Silver: The Lost Royal

42 | A Red Murder

"THAT'S not how we play the game, Jamie!" Salome groaned. "That is so obvious! But wait... huh?"

Karyn, however, didn't share in Salome's confusion as she read the tone behind his words.

When the bottle had landed on Karyn, it was Jamie's turn to say two truths and one lie for Karyn to figure out which was which. And he didn't make it hard.

"When I vanished with your aunt, it was a spell. I know you know more than you let on about The Faceless and I hate drinking water," he said dryly.

It was clear for her to see. He had inadvertently answered a question she had ever since, or at least given a clue. Not only that, he was also giving her an opening. A chance to ask.

"You do not hate drinking water. That's the lie," she said as they both continued staring at each other. There was no need for confirmation. He made that one easy. "But trust me, I do not know as much as you think about The Faceless."

"How did you know what they look like when you saw one back at Emerfield?" Jamie asked, and she came clean.

"That's because one of them has haunted my sleep ever since I can remember and still does till this very day. I'm sure I won't get any sleep this night even! So if you think I'm always hiding something, well, there you go! I don't think there's anything about me you don't know at this point," she said and let out a deep breath as she was getting flustered.

"That's understandable," Marcela started, glancing at Gema before looking at the rest. "It could be because of the Din Rae. You say you've seen only one?"

"Hooded with red lips," was her response.

"What's Din Rae?" Salome asked and Gema was quick to explain that it was the reason for Karyn's recent outburst and why they were heading to Dhandria.

They ended the game soon after that and the night ended young for the rest except Karyn. Sleep wouldn't come to her and she knew it.

"How are you feeling?" Zack asked beside her before he reached out to take one of her hands in his. They both hadn't risen from their positions on the floor, but now he had turned completely to face her, his legs outstretched on her sides and hers cross-legged between.

"I'm a lot better with you here," she revealed, and he smiled at her, the smile amplifying the peaceful feeling that danced through her.

In the quiet of the moment, she asked, "I know I've asked this before, but you never gave me an answer. How did you know it was me?"

"I didn't know it was you when I saw you. I mean, before Emerfield, I knew of you and had seen you in the papers whenever they talked about you back then. But you were young then, and I didn't know what to expect. When I saw you at school, you were different. Your hair was longer."

"I had short hair before?"

"Stopped right here," he said and placed his other index finger on the collarbone. The touch igniting sparks through her but it didn't last long as he withdrew. "Your face was fuller. Your eyes were brighter. And your lips," he paused as his eyes stopped at her lips. "You were different, in a good way. But then you just kept on talking."

She chuckled. "I was your tour guide. I had no choice."

"I kept wondering how could you be so..."

"Cheerful?"

"Yes. You always looked like you had... no problems. I know it was wrong for me to assume, but you seemed so... happy. One would have never guessed what had happened to you."

"And now..." she trailed on and silence reigned before she continued. "I guess ignorance truly is bliss." Her eyes fell to the spot where Zack rubbed circles on the back of her palm with his thumb. The act, drugging.