“Wren, tell me the truth. Let me help you. I know it was you. I know.”
Head shaking, Wren let her hands drop to her lap. She raised her grey eyes to the Queen's green. “I don't know what you mean, Sybelle. The money came from your account. Passing the blame to me is low. Especially for you.”
She shook her head. “You can't trick a confession from me for your plan. What are you? Bugged? Phone recording? Do you really think I'd kill my own father? Plant evidence against myself?”
“Wren…”
“No, this is you. YOU! Why don't you confess instead of tricking me into doing it for you?”
“Here,” Sybelle through her phone to Wren. Then, she began to unbutton the top of her blouse.
“What are you doing?”
“Showing you, I'm not bugged. I want to help you. End this before it goes any further. I know something's not right. Ellie's noticed as well. Tell me, Wren. What happened? How is this going to end?”
Looking at the phone, seeing no wire, Wren shook her head. “How can you accuse me?”
“Wren?”
Head rising inch by inch, Wren stared Sybelle straight in the eyes. She folded her hands in her lap. Grey eyes, turning almost black, met eyes of a spring green. For a second the whish of the wind hitting the car, the rumble of the tires, the screech of the brakes locking and unlocking filled the air around them.
Tilting her head to the right, Wren sat further back into her seat. “Well. This is an impasse.”
“Just tell me why, Wren. Let me help you.”
A smile stretched the corners of Wren’s lips, reaching so far, her teeth glinted in the sunlight. “So. What did they tell you?”
“Your PI Hunter found out the truth. He knows what happened.”
“My PI? He’s lying about me. I’d hardly call him mine.”
Sybelle shook her head. “He’s not lying. He found out about Father Grigor, the school, everything. It’s time for you to tell me the truth before this goes on any longer. Tell me what happened.”
“You’re something else,” Wren shook her head. “This PI thinks he knows everything, but he doesn’t. He never could. Stop playing games and tell the driver to take us home.”
“You’re the one doing this, Wren. I’m not going to tell you again. I know.”
Darkening eyes reached the queen’s, and a small smile stretched out Wren’s lips. Even though it was Wren. It didn’t look like her. The pupils dilated and grew after a minute.
Taking a deep breath, Wren leaned back and crossed her arms. Shaking her head, she quirked up the right side of her mouth.
“I suppose I should have seen this coming. She did everything she could to thwart my plans. I have to hand it to her, she’d braver than I ever gave her credit for.”
“She? Who are you talking about, Wren?” Sybelle asked.
“When did you figure it out?”
29
“I knew it,” Sybelle breathed.
“So, that explains the books,” Keres stated.
“Books?”
“The ones I found you or the king had been reading about disorders. When did you figure it out?”
“Your father didn’t suspect anything. I noticed a change in you after you came back that first summer. The incident where you were suspended also showed a marked change in your behavior. I couldn’t figure it out. I’ve been trying to pinpoint it ever since.”
“Well, aren’t you clever? I never would have guessed you’d be the one to figure out Wren wasn’t all there.”
“Why? Why did you do all of this? Why did you kill your father?”
“Why? Why? Oh, Sybelle. You really are an idiot, aren't you? He wasn’t my father.” Tucking one leg over the other, Keres just shook her head.
“Wren, I don't understand. I know you took the money from my account. I know it wasn't me, and the only person with access besides your father, would be you. Why would you try to frame me? Why were you planting evidence against yourself?”
Laughter.
“This is rich. You know what happened when you came into our lives? The king stopped listening to Wren. You talked him into sending her to that all girl's school. Right? Well, the sad part about that school was how they took care of us.”
She leaned forward, and Sybelle sunk back into her seat. Keres smirked before her face glared.
“You have no idea what I endured there! No idea! They made us all beautiful when parents were around. Tortured us into falling their rules. You have no idea what I've endured.”
“Wren, why didn't you tell us?” Hand raised to cover her mouth, Sybelle shook her head as if to deny the truth.
“I tried. I TRIED. You just told the king I was adjusting. I was spoiled. You talked him into leaving me there. They broke her. You let that happen. Do you know what I had to do? I had to try and protect her. I was the only one there for her!”
“Her? Who?”
“Wren. I was there taking care of her while you and father took trips and stayed at home. My home, my mother’s home. The place I deserve. The control, the power, I should have. So, I can take the school down. I can close it forever, and you can rot in jail.”
“You protected Wren. I d-don't understand. Your voice sounds different.”
“The name's Keres,” she grinned. “I’m the one who comes out to protect Wren.”
“I…I don’t understand,” Sybelle swallowed.
