The Liars (16 page)

“It’s closed, though.” She said. “Wait until tomorrow. I’m sure I can get Diana to bring some.”

Zoisite threw a tantrum, wanting the treat the moment Memory explained its sugary goodness, and couldn’t be consoled until Prince Cassian threatened to take her home.

“It’s almost three am.” He said. “We should go back soon.”

Memory gave him a sideways glance. “Why? What time do you wake up, anyway?”

“Four.” He muttered. She jumped.

“What?! That’s like, not even an hour of sleep today. What is
wrong
with you?” She let Zoisite slip out of her hands and watched as she pushed her face against the glass of a shoe store. “You have to work, but you aren’t going to be sane if you keep that up.”

When there was a lack of response, she faced him.
“I’m serious.”

“Jade,” He started, rubbing his eyes, “Focus on what you need to do. How do I put this into words you would understand? Don’t be spastic?”

“Well, I would if I hadn’t been having nightmares lately.” She blurted, but realized too late that it was an embarrassing thing to admit. Shockingly, he only blinked.

“
Nightmares?”

“Yes.” She admitted. “I don’t know. I just can’t…sleep.”

He looked concerned. “For how long?”

“It’s been at
least a few weeks.” As she yawned, something rumbled in her chest. It wracked her lungs, and suddenly she was coughing out red. Prince Cassian rushed to her side, patting her on the back with his cold hands as she covered her mouth and with horror saw drips of red on her fingers.

“I. What?” She wheezed. “I was sick a while ago…but
never this bad.” She glanced up at him. “Why are your hands like freaking ice?”

Prince Cassian
’s hands fell.

“Let’s go.”

B
ack outside the palace, the trio looked up at the intimidating iron gates.

“I don’t want to go.” Zoisite moaned, choking on what seemed like a sob. “I want to go to the zoo! And the amusement park! And–”

“Zoisite.” Prince Cassian started firmly, gripping the girl’s shoulders and forcing her to face him. “No one knows of this. Okay? And don’t try to leave again.” He looked pointedly at Memory. “The same for you, sister.”

“Thanks,
dear
brother.”

The three stealthy returned to the area under Memory’s balcony, and as Zoisite climbed up,
Prince Cassian pulled Memory back.

“I’m calling for a doctor. Coughing blood is
not a good sign–”

“I’ll be fine.” Memory rolled her eyes. “No biggie.”

“I am serious.”

She shrugged his hand away. The concern he was suddenly showing
was not a good sign. “Stop worrying. It’s weirding me out.”

He let out a small breath. “Well, you better go.”

“Oh.” Memory said, feeling inexplicably sad. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “See you later?”

“I’m leaving for Cuba later today.”

Her heart sunk. “Oh. When will you back?”

“Twenty-fo
urth.” He replied, adjusting the watch on his wrist. “I’ll leave you here.”

Memory watched silently as he walked away and climbed into his room through the window just as a guard passed by. She flattened herself against the wall, waiting for him to round the corner, still staring at the spot
Prince Cassian had been standing in moments earlier. T
he irritation she felt towards him ebbed.

“Why haven’t you called me in so long? Viletta is driving me insane.”

Memory winced. “Quiet down, Lulu.” She hushed her sister as she watched Zoisite traipse around her room while holding a roll of toilet paper, for whatever reason. “I’m–uh–working right now.”

“You’re always working, dork.”

“Yeah but,” Memory coughed, her chest tightening up painfully, “we’re doing something extremely important right now. Like really important.”

“Fine, then.”
She could pretty much imagine Lulu pouting.
“Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Sounds good.” She’d just hung up when Zoisite bounded up to her, staring at her with wide eyes.

“Who was that?”

Memory pinched the bridge of her nose. “A friend. Why is there toilet paper everywhere?”

“I’m building a fort.” She said, completely serious. “I saw how to make one on the internet.”

“O–
kay. Good luck with that.” Memory inched away, not wanting to get wrapped up into another one of Zoisite’s schemes. She knocked over a pile of books and someone rushed by to help her. Memory looked up and her eyes widened.

“Diana! Where have you been?”

The woman scowled. “Trying to organize things to make sure no one finds out you snuck away.”

Memory paled, reduced to stutters in mere seconds. “W–what are you talking about?”

“I saw you when I came to check up on you. Not to mention the cameras were blank for almost four hours.”

In desperation, Memory flung herself onto the old woman. “It was all Zoisite’s idea! Please don’t tell anyone, I beg you, Diana!”

The head maid sighed, clutching a fallen book in her hand. “I won’t. But you are one troublesome princess.”

Memory grinned widely, pecking her on the cheek. “Thank you so much, I promise I’ll make it up to you!” Her smile was so big her teeth seemed to stick out, and Diana blushed at her antics.

“I understand it’s difficult to adjust to palace life, so I will let it go. Just this once. Understood?”

“Sure.” Memory rubbed her eyes. “By the way, why aren’t we allowed to leave?”

“Palace regulations.”

“But Zoisite said it only started when she was born.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “The Lady Zoisite is young, has yet to learn. The rule was implemented fifteen years ago.”

Memory groaned. “But why?”

Diana, huffing, whipped her over the head with a book and ordered her to study, threatening her with her secret. However unwillingly, Memory obliged, happy the head maid had returned.

“Could you kick Zoisite out?” She asked, smiling cheekily. “She’s been in here with me for almost five days. Driving me bonkers.”

She ducked as book was thrown her way.

It was mid afternoon when Memory’s phone buzzed, and it wasn’t a call from Lulu–or heaven forbid, Prince Cassian–but an unknown number. And she almost melted into a puddle of happiness when Elliot’s smooth voice filtered in. Advanced as it was, the phone didn’t do his voice justice.

