ELITE by Maclaw

Chapter 3

The sound of the church procession approaching the Thornton estate was like the rumbling of an impending storm. The clergy moved with purpose, their dark robes sweeping through the grand entryway, led by the head priest. Their eyes burned with righteous fury as they approached the imposing mansion. The air was thick with tension as Lady Thornton emerged to greet them—or rather, confront them.

The priest -father Matthias-

voice cut through the stillness, sharp and accusatory. “What nonsense do I hear about these so-called expansions?”

Lady Thornton turned slowly, her lips curling into a thin smile. She looked down at the priest, her eyes cold and calculating. “Ah, no pleasantries, I see,” she said with mock amusement. “Straight to business. Well, if you’re here, you’ve clearly learned of the expansion plans.”

“The church was exempted from the meeting because of this!” Father Matthias

retorted, his voice rising in indignation. “We were deliberately kept in the dark!”

“And rightfully so,” Lady Thornton replied, waving a hand dismissively. “Your involvement wasn’t necessary. Too much drama comes from your lot.”

Father Matthias stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “Did you even consider the lives that will be lost? People will be cleared from their homes like cattle!”

Lady Thornton’s smile widened, feigned innocence dripping from her words. “Oh, the lands? I thought we were discussing God’s work. How trivial.”

“These are our people,” the priest said, his voice simmering with anger but tempered with control. “We will not stand idly by as you dig their graves and plant crops on sacred land.”

Lady Thornton’s eyes gleamed with an edge of cruelty. “Watch me.”

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Matthia’s face, but he held his ground. “I have no desire for conflict,” he said, his tone softening but remaining firm. “But you cannot afford to make enemies with the church.”

Lady Thornton’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, cutting stare. “And what, pray tell, would the church do about it? I am not my husband, priest. I will not be brought low by empty threats and hollow scriptures.”

Father Matthias stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “These are not the words of a woman who fears God.”

“God?” she laughed, a hollow sound devoid of joy. “The only God I see is in the mirror, and I say that land will be cleared in His name.”

Father Matthias’s face darkened, his patience wearing thin. “You tread dangerous ground, Lady Thornton. You’re biting the tail of the bishop.”

She tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. “Am I supposed to fear someone none of us have ever seen? It’s curious, isn’t it? The locals say the bishop is a woman. How quaint.”

“Enough,” Matthias snapped, his voice cutting through her mockery like a blade. “Your words are beneath you.”

With that, Matthias turned sharply on his heel, his robes billowing around him as he led the procession away, the church’s influence retreating like a receding tide. The air grew still once more.

Lady Thornton stood unmoved, watching the priest’s back with disdain. A quiet chuckle echoed from the shadows.

“You’re awake,” she remarked dryly, turning to see her brother Gabriel lounging in the doorway, a smirk playing on his lips.

“And you’re not dead,” he replied, stepping into the room with an air of casual arrogance. “Quite the confrontation. I dreamt of you too, sister.”

She turned fully to face him, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve been gone for two years without a word. Not dead, just missing.”

Gabriel shrugged, his smirk widening. “What can I say? I like to make an entrance.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened that night?” she demanded, her voice sharp with accusation and thinly veiled relief.

Gabriel’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he approached. “Are you going to tell me why you haven’t read the letter sent by the writer? Or why you haven’t even mentioned it to the council?”

Lady Thornton stiffened, her posture rigid. “Have you been snooping through my things?” she demanded, her voice cold but with a tremor of uncertainty.

Gabriel’s smile didn’t falter as he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What haven’t I seen, dear sister?”

She pulled back, her mask of confidence faltering for a brief moment. “I tore the letter,” she confessed, her tone defiant but laced with fear. “I won’t be threatened by some common writer. Probably the church, trying to play games.”

Gabriel’s expression softened, though his tone remained edged with dark amusement. “Oh, Eleanor,” he murmured, using her first name for the first time. “These are not games. I know you. You always play cruel, but I see the little girl underneath. The one who laughs when—”

“Enough!” Lady Thornton recoiled, her face flushing with anger and disgust. “You are welcome to stay in the mansion, but do not overstep your bounds, Gabriel. Threaten me again, and I will ensure you disappear for good this time.”

Gabriel laughed softly, his voice a low, mocking whisper. “We always fight, don’t we, Eleanor? But we always fix it. I can help you fix it, sister. There are many things that need… opening.”

“I don’t need your help,” she snapped, regaining her composure. “This town is mine to rule.”

“We both know I’m not talking about the town,” he replied with a smirk, turning away and leaving her seething in the silence of the grand hall.

