The grail of clockwork and death

Chapter IV

Dakoda purses her lips as she looks at the dress in front of her. With a sigh, she picks it up and hands it to Menachem

"Have this cleaned and donated to one of my workers, be it You, Audrey or One of the women who work in the shop, I don't Particularly care which of those options you choose" She instructs with a huff as she turns to leave the room.

"Affirmative, Lady Cipher." Menachem bows picking up the pile of blood-stained cloth and trailing out of the room and down to the laundry.

Dakoda strides into her office and takes a seat at her desk. Placing her injured hand over the locked concealed by her bodice she lets out a sorrowful sigh.

"It is most unusual, My dear," She mutters glancing at the small framed photograph of her and Virgil playing out in the rose garden as children. She turns in her seat and gazes out to the now hideously unkempt and overgrown gardens. Shaking her head slightly she picks up her quill and starts signing off papers for her business. She felt utterly horrible continuing on with her daily routine like this without being disrupted by her beloved fiance.

"This is far to easy without his irritating, wonderful distractions," She groans looking at the piles of paper in front of her. She had become so use to it taking hours to complete these heinous tasks, with the distractions of Virgil, and tea breaks thanks to Menachem. But now, with no tea from Menachem as she is distracted with the task of laundry, and not a single distraction from Virgil. She had completes each and every paper with in a matter of a few minutes. Going over and re-reading them only took an extra ten minutes. With a frustrated humps she stands.

"I shall have to occupy myself out in the gardens now, heavens it is utterly boring without Virgil,” She mutters to herself straightening her bodice, corset and small top hat and brushing her hands gently over her skirts to help them fall properly into the correct place.

She leaves the study, which seemed to become three times duller then it had previously ever felt to Dakoda. She passes he parents old room and pauses looking down at the carpet. Flinching at the thought of what had happened in the past she sighs and continues on to the grand foyer. As She is strolling down the stairs to leave the manor and go for a walk out in the gardens she is stopped by Detective Inspector Keeland. Stood at the base of the stares Dakoda glares down at him.

"What new do you have?" She asks as she gracefully descending the staircase.

"I have checked the barn and manor, only sign of someone being hear is a footprint leaving the barn and going out to the gardens, I have yet to check the gardens," Keeland says, he holds a hand out for her "Shall we go look together?" He Flirts. Dakoda narrows her eyes and crinkles her nose up in disgust

"You are in my home now Inspector and I will not tolerate such inappropriate behavior from someone such as yourself, I shall Take you up on the offer of searching the gardens for this intruder but If you dare try to pull anything I shall be left with no choice but to retaliate," She hisses at him with a glare. He frowns with a humph and rolls his eyes at her,

"Whatever you say, Woman," He mutters while turning to leave. Dakoda follows behind patting her skirt pocket just to double cheek that her steam gun was still present.

As they walk out to the garden Dakoda fiddles with the ring which Virgil had presented to her only a week ago, as they near the wooded parts of the property Dakoda reaches into her pocket and pulls out her steam gun, with an odd look from Keeland she huffs rolling her eyes

"What? Is a Woman not allowed to protect herself? It's not like you will be much help if someone is to jump out and attack me" She asserts as she clicks the safety off.

"It's nothing, Now I guess I have another reason to add to the list," He quips walking ahead slightly pulling his own weapon out in such a way to attempt to intimidate Dakoda.

"What list? Of ways in which I have intimidated you? Or perhaps of how I have bested you?" She smirks with a Sly glint in her eye. She pauses slightly looking around the large trees.

"Something is wrong," Dakoda murmurs narrowing her eyes as her gaze passes over the surroundings.

"What?" Inspector Keeland asks in confusion. Dakoda steadies her gun and slowly stalks forward.

"It is far to quiet, No birds tweeting, No crickets chirping, not even the sound of those pesky steam hares. There is not a single sound," She whispers.

"And what of it?" Keeland huffs walking behind her as though he were on a leisurely stroll.

