Part Eleven (Sugar)

A few days later, I visited Lord Aubin's mansion once again. However, what I saw before me was not what I'd seen last time.

"But how—" My voice was a stunned whisper as I stared at the ruins of the burned-out building. (How could this have happened?) Giles stood behind me, his expression grim. He said nothing as he gazed at the wreckage.

"Last night, Lord Aubin's residence was attacked by persons unknown." Apparently Lord Aubin was seriously injured during the attack on his property, and barely escaped with his life from the burning building. "At least that is the official story."

"The official story?" I clenched my hands into fists as I stared up at him. I could barely get the next words out, and my voice shook when I did. "Don't tell me—did Leo—really—" Leo's whereabouts were still unknown, and the rumor being whispered around the palace was that he was most likely the culprit. (But how could that be true?)

"Maya, I think you should sit down." Nico's expression was worried, but I could barely even focus on the meaning behind his words. Eventually he convinced me to sit down. (Leo—I want you to tell me it's all a lie.) I closed my eyes tightly, my thoughts pleading, as if he could hear me.

"I want you to act as if you know nothing at all. However—" Giles turned his gaze on Nico."Nico." Nico shivered a little as Giles spoke his name. "Can you tell me everything you know?" Nico fell silent as he met Gile's gaze, before glancing down at me. Then at last he nodded slowly.

"Alright I'll tell you everything."

"I see." Nico explained to Giles about the fact that he was a spy from Stein. As well as about how he was pursuing someone committing crimes in both Stein and Wysteria. And finally that we had circumstantial evidence the criminal was Lord Aubin. "These are certainly issues we should also be investigating here in Wysteria." Giles glanced down at the documents Nico had shown him, and then sighed. "If we start by focusing on this incident, we should be able to reveal everything about Lord Aubin. However—" Giles turned his gaze to meet mine. "It will be impossible for us to find any evidence about whether Lord Aubin was involved with Leo and Alyn's parents. So even if it is the truth—" I caught my breath, and pressed my lips together. I suddenly realized there were tears in my eyes, and I hastily blinked them back. (Leo's been hiding something all this time. Even last night—) I swallowed hard as I recalled his words. (Why didn't I realize? Why didn't I stop him? I know he said he'd never forgive, but—) I gazed up at Giles and spoke softly.

"Giles, what about Leo?" (Where on earth has he gone?) Giles frowned at my words. He spoke softly, his expression pained.

"Leo is—" Giles glanced at Nico, and then pursed his lips.

"I'm sorry Maya. We've searched everywhere we can." Apparently the only information they'd been able to find was that Leo had been badly injured at the mansion.

"How could he—" My hands were trembling, and I clenched them tightly together.

"We don't even know if he's still alive." For a moment my vision swam. (Are you telling me he could be dead?) The silence in the room was suddenly oppressive. Giles watched me carefully for a long moment, and then stood and moved towards the door.

"There are a great many things that need resolving. First we must deal with Lord Aubin." Giles glanced back at Nico. "Nico, do you think you would be able to enlist Stein's aid in this?"

"What?" Giles narrowed his eyes as he met Nico's startled gaze.

"This matter is only going to get bigger. I don't think Stein can say this is out of their hands any longer. Just as you have utilized our resources, we would like to utilize yours."

"Very well." Giles turned his gaze towards me.

"There is a man in the main tavern in town who may have more detailed information about Leo's whereabouts."

"What?!" But Giles left the room before I could ask more. As the door closed quietly, Nico gave me a strained smile.

"I think he just told you to go visit the tavern."

"I guess so." (This is no time to be sitting around feeling shocked and confused. I need to do something.) I stood up slowly, and lifted my chin. (But before I do that— There's a place I'd like to visit.) I left Nico in the office and returned to my chamber to get changed. Then I headed quietly out of the palace before anyone could notice. I made my own way to the grave of Leo's parents. But when I got there I was startled to find someone else already there.

"Leo?!" I called his name in surprise, but the person who turned to look at me was Alyn. We stared at each other in silence. "A-Alyn!" I stopped suddenly, and then spoke hurriedly. "I'm sorry." (My thoughts have been so focused on Leo—but to mistake Alyn for Leo?) Alyn narrowed his eyes, and then gave a short, strained laugh.

"You're the only one who'd mistake me for him."

I'd brought a bouquet of the same flowers that Leo always brought, and lay them at the grave. Then I stood quietly at Alyn's side. I stared down at the grave in front of me, unable to meet his gaze.

