Book 2: Chapter 28 - Not Spiraling. Starting a Strategic Emotional Descent

There is nothing more dangerous in this world
than a powerful man with a wounded ego.

Wars. Murder. Death at impossible scales.

History is bathed in the blood of fragile power
that couldn’t stand a single insult.
—Unknown

Violet ran her hand through her hair again. It was a humid day, and both Mr. Clay and Ms. Pearson—her assigned glaive tutor—had more than exhausted her with physical training.  All of that together, and she absolutely could not get her sidetail to behave. A mild irritation, but not an insignificant one. Not to her, and not at that moment. The train she was waiting for had arrived, and she was about to make her first impression on a Category Green whom she needed to either rein in completely, discredit, or kill. Considering the disparity in literal power, she strongly suspected it would be the bloody solution. Her extended family wasn’t going to help more than they already had, and she wasn’t going to ask. The next time she went to visit Cyan Asher of her own volition would be when she was ready to kill him. But it didn’t matter which method she needed to go with. Either way, a poor first impression gave her a disadvantage.

Unless…

Kiera’s father was an interesting person, to say the least. A pathetic one, in all honesty. Violet had spent much of Sunday reading through the profile Cyan had provided. Assuming she could trust it—which was a significant assumption, but one with some evidence behind it—it was possible she could steer Samuel Mulberry fairly easily. With the right approach, anyway. It wasn’t necessarily her first choice, but she was exhausted. She was a bit of a mess. And she wasn’t certain a second layer of deodorant had quite covered the smell of overwork. She’d have preferred to shower before coming here, of course. But she needed to make contact with Samuel immediately, or she might fail to do so at all.

As the various sets of doors slid open on the—noticably much nicer—train, Violet settled on a plan. She’d simply need to lean into her less-than-presentable state. She let her hand fall from her hair as the passengers began to disembark. There were more of them than she expected, but still not many. Perhaps a dozen people disembarked the large train, to include four lancers. She vaguely recognized one of them, although it took her a moment to place him. For his part, he clearly recognized her. Although the look he offered when he did was hard to decipher. Something like pity, respect, and even a touch of wariness. It was an odd combination, and his face seemed to shift between them like an optical illusion. Violet finally recognized him because of the pity, of all things. Lancer Cris or something, who’d been left to deal with the moose hedron near Roseville.

She didn’t much like the way his eyes tracked her so intently, but didn’t dwell on it for long. She was more interested in the unfamiliar civilian who stepped out a few moments after the lancers, and from a different door. He didn’t look exactly like Kiera, but his olive complexion closely matched the fox. His black and messy hair, too, reminded Violet of her friend. If he’d been wearing a crystal tail and ears, he’d look like the same person with a different age and gender. A bit like AJ—or Ajia, depending on the day. He was the only passenger with even slight Italian features, and that made him the most likely target.

Violet took a deep breath, bit her lip, and approached the man. “Excuse me?” she asked as she approached. She kept her voice meek and mild, like pastel colors and soft curves. The man looked in her direction, but didn’t speak. So she continued. “Are you Mr. Mulberry? Samuel Mulberry?”

His eyes sharpened quickly enough to answer the question all on their own. He was a man with more years on his skin than in his mind, but they didn’t quite look earned. He wore weariness with the world like glasses that lacked a prescription. Violet was certain as the calculating eyes on her softened. The release of tension was too deliberate. Too perfectly timed. And too free of consequence. Cyan had given her reliable information. She’d hoped the man would have to. She’d been coerced with a contract talent, and contracts went two ways. But this confirmed it. The man in front of her? He was the exact man described in the file she’d been given.

“Do you know my daughter, sweetheart?" the man asked. Violet bristled at the term of address, but she didn’t allow it to show on her face.

“I do,” Violet agreed. “She’s been promising to introduce me to you for weeks. The stories of your kindness are perhaps what got me here, after everything that happened in the mist. But… well, I was there when she was arrested. I think there’s been a terrible mistake.”

Samuel watched her with interest as she trailed behind him, then put his hand to his chin out of curiosity. “I’m afraid there has very much been a mistake. But likely not the one you are thinking of. My daughter is… confused,” he finally answered. “I’m surprised she made any promises about me at all, in fact. May I ask why you were interested in meeting me? Why would she promise such a thing?” he asked.

Violet blushed, then looked down at her feet. “It’s… a bit private a matter. But one she promised your potions would help with,” Violet replied. Her voice trembled with hope and anxiety in equal measure, and it carved empathy into the older man’s eyes. 

But not enough that he was ready to dance for her just yet. He sighed heavily, then began to walk. He didn’t seem to be dismissing her with the act, however, so she followed. If anything, it was convenient. It was only in the corner of her eye, but she saw Chase approaching the nearby lancer group. Most likely to ask where Alex was. It might have relieved a little stress to watch the foul boy learn the truth. He certainly deserved it for all his snide remarks over the years. But she’d planted a seed a few minutes before, and it needed to grow naturally. Or… mostly naturally. If it worked, it would help her center herself. But if she was too close when he got news from Roseville, it might’ve sprouted too quickly. So she followed Kiera’s father as he made his way to a bench in a quiet corner.

