Chapter 27
Diana stared at her companion seating next to her at the back seat on a Saturday before Christmas. Per usual, Carter was driving them towards the Church and they were caught in the holiday shopping traffic.
The truth was, Diana hadn't known Akko would call her for the continued favor. Diana was planning to head over to the flower shop where Sucy Manbavaran works. There is a slight chance she might catch some detectives interviewing the Filipino girl, and she was ever curious to see how Manbavaran would smoothly lie this one out.
Yet, everything was thrown at the window. Beside her, Akko had a pocket notebook and a pen in her hand, she was translating some Japanese words in English.
As she scribbling away, Diana dared a glance at her hands. The fingers of Akko's right hand were tapping in contemplation. She had the most delicate-looking but calloused hands than any girl Diana had ever seen.
Diana just wanted to hold them and kiss the fingertips. Just looking at her hands was doing the same wild things to the secrets places of her body. And the remembrance of the dream from last night did not help either.
She scowled at herself and looked away, impatiently thrusting a fringe of blonde hair out of her eyes. Ashamed of her fantasies involving Akko. She had done splendidly on forgetting that stupid dream, until now. She had learned no matter how much she ignored it, it will come back tenfold to haunt her.
"Making a habit of calling me for sneaky transportation, are we?" Diana spoke conversantly. With the object of her affection that close to her, her rational thoughts and her control were decreasing.
"And I am forever indebted to you," Akko said, bowing for common courtesy.
"Please refrain from calling it that." Diana smiled. "It is my decision to help you with purchasing Virgin's tears incognito."
Akko's face scrunched up. "Eh?"
"Angel's tears, Lourdes water, Ganges, water, water from the Fountain of Youth, or the Blytonbury Chalice, whatever you want to call it."
Akko chuckled silently at the list of names.
"If you would allow it, Akko. I would love to know the purpose of the Holy Water. Nothing had piqued my curiosity this much, and I am literally dying to know."
"You sure you can't guess your way to answer that?" Akko raised her brow, thought-provoking her. "Ever since we met you've always been challenging my intellect and you always pry your nose into other people's business."
She slowly shook her head. "I fear I am absolutely clueless."
Akko blew a raspberry, "It's not a big of a deal."
Diana placed a caring hand on top of Akko's. A sudden spark was emitted, sending a slight shock to Diana's body. But she didn't flinch her hand away, she liked the feeling of her smooth skin. "Please?" she batted her eyelashes.
She could swear she saw a cute small blush spreading Akko's features.
"It's so that I could be blessed," Akko said, abruptly. Her flushed face disappeared almost instantly. "There's a tradition in Japan where we buy lucky charms and holy items to help us pass our exams, but I have been doing it since I was young I feel like it's losing its powers. Sucy mentioned that in the Philippines. They would often have a priest douse their pencils and pens with Holy Water so they may use it during their exams.
Diana frowned at the dependency of prayers and luck, she lifted her brow skeptically. "I never took you for a believer in that sort."
"Don't kill it for me, Diana. It helps those who believe and is harmless for those who don't."
"In a way, you are absolutely right." Diana's shoulders drooped.
"I can show you some magic!" Akko said, easing the tension between them. She pocketed her pen and notebook before retrieving for some playing cards in her other pocket and shuffled them. She produced a little smoke and suddenly the cards were replaced with a bouquet of white roses.
The magic trick definitely served its purpose.
"They match your attire perfectly, don't you think?" she asked as the white roses gradually turn into blue, before handing them over to Diana, who immediately turned red.
"Your sleight of the hand is actually good," Diana muttered, loving how the blue roses complemented her blue dress. "This is my first time seeing you done this."
Akko then winked at her, causing Diana's face to heat up.
"I have questions about Sucy Manbavaran, Akko. I hope you don't mind."
Akko scratched her cheek, shyly. "I don't mind... I guess it depends on the question."
"Do you think it was possible that Miss Manbavaran is obstructing any information about Andrew's visit to the flower shop?"
All the joy and smiles disappeared from Akko's ebullient face. "I'll have you know, I like Sucy. We are dating for a reason. So please don't say anything disparaging about her."
Diana gasped. Akko was telling her so much of what she had longed to hear—the confirmation of their romantic relationship from Akko's lips—and yet, Diana kept waiting for that terrible thing that kept her on edge, waiting for the knife to plunge. And once Akko had found her opening, she had driven the knife in deep, assaulting her and leaving her to be crushed under the weight of the silence she had been forced to keep.
"Your English vocabulary is broadening." She responded a completely different topic but never strayed so far.
"Thanks! Professor Ursula gave me extra English lessons so my vocabulary would equal an English girl my age!"
