CHAPTER 79 – MY ROOM
“Ya okay? I bet you’re tired.” Elias asks, throwing Siel a quick glance from the passenger seat. “Still worried ‘bout the kid? You need to get used to it if you want to stay in this place for a while.” He added in a low tone.
Siel suddenly felt the urge to hang Luis upside down and slowly feed him to the leech, but she cannot. She must not. How can Luis just kill innocent people? Especially a kid who just wanted to help his mom and dad.
“You can sleep and I’ll just wake you up.” Elias suggested, but Siel shook her head without glancing at him and fixed her hair, secretly aligning her earpiece.
“No.” She answered sharply after some time. “I don’t want to sleep and wake up in the cemetery.” She murmured under her breath sarcastically.
Elias chuckled. “I can hear you, you know that?”
“Will I waste my breath if I won’t allow you to hear my words?” She murmured again, leaning her head on the head rest, totally pissed.
“Tsk.” Elias hissed with a small smile. “Must be having your visitation, eh? Sharp tongue.” He spat.
“I can hear you.” Siel blurted out and glared at Elias who drove slowly.
“As if I’ll waste my breath just for you not to hear my words.” Elias retorted, and burst to laughter like a madman. Siel frowns.
“You think it’s funny, huh?”
“Uhm, yes?” Elias snorted. “It’s funny. Just a moment ago, you speak like Her Highness, now it seems like you’re the you that you really are.”
“The heck. Fix your grammar.” Siel remarked, opening her window and the cold night breeze started to fill the car.
“You mean, ‘fix my message.’”Elias smiled, turning the air conditioner off. “You like traveling with open windows as well?”
“Hmm.” Siel answered swiftly.
Elias opened his window as well, suddenly feeling hyped. Finally, he found someone who has the same taste as him.
“You like it this way too?” Siel asked in a soothing tone.
Elias stopped, blinking a couple of times, then Siel flinched when Elias suddenly burst to laughter, nearly losing his grip with the steering wheel.
“Hey! Drive carefully for earth’s sake!” Siel shouted panicky, gripping tightly, causing Elias to laugh more and the car to dance in the road. Good thing it was late at night so there were no other cars following them. The tracks are on the other lanes so they’re safe.
“If you want to die, die alone! Don’t drag me in!” Siel screamed angrily, stopping herself from pushing Elias out and driving the car herself. That’s easy since that is what she always does but again, she must not.
“Hahaha! Yes, yes, ma’am.” Elias uttered between his laughs, trying to drive carefully. “I thought you’re Her Highness’s men. How come you panic that easily?”
“I’m not panicking; I’m restraining myself from kicking you out.” She seethed, grinding her teeth for her to calm down.
“Well, that’s fun. Again!” He shouted and Siel gasped when the wheels sparked as Elias quickly turned the steering wheel and drifted faster, almost hitting the fence that blocked the cliff. “Hahaha!”
“Jerk!” Siel riposted. Everytime Elias drift, Siel stretched her feet like she was pushing the brakes.
“What? You said you don’t want to sleep so I’m waking you up. Be thankful.”
“Thank your face!” Siel sighed in distress, holding her head whose veins almost popped out.
“You’re the one who must be thankful I still have patience.” She whispered in the air, shaking her head.
After some time of laughing, the whole car became silent with only the sound of the wind filling their ears. The night was peaceful – only for those who don’t know the whole story of the place. Otherwise, it’ll be a great horror story.
Siel suddenly felt hotness in her eyes as she remembered Seiron's history. It was full of colors and laughter, which was the total opposite of the Seiron now. It all started when Edom rebelled.
Elias glanced at Siel from time to time, but despite Elias showing her that he’s on her side, Siel never lowered her guard. There is a saying that the devil was once an angel and is actually an angel up until now – angel of the darkness. So she cannot trust anyone in this Kingdom of Darkness.
Siel did not sleep a wink at all though her eyes wanted to shut down with her body. She did not sleep properly for almost three days now, trying to find anything about Edom. But indeed, a person who is determined to hide is hard to find. Harder than finding fresh roses in the desert.
“Hold a grip, we’re here.” Elias announced, slowing their speed. “Ya ready?”
“No need to ask.” Siel muttered, her sleepiness completely flying away. She glanced at the huge wall with thick rolls of barbed wire. The whole atmosphere was gloomy and countless armed men were positioned, guarding the wall along with the roaming lasers.
It’s not as beautiful as the Cadre’s HeadQuarters but it is strong. Siel alerted herself as she approached the Lion’s den. The den of the enemies they once couldn’t see.
“You looked tense.” Elias blurted out jokingly, but Siel only threw him a sharp glance. “Or should I say alert? Ha-ha.”
Siel rolled her eyes and focused on the guards that bowed as soon as they saw Elias’ car. It’s unusual since he was the one who was bowing down in Aparctias whenever the Cadre entered.
The moment Elias’ car reached the massive gate, it creaked and opened slowly.
“Good evening, sir.” One of the guards greeted then transferred his gaze to Siel. His face was full of scars and his eyes were sharp. “Uh, and-“
“It’s already morning. Early morning.” Elias cut him off and slowly motioned to drive away but the guard did not raise the laser up. “Shit.” Elias cursed silently.
“I’m really sorry sir but can she remove her mask? We need to verify her identity.”
