Chapter 17
"You have quite a nice name for your cover," she said upon her unexpected entrance. "Although Crescentia Cruz alludes to your old name and genius won't be necessary for people to connect the dots."
It has only been an hour since she parted ways with Akko and she headed straight towards the Italian woman's office at around four in the afternoon.
Diana uncrossed her arms and rested one on her hip. "Is the lilac dye supposed to be a disguise, Detective Inspector Croix?"
She was neither at all shocked when she entered the secret room hidden at the New Moon Tower, nor at the sight of the Detective Inspector inhaling a cup ramen like cocaine. As an undercover professor, she slicked her hair back but as herself, her hair was of an unruly layered hair, and her face donned a huge glasses.
"Oh hello, Lady Diana Cavendish," she said, setting down her ramen. "Have people informed you have an uncanny way of inviting yourself in places you weren't supposed to be?"
"That was a lovely lesson yesterday during Philosophy class." Diana helped herself on a chair in front of the older woman's desk. "I wonder if you had any ulterior motives with the debate."
Detective Inspector Croix rolled her eyes. "What brings you to be here in the flesh?"
"Do I need to spell it out for you Detective Inspector Croix?" Diana asked, playing with the unfinished Rubik's cube she grabbed from the desk.
"What do you think of my secret base?" she spread her hands like a soaring eagle around.
Diana slammed the puzzle toy back to her desk, all sides were filled with its supposed color. "You are lucky enough to have fallen to the Headmistress' grace for providing you such hospitality. Nobody else except for her and me knows about your secret base."
"Not every one of the school board knows of this room or the fact that I'm using this." Detective Inspector Croix grinned before scowling. "Are you here to tell me how to do more of my job, Diana?"
"Oh trust me, after Frank's death I found myself backing out, if not for Andrew giving me the pep talk of the century."
The Italian woman snorted. "What do you have for me except for things I already know?"
Diana drummed her fingers on the table. "First, I called the morgue to send me a photocopy of the results of the first deaths..." she saw the lilac-haired woman widen her eyes with a question. "No, I never said I was acquainted with you to get through. Dr. Parker is a family friend. I learned that Thomas Kinsley's chums took a high degree of psychedelic drugs at the time of their death. They mixed mescaline, LSD, angel dust, and marijuana. So when these drugs set in, they were completely out of their minds."
"All the more to agree that they killed themselves," she said.
"Yes. But why would they kill themselves separately? If it was a mass suicide like the other homicide detectives thought, then why not die at the same time and at the same place? It's too much coincidence if it all were accidents. To just suddenly kill themselves like that in a separate place and a separate hour,"
Detective Inspector Croix formed her hands on a steeple. "Here we go again with your half-baked theory. I fail to see your point in Thomas Kinsley's friends being in a classic case of Alice in Wonderland for you to assume they were a homicide case instead of suicide. Nevertheless, I'm intrigued. Very interesting, but not proof she's involved in the deaths. Diana, you're insinuating that since the victims were using psychedelic drugs, the killer used that to their advantage and simply committed the murder. And it so happened, that the killer is a girl named Sucy Manbavaran."
Diana ticked her tongue in annoyance. She had been sharing her deductive reasoning with the Detective Inspector for quite some time now but still, the woman cannot be bothered to help her, only to disprove her. "But enough to raise reasonable doubt. I'll prove Miss Manbavaran is up to something."
"When you put it that way, it seems too farfetched." She said, reconsidering it all. "And you think psychedelic drugs clouded their sense into not knowing they were being murdered?"
"Yes."
"There are too many flaws in that deduction, Diana."
"I reckon then what occurred is quite stunning in that it escalated. Albeit, there are no leads for our investigators to follow for Thomas Kinsley murder and the fact that Scotland Yard dispatches a detective to investigate. You, yourself is here, posing as the new teacher of Luna Nova. You are quite as convinced as me that the killer is at loose at our school."