"The irony of it. A French woman teaching you English." Diana chuckled to herself, while Akko looked like she conjured a huge question mark behind her head.
"Would you like to be the English person to teach me your language?" Akko asked.
"Pardon?"
"Come on, in return I can teach you some Japanese."
"I have learned multiple languages by now, Akko." Diana considered it for a moment. "But since you offered, Japanese would actually be good in my repertoire."
"Why?" Akko asked. "How many languages do you speak?"
"I am certain you are not prepared to know."
"You have no other records for flower deliveries that might indicate Andrew Hanbridge bought those flowers instead of through person?"
Sucy didn't like the tone of the man's voice or the cloud that seemed to have descended upon the room. She was just minding her own business during her shift at the flower shop when a constable barged in to ask her questions and they had been going at it for the last 30 minutes or so.
"No, constable," Sucy said in the light, careless tone she generally used when discussing the truth sarcastically. "As I told you, he went in here for himself, bought the flowers and asked me to make him a new bouquet based on my friend's taste and write an apology note for Diana Cavendish."
"They are egging you." Loa's voice brought clarity for her. Soothing her inner turmoil, even as she told them the truth. "They want to know if you would change your story if they keep asking persistent questions."
Sucy wasn't even a suspect yet. But the way the coppers questioned her, it was like they were drilling her into a corner.
"I would provide you some camera footage to believe me, but we don't have them."
"Why not?"
"My mother finds it wasteful. Why would robbers steal flowers?"
"You don't keep a safe here?" he kept asking in the same accusing know-it-all tone.
"Just the register," Sucy said. "Ask the accountant for more details."
"I see." The Constable scribbled away.
"Anything else I can help you with?" Sucy asked.
"No, that will be all for now." The Constable tipped his hat. "Thank you, Miss Manbavaran."
"Happy to assist, Constable," Sucy said, joyful she didn't let anything incriminating slip.
Now that was done, Sucy can't wait to head home and play with her voodoo doll. In just about a few hours left, she can close the shop and be free of responsibilities. To truly enjoy her holidays before the weight of new stress comes from the new semester.
"Don't let your capabilities to use voodoo magic drive you crazy." Loa warned, somehow a bit ominous since the doll hadn't once tried to stop her.
"As if I had any choice in the matter!"
Ever since that first moment, Sucy used her birthright legacy, her sanity had gone missing in action. Now, as she clock herself out, she found herself humming. She lugged her bag along the street, heading off to head home alone before Christmas.
These were strange days indeed.
Directly outside Diana's chambers, the myriad security cameras continuously scanned the ground and air for any and all security threats. But today was calm, and there were no significant threats to be seen or heard.
The knock on the window is undeniably hers.
"You know," Diana contemplated, opening the windows and staring at the American who wore a sexy Santa Claus costume with the pure intention of intimidating her. "We have front doors."
"Ooh, scary." Amanda hopped off the window and inside Diana's room. She was also carrying brown sack, probably filled with gifts. "Hoe hoe hoe, Merry Christmas!"
Diana crossed her arms. "Does the thrill of getting past our security system excite you, Amanda? And pardon me, but why does it feel like the letter 'E' is at the end of every 'ho'."
"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome Diana." Amanda placed the heavy sack down on the floor with a heave.
"Also, do you not feel cold? Snow's ankle deep outside."
There was another knock from the window and Diana's jaw slackened at the sight of three other people walking in. They were carrying game consoles and two picnic baskets.
"Somehow," Amanda explained. "I knew you were going to be alone today and you have some other formal parties you should attend, I figured we could have a small party inside your room on Christmas Day."
Diana was shocked, to say at least. She had so many questions forming in her head but she was getting used to Amanda O'Neill's shenanigans that she might as well shrug it off. One good thing with Amanda's ceaseless bothering is that she is never too alone—not anymore.
Being surrounded by a friend who she shared her innermost fears and making sure she will never have to ponder on Andrew's death alone was truly a gift.
"Oh that sounds lovely," Diana playfully jabbed. "I reckon you forgot that I was invited to the party in my own room."
"Hi, Diana!" Lotte came up to her with a sweet beam. "Hope you don't mind me joining the bandwagon!"
"Miss Jansson," Diana exhaled with a small smile. "Pray tell, I am confused to see you hang out with the school's rebels."
"No food for you," Jasminka said, moving the picnic basket away. "Even on Boxing day."
Diana received a playful jab to her stomach from the shortest member of their rowdy group. "Alright, forgive me for calling you rebels." She groaned as she rubbed her stomach.
"We also didn't know we were heading here until two hours ago." Constanze proceeded to demonstrate her sign language. Diana had no qualms understanding, she picked up a couple of other languages. It also seemed that everyone in the room has understood.
