How it all began ....

[Ekaterina]

How did it all begin? What was the catalyst to take a young noble woman and make her go rogue? To change the sweetness of innocents into a heart more frigid than the polar caps? Memoirs of the past, not meant to bring forth sorrow or pity, for that will never be asked. Understanding? Hardly, for little care is placed upon what others thought. Explanation perhaps, a bit of insight into the heart and mind of the individual. Directions of how a life of happiness and joy can be easily altered by a singular event in time.

Life was good in Kiel whilst growing up as an only child of a highly respected and noble man. A position of prestige that had been worked for all her fathers life. Sweat, blood, and tears was the basis upon which her fathers fortune had been made. But her mother, she always strove for more, wanting a higher status in life than what he had been able to provide. Not from lack of trying, or spending countless hours and days away from home. It would be a single event that would set the stage for all things to follow after; a simple informal ball is to where this curtain opens, and upon the stage for all to see is a gathering of all stations of nobles, hob-knobbing and rubbing elbows to create new friendships and alliances to their cause.

Her mother had drug not only her young daughter, but her husband to the event that neither really wanted to attend. But they both put on their pleasant smiles, and greeted all as if long lost friends. All to keep the woman of the house happy, and give them peace in between what seemed to be monthly events. The young girl, having just turned fifteen, was being paraded about by her overly proud mother. The only reprise the young girl would have, was the love of a father who also understood. When he seen the pained look upon his daughters face with another introduction to a High Lord and Lady, especially if they had an eligible son of marrying age, he would come to her rescue. Interrupting the chattering hens, he'd whisk his daughter out onto the dance floor, where the two would whisper their comments about those gathered at the ball and laugh. He would also listen to her complaints about her mother trying to marry her off to some high and mighty as well as overly arrogant Lord.

Many months would pass, and more events would be attended; though not all in the company of her father, when he was called away. More introductions to families, as her mother sang the praises of her eligible daughter. And as per usual, the events would end and the ride home would be spent with condemnation of how she enacted during the night.

"You shouldn't look so bored, Kat, it's unbecoming a lady." Usually accompanied with the sound of Tsk, Tsk, or a long drawn out sigh. "You really need to be more outgoing, show these people you're interested in them."

She would remain silent, to only occasionally glance in her mothers direction, before attention would return to the passing landscape outside the carriage window. She had wanted to ride her own horse, but only seemed to appall her mother with the suggestion.

"Young women of station don't travel upon horseback, Kat! They arrive in style in a carriage, and carry several trunks of wardrobe, so she can always be prepared for what ever event may take place." Then her mother would break off into past memories, of when she was a young woman looking to catch a Lords eye. "I want you to marry better than I did, so you need not worry over security of your position."

Here is where Kat would look to her mother and slightly narrow her eyes. "Father provides for us quite well mother! You get everything you ask for, even if you're being unreasonable in your request. He denies you nothing! How dare you complain!" Her father was her world, and how she missed him when he traveled away. When he was gone, she wasn't permitted to go hunting or trapping, let along take long rides upon her horse in the forest. Her mother would accuse him of trying to raise a heathen daughter, and ruin her for any chance of gaining any young nobleman's eye.

Again her mother would give an over dramatic sigh. "Ekaterina, I only want the best for you. I don't put down your father and what he's done. I only wish for your future to begin where ours is ending." That would end the conversation, thankfully, and the rest of the ride home to be in peace as she was left to her thoughts, and her mother silently plotted and connived.

It would some time after her sixteenth birthday, and an elaborate gala her mother put on to celebrate her age of becoming a young woman, that her mothers intentions and countless hours of researching names of prominent and eligible men would fruit. It would be late morning that a visitor would arrive to the Von Drasek Manor and ask to see the heads of the house. One Lord Hallsteinn Vlaken had taken an interest in the young woman being paraded around. He was a man who had to keep up a front to cover for his dubious and pretentious ways. A pretty wife, but one young enough to be taught what her position in life was to be. He wanted a show piece, one to flit about in the social network, whilst he would use her to detour from his true agenda and actions.