"We are standing in a forest, Inspector, Not that you would know but in the woods, it is not, silent, it is much like standing in the city but rather than steam and metal it is the beautiful sound of nature," Dakoda utters rolling her eyes at the incompetent man.

"So what you are saying it that because you can't hear the horrid sound of a bird or cricket that something is amiss?" The detective scoffs, "That is hardly any reason to be worried, there is quiet, relish the peace while you have it," He asserts sauntering ahead.

"It is not so simple you fool," Dakoda mutters with a huff. Her mind settling and allowing her to be at peace when she starts to hear the soft trickling of the stream.

"The path splits up ahead, You go left and I shall take the right," Dakoda claims as she approaches the small creek of water.

"Is it wise to split up? What if this mystery intruder is still heard," Inspector Keeland says.

"What If...? Inspector Ronald Keeland are you afraid?" Dakoda laughs in mock.

"No, of course not, merely weary of the safety of a young helpless woman such as yourself," He Declares. With a huff, Dakoda turns to glare at him.

"Have you forgotten that I am currently armed with a lethal weapon?" She snaps tightening her grip on the gun with the temptation to fire at a tree to prove that it was not just for devotion.

"Ah... yes, your steam gun, such petite and slender hands should not have to hold such a hideously bulky weapon. Should be left to a man to handle a weapon such as that," Keeland tuts.

"It is so very like you to think that, I can probably shoot this better that you or any of the men at Scotland yard, besides, if it were bulky as you say then it would not be so easy for me to conceal it in my pockets," Dakoda asserts turning on her heel to walk away, "If you need proof then feel free to bring your three best shots tomorrow, I shall challenge you all In front of my guests," Dakoda smirks. Before Keeland can object she walks away down the same path she had walked with Virgil only a week ago. It Seemed so foreign without him by her side, or the calming sounds of wildlife.

As she comes closer to the clearing which she and Dakoda had sat in her stomach drop, a tight feeling of anxiety presses down on her chest. In Front of her the open clearing is masked by a shroud of smog caused by an airship paying overhead. She coughs on the smog and then glances around. Faintly she starts to see the outline of the large willow tree. A rather large object swings slightly from one of the branches.

"It's a very old tree, which has not been tended to properly for a very long time. Perhaps one of the larger branches has rotted and broken," She nervously mutters to herself her grips the steam gun tighter and takes a few deep breaths while she waits for a little more of he smog to clear away with the breeze. As the haze dissipates she scrunches her eyes shut and her breathing hitches as her anxiety causes her shows of strength to crumble down. Biting her lip she opens her eyes and stares at a small dandelion in front of her, she Focuses on her breathing, breathing in through her nose for four seconds, holding it for eight seconds then breathing out through her mouth for seven. She repeats this exercise until her breaths are no longer shaky.

By the time she successfully calms down the foggy smog had almost fully cleared out, the clearing now had an eerie look to match with how Dakoda felt. The slight hazy fog just barely creeping out from the trees the clearing illuminated in an odd way as most of the sun is blocked by clouds, pollution and trees, allowing only a few beams of light in. lighting patches of the open area like stage lights.

With all the courage and strength she could muster Dakoda looks up to the Willow tree, as she does so the clouds above move in a way which makes one of the beams of sunlight shine down on the tree casting it into a spotlight of sorts.

Dakoda hears footsteps behind her as she freezes staring at the willow. Her attention taken up solely by what hung from the tree, so much so that she was not bothered with whoever it was that was walking up behind her.

"Lady Cipher, Have you found anything?" Detective Inspector Keeland Questions from beside her as he pants slightly.

"My… My fiance…." She whispers her steam gun dropping from her grasp as her hand fall to her sides.

"Wha…. Oh, I see, I"ll… call in my men to sort this out, Why don't you come back inside with me," Keeland gulps as he follows her gaze to the tree.

Swinging lightly in the breeze, hanging by the neck with a thick rope, was Virgil. He wore the same suit as that which he had been when Dakoda last saw him. Her eyes start to burn and her vision blur as hot tears build up and fall in an almost steady stream down her cheeks.

