The Broken Crystal

Chapter Twenty One

The walls had the colour of nothingness. As white as the light at the end of a lifetime, as clean as the woman's suit, as piercing as the restraints gnawing on Evanna's wrists.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Savaine said.

"Okay." Evanna's eyes were so narrowed the woman's form turned into nothing but a distorted rectangle. A rectangle filled with hazel and darkness. A rectangle that tilted her head as it said:

"It would be polite to return my words."

The laugh that tore from the girl's throat was laced with sugar and pepper. "It would be polite to unbound my hands. Besides," she shrugged, "I'm not a polite person."

"Yes, I am well aware of that."

"Stalker." Evanna's chant was accompanied by her constant blinking towards the corner of Savaine's office. Two blinks, then Haven. One blink and her empty cave. Zero blinks and Nate's lifeless body. Even the birds weren't able to hide from the prying cameras. Everyone and everything was there. Everything on the small screens hanging on the walls of nothingness.

And still, it made more sense than this day ever could.

"Yes, you aren't polite, which can turn out to be a problem," Savaine said, ignoring the girl. "But, luckily, you're also nowhere near selfless."

"Thanks."

"You've proved it this afternoon. By the way, I hope you enjoyed the game. I must praise myself; I was ninety-seven percent sure you wouldn't last more than three minutes. And I was right."

The glassy table trembled more than could ever be considered normal when Evanna's arms suddenly slammed into it. "What the fuck was that game about, huh?" A bark. "Why am I here?"

"Officially, you're a form of blackmail."

Evanna rolled her eyes. "Typical."

Savaine continued on. "Unofficially-" a tiny smile was made visible in the greyness of her face "-I want you on my side."

Evanna frowned, her thoughts spinning. On the enemy's side? Why? "Why are you telling me this?"

Savaine's folded hands moved to rest on her thighs as she sat down.  "Because the truth is as much of a pawn as the lies. You just need to know which one to use when. Besides, I know you believe in the purity of my intentions. You can see them. That's exactly what would make you an excellent psychologist."

"Me? A psychologist?" Evanna's brows arched in disbelief. Fingers moving to drag through her hair, only to be stopped by the chains around her wrists.

"Why did you become interested in Luke Roswell?"

Evanna laughed, though it was forced. "Wow, you really don't have a life, do you?"

The woman ignored her. "Because, even before he'd chosen to give you a part of the truth, you knew there was something curious about him. And that's exactly what I need." She leaned forward a little. "Someone curious. Someone passionate. Someone like me. Besides," her fingers loosened to take out the notebook. "It would be tragic if you died before finishing this."

Evanna's hands shot forwards, the metal, hungry and impatient, biting deeper into her skin. "Where did you get that?"

Savaine ignored her, choosing to instead look at the pages. "It's quite a nice story," she said. "Some mistakes here and there, could use an editor, but other than that it's truly impressive. It would be a real shame if something happened before you'd get the chance to publish it."