Chapter 8: Tough Situation

Chapter Start!

The room is decorated with many faces, faces of ancestors of the Shiver house. Each face seemed scarier than the one before it, staring at Liam. The faces were just paintings. However, the real eyes looking at him were that of Lord Shiver, Lady Shiver, and the triplets'. Those faces were the ones to be scared of in this situation. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable from this, Liam adverts his eyes to avoid looking at their faces.

Jasper is outside the door, and so is Butler View. In this room, everyone seems to be on edge. I have no clue as to why, so I'm just going to line it up with the worst of possibilities. Either they all know the truth now or I'm about to have to come up with something quick. Though in all honesty, I would like to leave this room as soon as possible.

"Liam, please seat yourself on one of the couches here." Lord Shiver says in an odd tone.

Ok, that did it. I'm either going to die here or experience something I don't want to... Lord Shiver's tone was that of a creepy high tone you make when you're talking to someone you hate but trying hard to be nice. I can feel my second death already~

"Okay...thank you, father…" Liam says, sitting down nervously.

"Girls, why don't you sit across from him?" Lord Shiver gestures for them to sit on the couch across from Liam.

The girls sit down on the couch. They all seem to be glaring at Liam. Liam looks down at the floor, then looks up. The triplets are staring down Liam.

Why am I getting murderous stares shot at me?

"Liam, I noticed that something was off about you lately." Hannah, one of the triplets says as she gets up and walks toward Liam.

"You did?" Liam says under his breath nervously.

"You seemed to be doing a lot of irregular things. Smiling I heard, helping a slave, and even forgetting your way around here. You can't be serious with talking to the prince as well? I think you're not telling me something, right?…brother?"

They know.

"I'm going to assume you all already know the story," Liam says to the family.

"I was going to refuse to believe it, at first that was." Lady Shiver is hiding her face with a fan now.

"You really aren't Liam… then if your story is true… Leah, that's a female name right? You-" Hannah stops herself in the realization of what's happened.

Lady Shiver's face darkens a bit.

I'm just going to guess I won't be able to get along with this family as easily as before. Lady Shiver probably would try exorcising me if she could… Not that I'm evil. Wait could she?... Never mind, I will forget I thought about that.

"Do you need help?" A voice says speaking inside of Liam's mind.

Yeah, wait- who's this? Is… this…? Trial? Is this the one who brought me here?

"Well, I wouldn't be that guy haha. I'm Guide, here to do as the name says." Guide states.

"Currently I've frozen time for you, not that I'll do it again. You seem to be in trouble, so I've come to give you some ideas on how to get these people to trust you again." Guide laughs.

I don't exactly know if I can trust you. But if I consider my situation, why not? So here are some of my issues; Lord Shiver did tell everyone here about me. Why did he? What was the reason for this? I need to know that and what you're offering.

"Unfortunately I can't give you Lord Shiver's reason. But I can guide you in the direction to find out… how's that? You see I do as my name says." Guide says.

Okay then guide me.

"Now you get it! So, even though you had information on this man that could damage his position here he still told everyone in his family about you. Not only that, it was him who requested that you not see anybody. But for what reason though?" Guide says in a questioning tone.

So… he was planning to tell them and set me up like this? But why? Could he have been planning to kill me because he still doesn't believe me? ...Is that it? If that's true then I'm doomed. So um guide... you wouldn't happen to have any ideas that could uh help me?

"Oh but of course! Just tell him these words, I know the king's secret. I know you don't actually but lying doesn't hurt sometimes does it?" Guide laughs.

That's supposed to help me? But also the king has a secret? I mean, of course, he does but what kind of secret am I lying about?

"Oh, just one that could damage the kingdom's trust in the king." Guide snickers.

Well now, I see where you're going with this.

"As to their trust you are going to have to build that up," Guide says.

How would I even start though?

"Simple actually. Just prove your use and help them whenever they need it!. Did you hear that right? Whenever!" Guide says loudly.

Uh yeah loud and clear. So even if it's something that could be very bad, do I still have to help them?

"Hmm, in that case, you could choose to help them out of such a decision using your judgment.

Oh okay then...

Well thanks… Guide! Will you be available whenever?

"Hahaha no, unfortunately, my voice comes at a cost. You have to be in serious trouble to talk to me." Guide seems to be enjoying themself.

Then you'll help me if I'm in a situation like this again?

"Hmm, well I guess I could. Anyway, you seem to have things here figured out so I'll be going!" Guide's voice begins to fade.

Wait! I'd like to ask you something! Don't go yet!

"Ah what is it? I am a very busy guide!" Guide says irritated.

I'd just like to know one thing…

"What could that be? You see I'm only here to guide not inform." Guide says in a tired tone.

Are you a god? No- I mean what are you?

"A voice. Your guide. That is all you are to know for now." Guide's voice sighs and fades out.

They're gone, aren't they?

Time slowly begins to return to the scene as Liam prepares to negotiate with the Shiver family. The room moves back to life as tiny dust particles move in the air. A butterfly outside the window flaps its wings downward. A slight breeze outside makes the trees in view move slightly as well. Finally, Lord Shiver's eyes blink and Liam takes a deep breath.

Chapter End!