Chapter 14

The Masked Killer

Seval spun around and threw aside any wish to relieve his pained stomach. He clutched it as it churned and groaned, but he had a job to do. Alertly he weaved around the standing attendees nearby, checking their masks. All were animals, the mask material white and clear. Seval frowned as he realized it was going to be really hard to catch the killer. Though, he needed to find the culprit, or else everyone was in danger. This could very well be an assassination attempt on the Queen's life. That would put everything in chaos.

Seval backtracked his steps, marching through the various rooms in a linear fashion. At times, dwarves and even elves would keel over right as he passed them. Whoever the killer was, it was very stealthy and skillful. Seval saw just one hole, but that was all it took to end a life. He frowned and continued his search, his pace quickening. More dead bodies appeared around, their dying breaths unrealized by the talking and drunk guests nearby.

Seval once again caught the back of a dress full of black feathers that hung loosely. He tried to gain on the figure, only to be halted by a convoy of drunk guests stumbling about. When they were clear, Seval lost sight of the figure. Impatient, he marched onward, knocking aside an attendee in his path that insulted him for impoliteness. Now wasn't the time for manner issues.

Straight ahead of him, he saw the twin staircase and the statue of Rune, as well as the ballroom. His eyes darted to both until his feet uncontrollably moved toward the staircase. In due time, he ascended the left stairs that had a golden rail and velvet carpet rolled down the furnished-wood stairs.

At the top, he saw almost no guests. And the ones he did see were passed out or sleeping. Or dead because he did see one dwarf clutching his torso as he died slowly. Seval couldn't do anything about it, except for enacting justice. He whispered his apology to the now-dead dwarf until rushing ahead. A narrow hallway stood before him, one with many rooms cut off from it. A dim light hung above that barely illuminated everything. As he walked down it, he found one of the doors to be barely be open, just a sliver of dim light poking through. Instinctively he balled up his right fist and realized he had no sword. He was going in unarmed and blind.

With an uncertain glance over his shoulder, Seval crept toward the door. He was very tempted to ask for help, but he had to do this alone. If he was going to be known as the symbol of the Alegresa, then he had to take down a ruthless killer by himself. Otherwise, he would just be a ridiculed coward. He had to make a point against that cruel fate.

Seval slowly pushed the door open until ramming into it. Nervous, impatient, and scared for his life, he wanted to get this done as soon as possible. His brain was under siege, his face was perspiring and red, and his hands shook. He was truly frightened, a nightmare come true. It had come a time where he couldn't rely on his sword anymore. He had to rely on his own self.

Huffing a bold breath, he stepped foot into the room, like a grand appearance behind curtains.

"Why are you killing everyone?" Seval demanded, as confidently as he could with a straight face. He soon gaped at the figure who seemed as surprised as he was. The figure was clad in a dark dress that had black feathers poking out of it. The mask was a raven, black and predatory. But the eyes behind those holes were of a different color entirely. Seval had a standstill with the figure, the two glancing at another. One had to make an action, as the other was going to make a reaction. It only mattered when it happens.

The raven-masked killer was behind a long table, a paper held in her black-fingernailed hands. She looked like she had been caught, pure uncertainty running through her amber eyes. Then she turned around and went to make a run for it. Seval just realized there was a balcony behind her, open doors allowing for a swift escape.

"Why?" Seval asked quietly, the killer stopping in her tracks. He felt quite dejected and betrayed, his eyes cast downward.

"I . . . you wouldn't understand," the killer replied, spinning around on her black heels to face Seval, who couldn't bring himself to look at her.

"Tell me or I'll have no choice but to call the guards," Seval decided, severely conflicted on what to do. He heard the clicking of heels approach him, soon the black dress covering his vision. It was truly a raven, as all the black feathers showed but the most mysterious and predatory nature.

A smooth hand lifted his chin up, so he could see right into the raven mask. He saw the amber eyes, he saw the girl he once knew, and he knew he had no power here. She could really do whatever she wanted to do and get away with it. Seval wouldn't do a single thing about it.

"I'm sorry, but you wouldn't know," the killer said apologetically, not moving her hand off Seval's chin. The two kept their gazes strong at another, strong and waging conflicts surging through both of them.