Siel calmly shook her head, causing the guard to frown. “My master told me to never reveal my face to anyone, so I won’t show my face to you.” She answered with a firm tone and handed her ID to the guard. “That’s my authentication.”
Elias’ eyes widened with her words. To think she can play using her words is quite impressive. He bit his lower lip.
The guard was a little shocked to see Siel’s face in the ID was half covered by her hair. How come she was allowed to have this kind of ID? Well, Siel is Ashriel’s hidden shadow for a reason.
“But ma’a-“
“You heard her and you heard me. So shut the hell up before I make you. Lift the lasers.” Elias commanded with a sharp, warning tone. The guard gulped. This was unusual.
“S-Sir Luis?” The guard asked carefully. “N-No, he’s using Sir Elias’ car.” The guard whispered.
“Faster!”
The guard flinched and panicky searched for the button. Siel looked at the guard coldly and he felt his inside trembling. Without any more delay, he pressed the red button, lifting the laser up, finally letting the two enter.
As soon as they successfully entered, Elias burst to laughter. “Pfft!”
Siel scowl. “What’s funny?”
“Your master, huh? To whom are you pertaining to?”
“If you’re not a fool, you can answer that. You’re never my master.” Siel answered shrewdly, not showing any gentleness towards Elias at all.
“Pretty insensitive.” Elias muttered.
“As if you’re hurt.”
“Tsk.”
Siel’s eyes searched the whole HeadQuarters. Countless guards were roaming around with powerful riffles and bombs. She glanced at the control room with innumerable cameras. The security was pretty strong.
“How can I find Edom here?” Siel whispered to herself. She looked at Elias who was looking at her for awhile now, finally reaching the parking area. “At Least I have this dog to help.”
“What? Ya falling for me?” Elias asked jokingly, making cute faces and pushing his hair back like a cool teenager. Siel gave him a death stare and he stopped.
“I’m tired. Where will I stay?”
“In my room.” Elias laughed and pushed himself out of the car before Siel can.
“The heck?!”
“Shh.” Elias pressed his index finger to Siel’s lips and grabbed her wrist, pulling her in the elevator. Siel twisted her wrist but somehow, it was no use. Elias was being stubborn.
“Seriously?!”
“Stop shouting.”
TING!
Siel was alert when the lift tings and opened swiftly. She looked at the numbers and realized they were on the higher floor. Is Elias serious?
“Hey, did you press the wrong floor?”
“Nope.”
Elias did not let her rebut and quickly pulled her out of the lift. The whole floor was neat but somehow, it felt chilly. It was as if Siel was walking to the graveyard. She gulped, preparing her gun with her freehand. But she stopped when Elias stopped walking.
“You’ll be staying here.”
Siel looked at the metal door with an engraved black snake with green eyes, swirling on a sword. The Quisling’s mark.
“That’s my room.” Elias said, pointing at the door beside Siel’s door. “Call me if you need anything.” He added and leaned closer. “Or if you need me.” He whispered, giving Siel goosebumps.
“Hell no.” Siel spat, pushing Elias away. He laughed and waved his hand then opened the door, pushing Siel in. But before he closed the door, Elias threw something to Siel, which she swiftly caught.
“It’s dangerous if you register your fingerprint here so use that key to open your room.” Elias uttered and finally, closing the door.
The room was not as massive and exquisite as Ashriel’s office but somehow, it felt uncomfortable. Siel stopped. No. She cannot be comfortable in this place. It’s the place of the enemy. She cannot give an inch. Siel slapped her two cheeks.
“Concentrate, Siel.” She whispered to herself and put her stuff down, together with the key. “Huh?”
The key has a white elephant keychain. The same animal is carved in Elia’s ring.
Suspiciously, the room was filled with things someone would normally use. It indicates that someone was or is living in this room.
“It doesn’t matter.” Siel blurted out and went to the huge drawer. As soon as she opened it, a flood of files greeted her. Siel held her head. “I’m pretty tired. Should I really have to do this tonight?” She murmured and looked at the files again. Just a mere sight of the letters gave her a headache. A hateful one.
“You’re reserved tomorrow.” She said and searched the whole room. It was pretty big. She gazed at the clock. 2:37 a. m. It was pretty late.
Suddenly, her eyes caught the small table at the corner with black laptop. “Huh?”
Siel quickly walked towards the laptop and stopped midway. “Are those important files?” She whispered and took a step closer but-
“Siel.”
Siel’s soul almost flew out the window when someone spoke to her ears. She looked back and saw no one.
“Siel.” The voice called her again. Siel then realized that it was from her earpiece. “Did you enter the HQ successfully?” The voice asked.
“I did. I’m currently searching for data we can use.” She answered in a low-voice and looked at the ceiling. Siel remembered Elias once said that Luis has very bad trust issues so probably, a voice recorder or anything was hidden or worse, surrounding this room.
Siel slowly walked towards the laptop and reached for the control.
“I’ll call you after I-”
“Don’t touch that!”
Siel flinched when she heard something from behind her and suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her and pushed her through the nearest wall with an impressive strength. She groaned with the sudden pain that striked her back and head. She looked up to meet eyes with the person then her eyes widened.
“This is my room.”
~ Do not give an inch to your enemy. One small hole will lead you to a strong grip. ~