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Before the Lies

Chapter 4 is up, people...

Before the Lies is a prequel to our previously published collaboration written with @duskwoodgirl4life, @x3kristax3 @raemae17, @babeczka415 and @julesthoughts. If you don't know these writers, you should check out more of their stuff as they are tremendously skilled and have a lot of lovely things to read.

Trap of Lies can be found on my master list or any of the other authors' master lists.

Before the Lies previous chapters: 1 2 3

Chapter 4 - Written by pahinanoel

“Darling,” Charles said looking deeply at his wife, “It has been a long day, shall we proceed to bed and end this night properly in each other’s arms? I believe the world and all of its business can wait until tomorrow.” He kissed his wife and she returned his affection, deepening the kiss. Her laughter filled the halls as he swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

Charles had to leave very early the next morning, though he made sure to leave a kiss on the cheek of his beloved wife still asleep, and on the foreheads of his son and daughter still happily tucked in their beds. They were everything to him. While he had maintained control of his business thus far, he knew he played with fire and they could all be in danger at any moment. He never wanted to forget to say goodbye properly. He left a note for Mary telling her about his early meeting and hoping that she would understand why his side of the bed would be cold when she awoke. He hated leaving them like this, but the letter that he received the previous night meant he had some things to do that would ensure their protection.

It was mornings like this when the cold nipped at his nose and chilled him to the core, in the darkness before the fog lifted and still clung to the damp air, that he was all too aware of the danger that lurked in the shadows. He knew he risked their health and happiness continuing this line of work, but he had set up several fail safes and secret protections to ensure their safety. His business offered them a lifestyle that he and the family had gotten used to, and he wasn’t sure he could find another occupation that would allow them to keep their house or carriages.

He owed Mary the best things that life could offer. She was above him in all ways, intelligent, beautiful, and strong. There was no man worthy of her. It was his fortune to have her by his side and he would never be one to forget that fact. They had secrets initially, but she eventually explained her involvement with the White Nights. Her intention to do good things within this organization made him enamored with her. She was brave and strong in a time when other women were happy to sit idly surrounded by their lovely things and watch the world move. He adored her in every way. Her passion and bravery were inspiring to him and forced him to be a better man. He only wished his intentions were as noble as hers were.

Mary awoke, finding the note on her nightstand. She missed him, but she had her own meeting this morning. It was one held in secret and while Charles had an idea of her current membership in the group, she never divulged any of the details. If she told him, it would put his life in great danger. While it was the same from his end, they never felt isolated or alone in their secrets. They both knew the ones they had to keep and allowed the other the same courtesy.

Mary put on her uniform for the monthly training meeting of the White Nights. The White Nights was a secret organization that functioned in the shadows of everyday society. They could move between the shadows, gathering information, and creating havoc when need be. They trained well and were physically able to defend themselves. They also underwent regular training sessions that kept their mental acumen in check.

Today was the physical challenge, and for that, a special uniform was worn, it consisted of a fitted corset that allowed free movement of the arms and the boning offered some protection. The pants, scandalous to wear out for a lady of her stature, were required in this field of work as the layers of dress would not be accommodating to fight off any attacker. The belt, a wide band of cloth that resembled a man’s cummerbund, allowed a slim knife to be concealed within. Sewn into the waistband were pockets and loops of varying sizes that would accommodate the needs of any assignment or specialty. These garments were dyed the color of the fog, a lightly swirled, muted gray, which reminded Mary of marble. This color was prevalent throughout the city and reflected not only in the city's walls but also in the mist, which poured into the port in most of the evening hours. The beauty of these “costumes” is that they fit easily under their usual clothing allowing them to change very quickly if the occasion were to arise. They were all issued a cape as well, the color of midnight on one side and white on the other, matching the color of the uniform. This gave them the ability to move freely in the shadows if that was required. Sometimes it became necessary to disappear to the corners of the city streets.

Maebelle snuck into the room and watched her mother get dressed. The look of admiration with which she watched her mother showed how deep the child’s affection was for her. As Mary brushed her long blonde hair and pulled it tightly into a bun, Maebelle wished she would someday be as beautiful and elegant as her mother. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be so beautiful and confident.