Her father was away on business, and thus the Lord would make frequent visits to the manor and spend time in long discussions with her mother. She always managed to fain a headache, or to coincidentally be away when she knew he was preparing to visit. But this daunted the Lord not, for his visits continued on a weekly basis, and the Lord had captivated her mother; more so his position as a High Lord and the size of his treasury.

She only hoped that when her father returned, she had the chance to talk to him before her mother did, or he met the Lord Vlaken. Odin must have heard her prayer, for the day her father returned, her mother was away to order some new gowns for an up coming event. He listened to her explanation of events, and her feelings on the matter. Not so much surprised as she was relieved to find her father took her side, and even suggested the next time he traveled away, that she was to accompany him; and she happily agreed.

Upon learning of her husbands return, her mother was quick to set up a meeting between he and the Lord Vlaken. Both her mother and the Lord truly expected for her father to readily agree to an arrangement of marriage, and that they would be greatly compensated in return. This outraged her father, that the Lord thought his daughter but a commodity to be bought or sold. In turn his venomous response of refusing the Lords interest in his daughter, and also announcing that on his next departure, his daughter would be accompanying him.

When this came out, this enraged the Lord and angered his wife greatly. That was when the two began to plot and see they both got what they wanted. The next event to take place, was a massive hunt in which all the Noble Lords would be expected to engage in, and their game to be that prepared for the dinner at the ball the following night. The Ladies would gather at the massive estate the event would transpire at, going over wardrobes and hackling like a bunch of hens as they fawned over the handsome Lords and chattered the latest gossip. The Lord and her mother plotted to rid the one and only thing that stood in their way, for accidents always happened during hunts. Oblivious to all actions, was she and her father, as he took to soothing her ruffled feathers when she was informed she could not partake of the hunt. She found that outlandish and unfair that she had to remain with all the cackling hens.

Days would pass and all seemed good and back in order. The Lord had made no more visits to the Von Drasek Manor, and her mother seemed subdued in pressing the marriage matter with her daughter and husband. She and her father figured that peace had finally encompassed their home, and they were even looking forward to the up coming event. If they only new the truth, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Soon the three would travel to the massive estate of Hallsteinn Vlaken, for it was he who hosted the events that were to take place. The next day the men prepared for their hunt, given well wishes by their family members and friends as a luncheon was held to see them off. She stood off to the side, watching longingly as the men mounted their horses in preparation to ride away. Her eyes were upon her father, who would glance her way and offer a smile, then blow her a kiss that caused a smile to then appear upon her lips. Oblivious was she to the eyes of the Lord Vlaken upon her, like a hungry wolf would eye an injured rabbit it stalked. When they rode away, that would be the last time she seen her father alive.

The story upon the hunting parties return, was that an accident occurred when a spear meant for a charging bore missed its mark and buried into her fathers back. Meant to be stated as words of comfort to mother and child, was Lord Vlaken's words in saying her father suffered not. But it was the look shared by her mother and the Lord that gave her reason to pause, until her grief over took her mind and emotions. Until the day of her fathers funeral, she left the manor at dawn to ride through the massive forests, and never returned before dusk. It was upon the eve of her last return, that she'd learn the truth of what transpired, and her life would be forever changed.


It was during the final viewing of her fathers remains, that she found the inability to be in the room with the shell of her fathers being. She knew in her heart that her father had risen to now sit within the Halls of Valhalla with their family members and friends who had long since passed. That he sat at the great table, with a horn of mead within his hand, and surrounded by laughter; but this did little to sooth her aching heart. Instead she excused herself from the showing, and hid herself away. It was during this time that her mother and the Lord stole away to gloat and discuss future benefits. It was also the first time her mother asked for the details of her husbands death, to which she got a detailed description of how it was the Lord Vlaken himself that threw the spear that ended his life.

