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eddysocs · 1 year

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Crimson & Clover - Chapter One (Stars Will Align)

Summary: It’s been a while since the three ladies had so much as occupied the same room, and the surprise of blackmail brings along with it some old resentments and maybe a chance for new beginnings.

Pairing: Blanche White x Jocelyn Scarlet x Maribel Clover (OC)

Word Count: 1,000

Warnings: Mentions of blackmail, very mild anxiety

The sky had been warmly lit by the setting sun as Maribel Clover departed her New England home for the Boddy Estate as the invitation instructed. During her drive, she watched as time elapsed and the full moon replaced the sun, casting a cooler source of light on the road, enhanced only by the glittering nighttime stars. But as she continued to drive, what light there was guiding her path slowly began to be snuffed out, encroached upon by dark clouds. It was about to rain.

Not accustomed to driving in such inclement weather, Maribel's nerves were quickly frayed by the added stress of her ride to the home of her blackmailer. She was respectable now, she reminded herself, hands gripping the wheel so tight that her knuckles were white and would undoubtedly be stiff when she went to move them. All she had to do was tell this Mr. Boddy that whatever he may have on her could not harm her anymore and she could be done with the remnants of her past once and for all.

Three hours it took her to drive there. Had it not been for the rain, she may have been able to shorten the drive about a half an hour or so, but the showers had been heavy at times and she wasn’t about to get herself killed over this. It was bad enough that she’d been summoned here at all.

When she finally arrived, she parked her car in the drive behind several other vehicles, questioning if they all belonged to the owner of this estate. Maribel stepped out of her car onto the wet, stone walkway that led to the door. She was thankful the rain had stopped for the moment, as she’d left her umbrella behind at home. The door was opened before she could even lift a hand to it and, startled, she slowly lowered it back to her side. "Miss Clover, I presume. You’re the last of our cozy little group to arrive. My name is Wadsworth. The others are waiting in the study."

"I hope I haven’t held anyone up. If I'm being honest, I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be here."

"Not at all, my dear," Wadsworth replied, deliberately not addressing her concerns about there being 'others' in the house. "After all, someone has always got to be last, no?"

"I suppose you’re right," Maribel replied, already somewhat distracted.

"May I take your coat?"

Maribel had been taking in her surroundings, noticing the detail work in the foyer where they stood, and hadn’t heard Wadsworth's offer right away. Once she’d realized what he asked, she turned to him, smiled, and turned back, allowing him to help slip her fur lined coat off of her shoulders.

"Follow me," Wadsworth then instructed, leading the way to the study where the rest of the night's guests awaited. Fascinated with the architecture of the old mansion, Maribel ran her fingertips over several stone and wooden surfaces as they passed by. Dust came away from the surfaces on onto her fingers. She frowned, rubbing her hands together to dispel the dust as they came into the study. It was only when she raised her eyes from her hands that she caught sight of two familiar faces.

She fought the urge to show the shock on her face at seeing both Blanche White and Jocelyn Scarlet once again in the same room with her. Perhaps this blackmail ran deeper than just her. Surely, why else would the others have come, Blanche and Jocelyn especially, if not to protect their reputations?

It was strictly a no first names arrangement according to Wadsworth, so she’d have to be extra careful not to slip. As if she didn’t have enough worries already. Did the others know as much as she did? Did anyone here, other than the three of them, know each other? So many questions ran through her mind, and yet she could ask none of them for fear of outing herself, her own connections and her entire reason for being here. Silently, Maribel let out a sigh. What a joy.

As Wadsworth explained that dinner was to be served shortly, Maribel tuned him out in favor of observing the two women she knew. Blanche, dressed head to toe in her usual black, looked just as she remembered her. Maribel kept her gaze on her until Blanche caught her eye, and Maribel quickly pretended to have been looking elsewhere. After a moment, her gaze focused again, shifting now to Jocelyn, dressed impeccably as well.

Blanche's eyes followed Maribel's and now the both of them were watching Jocelyn. Once again caught, Jocelyn wordlessly sent a taunting little wave in Maribel's direction. While it may have appeared innocent to anyone else, it was that tell tale smirk that accompanied it that made Maribel instantly realize that Jocelyn remembered her too. So much for her attempt at a low profile.

If Blanche had recognized either of them, she was smartly keeping her mouth shut on the matter. Very like her, Maribel recalls bitterly. Yet now was no time for embittered recollections of times past and mistakes made. She had to focus on putting together the pieces of this puzzle. There were strings here that tied them all together. There must be. Why else go to all this pomp and circumstance, inviting them all here for some sort of twisted blackmail dinner party?

While the mystery of the gathering itself intrigued her, Maribel couldn’t help but come back to Blanche and Jocelyn. Had the stars aligned to bring them all back under the same roof, or was it merely some wild coincidence? If in fact it was only coincidence, then how strange it was to meet them both again, here of all possible places. She could have trolled their old haunts and probably had less of a chance of seeing either of them, but an old, dusty, secluded mansion was the thing that brought them all together again.