As Mary finished her young daughter’s hair, she moved on to her own blonde hair mimicking the hairstyle of the smaller version of herself. Looking back into the mirror, she paused at the reflection of her daughter. Maebelle’s legs swung happily off the side of the bed as she watched her mother continue to prepare for the day. She chatted constantly and Mary took great delight in the things that they discussed. Every day, Maebelle was becoming more insightful and creative. Mary smiled when she looked back at the child and imagined the woman that she would become. It was a joy to be her mother. She couldn’t imagine a better life and was very grateful for the one that had been granted her.

“Mae,” Eric said, as he peeked into his mother’s room from the hallway, “Breakfast is ready, I was told to come and get you.” He snickered, knowing she hated that name.

Mary looked at her daughter, “Yes, Love,“ she said, signaling to Maebelle, and giving her a sweet hug as she ushered her off of the bed, “Your brother is right to call you. You must go

“Your Father had his own meetings to run off to, but we shall see him for dinner.” She kissed Maebelle on the head and released her. “Go and eat with your brother. I will be down shortly.”

eat. We have important places to be this morning.”

“Is that why Papa isn’t here?” the girl asked, not wanting Mary to let her go just yet.

Mary could hear Mae running down the stairs humming a tune on her way. She took this chance to place her blade in its holster before joining her children.

Eric ruffled Mae’s hair as they heard a knock on the door. “I will get it,” Eric said and ran to the door. He loved visitors. The daily monotony of their life sometimes made him act out in an effort to fight boredom, usually this acting out was at Mae’s expense.

Jake came running through the door and headed straight for Maebelle. “Good Morning, Mae,” he said with a smile growing on his face. She pulled out a chair next to her and patted the seat inviting him to join them for the meal. Placing a plate of hot rolls and jam in front of him, she watched him as he began to eagerly partake. A typical boy, he was never complete. Maebelle didn’t understand that Jake’s life was very different from hers and the kind of food that she enjoyed was not the common fare. Jake was always hungry because he was a boy, but it was also because money was sometimes hard to come by for his mother. While she always provided, food at home wasn’t usually as good as this was. Maebelle giggled as she watched him eat. He was acting like a starved wolf at this moment, otherwise, his manners were impeccable.

Janice leaned over and spoke softly in her son’s ear, a blush alighted on his cheeks as his manners returned to him.

“Hurry with your meals, children,” Mary addressed them, “Janice and I have a very important place to be. We thought you all might enjoy some time at the library this morning if Eric will oblige and make sure that you two stay out of trouble, that is.”

“Yes, Mum,“ Eric nodded. He wasn’t much older but was used to watching out for both of them. They tended to get a little adventurous and absent-minded when they were together. Well, Maebelle was adventurous and Jake, well, he would do whatever Maebelle wanted. Eric didn’t mind watching over the two, it made him feel important and he was eager to get out of the house for a bit, “We will be good. I promise.”

Mary reached over and placed her hand on the boy’s cheek, “I know that I can trust you, Son. You have never disappointed me,” she offered him a gentle look as she spoke. Eric could both see and feel his mother’s love as it shone brightly in her eyes. It made him stand taller.

The children finished breakfast and the five placed on their coats as they headed out the door. The wind whipped around the corner almost toppling Mae to the ground.

“Shall we walk or take the carriage, dear friend?” Mary asked Janice.

“Let’s send the children on the carriage and then let’s walk, you know how the fresh air heals my soul,” Janice suggested.

Jake wanted to walk with his mother, he loved seeing her free, with the wind in her face. She seemed younger and lighter. “Mother, can’t I just go with you? I would like to go to the library, but I would love to walk with you. I can wait outside of your meeting and usher you both home. We can count the crows flying by or watch the horses run,” Jake practically begged.

“No, Son. This is not an appointment you can go to,” Janice replied, kissing his cheek. “I love spending time with you too, but we will have plenty of days for walks and many more times spent counting the crows and picking the lavender.” She kissed his cheeks. “Pick out a book that we can read tonight and we can share it before bed. Be a good lad and have fun. You are with your favorite people.” She smiled and her eyes were full of love.

