“Like?”
“The dreams she was having, with the cloaked figure, and the temple of Zeus’ favourite?”
“Yeah?” he asks as I kick the ball back at him.
“Well, she went into her dreams – visions, whatever you want to call them, by choice, and something happened. One thing she didn’t mention to you was that there’s a man who tells her to follow him. One night, she woke up crying and distraught, and she has not been the same since. Her roommate said there was a cut on the side of her neck, and she can’t speak of whatever happened. That much I managed to get from her.” I look up at him, and he looks up from the ball with a knowing nod. He knows how I got those answers.
“No one fucking learns to stop keeping secrets.” He frowns. “And you don’t have any idea what it could be?” he asks, eyes back on the ball.
I shake my head and kick it back. “No.”
He stops it dead under his foot, his weight settling on top of the ball as he takes a long inhale on his cigarette. “Then most likely it’s the man who told her to follow him.”
“Yeah, but we don’t know who that is.”
“We don’t, but she fucking might. Get that answer out of her, and we might be able to figure it out,” Leo says with confidenceas he kicks the ball harder. It comes shooting back, and I move fast, my boot hitting it with a resounding thwack, sending it careening off to the side.
“Understood.”
“Perfect.” He smirks slightly.
“One more thing… something that’s been on my mind. The Academy, you do know the security has a lot of blind spots. I know it’s a training facility for our most trusted, but sometimes you can’t trust anyone.” My stomach twists with guilt, knowing exactly why I’m bringing this up. Having to admit to myself that I don’t trust my own…
Leo chuckles, a low, callous sound as he cocks a brow. “Do you really think my surveillance would have blind spots? That you students could evade them? Maybe that’s what I wanted everyone to think. Aside from dorms and bathrooms, every part of that Academy is covered.”
I frown. “Oh yeah?”
He nods. “Why?”
I answer with a question of my own, “Is there a way for me to get the library footage then?”
He tilts his head, observing me for a moment. “Sure, since you told me about Sienna.”
“Of course, if she’s in trouble, it doesn’t matter who saves her as long as she’s safe.”
He nods. “You’ll get the footage, but it stays between us. After Azura’s friend, who knows who’ll turn to the dark side next?”
“Yeah…” I say quietly.
Who knows?
Accusations
Sienna
The blizzard whips around me, the swirling sand biting my eyes, my raised arms unable to protect them. I can’t see or breathe!
You know the price of deception… we made a deal, and it stands. If you, or one of your loved ones, tries something again, I cannot guarantee them my pardon. Remember your oath.
Agony rips through my neck, and I can barely move. I scream out in agony, but something clamps over my mouth, suffocating me. I claw at my neck and whatever is covering my face. I force my eyes open, but all I see is sand and darkness. In desperation, I try to call on my power, but I can’t! Not here.
Here in his domain, I’m the helpless one…
Remember this, my dearly betrothed, remember this! Take this as a warning. Next time, it will be someone much closer to you!
What?
My vision darkens, deprived of oxygen, and then it’s lifted.
