Arterius

Like a lightning the horse took both of them to Arterius, to Eva’s and Egon’s surprise the streets were packed. While Egon was gone Holtzen decided to make a parade where they introduced their newest weaponry and golems to the city, and of course the head of the Holtzen family was there as well.


The crowd was too thick for the horse to go through. So Eva jumped off Egon’s horse and rushed towards her target. Despite being blind she listened to Ernst's voice who was giving the speech which guided her towards him. Little she knew her fate was about to change drastically. While everyone was standing and listening to the speech or walking at a slow pace. There was a third footsteps that rushed towards Ernst.

A horse in the distance freaked out which distracted some guards. Which helped Eva to slip closer to Ernst. The blind woman rushed on the stage towards Ernst, realizing what was happening, guards ran after her. Extending her right arm she caught blade right in front of Ernst's face before being tackled to the ground by the guards. Egon would see a man dressed in all black attempting to push through the crowd away from the stage.

Hearing her tale of a possible lone wolf assassination made him with the horse, barrel towards the city at a lightning pace. He was determined to not let see his father fall by some assassins blade, even if he fails in his ultimate goal, he only wished for his father to pass on peacefully as he deserves.

Though upon arriving to the Main Street, he had completely forgotten about the parade that the family was hosting, showing off new weaponry and prototype gear. Moving on horseback was difficult thanks to the crowd it brought out. As Eva bolted off towards his father, Egon was still on horseback as he calls out to her “Eva! Wait!” As his eyes went wide as he saw the entire situation unfold. Eva and a man in black bolted towards the stage were his father was giving a speech

The man in black would throw his blade but Eva caught it but was tackled to the ground by Holtzen guards. Seeing the man in black retreat and fight the crowd, Egon was intent to not let the would be assassin to escape. Getting off his horse, Egon would walk perpendicular with the crowd as it still allows him to move where he needed to go and not get swallowed up by the sea of people. He was intending to intercept the assassin and if successful, Egon would cast fist, giving the assassin a one two punch, first mechanical punch to the stomach and then across his face to knock the assassin out. If all turns out successful, he would tuck the assassin under his arms and escort him back to the stage.

As for Ernst, his eyes went wide seeing the woman approach him and then tackled. He wasn’t shocked or scared of the would be assassination as it wasn’t the first nor even at an old age be the last. Instead Eva’s face reminded of his late wife, the same who birthed Egon. As his personal bodyguards decked out in armor similar to Egon’s tried to escort the old man out, he stopped them and ordered “Remove her blindfold, I wish to see her eyes” he says in a stern but astonished voice.

Once her blindfold was removed and her eyes exposed, he would gasp as he turned pale as if he saw a ghost. “It cannot be…the midwives said you died shortly after being born…Eva, my seventh child” he says as he stares at her shocked by her presence.

Being tackled to the ground and knife forcefully taken from her. The blade cut her pale flesh painting her delicate fingers crimson. Eva was forcefully pulled up on her feet before searched, the guard found another knife one Eva used to protect herself. She was in pain and on the verge of crying when the man who she was supposed to kill spoke. Eva’s heart raced hearing males booming voice Eva was ready for the worse. With Egon not being here she could only hope for a miracle.


The blindfold fell so did Eva’s entire world. Ernst's words shattered blind woman’s reality into tiny pieces. He knew her name. The man’s words made guards on the stage freeze up and some of them looked at each other. Eva couldn’t believe her ears, how did he just call her Seventh child?! Parting her lips Eva finally spoke “E-excuse me… how did you call me?” her words carried confusion, she had no idea what just happened. If not stinging pain from the cut she would think she’s dreaming. “You must be mistaken, I am nobody, sir.” Eva added surely it was a mistake.


She never knew her true roots, she was an unwanted child that somehow was lucky enough to survive. “I…” Eva began to tear up, “I have a father..?” she whispered under her breath. The guards that held her loosen up their grip. Eva fell on her knees grabbing her cut hand “Is this a dream?” Eva thought to herself holding her bloody hand close to her chest, turning her gray dress red.

Ernest’s hands reached out and would cup her cheeks. “You are my child, I recognize my former wife’s face anywhere” he says to her like a caring old father. “No it’s not a dream. You do have a father” he would say in his caring old voice. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t their for your life, if I would known, I would have been there…I hope you can forgive me” he says to her with a somber look on his face, truly wishing for his missing daughter’s forgiveness for not being there for her when she grew up.

As for Egon, he had ordered a couple of guards that were on the ground with him to take the prisoner away, strip him down and through him in a cell for interrogation later as he hands him off to them.

He would approach the stage, seeing the stunned guards, his father and Eva having a moment. Egon wasn’t clued in to what was happening at this moment, he would slowly approach with a his armored hand extended out with a concern look on his face.