"He… He promised me, How can someone do such a horrible thing as to make a promise like that and then immediately break it?" Dakoda hiccups as she stares at his lifeless, hanging body, she could tell from where she stood -roughly twenty meters away- that Her fiance had not used the wooden bench to commit the horrid dead like she had mentioned she would if she were to. Not that it gave her any comfort. But she could also tell that he had not jumped out of the tree, off or off one of the lower branches.

"Detective, I think this was murder." She declares with a slow soft-spoken voice. Detective Inspector Keeland -who had been trying to drag her away from the scene- pauses and with one hand on her shoulder moves to stand in front of her, blocking her view of the body and thus forcing her to give him her attention.

"Dakoda Sophronia Cipher, Calm yourself down and stop spilling out nonsense, Virgil must of had his reasons but to say it was murder… I don't want a repeat of last time," Keeland mutters harshly.

"It. Was. murder!" Dakoda hisses shoving Keeland away from her, she crouches down to pick up her gun and avoiding looking at the body she walks closer to her fiance.

"Inspector would you be so kind as to cover his face, please," She croaks now standing only a few feet away from it.

"What with?" Keeland replies with a scoff

"I do not know, your scarf, your coat anything. Please just cover his face, I don't want to have to look at my fiance like this,"she whispers her eyes shut and fists clenching her skirt material.

Keeland pulls his scarf off in one fluid movement and drapes It over Virgil's face.

"thank you, now if you observe the body, he is to far away from the bench and there is only bruising to show for the rope digging into the flash as he has been hung, if her were to of jumped from the branch there would be more bruises or his neck vertebrae would have been snapped. The only explanation I can think if us that he was murdered, probably strangled and then hung up afterwards to throw off any suspicion," Dakoda mutters pointing out all that she had observed after the initial shock had worn of slightly.

"I guess that could make sense but Scotland yard runs using hard facts. What we know for sure at this point in time, dear Dakoda, is that your lover is dangling from a tree, at the moment I can only say it was suicide." Inspector Keeland says dismissing her deductions. "I will not allow you to publish this as a… as a suicide! If I know my fiance and I assure you that I know him, this is something he would never do. Not only purpose, he understood how it would affect me,"Dakoda snarls.

"your men may take him away to investigate, but as soon as they are done in want him returned to his family so he may have a proper burial and I want you to know that even if you don't investigate this as a murder I will. And this time I will find the killer!" She instructs clicking the safety onto the steam gun and shoving it into her pocket.

"I would advise against it but you won't listen will you," Keeland sighs.

"I shall instruct my servants to stay indoors and out of your way, if I have to, you may inform Menachem when you are leaving If you feel you must," Dakoda huffs storming away.

As Dakoda hastily leaves the woods -stumbling over branches and piles of leaves every now and then- she allows the facade of calmness fall with the tears which escaped freely and flowed from her eyes. Once she reaches the outskirts of the forest she stumbles up to one to the trees closest to the gardens and she falls against it the rough bark digging into her hands and forehead as she leans into it. She shimmies around so her back is against the tree and awkwardly slips down the trunk so she is sitting down with her back against the tree. The bark pulled strands of her hair free and gripped parts her skirts and bodice tearing them slightly in places were the material was weaker. She raises her hands to her face, covering her mouth as she sobs, the realization of Virgil's death striking her suddenly, it felt as though she had just been told the world was to end in the near future.

"My Lady Are you OK?! What is wrong?" Audrey calls out running over from where she had been gardening in preparation to make the gardens presentable for tomorrow's celebrations.

"Tell Menachem… To cancel the celebrations," Dakoda sobs shutting her eyes as the visions of her lover's body hanging from the tree keep flooding her minds thoughts.

"What, but why My Lady?" The curious young maid questions in confusion.

"Because I have said so!" Dakoda shouts gripping her skirts tightly.

She grips her injured hand looking down

"Because I will not go through this pain, not again," she croaks.

"My Lady?" Audrey whispers softly. Stepping forward to offer Dakoda her hand.