As if this wasn't a big enough blow to the emotionally fragile young girl in hiding, another slap in her face was the sound of their muffled laughter as they spoke of not only these details, but the arrangements that would soon follow once her father was set to sea upon a boat set ablaze; as was the Norse way of burial. Oh how she wanted to jump out and confront them both, to unleash the surge of anger that now raged inside her, and the hatred that was beginning to fester in her heart. But, she moved not an inch, frozen in place by the shock of what she learned. It wasn't hard to mask her feelings during the funeral procession and the lighting of the pyre, for the tears did that all by themselves; all felt heartbroken at seeing the young girls pain.

She managed to avoid all contact with everyone after they stood and watched the blazing ship sink into the Bay. Returning home and locking herself away in her room, and the fact that all was giving respect for the grieving process. But she wasn't grieving as they thought she would, instead it was her turn to plot and it was revenge that now burned brightly in her heart. Not just revenge against the Lord who's hand was responsible for her fathers death, but also against her mother for her part.

Revenge is indeed sweet, but it's also better served cold .... and this would give her time to set her stage for the next act .....

<~To be continued ....~>

[Ekaterina]

Many days would pass as she mulled over the fact that her mother and the Lord Vlaken was the cause of her fathers death. For what? So her mother could rise in noble status and the Lord could take over her fathers holdings? It ate her alive inside, her anger seethed and was hard to contain.

It would be at one point she'd be out traveling the woods as she had so often in the company of her father, that she came upon a thatch roof house near the edge of a massive swamp. An old woman sat upon the porch and invited her over for a cup of water. The two talked for countless hours, and in the process with tears falling freely, she told the old woman of all that had happened.

The old woman felt sorry for the young girl and could feel as much as see the rage that burned within. It was then the old woman decided to help her to enact her revenge. Explaining to the young girl about plants, herbs, and the toxins some of them carried deep within their roots and leaves.

Kat decided she would stay away from home for a few days, more because she knew it would set her mother into a panic and this did make her feel better in a sense. The old woman opened her small home to her new guest and student of herbal arts. Teaching her not only those that did damage, but those that healed as well.

The Norse was a quick learner and it would be the better part of two weeks which she remained away. But she knew that time was against her, and she'd have to return home before they came looking for her. She wanted to keep the old woman as her secret, a place she could escape to when she had the need.

When she returned home, just as she had imagined, her mother was frantic. Going on about how she worried over her, and that the Lord Vlaken was stricken with grief in having thought her lost. She made weak excuses, explaining how she wasn't dealing well with the loss of her father. Which her mother never questioned, as she doted over her only child.

Within a matter of days, things began to return to normal; but that would of course be short lived. Kat had taken to delievering her mothers breakfast to her in bed. Her excuse was that she worried over the fright she gave her mother, and with the recent loss of her beloved husband, she wanted to allow her mother time to grieve. This was also the story shared with house servants, neighbors, and people of the community alike.

In a few days, her mother began to weaken, to where Kat was delivering her afternoon meals to her in bed also. Within a week, even the dinners were being carried to her mothers chambers.

Lord Vlaken was making daily visits now, and trying to press the issue of he and Kat being married. But Kat would argue that due to the ill health of her mother, it wouldn't be proper to plan such an occassion right away. A promise, that once her mothers health improved, then they could start the process. Begrudgingly the man concured to the situation and let the matter drop. Well, not completley, he was always carrying on about his plans for their wedding and the honeymoon to follow.

But much to the Lords chargin, her mothers health seemed to decline more than get better. It was then he insisted that Kat and her mother move into his estate so he could have the finest physicians tend to her mothers care. This would also allow him to care for Kat, and he was even hoping to get a prelude to what their wedding night might be like; but she always managed to discourage him and kept him at arms length.

It would be by that evening that she and her mother had been packed away and moved into Lord Vlakens manor upon the cliffs. The top physicians in the lands were called upon to render aide to her mother. Only to find themselves puzzled with the inablity to figure out what was causing her illness. Every remedy under the sun was being given, and some only seemed to worsen the ailing womans condition. They had even at one point tried blood-letting. Hoping to rid the body of the bad blood to be replaced by good; it didn't work.

