~ Chapter 16 ~

“So, you’ve heard of me. I’m flattered.” The woman dubbed Icy Eve grinned, her winter blue lipstick sparkling. But I caught a flash of something in her dark eyes—sorrow, maybe, as unlikely as it seemed?

Who was this woman, and why was she targeting us? I had hoped we would be able to avoid grief for one day, at least—in fact, I’d been hoping for a few days, praying that grief would wait until the Conscious’s timer on Satsuya’s decision ran out (or, you know, that grief just decided to stay away permanently and those crazy Uni changed their minds and left us all alone).

Don’t be so naive, Ivy. This isn’t some picture-perfect, boring story.

It was true. Only in boring stories did nothing traumatizing happen (as messed up as that was).

She has to be a member of the Conscious.

Either that or Satsuya has some secret past that I don’t really want to know about, and a number of enemies to match.

That thought left a bitter taste in my mouth for multiple reasons, but I curbed my thoughts before they could stray into dangerous territory. Yuuki was awake right now, after all.

The aforementioned Uni twisted in her spot at my side, fighting to break free from the ice that had taken captive of her leg. Oddly enough, though we were encased in the cold, it felt far off, as if there were a cushion between my leg and the freeze; otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have been able to feel my leg any longer, which might have probably meant frostbite or something (I never said I was a scientist).

I, too, tried to move, but all it earned me was a tumble into a nearby bookshelf as my weight shifted without my leg to fully carry it.

Yuuki scoffed—whether at me or at the villain we faced, I had no idea. “Big brother told me about you.” She sneered, but I saw gooseflesh crawl up the back of her neck from my awkward vantage point, her shoulders tense.

The sorrow—or whatever it was—in Icy Eve’s eyes darkened into an abyss. “So, he does have a sibling...” She murmured, her voice losing all inflection as the fingers on her right hand twitched.

I shivered, my breath forming a cloud as tears pricked at my eyes.

Come on, you said you wanted to see me write more. Don’t maim me or anything!

All I wanted was to find a decent book!

Before I could panic further (and I could, believe me), my world was thrown into a tumble as I felt something wrap around my arm and pull me back. The ice covering my leg shattered, and before I could blink I was standing next to Yuuki on the other side of the romance section, a familiar silhouette before us.

The low lighting and general risqué ambiance at the back of the bookstore were a clear contrast to the white hue that surrounded Satsuya, bleeding off of him in uneven waves.

Somehow, he was more terrifying now than he had been in the bar when the Conscious attacked. I couldn’t quite explain it, but where the air around him had felt dangerous before, now it felt almost...unstable, as if the Uni who typically seemed calm were feeling too many things at once.

This lady must be someone special to elicit that kind of reaction...

Whether out of twisted curiosity or a search for some form of sanity in that moment, I couldn’t help but think this. Even if it left me feeling a hint of depression.

A shockwave jolted through my brain, and I put a hand to my forehead in surprise as Yuuki snidely commented in my thoughts, “Ivy, you’re an idiot.”

And we were getting along so well...

“What do you want, Eve?” Satsuya’s hissed question cut through my mental jumble. A shiver traveled up my spine at the sound of his voice.

“Big brother...” There was a warning in Yuuki’s tone that left me curious, but I didn’t have time to comment upon it. Hearing her, the deadly haze surrounding Satsuya dulled slightly, though it didn’t vanish.

“Your sister is wise. You wouldn’t want to cause a stir here, in a public place, now would you?” Icy Eve regained her confidence, a new look in her eyes—a light that resembled a spark at first, but quickly became a burning flame. “You’re still trying to pretend. You could have torn through this store in an instant if you’d wanted to. But no, you’d rather leave your sibling’s fate to chance than risk being seen for what you truly are.”

The air around us compressed, shrinking with what I could only assume was Satsuya’s emotion—but before the feeling could crush us, my next-door-Uni released a faltering sigh before he breathed in deep, making use of what I assumed was some sort of calming technique. The tension lifted, though a few flickers of hazy white still surrounded Satsuya.

