Chapter 23: They tell us what we want

Song recommendation: "You must be haunting me" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpA57LU8Z1A)

"You killed her, didn't you?" Ace interrogated.

"I didn't kill her," Michael answered flatly.

"But you knew about it...because you were there?" Ace surmised.

"It was a long time ago," Michael dismissed.

"Yet you remembered the name straight away," Ace shook his head, "What did you do?"

"I don't like your tone," Michael answered in a subdued voice, " and I don't know why we're talking about this. It's a waste of time,"

"Since when do you give a shit about my tone?" Ace provoked, "She was like Clover's mother. Did you know that?"

Michael glanced up and then away, "I may have heard something of the sort," he said without conviction.

"So what happened?" Ace continued.

"Why are you digging up the past?" Michael grunted, "Say I tell you. Then what? What happened can't be changed. You're not going to discover anything that Clover doesn't already know."

"Tell me anyway," Ace replied coldly.

"Fine," Michael relented with irritation, "The Empress of Rotan killed that demon, Lune. Though I didn't kill her myself, I helped her do it. I'm not sorry. It was Clover's own fault for taking something that didn't belong to them. The punishment fit the crime. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Ace frowned but didn't give a response. Michael was right, knowing didn't change anything. A part of him believed that if he understood Clover better, he might still be able to convince them against their plan. In reality, the chances of that were slim. As it stood, it was as if Clover didn't even want to look at him. If Kalandra gave Clover the necklace now, no doubt it would be the end.

"Right now we should be focusing on the problem at hand and that is to get that necklace someplace safe." Michael went on, " Let's say Kalandra has it. Forget about her. She's a dark magic user, you can steal it from her. Tomorrow, as soon as your powers return, get the necklace. We'll decide what to do after that,"

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The next day, Bird, Ace and Michael arrived at the doors of the great hall. There was already a crowd gathered. Ace recognised a few faces.

"What do you mean we can't go in again?!" A demon screamed at the guards.

Ace had seen the group a few days before. They had been loitering for several days trying to see Clover. Each day they became rowdier and more aggressive. As they reached the doors, the leader of the group turned to face them with a vicious and bloody thirsty glare. He was a foot taller than the rest; heavily built with bulging muscle.

"These humans get to go in?" he shrieked.

The guards shrugged. At least their indifference was consistent.

"We're here on command of the Lord of South!"

The guard stuck a finger in his ear then examined the contents, "Yeah I heard you the first time. Does 'no' mean something different in the South?"

Ace and the others passed. As they did, the leader's eye followed them with a predatory scowl. Inside the hall it was silent. All the heads on pyres had been removed. Only the bloody swords remained.

It was a sight better than when Ace had last seen it. Nevertheless, both Bird and Michael looked apprehensive. Over the past few days, they had barely left their rooms. Ace didn't blame them. It was probably the first time in a long time they were completely powerless. No magic and at the mercy of the one who had been their enemy for years.

At first, it looked as if Clover hadn't noticed them. They were slumped over the throne, their legs hung over the armrest and an arm across their face. It would have almost been nostalgic if Ace's eyes hadn't fallen to empty bottles by the throne. Then it just made his heart sink.

"Clover," Michael addressed them.

Clover didn't move.

"Clover!" he called again with growing agitation.

There was a loud and irritated sigh. Clover flung their hand away from their face.

"What?!" came the incensed reply.

"You said you would heal us today," Michael answered flatly.

Clover, without looking, gestured for them to approach.

"What's going on?" Michael added with less certainty. "Those guys at the door..."

"Don't worry about it," Clover interrupted, "They'll leave soon enough,"

With that, the Demon lord sat up. Ace imagined Clover had been up drinking all night like before. Aside from the expression of mild annoyance, their eyes looked weary. If only there was a way to know what they were thinking.

"Give me your hand," Clover held out a hand to Michael but their eyes didn't meet his.

Michael showed some hesitation but eventually gave his hand over. He stared down apprehensively as the magic started to flow. A few moments passed then Clover retracted their hand.

"Is that it?" Michael asked, dissatisfied.

Clover's cherry eyes shot him a warning glance. There wasn't even the usual smile. There was only a threat. Michael conceded defeat and turned away. Bird was next. He handed Clover his hand timidly.

