Ruby Red Crown

9

"Where am I?" I mumble. Pulling myself up, I see that I'm not alone. Leon is hovering close to my side, as per usual.

"We have been officially kicked out of the palace." He explains. "You wouldn't wake up -as usual- and we had to carry you. We're in an abandon alleyway for now."

"Well, it's not like we planned on staying long." I shrug.

"I guess."

"You mentioned 'we,' but I don't see anyone else around." I look around to truly make sure that no one else is here, and that I'm not just hallucinating from lack of sleep.

"Kazimir and Skylar are supposed to be getting breakfast. I'm 'keeping guard.'"

"I see." It's silent for a moment. "What made you decide to trust silvers all of a sudden."

"It's not trust. It's having the same temporary goal."

"Ah." Leon is too stubborn to admit it, but it seems like he's finally realizing silvers aren't as bad as they're made out to be.

It feels like forever until they return. I jump up, hoping for something good to eat. Turns out they didn't return with anything.

"You guys should see the news they're playing. About how we 'ran away' and that there's a reward going around for our return. Guards are everywhere. We couldn't go anywhere with be arrested on sight." Kazimir starts.

"Huh?" Leon looks shocked.

"Yah. We're 'traitors' and need to 'be put in custody.'" Skylar makes quotes with her hands as she speaks.

"So, no breakfast?" My stomach is very disappointed.

"That's all you got out of that?" They all turn to look at me in disbelief.

".....Yes."

It was while before anyone spoke again.

"Why were you in the file room?" Skylar breaks the tension.

"To get files. What other reason would there be?" Yes, I know, I probably shouldn't anger her.

"Obviously you stole something important from His Majesty. What was it?"

"Just some info on Daimon." At their blank expressions, I elaborate. "You know, Daimon Bloodewolfe? Criminal mastermind?"

I can see the exact moment realization hits. Panic flashes through their eyes once the initial shock wears off.

"How do– how do you know that?" Skylar stutters.

"Courtesy of His Majesty." She stiffens at the disrespect, but doesn't say anything.

"That confidential information." She hisses. "Where is it now."

"Who knows. I left them behind when I was arrested." I shrug again.

"What!?" All three yell at the same time.

"It's not that big of a deal..." I trail off.

"Not that big of a deal!? What do you mean it's not that big of a deal!?" Leon shrieks.

"They probably have some information in a library or something."

"Outlaws remember?" Skylar says dryly.

"I'm sure they won't mind. Besides, why would they recognize my face? You don't even have to go with me."

"Like that's going to work." Leon really needs to lighten up.

"Sure it will. Just watch." I drag Leon out into the bright light of the streets. Walking aways on the street leads us to a strip of food stores.

Stopping in one, I order breakfast. Luckily I remembered all my mother's card numbers. Not that she knows that.

While I'm in there, I get directions. The nearest one isn't that faraway actually. Just remembering the way is the problem. One that is solved with all of Leon's unceasing worry.

We end up taking two wrong turns. Backtracking is a pain. Wish I had a map or something. Compared to home, New York is so confusing. I don't understand how people can live here.

Twenty five minutes later, I'm practically collapsing on the library floor. Leon is in no better shape. We sit there for a few minutes before I finally head up to the front desk, leaving Leon behind.

The girl behind the desk looks about my age. Her red earrings sway with every movement of her head. Her purple hair is cut just above her shoulders. When she finally notices me, I see that her eyes are a bright blue. Almost the same color as Skylar's.

"Do you need something?" She cuts me with her stare. Probably because  I'm interrupting her work.

I rest my arms on the desk. "What books do you have on famous criminals?" That gets her attention. She takes a good look at me, focusing on my cheek.

"That depends on what your looking for." She's cautious now.

"Do you know someone by the name of Daimon Bloodwolfe?" Now I really have her on edge. Any Silvrian civilian would be.

"I'll show you to them." Wariness coats her voice. She steps out of the cubicle. Before I turn to follow her I get a look at her name plate.

"Allegra, huh?" I mumble too low for anyone to hear.

I follow here up to the second where they must keep the nonfiction. She pulls out three books and sets them on the desk.

"Is this it?" Disbelief is evident in my voice.

She gives me a sharp look. "Yes," She says before walking off.

I crack open the cover of the first book. Flipping through the contents, there's only a few pages on him. The next two are the same. Looks like I really needed those files.

A skimming through the pages for anything I missed when one line catches my eye. It's a newspaper article written when Daimon was first emerging in the crime world.

Half the page is missing. It looks like the page itself was dug out of the trash before being scanned into the book. Although small, the text is still eligible.

I hunt along the other tables for a magnifying glass. I find one left out on a still open book. Taking it, I hold it up to the article and get to reading:

"Multiple witness accounts say that the authorities have shot and injured Daimon Bloodwolfe. Despite many bullet wounds, he managed to evade authorities. However, that is not what is authorities are concerned about. When detectives arrived, no blood was found at the crime scene."

What?