Violet Did It!

"So did you fight with Kieren?"

Violet mulled over the question James had asked her late last night after the bird incident.

It was four in the morning, and after several hours of flopping like a dying fish in bed she had given up her lame attempt at sleep and decided to exercise. The academy was surrounded by miles and miles of running trails, trees, and lakes. Violet was running a strep trail that looped back towards the dorm, five miles in and only four left to go.

Alex and Violet had spent a good forty-five minutes talking after the bird had been 'rescued'. It seemed to Violet that there was something the group was hiding about Kieren and Alex was feeling guilty. Sure, the entire conversation had been about why Violet should let people in and that Kieren was a really good guy and that they all were fond of her. Yet, Alex had looked at the verge of tears through it all. Violet sighed exasperated, she should have kept away from them since the beginning. "Vee, Kieren's always been alone, we actually play a huge part in that. I think you're a breath of fresh air to him." Violet groaned, it was bad enough that she kept repeating that phrase to herself. Then as if adding insult to injury James had seemed to glean a lot of information from his dungeon below, and was curious as to what Violet had done to push Kieren's group away. Although the smirk playing on his face said enough and his follow up statement, "I do not think any woman has ever considered turning that man down, he must be in shock" had successfully succeeded in making Violet temporarily freeze. "What exactly was your reply to the Ruenen's future king Violet?"

Violet sped up her pace, stupid James, stupid Alex, stupid place, and stupid, stupid, stupid Kieren.

All things considered it was really a good thing that today was day seven. Tomorrow morning at nine am sharp, Kuznet would demand a culprit, Violet had high plans to ensure the last day sailed smoothly. Violet and Alex had settled on a temporary truce, Alex wanted to at least still talk normally. That played in Violet's favor, she had called Alex as she headed out for her run and kept her on the phone the entire time so she wouldn't be "suspicious."

Violet arrived back at her dorm to see the twins standing waiting for her a white flag in their hands. She had smirked, "Are you guys taking turns or what? Alex yesterday, y'all today, what Zen tomorrow? .... yeah never mind he would never." The twins had smiled relieved that Violet was in a good mood. "Yeah Zen would never, he's way stubborn. Things are quiet without you, we both are still unsure if we should trust you. You're something of a walking earthquake, but we are intrigued nonetheless." Violet mulled over their statement as she let them in. "I wouldn't trust me, matter of fact, I don't think any of you actually trust me."

Tom shrugged, "You are more of an open book than you think Violet, you make both your satisfactions and dissatisfactions obvious. It's the grey areas that concern us, and you're also quite grey."

Violet nodded, "that's a fair assessment, so to what do I owe the pleasure?"

The twins looked at each other, calculating their words, "Would you consider just talking this out with Kieren? Just the two of you? Not telling you-"

"Why is that everybody's advice?" Violet cut in. "Seriously guys, we aren't compatible in the slightest, and he's got way better choices." Tom smiled helplessly, "just try it yeah?" Before Violet could answer the twins sandwiched her in between them and with sly smiles left.

Foxglove reconvened at six in the afternoon in their classroom, as Violet approached the classroom she heard raised voices. It seemed that tensions were on the rise, all of the members, except the murderer, would be punished if they did not find the culprit.

"Henbane, Nightshade, and Caladium, they've all found their targets, the only reason we haven't is because you're all taking sides with him just because of who he is." It was Ivan, it seemed he had decided that Kieren was the murderer after all. Kieren was leaning against a window doing nothing to try and prove his innocence. It was Zen and Alex who were, albeit much calmer than Ivan, arguing back in his defense. Violet sat down in her seat and watched the show go on, about an hour later an other room search was ordered and annoyed they all followed through. For the second time nothing was located and Kieren refused to let anybody in his room. When Foxglove returned to their classroom it was nearing Ten P.M. and everybody was a mixture of exasperated and angry.

Ivan, desperate had announced that everybody should strip! The guilty party would have the marking card on them and they would know for certain.

Unbidden, disgusted gazes glared in his direction and Kieren called out, "Nobody wants to look at your miserable two inches."

Ivan threw a book at Kieren and Ted punched Ivan. It turned into something of a brawl in which Kieren sat back looking unamused while classmates, desks, and items clashed. The fight was brought to a swift end when a hissing sound filled the air. Fists froze in the air and everyone was fighting to find the culprit.

A bottle was upended, it had came flying out of an overturned desk and was currently melting their classroom floor. The team led by Alex shifted through the mess carefully, the cap to the suspicious murky filled container was located inside none other than Ivan's desk.

Suddenly everybody had turned on him, convinced that his rage and constant nagging actually served the purpose of covering his tracks, he was in the dumps.

"Give it up!" Aiko had growled, "just tell us where you're hiding him and get this over with." Aiko and a few others had went back over to his room and taken it apart. Violet and a few others who had given up on the task went to bed.

At eight in the morning of day seven Violet walked into the classroom, she talked lightly with Alex while they waited for the rest of the members. Some of them straggled in, dark shadows showcasing no sleep. Kuznet walked in with ten minutes to spare and demanded an answer. About half of the classroom chimed in with a well practiced reason as to why and how Ivan had done it.

Kuznet stared at them coldly before responding, "No, next."

Ivan had laughing like a maniac proceeded to tell Kuznet why it was Kieren. One again Kuznet's answer was, "No, anybody else? So you mean to tell me, you have no idea and none of you actually have proof?" Silence had met his question and for the remaining two minutes their was no sound.

Nine A.M. chimed in and Kuznet finally called out, "Very well, the murderer of Foxglove is the only one who has maintained their anonymity. Ms. Zaraa, please stand up."

Gasps echoed across the room, all eyes turned to Violet who smiled easily and stood. "Yes?"

"Your identification card?"

Violet reached one hand into her bra and pulled out the folded card, she spread in her palm and held it out for them all to see. "I killed James Duros."