PHASE 7: Unexpected Turmoil
"Well, I guess it's all settled now?"
"Yes. Thank you for your time."
"No – Thank you," Nostrade insisted. He offered his hand for the sign approval with their business agreement. In exchange, his visitor shook his hands in compliance, believing everything in good faith.
"I look forward to cooperating with you again in the future," Lacroix said. He looked around the room and gave it a final verdict. "Now that we're done… Pardon me but I…" he cleared his throat. "Sorry for the urgency but I have to leave now. Would you mind if I go on now?"
Nostrade gave him the consideration he needed, "Ah, yes. You ma–"
Suddenly, the inanimate door of the room bulged open with rough force, making it hit the wall as it created a loud, banging sound which perfectly interrupted their formal conversation. Amaranth was actually the culprit; after all the trouble she got in entering the hotel, she concentrated her anger at the poor, innocent door as she kicked it with hatred. To such extent, the shiny doorknob scraped the paint of the wall at the instant it hit the surface. All of the people in the room looked right away at the source of the unexcused rage. The bodyguards, including Dalzollene, sharpened their senses and prepared themselves for a fight; it was what they were expecting with such kind of reckless entrance by someone.
Amaranth was relieved. Looks like they're all fine. I made it in time.
"Sorry! I forgot to knock," Amaranth greeted as she showed herself.
One of Lacroix's bodyguard exclaimed, "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Who on earth are you?" He tripped in nervousness for the sudden attack almost gave him a heart-attack.
Nostrade's eyes widened in surprise as he saw his newly hired bodyguard appear before them in such manner. "It's you…"
"You know her?" Lacroix asked, astonished.
"Yeah, uhh… She was supposed to be the one to escort you but..."
Lacroix was startled once again with Nostrade's honest reply. Then he looked at her, formulating judgments right away. "This wild, vulgar woman is one of your bodyguards?!"
Nostrade only gave him an awkward nod in reply.
"Hello," Amaranth said, slowly walking inside the room. "Did you guys miss me?" She was smiling but her seamless expression obviously reeked infuriation which was caused by the events that previously occurred. She focused her blazing eyes on Dalzollene, her sharp stare could've sliced a tomato in half.
"I'll explain!" Dalzollene assured her. He was certain and aware of the reason why she acted in such a way, her look was somehow intimidating him to comply with her untold demands.
"Hah. No need to explain," she said. "I'm not that idiot enough not to realize what you have planned against me. You've really put up a great show, you know? You're actually making me beg for more!" She clapped her hands in mockery.
"Why act in such un-womanly way? Why did you kick the door, are you nuts?" Dalzollene immediately shifted the topic of their conversation. "Have you completely lost your mind and respect for us?"
"Sorry, I got carried away by my emotions. I was so excited to see all of you," she lied. "And I was worried so I came back to check you guys."
He raised an eyebrow together with his intonation, "Really?"
"Well… Enough talk." Advancing her steps further in the room, she gave each one inside a cold glare. "You, I mean all of you… You need to leave this place. Now," she commanded without hesitation.
"Hey, hey… Take it easy Miss. You're not the one in charge. You don't have the reason and authority to do such." The head of Nostrade's bodyguards tried to protect his reputation from being stolen even for a short period of time. "What's with that kind of attitude? Have you forgotten your rank?"
"I may not have the authority but I have a legit reason," she smirked. "Someone will come to assassinate Lacroix and probably all of us will become his victim as well if we don't act right away. That someone is not a teeny-weeny weakling that should be laughed at. Based on our little fight earlier, he can actually kill anyone, even all of you. Get it?" Her statements were frank, straightforward and honest. "Saving our clients' life is the one important, right?"
Despite that kind of speech from her, her superior still seemed to be in doubt. "Really?" Dalzollene released an anxious but doubtful question.
"You still don't trust me, do you?" Amaranth sighed, clucked her tongue and stomped her feet like a child being neglected a birthday present. "I shouldn't have saved his life back then," she whispered to herself but her boss still managed to hear it.
"Watch your words lady," Dalzollene scolded.
"Enough!" their boss finally interfered in their conversation. "Dalzollene, we're going. I believe she's saying the truth. Besides, we'll lose nothing if we listen to her. It's better to be safe than sorry." Despite the commotion, Nostrade still remained calm.
"But bo–"
"She passed your test, correct? I guess it's about time that we trust her." Nostrade finally stated what was important.
"Test? So it was a test after all… Great." Amaranth chuckled, knowing that the situation is now in favor of her. "That's my old man! I knew you'd side by me!"
"Careful with how you address our boss!" Dalzollene scolded once again while Nostrade remained unaffected. The others, including Lacroix, kept staring at the two in their argument.
"Yeah, yeah… Whatever," she said without any signs of compliance. "You and the others should be able to take care of our boss and his beloved guest," Amaranth said and instead of leading them out, she went further into the room.
"But… How about you? Aren't you coming with us too?" her boss asked.
"Nah, I choose to stay here. It won't be long before he finds us here, so hurry up and get going. I'll slow him down. Or better yet, I'll kill him." She tried to smile despite the bitterness she's feeling. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Go on and save yourselves."
"Are you sure about that?" This time, his superior inquired.
