Chapter 32

They gathered in the living room. As Aria walked in, Matilde grabbed her arm and pulled her down to sit beside her. "Please, sweetie, stay close to me. The killer might strike again, whoever he is."

"Who could have done such a horrible thing?" Aria asked her.

"Well, it had to be someone absolutely brutish," Matilde replied, glancing over at Nels.

Aria followed her gaze. "You think Nels could be the killer?" She whispered.

"I don't know. He plays the buffoon, but it could all be an act. He is a Nord, after all, and they're such a savage, uncivilized people."

Aria looked up at the ceiling. "What do you think Neville is doing up there?"

"Probably looking for clues left by the killer. He used to be a soldier, so I'm sure he's seen such things before. And he has a strong sense of justice, I can tell. If we find out who the killer is, he'll take care of things, if you know what I mean."

Their conversation was interrupted by the Redguard's arrival in the room. He stood in front of the fireplace and faced them. Aria tried to read his expression, but his dark eyes gave nothing away.

"A guest has been murdered. Since we're all locked in here together, that means the killer is among us. In this very room." The remaining guests glanced uneasily at each other. "This entire party is a trap. Someone wants us dead, and now they have their chance. Don't let your guard down. And whoever the killer is, I will find them." As he finished speaking, his glare fell on Nels.

Aria breathed an inward sigh of relief. It seemed like Neville thought Nels was the killer. That was good for her, but she couldn't relax yet. She had four more guests to go.

Everyone dispersed after Neville finished speaking. Nels immediately went to the sideboard and started drinking. He seemed to be trying to drown his fear. Matilde and Neville spoke quietly near the fire. Aria noticed Primo sitting by himself at the other end of the room.

She stood up and went over to him, pausing at the sideboard to take a couple of apples from the silver bowl there. Nels didn't give her a second glance as he poured himself another drink. As she turned away, she skillfully slid one of the apples into her pocket, switching it with the one she hid there earlier.

She sat beside Primo and held out one of the apples. Primo accepted it and continued to sit there, spinning the apple in his hands. After a moment, he said, "Who? Who among us is vile enough to take the life of such a beautiful, precious creature?"

Aria shook her head. "It was my fault." Primo looked sharply at her as she went on. "I was the one who told her to go upstairs. Maybe if I hadn't encouraged her, she would still be alive."

Primo sighed. "I'm beginning to get a bad feeling about all of this. I'd leave right now, if I could. The money means nothing to me."

"Why are you here, then?"

"I just thought it would be fun." He shook his head and took a bite of his apple. "I never dreamed it would turn out like this."

Aria was just about to bite into her own apple when Primo started coughing. He tried to get up to get something to drink, but the coughing quickly turned to choking. Aria yelled for the others as he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His face started to take on a blue shade as he continued to struggle. Neville and Matilde tried to help him, but there was nothing they could do. Within seconds, he was convulsing on the floor. After less than a minute, he was dead.

The three remaining guests stared in shock. Aria was a bit stunned, herself. She knew Mraaj-Dar's poisoned apples were powerful, but she hadn't realized they took effect that quickly. And she'd never seen the results in person.

Neville speared her with a intense look. "What happened?"

"I-I don't know! One minute we were sitting here talking, the next..." She motioned to the body.

"What was he doing right before he started choking?"

"He...was eating an apple," Aria replied. She pointed at the apple lying next to the bench.

Neville carefully picked up the piece of fruit. After studying it carefully, he muttered, "Poison."

Aria looked at her hands. "I-I touched it! Does that mean-?"

"No, you're probably fine," Neville said. "I've seen similar things before. The poison is contained on the inside." He looked at the other guests. "No one eat anything else. We don't know what else may have been poisoned. One thing is clear: we're being stalked, like animals in the forest. And the killer won't stop with just two."