Uproarium's Brightest

Chapter Twelve: Then There Was Mayhem

Author's Note: Back from hiatus and weekly updates from now on!

Thank you so much for 1,1k reads!

I sat down on a brown leather armchair, close to the fireplace. Lady Silverguard wanted to meet with me and discuss...Well, the envelope.

The flames cracked, the different reds and oranges bleeding into bright yellows and mixing with each other. The warm feeling tickled my nose, making me sweat slightly. It didn't seem to help Lady Silverguard whatsoever.

The old woman was on the verge of very obvious tears, holding onto her silk shawl to ground herself.

"Your Honour" I spoke in a calm manner, sympathising with her. She had a near death experience a few weeks ago— she wasn't ready for this. "I will do my best to fix this." I took Lady Silverguard's hands in my grip, trying to make the sincerity of my words clear.

I grimaced at how cold they were– if this were to keep up, the old woman would faint. "I am by no means a doctor, but I would advise you to rest. The shock could be dangerous for you."

"I am not weak like you speak of" she croaked, slapping my much larger palm away. "I am capable, thank you very much and I will not rest until this–" she took in a breath, shaking with what seemed like— rage?

"–All of this is solved." I blinked, not surprised "–and I can only trust that you will do the same." she paused, rising from her place beside me and picking up her gown. "Goodbye detective." she punctuated the title, her words dripping with venom as she walked off.

Why did everyone always have to leave?

An angry yell of 'You!' ripped me away from my thoughts, making my neck almost snap in half from how fast I turned my head. My collarbone burned.

"You pretended to be my assistant...why?" Benjamin Silverguard was quieter now, realising he wouldn't get anything with anger. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't find a plausible excuse in time– shit.

"Those Council half-wits you associate with send you lot, didn't they? To threaten us?" he took a breath and I could only watch in awe as he spilled his conspiracy theories.

"Well news flash, moron." As he would say 'he got all up in my face' and small particles of spit hit my cheeks. I resisted the urge to gag, recoiling slightly.

Germs are scary, all right?

"You ain't getting nothing." he pressed his finger against my chest, but fell backwards, still hungover.

"Sir, I hope you won't mind me correcting you, but I do not ‘associate’ with the Council anymore." A wave of excitement surged in my veins— saying that had never felt so free before. "But please do tell me, have they threatened you before?"

"Those clowns have done everything. Everything, for some stupid mistake a fifteen year old did." I breathed, deciding to tell him the truth about the con I had pulled off. Honesty, was what this very broken man needed.

"I was trying to pry in about that ‘mistake’ I've heard so many things about." I avoided his gaze, looking down at my knees.

"Well I'm not going to tell you anything– not yet at least. Hell, why should I trust you? You look like you've gotten into a bar fight." he assesed my appearance and I winced when I saw him staring at my wrists.

Did I really look that bad?

"It was something like that." I muttered, grimacing. "Anyway, before the speech and the black out, where were you?" I asked in a disinterested tone, hoping not to seem too suspicious.