"Oh and that's the truth. The murders first happened at Luna Nova, a school with a strict security and every death that came next all are students within. Nevertheless, I do not agree with your theory of the killer being—"
"I'm telling you that the fact that the only lead had died in a manner could mean that the serial killer is a sophisticated one. Believing themselves to be above the law and erasing the leads. I encourage you to profoundly reconsider my theory and keep an eye on Sucy Manbavaran."
The Detective Inspector looked at her like she was delusional,
"I know it's a half-baked probability, but that's why I came to you. You could give me access to your files."
"We're not that close, Diana. You and I have always harbored animosity for our differences."
Diana inhaled sharply. Disappointed for she assumed that when she would share her insights, the Italian woman would let her guard down with her and trust her. "Whatever. What's your progress on Frank's death? Have you any list of the suspect pool?"
"I'm not sharing my information. I think you take unnecessary risks, Diana. You ought to keep your head down. If you like the way it's attached to your shoulders."
"No matter then, can you tell me at least how you think did they do it?"
The woman laughed. "Oh Diana, the question isn't how. The question is when. You still have to improve your sleuthing skills before speaking to me. That is if there is a next time."
"I did question when. I freaking visited the flower shop before."
Croix' ears perked up. "What flower shop?"
"Oh, now I got your attention."
"It depends whether your information is useful."
Sucy's mood brightened almost immediately when she saw the head of the girl with the short ponytail peeping through the door.
"Sucy!" Akko waved her hand cheerfully with a gorgeous smile. "How's manning the counter?"
"Not many customers around," Sucy answered as she got up from her seat and turned the open sign at the door to close.
Just one smile from her could get Sucy through an entire month until she would receive another. Her heart beat too fast. Just being in close proximity with Akko in close quarters, Sucy wanted to lean over and kiss her, to touch the smooth peachy skin with her lips.
The impulse to do so was so strong that Sucy had to dig her nails into her thighs to resist it. "How's the little mission I gave you?"
"Ehe," Akko chuckled nervously. "About that—"
"You haven't gotten a strand of her hair?"
"Yeah, I tried everything! I even tried pulling one from her head directly!" she brought her hands together and bowed apologetically like she was praying. "She keeps catching me. Sorry, I just didn't want to give you the wrong hair again."
"Why is it so damn hard to take a strand of her hair?" Sucy fumed.
"I'm just..." Akko began. "I just find it weird you know. How can I be motivated to help you when I don't even get why you're doing it?"
Adrenaline still coursed through her. Sucy had to lean against the counter, her fingers knotted together to keep from twitching. Maybe it was time to use the Canadian girl to yank a hair out of Cavendish's head.
"Why are you so obsessed with Diana's hair?" Akko barked.
How Sucy deeply wished that she could just explain everything that had gone on between her and Akko, the history they had, why it's necessary to do those things without Akko even knowing it.
However, that wasn't the case. It's never possible for things to work out like that. All Sucy had to do is to pull her in, don't let go, make sure she won't leave.
"Don't ask questions, Akko."
"If you want a piece of her then why do you need to keep it a secret from me? Why not do it for yourself?"
Sucy's nostrils flared. "Let it go, Akko."
"Why not just ask it from her? If you're so shy I'll ask her for you." She proceeded to grab her phone to dial her number.
"Akko no," Sucy's heartbeat jumped up to her throat, petrified and it took her much willpower to grab her friend by the wrist of the hand that held her device.
Akko rolled her eyes. "Don't be stubborn, Sucy!"
"NO AKKO! YOU DONT UNDERSTAND!"
"Then tell me! Do you have a crush on her? Is that it?"
Sucy gagged, "Disgusting."
"Then why?" she yelled back. "Don't worry, I won't tell her."
Sucy inhaled a lungful of air, her thoughts spiraling. She might lose her—her one and only love.
"Are you sure about this plan, Sucy?" Loa asked. "You should lie. What difference does it make?"
