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Chapter 5 - New Member?

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The Nightflame Hideout is a decent place to be with; it's a cozy, warm, and pleasant territory where Rietha believes a safe place to hide too. But then again, she reckoned if this is a hideout as the name recall. Why is she here?

'It's supposed to be their secret lair, right? so am I part of this territory they have?'

Rietha was about to ask them when She heard a creaking sound of an opening door in the entrance corridor of the hideout. They all took a glance there when a voice of a girl spoke, "Oh, it's clean now," This voice is a feminine and lively type.

Then footsteps were heard moving toward closer to them, "Did you Steven finally decide to tidy up before Jarez come?" The voice of a girl consulted, and there the figure comes out in front of them, peering at them.

Rietha gazed at the girl for a moment; she thought she was so pretty that she had straight dark purple hair and Iris purplish eyes. "Oh, it's you, Iris. Hi!" Steven happily greeted the girl he called Iris, a perfect name for her as her eyes are.

But the girl, Iris, didn't react as she was only staring at one person with yearning eyes. Rietha glanced at this person she was staring at and saw, no doubt it was Jarez. Jarez's deep red orbs seemed to look bright as he saw Iris.

Rietha gazed at them both with a hint of miscalculation of why these two behaved like this as the other uttered, "Jarez?" Iris called to him and slowly approached, "Is that you?" she questioned, still not sure if the person in front of her was the person she was looking for.

Jarez gave her a short smile, "Yes, Iris. It's me." he responded and spread his arms as if demanding a hug from Iris. Once Iris heard that, she didn't think a second; she ran off to Jarez and gave him a tight embrace, "Welcome back, I missed you!"

Jarez genuinely giggles which Rietha didn't expect him to, and was astounded a bit. "Yes, me too," Jarez replied to Iris. Rietha watches them with the thought that they act like long-distance lovers, and she believes maybe they are.

'Perhaps this is Jarez's lover? They look suitable together, though,' She thought and didn't understand why her heart aches a little witnessing them like that, hugging tightly, but she also has a hint of why it hurts, but she shakes off that terrible thought. She then sighed.

She's not that dense as she reads too many romance novels and imagines those things, but no, she shouldn't, it's too dangerous, and this guy is scarier than he appears besides having someone. It's not like she gets falls.

But one of her thoughts is why she is here in their hideout? She presumed that they would roam around downtown and accompany Jarez; why would they come here? Why she has to meet these people, and why would it be in their hideout?

Rietha looked at them again, she didn't want to bother them, but she had to ask somehow; she waited for a while and hesitated but in the end uttered, "U-Uhm..."

Rietha captured everyone's attention, and they all looked at her. Iris stared at Rietha with a wary look and why this girl is in their hideout? Did Steven bring her? It couldn't be Jarez, though, but why she's here? Iris thought these things and examined the girl, who fidgeted a bit.

This lady is undoubtedly beautiful from her skin color, white as the snow with her long braided platinum white hair but what is most engaging to her is her eyes, those orbs of sapphire blue; it's like the sea of Azalia. Iris was mesmerized by her appealing beauty.

But no, Iris can't let her guard down yet just because this lady in front of her is gorgeous; maybe she's a burglar or something? Even so, if she is a burglar, why these two lads beside her are so carefree hmm? Something's not right here.

Rietha was about to proceed to her question when Iris talked first, "Who are you?" She questioned.

Rietha, who was hesitating to respond, but then Iris glanced at the two guys beside them and asked, "Who is she? Why is she here?" Iris demanded, then approached Steven and pointed at him suspiciously, "Did you bring here her?"

Steven quickly shook his head, "No way, if you want to know. Ask him," He pouted his lips and aimed them at Jarez; he then backed away once Iris glanced at Jarez. Steven knew Iris as a hotheaded girl, and she was stern of something like this; he didn't want to get involved with Jarez's scheme and receive a yelling at Iris.

Iris looked at Jarez with an eyebrow raise and then smiled, "Jarez, who is she?" Her tone changed into gentle and sweet, different from the way she spoke to Steven earlier. However, Iris still didn't think that Jarez was the person who brought the girl into their hideout alone.