"Easy with the punching little Cons," Amanda said. "You don't want to see Diana heave her guts out and I do mean, you don't."
"I see that you almost invited everyone. I cannot say I am quite displeased Akko's not here."
"Are you missing her, Diana?" Amanda sent her a shit-eating grin. "I'm sorry, but she's not here. Given Sucy's romantic overtures for Akko, both are unable to come here."
Diana's heart sank at that own statement, but small smiles crept everyone's faces that she couldn't read.
"NOOO!" a whine emerged from the window, accompanied with a bell chime. "Amanda's lying. I'm here! Sucy's not here though, she has other things to take care of so it's just me."
Atsuko Kagari was here. The girl in question was here—with her. But with four other people. Still, that was enough.
Akko was wearing a low cut brown dress with a headband horn on her hair. Around her neck was a choker with a golden bell. Her overall appearance was pretty much revealing and a little seductive when she crouched down to get inside.
Diana could feel the heat rise up to her cheeks. She turned away, hoping to dissipate it and for no one to notice the red tinge from her cheeks.
"I actually like robots," Akko said.
Diana had long tuned out to realize what their previous topic was about to lead to that conversation.
"I was overjoyed when I learned that Constanze was making a blueprint of a ship that could transform into a robot." Akko continued.
"She looks up to me." Constanze signs with a smile. She has packed a lot of smart and creativity into that diminutive frame.
"You mean down on you. On the account of you being vertically challenged." Amanda said before receiving a jab to the stomach by the small German.
The whole group laughed as they laid out the contents of the picnic basket on the coffee table.
Akko giggled to her heart's content while drifting to stand next to her. Diana was unsure if Akko was seducing her consciously or she was just getting turned on with whatever the girl does. Akko was angling her body so her collarbone jutted out. The sight of it was detrimental to her health.
"Speaking of looking up, I organized this party. Which means my plan involves getting the hell out of here once the clock strikes four in the afternoon so Lady Cavendish can prepare to go to her boring parties with the British elite." Amanda said.
"If I were to use a mundane colloquialism," Diana cleared her throat. "You are right and you should say it."
"HEY THAT'S A FUCKING MEME." Amanda hollered that Diana feared the maids of the estate heard it.
There was a loud notification that bounced off the walls of Diana's confined chamber. Akko fished for her phone in her pocket. Her face lined with worry as she read it.
"Why? What's wrong?" Amanda asked.
"Sucy's looking for me. I guess I have to head back."
Amanda groaned. "But you just got here! Tell her to come here if she wants to see you!"
"Sucy needs my help with something. I can't refuse."
"Boo!" Amanda said as everyone chimed in.
"Why don't you invite her here as well?" Lotte offered.
Akko looked at her strangely, her mood dissipated. Diana caught it, but it seemed everyone else was oblivious. Diana halted herself from nosing into other people's business; however, it proved to be difficult.
Diana stood next to Akko and adjacent to Lotte, her arms folded, watching them both. Although the morning sun was shining brightly, the atmosphere seemed dark between them.
The cool confidence Akko had displayed before Lotte spoke to her had evaporated. She now seemed much like the young girl that she was who had someone she had a quarrel with. Her red eyes were flicking nervously from face to face, and Diana thought she could detect a quivering about her lips. Lotte, on the other hand, is quite of an expert with hiding her emotions through her now foggy glasses.
"I'm really sorry guys," Akko said with the cutest pout ever. "I hope you guys forgive me. And please have fun!"
When it happened, it hurt so much that she feared she might lose consciousness. The benefits of living with a cursed voodoo doll had its perks and she didn't know this was one of it.
Sucy let out a muffled yelp of pain as she spread some aloe vera gel to soothe her burns. The nasty burn glared at her, taunting her that home remedies won't relieve her. The anesthetic could only do much.
Having a demonic spirit inhabiting a doll could only do so much, and she needed more—more treatment and more care. She already popped two ibuprofens that Loa handed her, and soaked her arm in cold water for five minutes. Nevertheless, it wasn't enough.
It wasn't just her left arm that was unfortunate for being soaked in with the boiling oil. It was her left leg, her chest, and her hips too. Cavendish's hair got dissolved in the ruckus as well.
"SUCY!" She heard Akko shriek as she dropped everything and bolted upstairs. She must have taken the stairs three at a time and threw open the bedroom door, mentally prepared to handle almost any situation. Once she was able to wave the steam out of the way, she peered in.
Sucy was sitting on the floor, her back towards Akko. She was leaning forward and clutching her left side. She didn't seem to care that Akko had just burst in to witness her second accident for the day.
