Chapter 36
Despite the castle's ancient appearance on the surface, the interior however, had nothing ancient about it at all, as Haine has noticed for the past week that she has been living in the castle. First and foremost, the whole inner part of the place was fitted with a weather regulator device. Apparently, the climate and temperature of the castle was literally changing every single day. On certain days it can be snowing moderately within the place with temperature set to range from around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, which is a huge contrast to the natural tropical climate of Zaieno. On other days however, the temperature would be around 20 degrees Celsius instead with a big bright sun over the castle's ceiling. The ceiling on the other hand, was somewhat like a fake imitation of the sky outside, except for the fact that it was able to change its mode to snowy, sunny etc. depending on the weather for the day.
The other inner parts of the castle had an extremely modern vibe to it, with escalators and lifts imbued in many places. At the basement, there was even an underground inbuilt aquarium which housed basically any kind of fish one could think of. And when asked by Haine what the purpose of that feature was, Victor replied that it was simply for leisure enjoyment whereby during Noctis's free time, he could spend up to 2 hours at that place to observe the marine life and calm himself down.
On the other hand, a group of men dressed in business suits constantly entered and exited the place once every 2 days. Eventually though, as Haine noticed, they were merely present to discuss about Zaieno's progress and situation with Noctis. In order words, the castle was somewhat like the government headquarters of the place.
Despite being thoroughly impressed by the various features of the building, by the end of the seventh day whereby Haine had at least explored most parts of the castle for no less than 20 times, she was finally numb and used to the magnificent technology of this place. No task had been assigned to her yet it appears, and she has not specifically decided on which occupation she will be most suited for during her regular days. Not wanting to feel bored and inefficient however, she was determined to find something productive to do. On one morning just when she was about to head to the streets and check out the available jobs, she heard some voices of women at one far end of the castle. On closer observation, she realized that 4 women in plain dresses were surrounding a little girl with braids. The girl was pouting her lips and crossing her arms, looking extremely displeased.
"Come on Ms Ashford, you know very well that Sir Noctis is always busy with issues of Zaieno... It can't be helped that he is not free to accompany you now…"
"I don't care! These few days I've been extremely bored… My brother isn't back yet and even Noctis is too busy to play with me..."
"What do you want to play Ms Ashford? We'll try our best to accommodate…"
"You're no fun at all!"
And as the girl said so, she proceeded to sit on the floor with her legs crossed and refused to move away from the spot.
"What a troublesome young lady…" thought one of the women to herself, but before she could attempt to convince the girl to go back to her room again, the 3 other women were shrieking slightly, which made her turn around at once to find out what was going on.
Apparently, Haine had come forth and seized the girl by the sides of her cheek with both her hands and stretched them out to as wide as possible, causing the girl to scream and her eyes to water in pain.
"Hey stop it!" said one of the women.
"What a horrible person!" said the other.
However, Haine continued to ignore them and stared down at the girl with a cold expression on her face. After a few seconds when she had finally let go, the girl had stopped screaming and was rubbing her cheeks, which looked pink and swollen now.
"Did you think," said Haine in monotonous voice, "that someone would automatically come to your rescue just because you are crying and screaming for help?" and the girl looked surprised but still remained silent and continued to look at Haine.
"If that is so then you are hopeless and pathetic," continued Haine who then proceeded to stand up and walk away.
"What a thing to do to a little girl," said a woman whom clasp a hand over her mouth.
"Yea, after all Ms Ashford here is the sister of Sir Noctis's best friend, to think that she would show such disrespect it's just…" but before the other woman could finish her sentence, the girl had cut in and asked eagerly, "Who is that big sister just now?"
"I heard that she just came here not long ago," replied one of the women, "On the offense team I think…"
"A person like her on Sir Noctis's offense team? That's impossible!" said the other in disbelief.
While the four were still debating about who Haine really was, the girl continued to stare blankly at the direction which Haine had gone off.
"What on earth was I doing," Haine asked herself as she was walking on the streets and passed by many shops such as cafés, restaurants, massage parlors and many others, but none which she felt was sustainable as a job for someone like her. "Back then I just felt really pissed off when I saw that girl, thinking that she could bully everyone around her using her tears… it really reminds me a lot of how I used to be, back when I was living in the village with Juuri and Kyousuke… Even then I was such a spoilt brat, but they always gave in to whatever I want, never complaining even a single time…" and at that, she felt her eyes sting a little and felt incredibly stupid for feeling the urge the cry.
