Do You Have A Qlue?

Chapter 5: Daren Spilled the Beans...Only Part of it

The doorman at Lin Gwin opened the door for us as we entered the restaurant. The air is suddenly filled with chatters and luscious smells. Servants carrying and balancing 10 dishes on a tray moved expertly around us.

We sat down at our usual table near the back, but something was bugging me. My eyes darted around the large dining hall and landed on something big and shiny I caught in my peripheral vision. That must be it---the crystal chandelier. But it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with it. Then my view was blocked by someone’s curly dark hair that just passed by. Goose bumps raced up my arms and down my neck. Again? What is wrong with me today? I shook off my unease and placed my full attention to Daren as he and Aaron got seated. I stiffly followed in suit. Guess I’m just worried about what he might say to us. Once we were all seated, I grabbed my menu and tried to focus on what their special was today, but my brain had other ideas. Worst case scenario: Some of Father’s loyal servants turned against him and murder him and—Oh my god! How could I think of that? If Father was…has been...in that situation, surely Daren would have told us way back then with the IPC and…

“Shut up,” I uttered out loud.

Aaron, Daren, and a servant, who I didn’t even noticed was there, stopped in the middle of their conversation and stared at me. I shrank back into my seat and muttered my apologies before excusing myself to go to the restroom.

I wounded through the tables and chairs until a hand landed on my arm. “What’s the matter with you today?” asked Aaron.

Funny, I just had that same thought. But I didn't have answer an yet, so I just shrugged.

When we reached the beginning of the hallway to my destination, Aaron stopped me in my tracks and whipped me around, forcing me to face him. I was surprised by the fury in his tone. “Fine, don’t tell me.” He paused, then added in a softer voice. “I just wish that we could develop a nicer friendship. At least towards the point where we could share our concerns and offer opinions to each other. But I guess you never thought about it like I did.” He went back to our table, leaving me alone in the hallway, not wanting to go to the restroom anymore.

I decide to go in there anyway to wash my face and hands. I felt the coolness of the water on my skin. With the final wipe of my eyes, I opened them and saw a black silhouette right behind me. I froze. The thing was probably a foot taller than me and was wearing some sort of dark cloak that covered the entire face and body. Then, it slowly raised its right arm and pointed at the sink right next to mine. Still in shock, I had to tear my gaze from the creature and look at, what I could not believe, an envelope appearing out of thin air. When I turned my eyes back towards the mirror, the stranger was gone. 

                                                              .   .   .

I returned with the envelope inside one of the pockets of my jacket to the table that is now packed with food. I haven’t opened whatever was in the envelope though.

As I approached the table, Daren looked up and chewed faster while wiping his mouth with a napkin. Something still didn't feel right. Aaron, unbeknownst to the conversation we had earlier, was still munching happily on his food when I sat down.

“I purposely reserved some of the tables around us so it’ll be hard for somebody to eavesdrop, if you’re wondering," said Daren, like he read my mind. So that’s why things felt out of place---And then---How did I not notice? In a lower voice, Daren continued. “We don’t have much time left so I must trust you teenagers to be patients and pay extra attention with what I’m going to say next.” I was busy eating my food when I almost missed what he said next. “…your Father is dead.” Now he got our attention.