If only they knew, those meals that were being delivered by her oh so worried daughter, who seemed to dote over her ailing mother, was tainted heavily with several forms of poison. Drink and food alike was tainted, and it was Kat who seen to the lethal mixtures that was added before delivering the meals.

She was always careful to not get caught, tending to the matter as she ascended from the kitchen to her mothers room on the second floor. Who would have imagined the Noble woman's sweet young girl, was the one slowly causing her mothers failing health and impending death.

Things steadily grew worse, her mother began running high fevers and curled in the center of her bed as she endured gutt wrenching pain. Her mothers muscles would constrict, causing charley-horse style cramping in legs, arms, and back. Excrutiating headaches that were most diblitating. Soon Lord Vlaken would be informed that they expected only a matter of days before her mother would succumb to what ever disease ran rampant. That he should prepare for yet another funeral, so soon in the wake of Kat losing her father.

Two weeks more her mother suffered, the womans cries rang eerily through the manor home. The pain her mother suffered could be heard as well as visiualized. When in the presence of others, Kat looked so scared, frustrated, and saddened by her mothers conditions. She could cue the tears that drew the sympathy from those surrounding the mother and child. But when alone in her chambers, the smirk that formed upon her lips could almost be described as one that would make someones blood run cold if it was seen.

She knew her mother didn't have long to live, and she relished this idea. Now the planning would begin for the Lord Vlaken, even before her mothers last breath was taken.

It would be on a stormy afternoon that one of the house servants would run in a panic to find Kat sitting in the Lords den, reading over the ledgers of his business. It was while doing this she came across a document that caught her by surprise. It was Lord Vlakens last will and testimate, and within the pages, all his assets were left to her, and in the wording, it stated his soon to be wife. It was also with this document she found the corrispondence from her mother. Thanking the Lord for proving his intentions by putting Ekaterina in his will. Once they were married, the deed to all her fathers property and rights would be turned over to him in return appreciation. But Kat knew, that once they were wed, he'd see to having the document changed.

There was also a contract included in this, one that said that Kat's mother would be permitted to remain in the manor of her daughters birth for her natural life, and given a more than fair allowance. There was also a stipulation, that if Kat left him at any time after their marriage, she would forfit all holdings of his, as well as the lands of her birthright. She'd be given no money or possessions, but thrown out on the streets. As if she didn't already hate the man, at that moment she loathed him more.

A rapid knock at the door would have her quickly putting all the papers back in order. She'd rise from the desk to stand near a window as if looking out it when she bade who knocked to enter. In would move a paniced looking scullery maid, informing her that her mother had taken a drastic change for the worse. Kat would nod and make her way to her mothers room and bedside. The womans breaths were labored, her flesh flush from the fever that taxed her heart and was slowly cooking her brain. The toxins in her bloodstream were shutting down her mothers internal organs.

She would look as if mourning her mother, when inside she was rejoicing merrily. When she was sure that her mother had but a few breaths left in her, she quickly chased all from the room demanding to have the last moments with her mother alone. Empathy from the staff, physicians, and the few friends that gathered, over the girl losing her mother so soon after her fathers death.

Once all had left, she'd move to sit upon the bed at her mothers side, gazing down upon her. Her hand moved as fingers began to slowly comb through the dampness of her mothers hair. The intake of breaths crackled as the exhales wheezed from the fluid that was settled in her mothers lungs. Kat's head would tilt from side to side as she gazed down upon her mothers face, seeing the pained expression.

"Oh mother, how you suffer so. For so many weeks you've had to endure pain and discomfort." A soft cooing of her voice, which in turn had her mothers eyes open to gaze up at her. It was then Kats expression changed to that of one so dark and evil, a sneer to appear upon her lips. Leaning closer to her mother, so she could whisper near her ear in case others were trying to listen in. "And I've taken great pleasure as well as delight in watching you rot in your bed."

Her mother looked at her with an expression of shock, then fear when she seen the look upon her daughters face and the hate that nearly radiated like the heat of a fire from her eyes. The sneer grew into the formation of a smirk. "I'm the reason you lay here dying, I just thought you'd like to know. I poisoned your food and have been doing so since shortly after I returned from running away." Her voice held the bitter venom her words intended, and she got the reaction she hoped for. Surprise and fear registered upon her mothers face and she'd croak out a single word. "Why?"