The cauldron and a beaker were on the floor and some of the oil and translucent purple liquid leaking onto the floor.
"Sucy? What's wrong?" Akko took a cautious step towards her, unsure what exactly was wrong.
Sucy didn't have the strength to turn around or speak. She merely used the last of her strength to order Loa to send a distressed text to Akko.
"Sucy?" Akko turned over to the doll who floated, seemingly unharmed. "Loa, what's wrong with Sucy?"
"IT WASN'T MY FAULT. HELP HER, IDIOT!"
Sucy's breath was ragged. "You can't hear Loa, so don't ask her stupid questions, Akko."
"Sucy what happened to you?" she winced at the sight of her injury. "Are those?"
"Second degree burns," Sucy admitted. "I reached for the bottled water you left for me and must have stretched too much. My left side hurt, and I guess I knocked my cauldron and my beaker when I pulled my arm back. And its contents burned me."
"Are you making some potion in the beaker?" she asked, observing the purple liquid. "It looks harmless, apart from the color. What was that inside the cauldron?"
"Boiling oil."
"WHAT?" Akko cried. "What were you trying to do?"
"I wanted to try punishing Cavendish again," Sucy admitted. "I wanted to inflict her pain, but I got burned instead. Damn her!"
"ASK HER TO BRING YOU TO THE DOCTOR!" Loa's voice cut into the conversation like a razor.
"No," Sucy growled, feeling a flash of insult to her pride as Loa attempted to give her most ridiculous idea with an imposing glare. "Cavendish owns the hospital branches in Blytonbury and in Wedinburgh."
Akko then looked around and noticed the candles around Sucy forming a circle. "You have been busier these past few days."
"Yes," Sucy said, "Ramzan, my foster mother, is finally dead. I'm almost done with Blackwell's little reformist group."
"What did you do to her, Sucy?"
"I have no idea, and I don't care. It was Loa. It's her birthday gift for me."
Akko's facial features seemed like she wanted to scold her, but opted not to. "You should be careful, Sucy."
For a moment there, she swore she heard Professor Ursula's voice instead.
"I won't be unraveled," Sucy said with a dark smile. "I promise you. Cavendish and all of those people working on my case can't find a logical explanation for the killings so anything they have against me is unconstitutional and inadmissible to the court. They can't see a pattern. The most solution they could find is there are multiple murderers. They won't be able to unravel me."
"I just worry about you, Sucy."
"And I love you for that."
Akko gave Sucy some bottled water. The same bottle she kept providing her. It has been days since she first tasted it, but she found herself looking for it. There had been times when she kept drinking her own water, but her thirst couldn't be quenched. Nothing ever satisfy her anymore. She became quite picky and Loa didn't turn a blind eye.
Step by step, Akko helped Sucy down the hall to the bathroom for her to take a cold soak after that. With each step, Sucy seemed to gain a bit more confidence in her abilities.
Once they reached the bathroom, Akko paused. Sucy could tell the same thought processes were running through Akko's mind.
She knew Akko was feeling a tad awkward.
"You should not be ashamed, Akko." She said, firmly.
"I… know," Akko said. Pink hue spread in her cheeks, looking everywhere else but Sucy's eye. "It's only been a few weeks, Sucy. We should take things slow."
"I know it is a bit early in the relationship for you to be stripping me naked, but then again, for all intents and purposes, I had virtually no use of the left part of my body." She insisted.
"No, Sucy." Akko said, almost whispering, but she helped Sucy settle on the bathtub. "I can get you a towel and some shampoo and conditioner." She said, louder this time. "Do you think you'll be okay then?"
"You know I won't be," Sucy said murkily.
Akko left Sucy sitting on the edge of the rub and walked over to the cabinet by the sink. She got out an extra towel and two bottles, one each of shampoo and conditioner. She placed the towel on the edge of the sink and the shampoo and conditioner in the tub.
"I think I got everything. Anything else you need?"
Sucy looked around. "Yes, I need you to help me bathe."
"Sucy, I told you, I can't do that. Not now." Akko said a flash of annoyance masked her face, but her lips trembled as she whispered the words; her eyes were averted. "Your skin is burned, you didn't break any bones or lost any important muscles. If you want, you can toss out your old clothes when you undress. I can wash them today and give you something else to wear in the meantime."
"Don't you love me, Akko?" Sucy growled. "Can't you see I need you?"
Akko looked a little loss for words, but she managed to muster out some. "While you're showering, I'll do some chores and probably offer help to Chariot. She's preparing tonight for Christmas dinner. If you need me, send for Loa."
A/N: Hello again! It's been a while since I added an author's note. Thank you for your lovely feedback, as well as for the follows and favorites of all of the newcomers to the story.