My karma will come for me if I lie. I should confess my crime.
Sucy sank her nails against her flesh, making a crescent moon shaped marks before muttering. "I'll tell you but not here. Seriously Akko, you shouldn't ask questions you're not prepared to hear. Please don't abandon me."
"What are you talking about, Sucy? Tell me now! No one's here to hear your deadly secret!"
A bell chimed as a newcomer went through the door. She had blank look on her face, and her purple eyes were devoid of emotions. Sucy let the grin grow on her lips.
"W-who?" Akko gasped.
At the sight of the newcomer, Sucy plucked the guts to profess everything. "Ah, I've been waiting for you... took you long enough. Close the door behind you, please."
The girl looked hollowed as if she was yanked away from bed early in the morning. She did as she was told. Akko started to analyze her appearance, a suspicion forming in her head. "Is that—?"
"One of Cavendish's acquaintances," she answered.
Akko's forehead creased. "What's she doing here?"
Sucy shrugged. "I made her go here."
"What?" Akko tilted her head towards the Canadian. "That really doesn't answer why. Hey, what are you doing here?"
"She can't hear you, Akko."
"How come?" she inched closer to her, waving a hand over her face. "I-is she sleepwalking?" she snapped multiple times in front of her. "Hey wake up! You're a long way from home!"
Sucy yanked the doll from inside her pocket and stared at it, boringly.
"I bid you luck." Loa murmured her voice dripped with a hunger for blood.
"Does she do this frequently?" Akko looked back and forth, on the verge of panic. "You looked calm, Sucy—hey! It's not time to play with your doll!"
Sucy caressed Loa's face. "Are you aware of the craft of voodoo, Akko?"
"Only from the stories," she replied.
"So you have a general idea. At least I won't have a hard time explaining it to you."
"Are you certain this plan won't backfire on you?" Loa queried.
Sucy was certain. Her decision finalized in stone. To keep Professor Ursula from working against her was to ensure that she won't bring harm's way to Akko. If Sucy pulled her beloved down the rabbit hole, deeper with her, she will relent.
"And if your precious girl backs out?"
Atsuko Kagari was her strong point and her fatal flaw. Sucy trusted her with all her might. After all, she was going to bare her mind, her soul, and her heart to the girl.
"What are you going to explain?"
"I think actions speak louder than words," Sucy said as the doll flew from her hands.
"Wow!" Her eyes glazed at the tremendous display in front of her. "Sucy! I didn't know you were into magic tricks too!"
"This is where you're wrong, Akko. It's real, not a simple trick nor an illusion."
Sucy reached for the locket resting on her décolleté and pulled out Akko's hair. She then yanked a strand of hers from her head and tied the ends together before wrapping it around the floating doll's neck along with the Canadian's hair.
Everything started to blur in Akko's vision. Her eyes began to turn black and the sound of ominous water splashing slowly ebbed away from her ears. Sucy transferred her vision to Akko from the past few weeks. The shorter girl stood there, transfixed at the memories shown to her in such a short amount of time.
The last bizarre thing Sucy saw before Akko screamed were the bright burning red eyes—eyes like glowing infernos, gazing hypnotically into hers.
Akko lost strength in her knees as she fell to the ground. She managed to save her face by planting both palms on the floor. The real color of her eyes was returning. "W-what was that?"
If someone would ask her, Sucy would prefer to have their minds connected always. But the dangers of prolonged mind connection were not to be trifled with. So in order to stop Akko from succumbing to madness, she grabbed the doll and tore off their hairs except for the purple one, removing their empathic mind link.
Sucy carried on bending Loa's arms, contorting the Canadian's body in many ways that are impossible without breaking her bones.
Akko watched as the girl obeyed Sucy's unspoken beckoning, her jaw dropping in horror. Sucy instantly threw the doll towards Akko, sending the Canadian sideways. Her body toppled, sprawled into the air, and would have hit the concrete if not for Akko's catch response.
