Necklace

_Lavalee Flamelinne Hanazono's Point of View_

Behind Freia are Icey and Fuego who are just staring blankly.

Geez, they only turned their emotions on during my debut and now it's switched off again.

"What's your gift for ate Lav, Kuya Jace?" Autumn asked

"She'll treasure it." He answered which made me confused

"Jinjja? What is it?" Freia asked with her curious eyes

"What's going on?" Nii-sama asked and entered the room

"We're going to open my gifts, Nii-sama," I said

I sat on the chair and Jace took the small blue paper bag and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked him but he just shrugged his shoulder

When I opened it, I saw a simple blue leather box.

"What's this?" I asked him

"Open it!" Freia cheered

I analyzed the box, it's actually simple.

"What is it? It looks simple." Freia asked again, more excited than I am

"Simplicity is beauty, Freia," Nii-sama told Freia

"You should guess it," Fuego suggested

"Hmm, I'm guessing it's a barrette," I said but he shook his head

"Is it a necklace?" I asked he nodded so I opened the box

My eyes widened when I saw what was inside the box.

The necklace…

Eomma's necklace...

Inside the box was the necklace I'd been looking for.

I looked at Jace and he was averting his gaze.

"What's that, nee-chan?" Freia asked and went beside me

"This necklace looks familiar," Freia said and I gave her the box

I went to Jace and he placed Mnemosyne down.

"Where did you get this, Nii-chan?" Freia asked Jace

"Dreice?" I called him but he averted his gaze from my eyes

"Freia, Fuego, Icey, Autumn, out with me," Nii-sama called the kids and closed the box before placing it on the table

"Where did you get it?" I asked him after we were the only ones left in the room

"Will you believe me and tell me the truth?" he said and looked into my eyes

I felt like drowning, I can see different emotions in his eyes; sadness, pain, disappointment.

"Where did you get that necklace, Dreice?" I asked him

"A huge mansion with a blood-flooded living room," he said and that made me stop

"A portrait of five kids with different eye colors,"

I shook my head as he continued describing the scene because I know exactly where he got the necklace now.

I wanted him to stop but I can't make him stop because I need confirmation.

"Blue, auburn, grey, gold, crimson," he identified and that was the only confirmation I needed

"Three solo portraits," he said and I closed my eyes

I didn't want to believe it, it can't be Jace.

I didn't want him to know… I didn't want him involved.

But it's all here, he's already telling me all the details that proved that he's been long affiliated with us.

"Red, gold, grey," I said and opened my eyes

Tears fell from my eyes after I opened my eyes.

He had just identified the difference between Freia and her two alters.

"You, you were that kid with auburn eyes." He said and bowed his head

"Sorede? So, what?" I asked bravely but I was already holding back my tears

"So what?" he asked and looked at me disappointedly

"I thought you were just different. I thought you were just not a spoiled brat." He said while shaking his head

"And yet, I'm what, Jace? I'm a criminal? I'm a murderer?" I asked him but the words I'm saying are hurting me

I don't think I can bear the thought of him seeing me that way.

It's suffocating

"Come on, tell me," I taunted him and he shook his head harshly

"I'm an assassin, so?" I told him boldly and he looked at me painfully

"Go on, Jace, tell me," I said and walked forward

"Call me whatever you want to call me," I added while walking toward him

"Am I a monster in your eyes now?" I asked and he glared at me

"Do you abhor this monster in front of you?" I asked and he held my shoulder

"You are not a fucking monster, Flamelinne!" he shouted at me

"Then what am I, huh?" I asked him tauntingly, as his grip seem to loosen

I was surprised when he hugged me and he buried his face in my shoulder.

"I didn't want to give it to you…" he said and I stoned

He didn't want to what?

"What?" I felt like I lost my voice

"I wanted you to stay. You said you'll leave when you found it so I planned to keep it." He said

"You knew how hard I looked for it," I said and pushed him to release myself from his hug

"You knew finding it would make me happy," I said and tears began to fall from my eyes

"I know," he said softly

"That's why I gave it to you. You deserved to be happy. I want you to be happy." He said and let go of me

He went out of the room and I sat on the chair and cried.

I buried my hands in my face.

What had just happened?

Why did it end like this?

I heard the door open but I didn't care, I knew Jace won't come back.

"Nee-chan? Why did Jace-chan leave?" I look up and saw my sister, Freia, looking at me innocently

Her narrow eyes widened when she saw my face.

"Nee-chan? Mwoga munje ya?" she asked and hugged me

(Translation: Nee-chan, what's wrong?)

"It hurts, Freia," I said and tried to stop my tears from falling

"Don't cry, Nee-chan."

I looked at Freia and wiped my tears as I tried to smile.

I wanted to show her that I'm okay.

She's Freia, of all people, she is the only person I wouldn't want to show my tears to.

"Jace-chan didn't leave. Nii-sama called him to his office."

Freia's innocence made me smile, she thought I was crying because I thought Jace left.

"Come on," she said and held my hand

She took the blue box that Jace gave me and pulled me out of the room.

She pulled me to the elevator to the east wing of the first floor where Nii-sama's office is located.

In front of Nii-sama's office, Icey was leaning on the wall.

"You can go in." She said and we entered Nii-sama's office.

"Why did you call him here?" I asked him and took the box from Freia's hand and placed it on the table

"That's eomma's necklace. It belongs to the Hanazaki Palace." I said

"Hmm, have you two talked yet?" he asked and I nodded

"You told her?" Nii-sama asked Jace

"It's no use, Frost," Jace said and I looked at him

My eyes are still bloodshot from crying earlier but I didn't go stupid from the revelation of Jace's entanglement with our life.

"Told me what?" I asked

"It's no use, Flamelinne." He said

"But Jace-chan, we planned this for weeks," Freia reasoned out

"Flamelinne, lead Jace to the basement," Nii-sama said and my eyes widened

"Nii-sama!" I contradicted

"He's a police officer! It's his job to investigate and…" I trailed off when even Jace looked at me like he was telling me to just do it

"Go," Snow said but I shook my head

"Freia will lead you," Snow said and I looked at him in disbelief

"No, I'll bring Jace there myself," I said and held Jace's hand

I pulled him to the elevator and pressed the code on the elevator.

I placed my hand on the DNA scanner and a little later we arrived at the basement or should we say training room.