Chapter Text
The Right Honorable Mayor of Bonesborough
(Mr Philip Wittebane)
Requests the pleasure of your company for cocktails and dinner at Wittebane Manor. Your presence is requested from 7 p.m. on Sunday the 5th of June for an enjoyable evening.
An RSVP is requested before May 31st.
A storm bellowed outside as guests milled around the Wittebane Estate, sampling the platters and drinks that were out. The building had been decorated to welcome the eclectic gathering of guests for what most were assuming was a soirée to celebrate the mayor's successful reelection campaign.
"I always knew once I was given control of the campaign it would be an easy election season. Mayor Wittebane hardly had to lift a finger with all the fantastic work I did over the last year." Kikimora stood with a smug smile on her face. Her short height stood out in stark contrast to the tall, raven-haired woman next to her.
Lilith barely resisted rolling her eyes at the small woman. She glanced outside the window into the storm to avoid showing her exasperation before turning back. Kikimora had taken over as the mayor's campaign manager after Lilith left after disagreements with the mayor. She had also never failed to miss an opportunity to brag about her success to Lilith.
"Ah, yes, Kiki, I am certain that it was a lot of work." Lilith swirled her drink as a small smile appeared on her face. "I mean, not as much as running the initial campaign, as I did, but being able to make sure the current mayor beats out the other random candidates that thought they'd have a chance must have been very difficult for you."
Kikimora narrowed her eyes at the taller woman as she diverted the conversation to other thinly veiled brags and digs at the former campaign manager. Across the room, at the table housing the hors d'oeuvres, an unruly grey mane was bobbing up and down as Eda Clawthorne stuffed her face with free snacks.
"I'm telling you, Rainestorm, free snacks taste better than any other kind of snack!" Bits of unchewed food spewed out of Eda's mouth with her declaration.
Raine fondly rolled their eyes at their partner, while their friend Darius stared back at her in disgust.
"Honestly woman, I don't know how you manage to keep up a clean appearance when you eat like that." Darius backed up just as some stray cocktail sauce splashed away from where Eda was stuffing her mouth. Eda just shrugged and kept going while Darius and Raine had their own conversation about their failed attempts to run against Mayor Wittebane. They'd both left his campaign earlier that year to tend to their own unsuccessful political ambitions.
Near the bar across from the table, a gathering of green hair stood politely next to a man with brown hair, an elder gentleman, and an older woman. Four members of the Blight family listened politely to Gwendolyn Clawthorne and Hieronymus Bump discuss the various changes they had seen in the town over their lifetime. Odalia, ever one to keep up appearances, engaged thoroughly in the conversation while the rest of the family stayed silent, most wishing they hadn't had to be in attendance. An occasional elbow to the ribs kept Alador from wandering off and tinkering, while the twins were held in place by fear of their mother's wrath.
Farther away from most of the conversations, trying to avoid being dragged into these obnoxious social politics, a young woman walked up to a blonde-haired young man. He glanced up with his tired eyes and nodded toward the arriving guest.
"Youngest Blight."
"Hunter." Amity gave a small nod back as she poured herself a drink and glanced around the room. "How bad is it that this is the closest thing to friendship either of us has?"
Hunter glanced at Amity before turning his eyes back to the party. "Well, considering we both loathe each other, I'd say it's pretty bad. Still, better than the alternative."
Amity let out a hum of agreement before the tapping of glass rang through the room. All conversations died as eyes turned towards the large staircase where Mayor Wittebane was standing as he began to descend. He met the people with a polite smile on his face, his graying blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and a scar standing out on his nose.
"I apologize for my late appearance, I was helping with the final touches for dinner. I'm so glad that you were all able to make it here. Dinner should be finished shortly, but for now, to appease your appetites, just remember it's an open bar."
Scattered chuckles were heard throughout the room as a few people made their way to the bar for refills. Most went back to their conversation, while the mayor himself was swarmed. Amongst the mob of people, standing out as louder than the others was Gwendolyn Clawthorne.
"I told my daughter I'd give you a piece of my mind! I mean, seriously, the death penalty?! She had hardly committed a crime if you ask me, and that's not even getting into some of the preposterous laws you put into motion over the last year!"
The Clawthorne sisters rolled their eyes, knowing there was no stopping the force of nature that was their mother. Kikimora had made her way to the mayor's side, glaring at the older woman for her complaints, but the mayor himself just took it in stride, smiling and discussing policy with the woman as though it were a civil meeting and not a verbal berating.
After another half glass (by Eda's measurement) of appleblood (a special concoction that Eda had to teach the bartenders to make), a triangle rang out silencing the room. A stout man in a tux stood off to the side, waiting until he had everyone's eyes.
"Dinner is served."
The group moved to the dining room, sitting at their designated spots. The mayor stood at the head of the table, waiting for everyone to be seated. Before sitting himself, the mayor raised a glass in the air, clinking the side to gather everyone's attention.
"Once again, thank you for coming. It means a lot to me to see all of you here tonight. In one way or another, you all have impacted the city of Bonesborough or my campaign. In some instances, both. Beyond the campaign promises, I do truly want to work towards a better Bonesborough for everyone. And so tonight, while we enjoy ourselves, I'd love for you to give me your ideas. To Bonesborough!"
He lifted his drink for a toast, soon matched by everyone in attendance. As the mayor sat, soup was brought out by the waiters. Once again the room erupted into various conversations, some people talking down the table to the mayor while others discussed with their neighbor about the food and house.
Lightning struck outside and the windows rumbled with the thunder that followed. The storm continued to worsen, but soon the rumbling of the thunder faded to the background as everyone finished more of their drinks. The main course was delivered to each patron. Just before anyone could dig into their meal, however, lightning struck again, this time taking the power with it.
In pitch black, a scream was heard from Odalia's place at the table. The power flicked back on, and everyone looked around at each other. Odalia flushed from embarrassment, muttering something about hating the dark. All seemed well until another shriek rang out through the room. All eyes turned to Emira, who pointed shakily at the head of the table.
There, body drooping loosely on their chair, was the mayor. A knife handle was protruding from his chest, directly over his heart. Blood was soaking his shirt, his body still as the night sky. Everyone jumped back from their seats with wide eyes, glancing nervously at one another.
Mayor Wittebane was dead. And someone in this room had murdered him.