They talked for a bit, with Memory doing most of the chattering. If it weren’t for the steady breathing on the other end, she would’ve thought she was talking to a wall.

“Are you okay? You aren’t going to be kicked out, are you?” She said in a rush, genuinely worried.

“No.”
There was a long pause.
“Are you alright, Lady Jade?

“Oh don’t change the subject.” Memory sunk deeper into the velvet seat she was sitting on. “Not to be rude or anything–never mind, there’s no nice way of putting this–
but I feel like the people here don’t like you very much. Or that’s just the vibe I’m getting.”

To her surprise, Elliot chuckled. Like actually chuckled. She froze,
hoping no one saw her dumbstruck expression.

“Hello?”

“You are rather observant, Lady Jade, contrary to popular belief.”

“Are you implying that people think I’m stupid?”

“You inferred it.”

“Not. Funny.” Memory replied, gripping her phone tightly. “So, did you do something bad? Is it something I could help with?” She smiled smugly. “I
am
the Princess you know.”

“Favoritism is not looked upon favorably, Lady Jade.”

“Stop avoiding the subject.”

There was a long stretch of silence, and it took more prodding from Memory to get him to talk.

“Pardon me, Lady Jade. I cannot trouble you with my problems.”

“Yeah well you’re a friend, aren’t you?” She questioned. “Probably the only friend I have here. I’m supposed to help.”

At that, he sighed softly.
“My father, Balthasar, committed an act of dishonor.”

“Ah.” Realization set in. “So my grandfather, Ara, kicked him out?”

“Yes. They were brothers, Lady Jade.”

“What did he do?” Memory asked gently, hoping he knew from her tone that she wouldn’t force him to answer if he really didn’t want to.

“He…married someone his father did not approve of.”
He replied evasively.

“Oh. But you’re here, aren’t you?”

“
When I turned eighteen, he wished for me to appeal to his majesty. King Darius was kind enough to give me a position as duke.”

“Oh. That’s good.” Memory smiled to herself. “I would literally die if you weren’t here. How’s your head, by the way?”

“Jade!”

The loud sing-song voice of Tsavorite cut their conversation short. Memory bounced up,
whispering a quick bye to Elliot, and greeted her aunt warmly.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, and Tsavorite laughed.
Her laugh sounded more forced than genuine, though.

“I managed to convince my dear sister-in-law to visit you. You must be tired.” Tsavorite ushered her over to the chairs while Memory groaned.
She’d done nothing but sit and browse the internet for the past week (with the exception of the brief “outing” with Zoisite and Prince Ice Cube) and her eyeballs were about to burn.

“I’ve been sitting around for days, Tsavorite. I don’t think I can handle any more.”

Tsavorite, after ordering a maid to get some hot chocolate and cookies, nodded in understanding. She looked quite dashing today, wearing a long gown and elegant jewelry unlike the garish sets Tourmaline wore. Memory had a hard time believing she was forty-two. Or above thirty for that matter, the woman had smoother skin than her!

“And your studies?”

Memory let out a huff. “I don’t care.”

Tsavorite frowned. “
You should, Jade. You’re not on the King and Queen’s good side, and one more act of irresponsible behavior and I fear what will come of you.”

“Three strikes and you’re out, huh?” Memory pursed her lips and rolled her eyes when Tsavorite gave her an odd look. “It’s a commoner saying.”

Her aunt’s frown turned into a small smile. “My son was quite the troublemaker in her early teens and was sent to America for four years.”

Memory shuddered. She did not want to go anywhere but home any time soon.

“How are you feeling?” Tsavorite tilted her head. “I’ve heard of your sickness.”

How’d she know?
“It’s not a big deal.” Memory waved her hands around. “Probably just a cold.”

Tsavorite didn’t buy it, urging her to get checked up, but Memory quickly changed the topic.

“Say…did you know there are secret passages here?”

If her aunt looked surprised, she didn’t show it.
She sipped her hot chocolate, holding the cup with dainty fingers. The difference between a true royalty and an imposter hadn’t been more obvious. Memory, suddenly ashamed at her manners, refused to drink.

“Ah, I see
Chrysander told you.” She sipped her drink carefully. The sudden tension in the atmosphere went unnoticed by Memory.

“Yeah. He lets me hide out sometimes.” The memory of racing through the tunnels trying to evade Diana made her
smile. “I was surprised that Prince Cassian didn’t know.”

Tsavorite murmured something to herself but then looked up and smiled. “King Darius doesn’t use them, and but he is the one I stole the map from when Chrysander and I were young.” She had a nostalgic look on her face. “Ah, the younger years.”

“That reminds me!” Memory sudden exclamation made Tsavorite wide-eyed. “Have you ever been outside the palace?”

Tsavorite bounced up in her seat, startled. “
Well. Yes. What makes you ask that?” She questioned nervously.

“Oh, well, I tried to
er, leave to go somewhere but I wasn’t allowed to. Apparently the women aren’t allowed to leave without permission.” Memory groaned, not wanting a repeat of the episode with Zoisite. “Why is that?”

Her aunt was silent for a few minutes, sipping her drink. When she finished the last of it, she wiped her lip and stood up to leave.

“I left often in my younger years. But there was…an issue fifteen years ago.” Tsavorite smiled, but it was obviously forced. “Even at my home, the Jackson Estate, I am not allowed outside. King Darius’ orders hold precedence even there. My dear brother thought it was safer if we were to remain on grounds at all times”

“Obviously not.” Memory scoffed. “Not if a thief can get
in so easily.”

“Yes…” Her aunt coughed. “
His majesty did allow me to leave if I had to. Clithorp is a wonderful place, very sunny, I would recommend going there if you were allowed to.” She wrung her hands together nervously. “Anyhow, I must go. I shall see you soon, perhaps when your…incarceration ends?”