Empire of Deceit

Chapter 7: An Interview

I had been ignoring the looks of pity and dismay as I now sat front and center facing the TV, waiting for Amir to be interviewed.

    Axel had let me go for the night, with the promise that I would be paid still. He sat beside me, keeping an arm wrapped across my shoulders as we watched.

    "Rei." I couldn't turn as Indigo called my name.

    Finally, Amir was called up.

    "Welcome, Amir." Volen greeted. Rhea's hand had balled into a fist.

    It was then I started to pay more attention to her, and with a start I realized she had been the dryad that the shapeshifter had gotten me confused with. What was his name? Rex.

    "Thank you," Amir said, a small smirk on his face as he now played his part.

    If he wanted to live, he had to win over the people.

    "Now, let's jump right into it." Volen started looking over his notes. "It says here that you were convicted of aiding a fugitive?" His eyebrows shot up. "None other than Yuri Dorakos, leader of the Knights gang."

    Amir shrugged. "In Astrya, everyone knows everyone. The Knights gang was founded there so it was only naturally for everyone to interact in some way with the players. Him and I would chat sometimes, but I wouldn't stick around cause ya know he's trouble." He worked hard to show a bit of pain in his eyes. "I guess he threw me to the sharks over that nonsense to hide his actual confidants."

    "Rei." I still ignored them.

    Rhea's eyes widened. "You're a Kenra."

    The background chatter of the bar stopped.

    Silence. My heart paused.

    Amir's skin paled slightly.

    Rhea didn't give him a chance to respond. "It says here on your medical examination that your blood has the same genetic markers as the known Kenra to still be alive to this day."

    Amir nodded. "My family came here after the attack on Skirion. We were granted refuge and have been living in secret ever since."

    "Rei!" Someone grabbed my shoulder.

    In an instant, I whipped around and grabbed them by the throat, shoving them to the ground.

    Rainor's wide eyes stared up at me.

    I backed off, beginning to breathe heavily as the realization of the brevity of the situation hit me. I tried so, so hard to hope this was a nightmare. But the fear gripping me could not possibly be due to anything but reality.

    "Rei," Gideon turned me around so that I stared directly into his eyes.

    "We will get him out, I promise." He said it with such sincerity... I wanted to believe him.

    Unbeknownst to most except me, I could hear Axel scoff under his breath. "Only way anyone's getting near that kid is if they're in the damn Praelium."