"Stop it," she told herself at once and resisted the tears in her eyes from trickling down. "They are already dead, and nothing can change that fact… The only thing I can do now is to fulfill Kyousuke's last wish…" and at that, with much effort she finally managed to hold back the tears in her eyes.
After walking about for an hour or so, she sat down on a bench, feeling exhausted. It was high noon, the hottest time of the day.
"Wish I'm back at the castle now," she told herself as she wiped off the sweat from her forehead, "At least it's snowy and cooling in there… Not like sunny and 32 degrees Celsius out here…"
After briefly glancing at the little children whom were surrounding a fountain and splashing water at each other in joy, she proceeded to open up the little notebook she had in her hands.
"So far from what I've seen here," she said to herself, "I guess the best option would be to try out as a sales assistant in the supermarket… After all it's just replacing stocks on the shelf, a simple job for anyone I suppose… Guess I'll try it out someday then…" and as she stood up and started to head back, she saw from a distance that someone was running towards her. As the figure got closer and closer, she realized that it was the girl from before. The two stared at each other for a while before the girl finally spoke while blushing slightly, "I am Maria, and… and…" but she seemed to have trouble finding her voice.
"Maria?" asked Haine suddenly. "You are Cain's sister aren't you?" and that girl looked up at once.
"You know my brother?" she asked curiously.
"Yea," replied Haine, "He's that arrogant blond jerk…" and at that Maria chuckled, which took Haine slightly by surprise.
"This is the first time I've heard someone describe my brother that way," she replied.
"Yea well that's a personal factual account," answered Haine, who smiled slightly. "Anyways what are you doing out here on your own?"
"I wanted to find you," said Maria at once, "so that I can ask you if you could be my friend…"
Haine kept quiet and continued to stare at Maria.
"I have never had anyone I could sincerely connect to before," added Maria, "Adults would all just think that I am troublesome but never say it out loud and continue to act differently on the surface towards me… Even when it was a fact that my parents had heartlessly abandoned my brother and I adults around were still constantly throwing pretty words at me, telling me otherwise… But just now, when you told me whether I thought that someone would automatically come to my rescue just because I was crying and screaming for help, you saw right through me… No one had ever told me the honest truth before, not even my brother… That's why," and Maria said with a determined voice, "Please be my friend!"
Placing one hand on her head and patting her gently, Haine replied, "Of course I will… Everyone in Zaieno belongs to one big group of friends isn't it?" and Maria made a wide grin at once.
"How cute…" thought Haine as she stared down at Maria, whom was now taking Haine's hand while the two carried on to browse through many dessert stalls.
"Are you able to see the light too?" asked Maria as the two were currently sampling blueberry pies. And pausing for a moment, Haine nodded.
"There's nothing great about it though," added Haine when she noticed the familiar look of admiration which many gave her when she revealed that fact, "If I could I would rather have been left with no choice but to die at that time, since it would have been much more relaxing for me…"
"Oh," answered Maria, who seemed more hesitant to ask any further after noticing the slightly glum expression on Haine's face. "I was very young when my parents abandoned my brother and I so I hardly felt any attachments to them, which made it kind of hard for me to feel anything… But back then though, when I've received the news that my brother and Noctis had died in an accident, it was the first time I had truly experienced the sadness from losing 2 people whom I've treasured the most dearly...I honestly thought for a second that I would never see them again… But when they miraculously came back to life it was indescribable relief that I felt… So for whoever granted them the ability to see the light, I am forever thankful… And I think you should too Haine… It's because of that that you're alive right now…"
"You must be really close to your brother and Noctis to feel so much for them," answered Haine, who tried her best to avoid questioning herself whether choosing to come back to life back then had been the best choice or not.
"My brother and Noctis grew up together," replied Maria merrily, "And Noctis often buys back candies for me whenever he comes back abroad… Although I'm still a little kid now but someday," and Maria had an extremely firm look on her face, "I'll marry Noctis and live happily ever after with him! Just like the kings and queens in fairytales…"
"Are those really the thoughts of someone her age…?" Haine could not help but wonder in bewilderment as Maria was still currently engrossed in her fantasy world.
"Do you have a boyfriend then Haine?" asked Maria abruptly and Haine suddenly dropped her spoon and stared down at the table in silence; she had instinctively thought of Zachary.
"Used to," replied Haine, who still did not look up.
"How was he like?" asked Maria at once, sounding excited and eager to know more.
"He is an extremely gentle and kind person," replied Haine quietly, "But we aren't together anymore…"
"Why?" questioned Maria.
