Lyan
" In your room"
" What?"
" I found it under your bed. In your room"
Ruan was smug as he broke all my hopes to find the traitor easily.
' How could I have missed it for so long?' My head was spinning. Who could have entered my room to plant the phone?
Anyone, really. I didn't restrict access to my room, and that meant anyone could enter and hide the phone, but why do that instead of hiding it in his own room? Wouldn't it be more dangerous and easier to get caught if he hid the incriminating evidence in my room instead of his?
" Are you sure?"
" As sure as my name is Ruan"
" Did you happen to see who put it there?"
" No, I didn't"
I looked down at the phone between my hands and swore. I couldn't even find the owner of one flimsy phone. I was that useless, but I would find who it belonged to.
" Help me find who did it" My voice was firm as I looked Ruan in the eyes, determination on my face. I would find the traitor no matter what.
" Now, dear" Ruan smiled as he walked closer, so close that I could see every pore on his skin." That wasn't part of the deal, was it?"
I gritted my teeth. Only that bastard would ask for something else in exchange for a favor. I wanted to scream and tell him I wouldn't do that, but the worse of it all was that he was right. He had only ever agreed to search their rooms for anything suspicious, not to actually help me find out who was the traitor.
" Fine. What do you want?"
Ruan's eyes shone with desire as he smiled.
" I'll do it after you keep up your side of the deal"
" What deal?" Hadn't he helped me because he wanted an undefined favor in the future? Was this the favor he had asked for?
" The favor" Ruan crossed his arms, angry.
" Okay. Let's hear your favor"
" I just want to ask you one simple question"
I winced. In my experience one simple question was never so, there was always something underneath.
" Ask" It wasn't as if I could refuse. Ruan had already kept his part of the deal, so I had to keep mine, at least if I wanted him to help me find the traitor, which I did.
" Why did you lie?"
Ruan's question was nothing like what I was expecting and I stood there, frozen in shock. Lie? When had I lied to Ruan? Lately I had been lying a lot, but not to Ruan, just to Jack and Mark, and I had a very good reason to do so.
" What lie?"
Ruan's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes gleamed with rage.
" You told me your dad was with Els, but that wasn't true" The anger on Ruan's voice was patent, as well as his disdain for me.
I stared at Ruan, not knowing what to say. I had never lied to him about that. I had really told him the truth. Why would he think I hadn't?
" Ruan. I'm telling the truth. I saw my dad" I used a soft tone so as to not send him over the edge, which he was hovering over.
" Did you see him?"
I tilted my head. " No, but you told me he was there with Els. I just assumed Els would be with him since you told me that was true"
Ruan ruffled his hair as he stared at the ceiling, an unreadable emotion on his face.
" That's right. I did tell you that" Ruan chuckled as he looked at me again. " What did you want?"
I was sure I had pushed him over the edge right now, and if I was been honest I was a little scared of what he'd do, but he had just said he would do anything I asked for, and I couldn't let that opportunity pass me by.
" Could you see who hid the phone in my room?" If I found out who did it I would have the traitor in my hands.
" I can."
" Really?" My heart lit up with hope. I couldn't wait to get rid of all the suspicions that were living on my head rent free.
" Yes, but I need an ingredient that only grows on Jinasia to make it "
" What kind of ritual are you planning? I just want to know who it is, not summon anything from the other side" The ingredients part didn't sit right with me. From what I'd manage to understand during my stay in Jinasia was that their power didn't need anything else to work.
" And how do you suppose we do that?" I stayed silent. I had no idea what could work. " That's what I thought" Ruan's smug smile threw me into a rage fit, but there was nothing I could do to wipe that smug smile off his face. He was right after all.
" What exactly will you do once you get that ingredient?"
" I'll open a window to the past. That way we can see who hid the phone here"
My mouth hung open in astonishment. Could he really do that? I wanted that power for myself. It had so many possibilities.
" Sounds good" I smiled. " But are you sure it doesn't grow in here?" I wanted the spell, ritual, or whatever the fuck that was, to be done as soon as possible. Being suspicious all the time was killing me.
" I'm sure". I eyed him suspiciously and Ruan sighed. " I don't suppose you have demon's graves here, right?"
" Does it need that to grow?"
" Yes, this plant is special"
I groaned internally as I nodded. This was the best I could get.
