Chapter 11

NEFERTARY

Al final, todos te traicionan

A week had passed since my father's death, I still had no clue or trace of the killer and that was affecting my mood swings a lot. My patience is reaching its limit. To top it off, Lucy has been more involved in my life and that has been a complete nuisance. Today I was on the bleachers with her, arguing about things that seemed absurd to me.

—Lately, you've been very close to those two, what have I missed? You don't tell me anything, Nefertary, that's what bothers me, you have me out of your life... like I'm a stranger.

—My life isn't a novel that half the world has to know about.

—Excuse me!? —she's offended by my words—. I'm not the whole world, I'm your friend.

—A friend who, since those two came into my life, has wanted to know everything I do. When before, Lucy? That never interested you at all.

—I can't believe you're saying that seriously. I'm not that kind of friend.

—Well, you're showing the exact opposite and if you keep going like this, I'm not interested in your friendship anymore. —With that I leave her there, leaving her with her mouth open, and I walk into campus heading toward the halls that will take me to my classroom.

Upon entering I see Michael, sitting in one of the last chairs, reading a book. I walk toward him and sit beside him.

—This isn't your place. —He speaks without taking his eyes off the book.

—From today on it will be. —I add.

—Will you tell me what happened with Lucy?

—We're no longer friends. Actually, we never were.

—In a way, she made you interested in her.

—I'm not interested at all — 'You're lying and you know it.'

He closes his book, leaving it on the table, and closes the small distance between us to be face to face, capturing all my attention.

—If you weren't interested, you wouldn't be upset about her wanting to know more about your life.

—You're... —My eyes focus on his lips, reminding me of that afternoon. Now I shouldn't, but...

—I hope I'm not interrupting. —I turn to see who the person was who was so kind to interrupt and I find Mathias's face, whose expression is very serious.

—Well, you did. —Lorenz answers him annoyed.

Getting these two together is going to be harder than I thought. If they could fight, they would do it without hesitation. After all, they had to be men.

—Well, what's the reason for your interruption, Mathias? —I ask, trying to change the heavy atmosphere among the three of us.

—I need to talk to you alone. —Right then the bell rings, announcing the start of the first class.

—That won't be possible right now. —Mich adds with a mocking smile.

—Find me during recess, I'll be in the library. —He nods and returns to his seat.

—I need you, both of you, on the same side. —I say under my breath and in a whisper.

—I doubt you need that, what you want is...

—And I'll do it, so don't make me choose. —His jaw tightens at what was said.

The first hours of class were the most boring. Time passed slowly. The recess was the same, although I met with Mathias as we agreed, it was the most pathetic conversation of my life. Who does he think he is, giving me advice on who I should hang out with? It's stupid. Besides, life or fate wanted to help me with my plan to bring Mathias and Michael together in a supposed school project, which I will use to bring Mathias into my real world, which has very few options for him.

Arriving at the mansion, I find the joy, the divinity, and the honor of having the presence of Egil. 'How much I despise this rat.'

—What a nice surprise to have you here in this mansion! May I know the reason for your visit?

—Stop with the hypocrisy, Nefertary, I'm not here for your sappy crap.

—You just heard that, mother. —Who joins us—. I'm being polite and look how she treats me. —I pretend sadness.

—I need to talk to you in private, Nefertary. —Always so serious. 'They ruin the fun.'

—Well, I'll wait for you in the garden, we still have things to clear up —He says goodbye to my mother, planting a kiss on her forehead. I roll my eyes in disgust at that action.

Vanessa, without saying anything else, goes down the hall that leads to the office. I start to do the same, but Egil grabs my arm tightly and brings his face close to my ear.

—For your bad luck, you won't be daddy's only little girl anymore. Your father wasn't so saintly in that, Nefertary. —I free myself from his grip and resume my path, trying to calm my breathing, unsettled by that comment.

