Fear the Night

Chapter 20: The Public Notice

At high noon, the people in town gathered around a post that had been pounded into the ground, smack-dab in the middle of town. The news of what was written on it spread far and wide by four in the afternoon. It was so shocking that many people didn’t believe it until they saw it. What the notice said couldn’t happen and many said it probably wouldn’t. But still, everyone’s curiosity was piqued and When Isabella happened to catch sight of a good crowd around the post, she hurried to see if it was what she hoped.

Public Notice to all:

There will be a nationwide announcement made shortly after sunset from the Keith mansion. Everyone reading this notice is to pass the message far and wide and congregate in front of the Keith mansion at the time specified.

Fear not the night. Arrangements have been made for your safety.

Isabella smiled as she heard whispers and gasps but ignored them as she hurried down the streets toward the Keith mansion. Natalie had let her stay there until night when Maverick and Yukio came back across the Barrier with Maverick’s Drone father.

The heiress had sent a messenger to Maverick to tell him that her father made arrangements for his nationwide announcement, telling the servant to tell the Suits that he had an urgent message for a friend of Miss Keith’s, which was actually the truth.

Isabella hurried up the front steps of the huge mansion and a servant tried to take her cloak but she refused.

“Where’s Natalie?” she asked instead, hurrying into the mansion.

“Miss Keith is in her room,” the servant replied and Isabella shot toward a staircase to run to Natalie and tell her the good news.

“Natalie!” she called, knocking on the door and when it opened she let herself in as Natalie shut the door behind her. “The notice is up and people are reading it!”

“Good,” Natalie nodded, “I’ve sent a messenger to Maverick and had the camera set up in front of our fountain. Now all that’s left to do is wait until tonight.”

“Do you think that Suits will try to stop them?” Isabella asked, breathlessly as she sat on the edge of Natalie’s bed.

“I’m sure they will,” Natalie laughed slightly, sitting next to Isabella. “But I’m sure both of them will get here safely. Maverick can handle himself in a fight, and so can Yukio.”

“Still…” Isabella sighed, gazing at her hands in her lap, “I’m worried about him. Well…both of them.”

“But mostly Maverick, right?” Natalie smirked and Isabella gave a blush. “It’s alright, Bella. I’m more worried about Yukio than Maverick.” Natalie cast her eyes down in her lap as Isabella looked up at her again. “I really care about him, Bella.”

Isabella smiled warmly and placed a hand on Natalie’s to squeeze it lightly, then said, “I really am glad you two finally met. I always knew you would end up caring for each other. I think that’s why I never introduced you two. I didn’t want you to think I was playing matchmaker.”

Natalie giggled and leaned on Isabella’s shoulder then asked, “You love Maverick, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Isabella sighed, running her fingers through her friend’s hair. “I do.”