The night rose and Isabell was still at her table working on the report and a plan
"Done," she said drawing a mark on the paper
"Bella, dinner is ready" her mother called from the outside of the room "Coming" This time she didn't stay five more minutes in the room practicing to act normal or doing some planning before launching a bomb instead she ran to the living room
"You participating in a marathon, IzyWizy?" Xavier asked seeing her running, he was already at the table sitting with his legs crossed over his chair "Yes, Sergeant. I need to catch criminals" she announced hopping on her chair "That's not how you are supposed to catch criminals, Dumb Commander" he stopped and poured himself a glass of water "You are meant to use that empty brain of yours and find clues because that is the only way lawyers are assumed to help" he took a sip out of the glass,
"Who knows one day I may need my legs too"
"They are so thin for you to work" she taunted and laughed out loud "Shut up, Zavy" Isabell rolled her eyes and she was indeed offended by his words
"Like for real, Sissy. You are so thin, how will you handle hefty criminals by yourself? Like I can't imagine you going to court and yelling at criminals tenfold in size from you" He cracked up, his voice echoed in the entire room. Isabell never replied to Xavier directly instead she yelled
"Mom! Zavy is body shaming me" his mouth threw all the water at the table
"I Wasn't, I—" He was ready to give every justification but only if he had some time
"Zavy! Why are you teasing your sister? " Lowren walked to the holding a foe of Xavier's "Mom, I never–" Lowren hit his head with the spatula "Ah! It hurts" he whined
"That's the exact reason for hitting you," she said taking her chair along with him "You are playing favorite child again" he whined again, rubbing his head "Yes, I'm The favorite child" Isabell flattened her fingers near her chin, and blinked her eyes, injecting in his annoyance and Xavier Stretched a corner of his mouth down.
"By the way, Zavy" Isabell said kicking the silence aside "Did you hear about the gang caught selling cigarettes at the university?"
This is the plan, asking Zavy about this in front of Mom to increase pressure, maybe Mom could help me break a node in their friendship.
Xavier's eyebrows raised in shock and Lowren was now looking at her too
"Yeah I guess I heard some gossip" he replied,
Here is the next step. Making it look like an accident. Okay, okay I hope I can make it look like an accidentally said thingy
"No, Zavy. They are not gossip. It's real like really real. A professor from our department told us that they are behind bars and you know what, I was so worried when I heard Jade's name…"
That's it, Done.
Isabell looked at Xavier with wide eyes telling him she could swear she never remembered talking about Jade and Cigarettes in front of their mother
"Jade? His friend Jade?" Lowren asked in surprise. Isabell made sure to stay silent for some moments to inform Xavier how sorry she was for the mistake she just made
"yeah," she said silently. Lowren's eyes stretched, and she turned her head towards Xavier
"What is your sister saying, Zavy?" She asked, Xavier never parted his lips but stared at Isabell with a furious gaze
"What is Bella talking about?" her voice got harsher causing Xavier to open his mouth unwillingly "Yeah, I mean no he wasn't involved in this time–" Xavier shut his mouth, looked down at his place after dwelling his grave with his own hands, "This time? Was he involved before?" Xavier stayed silent giving Isabell a stare of death
"Was he involved in this before, Xavier?" Lowren's voice thundered in the living room, Xavier supported himself on the glass of water he was still clasping.
"He used to smoke, mom. But he don't-" he felt thrones over the weapon of his mother this time and they left a piercing on his forehead before meeting the ground. A wave of unbearable pain knocked Xavier's head, he squeezed his eyes, hand attached to his forehead but didn't yell
It worked,
The moment his eyes detached, they laded at the worried face of Isabell but what he couldn't see was the way her fingers curled making a fist of victory under the table.
"Are you out of your mind?" Lowren shouted, leaving the both of them startle
"No-no, mom. He was-" he was cut off by a yell again
"You are friends with an addict?" Her voice laced with disbelief
"No! It's not like this. He is not a bad guy—"
"Shut your mouth, Xavier," Lowren said but he never listened
"He- He is my friend, Mom, and–"
"Stop talking back to me" Lowren put the spoon at the table furiously "If I ever see you with that kid ever again you will be grounded for your entire life!"
and success, her fist tightened but her face stayed tense
"Do the dishes and come to my room after it. I want to talk to you!" His mother said
"Yes, Mom" Xavier replied in hush. Isabell leaned back in her chair, apparently worried and unapparently relieved the entire time, enjoying her dinner when Xavier was hardly engulfing
Xavier was standing in the kitchen wearing an apron with a doll on it. Isabell's feet rocked to the kitchen holding a mug in her hand "Here" he put the maroon cup on the sink "I would highly appreciate it if you would wash it too, Maid" she teased sitting on the counter just beside where he was washing the dishes
"You don't even-" she had the desire to complete his words "Even know how much I hate you, IzyWizy" she finished
"I swear I am—"
"Am going to even it soon" she laughed
"This is—"
"Is not even funny, Isabell!" Xavier closed his eyes, turned the tap off, his moved his irritated face toward his sister
"Did you do that on purpose?" he asked and her voice took breaks "I- I- did Not! Why- like why would I do that?" her words suddenly went loud causing a boost in his suspiciousness, maybe I should add more "I'm really sorry" her voice lowered, filled with remorse "I am sorry for it but maybe it's not that bad or-" Ishouldn't have added this one obviously
"You should stop, Isabell," he said in anger, for a moment she felt an inch of guilt over her heart
"I won't" the guilt shed, she laughed and pulled his ear "I will never stop messing with you, dear brother"
"I just—"
"Just hate you so freaking much, Izzy" she finished for him one more time and laughed
"Wait," she said, his ear still in her hand "When did you get this tattoo, Zavy?" she stared suspiciously at the back of his ear "What" he was the one to laugh that moment "This one' she twisted his ear a little more "The black tattoo of three circles revolving around each other" Xavier laughed but in surprise "I meant, You didn't know about it?" she looked at him with broad gazes
"What?"
