When The Clock Strikes Twelve

Chapter 17

Zaria had been pushing the grief away all night, trying to focus on anything but it. She thought about staying with Jaye for the night, but decided that it was probably best to leave her alone. That didn't keep her from worrying all night, battling with herself about whether or not to check up on Jaye.

She needs space. Zaria reminded herself. Give her space.

Still, when a bleak light started to fill her room, Zaria could wait no longer. She swung out of her bed and crept through the silent halls, cracking open the door to Jaye's room. She poked her head in, unable to make much out in the dim dawn lighting.

"Are you awake?" she whispered. There was no response, so Zaria crept forward, only to see an empty bed. She froze.

Her thoughts racing, Zaria spun around and raced out of the room. There was the possibility that she was in the bathroom, but she knew it was more likely that something was wrong, that she had gone and done something rash, something Jaye-like.

Where would she have gone? Nobody knew who'd killed Zander, at least not yet. Zaria focused on breathing, slowing her thoughts back to a normal speed.

If I was looking for his killer. she thought. Where would I go?

Unfortunately, Zander's room was empty, but it was an absolute disaster, as if a hurricane had torn through it. Or a person, searching for clues. Jaye had been here, looking. Clearly she'd found something, because she hadn't retreated back to their room. Where could she have gone?

Her heart racing, Zaria searched for a clue, something that would tell her where Jaye had gone, but she couldn't make anything out in the mess. She glanced at the clock on the wall, trying to calculate how long until the funeral. It was 7:43, so she had barely a quarter of an hour.

"Think." she hissed to herself. "Think, where would she go?"

She didn't know, she had no idea. Jaye was gone, she was missing and Zaria had no idea where she was.

Zaria spun out of the room, her heart a staccato against her ribs.

~

Jaye

Jaye found her in the antechamber to the ballroom, just as she'd expected. She was wearing a black shirt and pants, feigning mourning, pretending to be sorry for all the people she'd killed. As Jaye pulled open the door, Laurel—no, Raina—turned. Her face softened as she took in Jaye's appearance, the bags that were no doubt under her eyes, her messy hair.

"Jaye." she greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling," Jaye snarled. "Terrible. Terrible, because I just found out that the leader of the rebellion is—is the...'' she broke off, but Raina seemed to understand. Her face hardened, and she stepped forward threateningly, but Jaye had come prepared.

She untucked the gun from her belt, holding it up with a shaking hand. It didn't matter. She was close enough to make it, no matter how badly her hand was shaking. Raina licked her lips, stepping back, her eyes darting around for a potential escape. "Listen, Jaye." she bargained. "I know you may be feeling a little... scared, and confused. I know you don't want to do this."

She stepped back once more bracing herself against the wall. "Listen, maybe we can help each other. I can get you a position in my cabinet. Royal advisor, how does that sound?"

For a moment, Jaye's anger blinked out, replaced by utter shock. Then, it returned, stronger than before. "You think that would work? I'm not like you, Raina. I don't just kill and scheme and—"

Before she could finish, Raina moved suddenly, spinning around and yanking open the door that had been behind her, how had Jaye been stupid enough to miss that, and running out of the room, a flurry of movement. Jaye was after her in seconds, easily overtaking her and pinning her to the wall, gun still out.