Music Recommendation: A thorough Education- Dario Marianelli
Vincent's words left a chilly silence in the room where he stood with his family members. Marceline stared at him with an apprehensive look in her eyes. There was no way he would defang her; it was far worse than the punishment she deserved!
At the same time, Lady Annalise wasn't happy with the decision and spoke to Vincent,
"Given that Marceline's approach wasn't right and she didn't know of your thoughts about marrying this human, don't you think removing your sister's fangs is a little too much? Genevieve is not part of our family yet, and if Marceline knew about your intentions towards the woman, she wouldn't have gone that far." She turned to her husband, who stared at his daughter, and Marceline stared right back at him with a pleading look.
Eduard knew Marceline's wrong doings today. He was also aware of his leniency towards his children, but that was only when they were young.
With years that had come to pass by, where his two children had grown up, Marceline had turned to be obedient with everything he or Annalise told her. Her hate towards the humans was apparent, but as she didn't bring up regarding Katherina, he had believed or hoped that she had made her peace with her mother's death.
And despite all the things, Marceline was still his daughter, and he questioned, "Do you understand what you are saying, Vincent?"
Vincent gave a nod, "I have thought it through before mentioning it. If Allie could regrow her fangs because of her pure heart, who knows, maybe dear sister will be able to regrow them again if she changes herself for good."
Marceline retorted, "Don't you dare touch my fangs." And as she said this, there was evident fear in her dull red eyes. She shrieked when Vincent walked towards where she stood, "Father you can't let him do this to me!"
Lady Annalise tried to reason, "Why don't you just leave her after a warning. We already went through the phase of Allie being defanged, why do you want the family to go through all of it again?"
"Because Marceline isn't someone who will fix herself or her thoughts. It is time we disciplined her," Vincent stated, and he came to stand in front of Marceline, who stared at him. "What she did to Eve wasn't a basic mistake."
Marceline was left with no choice and was out of her wits, with her father not taking her side and Vincent adamant about defanging her. She finally beseeched her brother, "Now that I know she is important to you, I won't ever hurt her again!"
"Your words are similar to dust, dear sister. Easy to blow away," Vincent's eyes glowered at her.
Marceline shook her head, "No, I won't! I will be careful with my words and will never try to hurt her. Please don't defang me! Vincent!" She screamed when he didn't respond to her.
"When a person is dying, they agree to anything so that they can live, but when the threat of death doesn't hang on the person anymore, do you know what they are capable of, Marcie? Retaliation and I don't want that," he whispered, his voice emotionless.
At the back, Lady Annalise who stood next to her husband, said to him, "I don't agree in defanging her. Please, stop him. Anything else, please!"
Eduard had a frown and he spoke to his son, "I know you are upset with Marceline's actions, but is there no other way to handle this situation?"
Vincent turned his head to the side without completely looking at his parents. He said, "Marceline's actions led to Eve being dragged in the streets, stones were thrown at her, injuring her. And while this happened, people tore the clothes that she wore, called her undeserving names for something she never did. Rumours had spread of her holding an ill character, where the people of the town don't hold the same relationship with her as they did in the past. How about we try it with you, Marcie?"
Marceline's eyes widened at the question that was asked to her. "What?" She whispered.
Vincent lacked empathy or sympathy towards Marceline even though they were related by blood. A small sinister smile appeared on his lips. He said, "If you don't want your fangs to be removed, then you shall undergo similar treatment as what happened to Eve. You wanted fairness and to keep your fangs, this is a fair option for you to choose because your fangs will still be with you."
Both options that were offered to her would make her lose the reputation she had built for herself, and if there was something precious to Marceline, it was the respect, reputation, and her family name that was enough for any person to think twice before talking to her.
"No..." Marceline whispered, and knowing Vincent was firm with his decision, she turned to look at her parents hoping to get their help. She pleaded, "Please don't do this to me. It was just one mistake, and I won't repeat it!" Tears started to fall from her eyes, streaking down her cheek and some falling on the carpeted floor.
Eduard then said, "You will apologise to Ms. Barlow tomorrow."
Marceline was grateful to have a kind father, and she was quick to comply with his words. She nodded vigorously and said, "I will do that!"