“You are my favorite person,” Jake replied but knew his mother wasn’t going to budge. He accepted her answer and the mission to find the perfect book and climbed into the carriage. Mae instantly began chattering about everything on her mind. Jake watched as his mother faded out of view and eagerly set his attention on his other favorite person and her brother who he admired a great deal. It was a grand adventure to be going alone in a carriage and one that they weren’t allowed very often. As they rode quickly down the road, Maebelle’s chattering and the boy's laughter filled the air..

Mary smiled as the two women walked arm in arm down the road. This was the part of town that Janice wouldn’t normally feel comfortable in due to her status, but Mary always made her feel welcome and accepted. Their sisterhood was evident in all of her actions.

“I fear that I will have a difficult assignment today even though I just returned,’ Janice began. “I have avoided these dangers long enough.”

“Don’t let those thoughts control you. Arthur has chosen to protect you this long. He knows that Jacob has no one else and he knows your devotion to the Nights.” Mary tried to console Janice. “Isn’t it a lovely day, despite the wind? Can’t you smell the salt of the sea and the lavender in the air, and that delicious scent of mint that occasionally tickles the nose? Let’s enjoy our walk, shall we?”

Janice took her friend's advice and took in a refreshing breath of air, instantly feeling at peace. She also quite enjoyed her walk.

They arrived at the building just outside of the town. From the outside, it was a simple warehouse hidden between the estates of the wealthy and the streets of the commoners. No one paid it any attention as it looked just like the other buildings in this part of the city. The inside, however, was lavish. The walls were gilded with gold accents and banners bearing the symbol of the White Nights hung from the momentous ceiling. Lush fabric and ornate wood detailed every inch of the building. Jane, the secretary behind the front counter maintained the propriety of a professional building should an uninvited guest stumble upon the premises. She was the pulse of the company. She knew all of the assignments and all of the members, and most importantly she held all of the gossip. If you needed to know anything, she was the person to find.

The lobby opened up to a long hallway split into two equal sides. To the right were classrooms and offices, no different than any other. Students walked the hallway in hushed whispers. During their time in these classes, students were assessed for their specialties and put into groups based on their particular set of skills. Mary and Janice were classmates. Mary was charming and had social ties which meant people would divulge information to her that they wouldn’t normally divulge and as a socialite, she was allowed to enter places that most were not. Janice had an uncanny ability to read lips and, in this way, gather information where others could not. She also had special skills in retaining and repeating that intel almost verbatim. The two were placed in a specialty class together and became fast friends. The special skills these women had kept them from being put in the most dangerous situations, but they were trained as well as any other Night and could take care of themselves if things got out of control.

The other side, to the left, led to the gymnasium. It was a huge open room set up with various tools and torture equipment, as well as a training room inspired by the classic Greeks, designed to prepare the ladies for both defense and attack. Using inspiration from both the Greek warriors and the Japanese martial art form of kalarippayattu, these women became fully competent warriors able to fend off every foe.

The women were headed straight to the locker room to change for their training when Arthur stopped Janice.

Arthur was a tall man, and incredibly muscular. He was attractive, his blonde hair lit up the dark places. He could charm anyone he wanted, yet his appearance was such that few would attempt to cross him. His hazel eyes bore such an intensity that it would be impossible to avoid being intimidated by him. The women of the White Nights were not, however, intimidated. They were his army, but he was their protector and he took that responsibility very seriously. These monthly training helped Arthur, the leader of the group, keep the health and skill of his army in check. They knew that he would take care of them at all costs.

He had a special spot for Janice. He was raised by a single mother and appreciated her performance in the White Nights and the love that she showed for her son. She was a beautiful woman, but her intellect is what drew him in. Others might overlook her beauty because of her social standing, but he knew that she was of the highest caliber as a human. He knew that she would not be here if it wasn’t for her boy. The White Nights offered a certain amount of protection and security in an increasingly dangerous city.