"I'm so sorry Alyn. You asked me to watch over him, and yet I—" Alyn was silent at my words and I looked up at him. He frowned at me as our gazes met.

"It's not your fault. Even when we were kids, I never knew what he was thinking. I just never thought he'd take it this far." The wind blew gently past us, carrying the echo of Alyn's quiet words into the trees. "But I know this at least." Alyn gazed down at me as he spoke, his voice firm and sure. "He's alive."

"Oh!" I felt almost overwhelmed by the surety in his gaze.

"I don't know how." He frowned further still and then sighed. "And when I find him, I'm going to smack the hell out of him. So if you find him first—" I bit my lip as he narrowed his eyes. Then he suddenly smirked a little. "Make sure you smack him enough for us both." I couldn't seem to find my voice, so I nodded firmly instead. Alyn gazed down at me for another moment before he turned and started to walk away.

"Alyn—um—are you okay?" (First he lost his parents, and now his twin brother is missing.) Alyn stopped walking and glanced down at me. Then he gave me a sudden smile.

"I hardly want to hear that from you." His expression turned serious. "My mind is already made up. I won't be swayed, no matter what happens. What he does has nothing to do with it." I watched in silence as he walked away, until I couldn't see him anymore. Then I turned to face the gravestone again. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. (Leo's alive. That's all that matters.) I quietly made my way back to the palace and returned to my duties as best I could, even though I had trouble focusing.

That evening, I sat in front of my dresser and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I pulled down the neckline of my nightgown until my cleavage was exposed. I could clearly see the faint red mark still lingering there. (Leo left it on my skin that night.) It had been the night before he vanished.

"Ahh—Leo!" I called his name softly as I felt a faint pain just near my breasts.

"Ahh, sorry—did that hurt?"

"No, it's okay." I hastily shook my head, and Leo reached out to caress my cheek, his fingers soft and warm.

"Maya—" (Did he just do what I think he did?) I looked down and saw a faint red mark on my skin. Leo gazed down at me as if waiting to see my reaction. His fingers softly caressed the mark as he whispered in my ear. "That's the first time I've ever done that." I stared up at him in surprise, and he gave a soft, strained laugh.

"What do you mean?"

"I just—wanted to leave my mark on you." Then he buried his face in my shoulder once again.

I looked away from the red mark on my skin, and glanced around the room. My gaze was caught by the writing desk Leo had given me. I slowly walked over to it, and opened one of the drawers. I removed a white envelope from the drawer, and then sat down at the desk, looking over the contents of the letter. (He has such neat handwriting.) The only words written in the letter were "I'm sorry I broke my promise."

"Why would you say sorry?" My eyes were welled up with tears, and I slumped over the desk, burying my face in my arms. (Don't make promises in the first place, if all you're going to do is break them.) At that moment—I heard a tapping at the window, and I raised my head with a start. "Is that—" I stood up and moved to open the window, and sure enough Sebastian was sitting outside.

"Cheer up, cheer!" The sight of Sebastian saying such a thing seemed so lonely somehow.

"That you Sebastian." I sighed and reached out my hand to Sebastian. He spread his wings and then flew into my room.

"Leo, Leo."

"I know." (I'm not the only one feeling lonely. Alyn, Giles, and even Sebastian are all waiting for Leo to come home.) I raised my head and watched Sebastian as he circled the room. "I don't have time to waste moping, do I?" (I have to find Leo!)

"Don't have time, don't have time!" At that moment the door to my chamber opened slowly.

"Maya, are you sure you want to go?" Nico had come to check on me, and now he stared at me in concern.

"Yes." I nodded as I thought about what Giles had told me. I looked out the window to where Sebastian had flown away. "I'm going. Will you please come to the tavern with me Nico?" Nico reluctantly agreed to accompany me to the tavern. But he made me wear a cape with a hood so I could keep my face hidden.

We stepped into the tavern, and I waited near the door when Nico spoke to the bartender. The room was dim and smoky, and even under my hood the scent of alcohol was almost overwhelming.

"What's this? A woman, here?"

"Really?" I could feel the smirking gaze of the men on me. I stared straight back at the men, meeting there gazes as boldly as I could. (I refuse to be afraid of them.) Nico hurried back from the counter. He stood firmly between me and the gawking men.

"Sorry about that—let's go."

"Huh?"

"The information dealer is definitely here, but he's in the back." We crossed the room quickly and headed into the back room of the tavern. It was every bit as smoky and dim, but at least it was less crowded. In the corner of the room we found a man playing a quiet game of cards. "Are you Sid?"