"Lots of things happened and he probably hates me now," said Haine, and not wanting to intrude any further, Maria kept quiet and proceeded to finish up the rest of the cakes and pies laid out on the table. Feeling bloated from the desserts, the pair finally started to head back to the castle.
"I've had lots of fun today," said Maria as the both of them had finally arrived. "Hope we can hang out again some other time…"
"We will," replied Haine and she made a smile at Maria, "But for now let's just turn in for the day, I'm sure the people here must be feeling worried that you ran out all of a sudden…"
"Ok," said Maria, "My brother is most likely back at our compartment right now..."
"I'll walk you there," said Haine. And after they have taken the lift to the second storey and one escalator up, they have arrived outside a door. Taking her keys out, Maria opened the door at once and to Haine's slight surprise, not only Cain, but also Noctis, was there as well.
Upon noticing that both Haine and Maria had arrived, the two in the room turned towards the pair. There was a few seconds of silence before Cain had without warning, ran forward and gripped onto Haine's collar and pushed her roughly to the wall.
"What are you…" but before Haine could finish, Cain had interrupted, his voice sounded extremely angry, "I knew you weren't such a simple person… Took us for a fool didn't you?" As Haine continued to stare at him in confusion, Maria immediately lunged forward and grabbed onto her brother's leg, saying loudly, "Stop it! Haine's my friend!" and Cain looked down at her in slight surprise. But before he could say anything however, Noctis had come forth and placed a hand onto Cain's shoulder and told him, "Calm down Cain, we still haven't heard the whole story yet…"
And while Haine and Cain continued to stare into each other's eyes, Cain had finally let go of her.
"Wait outside first Maria," said Noctis, and after giving a last look at the 3, Maria reluctantly left the room and closed the door behind her.
"What's going on here?" asked Haine straight away, whom still felt very astounded by Cain's sudden aggression.
"Remember when I said that I'll check up on you no matter what," said Cain as he continued to stare at Haine, his face was absolutely antagonistic, "So I did… You used to work for Rufus didn't you?"
"You know Rufus?" questioned Haine with a shocked look on her face. She had clearly not been expecting this.
"He was my father's best friend," replied Noctis, who continued to look indifferent.
"That's right," said Cain, "And we happened to be the ones who informed him about the location of the stolen drugs back at Mexico City as well as back in China. When we heard that it slipped through their hands again we just couldn't believe it… But after doing a thorough background check on you, I found out that you were the one who had abandoned his team back in Shanghai… And what's more, you actually killed one of their members… Did you really think that you could get near us just to betray us like what you once did to Rufus? Sadly the way we do things here aren't as merciful as Rufus does things back in London…"
"You don't understand anything at all!" said Haine loudly, "I wasn't the one who had betrayed them, it was someone else… You've got to believe me… I never intended to join you guys to betray you or anything, I merely wanted to find a person through your connections…"
"Then why didn't you tell Rufus that?" asked Noctis, who did not look exactly angry or upset, in fact, Haine could not precisely tell what expression Noctis had on at the moment. "If you knew who the traitor was you should have gone back and told him…"
"I can't ever go back there anymore," answered Haine quietly, "But it's up to you to believe me whether I've betrayed him or not… Regardless though I guess at this point in time there won't be any meaning in staying here ever since you guys don't trust me…" And at that, she ran out of the room immediately and headed downstairs. As she passed by Maria, she was sure that she could hear her name being called but she could not bear to turn back anymore and just kept on running. After she was finally out of breathe, she stopped and looked around, not realizing where she had been heading to amidst her confusion. Apparently, she had unknowingly entered the basement aquarium.
Although she had happened to chance upon it before while exploring the castle, it was the first time that Haine had truly observed closely the marine life which was kept here.
"If I were a fish in here then I wouldn't be so troubled now would I?" she asked herself quietly as she continued to stare at the fishes. "Just when I thought that I was finally about to meet my mother and this kind of things just had to happen…"
While she was currently eyeing two groups of fishes which were blue and yellow respectively, she suddenly heard footsteps coming towards the other side of the basement. Conjuring up two daggers in her hands, she waited for the person to come towards her and as expected, it was Noctis.
"You came to kill me?" asked Haine, sounding collected and calm. She was not prepared to die for any reason, at least not before she could find her mother. Regardless of whom it was she would fight all the way to prevent herself from getting killed.
"Not exactly," replied Noctis, who showed no signs of taking out any weapons despite the fact that Haine was at present in a position ready to strike anytime. "I just wanted to hear the full story but you ran out before telling the rest of it…"
"You actually believe me?" asked Haine as she lowered her weapons slightly.
