Chapter 12
Over the course of the next few days, Mannox was noticeably absent from his classes. It filled the queens with an anxiety of the unknown.
Had they pulled it off? Was Mannox still alive? Would they still be expelled?
Morgana constantly reassured them that things should be alright. And the thieves listened to him. They focused on their school work for that period of time.
Until finally, it was the day of their deadline.
And on that day, they felt much more anxiety than the past days. Principal Cromwell had called for an assembly as well.
Cathy sat with Catalina towards the back, the former was simply writing a story in her notebook and the latter was trying to pay attention to the assembly (she was failing). Cathy easily spotted the other three in the crowd. Anne and Anna were close to Kat, all three keeping an eye on each other. Cathy could even spot Jane and Joan among the crowd. Joan talking shyly yet rather happily with the three girls she stood with and Jane was by herself, periodically checking her phone.
Cromwell was droning on about something. Cathy was fairly certain she caught something about the school’s reputation several times through his speech. Even the teachers looked as if they wanted to be anywhere else.
“We need our students to become great examples after graduating! After all, it will build up their reputation and ours! Our students are only the best.” Cathy felt a pair of eyes on her and she glanced up from where she had been writing. Sure enough, Cromwell was staring at her as he said that particular line. He tried to make eye contact too but Cathy huffed and turned back to her notebook, her hands suddenly clenched white.
Just then, the door slammed open. Several people startled and everyone’s heads turned to the noise.
It was Mannox.
The music teacher looked depressed. His eyes were bloodshot and cast to the floor. His hair and clothing were in disarray, as if it was simply a struggle for him to get up and make his way to the school. He simply stood there, slumped and even choking back sobs and cries.
Cromwell shifted a little nervously but plastered on a smile, pretending to not notice the state Mannox was in. “Take Henry Mannox here for example! A famous former conductor becoming a teacher here? Why, he alone has skyrocketed our reputation! Mister Mannox, why don’t you give everyone some words?”
For a moment, Mannox remained almost deathly still. Then, he slowly took shaky steps forward.
Cathy watched with interest. Was this the product of stealing his treasure? All of his cocky and fake friendly attitude was drained from him. It had left behind depression and guilt that Cathy knew on a personal level. And that was only because she had seen it on her face after she regained her memories of Elizabeth… Cathy still felt it sometimes… but she had been getting better.
And honestly? With the way Mannox looked, Cathy didn’t know if he would recover. (The part of her mind that didn’t know when to shut up whispered that it hoped he didn’t) He didn’t have Anne to forgive and help him.
In the time Cathy had been stuck in her thoughts, Mannox had made his way to the stage. But he didn’t go to the podium like Cromwell beckoned him to.
Instead he simply stood on the stage, stumbling slightly as he stepped forward. Those who hadn’t fully noticed just how horrible he looked gasped as they took in the normally confident teacher’s red rimmed eyes.
“I…” his voice came out rasped and croaky, even those in the front row had to listen closely to hear that single word. But then he rose his voice to where the whole crowd could hear. “I committed a great crime…”
“Mister Mannox! What are you doing?!” Cromwell hissed urgently as murmurs broke through the crowd of gathered students and teachers.
Mannox didn’t seem to even hear him. “I have abused my students.” Immediately there were gasps rushing through the room. “I hurt them and would hit them when they wouldn’t get a note right and even when they did! I’m the reason students, my personal students especially have so many damn bruises!”
Mannox broke into a wail. “I even—! I even sexually harassed the female students and— and I raped Katherine Howard!”
Several heads turned to stare wide eyed at Kat, who had her hands clamped over her mouth and tears streaming down her cheeks. Several students were turning to friends, horror in their eyes. “He did this to you?!” They would ask, looking over the bruises and bandages.
“Mister Mannox!” Cromwell tried again, desperation raising his voice’s pitch.
“I raped her! I fucking raped her! I hurt all of them!” Mannox was in hysterics now, and no one seemed to know what to do. The teachers and students were all in too much shock to react. Cathy took hold of Catalina’s shirt sleeve, keeping herself close to the stunned but glaring Senior.
Everyone, Catalina included, had seen the calling cards. But this? This just confirmed the rumors that had washed over the school.
Cathy simply stared at Mannox, as did Anna and Anne. They had pulled it off. Mannox was confessing to everything and even felt guilty about all of it!
