the conversation on the roof above between the Earl and his retainer, Jean Soulier. But just like his raven, he allowed them their moment in peace. There was no meaning in taking Jean's life. So he only waited, until he finally heard the door from the patio open, closing softly in its frame as the Earl turned on the lights to the bar and dining area. He saw the man, though the man did not see him. His passive psychic manipulation ensured that.
Earl Kaspin's eyes were red, and a little puffy, though he walked with grace towards the bar and pulled out a glass. He hesitated a few moments, then pulled out another, and the Crow appreciated the gesture. Kaspin pulled out a bottle of brandy - Gorniosche collection, year 2191; the Crow had been studying his suite beforehand - and poured a generous amount of amber liquid into both glasses. Typically such a sought after brandy would be consumed in moderation… but what use did a dead man have for moderation?
The Crow watched as the Earl raised his glass with a shaky hand, before downing the drink in one gulp. He winced slightly at the burn, but poured himself another generous glass.
"I know you're in here." Earl Kaspin called into his darkened suite, his voice rough from the brandy and his earlier crying. "You may as well come and have a drink."
The Crow considered for a few moments, but it was a courteous offer. One he often didn't receive in his duties. And so, he dropped his psychic manipulation, allowing the Earl to see him as he stood from his seat and strode into the light of the bar.
If the Earl was surprised or intimidated by his sudden appearance, he didn't show it. He only nodded, and the Crow nodded back, a mutual respect of their positions. The Crow gestured towards the leather stool opposite of the Earl, who permissed with another nod, and the Crow sat. He reached towards the glass, and brought it to his nose, savoring the way the sweet liquor burned his sinuses before taking a sip.
The Earl studied him, sipping on his own brandy. He had seen them before, though often at a remove. This particular Crow was the same as the others, though without the raven-head hood they often wore. He was handsome, with blonde hair and green eyes, though a little younger looking than the Earl had always imagined them to be, only in his early thirties. But that could easily be a trick.For nearly four centuries now, a young face no longer necessarily meant a young age. He had on the raven-feather coat all of his contemporaries wore, complete with black nano-fiber armor, thin black gloves, and black leather shoes. He saw no weapons, but knew the Crow was no less capable of dealing death for it.
For a time, neither of them said anything. When the Crow finished his first glass, the Earl poured him another. When the Earl finished his, the Crow likewise did the same for him. There was no need to hasten things. The Earl had no notion of running, as he knew how pointless of an endeavor that would be, and the Crow seemed to be in no hurry. When he noticed the dealer of death looking at one particular painting, he looked with him.
"It's a fine piece." The Crow commented, and the Earl had to agree, as the one who purchased it. It depicted a young boy holding a small world in his hands, looking out at the viewer while sitting atop the shattered remains of countless worlds past. "I found myself drawn to it while I was waiting for you."
"Viomani Ardaci, The Cost of a World." Earl Kaspin said, taking another sip of his brandy. It went down much smoother now, and in spite of everything, he allowed himself to be in the moment with a pleasant buzz. "It was painted in 2201. It cost nearly as much as the suite we're sitting in."
The Crow nodded, taking another sip before setting down the glass on the counter. They said nothing for a few moments more, before he turned towards the Earl, who sighed. It was time.
"Do you know why I'm here?" He asked, and the Earl downed the last of his brandy before setting his own glass down, nodding.
"The chip, the mother, or the son?" He asked quietly.
"All three." The Crow replied. "Though the chip was the latest piece of information that hastened my arrival."
Kaspin nodded again, hanging his head slightly. They were always coming. He'd known it was just a matter of time. Finally, he walked around the counter, the Crow's eyes tracking him as he sat down at a stool with the crow, leaving one between them.
"You know," the Earl said wryly, "for the longest time, I've had the sneaking suspicion that the only reason the Emperor gave your kind the title of Crows, was so that your group could be called a Murder."
