The young man who leaned on the doorframe smiled at Emmett who was glaring at him. He was a mirror image of Emmett although the only difference was the hair color. His hair was a bright gold just like his eyes, bright and longer then Emmett's. Other than that he had Emmett's long and sharp nose, wide eyes with long but blond lashes, and full lips. His jaw was hard as Emmett's and he carried high cheekbones as him as well. He was the golden version of Emmett.
"My, my, my, if it isn't dandelion," he murmurs, his voice soft and velvety as Emmett.
Emmett raised his eyebrows, "Well, I finally found you."
"Indeed you did." He grins, his eyes held amusement.
The new person wore a simple white cotton shirt tucked into black trousers; the top buttons of his shirt were open right until where his chest ended. A smooth, pale skin was exposed to the world.
As if he knew Emerelda was gawking at him, his gold eyes lazily glanced at her, "That's my cap." He said.
Emerelda frowns, "Who-who are you?"
He straightens and waved a hand inside, "Where are my manners, come in, come in, we are expecting you."
Emmett pushed past him and knocked his shoulders making him grin wider. Emerelda hesitantly walks past him and looks up, he laughs as she hurriedly walked towards Emmett. She peered inside of Emmett's head and his thoughts were scrambled.
"Twin. My brother. How did I miss this all? I can't believe it. I should kill him."
The whole mansion was dark and empty, cobwebs filling corners. The chandelier above was covered with a white cloth and everything else had draped white cotton cloth concealed as well.
Emerelda looks back and he points to a room near the foyer, "In there please."
Emmett opened the wood door and inside the place was alive. Gas lamps filled the room with light. Every furniture were exposed and open, nothing hidden under fabric. A fire roaring at the fireplace, with thick curtains pulled to cover the windows. They were in the drawing room.
Sitting on a single sofa that faced the fireplace was Mr. Leonard himself. He sat in a simple gray suit watching Emmett and Emerelda carefully. On the long sofa sat Niko who had her glasses above her head looking bored, although when she heard them come in she quickly looked at Emerelda with wide eyes. She wore a simple blue dress, her hair pulled in a bun with strands escaping from it. On the same sofa, at the corner was Luther who looked relived to see her. On the other long sofa sat Mr. Thomas alone, he smiled at Emmett. And at the corner of the room was the young fellow who helped her out of the forest.
"What a crowd." Emmett murmurs.
Emerelda almost didn't hear him as she stared at the new person who was near the fireplace playing with her dagger. Her skin was shades darker then Luther's. Although her eyes were a brilliant green, green like the shade of fresh grass that had been rained on. And her lips were huge and lushes, pink and slightly open. Her hair was a deep black, tied back in a pony tail; however curly strands, so curly, fell above her ears and the front of her head. She had high cheekbones, and a sharp jaw with a lean body. She also wore a pale white cotton shirt and black trousers with a belt. Her button shirt had the first top buttons open, exposing her cleavage.
She was beautiful.
And she knew it.
Her green eyes were unreadable when they meet with Emerelda's. She then set her lips in a thin line looking away.
The one who looked like Emmett closed the door behind him, "Let's get started, shall we?"
Mr. Leonard nods, "Good evening your highness."
Suddenly Emerelda felt a burst of anger, she charged up to Mr. Leonard while pulling her swords from their sheaths. She crossed both of them on his throat glaring down at him. Mr. Leonard looks up calmly as if expecting this reaction. It wasn't long until she felt a cold metal on her own throat, a dagger placed perfectly right under her chin.
"You killed my brother," she snarls, "Why?"
Carefully, he shook his head, "There's a misunderstanding princess."
"Give me the word and she'll be quiet." The girl said behind her.
She digs the swords deeper, and the dagger on her throat did as well, "You are the one in charge of all the guards and officers in Garlin, it's simple for you to be able to access the Prince's chamber and kill him. My question is why?"
"Emerelda…" Mr. Thomas says gently next to her, "Let's discuss this."
Emerelda glances at him and back at Mr. Leonard who thought on one statement "I didn't kill him."
She brought her swords down and placed them back on its sheath. She stood still waiting for the dagger to leave her throat but it stood its ground. She sighed, "You can stop trying to kill me now."