But that guilt… it would prove to be overwhelming.
“I… I’ll kill myself right here!” Mannox declared, suddenly pulling out a gun that had been hidden in his jacket.
Several people shrieked at the sight of the weapon and backed up frantically as Mannox pressed it against his temple.
Cathy felt her heart jump into her throat at the sight. Did they get the bad chance after all?
“You’re going to just end it like this?!”
Everyone, even Mannox’s eyes darted towards the speaker, but the gun didn’t move. Anne was staring at Mannox with a furious glare.
“You hurt my cousin and so many other students, and you’re going to just kill yourself?! What? Too afraid to face your victims? Too scared to look them in the eye? Well now you know how all your victims feel! How the girl you raped feels!” Anne snarled at Mannox, keeping one shoulder protectively in front of Kat to cut her off from her abuser.
“Are you going to die a coward who couldn’t live while his victims did or are you gonna serve for your crimes?” A bitter laugh escaped Anne’s lips and a cold stare was in her eyes. “Really, I don’t care which you do as long as you never come near Chaton again, enfoiré!”
“I…” For a moment, Mannox could only stare at Anne. His gaze flickered over to Kat, who paled upon noticing his stare. But then, Mannox nodded resolutely to himself, the gun lowering, and he began to look at every student and teacher frantically.
“Someone call the police! I’m going to serve for my crimes!”
He continued to yell and his voice seemed to spur several people into action. Phones were pulled out and the police were swiftly called.
Principal Cromwell was clearly trying to hide his panic. “Everyone get back to your classrooms immediately! No need to call the police!”
Teachers began to usher students out and Cathy could only watch Mannox toss the gun aside and begin to sob again. She looked to Anna and Anne, who looked back. All three shared a nod before Cathy turned back to a shocked Catalina and the others turned back to a crying Kat.
The thieves were victorious.
~~||~~||~~
After Mannox’s breakdown in the gym, everyone had been quickly removed from the room and taken back to their classrooms.
The teachers were meant to continue teaching, but after the events, it seemed even they didn’t have it in them to continue. So students sat with friends and began to talk, mostly about everything they just witnessed. ‘Phantom Thieves’ came up multiple times. Cathy and Anna, with Mona in the desk next to them began to talk about everything, texting Anne periodically to make sure she was alright.
Until finally, they were released for the day. Everyone had noticed the police cars outside so no one was particularly surprised to see the officers in the halls, questioning teachers.
Anne and Kat met up with the two Juniors at the front lockers. Kat had a glimmer of hope back in her eyes at last. Her tears had dried and she seemed to regain some lost energy.
Considering the circumstances, the thieves were incredibly happy to see it.
“What happened to Catalina?” It was Anna who asked, not seeing the golden Senior. It was already rare for her to join them, but she had managed to do so yesterday, so they all assumed she would be there from that point on. It clearly wasn’t the case.
“She has to talk with the teachers about some work.” Cathy explained, having received a text about that only a minute ago.
“Hope she’s okay…” Upon noticing the confused glance from Kat and Anna, Anne rolled her eyes. “Just because we dislike each other doesn’t mean I want her hurt or anything.”
(Everyone noticed how Anne and Catalina refused to speak to each other unless absolutely necessary, their voices cold when they had to. And that was in the rare case that Catalina was able to hang out with them across the past few days.)
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.” It was Kat who spoke. “She seems like a strong person!”
Cathy glanced back towards where she had last seen her godsister. “She’s too strong for her own good…” she mumbled.
“Did you say something Bücherwurm?” Anna asked. It looked like no one heard her.
“It was nothing… let’s head home everyone, I’m sure we need to relax after today…” Cathy told the others, making her way over to the entrance.
On their way out of the school, the group found cops talking to students.
“Probably should’ve guessed the cops would show up.” Anna hummed, Kat tucked under one arm. Kat was happy to press herself closer to her best friend.
Meanwhile, Cathy carefully inched herself slightly behind Anne, clearly still having that small uneasiness around the police. Anne didn’t say anything about it, simply reaching an arm back to let Cathy play with her sleeve and keep the other girl close.