" How long will it take?"
" Not long " Ruan was wearing a smile on his lips as he waved and disappeared.
I tried to feel his presence but didn't find it anywhere near me. Had he gone to Jinasia already? Could it really be that easy to cross realms? Wasn't that what the breach was for?
After staring at the phone for some time I finally realized. I had made it possible. Well, me and Ruan. We had broken the only thing that kept demons away. That was how he was planning to go back to Jinasia. I was the culprit. The whole world would be destroyed because of me. My previous hope went away as guilt and sadness rippled through my body.
" I need some alcohol "
I needed to not feel for a little while and there was nothing better for that than alcohol.
" To get some wine!" I got up from my bed. Today I was getting drunk no matter what.
Ruan
Lying to the little princess was so easy. She had believed without a doubt that there were plants that only grew in demon's cemeteries, even though that was completely made up.
I smiled as I simply teleported myself to the castle. Now that the gem was gone coming and going from one realm to another had become much easier. You didn't even need the breach right now. I was truly a hero that needed to be reveared, though really all I wanted was the admiration and attention of one person alone.
" Riss!" I called for Riss as soon as I saw him holding hands with Els on the hallway. I had been truly oblivious to everything. I didn't know how I could've missed those two were in love. Looking back it was so obvious.
I shook my head. That wasn't what I was here to do.
" Yes?" Riss turned to look at me, but he held Els protectively behind him. I felt hurt. I wasn't going to hurt her, at least not now that I knew she wasn't involved with my man.
" Did the princess ever see you?"
Riss looked at me confused for a second before understanding dawned on him and he blushed.
" I already told you she didn't"
So she had told the truth. I nodded and left. Now there was only one thing left to confirm and I could go back to pretend I could see the past and accuse the human I liked the least. The fight that would ensue would be epic. I was so looking forward to it, but everything had an order. First the rebels, then the fun.
Getting to the rebel base wasn't even a challenge since they trusted me. Once inside getting to the main conference room was as easy as breathing. In a second I was there, staring at Imma with a smile.
" Hi Imma"
" What are you doing here?" Imma smiled at me as she ran to my side and hugged me tightly.
I felt the slightest pang of guilt as I looked at her trusting eyes, but it wasn't my fault, not at all. It was Imma's fault for being way too trusting and not guessing my real reason to stay with them after all these time.
" I just want to talk to you" I plastered my most charming smile on my face as I looked at her. Her blue hair contrasted deeply with her crimson eyes.
I wanted to find a way out, but.... Who was I kidding? I barely even trusted her. If she died it wouldn't be such a big deal, but still, I wanted to give her a chance. She had trusted me for centuries and was someone I would've called a friend if she weren't on the opposing side and destined to lose.
" I'll only say it once" my murmurs were so low that Imma leaned over, wanting to hear what I was saying. " Run"
Imma backed away when she heard me, her hands shaking as she eyed me as if I was a different person. I wasn't, but she'd never known my true self all this time.
" What have you done?" Imma's voice was trembling as she backed away, her fists clenched in anger.
" You know I only ever went to your side to fuck with Ashmoder, but now that we have reached a .... truce" That wasn't the right word to describe what we'd done, not even close, but it was the only one I could come up with." you are no longer needed"
Imma's face paled as she glared at me, power gathering around her in one last desperate attempt to stop everything.
" No matter how much you try it won't work" I stepped closer to her, my characteristic maniac smile on my lips. " You are already doomed"
I stared at the door as Imma took off and ran as fast as she could.
Fine, for all the years we had been together I could give her an advantage. I closed my eyes and began counting slowly.
" One.... Two... Three... Twenty. Ready or not here I come"
I opened my eyes with all the guilt gone. I had given her time to run away, I had done my part. If she died now it would all be up to her, it would have nothing to do with me.
A smile spread across my face. Now I could kill anyone I saw without any guilt. I had given them enough time to run away. If they hadn't used it wisely that was their problem, not mine.
" Where are you?" I ran to the door and bursted it open, breaking the hinges.
I walked through the old, abandoned hallways that used to be a castle and that now we're the main base of the rebellion as I heard the army arriving outside, screams erupting all around us.
Time to hunt. I smiled as I saw my first prey. I was going to miss him but oh, well, what could I do about it?