One of the best things about the rainy season is that if the weather is too bad or the rain is too much, she doesn't have to make people mad because she closed up shop for the day. The downside to the rainy season, no one can go anywhere unless they really have to. Even the lumberyards and the ports will be empty and bare until the storm passes. But it also meant it was the perfect day to have one last baking fest with Lyra and Asena. Flour coated almost every surface, and Lunivette was pretty sure that there was more flour on Lyra than in the actual cookies.
But who's measuring anyway?
There was laughter filling every corner from Lyra and Lunivette wanted to soak it all up. If she had to leave this place truly, she wanted to make it memorable, and she wanted it to be without patron for one day.
"Lunivette, is something wrong?" Asena kept her words quiet, trying not to alarm Lyra.
Lunivette wanted nothing more than to say it was fine, but she knew that she would leave this place on a lie and that she wanted to do.
"I have to leave tomorrow morning, and I probably won't be coming back." Lunivette handed the letter over and was also quiet with her words. "I don't want to tell Lyra just yet. I want her to remember this and enjoy it as much as I did."
Asena flipped through the pages, and she watched her grip on the paper tighten. "What is this asshole thinking?" She threw the letter on the table and looked at Lunivette. "Forcing you to go with him? That's practically kidnapping."
Lunivette nodded her head along and let out a heavy sigh. "It would be under normal circumstances; however, it was something that my mother did, and I have to pay the price for it."
"Your mother?"
Lunivette knew it was the only way to explain what was happening because the Duke didn't really explain it in the letter, only that it was a duty neglected on her side. She told Asena the same tale that Commander Alderon told her, and that she had to leave them behind.
"Mommy, who's that man walking to the door?"
Lyra's voice caught both of their attentions, and Lunivette turned to face the door. She couldn't really make out who was making their way here through the dark haze of rain, but based on the slender shape alone, Lunivette had an idea as to who it was.
Brixton.
"Lyra, baby, come here and hide in the cabinets." Asena reached for her and ushered her to the back. "Whatever you hear, don't move from there."
So much for having a peaceful day off before going away. Lunivette crossed her arms and waited for him to come through the front door. It wasn't normal for him to stop by during rainstorms, and she had already paid her taxes for the month. So what did he want? Asena stood next to her for moral support, but even she knew that she wouldn't be able to do much. Brixton didn't care if someone was with child; if they stood up to him, he would teach them a lesson.
The soft ring of the bell sounded more ominous than welcoming when Brixton walked in, soaked to the bone. Rain pelted the window harder than before, blocking any noise from the outside. If he really wanted to hurt them, he would be able to, and no one could hear them call for help. No one spoke for the longest time, watching the other person, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"So.." Brixton took the hood off his head and eyed her. "I hear you are leaving us in the morning."
It was a question, it was a statement.
"I am."
She kept her head down and kept her answer short. It would be better to keep their interaction to a minimum so he could leave and they could get back to baking cookies on her last day.
"I want the bakery." The demand was straight to the point.
Lunivette locked eyes with him, and Asena shouted her disgust. That was the last thing she thought he would ask for.
"The town is growing, and I have plans for this place once you leave, but I need you to sign it over to me." Brixton was picking at his nails like this was a normal stroll in the park, and that she would bend to him one last time. Well, not this time.
"No." She kept her voice steady and locked on him.
Her blatant refusal caught his attention. "No? I wasn't asking a damn thing. I was stating I want it, and you will give it to me."
He took a couple of steps towards her and pushed a series of papers towards her. "Sign these and get out of here by nightfall."
"I said no. I will not sign those. The bakery is going to Asena when I leave." Lunivette pushed the paper to the floor. Asena was quiet when the confession came out. This wasn't how she wanted to tell Asena; she wanted her opinion on it first, butter her up with happy memories of Lyra having fun, and then ask her if she wanted to continue this bakery's legacy.
"Is that so? Guess I'll have to force you to give it to me then."
She didn't like how calm his voice was. It was dangerous and wild, not like how Orion was when he was here and during their conversation. No, this was something darker. More evil. Brixton walked to a nearby table with the chairs still placed on top.
It happened sooner than she thought. A chair went towards the shelves on her right, missing her by inches, breaking the shelves off the wall, and shattering any trinkets on them. Another went to the other side of Asena, this time a table that blocked the kitchen entry when it landed. She didn't know who was screaming louder, her or Asena, who bolted towards the table and was trying to move over the side.
"Mommy!" Lyra was peering from the back, her entire body shaking from the sight.
"Mommy's here, baby. Mommy's here." Asena covered Lyra's body and kept her from going near the table.
Lunivette didn't know where to run first. She could go after Brixton before he threw another item and destroyed another thing, or she could go to Asnea and Lyra and run out the back to get somewhere safe. The only thing she would have to do in that case was to grab the papers on the floor so he wouldn't sign for her.
Ahh, screw it, I need to get those papers away from him.
One sheet was by her feet, making it easy for her to grab it before he could catch on to what she was doing. Cheering internally, Lunivette hoped it was the one that had the signature line. It was not. The other sheet, however, was by the front door, and that was the one she needed the most; the one in her hands was completely worthless.
All she needed was an opening, and she could grab it and bolt out the front door. Asena and Lyra had already gone out the back door and are hopefully back at their house down the road. Brixton had turned to look for the nearest table, and that was the opening she thought she had. Lunivette lunged for the paper, her finger grazing it before Brixton had his foot on it and his hand in her hair, pulling it so she would look at him.
"You want this piece of paper. Beg for it."
His grip tightened, and Lunivette let out a cry in pain. She tried to get her footing right to ease the blinding pain, but it was futile. Her feet twisted below her, and she went to her knees, crying for him to let go. When she was only met with a kick to the stomach, Lunivette called out for the 'knights' that were supposed to be keeping watch over her.
"Help me, please!" Her voice cracked at the end, and another kick landed on her chest this time.
"No one is out in this weather, you kn-" Brixton was silenced when a metal blade hovered in front of his neck.
Dark shadows moved from behind him and surrounded both of them, weapons drawn or hands gripping the handles tightly. Brixton let go of her hair, and she scrambled backwards away from him and kept her arms wrapped around herself. Not a single shadow spoke to her, only kept their eyes on him. Two knights behind her moved to either side of her.
"I wondered when my wife would show up today."
Orion.
He stood in the doorway, blade drawn across Brixton's neck, staring directly at Lunivette on the ground, clutching the one piece of paper and cowering in fear. This wasn't how she wanted him to see her, much less see the mess she was in before they left. Lunivette wanted to run to Orion and hide behind him, but the cold look in his eyes kept her pinned on the ground.
"Y-Your wife?" Brixton was shaking but didn't move to turn around. Smart move on his part.
"Seems like you do have a thought in that head of yours." The blade moved closer, still not touching skin, but if Brixton turned his head or Orion moved his hand in the slightest, it would cut him.
"Get her out of here and back at the Inn."
The order was sharp and direct with no room to argue. Not that Lunivette would either; her body wasn't connecting with the events happening now or with the events from before. She could feel hands from behind her help her stand to her feet and guide her out into the rain, leaving Brixton to Orion and whatever horror he has planned.