“People in my class said that he already took Mannox away.” Kat told the group. “I guess they’re just questioning students now…”
“That’s just part of their jobs.” Anne commented with a shrug. “Why don't we get out of here? I’m sure Morgana wants out of his bag.” She decidedly didn’t mention Cathy and Kat’s nervousness.
“Yes, please!” Morgana spoke up, the bag on Cathy’s shoulder shifting slightly. “It isn’t as bad as I thought it would be but it’s still cramped in here!”
“I think that’s a yes!” Anna laughed and the group began making their way across the school yard, trying to avoid eye contact with the investigators.
“Oi, kids!” The four stopped as someone called for them and they slowly turned around.
There was a detective. He had fiery red hair and looked young, probably in his twenties or thirties. He stood tall and proud, wearing a suit and had a notepad in hand.
“Detective Felix Griffin.” He introduced himself. “I was hoping I could ask a few questions about everything that’s going on.”
“You’re that famous rising detective from the news.” Anna took note, not withdrawing her arm from Kat’s shoulders. Ah, Cathy knew she recognized him from somewhere.
Griffin let out a chuckle, but it sounded bitter. “That’s me! They wanted me for this case considering the… calling card from a few days ago. But that doesn’t matter. Can I ask questions?”
Cathy tilted her head. “They’ll have to question us eventually anyways. We’re key players…”
The other girls all nodded in agreement with small, rather anxious chuckles and Griffin looked curious. “Key players?”
The thieves and Kat all tensed slightly. “Be very careful with what you give away…” Morgana whispered from the bag.
“We found him… assaulting Kätzchen…” Anna tilted her head to indicate the now depressed Kat. “And in return he threatened to expel us.”
Griffin’s eyes shot wide in surprise. “Goddamn... I’m sorry to hear that.”
“He’s arrested now.” Anne declared.
“And hopefully, jail waits for him.” Griffin agreed as he wrote something down. “Sorry to move on but could I get your names before we continue?”
They introduced themselves and Griffin couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Four Tudor Queens, huh?”
“Everyone points that out.” Kat said with a small laugh, but it was definitely fake.
For a few minutes after that, the thieves answered Griffin’s questions. It was clear that Anne was antsy to leave, if the rubbing of her hand against her choker was an indicator (it was. Cathy always saw her either doing that or tapping her foot or fingers when she was nervous or just needed to do something. The scratching started when fear and heavy anxiety did). Anna and Kat also clearly wanted to get away, Kat becoming more uncomfortable with the questions and Anna’s gaze drifting around for every escape route.
But they remained as patient as they possibly could. And Morgana had to admit that he was rather proud of their lying skills. Kat remained silent through it all, letting the others explain their side.
But eventually their interrogation began to end.
“Y’know… most people seem to think the Phantom Thieves are a prank. What do you all think about that?”
Kat spoke first. “I think they’re real. They saved me from Mannox and I will always be thankful. Whoever they are…”
“I agree with Kätzchen.” Anna glanced at the pink teen. “They saved my best friend when I couldn’t.”
“They took down a rapist. A pedophile.” Anne glared at Griffin, as if daring him to state otherwise. “They’re good and real in my books.”
Griffin looked to Cathy with intrigue, she had been rather quiet through most of it. “And what do you think of the Phantom Thieves, Miss Parr?”
Cathy stared back at the notepad in Griffin’s hands, tilting her head. “I think they’re doing the right thing.”
“Oh?” It seemed Griffin wanted to hear more from her than just that simple phrase.
“There are oppressed people in society. Those being hurt and abused as we’ve seen here. There are many more people being chained down in the world. If the Phantom Thieves break those chains then they have my full support.” Cathy explained, her words becoming more determined as they went on. Then, she trailed off. “Some people have too much power…”
“Too much power, hmm?” Griffin let out a laugh. “You’re a rather interesting student, Parr.” He gave them a nod of his head. “Thank you for your insight. All of you.”
Then, another cop called over, this one looking like he would rather be anywhere else. “Oi, prodigy man! You better be getting statements!”
A flash of irritation crossed Griffin’s face. He turned to Kat. “Miss Howard, is it alright if I ask a few questions of you now? It would really help the case if you can tell me what happened.”
Kat stared for a moment, before carefully speaking. “Yeah… I can.” Her anxiety towards recounting her trauma was understandable for all of them and Griffin also looked apologetic as Anne pressed a little closer to Kat.
