Deadly Secret

Dead

Esther surveyed her father, and his cold glare sent a chill through her spine. Despite his intimidating presence, she squared her shoulders and stood straight.

"What's going on here?" Lord Cassius stepped closer to the group, and his long cape brushed the tiles, "Who is she?" He sent a pointed stare in Esther's direction.

Your daughter, Esther answered silently.

Ro grinned easily, "This," she gestured to Esther with her dagger, "Is Sparkly Hair. She can introduce herself later. In the meantime, we have news,"

Biana, Dex, and Fitz began speaking all at once, and their words became a jumbled mess.

Ro yelled at them, and the three became still, "Keefe is gone,"

No one was brave enough to shatter the silence. It dragged on for what seemed like forever until Lord Cassius cleared his throat, "What do you mean?"

"He..." Ro's voice wavered slightly, "He decided he was too dangerous, and he lightleaped away,"

Tears shone in everyone's eyes, and Dex squeezed Biana's hand gently, "It'll be okay," he whispered, "We'll find him,"

Fitz clenched his jaw and glanced at Ro, "Where's Sophie?"

"She's in the Healing Center," Esther answered, "She already knows. We just came from there,"

He nodded briskly, and motioned to the crystal clutched in Esther's fingers, "Take me there," his voice trembled with rage, and she flinched when he stepped forward.

"I don't know..." she looked at Ro for approval, but the pink-haired ogre seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

"I've never seen her like this," a sad smile creased Fitz's face, "I guess she really did care about him,"

Esther nodded awkwardly, not quite knowing what to say. She felt like an intruder— she was an intruder. Despite never meeting her twin, a lump formed in her throat.

"I'll take you," she decided, "It's the least I can do,"

He grabbed her hand and raised the pathfinder towards the ceiling. No one else seemed to care.

"Foxfire!" he shouted, and a surge of light crashed over them, gradually fading away to reveal Elwin's somber face.

"He's dead,"

"Was it murder?"

"There's a stab wound,"

 A million frenzied phrases whirled around the room, and Esther stumbled to a familiar figure lying on a cot. His stomach was slashed and bleeding, and his eyes stared blankly at his surroundings.

Dead, dead, dead, Esther crumpled to the ground, clutching her head. A woozy, delirious sensation washed over her, and Elwin hurriedly provided smelling salts to bring Esther to her senses.

Bramble was dead.

The plot is finally getting interesting!! I hope you enjoyed this short chapter. Do you have any theories about who the murderer was?