Hidden Beast

42. The Realization

Jasper

Later after breakfast everyone was early to the training and everyone was loudly discussing about what had really happened the night before.

Everything was only rumors of course. When Ruby arrived, late, everyone quieted and everything you could hear was the captains steps on the polished floor.

They wanted to get information just like I did and no one wanted to miss a single word.

However I notice that Ruby isn't really there, her mind is in another place. She seems to be...sad?

The best captain the kingdom has ever seen, strong, intelligent and strategic. The captain that never shows emotions is...sad?

Something is seriously wrong here, she almost looks guilty about something. But she can't be...right?

It's not her fault that the beast escaped tonight so why does she look guilty? Did she feel responsible or was the guards that had gotten injured her friends?

To everyone's dissapointed the captain only begin the lesson and give instructions of what to do.

She isn't really present as she talks and I notice her eyes seeming to dim as she thinks about something else.

Slowly everyone begin to follow her instructions in a shocked state, they had really thought they would get new information.

Jadeline, the rich noblemans daughter doesn't seem to accept this though as she speaks up.

"Aren't you going to tell us about last night?" the girls voice sound in the room, making everyone stop in their tracks.

Ruby returns to reality and glares at the blonde haired girl in training suit that stands five feet away, refusing to move before she gets an answer.

"The council has decided that the information you already have is just enough, the situation is taken care of and you don't have to worry anymore. You can return to the training now" Ruby says in a monotone voice.

It sounds like she doesn't believe it herself and just repeats what she has heard.

I furrow my eyebrows, of course they would say that we won't get anymore information than this if the council wants to keep it in the dark.

Jadeline doesn't seem to accept this and stubbornly refuse to move. Everything is still in the room and everyone is eyeing the situation that unfolds right in front of us.

"But we do have right to know what is happening. The beast has killed people, two times now and both times you said we were safe" Jadeline says, thinking about it she's right.

They said the beast had been taken care off but it escaped again last night. Where is the beast now, is it still alive?

"The beast is a danger to all of us as long as it's alive. How are we supposed to feel safe and focus on the competition if we are worried about getting harmed at night?" she said and people's mumbling replies told they thought the same thing.

Jadeline encouraged by the people continues. "Why do you keep the monster in our home? We need it gone because as long as its here it's a danger to everyone!" she said, her voice rising as she talked.

Mumbling erupted in the room as people agreed with her. Jadeline narrowed her eyes at the captain, something Ruby didn't seem to like.

That challenging stare wouldn't have been accepted normally but the captain didn't interrupt the girl as she continued.

"Why haven't you stopped it, Captain? Why do you allow the beast to go free and hurt us, are you afraid?" she challenged.

What did she mean? Why would Ruby let something dangerous wander around in the castle?

I know her, she takes her job seriously. She wouldn't risk our safety because she was scared. She doesn't get scared...right?

The royal guards captain stares at the girl with furrowed eyebrows for some time before her eyes widen, what is going on?

Ruby

She knows.

Jadeline somehow knows I'm the beast. She knows I have killed those people and she is hinting at it in public, no one seems to realize what this really is about though.

But how?

How did she figure it out? People that has lived in my presence for everyday in years hasn't figured it out so how did she when we only meet everyday in a month?

Then something clicked in me, Carnelian. He had told her. I quickly try to take control over my emotions as I realizes my expression is showing everything.

Don't let her know she has gotten to you. Pretend to not know what she is talking about. Let her believe it was just her own imagination.

As I watch her, the centre of everyone's attention as she goes up against me I know it's already too late.

She already knows it's me, I didn't hide my thoughts fast enough and now she knows and if Carnelian wasn't sure before he definitely will be now.

But how did he figure out I was the beast? A possible thought makes its way into my mind and I tilt my head up slightly, discretedly sniffing the air and sure enough I was right.

Her smell, that's what I had traced in the forest that day on the meadow with Jasper.

She had seen me together with him, doing inappropriate things but that shouldn't have handed my beast out so what did?

She had probably been following me without me noticing. Carnelian had probably told her so she would do his dirty work, she was just her pet in his plan to make me fall.

He wanted me gone and he was beginning to turn desperate so he told her about his suspicions and she had followed me as he had wanted. Blinded by what he had offered her, riches probably. Maybe even rank and power.

I was more angry on myself than her, it's my own fault I had been revealed. I hadn't been careful and now I had to pay the price for my own stupidity.