Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Red Moon

Chapter 87 – Red Moon

Isolde sat on the tired, worn-out couch of Emily’s little house, her eyes locking onto the woman herself — an average face with dirty-blonde hair and black eyes — whose expression was hard as stone as she sat across from Isolde.

The young girl, Emma, was sleeping beside Emily, her mind sent into unconsciousness by a proficient, painless strike to the head from her own mother.

”Who are you?” Emily asked, pressing her lips into a bloodless line, her eyes fixed on Isolde the way a cat watches its prey.

”You know well who I am, Emily Stone.” Isolde said with a straight face, no change in her tone. ”After all, does anyone else know of your hidden identity besides us? If yes, tell me now so I can act accordingly.”

She narrowed her eyes. ”We don’t need loose ends for what we are about to do.”

”Yapping, yapping and yapping.” Emily grated, ”You still haven’t told me who you are.” She was unwilling to be caught. ”And I don’t know what—!”

”The Three Laws of the Daggers that pierce the crimson sky.” Isolde cut in, opening her mouth wide and sticking out her tongue, where the symbol of an inverted crescent moon made of crimson daggers was etched.

At the same time, her mind began replaying the words Cassius had told her.

Emily’s body tensed instantly at the sight of the symbol and the words, her breath halting as if an invisible hand had tightened around her chest.

Isolde continued, her voice dropping deeper with each word.

”Obedience through fear of the dripping Daggers. Ruthlessness for the Red Moon that bathes us in its crimson light. Compassion and Love for those who bow towards the Lord of the Red Moon.”

As Isolde spoke those words, she watched Emily drop to her knees in a complete rush, lips quivering as if stricken with frost, then shift her body toward one direction — toward the west, where the sun was setting and the moon was slowly rising to bless the horizon — before bowing her head until her forehead kissed the ground.

Isolde’s body revolted involuntarily at the sight. She grimaced, listening to Emily’s murmured words.

”Bless your hapless servant, Lord of the Red Moon. Bless the world, and embrace all of us within the shadow of your glorious throne. For only you can bless the souls of us wretched beings wandering the earth causing death and corruption, and only you can grace the world with the light of fairness and equality.”

Her words were followed by a strange shift in the air around them, causing Isolde’s skin to ripple.

’Now, what in Vorn’s name is this?’ Isolde muttered inwardly, only now fully believing what Cassius had said about the Crimson Daggers. Important information that even the Fangs Sect didn’t possess.

’They are a group of blind, faithful believers who worship the Red Moon.’ Cassius had told her. ’Don’t try logic on them. It simply won’t work. You can’t reason with people who act with more faith than sense. Just do what you need to do and leave the woman to her task.’

Even without those warnings, Isolde would have acted the same after witnessing this eerie scene.

For a moment she wondered whether she was supposed to fall on her knees and mirror this woman to look more credible. But the very thought made her feel as though thousands of ants were crawling through her body.

She grimaced in hidden disgust mixed with contempt, then buried the expression behind her cold, impassive face the moment Emily kissed the floor one last time and stood up.

The woman was smiling strangely now, as if revealing her true self, settling back into her place. She cast her black, devout eyes on Isolde and parted her lips.

”Tell me, dear companion.” She said in a soothing, amiable voice, ”Tell me the reason of your visit.”

”I have been sent by Lord Samael himself to inform you of an important change of plan.” Isolde said immediately.

Emily’s eyes shook in their sockets at the name. She almost dropped to her knees again, stopping herself at the last second. ”What change?” She asked, breathless.

”The attack that was planned for three months from now will happen sooner. Much sooner than what we planned.”

Emily frowned immediately. ”But why?” She asked, ”I am not ready with the preparations, dear comrade. There are still many things left, and I cannot move faster. I fear the Royal Hood Family will root me out.”

”That, my dear comrade, is not a concern.” Isolde replied, crossing her legs, smiling. ”Thanks to the Red Moon’s blessings, we have secured a new opportunity. One that will let us strike the very core of the Royal Family.”

”How?” She asked, her heart pounding strangely.

”The Royal Event, comrade, is happening one week from today.” Isolde said. ”It’s the day when the heirs of all the Tiered families of the kingdom will gather, with the Royal Family itself attending. Even the High Priestess of the Church of Death will be there, blessing the children of the kingdom.”

She smiled thinly, feigning excitement. ”That is the time to strike, comrade!”

Emily was shivering with excitement, imagining what damage they could inflict on the kingdom if they succeeded. A clear message to the Royal Family.

However, one thing still puzzled her.

”There is still the question of how I will get into that Event.” She said, cocking her head, unable to see a way in.

”A simple matter.” Isolde answered, then clicked her fingers.

Emily snapped her head behind Isolde, where suddenly, out of nowhere, another figure appeared.