"What?" both twins stared at each other with almost the same amount of shock on their faces
"I got it two years ago, Izzy," he said after a moment of silence "And I don't know about it?" she set his ear free
"That's what I'm asking, you didn't know about it?" Isabell slipped from the counter, still in fright "I don't remember you telling me about it, Zavy"
"I did" he nodded back and forth,
"No, you did not"
"You don't remember, Izzy?" he asked with a genuine concern in his voice and she looked at him with the same expression
"No, I don't remember. No, you never told me about it" his feet dragged on the floor in a round
"Are you losing your memory?" he looked up, She didn't reply still trying to recall "If you are" he continued "then please lend me some of your powers, I may need it after the unstoppable lecture from Mom tonight" he laughed and rinsed the last dish, "Oh," she zoned in a little "What?" she asked since her ears weren't listening
"You are acting weird" He stood upright turning the water off
"No, I- I–"
"I'm getting suspicious of you, Izzy" Xavier narrowed his eyes
"What" she laughed out of the blue, anxiously
"You are not been yourself since the dinner" his voice senses, she stopped talking
"Why did you do that, Izzy? Why did you say his name in front of Mom?"
"Hah" she whiffed in panic "I did not" her mind processing what just happened in a fraction of one minute "But you don't talk before reflecting on every single word leaving your mind" Isabell let an uneasy giggle out
"You are overthinking, Why- like why would I do that?" She laughed again, only with her voice
"Why?" he asked back
"You are overthinking it" She landed a slap over his head and then she ran to her
"Wash my cup and deliver it to my room," she said, taking her legs back to her room and closing the door.
----
"So you haven't heard anything from them since yesterday evening?" Isabell sat on her red chair, her fingers moving on the rich fabric, hands resting on handles, head relaxing on back as she owned his office
"Yes, I think he changed into a different shirt' he crossed his feet at the ankle, folding hands over his chest stood leaning at his table beside Isabell "Probably because of Blood," He said, she nodded and went silent
"What do you want to tell me?" Sebastian asked after moments of occupied hush and she stared at him in absolute amazement
"How do you know, I have something to tell you?"
"Well, I can read your face" she started back
"No way"
"Yes way" Sebastian blinked an eye at her and she bit a lip in nervousness to stop the smile from spreading and butterflies from sprouting "Tell me," he said, her eyes moving back to the table
"Okay, okay. I- umm… I think I have cracked one more identity"
"What?"
"Like I'm quite certain I have" she laughed lightly "I know I shouldn't be talking so casually about it but. Actually, I'm not surprised" She looked at him again "Are you sure we talking about Throne Of Demon" he moved his head, meeting her in eyes "Your tune is Boring rather than the usual; threatening and excited"
"I don't actually know how to react" Her fingers knocked over his table
"Okay, Whose identity?" he asked
"Spy" Unlike Isabell, Sebastian was shocked at his name, not only was he a key member but also he had a connection with his sister "Spy?" he stood straight, Isabell nodded her head
"You-you have met him once" his eyes stretched, and she swallowed some air "I have met Spy?" He raised his voice unintentionally
"Yes I mean no, like you have met him but not directly- I mean-" she paused for a moment "You remember the day my brother got into a fight?" She asked sitting up, he nodded yes "When he was fighting with Max- the Junior from Comerese, one of Zavy's friends was with him. Jade, to be exact the son of VC" Sebastian turned towards her, his eyes opened wider
"Your brother's friend? And you are telling me you don't care much?" He said in an absolute shock and she unpredictably laughed
"Actually I- I have always been suspicious of him but he slipped out of every trouble so smoothly, his record was clear. And like it was fishy that how he never had a problem but if I give it a thought it's not that hard to break like his dad is quite powerful and that is the way for them to handle things, Like last time you and Zavy got punished for the fight with Max but no one said a word to Jade" she finished
"It makes sense-" he paused talking for a second "Wait, What did you just say?" she looked at him confused
"About Jade?"