"Right, everyone," Jarez spoke, then approached Rietha and gently patted her head, which Rietha startled.

'Don't tell me he's the one who brings her here?' A surprise was all over Iris's face. Iris always deemed Jarez a strict and dreadful person, but imagine him bringing a lady on their lair? It's unlikely of him.

"This is Rietha, the new member of Nightlfame," As Jarez announced those statements, silence has passed in the building. It took seconds before they realized what Jarez had just said.

"WHAAATTT?!" They all shout in unison.

"Are you out of your mind, Faris?" Steven asked and clutched Jarez's shoulders, "This lady a new member of Nightflame? this frail-looking girl? Are you serious, ha?" he muttered but enough that Rietha could hear.

Rietha looked at Steven with furrowed eyebrows. Indeed, they may be shocked by the unexpected announcement of Jarez, but he doesn't have to underestimate Rietha like that. She may look fragile on the outside, but she can fight.

"That's right, Jarez," Iris agreed to Steven, "For once, I agreed to Steven, but you can't just accept her as a member of Nightflame. We didn't know how she is capable of," She discourse and glanced at Rietha from head to toe, "She seems like she will be frightened by a small insect."

'What now?' Rietha thought, this makes her furrowed her eyebrows even more, but she can't get annoyed in here, so she breathes in and out to calm down. She's more potent than what they think she may be, but that doesn't mean she will accept Jarez's offer, "Uhm yeah, Jarez. I can't."

Of course, she can't. She's not stating this because she doesn't want to believe that Rietha was excited about it, but no, it is way too risky as she is the princess of this country island.

She still doesn't know why the people here didn't recognize her as their princess, possibly because she doesn't attend events that much in the town, only a few who saw the princess and those are the ones who participated at the banquets in the castle.

Back to the point, she just can't. What if her family found out and ruined her reputation? But then again, she was thrilled to know what they'll reaction was. No, it sounds wrong, but she wants to. Rietha's thoughts have two choices, and those two are full of reasons that make her bewildered.

Jarez stared at Rietha in the eyes, and once again, she was drowned with those deep red eyes of his, "Oh, so you refused now?" and grinned that gave her a chill down her spine. She knows that sneaky smile. It is to keep her from saying any disagreement; it's a threat.

'Jeez, this guy, blackmailing me, ha. I'm not doing this if it weren't for the necklace he claims,' Rietha pondered and sighed. She doesn't have a choice then. All those reasons in her mind earlier puffed gone, vanished, and decided to go for it so she could get the necklace back.

"Rietha seems to be easy to fright girl but believe me, she is more than that," Jarez said while looking at Rietha; she was disconcerted by his words, "Now then, any objection?" There was a hint of warning tone on his voice that stated if anyone objects, they'll exterminate them at any moment, so they all quickly shook their heads.

They sighed in defeat. No one can't argue with this guy at all. Jarez seems to be the leader of this association they're into, and if who dares refuse him will be killed, that is his aura. Rietha can't stop shuddering because of that thought.

Rietha assures herself that it should be fine. Once Sir Robert finds her after all this is happening, she doesn't know if either she can go back here or will be prohibited from going out of the palace wall again, so being a member of Nightflame, appears to be useless.

Speaking of Sir Robert, where is he now?

...

Robert went back to Helaine's Jewelry Shop and asked, "Madam Helaine, you've seen her?" he questioned Helaine, organizing the jewelry in her store; she peered up and saw Robert with lots of sweats in his head.

He's been searching around town hoping to find the princess, but she was nowhere to be found; he was so worried if something terrible might happen to her. Helaine then stands straight and approaches Robert, "No, Robert. I didn't see her on this path."

Robert sighed and let his shoulders down; no, he can't just give up now. Then Helaine talked, "Have you tried the places that she wants to go?" Robert thinks for a moment, and like a bulb light over his head, he might know where the princess be.