Icy Eve, seeing how close she had been to breaching some sort of line, held up both her hands in surrender—very, very slowly. “Look, I promise I don’t intend to harm anyone in this store. You can trust me enough for that at least, can’t you? I only wanted to catch your attention...and it looks like I have.” She flicked her wrist, and suddenly the ice on the floor vaporized, the room returning to its former air conditioned temperature.

Legs feeling weak, I stumbled back against a bookshelf, dislodging a book in the process. It tumbled to the floor, and when I looked down, I recognized the cover staring back at me.

A Troubled Rose In Bloom—my best title.

Seeing my most celebrated work staring up at me after a moment where I was afraid I’d lose my life (again), I wanted to cry again.

Ugh, I hate my emotions.

I’m tired of almost crying—or actually crying!

So what if this life change is terrifying? Grow a backbone, Ivy!

I thought this, but I couldn’t help but hear my grandmother’s voice in my head, “Tears aren’t shame, my darling girl.”

Well, what did she know?

I’m sorry, grandmother—you knew everything.

Without a word, Yuuki shifted her stance until her thin fingers slipped around mine, anchoring us together.

And I wanted to cry all over again. But I didn’t, instead ensuring my focus was fixed on Satsuya and the beautiful woman who had scared me half to death.

Satsuya’s fists clenched at his sides, though he remained calm. “I asked you before: what do you want, Eve?” Even after that spike in emotion, he was terrifyingly practical.

My tiny crush threatened to resurface, but I kicked at it as I wanted to kick at my stupid (or not so stupid) tears.

This was obviously not the reaction the villain had been hoping for. Her painted lips pressed together, thin, a tinny laugh leaving her as she shook her head. “Even after what you did, you still act like this? Please tell me I didn’t break out of the dungeon for nothing.”

Dungeon? She was in a dungeon? This is entering some sketchy territory...

And what exactly did Satsuya do?

Am I looking at a love affair gone wrong?

The thought was physically painful—probably because it sounded like something the old me would have written in one of my not-so-great novels.

Yuuki squeezed my hand, though it was unclear whether the gesture was meant to be calming or chastising. “Ivy, I said you’re an idiot, and you really are. You need to grow a brain one of these days—especially if I have to hear your thoughts for a while. My brother isn’t quite perfect, but he would never mistreat someone he was involved with. That isn’t what this is about.”

The fact that Satsuya wasn’t ‘quite perfect’ aside, this bit of information was both interesting and relieving. Though not for any personal reasons or anything!

But if this isn’t the result of some tragic romance, what are we dealing with? I wondered, daring to squeeze the hand of the little monster named Yuuki.

Yuuki remained pointedly silent as Icy Eve, oblivious to our internal conversation, continued with a scowl, “All I want is answers. Outside. In the ally by the abandoned buildings across the way. The Conscious may find me if we go to your place, and I don’t want anyone to get involved. I’d rather not have the Law on my tail, too.” She crossed her arms, lips pulling into a scowl as she adopted an attitude position—hip jutted out, stance wide—and perked a brow.

When Satsuya didn’t reply immediately, she bit out, “Well, are you coming, Soul? Don’t pretend you don’t owe me.” Her expression hardened, and I trembled at the memory of her ice entrapping my leg.

But it was the name she used that really caught my attention.

Soul?

That name was different from what the other members of the Conscious had used, but I didn’t have time to contemplate it as Satsuya nodded.

“Fine.” He shifted to look at Yuuki and me, no hints of icy white left in his eyes or around his person. “We’ll collect Mr. Alessi on the way out. I didn’t want to leave him, but he insisted on keeping the Typpe away.” He eyed Yuuki’s and my linked hands, and a faint smile appeared despite the situation.

I gasped at his words, struck with immediate guilt.

I was so focused on Icy Eve, I completely forgot about Mr. Alessi!

It was a terrible sin, to be sure.