"No about the other guy?" Isabell sat straight "Who? Max? Maximilian Cooper from Comerese?" Sebastian nodded
"Max from the second year of Commerce"
"What about him?" her expression stayed the same
"You are missing a detail here," He said, causing Isabell to scan every corner of her mind. Her brain was breaking at his name, checking every guy with the name she had ever known, and then her fingers stopped knocking
"Wait" something appeared in a corner "Wait! Max! Max from the second year of Commerce! That douchebag that got Emily involved in all that" She blinked rapidly as her brain sent the information. Isabell stared with wide eyes at Sebastian "Exactly" he said silently, not looking so comfortable either
"Fuck!" She yelled and Sebastian stared at her, "Fuck!" She cursed again and grabbed her phone from the table
"We need to meet that freaking Asshole" she yelled and Sebastian's stare intensified, almost surprised
"Language, Isabell," He said, She nodded, listening not looking at Sebastian but typing in her phone, fast "We need to meet him" she repeated
"But we might need a number or his location," Sebastian said resting himself back on the table
"Got it!" She announced; she screamed "Got what?" his body straightened
"Done," she said standing up from the chair in a wink
"Done what?"
"The location"
"What" he asked in astonishment
"Max is in the Bean and Bite cafe next to the university" Sebastian's eyes blinked, they stopped and his eyebrows raised
"What?" His wide eyes blinked again
"Yep, let's go"
"How did you get to his location in two minutes" he looked impressed and more surprised
"It's a secret actually" Isabell whispers moving towards the door
"How about getting a job in cyber security, Smartie?" He asked following her
"Doesn't sounds bad" she giggled pulling the door open
----
In front of the large Veritas University, the cafe looks small, with no waiter roaming around the cafe but a single barista, preparing orders. He had an anonymous smile on his lips and they seemed to completely ignore him as they entered the cafe
Isabell knew his face and so did Sebastian. They located Max sitting alone at a table of four, working on papers scattered all around the table, without waiting for anything they took their steps to him. They stood at both of his sides blocking the light to reach his notes. Max lifted his head, his eyes twitched as if they had seen something a couple of aliens
He stared at Isabell, moved his puzzled face to Sebastian, looked at him nervously as if he recognized him and even if he didn't the expressions on Sebastian's face were stiff enough to make any normal person anxious.
"Maximilian Cooper" Isabell greeted him by his full name injecting into his nervousness
"Do I know you?" He asked Isabell, not looking at Sebastian
"In a way, yes," she said, taking a chair on the left and Sebastian took the neighboring chair beside Isabell
"Actually we want to ask some questions if you are free" Isabell's lips bared a slight and fake smile "I- I'm sorry- I've- I have classes to attend," he said, abruptly collecting his things over the table and in a flash, he was already up taking a couple of steps away
"Sit down, Max," a sonorous voice said to him, and his feet stopped. Sebastian didn't make his words look like a request, they had more similarity with the threat
"I am certain you recognize me" Panic swept across his face upon hearing his terrifying voice. Max involuntarily dropped onto the chair.
"We are just going to ask you a couple of questions," Isabell said but Max never moved his lips in reply, he looked scared, swallowing oxygen hard
"Max?" She called after moments of waiting for him to reply, but he didn't answer "Considering how you know us may want you to open that freaking mouth of yours, Max" Sebastian's voice went harsher and Max failed to inhale one more time. "I- I- didn't want- I- I-" he decided not to complete his words, gaze glued to the floor Max tried to stand one more time but his trembling hands made all of his things fall out of the table
"Get back on your damn chair" Max already looked frightened and Sebastian used it in their favor
"I am sorry, I-" Max stopped uttering words for one more time, bending his legs, Max slowly sat again on the chair "Relax" Isabell's tone matched with Sebastian's but not her words "I know no matter what I say I'm the one to have all the blame in the end. No, I deserve to have it. I know you won't forgive me but-" he was cut in by a severe voice "Not even if you beg on your knees till you lose your legs!" Sebastian's voice emitted a sensation in his body and right in the intensity of the moment a friendly voice interrupted
"Would you like to order something?" The boy on the counter was standing at their table, smiling. He had messy wheat-colored hair, small eyes encircled by round glasses, and he wore an apron with was wrinkled. The two of them looked at him in confusion "If you haven't noticed, I run this cafe alone, since the two of you didn't come to the counter I have come to take your order myself" he finished with the same stretched lips, they stare at him for a moment
"I would like to order a glass of cranberry juice, Mr. Owner," someone said out loud, Isabell abruptly moved her face towards the person and she got motionless for some moments
Ethan
"Give me a moment, Sir. I'll come to you after taking their order" he said to Ethan "I wonder if that lady wants to order the same thing" he yelled, Ethan was sitting in a corner two tables of distance from her. Sebastian stared at her and then at Ethan, his expressions were complex. Isabell kept her face down
"One glass of cranberry juice and a black coffee," Sebastian said to the guy "Coming right up, Sir" he beamed at him and then went to the corner. Isabell never said a word, Sebastian didn't ask anything
Don't think she said to herself
Don't think she repeated
Don't think! She yelled and repeated it a dozen times in her head, her eyes shut, her head slowly moving to sides, and then it stopped. She needed to say something in order to ignore him and her brain wasn't working much.
She opened her eyes
"Why did you do that?" She took Max on her radar again while Sebastian gazed