"No." she replies.
"Elisha." Mr. Leonard said.
"Tch." She removes the dagger and slowly walks back to her place next to the fireplace. Her eyes set a permanent glare at Emerelda."
Mr. Leonard nodded to the spot next to Mr. Thomas, "Please, have a seat."
She sat down. Mr. Thomas smiles at her and leans towards her, "Last time we met I was a little drunk."
Emerelda said nothing. She looked at Emmett who was having a staring contest with his grinning mirror by the door. She crossed her arms, "We haven't gotten all day."
"Believe me," Niko said, "We do."
Emerelda raised her eyebrows at her, "I'm slightly surprised to see you here, working with the Midnight Assassin."
Niko leans back on the sofa, "Well, I could only say the same."
"I'm not joining anyone," she turns to Mr. Leonard, "I'm here for an explanation."
Mr. Leonard nods, "Yes. Well, I am in charge of the Midnight Assassin; however I got that authority only a few weeks ago."
A few weeks ago were when the killing had stopped. Emerelda and Emmett both found it odd why it stopped all of a sudden and continued with someone else killing people.
"The Judas group," he continued, "Was a group where they wanted the King to fall, it was a simple goal. They killed to frighten him and killed to grow fear in the city. I was in charge on finding them and finishing them all before larger harm comes before the King and the peaceful city."
"You found them," Emmett said at the back walking forward towards the sitting area, "Instead of killing them you joined them."
Mr. Leonard's dark eyes regarded Emmett with a sort of admiration, "Indeed I did. I had a sort of goal in mind, and in order to achieve it I had to start with a certain place where it already had been started. The group was all blood thirsty full grown men, not thinking clearly, mostly apostles. When I joined them a certain foundation was set up, more organized. I soon worked my way up and it wasn't long to have them all under my fingers."
Niko frowns, "You killed them all, why?"
"I gotten everything I need to accomplish my own goal, and so when I didn't need them anymore I reached out to Emmett. Of course, before that, when you," He turned to Emerelda, "And Emmet formed alliances and started stirring the underworld, the Judas group was nervous and confused. They didn't understand your motives, but I knew what it was and who it was. When I reached out to Emmett I made a little deal."
Luther looked at Emmett with a face and to the twin, "You would have given him the one thing he was searching."
Emerelda quickly turned to Emmett who looked at everyone in the eye as a challenge, "Yes, and that wasn't all."
Mr. Leonard clasps his hands together, "To not inform the society that the Princess was here and searching for the Midnight Assassin."
That shocked Emerelda. She had thought Emmett didn't killed the Judas group for his own good, for his own favor. She was wrong. He did it for both of them. Does that mean Mr. Leonard and Emmett weren't working together?
"I don't understand, why not have the Midnight Assassin do the killing that day?" Emerelda asked.
"They had their own mission that day, I wouldn't have pulled Emmett if they were available." He simply answers, "The Judas Group wanted the King gone for the country to run without it. It was stupid really but smart as well. I want this city to have a King and government, however in order to do so the King right now has to obliged to it, however we all know how stubborn he is…and besides he isn't sane."
The whole room slightly gasped except for Emerelda. She knew of this all her life, others had as well, though no one said it out loud in the Palace.
"What does this have anything to do with my brother?"
"The Judas group didn't kill the Prince. It was your father who did."
Emerelda froze, "What?"
Mr. Leonard nods and had sympathy in his eyes, "That's right. Your Brother had a wonderful goal against the King."
Emerelda felt cold all over, this wasn't making any sense. Her Brother loved his father. Her brother was loyal. Her bother didn't have time.
She looked at Niko who wasn't surprised, "You knew?" she questions.
Niko shifted on her seat, "He came to me and told me he wanted to a fresh start for the city. During those times I was training ladies in secret, though they were ladies who wanted in with the new revolution. Your brother, Floyd, had formed a small group for women. He wanted a new change, women being able to be independent, start business, and be strong. I supposed that was for you. During those times, the Midnight Assassin had started its killing spree. Although it wasn't long before the King found out…" she trails off looking away.
"He thought the Prince was amongst the Judas group and he secretly killed him for it." Mr. leonard finished.