Not Castlevania (5)

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I finally sat down to write part five. We're adding more tears, drama, heartfelt moments and a shocking revelation about our beloved Madam Lupe. PS: Lina's full name is randomly sourced by my brain.

Index (Latin from a website):
Excetra: water snake, used to describe a wicked or malicious woman

Word count: 2020
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"Brother!"

Hendrik spun on his heel, catching Lina, who jumped into his arms. As he secured her on his hip, her mother's voice rang loudly in the corridor.

"Lina Maria Perez!"

The girl held her brother tightly, trembling: a sign she didn't want her mother to find her. Hendrik made way for his mother's room, but to his surprise, she wasn't there.

"Lupe is on a walk." His father's sudden appearance surprised him.

"Has it been long?"

"Barely a minute," Kristoph replied. "Lina, why aren't you with your mother?"

She didn't answer. Kristoph turned to Hendrik, who was just as lost. "She came to me, shaking. Whatever Madam Helena did or said beforehand scared her."

Kristoph knew, but he acted ignorant. "I'll talk to her. In the meantime, take her outside."

In the blink of an eye, the pair vanished. Kristoph patiently waited for his mistress to find him. The loud click of her heels made her presence annoyingly obvious.

"Where is she?"

"I remember exclusively telling you not to show her the runes."

Helena scowled. "It's nothing she hasn't seen."

He sighed deeply, smoothing out his brows. "Helena, my wife and son are already suspicious of you. Don't give me a reason to get rid of you."

"You wouldn't dare. You need me."

Her words shocked him so much that he laughed. A weight pressed on her shoulders as he met her eyes.

"You think highly of yourself for livestock," he glowered.

"What?"

"Don't act surprised, my little raven," Kristoph affirmed. "I need your blood, not you. You knew this from the beginning."

"But you said you'd protect me." Her wavering tone amused him. "Kristoph, you promised no harm would come to my family."

"I never promised protection. I promised to accept your child, to spare her life. And I did. Lina is well and thriving."

Helena's eyes widened. Her face paled. "Is my life insignificant in your eyes?"

Kristoph breathed a faint laugh as he walked past her. "I'm a monster, Helena. And monsters are incapable of love."

***

Holding Lina's sleeping figure against his chest, Hendrik beckoned his mother to follow him.

"Where are we going?" she asked him.

"Mirabelle wants to meet you."

Lupe sighed. "How much have you told her about me?"

"I may have ranted a little," he chuckled. "Nothing bad.  I promise."

She held his arm with much suspicion and watched the scenery fade to black before appearing outside a small house. Hendrik knocked at the door, and footsteps came rushing outside.

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