Anne gave Anna and Cathy a nod, telling them that they were alright to leave. The two watched for another second before hesitantly agreeing and giving the cousins their farewells.
“The detective prodigy… we might have to keep an eye out for him.” Morgana spoke up after they got a little further away. “Even if he can’t find evidence… he can still ask questions…”
~~||~~||~~
The cousins had gone straight home after everything and it was now late evening. While Anne was messing around upstairs, Kat had gone downstairs to get a cup of water.
She had been about to open the cupboards when the sound of someone clearing their throat caused Kat to jump. She whirled around to find Agnes, her and Anne’s step-grandmother, glaring at her.
The expression immediately sent alarm bells ringing in Kat’s head. She found herself pressing back against the counter, that familiar feeling of being a cornered animal (just like with Mannox— when he touched her, whispered to her—) practically punched her in the gut. She had seen that disappointed glare on her step-grandmother’s face too many times… it never led to anything good.
“Grammy, what are you doing home…?”
“I got a call from the police and the school…” Agnes said, the glare never vanishing. “So I took my break now and came home to talk.”
Oh shit... using a break just to come home and talk set off even more alarm bells. Agnes never used her breaks. And then, ‘police and school’ finally made Kat realize what this was all about.
“You got poor Mister Mannox arrested over a lie!” Agnes admonished before Kat could even try to explain. “Your lies got him arrested!”
“Lies?!” Kat found herself gaping. Agnes really thought she lied about everything?!
“That or you were the one to push yourself into him!” Agnes blamed, the old woman pointing a finger at Kat.
Kat could only stare, jaw still dropped and tears beginning to gather in her eyes. This is exactly what she feared happening… Her Step-Grandmother even used one of her breaks from work to come home and push Kat back down into the dark place… and Kat felt the familiar pain that always threatened to destroy her from the inside out.
Agnes practically turned her nose up at Kat. “I always knew you were just an attention seeking brat. I suppose that’s why your deadbeat father stuck you with me.”
Kat flinched at the reminder.
That’s right… after her mother’s death when she was so young, so young that she couldn’t even remember her mother’s face, her father had dropped her off with her step-grandmother and never looked back. His claim was that he couldn’t take care of her and the rest of her siblings.
The only good thing that came out of it was when Anne and Anne’s father— Kat’s uncle Thomas, moved in a few years after. When they moved from France after Anne’s mother died of an illness.
Anne has been more like family— a sister— than anyone else had ever been.
“You ruined a good man’s life with your lies, Katherine!” Agnes continued at Kat’s silence.
Kat flinched back. “Grammy, it wasn’t a lie, I swear—!”
“That’s enough, girl!” Agnes hissed in a tone that made Kat stop in her tracks. She then snorted. “Maybe the internship I got for you will work the lies out of you.”
Kat suddenly felt cold. As if a bucket of ice had washed over her. “Internship?” A strange feeling of dread pressed at her mind.
Agnes nodded, looking very proud of herself. “While you were apparently making up lies, I got you a job. In a few weeks, you’ll start working for Francis Dereham as his secretary. Hopefully it will make you an honest and hardworking woman!”
Kat tensed at the name. Francis Dereham… one of the other men who had hurt her namesake… was history truly repeating itself like the gossiping students and teachers joked about? And why did her Step-Grandmother approve of this? Couldn’t she see the repeating events?!
Kat suddenly felt sick. Was she going to be hurt again? Was there no escape?
Agnes had continued talking while Kat began to spiral. “You aren’t a child anymore, Katherine! Which is why unlike your disgrace of a cousin upstairs, I want you to start working as soon as possible!”
“Grammy, I don’t—!”
Agnes tsked. “You aren’t getting out of this, Katherine! You already ruined a man’s life, now you’re going to work that sin off.”
Before Kat could make anymore protests, Agnes was leaving out the front door, leaving the house and Kat behind. “Your uncle and I won’t be home tonight.” Kat could faintly hear her saying.
For a moment, all Kat could do was stand there was the realization of exactly what she had been told set in. And then, a broken sob escaped her lips and she sank to the kitchen floor, curling in on herself.
Kat didn’t know why she was panicking over this. Maybe Dereham was a good man. But… there was a sense of deja-vu that was causing her to break and crumble. She thought the Phantom Thieves saved her, only now she was being pushed into another far too similar situation.