“Father? Eva? Are you both alright?” He would ask as he looks at them both.

Eva jolted a bit, feeling being touched without a warning. Her body tensed up for a brief moment before relaxing. Placing her own hand on Ernst's, she closed her eyes. “I have no ill feelings towards you. I’m just very lost and confused. I need time to process all this.” Eva spoke, taking a step closer. As she moved, so did the guards. They still were. Eva smiled, “It’s good to know that I am no longer alone in this world.” Eva added then she heard a familiar voice. “If what you say is true then…” Eva said turning around to face Egon “That means Egon is my brother?” Hearing Egon’s question, Eva nodded “Yes I think bleeding has already stopped. I just need to wrap the wound so it doesn't get infected.” Eva said, clenching bloody fist. She then looked back at Ernst ``F-Father may i have my blind fold and knife back? I would feel safer that way.” Eva spoke softly. It was odd to call a man she just met father, yet at the same time it felt right.

Egon stood in stunned at the news that was placed on him. Ernst nodded his head “Of course, such news and events that transpired is much to take in. Though yes, Eva here is your…younger sister if I remember correctly, Egon” he says looking at both of them as he gestures for the guard to hand her blade back as he hands her the blindfold, being so kind as putting up over her eyes once again. As he did so, he leaned forward and said his pets “Hopefully, you don’t wish to stab me now?” Before he pulls back once the blindfold is done as a small soft warm smile was on his face.

“Eva, I’ll bandage your hand, if you were to come with me” Egon spoke as he steps forward, putting the back of his mechanical hand on her shoulder for her to be able to grab. All the while, the guards would gently hoist the old man Ernst up and begin to escort him out and back to safety.

Being hanged back with her knife Eva spoke “It was never my intention to stab anyone.” she said as her blindfold was returned back to her. The dirty blindfold obscured her eyes once more. Her attention moved towards the general direction of Egon. Feeling his hand on her shoulder Eva placed her on Egon’s mechanical one. “Thank you.” she said to Egon. Then she looked at Ernst. “Stay safe, father….” Eva said to the old man. It was hard for her to call him father, but she forced herself to do it.


As Eva walked to get her hand bandage Eva smiled. It was nice to know that she was no longer alone in this cold, cruel world. Eva held Egon’s hand as they made their way away from the public eye. “Your gaze has shifted Egon so was your grasp. You’re not fond of news are you? I know there are a lot of questions going through your head right now. And I am sure Ernst has all the answers.” Eva spoke then paused letting go of Egon’s mechanical hand. “Bleeding already stopped. I should get going, please direct me towards the nearest exit.” Eva spoke softly. Perhaps she was imagining things or perhaps she was overwhelmed by everything. But she felt something was wrong, first words by the guard, then Egon’s touch.

Egon’s mind was in a bit of a turmoil he wasn’t the youngest but the woman he was trying to aid was. If he had his way, the plan of changing succession, by all rights it would go to Eva. Egon wasn’t really sure what to do now…all his planning and effort being all for not or in essence for Eva.

Indeed dark thoughts permeated his mind…gripping Eva’s neck and snapping it and tossing her body into the river or have her as a victim of a robbery gone bad, came to mind. Yet he dispelled such thoughts, why would he think such things? Was he that hungry for power that he would entertain such dishonorable acts? Dishonorable acts to a family member who didn’t know anything even her own family?

“I-I” he was lost for words to how to respond. “Just I have been working to try to change succession of the family so I would be head, but if I continue on, it would see you as head of the family” he admits to her as he sighs “Your presence does throw a wrench into my plans” he adds as he gets down on knee and gently hugs Eva, making sure not to hurt her with the suit. “But I can’t bring myself to get rid of you or push you away, for this family is your family too” he says as tears began to form in his eyes. “It’s only right for you to be a part of it, to be part of the family that has been denied to you for a long time” he says as he sniffles making sure the tears don’t trickle down his face as they would be hard to wipe away.

Eva listened to her new found brother's words. Her very existence put his plans to ruin. Something she never wanted or thought could happen, now she had more than one reason to just disappear and return to wandering the world. Eva didn’t expect him to kneel down and hug her, without hesitation she wrapped her arms around Egon. “What a blind woman from a circus can know about being head of a family?” Eva spoke, tearing up and tightening her hug a little bit. “I have no intention of ruining your plans.” Eva said then let go of him. Reaching for his face Eva gently took Egon’s head in her palms, “I know we just met, and nothing makes sense. But I swear to always be by your side, and support my big brother.” Eva said, giving him a smile. “I stopped bleeding a long time ago. Shall we go home?” Eva asked trying her best to keep her emotions under control.