“Right, let me speak slowly. I’m the one who cares for Wren. I protect her. She’s not fully aware of me. However, she or the other one have been attempting to thwart all of my plans to frame you and take out those who destroyed her.”
“You take over? Like, a personality?”
“You’re catching up. I suppose you aren’t a complete moron. Well. That’s debatable, but we’ll leave it for now.”
“I see. So, my research was getting closer to the truth. Wren, what happened to you?”
Slamming her fist against the door, she watched as Sybelle jumped. Through gritted teeth, she said, “I told you, I’m not Wren. My name is Keres. Keep up.”
“Let me help you, Keres. Let me help you shut down the school and bring anyone who hurt you to justice.”
“It's too late,” Keres shook her head.
“Where’s Wren? I want to talk to Wren.”
“No. I protect her. You’ve messed her up enough. She’s hiding because she knows something bad is about to happen. I’ve helped her with that for years.”
“Years?” Sybelle whispered.
“Yes. Years. She tried to tell you. When she was thirteen. Do you remember? You didn’t listen to her at all, and neither did her father.”
“I’m sorry, Wren. So, so sorry.”
“Keres. Wren doesn’t need your apologies. She had me. I saved her and the others. Now, this is where I end all my confidences.”
“I need to know what happened.”
“I don't have to tell you any more than I have. We're going to stop soon. There's going to be gunfire. You're going to die. I'm going to get shot protecting you. Ironic, huh?” She chuckled.
Pulling out a pair of gloves and slipping them on, she reached under the seat cushion and took out a handgun. “The police will find it was you that withdrew the money. The last assassin will make sure of your guilt.”
Shaking her head over and over again, Sybelle kept saying, “No, no, no.”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Both felt the car starting to slow little by little.
“Wren, don't do this!”
“Really? Keres. Wren wouldn’t even allow me to frame you correctly. She had to keep putting the evidence in her own room. I swear, that girl.”
“She tried to frame you?” Sybelle was distracted by this piece of news.
“Her or the other one. I never know which one is trying to be a goody-goody. They don’t mind me stepping in when the going gets tough, but then again, they don’t really know I did. They kind of blank out.”
“Blank out?”
>
“Yeah. It’s like they go to sleep for a while. I don’t know how attuned they are to me, but I’m always attuned to them. In fact, I’m sure it was the other one. Wren really does think it’s you and Mrs. Griffith.”
“What? Wren, you can’t do this.”
“I think that's the beauty of my plan, really. The bad guys will finally be punished. While I get the life I've always deserved. Is that a little dramatic for you? Well, too freakin' bad.”
She checked the safety, and Sybelle tried to get the door opened.
“Be reasonable. My man is driving. You aren’t going anywhere, and in case I wasn’t clear enough, stop calling me Wren. I’m done allowing her get hurt. I’m going to protect her from now on and without you and father ruining it.”
The car finally came to a stop.
The engine cut off.
A door opened and slammed shut.
Sybelle dove for the door to her right, across from Keres, and tried to open it. She found it locked, while Wren/Keres or whoever unlocked the door on the right.
“I will so miss our chats, Sybelle.”
“Wren, no! Please!”
“Keres. Keres. Say it with me… Okay, I won't miss them at all. This is the happiest day of my life.”
The door creaked and widened until sunlight poured through.
“Showtime, Happy.”
Keres held up the gun and leaned over to allow the towering, black-clothed assassin to enter.
“I don't think so.”
30
Keres spun her head to the left and found herself nose to nose with PI Hunter.
“Oh, Hunter! Thank goodness it's you! Sybelle was just telling me how she paid all of those men to kill me. Please let me out!” Throwing her body toward the door, Hunter allowed her to climb out.
Where she was immediately surrounded by the chief and a police officer.
“So, your plan was to kill your stepmother next, huh?” Chief Hector shook his head. “You are one looney princess. Too bad the public won't find out how crazy you really are.”
“What? What are you talking about?” An edge came into her voice as the officer held her arm in a tight grip, and the chief stood close to her left.
Hunter helped Sybelle out.
“We heard everything, Wren. We were the ones driving and an unmarked car followed,” Hunter revealed.
“You didn't think the police would have given up the chase that easy, do you?” Chief Hector shook his head and pursed his lips.
“Nid fi oedd yn ei wneud! I didn't do it! It was her! It was Sybelle!”
“Stop it, Wren. Or should we call you Keres? We heard everything. We set up a camera in the back of the limo with the queen's permission. We have everything on tape.” Hunter shook his head.
Looking at the hand on Sybelle's back, Keres smirked.
“Beth? You're going to believe that. I was just playing along. She wanted me to confess. I just did it to stall for time. She paid the assassins and planted the evidence against me.”
