The invitation felt heavier than it looked. In the dim glow of Veloz' office, I traced the letters, "60th Anniversary of Alasteer," over and over. It felt strange, holding something so polished and formal from an organization I barely trusted. Jazz hadn't even mentioned it. Or maybe he did from the past.
A sudden knock interrupted my thoughts, and Styx waltzed into the room with his signature grin.
"What's got you so deep in thought, Heart?" He teased, his voice lilting as he leaned against the door, eyes bright and playful. "Should I be jealous of that card, or...?" He looks at Potato and and rolls his eyes.
I held up the invitation. "This Alasteer is hosting some grand masquerade for their sixtieth anniversary."
He gave a low whistle and crossed his arms, studying it from a distance as if it were some ominous artifact. "Bombahin natin yan!" Suhestiyon niya.
I shrugged, the edge of doubt creeping back. "Maybe it's an opportunity."
"For what?" He wagged his eyebrows. "To steal Jazz's heart all over again?"
I tried not to roll my eyes, but he must have seen it because he cackled, umupo siya sa tabi ko with a cheeky grin. "Come on, babe, gwapo siya masyado. You know that man has hidden things from you. You trust him?"
"More than I trust anyone else," I replied, almost automatically. But the words felt thin. "I've had...doubts. And there's that video of us—the fight. It doesn't make sense. Why would he keep something like that from me?"
Styx's smile faded just a fraction, his gaze softening.
"You should really just confront Jazz." Potato suggests but Styx blocks her with a gesture.
"Hindi, teh." He said, pulling a mock-pity face. "You don't think he's keeping you in the dark on purpose? Sometimes, people keep us in a little box of 'safe ignorance' so they can pull the strings without us noticing."
"Why would Jazz want to manipulate me?" I scoffed, though doubt twisted my stomach.
"Well, maybe it's the thrill of controlling a dangerous, powerful woman, or maybe—just maybe—it's because the truth would let you see him for what he is."
The way Styx said it left a chill in the room, but he recovered quickly, grinning like a mischievous child caught mid-prank. "Look, all I'm saying is I wouldn't leave a queen like you in the dark. Want me to help? I can dig around, poke my nose into a few places Jazz would hate."
I took a deep breath, torn between my loyalty to Jazz and this strange, gnawing feeling that Styx might be onto something. "There...was someone," I admitted, glancing away. "A girl at the club. She gave me a videotape and practically ran away. She might know more."
"Ayan! Now we're talking!" Styx's eyes sparkled with a kind of glee, as if I'd just told him we were crashing a royal wedding. "A mystery woman, clues, a seedy club, perfect for me, a detective!—I'm in." He goes on to drink a cup of coffee out of excitement.
I laughed in spite of myself, his over-the-top enthusiasm a little contagious. "You're ridiculous."
"Ubusin ko lang tong kape, tapos iimbestigahan ko na yan." He winked, striking a dramatic pose before whipping out his phone, fingers moving faster than lightning.
"Anyway, bat bigla kayong nawala ni Potato kagabi? Huhh? Iniwan niyo ako mag-isa kay Jazz tapos iniwan niya ako magisa din!"
"It's because of the girl at the club, she showed me a video of me and Jazz fighting."
