The Purple Night

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, sir,” the stocky butler replied.

“Then let the guests in.” the impressive mahogany doors of the mansion opened, letting in hundreds of polished socialites.  The glittering crowd bustled into the banquet hall, set up like a buffet reception, tables surrounding a dance floor, and a longer table on the left wall, covered in tantalizing foods.  As soon as all the guests were seated, the master of the house commanded the attention of the room.

“Hello everyone,” he projected, “As you all know, I’m Sebastian Cadwell. I’d like to tell a little story.” After some people showed disinterest, he added “I’ll keep it short.”

“I was born the heir of Cadwell family fortune, made from the humongous success of our varied fruit bars.  But you know what we started out as?  A fruit stand, out on the interstate.  So now that…  That I’m the sole proprietor of Cadwell Fruit, Incorporated, I want to celebrate our beginnings.  So I well, you to the first annual Cadwell Blueberry Feast.  May your clothes not stain!” A polite round of applause followed, and then the DJ started playing his dance records.  Sebastian blended from person to person chatting amiably and praising outfits overzealously.  He ended up at the bar, in the corner of the expansive room, next to the buffet.

“One champagne, please.” The bartender obliged, and Sebastian took tentative sips, deep in thought.  He watched the partygoers, immersed in a world of envy and self-importance, and sneered.  His plan came to mind, and his sneer morphed into a smirk.  It was only a matter of time now.  The first one at the feast table was Evangeline Matthews, CEO of Granola and Things, Cadwell Fruit’s biggest competitor.  A blueberry tart, blueberry cheesecake, and some fruit salad were chosen.  Evangeline spotted the host and made a beeline for him.

“Seb dear, why don’t you go out there and enjoy the party with us?”

“Oh, no thank you.  I prefer to be a wallflower.” Sebastian replied. 

“Well, let’s not have the Gatsby on our hands,” Evangeline chuckled, and Sebastian joined in with a fake chortle.

“I’d rather not have such an ending.” An awkward silence followed, and Evangeline left Sebastian for the much more exciting party. It was like this for the majority of the night, only a few guests checking in on the host before returning to the festivities. Finally, the short butler took his break by the bar.

“Sir, it’s almost midnight. Should I pass out the wine?”

“Charles, I have a secret,” Sebastian said, disregarding the question. “I despise them all. And tonight they will go.”

“Sir?” Charles asked, uneasily shuffling his feet.

“Yes, pass out the drinks, and tell the guests I will make a speech at midnight.” The butler hurried to the kitchen with his orders, and the host prepared the final speech of the night.

 

            The grandfather clock in the hall rang 12 times, a full and metallic sound. Sebastian was again in the center of the dance floor, calling the attention of the room with a chime of his wine glass.

            “Hello again, everyone,” he began, smirking deviously. “As this wonderful party comes to a close, I’d like to thank everyone for making the time to attend. I’d also like to acknowledge Evangeline Matthews, whose company generously provided the fruit for all the blueberry and blackberry-infused wine. So, to prosperity and good fruit!” Sebastian raised his glass whole heartedly, revealing a luminous smile. A few minutes later, a guest in silver started choking and wheezing violently, prompting Seb to feign alarm and Charles to perform The Heimlich on the woman. She produced a disgusting show of bloody phlegm, but was not any better. Suddenly she collapsed in Charles’ arms, dead. But Charles was so absorbed in saving the first glittering maiden that he hadn’t noticed the rest of the guest list dropping like flies. Suddenly, Charles whipped out a gold badge.

            “Put your hands over your head Sebastian! I’m Detective Rudolph Humboldt of Baltimore PD! You’re under arrest!” Detective Humboldt pulled his weapon, but Sebastian had already taken his gold-hilted dagger and slashed the detective’s ample stomach. Humboldt stumbled backward in shock, falling onto the pristine tile floor. Sebastian locked behind him, tutting.

“Detective Rudolph Humboldt,” he said, careful to articulate each syllable, “You will call off the force I’m sure is surrounding my house.” Sebastian knelt and put the family dagger to the other man’s throat. “You would do so calmly and not alert them to our situation.  If you do this, I will spare your colleagues.  Understand?” Humboldt croaked out a week affirmation and slowly due out his walkie-talkie. Seb lifted the knife a few centimeters.

“Alpha Team, this is Alpha gold.  Do you read me?”

“This is Al Feinstein, we read you.  What’s the status of the target?”

“The target is an innocent.”

“What?” But the evidence-”

“He’s an innocent. We have some paperwork to do.” The person on the other en paused.

“Alpha Team over and out.” Rudolph released the walkie-talkie.

"Good," Sebastian said darkly. "And now I will tell you my brilliant plot." Sebastian's mouth was centimeters from the detective's ear, his hot breath making Humboldt squirm.

"I despise everyone that is rich without purpose.  Each person here is corrupt and useless.  So I removed them.  I bought fruit from Ms. Matthews to frame her company for these deaths later.  I took special care to acquire the arsenic and chlorine in the wine, so it was fatal in any amount.  My shaft is my only accomplice.  We're going to make a clean break.  But then…there's you." Sebastian dug his knuckles into the slash on the detective's stomach, making him groan with an intense pain and leech out even more blood.

"Wh-why are...  you te-telling me?" The detective was teetering on the chasm of death.

"Because you will take my secret to the grave." Sebastian slit the detective's throat, ending the conversation.

Reviews

[SierraT]

Wow really well written, asides for a couple of spelling errors (I think you meant to say 'butler' at the start maybe), I really enjoyed this!! Very dark and suspenseful and the descriptions seemed effortless. Was wondering if you would maybe review a chapter of my story Aniki, I kinda want the same dark mood as this :)

[Emily]

Sure! I'll get right to it ASAP :)

[SierraT]

Thank you! :)