Charlotte's eyes looked anywhere but at them. “I’d rather not.”

“Don’t leave us hanging” Elias pouted.

She shifted from one foot to another.

“There is no us,” Aaliyah said, elbowing him in the side.

“Ouch,” he glared at her, “what was that for?”

She didn’t respond to him. “Charlotte, back to what I was saying earlier before somebody rudely interrupted me, you mentioned the wine. Could you tell me more about it?”

Elias' eyes widened. “You don’t mean she was talking about the wine?”

“If you stay quiet for just a moment I will know,” she smiled sweetly at him. 

“Message received.”

Charlotte just looked confused. “What about the wine?”

“It has to do with my parent's murder, the Tesfaye's,” she bluntly said.

She gasped. “Oh my God, I am so sorry. I didn’t know you were—”

“No no, it’s alright. It happened a long time ago anyways,” her chest was tight. “Elias and I are investigating the matter.” 

“But isn't the investigation closed?” she said eyebrows drawn. “It was the Vicarios who murd—I mean, they were the perpetrators.”

She shook her head. "No. They were framed for the murder and Elias and I are going to get to the bottom of it.

"And it’s fine, you can say it." Though the words tasted bitter in Aaliyah’s mouth she said, "My parents were murdered.”

Tears filled Charlotte's eyes. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even begin to imagine what that's like.” 

She gave her a pained smile. “And I pray you never will.”

“Well personally I wouldn’t mind,” she muttered but Aaliyah heard it.

“That’s cruel, don’t say that about your parents.” She knew just how painful it was to lose her own.

“You don’t know my parents,” Charlotte said bitterly. 

Of course, she knew that parents could nag and worry too much but at the end of the day, she knew they loved you. “Still, losing them is something I wouldn't wish even on my enemy.”

Aaliyah had realized too late, all that she had lost.

I regret not appreciating them more. For not saying I love you more, her eyesight became blurry, I regret not cherishing every moment I had with them.

Elias's hand brushed hers, his eyes filled with sorrow.

“They deserve it," Charlotte said curtly.

Her tear-lined eyes widened. “How could you say something—”

"Charlotte, please tell us about the wine," Elias cut in.

He lowered his voice for Aaliyah, “Stop it. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”

She took a deep breath to calm herself.

Elias was right.

And she had been the one who told him to read people better.

She was just having a hard time accepting that Charlotte's parents were not good. She knew her parents had been amazing. At that thought, Aaliyah closed her eyes at the memories that came back, before she exhaled a long breath.

“Oh, right. The wine,” she composed herself. “Like I was telling Aaliyah earlier...I saw these two men during the party thrown in Mr. Steel's honor four years ago.

"One of the men had a really cool tattoo, but they were also acting weird and—

“What was the tattoo of and color?” Aaliyah interjected.

“Truthfully it was pretty dark, so I couldn't see the colors. But it was of a snake wrapped around a—

“Why was it dark?” questioned Elias.

She thought it was an important question to ask. They needed to know everything that was going on, including the setting.

“W-well does that matter?” she asked nervously, looking trapped.

Elias shot her a look that she knew all too well.

Suspicion.

Aaliyah felt it as well. “Yes, it does,” she gave her a reassuring smile, “even if you think it’s insignificant, it does matter."

Charlotte's eyes looked anywhere but at them. “I was…in this room…by myself when two men came into the room."

She was not telling the full truth.

The thought crossed her mind but she shook it off for the moment.

"I was already hidden by this alcove and so I was waiting for them to leave. They were talking about the wine and—"

“What did the two men look like?” Elias asked. 

“I don't know. I couldn’t pick out anything specific. It was dark and I was trying...to stay hidden."

“How did you know what the tattoo was then?” questioned Aaliyah.

“When the tattoo man opened the door, a bit of light fell on it and...I happened to glance over and see it."

“Why were you hiding —”

They both fell silent. 

“You go—”

“You go —”

Aaliyah and Elias just looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Once they quieted down, she motioned to him. “You go first.”

He smiled at her before turning to a fidgeting Charlotte. “Sorry about that. So..." he paused briefly, "I was wondering why you were hiding.” 

“Well,” Charlotte began, playing with her dress, “I just happened to be there.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean you just happened to be there?” he gave Aaliyah another look.

He didn’t trust her.

She took a step back. “Are you guys suspecting me of something?”

“No, of course not,” Aaliyah took her shaking hands and squeezed them. “I’m sorry if it came off that way. It’s just...we've been trying to figure this out for years and sometimes we get too excited. I’m sorry.”

“Can we talk about something else?” she pleaded.

She hesitated.

She was finally getting more information about her parent's murder and Aaliyah didn't want the opportunity to go to waste.

Charlotte had mentioned the wine. The cursed item that had poisoned her parents and A—

She jolted when Charlotte gripped her hands tightly. A look of fear flashed over her face.

Aaliyah sighed. She looked ready to run at any moment and she couldn't lose her. “Okay. My apologies once again if we pushed you too much.” 

A look of relief washed over her face and her grip on Aaliyah’s hands loosened. “Thank you,” she breathed out, briefly closing her eyes.

“Well," Elias began, "Aaliyah and I have things to do.” He smiled at Charlotte but Aaliyah knew it was a fake one, “Thank you for your help and I hope we can see each other again.”

“I don’t know about that,” she sighed.

Her heart dropped. “What do you mean?”

“Oh I don't have a problem with you Liya,” she grinned at her “I have a problem with him.” She jabbed a finger in Elias's direction.

At that nickname, she could hardly breathe. She didn't allow anyone to call her that, not even Elias. Because...

He had called her that.

The sound of rain and thunder filled her mind. His pain-stricken eyes searched despairingly into hers until...the light in them went out.

It's all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all my fault that he's dea—

Someone's strong hands took ahold of hers and squeezed. "Get out of your head," Elias whispered to her before he stared down Charlotte.

“I hold a similar sentiment,” he bit back. 

Aaliyah took a slow, steady breath for a count of five then exhaled. She swallowed down the pain.

Elias's concerned eyes met hers again and she squeezed his hand in reassurance that she was okay. He surveyed her for a beat longer before he focused back on Charlotte.

“Hippo,” she muttered.

“Frog”

“Ostrich”  

“Ant”

The rest of Aaliyah sorrow left her and she rolled her eyes.

Charlotte somehow heard her. “What room?”