"Could you please let Menachem know… that I must urgently speak with her in my study," Dakoda instructs sniffling back tears as she clumsily stands to ignore the offer of help.

"y...yes My Lady," Audrey murmurs biting her lip. The young maids gaze falls to behind Dakoda and she bites her lip.

"Inspector Keeland, hurry your men, I can't bear the thought of…" Dakoda chokes as fresh tears start to fall.

"Take her inside, she is not stable at the moment. Lady Cipher, if you try to get in the way I will have to ensure you are kept under close watch," Keeland grunts harshly as he Saunters past as though the discovery of Virgil's death were nothing. Dakoda huffs and sloppily stumbles as she pushes herself away from the tree and starts to walk towards the manor

"Detective Inspector Keeland, sir, may I ask… what has gotten My Lady Cipher so upset?" Audrey queries with a quiet voice.

"go ahead, Inspector, inform her of why I am so 'unstable' they are to be told anyway" Dakoda hisses emphasizing her words with a venomous tone.

"Lord Virgil Damarcus is deceased. At this point in time, it looks to be a suicide, Lady Cipher seems to believe otherwise," Inspector Keeland asserts narrowing his eyes at Dakoda as he speaks.

"Lord Damarcus… is...oh my, come My Lady I shall summon Menachem for you immediately." The young maid stutters grabbing Dakoda's hand and leading her inside at at quick but manageable pace, Keeland pays no mind to the two women and continues to to front of the house.

Dakoda and Audrey make their way inside, Audrey walks with Dakoda to her study and then leaves to go find Menachem.

Sitting slouched over her desk with the majority of her body curled up onto her chair Dakoda holds the small locket in her palms staring at it

"Why would he do that. Why would Virgil promise that he would never leave me, insist that he would stay by my side for eternity only to then go off and break that promise only week later," she mutters to herself dropping the locket and letting it fall back into its place around her neck. She takes up on fiddling with the ring which he had gifted her.

She pulls it of her finger and twirls it in her grasp. Unclasping the lockets chain she slides the ring on so that Virgil's memories will forever be right by her heart and forever in her mind.

She slumps further into the chair as the door opens.

"Lady Cipher, sit up, do not let your grieving get in the way of your posture. I know I am merely an automaton machine with no real feelings but I am Programmed to sympathize with your loss. Now that we have acknowledged it, you must try to move past this pain and get on with your life like lord Damarcus would have wanted," the mechanical maid informs.

"What does it matter what that arrogant good for nothing sod wants, he is dead and according to the Oh so great detective inspector Keeland it was his own doing," Dakoda huffs pouting down at her desk "It is not like my recommendations of investigation will do much, his death will be labeled as suicide and the media will find a way to blame it on his relationship with me, his family will be ridiculed much like the Humphreys," she mutters

"That is why we must not allow grieving to define us. Mourn your loss, be angry at them for what they have done, love him for who he was and remember them as they were. Lord Damarcus had his flaws and he had his good personality, you mustn't forget that Lady Cipher," Menachem conveys wisely.

Glancing up over the desk Dakoda sighs

"That's easy to say, difficult to do. How does one remember their loved ones without thinking about the pain which their death has brought forth?" She mutters with an empty tone.

"with time, and practice." Menachem offers.

"Did Audrey inform you of my wishes to cancel the celebrations tomorrow," Dakoda utters ignoring the advice.

"Affirmative, Lady Cipher, are you sure that you wish to go through with that, I do believe that It would be beneficial of your health to communicate with other humans and to convey your grieving and other feelings to them," The mechanical maid questions placing a silver tea tray with a copper teapot and China teacup on it down on the desk.

"Why bother, humans are strange creatures. It will only make me feel worse about all these dreadfully unfortunate events," Dakoda huffs as Menachem pours her a cup of tea, the smell and colour one that Dakoda recognized immediately as chamomile. She stares down at her desk, the papers all thrown about a muck and messed about,

She accepts the cup as Menachem offers it to her.

"I shall instruct Ezekiel to go retrieve the invitations and explain to your would be guests why it has been cancelled immediately if that is what you wish, Lady Cipher," Menachem bows.

