The Scarlet Assassin

Chapter Fourteen

The next afternoon, I visited Ace in the Orlop.

"How are they coming along?" I asked briskly, walking down the stairs, keeping a hold of the railing. Ace didn't immediately respond. Even in the darkness of the room, I saw her lips curl.

"They'll go faster when you leave," she said, her voice near a hiss. I raised my brows at her, slightly affronted by the cold greeting.

"Okay... that was a little rude," I said, "but I'm in a good mood and willing to look past it."

Ace never paused her work. "Well good for you. Now, get out." I paused, looking down at her. She didn't bother to glance up to see if I was still there.

Slowly, I turned around and walked back up the stairs.

Our next greeting was a few hours later when she came up to the desk to grab food. I had been in the galley, grabbing the last of the candy supply and shoving them into my pockets.

"Stealing my sweets now?" Devolan asked, walking in. Ace came in from the opposite door, grabbing a half loaf of bread and some cheese.

"She's best at that," she mumbled, not meeting my eyes. If I hadn't had candy shoved into my mouth, I would've retorted something back. Or maybe I wouldn't have. She was gone quicker than I could've come up with anything anyway. Devolan and I watched her leave.

"Damn, is she always this bitchy?" She asked, taking a taffy from my hand and tossing it in her mouth. I shrugged in response.

The third time we saw each other was at dinner that night.

"So, how's life on the ship?" Devolan had asked us all. In the past two days, Sophie had grown less hostile toward her but still didn't respond. Rafe kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Damn that kid's not slick.

"You know I hate sailing," I told her. Ace snorted. We all looked at her, confused. The room went silent.

"I'm sorry, I forget my manners," I said, the dark undertone in my voice unmistakable. "Do you have something to say, Ace, or are you going to hide behind your little snide remarks?" Devolan sipped on her rum, looking thoroughly entertained.

"No, I have nothing to say to you."

I searched her face for any answer but found nothing. "You see, I think you do, so why don't you just spit it out instead of sulking around all day and throwing petty insults at me and backhanded comments?" Ace threw her silverware down angrily.

"Fine, Vera. You want it straight?"

"Please, enlighten me," I hissed.

Her face reddened to a color I couldn't even begin to describe. "I never wanted to come here. You manipulated me -hell all of us- into coming to settle whatever vendetta you have against the king. You're a stuck-up bitch with no regard for anyone else's feelings."

I inhaled, keeping her gaze. "Maybe I am just another manipulative swine, but at least I have the balls to say what's on my mind instead of locking myself into my room for days on end, never coming out except to dish out bitchy comments."

"You don't know the first thing about me."

"I know you act all tough, but you really aren't." I smiled. "It's a front, isn't it? A cry for help? A defense mechanism?" She didn't respond. "I know you were thirteen-." Ace jumped to her feet, slamming her hands on the table.

"That is my past, Vera! That is not yours to tell!"

"Oh, but you were so keen on trying to unleash mine a few days ago." She was shaking with anger now.