"Yes… Please leave. I don't want anyone to get involved in my own mess…"
A long moment of silence engulfed the entire room but in the end, Dalzollene finally understood her will and valued the urgency of their boss' safety. With that, he finally agreed on her behalf. "Try not to get killed, we don't want your skills to be put in vain."
"Sure."
At last, her boss and everyone else left her in solitude. They hurriedly departed the hotel, following her orders for their own safety. As for Amaranth, she sat on the sofa which was facing the windows of the hotel room, spreading her arms as if she was sitting on a majestic throne. The limitless darkness of the night sky was reflected at the window, it reminded her of everything she didn't want to recall.
Indignant minutes passed, the silver-haired maiden was getting impatient about the arrival of her expected guest. She didn't want to think that she might have made a mistake at her speculation. Amaranth tried to reconsider everything she thought of, eager enough to prove the preciseness her own ideas. Her worried judgments faded away, thoughts of despair climbed at the peak of her mind and remained as such until her moment in silence was interrupted by the loud sound of a window being bolted open. Harsh wind entered the room, sending the elegant curtains flustering aimlessly.
He finally arrived.
Instead of letting out her anger, she just shrugged it off for the mean time by saying something irrelevant to the continuation of their fight. "You really like entering via the windows, don't you?"
He gave her a piercing glare. No reply. No sign of any emotions. No intentions of wasting his time.
Knowing that he won't be speaking, she burdened the job of doing the talking again. "Where have you been? I was starting to miss you already." Amaranth gave off a disgusted smile after she spat out the words of her sarcasm.
"I don't have time for your stupidity. Where is he?" he asked in a strict tone.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I won't say anything at all. And you won't be leaving this room alive."
Illumi didn't show any signs of being scared by her threat. "You think you can stop me?"
"Of course," she boasted with confidence.
Illumi was absorbed by her willpower. "I guess I have no other choice," he said, hoping to finish everything right away. But somehow, he felt that something really important was at hand. He paused for a while and looked around the room, trying to find the traces of his real target but obviously realizing that Lacroix has already been put to safety. So… He thought of entertaining himself with a fight before doing his own business, besides he hasn't had any satisfying one lately. Now, his gaze was fixed at the only woman inside the room with him. But before he could even make the first move, Amaranth stunned him with her words.
"Admit it." The stern look on her face grew even worse.
He continued staring at her, intrigued. "Admit what?"
"Don't try acting like you know nothing. You were the one who killed them? Aren't you?"
So it's her. In spite of the fact that he already killed countless people,Illumi finally remembered the incident back then, as well as the woman in front of him. Despite that, he kept on bombarding her with vexing replies. "Them? Whoever they may be… What if I say I didn't kill them?" Illumi challenged.
Hearing those words, the expression of her face hardened even more. "Don't lie, you bastard!"
"What if I say I am not lying?"
Amaranth knew that it was difficult to tell whether he was telling the truth or not for his face remained the same as the first time she met him. She was sure of her accusation. He was somehow trying to mislead and provoke her, she thought to herself. After all, her instincts kept on telling her that what she always believed was correct, the circumstances she went through served as her directions in life after the incident. And all of those made her the person she is now. I can't be fooled.
"Let me tell you this…" Illumi focused her eyes on her while he slowly said the words she wasn't going to believe. "I didn't kill anyone that night."
"You…!" Her eyes showed a severe sign of enragement, "I'll split your lying tongue!"
"Isn't it bad to accuse someone of a crime without any evidence?"
"Shut up! That night you were–"
"I told you already," he insisted without changing his expression. "I didn't kill anyone that night."
"You're a big liar! Don't joke around with me! I'll kill you here and now."
"Did you see me kill them? I bet you didn't, correct?" Both of them exchanged cold glances. "Since you can't find the truth... You just picked the lie you like best and lived with it, am I right?"
His words provoked her into a rage of negative emotions; red, hot words came out of her lips. "How dare you say something like that to me when you know nothing about my life and what I've been through?!" She suddenly changed her body construction, attempting to assault him without any more restrictions. "Enough of your bullshit!" cried Amaranth. Blinded by her own anger, she used her strength to aim straight and give his enemy a fatal blow. But much to her surprise, Illumi simply caught her hands without any trouble. Her pupils dilated in shock as she felt his unimaginable strength with his vice grip.
W-What the…?!
"Foolish girl." His other hand sunk deep into her stomach, causing her to puke blood. "Hold still lady. I still can't kill you even though I want to. There are still a lot of things I have to take care of before dealing with you."
Her body screamed in agony for she didn't expect to receive an attack like that. She blamed herself for letting her emotions take control of her actions during the battle, she should have been more careful and more patient but it was too late for regrets.
Despite the pain she's experiencing, she still managed to say a word to him.
"Liar…"
Her vision blurred and her body slumped into the ground as she fell into a dead faint.
Illumi stared at her unconscious body for seconds, as if he was suspecting the girl for someone he knew well. Suddenly, he took out his phone in assurance and pressed a couple of numbers then spoke in a bleak tone, "Father, I suspect that I've found the woman you've been looking for. I'm waiting for confirmation." He paused his speech thereof in respect to hear the response of whom he's stalking to.
A lot of explanation came from the other line before Illumi adhered, "Understood."
Author's Note
Thank you for all those who patiently waited for the update. I assume you guys are getting confused with the issue in this chapter but I assure you that I will slowly clarify and unveil everything you need to know in the next chapters. That's all for now, stay tuned! ^^