“Enough!” Hunter sighed, shoulders slumped. “We know you did it. Your friend, Happy? He's in custody now. He's talking as fast as the words will spill past his lips. It's over, Wren. Keres. Whoever you are.”
Jerking from the officer's grip, she had the element of surprise. She threw her body at Sybelle and began to scratch every part she could reach. “It's you! Your fault! It was planned so well! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! You should be DEAD!”
Hands pulled her off.
Cuffed, she was put into a police car already on the scene.
Captain Ward stared at her through the window. He'd appeared out of nowhere. Now, he stood beside the Chief, Hunter, and Sybelle.
“They're wrong. I didn't do it. I didn't!” Wren cried out. “I wouldn't kill father!”
“Shut up!” The voice changed. “Sniveling brat. Keep quiet. Let me take care of this like I always do. I knew I should have shut up sooner. I'm just so sick of you talking.”
“Dydw i ddim yn deall!” Wren whined. “I don’t understand! What's going on!”
“SHUT UP!” Keres shouted.
Silence. Finally.
31
They think I can't hear them. Of course, I can hear them. Whispers are still words. They talk amongst themselves.
“When will Wren get better?”
“Will Wren ever get better?”
“Has the other personality taken over?”
“What can we do to help?”
“What will happen when she comes to terms with the fact that she killed her father?”
Whispers, whispers, whispers.
I hear them all.
They think Wren will come back. Maybe I will let them think so. This white room with its white walls and the doctors with their white uniforms. Boring. The sooner I get out the better.
I suppose it won't hurt to play the Wren part. After all, they don't know she's gone. For now. Buried deep inside, and I might not let her back out.
I'm in charge now. It's my turn to be alive and not have to care for her any longer. Always worrying the little twit would hurt herself or trust the wrong person. Again.
Despite all of her beliefs that Sybelle was guilty, she wasn’t. That’s broken her. Especially since she had a PI come in, instead of taking care of it herself. Stupid girl. At least I won’t have to hear her whiney voice.
Grey eyes flickered to the two-way mirror, to the door, to the people she can see right out there. A smile tickled the tips of her lips, and she fought the urge to grin and laugh at their futile planning.
Go on. Plan how you'll get Wren back. How she'll be the “dominant” personality. You'll wipe me out. The “bad” one.
You just don't understand. I made us safe. I kept us going.
I helped take care of Wren when she became too panicked to go on and make it through another minute. Plan all you want. I'm not going anywhere.
I know how to play the part. I remember enough of Wren's wimpy ways to cultivate my own. Her gullible ways.
They’re all to blame. That school. I’ll get out of here and make them pay. They won’t touch anyone again when I’m finished.
For now, I’ll let them think I’m her. Contrite, self-righteous Wren. The kind one, the one who wanted to help everyone but couldn’t help herself.
I won't smile. I won't say a word. In fact...
Her eyes filled with tears. They leaked over and created wet streaks down cheeks. Fingers grasped together. Thumbs twiddled.
She’s right there. At the door, surrounded by Mr. Gabriel, Captain Ward, and PI Hunter.
They all listen to her. Just like her father.
For a second, she caught Captain Ward’s glance. His eyes were astonished. Sad. She knew he’d always loved Wren like a daughter. For a split second, she felt sorry for him because she had no doubt he would have saved Wren if he could have.
Her eyes met PI Hunter’s next. His bright green eyes were sad, like the captain’s. For a second, she wondered if Wren had liked him. Perhaps, if she hadn’t been caught, the PI and Wren would have made a lovely couple. He looked like the type who’d want to protect and serve her all of his days.
She ducked her head and swallowed her smirk and sniffed instead. Men were so gullible. Then again, so was Wren.
“See, Wren's coming back to us. Those tears. They're real.” Sybelle was talking through the doorway. Her voice tear-laden.
Of course. Play your part, Sybelle. Play it well. See what I want you to see. Keres pulled her head up.
You can see me.
And
I can see you.
Those grey eyes stared into green.
Keres had no doubt the tears were fake. They think they have the real murderer behind bars. Yet, that little actress had every one of them hanging on her every word.
Eyes darkening, focusing, glaring for a second, Keres blinked.
I know who you are. Die, step-witch. Just. Die.
* * *
The End.
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Realm Walk
A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Copyright
Legal Notice:
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Realm Walk
ASIN: B01LYOL29R
Copyright © 2016, 2018 by Rebecca Reddell
Publication Date: September 29, 2016
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All rights reserved. This book or any portion of this book thereof may not be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without the express written permission of the author, except for brief quotations in passages for review purposes.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. This story is the manifestation of the wide awake imagination of the author and was written to entertain you.
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The Four Tales Page 68