She looked at Sucy for clarification, hesitantly at first, as if Sucy was about to strike her.
"It's real," Akko mumbled.
Sucy smiled, crooked and familiar. She crossed her arms. Hoping Akko can't see her flush in the dim light. Akko stared at her, her eyes with intent, burning red as they traced Sucy's face. Slowly, her lips fell and the smile faded as she remembered her decision of telling Akko the truth. But Akko's stare remained, and Sucy felt fire rise inside her. Rage and want and regret in equal measure.
"Don't look at me like that, Akko."
"W-what... h-happened to you, Sucy?" she asked, her lips stuttering.
Akko looked paler than usual, cheeks drained of color but in shame or fear, Sucy can't tell. Maybe it's exhaustion from the spell or pain. In spite of it, she is every inch a determined girl.
"It was horrible to see her like this, unnaturally punished.
Sucy exhaled loudly and shrugged. "I woke up and felt as if a fire alarm had set off inside my body. I tried to stop it but I couldn't. You see, Akko. It started out small, my intrusive thoughts. Then it got bigger. Bigger and wilder until when I was given the opportunity, I seized it, it's only human nature to strive for power nobody else could get."
"S-so voodoo... is real? And you inherited it."
Sucy bit her lip, gaze locked on hers. Liking what she's seeing. She ambled towards the Canadian's direction. When she spoke again, her voice changed, softened in a feather-light whisper, "Poor thing. I guess puppeteering is a better alternative than death for her." She stared at the controlled girl, strangely forlorn. "You're aware I can't let her move on. She dug around Dr. Adam's past. She dug through yours too."
The Canadian's mouth was parted, eyes open and empty, unseeing.
Sucy's voice was like a death sentence. Akko squeezed her eyes shut, as Sucy retrieved the doll from her clutch. "W-what are you going to do with her?"
"Are you scared, for her Akko?" she asked, before flicking a finger to the doll's stomach. The Canadian coughed out blood from the blunt force trauma, injuring her liver. "Or are you scared of me?"
Akko dropped her gaze as if in shame. Her long curved lashes shaded her red eyes from Sucy's; making her wonder where Akko's thought had taken her. It was as if the head was still spinning at the whirlwind of their sudden revelation and encounter. "No, I'm never scared of you."
"Oh, is that so?"
"You know what, Sucy. I lied." Akko removed the Shiny Chariot phone case from her phone and took out a piece of golden hair. "I have Diana's hair with me. She actually gave it to me willingly."
Sucy's eyes shimmered at the sight of it. The key to winning was finally inches away from her fingertips. "Why did you lie to me?"
"Chariot warned me about hairs last night." Akko spoke, conversantly, "Said that full names and hairs both give another person the power and authority upon another so I'm not supposed to mess with it, but you're important to me, Sucy and I know this hair's important to you too."
Sucy tilted her head to the side, observing her. "So, you're essentially okay with knowing that I killed Thomas and his goons for you?"
Akko's effervescent face faded into a somewhat unreadable blank, if not for the glare in her eyes and the sneer slowly forming on her lips, Sucy would have to guess.
"They deserved it. And you did it all for me, didn't you Sucy?"
"Oh, Akko," she breathed and then stepped forward to touch her brown hair gently. "I knew you would understand."
In that heartfelt moment, they both got tears in their eyes. Akko came to embrace Sucy—the twisted creature that only a select few could love.
When Akko hugged her, Sucy clung to her like she was a lifeline. "I'm sorry I turned out to be this way," she whispered and she felt Akko nodded over her shoulder.
"It's okay," the shorter girl said as her hands rubbed over Sucy's back to shoo away her guilt. "All this time, you've felt that way for me. I wouldn't have known, really. You were always so mean to me."
"I'm sorry, Akko. I... I just wasn't sure how to show you my affection. I admit those guinea pig days were absolute shit. I never meant any ill will to you."