"No, you are probably right… the only reason I was holding this celebration was because Virgil hoped it would help with my mental state, so I suppose I must pull myself together and socialize like and normal woman, if I am to isolate myself from society anymore I fear I might be the next one found hanging from a tree or laying in a puddle of my own blood," Dakoda sighs placing the teacup down onto its saucer with a delicate clink

A small cluster of gears and screws reminds her that she was in need to mend her pocket watch.

"but we may need to schedule the celebrations to finish earlier, It seems I will be needing to visit my workshop for a brief work-related inspection tomorrow," She asserts pulling her watch out and double checking that it does indeed need repairs done,

"Affirmative, Lady Cipher" the mechanical maid nods.

" shall retire to bed for now, please ensure that you and the other three have everything absolutely perfect for tomorrow, and make sure Bartholomew sees detective inspector Keeland back to Scotland yard, once he has Finished," Dakoda declares walking to the door.

"will you be needing your medication tonight, Lady Cipher?" The maid enquirers.

"...Yes," Dakoda confirms with hesitation before leaving the room.

She walks to her sleeping quarters and changes out of her grubby crimson and royal purple gown, and into her night attire. Then Much like she had done so many times before she began to pace the room as she allowed her racing thoughts to run wild. With an irritated growl she turns to the small table to the side of her large four post bed. A silver tea tray -with the remnants of what had been her morning tea- had been left out, forgot by the servants who would have been to busy preparing the property for tomorrow's celebrations.

Dakoda storms up to the table and glares at the tea set, it a fit of rage she swipes her arms across the table top throwing the China set off causing it to crash onto the hard wood floor shattering and sending small shards and chunks of China across the floor and leaving a small splatter of what tea had been left along with clumps of the tea leaves. As she stares at the mess she had made with utter glaring hatred she hears the faint thumping of her heartbeat. Everything else becomes a hazy blur as her emotions take control.

She starts to feel heavy as her shoulders go from being tense to dropping down into a more relaxed position as her anger dissipates to sadness again.

Loud thumping knocks come to Dakodas attention, not long after she hears them her door is thrown open with such force that it swings back a tensed hits the wall the intricately carved handle denting the wooden wall panelling.

"What in the name of all things holy is going on Lady Cipher!?" Inspector Keeland shouts as he rushes in.

"A temper tantrum, I suppose. Detective Keeland, I am sure you would also react as I am if you lover promised they would never leave you then went and got themselves murdered," Dakoda huffs kicking a chunk of china slightly.

"For the last time woman, It was not murder!" Keeland groans, glancing down at the mess of shattered china he shakes his head

"Maid, Come clean this mess up!" He calls out.

"Maid!? You insist on telling me my fiance committed suicide, which is highly unlikely and I am sure I could find evidence to prove it was murder, and now you are insulting my servants? They have names, you will call them by such." Dakoda quips with a huff.

"Women," He scoffs "What about this, If you can find evidence to prove it was murder then I shall treat your opinion like that of a mans," Inspector Keeland sneers rolling his eyes.

"I shall hold you up to that Keeland, and you must understand by now that I can be very petty and determined when I choose to be," Dakoda offers with narrow eyes, she turns away from the mess as Menachem enters silently to start cleaning it up.

"Yes well, I am off now my men have retrieved the body and will take it back to his family, We shall be telling them what happened, Suicide, not murder, Good day, Lady Cipher," Keeland says dismissing Dakoda one last time before making retreat to Scotland yard.

"Lady Cipher, Your medication," Menachem says one the infuriating man had left,

"Thank you, Menachem, I apologize for the mess, That was a good set, We are going to have to buy a new one now," Dakoda sighs falling backwards onto the bed as the small pill numbs her racing thoughts and causes her eyes to droop.

"Shall I send for and order of one? Lady Cipher," the automaton maid asks

"It can wait, You have the rest of the evening to relax and take some time for yourself." Dakoda murmurers as her eyes grow heavy,

"Sleep well, Lady Cipher," Menachem softly utters before leaving the room.