He sat down and gestured to Violet to do the same. She glanced around nervously, but nodded and took a seat next to him. She smoothed her skirt as she did and fidgeted with her tie until he spoke.

“My apologies, I didn’t want to be overheard,” he said. Violet nodded in understanding, even as she internally rolled her eyes. They were on a public platform with various people of unknown category. A quiet bench wasn’t going to offer them any privacy. And Samuel must have known that. Had he wanted his whispers to be truly private, he’d have saved them for a time when he knew the category of everyone around them. Just as Violet had with Chase only a few minutes before.

“Of course!” Violet answered. “I trust Kiera, and I wouldn’t want to share anything private in the middle of a crowd, either.”

Samuel nodded, and his lips twitched up in an appreciative smile. “I appreciate that,” he said. “Now, what I was going to say was… well. I truly am surprised that Kiera promised she would introduce us. I’m certain I would be happy to help with whatever ails you, of course, but… how do I say this? I am conflicted. I don’t know whether I should be greatly relieved, or terribly troubled that she thought an introduction was possible.”

Violet nervously bit her lip and met the seemingly kind man’s eyes. “She’s a good person, Mr. Mulberry. She only wanted to introduce us because she genuinely believed you could help!” Violet insisted.

Samuel shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry. I won’t trouble such a sweet young girl with the details of my family’s troubles. But I will warn you. My daughter is very sick. I was trying to treat her when she…” he trailed off, and heavy eyes fell on Violet like lead rain. “She believed I was dead when she boarded that train. I am certain of that. If she promised to introduce us despite that, then she may be more ill than I believed. If it is any comfort to you at all, know that providing her treatment is the only thing that brings me here. Nothing else, regardless of her previous… mistakes. I can promise you that. Yes, I head to inform the city of those mistakes. But only for her protection. Hers, and those around her.”

Violet managed to contain the livid tide of emotion his words were inspiring in her.  But it was more difficult than usual. So many things had been spiraling out of control—ever since she’d made her deal with the headmaster. And this pathetic man… Someday, she would have enough power that she could crush sniveling lies like this the moment they were spoken. She would be like Cyan, able to take this man’s life from him for daring to try to manipulate her. Rather, she would exceed Cyan. Cyan Asher was going to die for his arrogance. But first, she would make Samuel Mulberry pay for hurting her friend.

She’d read his file, and she was certain it was accurate now. Information recorded by his local branch of the Asher family, apparently. Kiera wasn’t sick in any way that this man was implying. Rather, she’d lived a life much like Violet’s. As a prop. An extension of someone else. Something to make Samuel Mulberry feel powerful. To earn him praise. But Violet would make it right. She’d protect her new friend. And, perhaps, she’d kill her first green when she did. She wondered how much clarity that would grant her.

“You don’t want her in prison?” Violet asked. 

Samuel had allowed his eyes to drift toward the sky as he spoke, but they floated back to Violet at that question. “You’re not sick at all, are you?” he asked. 

Violet cursed internally. It had been a hastily constructed lie, but it was still irritating that it had failed so easily. She was growing tired of losing control. And it seemed like each time it happened, it made it more likely to happen again. She reached up and started running her hand through her messy sidetail again. It just wouldn’t behave. 

She took a deep breath. 

This was fine. 

She hadn’t lost control of Samuel. 

She simply hadn’t had all of the information when she’d first spoken to him. She’d probed, and she had a decent idea about what was missing from the Ashers’ report. She had to pivot; that was all. She simply needed a new approach.

She looked down and shook her head in embarrassed shame. “No. I just… Kiera is my friend. I haven’t known her for long, I know. But she is my friend. I don’t want to see her life ruined. And I thought if I could just see you…” Violet trailed off. Samuel sighed and put his hand on her back. It took every ounce of self-control she had not to shudder at the uninvited touch, but she managed it. 

“I understand,” he said. “But don’t worry. I promise. It’s true. Police custody is the safest place for her right now. But it won’t go further than that. Her ailment is physical in nature. It is affecting her mind, but it is a sickness of the body at its core. Once I begin to treat her, that symptom will fade, and it will be safe to drop the charges against her. I’m not going to have her locked up. Not in prison, and not anywhere else. I’m simply going to bring her medicine, and then I’ll take her home. At least, until she is better. Until it is safe for you to see her again.”

Violet understood why Kiera had tried to murder this man. She wished she knew how the fox had done it, and what had gone wrong. But she absolutely understood why. His voice trickled through her ears like bile. The apparent kindness behind them only made the foul scent of his words more potent. Violet wanted to take a shower even more after speaking to him. But she’d decided on a new approach.

She sat with him in silence for a moment and watched Chase from a distance. The lancers were leaving, and he had one hand over his mouth. His other held a short letter, and Violet had an idea she knew what it said. This was confirmed when he looked up and—entirely by coincidence—his eyes met hers immediately. She wore her best “concerned” look and tilted her head. He stared at her for several seconds, then tore the letter. He let shreds of it float to the ground as he gripped his hair in his hands. Violet watched a thousand agonizing worries flash through the boy's eyes. She kept watching the child break down as she finally spoke.

“If you’re really here to help Kiera, and if she really is sick… please. Tell me what I can do to help.”