Suddenly, arms carefully wrapped around Kat, pulling her close to the warmth of someone’s body. Kat tensed at the sudden contact and a whimper bubbled from her throat, the familiar sensation of dissociation pricking at the corner of her vision.
“Hey, Chaton.” The familiar voice of Anne calmed Kat immediately and she slumped into the embrace. “Sorry for scaring you…”
Kat inhaled sharply. “It’s okay…” she paused for a moment. “Annie, why am I so scared of the internship… is it because of his name?”
Anne also paused for a second. She had heard everything Agnes had said. “I don’t know Chaton…”
“I don’t… I can’t… not again… not after I just got this hope back…”
Anne began to rock the both of them. Whispering words of comfort into Kat’s ear. Then, after a moment she made a vow to her younger cousin. “I promise you, Chaton, I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
Kat completely believed her.
(And if Dereham did turn out like Kat dreaded him to be, Kat knew her cousin would be there in seconds. And maybe… if they weren’t just some prank like everyone else at school seemed to believe… the Phantom Thieves would rescue her again…)
~~||~~||~~
Over the course of two days, the group rather quickly decided what to do with the money that they would get from the violin after Cathy sold it.
They would just use the money for a trip to a fancy restaurant. It wasn’t like they had any other good plans. And after that, they would split the money between them.
The day before, Cathy managed to sell the violin at the gun shop for a good amount of money.
The encounter with Untouchable’s owner, the same man from all of her previous visits, had been rather strange…
It had gone well when it came to selling. The shop owner accepted the violin with little to no questions and handed over an amount of money that Cathy was actually very satisfied with for selling a violin to a gun shop. It would be plenty for both the restaurant (and Anna also hinted at maybe an amusement park, so that was possible) and also to have plenty of leftover money.
But the strange part occurred when the owner said something about how it was almost time. He had handed Cathy a paper bag telling her that it was as thanks for the violin and also that she shouldn’t open it, but to bring it back on her next visit.
That already threw Cathy off. But then two men entered the shop, calling the owner Munehisa Iwai. Cathy did move to leave when the now-named Iwai told her too. But then she stopped at the door before leaving.
Apparently, the two men were detectives pursuing a lead. But Iwai had been cool and compliant, making them question if the lead was even true. One of the detectives, who Cathy had to admit was rather full of himself, had turned on her and wanted to know what was in the bag Iwai gave her.
Between the combined efforts of Cathy and Iwai, they managed to deflect him. Cathy even noticed a rather pleased chuckle escape Iwai as she refused to budge on not opening the bag.
The blue queen finally managed to leave the shop and the detectives behind, Iwai bidding her a safe trip home.
What was in the bag?
A model gun. Much more real looking than the ones they had been buying previously. It threw both Cathy and Morgana off and they agreed that ‘Untouchables’ was rather strange… Both agreed that they should try to buy the gun when they returned it.
After that, Cathy and Morgana pushed it to the back of their minds. It was time for their celebration with Anna and Anne.
The restaurant had been fun for the group. They were able to get food from the buffet before sitting together and laughing. When no one was watching, Cathy would slip Morgana sushi which he was clearly excited by.
At some point, Anne almost started a minor food fight with Anna. This earned them glares from strangers around them that pacified them rather quickly. They began arguing instead, their laughter infectious to Cathy and Morgana.
Really, it had just been a fun time as they ate and talked happily. It was their celebration.
It was sad that they couldn’t bring Kat and Catalina. If they did, they would have had to explain how they paid for this. And that probably wouldn’t have gone very well…
But they all made an agreement to take Kat out for another celebration and drag Catalina along too if she didn’t protest.
They heard people around them spreading rumors about Mannox and the Phantom Thieves. Their calling card had made an impact, but it looked like a majority believed it to be a prank. Still, it felt bizarre to hear people talking about them as the Phantom Thieves! They were used to the rumors and gossip that followed them like the plague.
But of course, it wasn’t entirely fun like they had wished it to be.
The richer people around them made comments about them and each thief could feel themself growing more and more irritated.
They were in the middle of a conversation about how Kat was doing when Anne spoke up.
“I want to continue the Phantom Thieves.”
Immediately Cathy and Anna both paused and even Morgana poked his head slightly out of the bag.