"Shh," she continued patting her. "I just want you to know... you didn't turn out to be like this because you've always been like this. Everyone has three faces. What you show to the world, what you show to your close friends and your family and what you never show anyone. But you showed it to me... Those little thoughts that formed in your head—no matter how little or big— defines who you are, Sucy. No matter what secrets you hide from your outside appearance. You are always my friend."
"Akko..."
"So please continue showing me your demons and your whole person and I will show you mine too. You're a very special person for me, Sucy. I love you too."
Her heart was crying tears of joy. Tightening her arms around her beloved, she saw a flash of the doll floating behind the shorter girl.
"She has no knife."
Sucy glowered.
"She's taking it so well, I don't trust her. Anyone can betray you. Friends, as well as lovers, are not a threat to be taken lightly."
Everything had a conclusion. Whether it was sweet or bitter, but once their embrace ended, there was a metallic bitter taste on Sucy's tongue. She had not noticed that she bit herself. Akko smiled at the funny look on her face, but at that moment, her bright red eyes narrowed to her mouth.
"You need help biting those lips?" she asked in a low husky voice Sucy had never heard her make in her entire life. The request was exciting, it made her tremble, eating her inside. All of a sudden, she found it hard to breathe properly. A stir of heat went through her body.
Sucy couldn't control herself once it has started but she always wished for this and now the opportunity is presented. She must not miss this chance. "Yes," she whispered back.
Akko's eyes darkened. She wasted no time and just lunged at her.
And before Sucy knew it, her beloved's mouth was hot on hers. Sucy brought her hand to the brunette's neck; her sleek long tongue slipped through Akko's opening lips and her other hand snaked around her waist, pulling Akko into her.
Akko moaned into their insatiable kiss as Sucy's hand wormed its way to inside her clothes.
"Sucy! Not there," she moaned. Her voice was raw with impending desire, and Sucy marveled over her desperation. The shorter girl's hands had found their way into her puce hair, but then she began to pull away from Sucy's mouth soundly. "We need to stop, it's rude to do it here," she said, panting heavily.
"Yeah," Sucy gasped for breath. "I don't think I could stand it any longer if we keep it up. I might take you to the counter." Then she shifted herself around uncomfortably. A strained look on her face and they both blushed scarlet. There was something else that Sucy needed to know, so she wiped her eyes and spoke again. "So what did Chariot told you, besides the names and hair?"
Akko thought about it for a second before raising a pointy finger. "Last night, she taught me how to be aware of my surroundings more often, like how to know if a place is surrounded with hidden cameras and listening devices."
Sucy blinked before she squints her eyes, "That's very random."
"Yeah, but she said it saved her life all the freaking time so I needed to learn it." Akko grabbed her phone and scrolled down her contact list, dialing their friend, Amanda. "Like, for example."
It didn't take a full minute for the American to answer the call, "Yo, Akko?"
"Heya, Amanda, talk for me for a while!" Akko said, putting her on speaker phone.
"Eh, why?" she whined. "You're in an awkward situation?"
Akko laughed but played along. "Yeah more or less," she started walking around the flower shop. There was an unexpected signal interference when Akko stood by the counter and she used the phone to carefully check to find out whether there is something hidden in there.
"Hello? Amanda? You've gone!" Akko began rummaging through the bouquets, destroying some of its structure.
Amanda's voice came in static, "...hear me?"
A visible gasp escaped Akko's lips. "Call you next time, Amanda. Bye!" She turned her phone off while their friend yelled back at her. Akko looked back at her, her eyes bulging. "Uh... Sucy?"
"Yes?"
"Was this here for about quite some time?"
Akko grabbed what seemed like a small USB flash drive from the pre-made bouquets. What made it even more suspicious was the tiny red light emanating at the side. It was a device that could have been ordered online by everyone.
A thousand questions rammed into Sucy's head of who could have been witnessing their conversation the whole time.
"It appears as if we have an audience," Loa whispered.