"I can't determine whether I believe you or not," replied Noctis, whom was now observing the fishes by the side, "Not until you explain to me what's going on. Care to begin from where you stopped just now? When you said that someone else had betrayed the team, who was it?"
"Amber," said Haine, "Amber Lockhart. She tried to get me killed back in Mexico City by leaking our information to the mastermind behind the drugs, Sousuke Hiou… Then later on in Shanghai she was the one who had killed Sarah, she was with us as well, but she happened to discover Amber sneaking the goods off to somewhere else so Amber attempted to silence her… I tried to stop her then, but it was too late and she shot at me, and after that the next thing I knew I was in Mr Lee's house…"
"Why did Amber Lockhart attempt to frame you?" asked Noctis.
"Because…" and Haine paused slightly, before finally continuing, "Because we both fell in love with Zachary… And she resented me for that… But I never knew that she would go so far…"
"If what you said is true then I am sure that if you have told Rufus what was going on…" but before Noctis could finish, Haine had cut in, "I said just now didn't I… I can no longer return back to London and face him anymore…"
"Why is that so?" asked Noctis, still looking at the fishes.
"He is my father," answered Haine quietly, which made Noctis turn around at once. For the first time since she had returned with Maria, there was an expression of utmost surprise on his face.
"I never knew he had a daughter," said Noctis, who continued to look at Haine as though she was some kind of bizarre creature.
"Neither did I," admitted Haine, "Until Amber had revealed to me about the fact that Rufus had an affair with another woman and bore me… I always thought that my father was dead and that my mother had left me in the fish village because she had no choice… But I guess it isn't all that simple… Rufus had abandoned my mother when she was still pregnant with me, and that's why," Haine stopped for a while to find her voice again, "I can never go back to London to face him once more… I don't think I can stop myself from snapping at him and running at him if I ever see him again…"
"Your mother… Could she be the one you are searching for right now?" asked Noctis. And Haine, while turning back and looking at the fishes, nodded slightly.
"I see," replied Noctis, and while the two continued to eye the aquarium for a few minutes or so, Noctis had abruptly spoken, "That's nonsense…" which made Haine turned at him straight sway. She looked slightly indignant.
"You think I am lying?" demanded Haine.
"That's not what I meant," said Noctis quickly, "I was referring to when you said that Rufus had abandoned your mother when she was still pregnant. I've known him for many years, ever since I was still a little kid he and my father had been best buddies long before I could remember… And I can safely say that he would not ever abandon his own child no matter what…"
"Well that's the kind of person I thought he was," said Haine bitterly, "Not until I learned that he was actually my father…"
"The things you have heard about your parentage have always been through others," answered Noctis calmly, "Though you may not like it but I suggest you see him face to face and question him directly… For all you know there are still many things you are unsure about and it's not good to make conclusions before that…"
"See him face to face?" replied Haine in bewilderment, "So disregarding the fact that I may actually accidentally punch the lights out of him upon our next meeting how do you suppose I get past everyone at his mansion and face him directly once more? Everyone in the mansion now knows of me as a traitor, it won't be a friendly welcome when I get back there…"
"There is a way," said Noctis, and Haine looked up at him straight away, "About 4 days from now there would be a conference held in London, regarding Sousuke Hiou… That guy is to be gotten rid of as soon as possible due to his production of illegal drugs. We will be discussing plans to apprehend him, that is to say that Rufus, myself and 2 others will be present at one of the meeting areas at a hotel… Rufus will most likely bring along 2 of his assistants while for the rest of us it will be optional to bring along someone or not… I had originally intended to go there with Marco only but looking at things now I think that I can actually bring you in as well… So do you want to give it a go?"
Still at a loss of words, Haine continued to stare at Noctis. She had certainly not expected that she would be able to meet Rufus or anyone in the mansion this soon again.
"I..." and Haine closed her mouth again, unable to give a definite reply.
"You don't have to decide right now," said Noctis as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "You can use the whole of tomorrow to think about it… On a side note however, you are honestly really a terrible comrade you know that…" and Haine twitched slightly in surprise, "You did swear that no matter what happens there is no backing out once you've join our team remember? So whatever you said just now about leaving here or not wanting to stay here any longer will be disregarded, whether you like it or not…" and at that, Noctis smiled slightly at her.
And as he walked away while Haine remained in the basement to think through her decision carefully, she suddenly called out to Noctis just as he was about to disappear out of sight, "Thank you Noctis... for believing in me…" And after pausing for a moment or so, without turning his back, he waved his hand up and went away, leaving Haine to feel for the first time that being part of his team may not have been such an unwilling option for her after all…