Her Graceful War Song

I watched as Stephen continued to speak such cruel, cutting words. It was as though he was trying to push Rhea to take her own life, so he wouldn't need to do the deed himself.noveldrama

"Your whole family is dead, and here you are, still alive, half-mad and useless. You're a disgrace, just like everyone else in your family. You dared to mock me for failing the examination? All of you deserve to die. Do you see that rope in the woodshed? Hang yourself with it. That way, you'll be reunited with your family.

"If you stay alive, they'll be trapped in the deepest hell. They'll burn every day, as well as have their tongues torn out and their hearts gouged. This is your punishment. This is the heavens' justice. Your whole family was wicked-always spreading lies and stirring up trouble. This is the price you pay. Evil people don't deserve to live."

The more I listened, the more furious I became. The one who had done evil was him, yet here he was, twisting words and pretending he was the righteous one.

Rhea was already half-mad. If he kept provoking her like that, it was possible she might truly take her own life.

I flung open my door and rushed out. Our rooms were right next to each other, so by the time I reached Rhea's, Stephen had not yet reacted and still had his hand pressed over her mouth. When he saw me, there was panic in his eyes. He let go of her at once.

Rhea had tears streaming down her face from fear, but she didn't scream. She didn't even make a sound.

I looked Stephen straight in the eye. "You're the one who killed her family."

There was a flicker of alarm in his expression, but he quickly arranged his face into one of innocence. "Who are you? What nonsense are you spouting? My mother was simply worried about Rhea and asked me to check on her."

"Drop the act. I heard everything. You were trying to coax her into killing herself," I said coldly.

Stephen was clever, too clever. He pretended to be shocked and said, "That's nonsense! My family has always taken care of her. Why would we wish her harm? And who are you, to make such wild accusations?

"You must speak with proof. When did I ever say I killed her family? Did anyone else hear it? Do you have evidence? Our families have always been close-why would I harm them? And what about you? What are you doing here, sneaking around at this hour? Don't leave. I'm going to call the authorities."

When I saw the shameless, smug look on his face, I was so angry that I wanted to wring his neck!

"It was you! You killed my parents, my brother, and my little sister. It was you!" Rhea cried out.

Stephen chuckled. "Rhea, you said those very same words in front of the judge. You even claimed the judge himself was the murderer. Your testimony counts for nothing. And truly, I am not the killer. I only came tonight because my mother asked me to. She feared you were having nightmares and might hurt yourself. She's ill, yet is still thinking of you. Is this how you repay her?"

"No, that's not what I meant!" Rhea sobbed, shaking her head.

"That's exactly what you meant. You're ungrateful. My mother treats you like her own daughter, yet you suspect her son?"

"It was you... It was you..." Rhea trembled as she pointed at him.

In her eyes, I saw something I couldn't name-terror, perhaps, or despair.

At that moment, I felt certain he was the murderer. He could deny it now all he liked and it wouldn't matter. I would make him confess.

Without

sharply on the back of the the back of the head. He collapsed at once, and I

is nother word, I struck him

coldly, watching over

Rhea stared at the scene, stunned. The usual emptiness in her eyes had cleared. She looked present and alert.

Hoping she had regained some clarity, I gently asked, "He's the one who did it, isn't he?"

Her sobs quieted. She nodded firmly, hatred in her eyes. "It was him."

"Why did he kill your family?" I asked, my tone softening. "How did he do it?"

Rhea shook her head violently, her voice trembling. "I don't know... I don't know."

I watched her eyes grow blank

again, her face tight with fear, her

mind beginning to unravel. I realized

then she was remembering the

horrors of that night, and her

emotions were slipping beyond her

control.

I was afraid she might scream, so I decided to remove Stephen first.

It didn't matter if Rhea couldn't recall the details. I would make sure Stephen confessed.

Under the cover of darkness, I took

him to the cellar beneath

Glimmering Tower. A bucket of icy

water to the face, followed by two sharp slaps-right hand, then backhand-cracked him back to consciousness.