The Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Oppression and Vulnerability: Part 2
Previous Instalments:
- Oppression and Vulnerability: Part 1 – Cathryn’s Struggle: Defiance Against Darkness
Introduction:
The year was 1819; the air of St. Peter’s field in Manchester crackled not just with potential; but the stench of fear and simmering resentment – thousands had gathered, a sea of working-class faces, the demands were simple ‘Representation’ but, they were not met with dialogue, instead – they were met with the vicious snarl of sabres and the thunder of hooves; The Peterloo Massacre had begun
As Yeomanry charged into the defenceless throng; limbs were severe, skulls cracked and hope was drowned in a river of blood – but far removed from all of this carnage, within the opulence of a drawing room in a London townhouse, a different kind of terror was being discussed.
Wealthy industrialists, landed gentry and ambitious politicians huddled together, their faces etched with apprehension – the spectre of revolution haunted their gilded cage; they could not have a repeat of what had happened in France, and yet, here in Britain the seeds of discontent had begun to sprout.
“The rabble of becoming emboldened” Lord Barkley declared; his voice trembled slightly “Demanding rights they have no claim too, if we do not act decisively, we risk yet another Revolution, and what then?; would we face yet another Napoleon?”
A chorus of nervous agreements rippled through the room; then, a figure stood up, he was unremarkable in appearance, yet, he radiated an unsettling aura of authority – his eyes, deep-set and piercing, held a cold-intelligence that sent a shiver down the spine of even the most hardened of aristocrats “Gentlemen” he said – a resonant hum commanded the attention of those present “The Imperium has observed your…, predicament; we are prepared to offer our assistance”
Intrigued murmurs filled the room “The Imperium?” Lord Barkley inquired, subtly adjusting his cravat “What is this ‘Imperium’ and what form does your assistance take?”
The stranger smiled; a thin, unsettling expression that revealed nothing “The Imperium is…, an organisation that is ‘dedicated’ to maintaining ‘order’” there is a pause; he didn’t want to reveal too much, they may reject the Imperium if they was to know the true extent of what they really sought “As for our assistance…, let us simply say; we have our ways of…, ‘persuading’ people who threaten the established order”
The room fell silent; the promise of power, security – it hung heavy in the air, the assembled elites, blinded by greed and a fear of the working class failed to see the darkness that lurked beneath the strangers carefully chosen words; they readily accepted, and unknowingly they set the gears in motion – the Imperium had secured its grip, while fragile, Britain would succumb, like so many others, it didn’t matter how long; the Imperium was insidious.
Chapter 1
Eighty-One Years Later – the fog choked streets of London bore witness to a meeting of a different sort; within the grand offices of a powerful shipping magnate; the same insidious influence was at work – George Smythe, a powerful businessman – in this meeting he came representing the Imperium’s council; but also, as leader of the Cult of the Minotaur, he had his own personal reasons for wanting this meeting to be organised.
As George sat across from the group of prominent politicians and industrialists; a second Imperium council member was present; Edward, he was much younger than George, George himself was nearing his Fifties, while Edward was in his thirties “The Imperium’s interests are clear” George stated, his voice low but with a commanding rumble “This rising tide of Unionism and Socialist rhetoric must be snuffed out” he stated, this wasn’t a request; it was an order “The bill that our Imperium has presented to you, needs to be passed, to give the authorities the power to supress any and all subversive activities”
A nervous MP dared to speak “But…, Mister Smythe, such a blatant curtailment of rights would provoke a backlash; we risk inciting the very unrest you seek to prevent”
George’s eyes narrowed “Risk is inherent in progress; the Imperium understands the long game, we have done this for centuries, and the long game…, it requires sacrifice” he gaze swept across the room “The servile people of this land will stamp and shout; but that is all it will be; that is all it will ever be”
The agreement, while the politicians are reluctant, reach an agreement, the insidious policy will be taken to parliament; to be put forwards and voted on, with George’s influence, the Imperium would most likely achieve its aim – however, just as the meeting was coming to its end, a thunderous roar ripped through the building.