“Alright… what brought this up, Verrücktes Mädchen?” Anna continued the conversation, a curious look on her face.
“These assholes talking about us.” Anne huffed, a hand reaching up to tug at her choker. “They look down on people like us… wonder how many people they’ve hurt…”
Cathy took a deep breath. “There will always be cruel people in the world…”
“There are still shitty people.” Anne agreed. “Ones worse than these gossipers too. Those like Mannox.” Anne’s eyes darkened slightly. “Can we change their hearts like we did with Mannox?”
Anna and Cathy seemed intrigued by the idea and Morgana perked up. “That’s right! As long as they have a distorted desire, then it’s very possible for them to have a Palace!”
“I’m in! If we can help more people, then I want to help. We would be just as bad if we left everyone to fight for themselves.” Anna rolled her shoulder, sharing a determined grin with Anne. “And we can help Morgana too, and I think we owe it to him for all his help!”
Well, Cathy probably couldn’t get out of it in the first place. The Velvet Room would probably make sure of that. And the metaverse, fighting shadows, helping people, these bonds. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up. Cathy didn’t even hesitate with her reply.
“Well Phantom Thieves, it looks like we’ll be changing more hearts together.” Cathy gave them all a determined nod and everyone smiled when they saw her hand flapping back and forth with her sleeve.
Everyone grinned and they quickly made a small plan. They would keep an eye out for their next target. They didn’t have a clear one yet so they would simply keep an eye out and keep their heads down until then.
After that, chatter perked up a bit. Soon they left the restaurant, reconvening at a bench down the street. Morgana was able to come out of the bag and get more moving room. The talking continued for several minutes as they tried to spend as much time together as they could before they had to go home.
Then, someone spoke up.
“There’s something else we should talk about before we fully become Phantom Thieves.”
The other three glanced over to Anna with intrigued gazes.
“Our past lives…” Anna continued carefully. Upon noticing how the other two tensed, she was quick to elaborate. “I’m not saying talk about everything! Nothing at all if you guys don’t want to. I just think we need to at the very least establish some stuff.”
Anne watched her closely. “Like what?”
Anna paused for a second before nodding to herself as she continued. “Like that we’ll be here for each other. I trust you… and I hope you trust me in return.” Anna bit her lip slightly as she thought of something else. “And well… there’s history books and lessons on our pasts. Some more false than others. So I think we need to establish everything before we learn lies… and truths… about our pasts and get angry at each other.”
Anne and Cathy glanced at each other. They had already dealt with something like that. Cathy grasped at her arm again and Anne took notice, reaching over to give Cathy’s hand a reassuring squeeze that Cathy relaxed slightly at.
“Yeah that’s… that’s fair.” Anne agreed carefully. “And… I trust you guys too.”
“We would understand each other… with everything…” Cathy added her agreement.
Anna took a deep breath. “Well… I offered the idea, so I’ll go first. If you guys don’t want to, then you don’t have to.” The other three watched patiently as Anna began to tell her tale.
And one by one, all three of them did.
Anna told them of being raised in Germany, and they could tell she was filled with homesickness. She told of being pursued by the king and being shipped over to a foreign country that she didn’t even know the language of to marry a king. She told of anxiety and fear upon realizing exactly what she had been thrown into. She told them very quickly of being called ugly, but no one, not even Anna herself pressed on that still open wound. And then, she told them of how Henry got his divorce and how he gave her a castle. She even included the story of Kat, how she had taken the young lady in waiting, still a teenager in that time, under her wing and took care of her. How she always made time to come visit both her former step-children and Kat until that fateful day when Kat was betrayed and executed.
Anne told them of the French court and how fun it had been. How she was brought back to England by her father to become a lady in waiting for Catalina. She never knew it was for her father to push her towards Henry just like he did Mary. Her father didn’t have to, she had unwilling caught Henry’s eye and the king began to pursue her. She told of several years avoiding his advances until finally her father caught wind and threatened to destroy her life if she didn’t do what he wanted her to. She told of Catalina being banished and Anne herself getting married. She told of miscarriage until finally she had Elizabeth. But that wasn’t enough for Henry. And then… she told of her trial, false charges, a dark stay in the Tower of London, and a beheading that the people cheered for.
