128
128
LYRIC
While I was worried about not seeing Jaris‘ neck, Maddy kept nagging about how much she hated Jaris and, surprisingly, Nerion. I had to struggle to remain focused on the road.
“He didn’t even try to go after me or anything! Instead, he sided with that monster and asked me to shut up!” She furried.
“But Kael was there as well. Why are you only angry at Nerion?” I was curious.
“That moody grouch and I had nothing in common! Nerion was my friend.”
I laughed at her description of Kael. Well, that was what he looked like in the eyes of people until you actually got to know him.
“He was my bestfriend.” There was a small crack in her voice that made me understand she was really hurt. “Yet, he did nothing when my brother sent me away to an asylum. For five years, he stayed with Jaris and even became his head of security! He didn’t come to visit me. He didn’t care about me! And now, he simply asked me to shut up and get out. Because I went against the monster.”
I glanced at her and was shocked to see a tear on her cheek. What the hell?
“Are you crying?”
She sniffled and carefully flicked the tear off, not wanting to ruin her makeup.
I didn’t even know someone as hot–headed as her was capable of crying.
“Come on, Maddy. I’m sure there’s a reason he didn’t-”
“There’s no reason,” she spat, her mean attitude back on. “He simply didn’t care about me. And now I don’t anymore.”
Silence filled the car for a little while before I broke it.
“You um… mentioned something about Jaris killing someone before. Like a lover. Were you serious?”
She folded her arms and looked away, out the window.
“Maddy?”
She’d hinted at two things today that kept me on edge. Why won’t she say anymore?
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Lyric.” Her voice was clipped.
“But-”
“It’s not in my place to confess my brother’s sins.” She threw a heated glare at me before returning her eyes to the road.
I sighed, shaking my head. She was actually still protecting the brother she claimed she hated.
The rest of the drive went on in silence; one I appreciated anyway.
By the time we reached the gift store, Maddy was completely out of her teary mood and excited to make selections.
The store was quite large with so many items, it was hard to make a choice. Maddy was so excited to shop she didn’t notice the men ogling at her. Aside her dressing ‘sexy‘, she was actually a very pretty girl. Had this cute innocent face that every man would want to claim for the first time.
And sometimes, she could really act innocent; like a virgin child.
Now, for instance, she was so happy picking out items she didn’t even notice the attention she garnered.
At some point, I left her to feed her eyes while I made a call. It was Elder Mathias, and this time, fortunately, he answered.
Goodness!
“Hello? Good morning, Mr. Mathias.”
“Who’s this?” He was grumpy as hell.
“It’s… I’m Lyric. I just wanted to ask if your wife, Mrs. Penelope was around. I’ve been trying to reach her but-”
“What about?” He cut me off.
“I’m sorry, but it’s kind of personal.”
“Well, she isn’t home. She went on a trip. If you want to speak with her, you call her.”
Before I could say anymore, he hung up on me.
I pulled my hair in frustration, not knowing what else to do.
So, Penelope was on a trip? She was obviously fine while I’d been worried to death trying to reach her? Wasn’t it obvious I was being ignored on purpose? She was starting to make the whole thing look suspicious.
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128
I cursed under my breath as I fixed the phone into my back pocket while turning around to return to Maddy.
I released a startled gasp when I came face to face with a young lady I’d almost bumped into.
“Sorry,” she smiled at me, though it was chilling. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Getting over the shock, I took in her features.
She was quite tall with long slender legs and a skinny body. Although, she was skinny, she looked very strong.
She had tattoos covering her arms and the most part of her neck, extending downward and getting lost into the T–shirt she had on. I had a feeling there would be more tattoos beneath her shirt.
Coupled with the icy look in her eyes, she looked like someone very dangerous. Not the kind of person I’d want to be associated with.
“Getting gifts for someone?” She tilted her head toward Maddy,
She must’ve seen us come in together.
“Yeah,” I answered and walked past her.
“You’re quite pretty.”
I stopped walking and turned around to face her again. She was giving me that smile again–that cold one that sent unease down my spine.
But I had a feeling she was someone that didn’t smile a lot, and right now, she was giving me her best.
“Thank you,” I nodded.
“Have a name?”
I scoffed. Who wouldn’t?
“I’m sorry, I have to go back.” I pointed in Maddy’s direction before turning around again.
“Fine if you don’t wanna talk to me. I just need one more thing.”
Okay. Now I was getting tired.
I spun around in her direction to answer her for the last time. She pulled out a folded paper from the back pocket of her jean pants. I watched with curious eyes as she unrolled it, and the moment I saw what it was, oxygen stopped flowing to my lungs.
“Have you seen this woman by any chance?”
I barely heard her above the roaring in my ears. And I barely heard the roaring in my ears above the thundering of my heart.
My heart stopped beating, blood stopped pumping, and I went completely still.
Was this what it felt like to go into a state of shock?
I stared at the picture for what felt like an eternity, yet found it hard to accept.
I was staring at myself.
My old self.
The scarred me.
My terrified eyes flicked back to the woman.
The realization settled on me like a rock hitting my brain.
She was an Executioner.
They were here in Nyxvale.
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