It was much better than losing her fangs or being dragged in the streets, and Marceline would be able to gather some mere words for the human when she arrived at the mansion.
"You will apologise to her in Meadow. In front of everyone for what you did. Until she doesn't forgive you, you will not leave the town," Eduard added, and hearing these words, Marceline stared at her father.
"You want me to grovel in front of everyone?" Marceline reconfirmed with her father.
"Yes," Eduard nodded, a soft sigh escaping from his lips, and he said, "From what Vincent said, Ms. Barlow must have gone through a painful time. This is something you can do, can't you?"
Vincent's eyes narrowed, and he said, "And what if Eve cannot forgive Marceline?"
"Then Ms. Barlow will decide Marceline's punishment," Eduard spoke in an even tone. He said, "I know you are furious for what your sister did, but we cannot discard the fact that she belongs to our family. Blood sticks together, through thick and thin, and I know that is why you have spared her... But this is a feud between Marceline and Ms. Barlow, and I would like to know how Ms. Barlow feels."
"So that Marceline can repeat it in the future?" Vincent remarked, his voice holding voidness in it.
Eduard shook his head, "Marceline is aware of your anger and she knows you better than the rest in the room that you won't hold back if something else happens, neither would the members of the Moriarty family."
He turned to his daughter and said, "Also to add to your punishment, you will forget about the Duke of Woodlock and marry Horace."
"Father, you cannot do this to me! Does the matters of my heart mean nothing to you?!" Marceline cried.
"You can either choose to do what father said, or prepare yourself to lose your fangs," Vincent stated, knowing his sister was torn between the two sides of her pride.
"Mother please!" Marceline pleaded, but Lady Annalise was more than happy to keep her daughter's fangs rather than be married to a werewolf.
Vincent cracked his fingers, and his bones made noise against the quiet room. He questioned, "Did you think your actions would not have any consequences, Marcie? Remember that it is your selfishness that brought you to this crossfire."
"I'd rather die..." Marceline whispered, and she stared at her brother. "I pick death over my pride and respect being ruined!" She tried to guilt her parents, who frowned at her words. "All of you chose a human, who isn't even part of the family yet. You chose to abandon me, when the same thing is done by Vincent, you forgive him readily! Why am I always the second person! I deserve to be first, and if not first, I prefer to die. So kill me."
Vincent chuckled before his face turned serious, saying, "You aren't guilty for hurting an innocent person." He said, "This is why I said she needs to be defanged."
"Kill me, father and mother. Do it right now, before I realise I was never important to you. It is only Vincent and Allie who are important. Even for Vincent I was never important, and I was just someone," Marceline held sorrow in her eyes as she said these words, as if she was internally hurting at their actions and words.
"Don't speak recklessly, Marceline. You can pick what Vincent said, or what I said," Eduard stated, knowing his punishment was less harsh than his son's.
But Marceline shook her head and caught hold of Vincent's hand, placing it on her neck. She ordered, "Kill me right now! I don't want to live in this place anymore!"
"What is with the madness, Marceline! Don't kill her!" Lady Annalise slightly fretted as things had taken a worse turn.
"No," Marceline shook her head and made Vincent grip her neck. She said, "I do not want to live with my life being decided in unfairness." She then grabbed his other hand so her brother could pull her heart.
But the truth was that Marceline didn't want to die. She wanted to live and she wanted everything to go her way. She only said it so her parents would succumb and not go through with the said punishment. She had tried to live her life the way she wanted, and she wasn't going to let anyone ruin it for her! Not her parents, not her brother, no one!
The young vampiress knew if Vincent was truly cold and detached towards her, he would have buried her by now, but his hands were tied because they were siblings with the same mother. The mother he so much cherished.
"Fine," Vincent's hollow reply alerted Marceline. Right now, his eyes lacked any emotions. He stated, "If death is what you seek, then let me be the one to deliver it."
Eduard and Lady Annalise suddenly turned distressed by Vincent's words. But by then Vincent's hand squeezed his sister's neck, while his other hand began to move towards her chest.
Marceline opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out, and she closed her eyes in fear.
Instead of piercing his fingers through Marceline's chest, Vincent raised his hand and broke one of the vampiress's fangs from her mouth by pushing it.