"I would know . . ." Seval argued, but he was cut off instantly. His words trailed off into oblivion as his eyes shut. His lips were on their knees as was his mind. The killer kept her lips pressed against his own, until she slowly withdrew, the sensation lingering in the air. That was all that Seval needed to know, really. He was satisfied.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that the killer was gone, a black feather left upon the table as a farewell gift. He slowly walked over to the feather and picked it up. It felt light in his hand, but at the same it was heavy. He wanted to drop it, he wanted to forget about it. But he wouldn't, clutching his fingers around the feather. Through the open doors and rustling curtains, he stared outside at the balcony. Midnight could be seen with only pure darkness around.

"There he is, sir!" a guard suddenly exclaimed from behind Seval, as a rapid pounding of boots neared him. Seval's hands were cuffed together behind his back, the feather stuck in his clenched right hand. He kept his stare toward the darkness, until he was forced to turn around to face the Queen, who had her hands pressed against her hips.

"Tell me who did this, and you better do just that," she demanded, her emerald eyes boring into Seval's soul demandingly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Seval replied, and played dumb. The Queen shook her head in defeat and spun around to leave.

"Ya are under arrest for the killings of countless dwarves and jeopardizing the safety of thousands of citizens," the guard behind Seval stated firmly, before he was forced into the hallway. It all happened so fast, Seval's mind only centered around one thing. Was it a dream? It couldn't be. He could remember the raven mask and dress all too well, the kiss still lurking around his lips. It had to be real, it just had to be.

Seval was brought into a vacant room, the door shutting behind him to trap him inside. The guards escorting him chained him to a table, interrogation-style. In came two familiar dwarves, their badges making it all clear who they were.

"Tell us who's the culprit, and we'll let you off," Detective Tarmic mandated, and leaned against the table with his hands pressed against it. His brown eyes stared right into Seval to press for information. It wouldn't work.

"Like I said, I don't know," Seval remarked, startling at fists being slammed against the table inches away from him.

"Do you want to be jailed like a criminal? I know you aren't one, but there's nothing we can do about that if you don't tell us who did it," Tarmic went on, his partner crossing his arms. Seval shrugged unknowingly, caught in a haze about what had just happened moments ago.

"Speak! Will ya!" Detective Raneer ordered, and slapped Seval right across the cheek. Tarmic scolded his partner and sent him back, as Seval winced at the welt upon his face. It hurt more than he expected it to.

"We've done some searching in the past few days," Tarmic declared, after glaring at his partner to not move a muscle. "And we've learned some valuable things about this killer." He grimaced. "Like we expected, she's a human, around your age. She was enrolled in the academy until leaving suddenly. We don't know why or how and nobody wants to speak about it. But I know you can tell us everything about her." Tarmic's eyes sparkled in the light. "Because I know you and her were quite close. It wouldn't surprise me if you two just had a chatter up above . . ."

"We can't speculate, ya know," Raneer interjected, so Tarmic heaved a defeated sigh.

"Aye, whatever. Witness protection, all that bogus," Tarmic muttered, and returned his attention onto a conflicted Seval. "Just tell us what ya know about the killer, and we're let ya go. Okay?" The detective had grown so impatient and angry that his fake accent had worn off to show the roots of his origin. But Seval wouldn't budge off his high horse. He kept the feather balled up in his right fist, wearily smiling.

"No can do. I have no idea who this person is," Seval said, the detectives throwing their hands up and groaning.

"Ya are going to prison, a long and cold stay. I hope ya rot," Raneer sneered, Tarmic actually nodding his head this time.

"Prison . . .?" Seval repeated the dreaded word, with a gulp. He began to question his loyalty, but he knew nothing would break his will. Nothing.

"Aye, it's where ya go and sit in a cell all day. We give ya food and water, but ya can't do anything else. What a pitiful life. It's what people like ya deserve, anyway!" Raneer continued, asserting his authority over Tarmic, who just accepted it.

"Can I read or anything . . .?" Seval asked, just for Raneer to fall into a fit of laughter. Tarmic shook his head and answered the question himself.