As the door closed behind him, Lady Thornton let out a shaky breath, her hand gripping the back of a chair for support. “Damn you, Gabriel,” she whispered under her breath, her eyes burning with frustration as the shadows in the room seemed to close in around her.

---

** Elders' Forum**

The elders gathered in the government house, a dimly lit chamber filled with tension. The long, dark wood table stretched before them, and the flickering light of candles danced over their stern faces. At the head of the table sat Elder Graham, his eyes scanning the room.

“This letter,” he began, his voice low and gravelly, “it’s a threat we cannot ignore. It implicates the church in ways we need to investigate further.”

In the corner of the room, General Hector leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was hard, skeptical. “Blaming the church without solid evidence is madness,” he said sharply. “We risk a greater conflict based on paranoia.”

Elder Martin raised a hand to temper the rising tension. “Hector, your biases are well known. Just because your family has a history with the church doesn’t mean they’re above suspicion.”

“It’s General Hector,” Hector corrected, his voice cold. “And this is my case. My men and I have dug deep into this matter. I’ll not have my work dismissed out of hand.”

Fraya, seated at the far end of the table, spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. “We need to focus on uncovering the truth. Accusations without proof will only divide us.”

A snide remark cut through the air. “Does a woman speak among men?” A burst of laughter followed.

“Silence!” Hector’s voice cracked like a whip through the room. He turned to face the offender, eyes blazing with fury. “That woman is my partner, and she’s earned her place here. Disrespect her again, and you’ll find yourself planning your afterlife.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the elders exchanging uneasy glances. Hector’s words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the precarious balance they walked.

The tension was shattered by a sudden, deafening gunshot.

A figure slumped forward at the table, a pool of blood spreading across the polished wood. Chairs scraped as elders recoiled in shock, chaos erupting around the room.

Hector’s father, standing slowly, lowered his smoking gun, his face devoid of emotion. “Anyone else care to wobble gobble about a woman’s opinion or talk like a real man?” he asked quietly, his voice a chilling whisper in the now silent room.

Fraya watched, horror etched on her face as the once-civil discussion devolved into chaos. The true depth of the church’s influence seemed to settle over the elders like a shroud dread.———

The meeting disbanded in a rush of whispered conversations and nervous glances. Hector stood by the window, watching the elders leave when General Thaddeus approached, his massive frame casting a long shadow across the floor.

“You’re certain you can see this through?” Thaddeus’s voice was low, his brow furrowed in concern. “The church’s power runs deep. No spy has ever infiltrated their ranks and come back alive.”

Hector didn’t turn, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. “You worry too much, General. I’ve already laid the groundwork. My men are in place.”

Thaddeus’s gaze shifted to Fraya as she glided past them, her presence like a lingering ghost in the room.

“You’re staring,” Hector observed, a knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips.

“She’s a vision,” Thaddeus murmured, almost to himself.

Hector’s smile faded, replaced by a hard edge. “She’s more than that.”

Thaddeus turned his gaze back to Hector, a warning in his eyes. “She’s also entangled in a web that can strangle us all. Don’t let your guard down just because she’s family.”

Hector’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. “Fraya is not a pawn to be used. She’s already lost enough to the church’s games. I won’t let her become a casualty of their manipulations.”

Thaddeus sighed deeply, the weight of years of experience etched in the lines of his face. “None of us are immune to this town’s darkness, Hector. Even those we love most can be drawn into the abyss if we’re not careful.”

Hector didn’t respond, the silence between them thickening. He knew Thaddeus was right. The church had its claws in every corner of this town, and Fraya was no exception. But Hector couldn’t afford to be distracted—not when he was so close to unraveling the truth about his mother’s death and the church’s involvement.

Thaddeus placed a heavy hand on Hector’s shoulder, his grip firm. “Stay sharp, General. I fear the church’s reach is longer than even we realize.Matthias is not just a man,abd him being the priest.If you’re going to bring them down, you’ll need more than brute strength. You’ll need allies.”

Hector nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. “I have allies,” he replied. “But I need more time. This isn’t just about revenge anymore—it’s about justice.”

Thaddeus removed his hand and gave a brief nod of approval. “Justice comes with a price, Hector. Make sure you’re willing to pay it.”

With that, Thaddeus turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the now empty hall. Hector remained by the window, his mind swirling with the weight of his mission. The church, the elders, the land—they were all pieces of a puzzle he was trying to solve. But one thing remained clear: the writer’s letter was the key to unlocking the full scope of corruption that had infected the town for generations.

And he wouldn’t stop until the truth was laid bare, no matter the cost.

—..