Cathy told them of fear. Fear as she was forced to marry multiple times to not be ridiculed by society as both of her first husbands died. She told of being ridiculed, called weird, and bullied by that same damn society for her autism which wasn’t known back then. She told them of being forced to marry a king who was well known for his dead wives. She told of being hurt for her ticks, rants, and so-called weirdness. Abused not just by the king she married but her next marriage to the man she thought she loved (she didn’t). She told them of almost being arrested and killed like the beheaded cousins, but managing to survive with her cunning and her words. She told them of just how deeply she cared for the children under her care. And how that same man she thought she loved sexually abused Anne’s own daughter. How she was forced to conform and help him by fear (fostered by the abuse and yelling), pregnancy, and what Cathy thought to be sheer stupidity.
After they all finished there was a second of silence as they processed.
It was clear that all of them had pain from that past life. But no one touched too closely on it. The pains and the source were rather obvious… they had either blanked out (Anna when talking of ugliness and Kat, and Anne during most of her tale) or begun to cry (Cathy during Elizabeth) while talking through their stories after all.
But Morgana took clear note of Cathy’s tale of Elizabeth with shock. Anna seemed stunned but had quickly snapped herself out of it.
“You really did that?!” Morgana gaped at her. Cathy curled into herself and more tears reappeared in her eyes. “Anne did you know?!”
Anne spoke up in a protective snarl. “Somnolente already told me, Morgana! And in my eyes, she’s atoned and still working for more atonement! So you better think very carefully about your next words.”
Morgana noticeably flinched back, burrowing slightly back in the bag. But then he calmed and slowly nodded. “Right… Sorry, Cathy. You were being hurt yourself…” They all knew that was the most they would get out of Morgana, but he apologized, and that was more than good enough for Anne, who relaxed and gave him a thankful nod.
“No… you were right…”
Three pairs of eyes looked over to Cathy, widening in surprise. The girl had her head bowed and eyes squeezed shut, she was rocking but also seemed to be trembling. Her hands were clenched white, her nails digging into her palms.
“I’m a monster…” She seemed to start mumbling to herself. “I hurt a child… a child I viewed as a daughter…”
Cathy found herself being tugged away from her thoughts by a sudden laugh that made her flinch.
It was Anne who let out the laughter. Spiteful and pained laughter. “You’re not the monster in the room, Somnolente! I got the queen banished and unable to see her daughter! I’m probably the reason Bloody Mary happened, y’know? Not like any of the people liked me either…” A cloud appeared in her eyes as she remembered the cheering for her execution.
Anna snorted, drawing their attention to her and pulling Anne out of her spiral. “I’m worse than the both of you!” A distant look came to her eyes and she scowled. “I got a castle out of the marriage… no one else did… and then I left Kätzchen for dead! I didn’t rescue her or try to stop Henry at all!”
There was silence as they regarded each other and their guilt. None of them meant to admit all of that… but once their mouths started moving, they couldn’t stop.
And then… “You know that’s victim blaming, right?”
The three queens whipped their heads to look at the speaker. It was Morgana.
The cat was bristling, his fur raised, something that caught all three off guard. He looked beyond furious.
“It sounds like those cowards were the ones who manipulated you and hurt people! That’s the kind of hearts we should change!” Morgana’s gaze softened. “Not you three… you three are victims yourselves…” His attitude came back as quickly as it left. “So stop blaming yourselves for other people’s evil! You’re Phantom Thieves aren’t you? Well, I won’t have my Thieves being victim blamed, even by themselves.”
Everyone glanced at each other. A noticeable doubt was still in their eyes. It was definitely less than there was a moment ago, but it was still very present.
Morgana huffed upon seeing the clear doubt in his words. “Alright! Look at it this way.” He suddenly turned towards Cathy. “Did you want to hurt Elizabeth?”
Cathy’s fists clenched again. “No.”
“Then why is your fault?” Morgana tilted his head. “Anne! Did you want to send Catalina away? Did you even want to become queen?”
Anne actually seemed to ponder his question. “I think… I thought I did. But now I know that I didn’t want it at all. That was my father’s wishes.”
Morgana nodded at her reasoning before turning to Anna. “Were you the one who pushed Kat towards Henry?”
Anna could only stare at him. Morgana replied for her. “No! Because from what I gathered from your story, Henry was the coward who just couldn’t be pleased!”
