Chapter 29: We are not friends

Song recommendation: "True friends stab you in the front" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpmJh2CjSIA)

As Ace watched Clover leave the room, he returned to staring down at his plate coolly.

"So what exactly did you tell Clover?" Ace asked without looking up.

Kalandra was still eating her food with complete disinterest in her surroundings.

"The truth," Kalandra sniffed, "Well, most of it. I left out the part where you actually managed to steal the necklace from me. I said I couldn't find it. The funny thing was that Clover was so annoyed you actually tried to steal it back, I didn't even need to tell them the end."

"Why did you do that?" Ace responded flatly.

"Because," Kalandra smiled smugly, "Now, if you reveal you have it, Clover's definitely going to get rid of you,"

"Is that what this has all been about? You were never actually angry we stole the necklace. You just wanted Clover to yourself,"

"Oh no, I was angry. It was a real pain to find that thing," Kalandra smiled, "I was going to kill you in your sleep but then I had a thought. If he wants the necklace so badly, why not let him keep it? Now, you only have two options. Either you take the necklace and go with the crazy wizard or you give Clover the necklace and reveal how terrible a friend you actually are,"

"That's a pretty good plan," Ace replied drily. "And in what part should I tell Clover your role in all this?"

"Oh, you're not going to say anything because I know already that you're going to take the necklace and go. I really only added the other option for symmetries sake." Kalandra chuckled.

"How do you know that?" Ace looked up hostilely.

"Because I've seen your type before," Kalandra smirked, "When I was just a street rat like the rest, I saw so many like you. They were always just dipping their feet in the water but never getting wet. Those were the ones that ended up dead. They couldn't live with the reality of who they were. They couldn't commit to what you need to do to escape that life. They were always looking for the easy way out and you're the same,"

"You're right," Ace smiled, "There's no easy way. There's only the hard way and the harder way."

Ace stood up and watched Kalandra who was finishing the last bit of her meal.

"Can I ask you something?" Ace paused.

Kalandra gave a shrug in reply.

"Was it worth it?" Ace asked.

"Telling Clover?" She smirked.

"No," Ace laughed, "I mean was it worth it fighting tooth and nail, 'committing' or doing whatever you did to become who you are now? Was it worth to become the empty-eyed, murder you are now?"

Kalandra's expression changed. She set the spoon down and stared up at Ace with dead eyes.

"People have to kill to survive everyday, but if nothing is left of yourself after all that, what was the point? I mean Clover gave you the opportunity to become someone and this is what you chose?" Ace scoffed. "Maybe those street rats had a point,"

He turned and left the banquet hall. The moment Ace reached his room, an unpleasant sight greeted him. Michael was leaning on Ace's door.

"I need to talk to you," he said briskly.

, "Well I 'need' you to get lost, but we don't always get what we want," Ace dismissed, "Whatever you have to say, save for Bird. I'm not interested,"

"I tried!" Michael protested, "He locked his door and won't even hear me out,"

Ace brushed past him without answering. However, Michael followed him inside.

"Will you at least let me explain?" Michael said more adamantly.

"What is there to explain?!" Ace turned to face Michael sharply. "You're a damn liar! That's it and I'm an idiot for believing in you for even one second,"

Michael flinched. Ace never usually showed such intense emotion. It was normally difficult to get such a rise from him.

"I never meant for you or Bird to get hurt," Michael levelled, "but we had to get that necklace somehow..."

"Shut up," Ace said flatly, "and get out,"

Any hint of desperateness left Michael's expression and a familiar cruel severity rose in its place.

"What are you so angry about?" Michael scoffed, " You got what you wanted. Clover's alive. That's the only thing you really cared about. Everything else was just an afterthought to you,"

"I think that you'd like to believe that because it makes things easier for you, but I gave up everything, including Clover to get that necklace from you in the first place and I was willing to give it up again because I thought I was doing the right thing. I was even willing to put my feelings about you aside. I may not have believed your motives were pure but I thought that you cared about Bird and Albaric at the very least,"

"I do!" Michael snapped. "Without magic what do you think would happen to Bird or Albaric? Magic is the only equality in the Empire. Everyone knows it, but I'm the only one willing to do the dirty work."

"I can't tell whether you're lying to me or yourself right now," Ace sighed, "but, I don't care anymore. We're done, Michael. I suggest you swallow your pride and beg Clover to send you back because I am done helping you,"

"Even if I beg, Clover won't send us back now," Michael said in a low voice.

"That's not my problem," Ace answered apathetically.

"No?" Michael let out a derisive laugh, "So you would let Bird and I die to prove your point?"

"You're not going to die, "Ace stated unmoved.

"How do you know that?"Michael scoffed.

"Because contrary to what you'd like to think, Clover...isn't someone who would let you die to prove a point," Ace explained.

"Your faith in them is baffling," Michael shook his head in disbelief, "Didn't you hear a word back there?"

