The truth will set you free

He came from a visit to Alyssa. He visited her three times; twice she was asleep. He immediately left when he saw her asleep, he prefers her bickering. He purposely put three drops of sleeping medicine on her ginger milk to make sure Alyssa won't roam around without him. He was condemned by Kiva for candidly deceiving both of them--- again. But he doesn't care, someone tried to harm Alyssa and he does not know who did it. Alyssa is not as concerned with her life as he is. On his third visit, she was not on her bead. He followed her musky floral scent and was able to track her in front of the wards forcing her way to get in. He did not talk, he likes this Alyssa--- fiery yet delicate. She is the kind of fire that keeps you warm at night but will burn you to ashes if you get too close. So he allowed her to visit Barn as her reward, and besides, he was afraid that she might do something foolish for not getting what she wants. Like punching guards on the face, or if she was more clever kicking them in the middle.

He immediately inspected the kitchen for clues right after he escorted Alyssa at her chambers. It was either the perpetrator was good at hiding or was fast at cleaning up. Queen Kathy and Ziloh had no other option but to force the attendants for information.

Sweat, blood, and tears was pungent ahead. Ziloh covered his nose with his arms as he descended the narrow stairs.

It was murky, damp, and moldy. There were even spider webs on the way. It had been years since the dungeon glimpsed a light, it had been years since it had visitors. Two long prison cells were adjacent to each other, the bars had rust and black paints were peeling off. The cells had never been this crowded before. And at the center of the dungeon was an old metal chair.

Ziloh removed his arms from his nose. "Any progress?"

There were guards stationed on every corner, sweating profusely from heat.

The royal attendants are huddled from each other behind the bars. They were deprived of water and food since yesterday, but none seemed to lack the energy to confess yet. But the chair would change that. With one attendant outside the prison, the chosen one was sitting at the center of the room. Both of his hands and feet were cuffed at the chair. It had almost been an hour since he had been interrogated, his head was lull from exhaustion.

"No." The inquisitor was crouched in front of the incinerator; the fire was reflected on his eyes.

There was rattling of the wooden fire inside the incinerator; a metal rod was perched on it, waiting for a touch.

"Not yet." The inquisitor grabbed the metal rod. His hands burned but he did not flinch away.

There were outburst of screams among the prisoners. They knew what was coming next.

The inquisitor sluggishly pressed the tip of the burning metal rod on the man's limbs.

"Ahhhhhhh!" The man jerked awake. "Please," He pleaded; his voice hoarse from screaming. "I can't say something I don't know…please."

It had already been an hour since this man began talking to plead but not to confess. They were wasting their time. It would be more efficient to go through the attendants than to focus on one.

Ziloh gestured to the guards to replace the man on the chair with another.

The prisoners must have known what it meant for they squirmed and backed away as far to the door as they could.

There were screams and pleading as the guards randomly picked the next chosen one. They dragged one out of prison, this one desperately clutched on the door to prevent him from taking a step away from the bars. He was determined to cling on the last two fingers wrapped around the bars but even his remaining strength failed him.

They cuffed the young man on the chair. He was younger, probably even younger than Alyssa.

The inquisitor was keeping his metal rod warm.

"Noo... ple pleaaaseee." The young man was shaking.

The inquisitor then lifted his metal rod in the air to marvel at its power—his power. Feeling the pain before it touched, the young man peed on his pants.

The inquisitor laughed. "This is good, this won't take long." He was about to press the metal rod on the young man's limb when a woman screamed.

"PLEASE!" The woman screeched. "Not my son, please, we only came here to work." She grabbed the bars to be closer to her son. "George! Don't worry mommy will save you." Then she pleaded to Ziloh. "Please we don't know anything, we're a victim too. We would never hurt the princess."

"Don't listen to the old hag," The inquisitor said to Ziloh. "A few of them here might be from the slumps."

"No! We're not from that filthy place! We worked in the palace hoping to be cured."

The other prisoners agreed with the mother's statement.

The mother was just a background noise for the inquisitor. He focused his attention to the young man sitting on his favorite chair. "Are you a spy?"

"Nnnnno." The young man stuttered.

"Are you from the slumps?"

"Nnnno"

"Are you a liar?

"Nnno"

"Ennng. Wrong answer." The inquisitor suddenly pressed the burning rod on the young man's limbs. He kept on twisting the metal rod for it to go deeper.

The young man shrieked.

"Stooooop!" The mother screamed. "Please, take me. Take me instead!"

"Have you ever lied before?"

"Nnn…Yes."

The inquisitor went closer to the young man, he circled around him. "Good boy." He patted his head. "That's what I want to hear, truth."

"Pleaseeee, me. Take me instead." The mother pleaded.

"Would you like your mother to replace you on this throne?"

"No."

The inquisitor twisted the rod on the same spot.

The young man screamed his soul out.

Fresh blood, fresh young blood. Ziloh licked his mouth.

"Pleaseeee, pleaseee, not my son." The mother was crying hysterically.

The inquisitor was about to press the burning rod on the same spot when a woman in her early twenties, who had a beauty mark under her left eye, interrupted. "Wait!"

All of them---the guards, the inquisitor, the prisoners, Ziloh--- looked at her.

"If I tell you something, would you set all of us free?" The woman inquired.

The inquisitor looked at Ziloh for answers.

