The Final Twist: NYSSA
“You said you have somethin’ to tell me, Ariadne. Is everythin’ okay with you and Michael?”
She sipped water from the glass in front of her.
“There are no issues at all,” she sounded and looked in the livin’ room direction. “I think I want Lysander to be here with us while we talk ’bout it. You know? It’s important and he has to listen to it also.”
Why?
Why can’t she just tell it to me alone?
I thought she said she had come to see me.
Did it mean she was also here to speak with Lysander?
What if?
I looked up from the plate and met her gaze. “I don’t know. Are you sure there are no issues at all? I mean, you’re gettin’ me worried already and I don’t know what to say.”
“Everythin’ is fine, Nyssa. Why are you botherin’ yourself so much? You know already that you have nothin’ at all to be worried ’bout. We both know I won’t dine with you at this table if there was an emergency, or don’t you know?”
I knew.
I heaved a sigh and gave a nod.
Lysander.
Was he willin’ to leave the program he was seein’? He had talked too much before Ariadne came into the house, and I didn’t think he was willin’ to let go of his movie.
“Come on, Nyssa. Do I call ‘im on my own?”
Of course, not.
I wasn’t goin’ to let that happen. “You don’t have to, Ariadne,” I sounded and got on my feet. “I’ll get ‘im here. Give me some time.” And I was out of her sight, leadin’ my way to the livin’ room where the man I had all of a sudden developed feelin’s for, stayed.
At the sound of my footsteps, he lowered the volume of the program and turned around. His gaze went to the diner and back at me who was already seated next to ‘im on the couch. “Hello, Lysander.”
With a questionable gaze, he looked at me.
“Is everythin’ okay there?” Pointin’ with his nose at the diner section, he looked at me again. “Do you need my help with somethin’? Anythin’ at all.”
How did he know?
How do I tell ‘im too?
I heaved a sigh and smiled.
“My best friend wants to talk to the both of us,” standin’ on my feet as I studied his gaze, I stretched a hand. “Come on. Let’s get goin’ already.”
We walked back to the diner.
Ariadne dropped her phone on the table and met my gaze. “There’s somethin’ you need to know ’bout me, Nyssa. I didn’t tell you from the start ’cause I’d be scared if I were you. You know you have too many enemies.”
Well, what was she drivin’ at?
“The thing is,” she looked at the both of us. “I didn’t make myself known to you from the start. I am not just a random person. I am a member of your family.”
Confused, I looked away from my tray of food. My gaze fixed on the woman before me and I turned to look at Lysander who was also shocked. This was what I expected, but what was Ariadne tryin’ to say?
Who did she say she was?
“I don’t understand you, Ariadne. What are you tryin’ to say? Is your name even Ariadne? And why should I believe you right now? What are you sayin’?”
“I need you to be calm and listen to me.”
Exactly what I was doin’ – no, tryin’ to do. “How is this even possible? You didn’t know you would meet me at the art auction, did you?”
“I didn’t exactly know. The ancestors directed me and that’s how I came there. I am a direct descendant of your grandmother. Do you know what that means?”
It dawned on me.
Was she tryin’ to joke with me or somethin’? “No-” I sat up and moped at her. “That means you’re the rightful owner of the pieces of art Kazmir and I went on a mission to retrieve. Isn’t that what it means?”
“It’s what it means, and what it is.”
This was so unbelievable.
I was findin’ it hard to believe and wanted to argue, but it looked like it was the truth.
I wasn’t the first and direct descendant of my grandmother, so how did I get the stuff in my possession? And Ariadne would not lie ’bout it but would take the pieces and run away with them a long time ago.
“This is-”
“-unbelievable.” Lysander, obviously shocked, didn’t say more than this. “Why are you tellin’ me ’bout it all of a sudden? Shouldn’t this be between the both of you?”
Ariadne nodded.
“I see the way the both of you look at each other. It’s very obvious you two are in love and you’ll need to help fight this final battle as proof of your love for her.”
No one said a word.
What could I say?
Agree or disagree with Ariadne when I still tried so hard to be used to the news I had just gotten.
But Lysander sittin’ up and clearin’ his throat caught my attention. He looked at me before lookin’ at the woman. “I am more than ready to do this with you. Not just ’cause I love Nyssa, but ’cause it’s what’s right to do.”
I smiled.
“Thank you, Lysander.”
Lookin’ at Ariadne, I asked.
“How do we even go ’bout this, Ariadne? I almost don’t know what to say or how to take this news in. But I believe everythin’ you’ve said to me.”
“I had my reasons for not tellin’ you on time, Nyssa. I’m sorry but you also don’t have to blame me, mm?”
With a smile, she dropped her spoon on the plate once more. “It’s simple.”
What’s simple?
“I have no plans to take the pieces for myself. They’re my gifts to you, Nyssa. It’s the least I could do for you. But in the meantime, we must secure the future of this family.”