This drew a soft snort of amusement from the Crow. "His Majesty has a very macabre sense of humor." He admitted, leaning against the counter.
Kaspin rubbed his mouth with his hand, before sighing once again, lacing his fingers together between his knees and leaning forward. "If you'll allow me to ask, which number are you?"
"Number Seventeen."
The Earl breathed a sigh of relief. He'd known that the Crow's temperament was amicable, at the very least. But in the circles he was privy to, ones that didn't think of Crows as mere urban ghost stories, Seventeen was known to be merciful and painless in his duties. This thought drew a dry chuckle from him. How odd, to be thankful that at least your murderer was kind.
"I suppose you'll want to know where they are?" He asked, reaching across the counter and grabbing the bottle and his glass. He poured himself more, and despite there still being some left in the Crows glass, tipped the bottle to empty its contents into it. That was the last of what remained.
The Crow nodded, and they both took another sip, cradling their glasses in their hands. "I'd really prefer that you tell me." He said quietly. "Other forms I have of extracting that information are… less than pleasant."
The Earl could imagine just how unpleasant those forms of extraction were. He pursed his lips. "If I tell you willingly… will you spare my family?"
The Crow shook his head. "Your family is already spared. The informant paid for as much with his own life. You raised a fine, noble son."
This was a blow to the Earl, who tightened his grip on the glass. "My… my son?" He whispered. "Elias is the one who told you?"
The Crow nodded, meeting his gaze with sympathy. "He found it in records of old transactions made in the family name. Why exactly he was looking through such things I'm sure you'd know better than I. But I'm sure he knew the repercussions of such a thing. When he looked further into it… he contacted us."
Earl Kaspin was shaken to his very core, before laughing bitterly. "So much for filial love." He muttered, but the Crow shook his head.
"He does love you. And your family. That's why he asked for me personally."
The Earl nodded slightly. He knew, deep inside of him, that Elias had only done what he thought best. And perhaps his was the correct way of going about it. It had clearly protected the family more than his own secrets had.
"Is he…" The Earl asked hesitantly, and the Crow shook his head.
"No, not yet. I've allowed him this night to be with his family. But in the morning… I'll visit him. He knows." The Crow said gently, and the Earl nodded. He stared down into the amber liquor in his glass, before taking a deep breath.
"The mother and son are out of this star system." He eventually said. "They're in the Uruline System, though which specific planet I'm unsure of. The man I made the deal with to ferry them out, Trent Bailin, doesn't know the whys and whos so he's not completely implicit, but he'll know which planet they were sent to." He paused for a few moments. "I don't know where the chip is. I sent it with the mother."
The Crow nodded, finishing his drink. "Thank you, Earl Kaspin." He said.
"How will you do it?" Kaspin asked, his tone soft as he looked up into the Crows' eyes.
In answer, the crow pulled out a small pill. It was deep sapphire in color, with small white specks that looked like stars.
"Swallow this. In just a few minutes, you'll feel drowsy. Go to bed. You'll fall asleep shortly afterwards, and…" He trailed off, before gently placing the pill in the Earl's palm, closing his fingers around it.
The Earl stared at his clenched hand. He felt surprisingly calm, holding his own death in his palm. The Crow was already walking towards the door to the patio. They both knew he would take it.
"Wait." The Earl called, and the Crow paused, turning around. "The mother… she's complicit, of course. But the boy was young when the purge happened. He couldn't have known what his family was doing."
The Crow nodded one last time. "I will take it into consideration." He said quietly. "Goodbye, Earl Kaspin. You ruled well. May you rest in peace, and wake nevermore." And with his parting words, he opened the door to the patio, his ever-patient raven alighting onto his shoulder. The Earl blinked, and the Crow was gone, only a single drifting raven feather any indication he had been there at all. That, and the pill in the Earl's hand.
He opened up his fingers, staring down at his death. And without a second thought, popped it into his mouth, washing it down with the last of his brandy.