"Yes." Ziloh answered.

"Okay." She hugged her legs. "Look, this is the only information I've got. I saw Jake last week…"There was confusion on the inquisitor's face so she added. "…the one who was carrying the pitcher…he was talking to a royal, they were very discreet. They talked at a distance so I could not hear anything. But I don't know, they might be talking entirely about something else. Jake was a wise man, he would not do something stupid like this."

"It's for us to judge." Ziloh said. "Give me the name."

"The king. He was talking to the king."

There was silence in the room.

Ziloh broke the silence. "Thank you for your cooperation." Ziloh beckoned one of the guards. "Give them water, food, and fresh clothes to change."

The mood in the room suddenly turned a hundred and eighty degrees, the prisoners were relieved and delighted.

"Were getting out of here! You saved us." A middle-aged man said to the young woman who confessed.

"Should we release them?" The guard inquired.

"No, let me report to the Queen first."

"Understood." The guard saluted as he went upstairs.

After a few instructions to the other guards, Ziloh then went upstairs and saw Kiva in the hallway, waiting to ambush him.

"We need to talk." Kiva said.

Ziloh ignored her and walked straight.

"Wait! You coward!" Kiva shouted as the distance between them became wider and wider. "Wait! You know she was crying when I visited her right?" Kiva lied.

Yes, that bothered Ziloh. He stopped on his tracks as Kiva closed the distance between them. Kiva turned to face her brother.

"That got your attention." Kiva smirked. "You know drugging someone to sleep is a psychopathic move right?"

"It's not a big deal. I protected her." Ziloh placed his hands on his pockets.

"I know your intention is good and everything but, do I really have to spell it to you?" Kiva dug a finger on his chest. "You don't hurt the one you like. You ask permission from them."

Ziloh smirked. "What's the fun in that."

"Argh!" Kiva stomped her feet in frustration. "Why does everything have to be sexual!"

"I don't need her permission to keep her safe from herself."

They might use the same words like protect and hurt but they define them way differently.

"Let me warn you, brother, that if you endangered Alyssa's life again. I will rip your neck." Kiva looked straight into his eyes. "Especially whenever you use me to harm my best friend. I will kill you, you got that?"

"Of course, if your harm Alyssa in anyway, I will gladly kill you too, my dear sister."

Kiva studied Ziloh for a second. "You really like her, don't you?"

"I'm intrigued by her, yes."

"But you do know that the things you do makes her hate you more."

"I'd rather be hated than be ignored."

"And… you're a masochist too." Kiva shook her head. "You've been warned Ziloh."

Ziloh just smirked and pinched her cheeks hard.

"Ouch!" Kiva rubbed her cheeks.

Ziloh lifted one of his eyebrows. "That was not painful. Well, for your kind."

"Have you never heard of theatrics?" Kiva dropped her hands.

"You don't have to pretend with me Kiva. You've entertained Alyssa too much."

She did feel the pinch but it did not hurt. It takes more than that to feel something.

She kicked Ziloh's shin.

Ziloh just stared at Kiva.

"I know that hurts." Kiva smirked.

It did.

After the interruption from her sister, he walked straight to the Queen's chambers.

He was about to knock on the door when he heard his father's voice.

"Whoever did this is after the crown, your daughter's vulnerable." Cliff said.

"I never would have thought. How dare them! I built this kingdom! And this is how they repay me!"

"They know the way to get to you is through your daughter. Everybody knows she's your weakness."

"I received the message well, and they will pay for it."

"Don't you think that this is the work of those in the slumps?"

"No, this is an internal matter. The culprit is within this walls."

"But the slumps were never a fan of ours."

There was a pound on a table. "No, they will not involve my daughter."

"But you have to strengthen her security at least for a month."

"Oh, no need for that Cliff. You and I know that your son's capable enough to protect my daughter."

Sensing that there was nothing else to hear, Ziloh knocked twice.

"Come in!" The Queen said.

Ziloh walked through the Queen's chambers. The Queen and Cliff was seating at the round table.

"Any news?" The Queen inquired.

"Yes. There is progress."

"And?"

"One of the attendants named one of the royals. The King."

The Queen's face suddenly turned serious. "How dare him!"

"But…"

"He must have been planning this all along! To sabotage me! I placed him in that position, and I could remove him anytime."

Ziloh did not voice his opinion further. He was sure that the King was not involved, the King had no capacity to plan such scheme.

"And what about our prisoners?" Cliff asked.

"They are currently being fed and clothed." Ziloh informed them.

"Perfect, let them be harvested tonight. All of them!" The Queen stood and walked back and forth.

"Yes, my queen. You are gracious." Cliff replied. "I have to go now to start the preparations. Tonight will be a feast."

"Cliff?" Queen Kathy called with an afterthought. "Just spare the one who provided the information." Queen Kathy added.

"Understood, my merciful Queen." Cliff bowed and stepped outside the room.

"Thank you, Ziloh."

"Anything for your daughter."

"That's why we get along so well, we have the same priorities." The Queen stopped on her tracks. "There is no need for this to be known publicly, let them think of it as just a prank gone wrong. Rumors will eventually die. They don't need to be encouraged that they could attack the crown anytime."

"I agree."

"I'll think of a plan. I'll know what to do. I'll fix this."

"You always do, Kathy."