80 Chapter 80

"You do not seem to be really fond of the people in higher ups." I ask although sounding more like an already confirmed fact. I remember how she didn't like it that they kept the war a secret from the people and I've never noticed her in any gathering, not the wedding nor ritual.

"What's there to be fond of." She scoffs and I smile, thinking of ways to get any valid information from her.

"Never been a friend to a royal?"

"I wouldn't even want to be entangled in such stressful relationship." She says sounding like she's talking from a secret pain she feels.

"Have you had any friends at all before?"; I ask calmly and she chuckles.

"Is there a person who hasn't?" She says and sips her tea while I listen calmly. "I did have a friend once before, the kindest of all creatures you'd ever meet. She was sweet and different, didn't mock me like the others did about my love for books and when she had the power, she made me matron and supervisor of this really amazing library."

What? Who is she talking about? Could it be who I think it is?

"But," she continues, "when she had more power, I became nothing more than a low life librarian."

Judging by the way she acts, I can tell she's older than Zara which means she experienced the tenors before Sean and I'm guessing the person she's talking about is Sean's mother.

"That sucks," I sigh, "what was her name again?" I ask, my heart beating anxiously in anticipation of her name.

The name that would lead me to some answers. I'll be able to find out why her name was removed from history, who king Xavier is, who the human ruler was, probably why she's back and probably why the thing with ice happened to me. I need to find out a lot more than these but I'm willing to take little steps.

Jana looks at me for a while then chuckles and sips her tea again.

"Is this the reason you called me?"

Shit! I guess I was too direct with the question and she figured out what I was trying to do. Why isn't anyone allowed to speak about that woman? What's all the secrecy about?

"Jana," I sigh but still keeping my cool and not showing much eagerness, "I just really need someone to talk to and not just anyone but someone that wouldn't hide the vital bits from me.

Everyone just seems to be watching their tongues all too carefully around me and it's irking, frustrating and downright annoying."

"And what made you think I'd be any different?" She asks.

"You are." I respond, "you're different from everyone else and I have this strong feeling in me that there are some things you'd like to change around here but you're limited because you don't have the power."

An emotion flashes through her eyes and I smile inwardly, knowing I just hit the spot.

"Let me join you," I continue, "be my knowledge and I'd be your strength. Let me be the power you never had."

She looks deep into my eyes as if looking for something and I hold eyes with her, allowing her in so she can see my sincerity and desperation. I really need her and she needs me too.

"What do you want to know?" She asks after long seconds of silence and I smile, sighing.

"What was her name?" I ask the very first question at the back of my head and she looks away, battling inwardly wether to spill or not. Please do. Please do.

"Crystal." She says and I look at her, waiting for a response but she stays quiet, looking at me as well.

"Well?" I ask and she frowns.

"I said Crystal."

"I know you said Crystal but I don't think there's any way to respond when you call my name other than wait for you to get on with what you intend to say."

"Oh!" She exclaims and laughs lightly, "for a second there I forgot your name's also Crystal."

"Also?" I ask in utter confusion.

"Sean's mother's name is Crystal."

"What?" I breathe out in surprise and she smirks.

She's my namesake? Wow, such coincidence. Is this the reason Sean picked me, is this what he saw? How come he never mentioned it.

"It caused a little bit of confusion for us that knew her when you came along," she explains, "I for once feared that queen Crystal was back."

"What happened to her?" I ask and she sighs.

"She died." She says and goosebumps crawl over my arms and legs. She didn't seem dead when she tortured me to a near-death experience.

"D-died?" I stutter in fear but she doesn't notice my fear. She doesn't know I've met her.

"No one knows how it happened though," she says, "but one fateful day, Sean was found lying by her cold body and I heard all he kept repeating was 'I don't wanna play anymore'."

My heart begins to beat even faster the more she explains and my brain starts to feel hot from all this information.

"It was said also," she continues, "that he never shed a tear for his dead mother."