An explosion of unimaginable force tore the room apart; sending bodies flying and the opulent furnishings scattering like toys.
George, thrown to the floor, felt a searing pain in his side; slowly he began moving, despite his body screaming in pain with each movement, he rose upwards and began to brush off shards of glass and splinters from his tailored suit – the room was a scene of carnage, bodies, mangled beyond recognition were scattered about, blood splatters coated the wall in crimson with a mix of black soot – the air rancid with the scent of acrid smoke.
Edward, his face covered in blood stumbled forwards towards George, his voice was hoarse “What in god’s name just happened!”
George surveyed the devastation with a chilling calm “An Assassination attempt my friend” he said with a rather detached tone “Clearly…, someone objects to our methods” a flicker of rage burned within his eyes that he quickly supressed “They shall learn the Imperium does not take kindly to actions such as this”
Outside, amidst the chaos that was a result of the explosion; Xian stood, his features were impassive, he stood out as an oddity amongst the crowd of terrified people, he, unlike those around him, stood observing the ruined building – he had hoped for a clean, swift strike; to take George out.
His gamble though; failed – when he saw George and Edward emerge from the ruins, the figure silhouetted against the flames; a wave of despair washed over Xian, he had underestimated Smythe and in doing so, he had likely condemned Cathryn to a far worse fate than what she was already enduring.
Chapter 2
The Smythe Estate, nestled along the Thames was a monument to wealth and power; a towering wall, patrolled by guards, encircled the grounds, it effectively isolated its inhabitants from the outside world – the manor itself was a gothic monstrosity of dark stone and shadowed windows which exuded an oppressive atmosphere of dread.
Within these walls, Cathryn existed as a prisoner of her own life – ten years she had been living amongst the Smythe family, ten-years she had raised her two twin daughters, the product of a union with George – despite her love for her daughters, and initial feelings for Geroge, those ten years had been agonising, it had been a slow push, but it became clear George had planned everything out meticulously – she had fallen right into the trap.
She had been a fiery spirit that had once opposed the Imperium, she had sought to destroy them – even when she realised George was aware of her activities, it was the lack of action he took that allowed her to continue without issue, if anything; George had been protecting her, keeping her safe even as she caused utter-chaos for many of the Imperium’s activities, but, it had all served a purpose she had no clue about – each Cultist and Imperium loyalists she took out or disrupted; each criminal she had committed to ending the life of – all had been the very people George needed removing.
She only now realised to the extent of how her actions while harming to the Imperium; strengthened George’s control and influence.
When her daughters were born; everything changed – the supportive, loving husband he acted as grew colder, darker – her fire, once an burning inferno had dwindled to a flickering ember.
Her thoughts were consumed by her daughters; particularly Lydia, who George had seized upon as the perfect target to try breaking Cathryn’s will – Lydia, unlike Elizabeth followed her mothers moral compass, she was also much more innocent compared to Elizabeth, much more naïve – this only became more clear once George began their ‘education’.
Elizabeth and Lydia were forced to witness the torture and butchering of animals; he claimed it would toughen them up – in reality, it was to prepare them, to mould them into instruments of the Cult of the Minotaur.
Lydia with her Raven-Dark hair and Silvery-Grey eyes, possessing an innocence that made her such an easy target she was sensitive, empathetic and utterly incapable of understanding the cruelty of her surroundings – nightmare plagued her, her cries of terror echoed through the silent halls.
Cathryn longed to protect her; to shield her from it all, but she was powerless – George had made certain of that, he used her love of her daughters to twist her, to subject her to his insidious control – each day the walls of her prison seemed to close in, suffocating her.
Chapter 3:
In the training hall; William – George’s eldest from a previous union, relentlessly drilled Elizabeth in the art of knife-combat; his methods were brutal, his instructions delivered with a cruel satisfaction. “Again!” he barked; slamming his forearm into Elizabeth’s wrist – forcing her to drop the knife “You hesitate; Hesitation is death!”
