Elevate

One's Grave

Her large sweat was trickled down her face as she convened with the crowd. She glanced over the dome feature of Embreal as driving to the gate to the first ground. It’s still one in the afternoon, but she’s already on her way to the base, and what she’s bringing is relevant.

When she found out that it was Trench Dickman who's responsible for her friend, Favia’s death, she was deeply hurt inside that she wanted to scream and cuss the heavens for what mischief had happened. It’s just bloodcurdling and she comprehended that it’s hard to imagine. But what’s more grim about it, is she knew that Trench wouldn’t make such actions if he didn’t receive an order.

And, Carmilla came into a conclusion that it's already her father, Zyrender Everdeen, Trench’s leader who had instructed him. The man doesn’t easily follow the other’s orders if her father isn’t involved. His loyalty is what keeping him close to the man. He’s a dog to her father and obviously, Trench is somehow proud of being like that.

When she wholly arrived in the first ground, she used her invisibility to move faster. Also, she doesn’t want to get the interest of the others and be caught with such questions regarding her father and the recent events including about the Forest. She let Zyrender handled the explanation of such an act. She knew that he would make pretexts, whether they are authentic or just lies, he’s just good at doing that.

After a couple of minutes, walking down the cobbled streets, she arrived in the old, plain house where the untrimmed bushes were now covering the front of it. She slowly jumped over the cracked fences on the side, just to make sure that no one would recognize her movements even though she’s using her strength. When she stood in front of the main door, she stopped using her power and hit it several times. She waited for a couple of seconds, then unhurriedly it was cleared by Loshiana. Her face was a bit uncertain when she caught her with a serious expression.

She moved rapidly and went to the living room where the others were gathered around. They are presently discussing about the map and put those X marks on certain points on it. When she was apt to reach their radar, Guilbert called her to join their conversation. She convened beside Vixen and the woman gave her a rub on her back.

“What brings you early here, Carmilla?” Cody asked her, offering a glass filled with lemonade.

She took it and held it tight, wiping her fingers on it. She took a long yawn. Everyone is lingering for what she’s driving to tell.

She sough at them and her eyes began to be filled with her own tears. “I…I know who killed Favia…I-It’s Trench…Trench Dickman…”

Everybody was alarmed and couldn’t assert anything about the revelation that she had made. Vixen covered her mouth as she tried to restore herself with what she heard just like the others.

“What? B-But how?” Cody stuttered.

“I…I was able to talk to him a while ago in our residence. When I came over to his office, he’s not there and I was able to skim some of his stuff and something had caught my attention. It was a box, more like a royal one…When I unwrapped it fully, I saw it…I saw the pin that I took from Favia’s place. It has the eagle’s eye that Leovander had said to us….I asked him what…what it is all about and he told me that my father was the one who gave it to him as for his commitment. He earned it…” She explained it to them. Her hands were trembling as she continued, “T-Trench told me that he had lost the original one, so my father needed to make a replica…So, it was the same thing.”

Her tears ran rapidly on her cheeks, and she slowly washed them off. She needed to be tough somehow, but this time, she’s too vulnerable. Loshiana oozed her back enough to comfort her surges. They sighted how Guilbert’s face fumed as he dug his fingers on his palm out of frustration.

“Trench…Trench Dickman…” He said his name. “Why the hell did he do it?!”

Loshiana licked her dried lips and decided to speak up. “We know him. And, there’s only one thing that came into my mind right now…he just took an order to do it. That means…”

“That means that my father was the one who gave him a call to do an action.” Carmilla deeply said.

“That implies…that the flower is already in their hands and they’re just making clowns out of us. They’re playing with us…” She finished drying her tears.

“I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to! Many have I tried to tell myself that everything right now is just a mere dream…that it was all a lie for me to take in. I wanted to convince myself…But, he was playing with me…He’s clearly tricking us…for how long? How long is my father doing it to us? Did he start being like this since the first that we met you?” She broke her voice. “I-I…I don’t know.” Her lips quivered. “He’s making us fools. A-And I don’t know anymore if he’s the same person that I knew when he took me in with him, or everything that he showed me was just an act too…to convince me that he’s the good guy…”

Vixen slumped her hands on her face and thought for a while. She closed her eyes and took air. When she had found the exact words to say, even still that it could hurt Carmilla directly, she needed to tell them.

“So…your father isn't the prey…but he’s the wolf covered in a sheep’s fur…From what we heard from you, Carmilla…it would turn out that we couldn’t trust your father anymore. And that would mean…he’s one of them…"

“A traitor.”