For a moment, the queens could only stare wide eyed at Morgana and his reasoning.
“Thank you, Morgana…” Cathy was the first to speak up. There was still a flicker of doubt, but it was clear that she had thought carefully about Morgana’s words.
“You try to act all tough but you really do care in your own way.” Anna agreed, accompanied by her familiar laugh. Morgana was embarrassed by the praise but tried to play it off.
“Our little knight!” Anne was the one who declared with a laugh of her own, the corner of one eye glistening with a stray tear.
Morgana seemed rather proud of that new title. His chest puffed with pride before he realized something. “Hey, I am not little!”
Everyone broke into laughter for a moment. After calming down, the mood seemed more relaxed. Only to dim slightly as Morgana gained a small frown.
“I’m sorry… that you all had such horrible lives.” Morgana seemed to become sadder than before.
“At least we’re in a better place now.” It was Cathy who replied with a deep breath.
Yeah… they were much happier than they had been in the past life. But that past life and the start of this life… that would haunt them. And no one needed to say it. They all knew it. At least now, they could forge their own paths, starting with making society a better, far less oppressed, place. It was much better than their past lives, but there were still people who thought themselves as higher and capable of evil without repercussions.
And maybe… they would start healing themselves as they healed society.
But something was clearly still bothering Morgana.
“What else is bothering you, Kleiner Dieb.” It was Anna who gently asked their fellow Phantom Thief, having noticed the look on his face.
“It’s stupid…” Morgana muttered.
“Morgana, you listened to us and our past lives… that offer of talking and listening goes to you as well.”
Morgana blinked in surprise and watched them for a moment. Then, he carefully spoke, ears pinned against his head. “It’s just… you three remember both of your lives… so why do I remember nothing at all?”
Realization flashed in the queens’ eyes. Morgana’s amnesia had clearly been bothering him more than they realized.
“Oh, Morgana…” Anne gently reached over to pull the cat into her arms. Morgana hissed and struggled for about half a second before filling fully into the hug with a happy hum.
“I’m sure your memories will come back to you.” Anna comforted. “We got ours back, haben wir nicht?”
“And we have a deal. We’ll help you get your memories back, Morgana. You can count on us.” Cathy gave him a confident nod.
Morgana stared for a moment before a smile appeared on his face as he hopped out of Anne’s embrace. “Right! I’m counting on all of you, then!”
The following stretch of silence was calming and everyone found themselves either closing their eyes or watching each other’s peaceful gazes. Cathy even began to write in her notebook again before stopping to ask a question.
“Do you guys get the pains too?” Cathy asked slowly. “When something reminds you just a bit too much of then…”
Anne huffed, tugging at her choker. “Mine never stops…”
At the alarmed looks, Anne quickly clarified. “It doesn’t hurt really bad or anything! It’s more like… a dull throbbing… just kind of making me know it’s there. It didn’t hurt before I remembered so I guess my body realized it’s supposed to be dead. Wearing my choker helps!”
The other three shared another worried look before Cathy carefully spoke. “Well, if any of us start to get phantom pains before going into a palace, we need to say something. It could be really dangerous if we have a pain hit during a fight.”
Everyone agreed easily to that deal before Morgana spoke, ears perking back up. “You should be our leader!”
Cathy stared at him in confusion. “Huh?”
Anne also seemed excited. “Morgana’s right! You already run the strategy, so why don’t you just be the leader in general?”
“I don’t really know…”
“Bücherwurm, trust us. You would make a wonderful leader.”
Cathy was silent for another moment. “Alright, I accept.” The other three began beaming at her and Cathy continued. “But only if our targets and major decisions are based on unanimous votes.”
“See? This is why you make a good leader.” Anna gave Cathy a smirk.
“Well then, we’ll leave most stuff up to you, make us proud, Survivor!”
“And don’t be afraid to ask for an assist!” Anne’s gaze turned from Cathy to the other two. “That goes for everyone here as well!”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” Cathy put her writing notebook back in her bag, but kept out her pen. “Now, there’s one more thing I think we should do before we continue having some fun.”
Under curious stares, Cathy pulled out and opened her journal reserved for their activities as Phantom Thieves and turned to a blank page, everyone watched as she began to write.
One page, ‘Our true stories…’
And on another, ‘Rules to being a Phantom Thief…’