Kat's hand would move to rest atop her mothers face, the palm covering her nose and mouth at the same time, but for the moment lightly rested. "It's vengence for my father from his grave, against those who plotted to murder him." A low growl in that whispered tone. Her mothers eyes widened as she looked upon that evil looking face of her daughters. "Vlakens next, as I know he was the hand that took my fathers life. I hope you both rot and burn for eternity together."

With that she'd press her hand down more, cutting off the air from her mothers lungs with it's hold. Her mother was too weak to fight her, and there was barely a struggle before her mothers body went limp and lifeless. For a few moments more she'd hold her hand in place, and a quick glance towards the door.

It was with concentration for a moment, but soon her tears would begin to flood down her cheeks. "MOTHER!" She'd cry out in despare, and when the door was flung open, they'd find her kneeling at the bedside, her arms over her mother as if she was holding on for dear life and sobbing uncontrollably.

Thanks to the thoughts Kat had put in everyones head when her mother first took ill, it was believed she couldn't endure the loss of her husband, Vlaken believed it to be due to a sense of guilt and benefiting from tying up a loose end. None ever grew wise of Kats involvement, nor even considered her part in her mothers death.

Soon her mothers body would be disposed of in the Norse tradition, as much as it made Kat feel ill in doing it. She'd return to her family home, the excuse being she needed a time to grieve, as much as Vlaken did his best to try and talk her out of it.

But he didn't leave her alone, his excuse being he wanted to be there for his future bride to help her through her darkest hours. She'd play along, dangling the Lord like a fish on a hook. Taunting him, on purpose making him desire her more, but unable to touch her. All the while, she was planning his death, and taking the time to train for the purpose. She was an avid hunter and trapper, she was no stranger to the skills of blade or bows alike. But she had to make it look good, to find an opportune moment in which to execute her plan.

For now she'd need time to set the pieces into place, and meanwhile she was schooling herself in many areas and arts. She'd often visit the old woman in the swamp to learn what she could from her. Which turned out to be more than just herbs. The woman was an expert on reptiles and inscents as well, teaching the young Norse about them and the qualities of their own defense mechanisms that could be used by her as offensive weapons.

Now was the planning of the death of one Lord Vlaken......

(To be continued......)

[Ekaterina]

Now was the planning of the death of one Lord Vlaken......

Funny, for one as young as she, it felt as if she'd lived a thousand lifetimes in the past few years. Her father had taught her much in the ways of hunting, tracking, and living off the land. Then the happen chance meeting of the old woman in the swamp, witch the locals called her, friend and mentor was the title the Norse woman dubbed upon her. It was the combination of two avid mentors, and the fact that she was a good student, wanting to always learn more. This is what's carried her up to this point, and would be that which would give her the strength to carry on.

Through the plotting of their deaths, and playing the avid part of the worried daughter, then a woman in distress when her mother died, she'd become quite the actress. Playing her part so well, so believable, that none would ever consider the poor child as a black widow; a human plague of death.

Lord Vlaken began to push more steadily for them to wed, and once more she was able to use a tradgedy in order to buy her time. It was during this that she had learned of the secret passages in Vlakens manor. He used them to whisk her away in the middle of the night, just so he wouldn't tarnish his pot of golds name. Yet, even with these stolen interludes, she was able to keep him at arms lengths. Playing the part of the grieving daughter, the man would relent from taking what he claimed to be his already. He knew soon enough he'd have her, and all that came with her. At least now he wouldn't have to pay off that old hag that was her mother. He had intended on dishonoring her mother to claim his rightful property and holdings, but now was saved from having to deal with that at all. So, with that in mind, he'd allow the tender woman her time to grieve, then he'd take her, claim her, make her his.