"I heard it. Obviously you haven't been paying attention," Ace remarked coldly, "If Clover wanted to kill you'd be dead. You just don't get it, do you? Why do you think Clover helped you now and before?. You said it yourself that Clover feels everything that humans do, but do you really understand what that means?"

"I'm sure Clover finds your naivety to be endearing but I don't," Michael answered darkly. "When I said that, it was because I hope that Clover suffers! What feeling? They have no feelings you, stupid boy! Anything you see in them is just a projection of your own shallow emotion,"

"I can tell you right now, I certainly don't share the pity they have for you,"Ace shook his head in disbelief. "I'm not helping you so get out,"

"I'd be happy to let you return to your delusions as soon as you hand over the necklace,"

"Ah, I take it this is the real reason why you're here," Ace scoffed.

"Well it's clear that you have once again been taken in by them," Michael sniffed. "It's better that you give me the necklace before you make another fool-hearted mistake,"

"The only mistake I made was trusting you. I should have just trusted my first instinct. Instead, I convinced myself that maybe there was a glimmer of something good in you. I won't make that mistake again,"

Michael's jaw clenched and his expression became dark.

"I'm not asking," he threatened.

"I'm only going to tell you this once," Ace replied undeterred, "That necklace is mine. It always was. You're not getting it back,"

"I think I will," Michael smiled darkly.

"You touch that necklace and you'll regret it," Ace countered.

"Regret is for idiots too lazy to take action," Michael smirked, "Maybe I'll just tell Clover you have the necklace and let you suffer the consequences?"

"If you tell Clover I have the necklace, it's game over for you as well,"Ace wavered.

"Well let's see," Michael sneered, " If I'm going to lose either way, I'd rather go down the path where you get screwed as well, but for Bird's sake I was hoping that you'd make things easy on yourself,"

"Don't ever fucking use Bird to threaten me again," Ace's were an unparalleled black, "All this time, you've been saying what a bad person I am. Keeping pushing and I'll show you just how terrible of a human being I can be,"

"Scary," Michael derided, "At least you've learnt something from Clover,"

"Get OUT." Ace pointed to the door angrily, "You and I are done,"

Michael appeared to comply. He headed for the door but stopped:

"Actually, we're just getting started,"

With that, he left the room. Ace watched him go apprehensively. As soon as he was gone, Ace closed the door and went straight to the wardrobe. He prayed the necklace was still there. To his relief it was.

However, his relief was short-lived as he considered his situation. Now there wasn't just Clover to worry about. Kalandra might guess where it was located and who knew what Michael would do to get a hold of it.

Ace thought carefully. His magic was gone for the time being. So there was no possibility of hiding the necklace anywhere else. This was the only place he could hide but how long would that last? He needed a new plan.

Ace headed straight to Clover's room. He banged on the door and waited. Clover didn't answer so he banged again. Finally, a disgruntled reply came.

"Come in," came the voice reluctantly.

Ace walked into the room without hesitation this time. Clover was leaning back against the bannister of the open window staring down with a glass in their hand.

"Don't you think it's a bit early to be drinking?" Ace said with a sigh.

"I didn't expect to be seeing you for a while," Clover replied gingerly, "You usually sulk for a while longer before bargaining in to complain."

"Well, I'm not here to complain," Ace returned flatly.

"Oh really?" Clover raised an eyebrow sceptically.

"Pour me a drink, "Ace motioned to the bottle at Clover's feet.

Clover looked dubious but slowly picked up the bottle. They took another glass from one of the shelves and handed it to Ace. He took a big mouth full and sat down against the wall facing Clover without saying anything. Clover returned to leaning from the window and watching Ace suspiciously.

"Not here to complain," Clover mused. "Are you here to apologise?"

"After you," Ace answered flatly.

"Even if I had something to apologise for, I reserve my apologies for friends," Clover smiled mockingly.

"Right. We're not friends," Ace nodded without conviction.

"And in the meantime," Ace took a sip of wine himself, "What's going to happen to Bird and Michael?"

"Don't tell me you're still worried about them after all this,"Clover sniffed.

"Bird never did anything wrong," Ace protested.

"Do you know the story of the snake and the bird, Ace?" Clover asked with a smile.

"I need you to be serious right now, Clover," Ace sighed.

"The snake lives in the desert. He's starving to death because there's no food. He asks a Bird flying over head to help him leave the valley,"

"I know the story..." Ace began.

However, Clover ignored him and went on, "The Bird agrees and they start soaring over the desert. Then mid way, the bird feels the snake coiling around his neck. As they both plummet to their death, the bird asks why - 'why are you killing me? Now we'll both die.' And the snake answers?"

"Fine don't answer," Ace set the glass down with irritation.

"No. The snake says 'because it is my nature. People can't change their nature. If your Bird gets hurt, it's because he believed the snake when he knew better. Just like you,"