"By the Queen's request, you can. That's if you're lucky, or if the killer has been found." Tarmic sadly smiled. "If the killer is caught before you confess who she is, then your sentence will remain. So I'd give up now because we'll find her before you know it." Yet, Seval just knew without a doubt in his mind that Marien wouldn't be found. He had faith in the rogue that took her under his wing. Whatever it was that they were doing, he hoped it was to fix the wrongs in this grudgeful society.

"Eh, I'll just roll the dice. You won't find her, or should I say the Raven," Seval commented, cracking a smile as the detectives exchanged surprised looks.

"The Raven? That's da killer's name? Very well," Raneer remarked, and noted the name onto a loose piece of parchment that sat around. While he did that, Tarmic wearily pinched his furrowed brow.

"You're taking one hell of a bargain, kid. Do you know what future there is for you in that hellhole?" Tarmic sighed and leaned closer to Seval. "You're young, you're happy, you have a lot of potential. Don't throw away your future like that. Nobody wants that, and I know the Queen especially doesn't. So please, tell us who the killer is and where to find . . ."

"I'd like to have a trial on this," Seval declared, Raneer slamming his fist against a table with Tarmic groaning in irritation.

"Stop wasting our times!" Raneer barked, and was held back by Tarmic from throwing any fists.

"You'll have a trial if the Queen so desires," Tarmic explained tiredly. "But until then, you're still going to be stuck in a cell. Do you understand this?"

"And for the trial, I want Trinity as my lawyer," Seval decided, for he knew that knight was great at swaying the jury.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. We don't even know if the Queen will hear of you ever again. She might cast you aside without any chance of a pardon," Tarmic interjected, an exhausted Raneer snorting and retreating from his assault.

"I'm finished. Let me sleep one last time in my room," Seval requested, and he retained his straight and confident posture. That just made Raneer laugh pitifully.

"One last night, eh? Ya won't be seeing ya precious room any longer. Ya will only be in a dark, cold cell that will be full of ya filth and dung! Hah!" Raneer continued to chortle, as Tarmic shrugged.

"We'll let you, only if your bail is paid for," Tarmic decided, and he and Raneer gathered up their belongings. Seval frowned at the word.

"How much?" Seval asked, Tarmic looking up at the ceiling in thought.

"I'd say . . . a hundred gold? Nay, nay . . . two hundred gold would work," Tarmic determined, which made Seval openly protest.

"Only two hundred? It should be a good five!" Raneer argued, but Tarmic ignored the remark.

"If it's paid in the next thirty minutes, we'll transport you to your room with armed guards to make sure you don't flee. If not, you're going straight to your cell," Tarmic announced, before he and Raneer exited the room with all their papers. A lone guard hustled into the room to remove Seval's cuffs, only to reapply them once he was standing.

But before they could move further than an inch, Tarmic had returned with a surprised face.

"Uh . . . your bail has been paid already. You have some really good friends on the outside, don't you," Tarmic commented, as the guard behind Seval removed his cuffs.

"Who?" Seval asked wondrously, and felt his red wrists. Before Tarmic could reply, a new figure walked into the room, with heels clicking to mark an entrance.

"Can I talk with you, Seval?" Shimmer asked, still with a feline mask over her. When none of the guards moved, she glared at them impatiently. "Alone?" With that, they hustled out and shut the door. It was only Shimmer and Seval, who was overjoyed at a friendly face for once.

"Oh, I'm so sorry about everything," Shimmer commented, and ran over to Seval to hug him. He was very confused, but then the motivation was clear in her whispers. "Keep this up. You're doing great, and don't worry about prison. The Queen will keep you nice and comfortable." She patted him one last time on the shoulder before standing up. "I can't believe you wouldn't talk! I dearly hope you change your mind tonight."

Seval suppressed a chuckle as Shimmer rolled her eyes behind her mask with a warm smile. The two turned around and were greeted by a pack of guards that didn't dare touch Seval. And with that, they headed to his room. It felt like a prison cell with the guards waiting outside in the hallway, but Seval at least had comfort.

He fell into his bed, very exhausted about the whole day. Yet, he felt something underneath the covers, so he checked his surroundings before reaching for it. He pulled out a badge, very similar to the detective's badge, that was golden and contained red lines streaking all around it. Murmuring his thanks to Marien, he kept the badge with the black feather he had held the whole time.

"Don't get caught," he whispered, before falling asleep without taking off any of his perspiry clothes.