Chapter 241: The Infamous Nobody and the Girl Who lost Everything Part 3 (1/2)
Zinnia couldn't help but feel uneasy; that was only natural. Being surrounded by former Syndicate members alongside Scarlett's sister, who in turn gave Team Rhapsody a lot of trouble back in the day. To make matters worse for her, she was alone, no backup, no real way out. If a fight broke out in her mind, Zinnia would almost certainly lose. So, for now, she had to play along and keep the façade up. As long as Riley believed Team Rhapsody were in the wing ready to strike, she was safe.
Riley ducked down, entering her tent as an elderly woman bowed. ”Mistress Riley, welcome back… You have a guest?”
Riley sighed, dropping into her seat. ”Don't mind her; she's nobody special. Sit.”
Zinnia slowly met with Riley's demands, her guard up, ready to act on a pin drop. But something else was bothering her beyond belief. ”I'm not here to mess about what do you mean the fate of Rhinefield?”
”It's simple as it can get. I'm talking about the fall of Rhinefield and Victoria in general.”
”What?!”
Riley opened a small box up, pulling out a bottle of wine. ”It's quite rare to find one of these around here. Any desperate soul would sell everything they had to get, even a simple drop… Regardless, tell me, how is Team Rhapsody?”
”What do you mean?” She questioned, feeling the pressure growing.
”Well, tell me how they are these days. I haven't had the pleasure of facing them in a battle for ooh, three years now. After Alton spared me back at the Christmas ball, I wanted to get as far away from Victoria as possible. As far away from my family and V.I.R.A.L. A few defectors you so quickly took care of joined me, and we ventured into the unknown. I lost a few on the way, but eventually, we made it to Tenyua with a little bit of naivety, believing we were safe. And then you had to show your ugly mug here…” Riley grumbled, pouring herself a glass, not bothering to pour one for Zinnia. ”How's my traitor of a sister? Has she stabbed you in the back yet?”
”Scarlett would never do anything like that! Just because you let yourself be consumed by your family, Scarlett is better than that!”
Riley scoffed, swirling her glass around. ”You haven't changed one bit, have you Zin Zin? Always so stubborn, I guess that's your charm, though. It won over Team Rhapsody and Alton; I saw that the first time I saw you both together at your birthday party. Sweet sixteen, wish I had something like that.”
Zinnia stared on, feeling her heart race. ”How do you know about that? Were you watching us from the beginning?”
Riley tossed Zinnia a pack of cards; opening it, she dropped them instantly, glossing over a set of tarot cards. The same Scarlett used to predict Alton's future the first time they met. ”My, the fool tarot card, what luck you would manage to pull the same card first like last time. I suppose this is the part where I make up some bullshit prediction that you endanger or whatever…”
”You couldn't possibly know that!”
Riley leaned against her arm shrugging her shoulders. ”It's slightly rude not to invite the others in. I've already surrendered. Nothing hurts to share this bottle with the others?”
”Enough toying with me, Syndicate! What do you mean Rhinefield will fall?!”
”Will? Sorry, more like has. While you've been off on an unexpected journey looking to be the very best like no one ever was Zin Zin, the world has changed. Syndicate rose and struck the heart of V.I.R.A.L with your dear sweet Scarlett being at the helm. The Queen of Syndicate, they call her. I already want to puke… Betraying your close friends was the first thing she did, but you would know all about that, wouldn't you? Knowing them, though, they were completely overwhelmed by the CEOs. The Garden's lapdog is something not to underestimate. The harbinger of death they called it, or these days Mortem. Syndicate is most likely dead and your precious Team Rhapsody to follow.”