So I'm the bad one. Being myself is wrong. Pretending to be good and kind… then that's not wrong? They want to contain me from everything. Don't they see what they're turning me into?… To reach madness it only takes a small push from society and the ones who create monsters are ourselves. 'We're hypocrites pretending normality when there is none.'

—What do you want from me, mother? —My voice comes out weak and I hate it, I hate that. She looks like she wants to get closer, but stays in place.

—The judge came this morning to read your father's will and…

—Do I have a…? —I expect everything, I expect betrayal, but he… is the last thing you expect: a dagger in the back. I gather courage to finish the question—. Do I have a half-sister?

—Did Egil tell you? —She asks annoyed.

—In his own way.

—Nefertary, I...

—Just tell me what the will says. —I interrupt her, I'm not here for speeches.

—You and she have 50% of all your father's assets.

—Did you see her?

—No, from what I know, she doesn't want contact with us —I laugh at that. It's the most absurd thing I've heard.

—Can I cancel my classes today?

—I'll take care of that if you want. —That's enough.

I leave the office heading to the garage. Upon arriving I take the first key of any vehicle hanging on a corner of the wall. 'It's so suffocating to be in this mansion I need to get out of here.' As if my life depended on how fast I drive the car, I just press the accelerator not caring what I run over. I don't know what to feel anymore. I have a storm of anger, sadness, too many questions. I'm tired of analyzing everything to come to a conclusion I don't even believe myself.

—Why do you do this to me? —I scream—. What else are you hiding from me? Why do you complicate my life, father? —I stop the car at a corner of the road— You know I hate crying, you know very well I despise being like this. —I don't even make the slightest effort to control everything I'm feeling right now. I've never felt so much hate, pain, and sadness as I do now— You die and your secrets start coming to daylight. —It sounds so absurd I laugh at my own words— Why didn't you tell me? Why do I have to find out from others now?

—WHY? —I hit the steering wheel— WHY THE HELL!?

Right at that moment I hear my phone's ringtone. I ignore it completely. I feel lost to keep up my fake life. I'm an idiot who thinks everything is under control. I'm so pathetic I don't even know how to control my feelings.

—I'm an unstable mess. —I laugh at my own words—. An unstable mess. —My phone rings again, I couldn't leave it in the bag, I had to bring it with me.

~I hope it's important. —I say answering the phone.

~Of course it is. You need to practice your manners when answering your phone. —I roll my eyes.

~Just tell me what you have to say, Mathias. —My voice sounds worse than I thought.

~Are you okay? You sound different, Nefeta...

~Why did you call me? —Silence is all there is from both of us.

~The... The biology project we had to present in fifteen days has been moved up.

~To when? —I ask.

~This Friday.

~DAMN MOTHERFUCKER. —Right now I can't even control my thoughts. All my shitty character always has to witness this—. Call Michael and tell him we'll meet at his mansion at 4:30.

~Besides, I don't have his number, Nefertary, how do you expect me to get out of school?

~You have Aitor and Aida. They already came for you. —I hang up.

That old man has ruined all my plans. Now I have to bring everything forward just because it's not a simple school project. I look for Steven's contact to call him.

~At your service, miss.

~Tonight we'll meet at the north hill. I'll give you the exact time later. I need you to send a truck to follow me, I'll give you the location.

~Follow you? For what? —He asks.

~Haven't you heard that self-kidnapping is a crime, Steven?

~The action will be carried out. —Without more, I hang up.

I've said so many times that other people's drama annoys me. Now I'll use it, may my current mood serve me for something.

✧────── ༉───✦───༉ ─────✧

—I still don't understand how you got permission for me to leave here.

—After you have the Ibagon last name, everything is easy.

—What's wrong with you?

—Nothing, nothing's wrong. —I answer grumpily.

—Nothing!? That's hard to believe, you know? Since you came in, you haven't taken off those sunglasses. You avoid talking so they don't notice the change in your voice. —We arrive at the parking lot.