Arthur had managed to give her easier missions over the years, keeping the safety of both her and her son in mind. The mission that he had to send her on today was a little riskier than he would like, but she had a certain skill set, one that no one came close to matching. He had faith in her ability to complete the mission and return home, but he still didn’t like it. He wouldn’t relax until she was finished with this mess.

“Follow me, “Arthur spoke to Janice, his voice firm but soft. He turned to Mary, “Mrs. Carter, your friend will join you in a moment.” Mary nodded and headed toward the locker room while Janice went after Arthur, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Mary watched her friend with sympathetic eyes, she didn’t like the look on his face. Her gut, which was never wrong, told her that Janice wasn’t going to like what she was about to hear.

His office was simple, with a plain desk and two chairs. The walls held his certificates from an unknown university overseas and a series of drawings of famous commanders and kings. Arthur motioned for her to have a seat, which she did gladly.

“Janice, I need your help. You are the only one that can complete this mission. I would send someone else, but you are the best eavesdropper we have. You are the only one that can accurately tell what information is being passed from a distance and bring that information back to me. We need this information. You won’t be in direct contact, but you do have to sneak into their main office and lie in wait to gather the information we seek. Watching every word they say and remembering it is imperative for the next mission, which of course, I can not discuss with you. You are the only one that I can trust to complete such a vital task.”

“Arthur, I do not have a choice and I will accept your mission, but could I have a couple of days to prepare things at home first. I need to see my son and find a safe place for him to be. I need to make sure he knows that I love…”

Arthur interrupted, refusing to let her give into thoughts of disaster. “That is the worst part, I fear. You must leave within the hour. Give Mrs.Carter word and see if she can watch your boy. You should be back to him in a couple of days. When you return, I will see to it that you have plenty of time with your son. I was thinking a promotion would be in order. An office job, perhaps? One that would guarantee your safety and many happy days for you and your boy?”

She nods acceptance of the task and hangs her head low. Arthur grabbed her hand in his and looked over his shoulder. In a whisper, he said, “Janice, if there was any other way to accomplish this task, I would have found it. This directive comes from Archon, the only one above me. Trust me when I say the two of us have had words about this topic. I am not pleased, but there is nothing that I can do to protect you from this. Be safe and come back home quickly. We will be waiting for you.” His eyes looked deeply into hers, much too deeply for a superior to keep eye contact. He released her hand quickly as someone walked by. He cleared his throat and straightened his tie, “Off with you now. See Mrs. Carter, she is a faithful friend and sister.”

Janice walked out of the office and asked for paper and a quill. She scrawled two notes and headed toward the training area. She signaled for Mary as she fought the tears that were forming in her eyes. “Mary, I have to go on my last mission. I have been promised that if I complete this, I will be given an official position. I can’t say no even though that is my desire.” Mary’s jaw dropped. It was just as she feared. Janice wrung her hands together and quickly put them behind her back, “Could you please watch Jacob while I am gone, and if something happens… could you…” The tears rolled down her cheeks. Mary interrupted. “Don’t expect the worst, dear friend,” Her eyes softened, and then deepened in the sincerest of emotion, “I assure you that Jacob will be taken care of in any and all situations. I love him as I do you.”

She pulled Janice into a tight hug, “Remember, emotions hold no place while on a mission. You must stay strong and focused. The world will be brighter when you return.”

Janice nodded her head and tried to maintain perspective. She handed the two notes to Mary, one addressed to her and the other to “Jacob Owen, my heart”.

Janice looked Mary in the eyes and took her hand, squeezing it tight, “Just in case...”

Mary nodded at her friend in an effort to communicate all of the things that she couldn’t say aloud. Her heart prayed that her friend would return soon.

It is said that the Nights always know when it is their time to leave this Earth and the ominous feeling Janice had earlier made her nervous. Mary hoped the superstition was nothing more than that or that somehow Janice could overcome this scenario.

Janice turned and left without looking back or speaking another word. Grabbing her equipment, she scurried out the back door and enjoyed one more breath of fresh air filled with lavender and mint, sea salt, and rosemary. She freed her mind of all of the things that could go wrong and focused on the task at hand. The thick fog sent a ripple of chills down her back forcing her to pull her cape closed as she disappeared into the cold evening mist.

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