A man, his lower face hidden behind a crimson mask, wearing a long black cape, holding the body of a woman over his right arm.

’How did I not sense him until now?’ Emily thought with trepidation.

”This is how we will do it, Emily.” Isolde’s voice pulled her attention back, just in time for Maxim Onearm to lay the dead corpse of a woman between them — beautiful pink hair, a fair face, and a body worthy of making most men drool.

Isolde pointed at the corpse. ”This woman is called Julie. She is a prostitute from Bliss’s House with a rather good reputation.”

She smiled. ”Do whatever it takes, but I need you to become Julie today. Go back to Bliss’s House and continue her work perfectly. An opportunity will come to you. You will know when it arrives, for you will be chosen for a task. I trust you to know what to do once that happens.”

Emily was silent for a moment, seeming to process the situation. Then, ”What should I do once I succeed in getting into the Event?”

”What else?” Isolde smiled coldly. ”What we do best: chaos. Absolute chaos. I will inform you of when to act.”

At that, Isolde stood up, looking down at Emily’s eyes fixed on the corpse of Julie.

”Lord Samael wants this mission to succeed.” She said at last. ”Do not disappoint the High Blessed.”

Emily smiled with devout love. ”My soul to ashes if I ever disappoint our Lord. I will succeed, comrade. Rest assured.”

”What about this child?” Isolde asked, glancing at Emma.

Emily’s face turned strange for a moment before she shook her head. ”This is my daughter, comrade. To maintain a normal life as instructed, I slept with a man to have her. But I can accept no man in my heart except Lord Samael, so I killed him. I’m afraid I came to love this daughter of mine over all these years.”

She looked at Isolde, lips slowly trembling. ”I don’t know what will happen to me with this sudden mission. But if I don’t survive, please, comrade, can you take care of this young one for me and bring her under the shade of the Red Moon?”

Isolde looked at her and smiled reassuringly. ”You will survive, comrade. And if not, yes, I will take care of her. So do your task without worry.”

Emily’s lips curled upward. She caressed her daughter’s head lovingly, then cast cold eyes on the corpse below. ”I am grateful, comrade. May the Red Moon be with you.” She made the sign of an inverted crescent moon on her chest.

”May the Red Moon illuminate your path.” Isolde mirrored the gesture, then disappeared shortly after with Maxim Onearm, her task achieved.

...

Meanwhile, in front of the Church of Death, on the lowest step leading toward the entrance, Cassius sat there leisurely, his cane leaning beside him.

Behind him stood Helene, the High Priestess, wearing a calm yet irritated expression, looking as though she wanted to be anywhere but here.

And yet...

’Lord Seraph is sitting on the floor! My Lord! Please! Don’t do this! Not here! People are watching!’

Helene was panicking inwardly, unable to stomach the sight of her Lord Seraph sitting on bare stone steps in public, his image being stained before passing strangers.

She almost wanted to fall to her knees and beg his forgiveness.

But she said nothing, obeying his orders not to act in any way that could cause him harm. She knew what she had to do. Even if she didn’t like it.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long. A carriage soon appeared before the church. The door opened, and out stepped Océane and Sarah, back in their maid outfits.

The two bowed their heads immediately. ”Sorry for making you wait, Master!”

”It’s fine.” Cassius replied simply, took his cane, leaned on it and pushed himself upright.

He dusted his clothes and settled his flaming red eyes on the two of them. ”Did you enjoy the day?”

”Yes, Young Master. We are forever grateful.” Océane answered with deep reverence.

Cassius turned his attention to Sarah, taking in the look on her face, the very portrait of confusion and fear.

He smiled knowingly. ”What about you, Sarah?”

”G-Good.” She stuttered, ”I am deeply grateful!”

”Perfect.” He answered, and walked toward the carriage door. ”I hope you won’t forget this day.”

He passed by her and whispered close to her ear. ”For you will never have days like this with my dear uncle.”

Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t even react, only turning to watch Cassius step inside the carriage, Océane close behind.

Sitting comfortably, the young master looked at the High Priestess and gave a brief nod.

”Let’s meet again at the Event in one week, High Priestess. Maybe, who knows, I will have something new to confess by then.” He chuckled mockingly. ”Who am I kidding? A man like me will definitely have.”

’Lord Seraph, you are an angel! Please don’t speak of yourself like that!’ Helene thought with great distress, but only nodded curtly, her voice flat and cold.

”As you wish.”

At once, Sarah entered the carriage, sitting stiffly with tension coiled through her veins.

The driver closed the door, returned to his seat and drove them off, just in time for Cassius to ask one important question.

”Now then. How much of my money did the two of you spend?”

Both maids shuddered in dread.

—End of Chapter 87—