It was going on two weeks into the mourning process when he would visit her in the middle of the night. Begging, pleading, that he could withstand it no longer, he had to have her. He told her how she haunted his dreams and made his loins ache with need. He swore his being faithful to her, although she already knew he was tending to his needs with the scullery maid; having listened in on one of their sessions in his den, and watching through the keyhole. This only enraged her more, and made his deal more personal to him. Which it already was, since it was by his hand that her father met his death.

On this night of his pleading, it's when she devised the plan that would end his life. Making it seem she was taking pity upon him, but needing to maintain a vision of propriety and honor to her mothers death. There was also the need to fake her virtue after, since he would be her first; which only turned him on more, making his want for her greater.

The plan was, he was to make an open showing of having to leave for a few days for a business meeting. Kat would remain behind to have time to herself for the mourning process; which was only proper. He would then travel to his cottage out in the woods, and there await for her. It would be in his cottage, under a veil of secrecy, that he could steak his claim. She would use the secret passages of the manor, to escape for the night and return before the light of day. That way none would be the wiser she ever left the house. He was in complete agreement, so excited he nearly creamed his pants at the thought of it. Though he didn't, instead he quickly left her room and sought out the skullery maid to sait the ache in his loins temporarily.

In two days time, the plan was set into motion, him taking the time to develope the cover story for his necessary and quick departure. He would travel by horseback, that way his trip would be quick, so he could return more quickly to be with his soon to be bride. All waved him off, biding him fare thee well and safe travels. Kat stood there in the midst of the manors slaves and servants, waving her hand and using a scented hankerchief to dab away at those allegator tears. So many felt so sorry for her, she had lost so much and they were sure the young woman worried over her mans departure.

So far from the truth was this situation, and her plans were not those made in the middle of the night in her chambers with the man. She would await until several hours past sundown, when all had gone to bed and the manor was as silent as a graveyard. It was then she snuck out through the hidden passage, to an underground passage that would lead her to the stable. Here a horse would be taken, no saddle or tack save for a bridle. Adorned in leather pants and tunic, that which she wore upon one of her hunts. Upon her side was a long double edged sword and several daggers.

It was but an hours ride to where she was to meet up with the Lord, and she did that in the fraction of the time due to the speed of the equine that was hers. Seeing the cottage in the distance, the candle light in the window burning brightly, which was to be her marker and guide; that it would be too.

Dismounting several yards from the cottage, she would then sneak up to a window in which no light shown. Peering within, she could see him kicked back in a chair, a bottle of brandy in one hand, and a cigar under control in the other. How smug his features looked, like the cat that ate the canary in a sense. This helped to fuel her anger, that hate, and the lust for his blood that she held.

Drawing her sword she'd slowly climb the stone steps that lead up to the porch of the cottage. One upon it, she'd reach around to gently knock upon the door, then stepped back in a prepared poise to strike. She heard his voice as he bade her to enter, figuring it was the woman he was going to deflower this night; which it was. When she didn't immediately enter, he figured she was being coy, so shy, and that was the basis of the grin that rested upon his lips as he opened the door and stepped out.

"What is it my sweet little flower, have you taken to be shy with your soon to be husband?" There was a teasing taunt in his tone.

Her eyes narrowed and she nearly grunted in response, but instead it was a hiss that passed her lips.
"I'm far from shy Lord Vlaken, and you will never be my husband, in this life or the next!"

A blink of surprise when he turned to see her standing there in a striking stance. "What is the meaning of this? Put that weapon down! Have you gone mad!?"

"Mad? Oh yes, you can say I have gone mad. Mad with anger and vengence in my heart. As for the meaning of this, call it retribution! In the honor of my father!" Her words were nearly growled.

"Kat, I have no idea what you're talking about? Have you come down with the fever your mother had?" Slowly he turned to face towards her, his steps slow as he closed the distance. "Now, put that sword down and come in so we can talk about this. Give it to me!" His hand to reach out.

"Fever?" Her laugh was cold, so much so it actually struck a nerve in him and made him pause in his step. "She didn't die of a fever, she died from poison. The very poison I served in her food daily. I poisoned her slowly, so she'd suffer an agonizing death. At least you will be spared of this when I watch your blood drain from your body, and then bath in it in victory."