"Huh? What do you want?" Sid's expression was completely disinterested as he raised his head, and then his gaze moved to me. "Well what d'ya know!" He widen his eyes a little and then laughed with amusement. "You're the princess, right?" Sid stared at me, and then smirked with amusement. "What are you doing in a place like this?"

"I—" I didn't want to talk about Leo with other people listening in, so Nico quietly convinced the people around us to leave. I sat down at Sid's table and spoke in a quiet voice. "Do you know where Leo is?"

"Leo Crawford, huh?" Sid took a drink from his glass, and then rubbed his lower lip with his thumb. "Not a clue." I stared at him, and he met my gaze, his expression openly amused. (It's just like Nico told me. An information dealer won't tell you anything to begin with. You have to keep pushing them.) I pulled my seat closer so that I was sitting directly across from Sid.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what you know."

"Is that a threat?" Sid's mouth twisted in a smirk.

"No, it's a request." I bowed my head slightly. "Please. If you know anything about Leo, tell me." Sid stared at me in silence.

"Well then, if you're that determined—" Sid grinned at me, and picked up the deck of cards. "If you can beat me, then I'll tell you."

"What?" I stared at the cards, and a memory of my visit to Laurelia flitted through my mind. "Alright then." I nodded without hesitation. (I know what I need to do.) Sid frowned slowly at my response. He pressed his lips together and stared at me. Then he smirked and spoke again, his tone teasing.

"Well then—if I win, my prize is you. Are you still okay with that?"

"Yes." (If I need to make this bet to find Leo, then I will do whatever it takes.) Sid raised his eyebrows a little in surprise. He stared at me, and then muttered under his breath.

"You're pretty sure of yourself, huh?"

"What?" Sid gave me a sudden smile, and then began to shuffle the deck of cards.

"Alright then, let's do it." And so our game of poker began, and I focused all my attention to my cards. The hazy atmosphere in the room made the whole game seem surreal somehow, but I did my best to keep a straight face and play my cards right. (How did Leo play this? I've got to think.) Nico stood silently behind me, his expression serious. He watched the cards in my hand, but said nothing.

Eventually—I gazed at the cards in my hands, and bit my lip just slightly.

"C'mon, are you gonna show your hand or not?" I started a little at Sid's words, and then spread my cards across the table in front of me. Sid stared down at the cards, his smile fading.

"I win, right?" Sid tossed his own cards down on the table.

"Huh—to think I'd lose to the princess." He put both elbows on the table and then rested his chin in his hands as he stared at me. "Alright, I'm yours to hire. Now you're going to pay me an appropriate rate for my time, right?"

"Of course." I nodded, and then gave a soft sigh. "Thank you Sid."

"Hey, you wont the bet—I'm just goin' along with that." As Sid scowled at us, Nico whispered softly in my ear.

"Well done, Maya." I looked up at Nico with a smile.

"At any rate, get me a gin. We'll talk after that."

"Okay!" I stood up and hurried towards the bar to order a gin for Sid.

Nico waited for Maya to move out of earshot before he spoke.

"How did you do it?"

"Huh?"

"You lost on purpose, didn't you?" Sid scowled as he met Nico's gaze. Then he suddenly smirked broadly.

"You'll never know for sure."

I ordered a gin at the bar for Sid, and returned to the table with it.

"So, Leo Crawford, huh? I've known the guy a long time ya know." I raised my voice in surprise at his words.

"Really? That long?"

"Yep." Sid began to talk, and the story he told me was about something that had happened before Leo had become a bureaucrat.

Sid had been drinking as he always did, when all of a sudden a roll of bank notes was thrust in front of him.

"Huh?"He looked up to find a young man standing in front of him. Sid frowned as he met the man's gaze.

"You're an information dealer, right? There's something I want you to investigate for me." Sid downed the gin in his glass, and then spoke in a condescending tone.

"What is it you're trying to investigate, little lord?"

"Little lord?" Leo gave a sudden smile and sat down next to Sid. He tilted his head, and his smile turned into a smirk. "Are you talking about me? Or perhaps you mean—" Sid's frown turned into a scowl. He met Leo's gaze directly as he lowered his glass to the table. A meaningful silence fell between them, and then Leo smirked again. "We both have things we don't want people to know, right?"

"You—" Silence fell again, and then Sid sighed as if he'd given up. "Alright already—what the heck is it you want me to look into?"

"Well—"

Part Twelve coming soon!