"Yes, thank you, madam Helaine," he replied and thanked Helaine, "I think I know where her royal highness now." Helaine nodded and smiled. Robert left off with some royal guards behind him, and they proceeded to the nearest seashore.

...

Iris seems irritated about this, so she conceives of a way to get rid of Rietha. Somehow, Iris thinks that if Rietha's here, she will snatch away Jarez from her, and she can't let that happen. Once Jarez disappears by Rietha's side to do something, Iris approaches her.

"Hi, Rietha, nice to meet you," Iris spoke to her and smiled, "I'm Irisdene Volka; just call me Iris like everyone does."

"Oh," Rietha gazed at her, "Nice to meet you too, Iris. I'm Rietha, Uhm, just Rietha." she then smiled awkwardly. 'I can't think of any surname at all, so gonna stick with it.'

"Okay, just Rietha," Iris said playfully, then smiled stiffly, "By the way, welcome to the Nighflame hideout as a member."

"Thank you," Rietha responded and gazed around in the hideout, "What do you guys do here anyway?"

"Oh, some stuff," Iris replied and looked at Rietha's eyes, glittering, "You have pretty eyes, blue like the sea."

Rietha instantly glanced back at Iris as she said those words, "Really it does?" and asked curiously, making the orbs of her eyes sparkle.

Iris sweatdrop. 'What's this?' she thought, 'She likes the sea, ha? This is excellent.' and grinned viciously, "Oh yes, do you admire the sea?" she inquired Rietha, who furiously nodded, "Is that so? Want me to bring you there?"

"You do that?" Rietha questioned excitedly.

"Well, yeah, absolutely, no biggie," Iris said, shrugging her shoulder, then suddenly Rietha clasped both of her hands and smiled brightly.

"Oh, I would love to," Rietha replied.

Her impression amused iris. What's this? She's so radiant, her smile is. It's like Iris is dazzled by it, then she realizes Rietha is still clasping her hands, so she shrugs it off. Rietha noticed this and immediately apologized.

"Anyway, If you want to go that much, I can take you now," Iris said and felt her palms, 'Wow, her hands are so soft. Where is this lady came from?'

"Really?" Rietha beamed in excitement.

"Just a snap of a finger, you'll be there." Rietha seemed to be disturbed by this but then smiled as she deemed that it may be just an expression, "You ready?" Rietha nodded swiftly, Iris flicked her fingers, and Rietha vanished like a speck of dust in front of her, which Iris snickers.

It looks like that statement isn't an expression after all.

"Iris," someone called her from behind; Iris was so happy with her scheme that she overlooked Jarez. Instantly she's facing an enraged Jarez that she never encountered before; she retreated a few meters away from him.

"Yes?" she forced a smile to him.

"Where's Rietha?" he demanded.

"W-What do you mean?" Iris said stuttering, she knew it was a bad idea, but she couldn't help it; Rietha is some kinda lousy luck for her, "S-She was just here, maybe went o-out for a stroll?"

Jarez gave her a last warning look; she then gulps, "I-I didn't do anything honestly."

"Yes, she did," Steven's voice conversed from behind; they glance at him, who's eating a sandwich, "I saw her use magic earlier," he stated between mouthfuls. Iris then glared at Steven; he then backed away and proceeded to the kitchen.

Iris glimpse at Jarez's burning deep red eyes, giving her a death stare, and she then let out a defeated sigh, "Fine," she then looked down, as the floor is something fascinating to look at, "I've sent her to the sea," She finally gave in thinking that she's never been treated this way by Jarez.

"You what?"

"Don't worry, I'm certain she'll be safe in the waters," She murmured at the end of the statement.

"In the waters?" Jarez demanded, repeating the words.

"Y-Yes," She then breathed, "I've sent her up above the sea, in the air, by now I suppose she'll be falling in the waters," And by that, they heard a familiar voice screaming outside, Jarez retreated away from Iris.

Suddenly a portal appeared behind him, "I'll deal with you later, Iris." he informed with a warned look and went inside the portal.

"And there he goes," Steven added in the corner drinking water, which Iris gave a glared to; she then frown and crossed her arms to her chest.

...

To be continued...