Breaking His Concentration (Alhaitham x Kaveh)

Chapter 23: Sign on the Dotted Line

Kaveh's POV

As he left my cell I have never felt more alone. I sat back on the dense tree trunk and clutched my legs, praying he was going to save me. When he left he gave me a look. A look that seemed like there was more he wanted to say but couldn't. I shook may head to myself. I must have been imagining things. I really hoped he was going to get me out of here soon.

Alhaitham's POV

I found myself in the hallway and looked around to see Nilou in a corner with the burly guard. She was twisting the locks of her red hair and batting her eyes at the man. She caught my eye and nodded with a smile on her face. She would keep him distracted. I took a deep breath and walked down the long marble hallway until I reached the large tree with the elevator in the center. I hated the way people were looking at me. They were looking at me like I was a betrayed puppy dog who had everything taken from them when in reality, I was the one who did all the damage.

I stepped on the glowing center of the tree and felt my body fly through the air as it took me to the next floor. I saw Cyno sitting on the edge of my desk like he had been earlier, twisting around his spear. I sighed and walked towards him. I needed to start thinking of a plan. When he noticed me he threw his spear into the void and crossed his legs, cocking his head at me.

"Take care of everything you needed to?"

"Don't make small talk with me. Don't even bother asking me how I am because I know you certainly don't care. You're lucky that Kaveh likes Tighnari or else I'd go after him myself so you can know what I'm feeling."

He sighed and looked at the ground.

"I really am sorry Alhaitham. This wasn't a part of my plan, none of it was. I really did want to let you go."

"Then whose plan is it? Because I keep going over it in my head and I can think of several hundred scholars who could have been listening, but none who would implicate Kaveh and leave me out of this."

I was standing in front of Cyno crossing my arms and glaring down at him. If I could I would challenge him to a battle right now. Through our card nights he had become my friend but he has crossed a line. Something I couldn't forgive. He shifted his eyes back and forth, looking around nervously. And then they fixed on something. He looked past me, and I heard footsteps behind me. I whirled my body around quickly to see who was approaching.

"No."

I whispered to myself, all the puzzle pieces finally falling into place. A young girl with brown hair and glasses wearing an architect uniform and holding a clipboard was walking towards us. She was wearing heels that made clacking noises on the marble floor as she approached me with a smile. It was her. It was the woman who sailed the boat that let me save Kaveh. She was the eager woman who wanted to take me to him, wanted me to save him. She had to be the one who heard our conversation.

"Hello Alhaitham. Remember me?"

She smiled, stopping in front of me and pivoting so she could sit down at the desk. The Acting Grand Sage's desk. She folded her hands as she sat down and her expression changed. Before she looked like a deer in headlights, terrified but she was willing to help me. Now she looked just plain evil.

"It was you. You're the one."

"The one.... what? I've been doing so many things it's been hard to keep track of lately. Remind me, what did I do again?"

She battered her eyelashes. She was trying to be innocent. And for just a second I felt a flush of anger. I slammed my fist on the desk in front of her, making her eyes twitch from the shock. She tried to not look alarmed but I saw the small lapse of fear in her eyes. Good. I could instill fear in her.