—Get in the car. —I order.

—I won't. I won't unless you explain. What's happening to you? —Always so insistent.

—Get in the damn car if you want to know what the hell is wrong with me, Mathias. —I say through clenched teeth. He hesitates a bit, but finally agrees to my request.

We both get into the car. Once inside, he looks at me waiting for answers. I fix my gaze forward and sigh before starting to talk.

—My father... My father wasn't the person I thought, the one I thought I knew... He had a double life, you know?

—What exactly do you mean? —He asks, intrigued.

—He was involved with the mafia. He was a fraud —There's a brief silence for a few seconds— Since his death, we've received anonymous threats, death threats from his enemies, asking us to return something my father had, which we have no idea what it is. —My tears run down my cheeks, leaving them wet— When you called I realized they were following me. Mathias... I have... —I pause to breathe— I have fe... I'm afraid something might happen to my mother or me. —He pulls me to him to hug me. I break down crying in his arms. 'How fake you are!'

—We'll find a way to stop this. Don't worry, okay? —He pats my back gently trying to calm me.

—How... how will we do it? —I move away from him— If we've already gone to the police. They're investigating for now, but they have no leads. My mother has also reinforced the security in the mansion and yet the anonymous messages keep coming. —Silence surrounds us for a moment.

—What I'm going to tell you is crazy... The idea is so sudden... —He hesitates whether to say it— What if... what if we get involved in their business?

—What!?... What the hell are you talking about, Mathias? Be clearer.

—I mean sneaking into their business, having a spy... A snitch in their team.

—Are you listening to yourself? We don't even know who's sending the anonymous threats. How do you think we'll do that? It's... it's absurd.

—I know. It's the only thing I can think of right now.

—I don't want to talk about this anymore... I'm go...

—Okay, fine, let's leave it like that for now, okay? —I nod— We have to meet with Michael.

—Yeah, yeah, you're right. —I take a deep breath.

The rest of the way we didn't bring up the topic again. When we arrived at the Lorenz mansion, we went straight to the school project. There were moments when Ludwig and Michael disagreed on everything. That irritated me so much I had to look for solutions so none of the three of us turned into animals trying to solve everything by fighting, because it was obvious I would have taught those idiots a lesson for messing with my peace of mind. 'Ha, like you even have any.'

When we realized, it was already ten at night and the school was closed to drop Mathias off, so he had to stay with Michael, who offered him one of the guest rooms. I have to admit that surprised me, although I already knew the reasons why he did it. Ludwig hesitated at first and ended up accepting. Tomorrow I'll know if they're dead or still alive.

Right now, I'm at the place I agreed with Steven to carry out the kidnapping plan.

—Did you understand what I told you?

—Yes.

—Perfect. Now, what about Mr. Klaus Fischer?

—He's dead... We couldn't get any information out of him, miss... —I interrupt him.

—How the hell did it happen? How the hell did it happen?

—Apparently, he had cardiovascular problems, which caused him a heart attack... Not to mention that one of his own games helped him die faster. —I take a deep breath to not lose control.

—Are you telling me that, thanks to me, you couldn't get any information from him?

—I didn't mean that. Sorry if you misunderstood, that's not what I meant.

—Be more careful with your words. —Stay calm.— I want another damn rat for the lab and I expect you to get it as soon as possible. Also, I want you to investigate who my father's other daughter is.

—It will be done. You have nothing to wor...

—Lately you've become so incompetent, Steven, it's hard to believe your words. Now you can leave. I want to be alone. —An attack of rage now and I'll have my own damn grave.

I need to end Mathias Ludwig's humanity. I want to awaken his dark side, the one every person has asleep, contained, and they don't know the big mistake they're making. They don't enjoy life as it is. Why keep labeling things good and bad? It's simply the same.

—It seems this is the perfect time for the monster to release the hunter... or turn him into one.