Within a few moments, he too was finished. Finally, it came to Ace's turn. He inhaled and held out his hand. Until that moment, his mind had been on the task to come. He had been thinking about what would happen when they got the necklace. What would they do? What if Clover found out?

But all that stopped the moment Clover took his hand. It was soft and warm. Even the coldness in Clover's manner lessened. For a short time, it was as if it was just them...

"Done," Clover began to withdraw their hand.

However, Ace held on to it for a second longer

"I'm sorry about before," he said in a low voice, "I shouldn't have mentioned..."

"Forget about it," Clover sighed.

"Are you angry at me?" Ace asked.

He was still standing in front of Clover and knew the others wouldn't be able to see it. He brought Clover's hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. He wondered why but he felt a strange swell of emotion. It was as if there was an ominous cloud hanging over him. Ace knew that feeling well. Eventually, he would have to tell Clover the truth. When that moment came, he wouldn't be able to kiss them again.

Clover leaned forward and inspected Ace's face. "Are you crying?"

Ace blinked back tears, "No."

"Terrible liar," Clover wiped a tear from his cheek. "Okay, let's talk Ace,"

They suddenly got up from the throne and addressed Bird and Michael.

"We're done right?" Clover asked

Michael nodded with a stiff expression. Ace turned to step down from the throne but he was pulled back. To his surprise, Clover's hand was linked with his. Clover pivoted on their heels and started to walk away. Ace's eyes widened as he was pulled along with them.

"Wait, where are you going with him?" Michael demanded, "we're supposed to be...doing something later,"

Clover ignored him and kept walking. Michael signalled to Ace about the necklace. Ace shook his head indecisively.

"Do it now!" Michael articulated under his breath.

Ace glanced back as they turned the corner. Michael was shaking his head in irritation. Even Bird looked somewhat disheartened. Ace knew he ought to do as they agreed. He would. He would right after he found out what Clover had to say.

The walk up to the tower was silent. Clover didn't say a word as they traversed the path up to the right-wing. They reached Clover's room and Clover dropped their hand from Ace's. They unlocked the door and went in. Without Clover's hand in his, Ace hesitated by the door.

"Are you waiting for an invitation?" Clover asked with a laugh.

Ace stepped into the room. He felt relieved to see them laughing. Clover pushed some scrolls from the bed and gestured for Ace to sit. Aside from the scrolls now flung on the floor it was much tidier than last time. There were still a lot of trinkets but they all seemed to have been memorialised in a set place.

Ace dithered by the bed for a moment. It still felt like he was intruding.

"Come one," Clover tapped the bed again, "I'm not going to bite. At least not this time," they smiled mischievously.

Ace sat down. It felt like it had been a while since he had seen this Clover. This was the Clover he had fallen in love with.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"I've been thinking," Clover answered reticently.

"About?"

"A lot of things but in part about you,"

"About me?"

"You were right,"

"I was?" Ace didn't mean for it to be a question. "I mean what was I right about?"

Clover let out a laugh.

"I've been treating you like a child," Clover inhaled. "I don't mean to actually. To be honest, I'm not used to having to explain myself. Not just to you but to anyone. Things that make sense to me, might not be true for you - I know that. I thought that I was doing the right things by protecting you. I tried not to think about how you felt when I pushed you away. But when I saw you crying earlier..."

"I wasn't crying," Ace pouted.

"Okay," Clover grinned, "When I saw 'how upset' you were, it hit me. Maybe I've been going about this the wrong way. I've been thinking about every little thing and it didn't change anything. Even when I try to stop you, you just do your own thing anyway," they let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry..." Ace started. "I shouldn't have mentioned Lune. If you wanted to tell me you would have,"

"It's not like that," Clover shook their head, "It wasn't like I was trying to hide it either. It's...just difficult for me to talk about. Anyway, I'm not angry about it. That's the first thing I wanted to tell you,"

"You're not?" Ace asked hesitantly.

"No, that's not what I was angry about," Clover lent on one hand wistfully, "I was angry at myself for not handling this all better. Usually, I don't have a problem with this sort of thing, but when it comes to you, I haven't been making the best decisions. I haven't been honest with you or myself,"

Ace's brow furrowed, "What do you mean?"

"I don't like to be emotional, Ace," Clover said flatly, "The way I was raised...it just wasn't productive, but you know, maybe I've been in the demon world for too long. I've forgotten that these feelings have some use. They tell us what we really want,"