Elizabeth, her face contorted with pain gritted her teeth; she snatched up the knife again, her icy-eyes, so much like her fathers, burned with a fierce determination – she wouldn’t fail, she would prove herself for her fathers approval and brothers respect.
William showed no mercy; delivering powerful blows, demonstrating wrist-locks and disarming techniques – each strike was designed to deliver the maximum of pain, to test Elizabeth’s resolve.
Elizabeth though, endured, she pushed, fuelled by a desperation for validation – she craved her fathers attention; his love – a love that she believed only came through unwavering obedience and ruthless efficiency.
The Imperium’s education taught that weakness was a sin; and that strength was the only truth worth pursuing.
Chapter 4
George returned to the manor; his anger simmered beneath a veneer of icy control – he summoned a servant, ordering for Cathryn to meet him in the study.
Behind his mahogany desk, he poured himself a drink; a glass of aged brandy, the clinking crystal the only sound in the room; the air was thick with unspoken tension.
When Cathryn arrived; she entered hesitantly, her shoulder slumped, eyes devoid of hope – she could sense a shift within the atmosphere, a gathering storm that was intended to break her; George turned to face her, his expression unreadable “I have news of your friend; Xian”
Cathryn raised her head, she looked at George with a confused expression; but her heart leapt with the flicker of hope but, it was quickly snuffed out by the coldness within George’s eyes.
“He attempted to assassinate me”
Cathryn’s eyes widened, her hands moved up quickly to cover her mouth; she had not known Xian planned such a reckless action – she had wanted help, desperately, but only to escape, not for assassination.
George watched her reaction with a detached amusement “You see Cathryn; your defiance is…, tiresome, I had hoped that your love for our daughters would have been enough; enough to break you, to mould you into the obedient wife I desired you to be” his tone progressively became colder “But you remain defiant”
He paused; his voice taking a more sinister edge “Therefore; I have decided to give you what you want; I will give you your freedom”
Cathryn stared at him; she was confused “Freedom?; what do you mean?”
“I mean exactly that; you are free to leave, to return to whatever life you desire; if you want, you can even go and warn your friend Xian that we will be coming for him” he lips curved slowly into a sinister smirk, he was enjoying her confusion, the look of hope that his words seemed to be giving her – then, he twisted the knife “However, you are leaving without our daughters”
The colour drained from Cathryn’s face “No” she whispered; her voice trembling “You can’t do that; you can’t take them away from me, or me from them”
“On the contrary” George said, approaching her, his eyes fixed on her like a predator “They are the future of the Imperium; and I do not need you to taint them with your…, weaknesses”
Cathryn sank down to her knee’s “Please…, no…, don’t separate me from them; please don’t!” she begged “I’ll do what you want, I’ll submit; I will submit; just don’t take them away from me!”
George scoffed – he shook his head as he gestured dismissively “Your pleas are meaningless; you had your chance, you will suffer the consequences of your choices”
Summoning two of the guards from outside the study; he gestured for them to remove Cathryn; as they seized her, her screams erupted through the manor as she was pulled away.
The screams drew Lydia out; drawn to the commotion, she saw what was happening, she watched with horrified eyes as her mother was dragged away, pleas of mercy falling on deaf ears – as she made a move to chase, a hand gripped her shoulder – the touch was firm.
She twisted; her eyes landing on her father – George’s eyes glinted with cruel amusement “Your mother needs to leave Lydia” he said; his voice was mocking “She is not strong enough for this family” he knew exactly how much Lydia depended upon Cathryn, and how much she would suffer without her presence.
Lydia stared at her father; her heart sank as she realised just what all of this meant – she was alone, trapped in the hands of a cruel and sadistic man, and the mercy of her siblings; the darkness closed in, that last spark of hope had been snuffed out.
Written By: Westley H.
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