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Last of the Fae Chapter 81: Setting Up Shop Pt. 4
🕑 Added 2024-12-19 02:54:10 +0000 UTCWhen Rita received Thane's letter in the middle of the night, she eagerly accepted his proposal to hold an exclusive interview with the promise that she could have an exclusive position in his future company.
The truth was that Rita could care less about Thane's job offer or his bold claim of revolutionizing the alchemical industry. All she wanted was to prove how much of a bumbling idiot Thane Fae was, just like the rest of Britain's wizarding nobles.
Her hatred of high society and its participants originated from her years in Hogwarts. New to the school, all Rita wanted was to be known by everyone and adored. A modest dream but one that Rita worked tirelessly for. Eventually, Rita realized that she didn't need to win the favor of Jane and John Doe in school; she just needed to ingrain herself with those who mattered most. With that, Rita set her sights on climbing the social hierarchy of secondary school, but there was one obstacle in her path. Anybody who was somebody in Hogwarts belonged to the Slug Club, an exclusive societal club run by Professor Horace Slughorn, who invited students of prominent backgrounds and budding potential in order to curry favor with them so that when they graduated, Slughorn could reap the benefits of having a positive mentor relationship with the future leaders of Wizarding Britain.
Of course, Rita didn't fit these criteria. Still, she worked tirelessly, sucking up to Professor Slughorn for months until he finally invited her to one of the lavish dinners he often hosted. That night, Rita put on her finest dress, ready to take her rightful place among the elite, who she would win over with her irresistible charm.
When Rita arrived at the party, she saw a sight that only her dream could compare to: lavish decorations and finery, and the air buzzing with quiet but energetic chatter as men and women conversed, exchanging secrets they dare not utter elsewhere but in the comfort of their own. At that moment, Rita got her first glimpse of the room where everything happened, where the future heirs of dynasties and legacies built relationships and vied for power.
But what was supposed to be her glorious ascension turned into a nightmare as Rita fell victim to a cruel prank. She remembered it clear as day: someone offered her a drink, a tall, elegant flute glass filled halfway with golden sparkling ambrosia. Rita took it with a polite smile and lifted the glass so elegantly up to her lips just as she had practiced and sipped on the nectar of the elite.
But the moment the liquid touched her tongue, a numbing sensation spread through Rita's entire body, followed by an almost painfully itching. Rita looked down as countless dark red welts popped up from her skin; in terror, Rita screamed and dropped her glass, which shattered as it fell to the ground, drawing every eye in the room.
A burst of laughter sounded, followed by another, and before long, the room was drowned in a cacophony. Rita felt her knees turn to jelly, but it didn't stop her from turning around and running all the way back to her dorm, tears streaming down her face the entire way.
Rita eventually found out that her misfortune was a source of amusement for the regular attendees, who frowned at someone of her standing joining their club. It was then that Rita swore vengeance against those who had laughed at her misfortune and to expose the awful people they were.
Three months later, Rita posted her first journalistic piece under the pseudonym Scarab, showing photographic proof that Bilton Bilmes, a Third Year in Hufflepuff, was cheating on his girlfriend with a first year. The news spread like wildfire, and Rita basked in the warmth as she watched Bilton's life crumble to ruins around him. A fitting fate as the loathsome prankster was the one who had handed her the glass spiked with Bulbadox powder.
Rita turned her newfound passion into a professional career, taking every opportunity to expose the truth of the world, one ruled by monsters dressed in finery, to the public.
So, it was no surprise that Rita absolutely despised Thane. Despite being a muggle-born orphan with nothing to his name, the lowest of the low, he had somehow defied all odds and risen to the very top, accomplishing everything Rita had ever dreamed of with seemingly little to no effort.
Even since then, Rita had been waiting for the chance to write an article about Thane, but never in a thousand years did she expect Thane to ask for an exclusive interview with her.
As she and her crew made their way to the local Thane had given in the letter, Rita could barely contain her excitement, 'That snotty brat, thinking he could bribe me like it's such an honor to work under him and invest in his 'company.''
Rita thought, practically vibrating with anger as she stopped in front of Mr Mulpepper's Apothecary, or at least where Mr. Mulpepper's store had been.
Her crew froze as they all turned and stared at the building before breaking out into hushed mutters as they talked amongst themselves. Making her way to the front, Rita adjusted her glasses as she took in the store, which was out of place and sharply constructed the muted and dark color of the surrounding buildings.
The light grey stone, covered in lush vegetation, caught Rita's eye thanks to its vibrant color palette. However, as she took a closer look, she realized, 'They're all alchemical plants.'
Recovering from her light shock, Rita looked for a door or window, hoping to get a glimpse of the inside. The only thing besides solid rock and plants was a stone archway with the familiar insignia of House Fae in silver inlay.
"Hello....is there anybody in there?" Rita called out severely, doubting that her voice would pierce through the thick stonewalls.
There was a pause before Rita moved to address her film crew, only to catch a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye as the insignia revealed itself to be a self-opening doorway. Rita turned back around just as a towering figure crossed the doorway to stand before them.
In that moment, Rita felt her expectations of Thane start to crumble. Going into this, she didn't know what the young man would look like or the features he would possess. But it certainly wasn't rich dark skin, a chiseled jawline, and steady green eyes that shone like emerald and exuded an unshakable strength and confidence.
"Mrs. Skeeter, right on time, exactly what I expected from someone of your caliber."
"Fae-I mean Lord Fae!" Rita exclaimed in shock, almost forgetting to address Thane by his noble title before quickly collecting herself, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Rita watched as Thane took one step quickly, covering the distance between them, and stood in front of her. Almost instinctually, Rita offered her hand, which Thane shook without hesitation, and though he was gentle with his tough, Rita could feel the underlying strength in his grip.
A second later, THane let go and gestured back at his shop, "It is my honor to welcome you all as the first-ever patron of Fae's Apothecary. Please step inside and let me show you what makes us one of a kind and the future global standard of apothecaries and alchemical suppliers."
Comments
First_Steps
The story is progressing a little bit slow for my liking author…what do you think?🤔
