A/N: Yea... I needed to time up one last loose end before we move on.this is gonna be a short chapter, but I never intended it to be a long one to begin with. I jist wanted to get this out of the way before i forgot about it.So you have been warned. Not much to say, so on to the story ...[ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ]

{ Chapter 47: With Impunity }Principality of Italica, 01:12 Hrs.

The ominous sounds of the other worlders' fantastic machines filled the cold night air, as a lone figure as fast as he could through the forest.

Despite is old age, the former Head Butler of the Formal Household had somehow managed just barely make it out of Italica, before the gates were closed. In front of him was an uncertain future that would most likely be filled with strife and hardship. In his old age, Bartholomew should not have had to worry about such unpleasant thoughts. But actions have consiquencies and if the Other Worlders caught him, he would be forced to face them and considering what he had done, it was unlikely the old man would die of old age.

Those blasted Other Worlders! Curse them all! if it wasn't for them, his final years would have most likely been filled with fine wines and beautiful women. Or at least that was what the Butler turned Fugitive thought, as he navigated through the darkness. Bartholomew may have now faced a uncertain future because of his actions, but it was still better that a guaranteed death that would be his reward if he were to be captured.

In assisting the Haryo in their attempt to kill Tyuule, Bartholomew had more or less signed his own death warrent. The old man had gotten sloppy, the Other Worlders were able to link the Butler to the assassination attempt with the help of Kaine and her maids. Only by luck had the man avoided being arrested, as he was making his way home after one of him many evening outs, when one of his neighbours told him that the Other Worlders were looking for him.

Knowing that time was now running out, Bartholomew made way out of Italica before any alarm was raised. But that was only the easy part. Bartholomew needed to get as far away as possible from both his former employers and the wrath of the Other Worlders. But it was Kaine and her Maids that really frightened the old man, as he knew better than anyone that the Late Count's Maids were in fact bodyguards for not only himself, but his family as well. A family Bartholomew had attempted to place in danger by linking them to a assassination.

Bartholomew did not know if said attempt had been successful or not, but that was the least of his worries at the moment. As he could hear one of the Other Worlder's flying machines approach his location. He knew if he had stayed with that merchant convoy, the other worlders would have found him with ease. Which was why Bartholomew had fled into the forest as soon as he had the oportunity.

Reaching into his pocket, the old man took out a small pouch and proceeded to down its contents into his mouth. It was a special mixture of herbs and other organic materials which he had used for the last few years. Normaly, the lustful Butler would use said mixture to give him the energy he needed to... "enjoy" himself with the many women he had hired in the past. Now he was using it to give him the energy he needed to flee Italica once and for all.

But Bartholomew was not completely unprepared for his sudden departure from the City State, as he had created a safe house for himself over the years that not even his late friend and former count knew about. This particular house was nothing more than a crude home built in a cave where Bartholomew would sometimes use when he hired companionship for himself. But the Butler also kept a change of clothes and even a couple pouches of gold just in case he needed to flee from Italica. Which he was doing right now.

It was not much, but it was enough for him to at least pay for passage to any city in Falmart and even rent a space for himself. If he could just get to his safe house, then he could lay low for a few days before moving on to his next destination. Maybe Elbe or even one of the Empire's coastal Colonies?

As he continued to stumble through the darkness, Bartholomew could hear the sounds of the Other Worlders get softer and softer. They were moving away from him, probably to search somewhere else. A joyous feeling soon fell upon the elderly Butler turned Fugitive, he was going to get away after all! But no sooner had those thoughts flashed across his mind, a small dagger flew out from the darkness and struck the old man in his left shoulder from behind.

Bartholomew cried out in pain, as the sharp blade embedded itself into his flesh and soaked his already dirty shirt in his own blood. Yet, the former butler bit through the pain and continued to press on into the darkness. He could not afford to stop now, he was so close! But no sooner had the first dagger struck, another one flew out and this time, embedded itself in Bartholomew's lower back. The impact alone sending the old man tumbling and down a near by river bed.

Now covered in blood, dirt and mud, Bartholomew tried to get up and flee his would be attackers. But for some reason, his legs refused to move him. As a matter a fact the former butler soon realized that he could not feel his legs at all! A sense of dread soon came over the old man, as he desperately tried to drag himself towards the treeline to hide. His dreams of escaping quickly evaporating with every second.

The Forest was not quite, too quiet for the old man's liking. He was so close... so close!

"Show yourselves! " the wounded man cried out into the darkness, both pain and fear evident in his voice as he spoke. "I want to see the faces of my killers!"

Sadly, this one final request would never be granted, as the former butler suddenly felt a sharp blade pressed against his neck.

"This is for Delilah you bastard!" a female voice said coldly and in one swift move, Bartholomew was no more. His lifeless body slumping on itself, as blood oozed out of his neck and covered him in red.

Persia never liked the idea of killing, nor did she like the sight of blood. But Bartholomew had crossed the line when he attempted to Frame the Formal Clan for a crime that could have resulted in her losing the only home she had ever known. Thanks to him, one of he dearest friends was fighting for her life in the Other Worlder Fortress and all because of his disgusting hobbies involving women.

Only by the grace of the Great Mother (Goddess of the Cat People. I made that up) did the Other Worlders did not go into a blind fury because of Bartholomew's actions. Madame Kaine was not the type to order such a mission to any one of her maids, but Bartholomew had trick one of her girls in an attempt to stir up trouble with the Other Worlders. HER GIRLS.

To Kaine, the young women under her charge were not just maids, but her family. Her Daughters, even if they were not human like herself and no one messed with her Family. Bartholomew was a threat, he needed to pay for his actions and pay he did in full. There here special places in Hardy's realm for people like the late butler/traitor, a place Persia was more than happy to send him to.

Washing off her blade in the river water, the catgitl/maid took one final look at Bartholomew's body resting against the boulder. She didn't smile, nor did she scowl at the sight before her. She just shook her head before making her way back into the forest and back towards Italica. Leaving Bartholomew's body to rot in the wilderness for his crimes.

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A/N: I did say it was a short chapter, didn't I?

Now for some news that may or may not make you cry... I am not going to be updating "The Geronimo Offensive" anytime soon and I am even considering writing it over. I thought I could write both that story and this one at the same time, but things are getting stressful on your end ( in the middle of a major surge in Covid cases) and trying to work on two stories is just a bit too much for me .

And even then, I think I might just rewrite the whole thing because I think I could do better. But not right now. Sorry if I burst your bubble.

But don't worry, I will get back to it eventually. So until next time... Nightstalker out!