His eyes narrowed upon her, a fist to clench at his side when he heard her confession. "All this time you've been playing me for a fool? The grieving daughter!? I should beat you for putting me though such an inconvience."

"Inconvience!?" She nearly screamed. "You plotted with my mother and murdered my father. Tell me Lord Vlaken, in what way did I inconvience you? By keeping my fathers holdings from your greedy grasp? You took my life away from me, now I'm going to take yours away from you!"

With that she stepped forward with a slash of her sword, which only nicked him as he quickly jumped back. Grabbing the dagger from his side, his sword was inside the cottage since he didn't think he'd need it. He did his best to counter each strike she lashed out against him, by mainly quick movements. He needed to get inside and get that sword.

But, before he had a chance, one presented itself to her. She had his back towards the stone stairs that ran down off the porch. He went to step back and realized there was nothing there but air. When he turned to look, that's when her blade struck out. Severing his head from his body, which rolled down the stairs and landed upon the ground. His body thudded upon the porch, the blood squiring and oozing from the severed neck, to run like a river down the steps and pool at the bottom.

He stood there for several moments, taking in the dead body, for it was no longer a man in her opinion. The one thing she couldn't understand, that even though she had gained what she wanted, it didn't make her feel elated. There was no sense of joy, no rejoicing, in fact, she didn't feel anything at all. No relief, no remorse, nothing. That in itself was disappointing.

She would then leave him as he was, regaining her horse and returing to the manor. Cleaning her blade off in the water trough within the stables, she then quickly returned to her room via the hidden passage. Once inside, she'd burn her cloths that was spattered with Lord Vlakens blood. She then went to bed, and if nothing else, she slept quite soundly that night.

A few days would pass, she continued playing the part of grieving daughter, but on her way to mending. It was then a rider approached and the manor flurished with activity. It was early in the morning when the head servant banged on her door crying out the message was urgent. Quickly dressing, and because she had been disturbed from her sleep, it was easy to play the bewildered young woman when she reached the den and the messenger that awaited her there. There was also Vlakens Bannister and head of the guards. Slow blinks as she looked from one to the other, who gazed upon her with such looks of sorrow.

"What ... what's going on?" Her voice sounded so small, which made her look even more frail.

It was the high guard, Auxtion, that stepped up to her side. "I think you should sit down for this Milady. It's not very pleasant news." With a gentle touch he'd take her arm and lead her to the small seti and assit her in sitting upon it.

It was then the Bannister stepped forth, dropping to one knee as he gently took her hand. "Lady Von Drasek, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you. Lord Vlakens body has been found near a cottage in the woods. It looks as if he's been there for several days, the animals had taken their toll. It's believe a buisness deal gone bad. There is a hunt for this man he was suppose to meet with, they will get the answers from him. You need only deal with your grief and the loss of your husband."

Now she was blinking as she looked from one to the other, at first in a faux look of disbelief, when inwardly she was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Then came the next act of her little play. A hand lifted to her brow and she'd faint dead away. The men rushed to her, laying her back on the seti and fanning her face. She could hear them talking, as the faint was as faux as her passing tears over the last few months.

"Poor child, she's lost so much. She's going to believe herself cursed."

"We have to do all we can for her, to help her adjust."

"Well, one things for certain, she'll never want for anything."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she has her fathers estates and holdings, and now Lord Vlakens!"

"How can that be? They were not yet legally wed."

"Ahh, how true. But, Lord Vlaken had me draft up a will, one that named her a sole benefitiary should anything happen to them before they were legally wed. It was to stand till their marriage, and then he'd eventually revise it. I believe in the case of an heir."

Ahh, but she knew the reason he had drafted his will the way he did, and although her actions were in the name of revenge, the vengence she unleashed would prove to be quite profitable. Ekaterina Von Drasek was now the richest woman in all of Port Kiel, and owned nearly three quarters of all it's lands, businesses, mines, and shipping industry.

This is how it all began, and why what she does isn't so much for profit as it is the thrill of playing the game.