Chapter 5: What Are You Hiding?
1016 Words
For a second, I thought about running.
Instead, I pushed the door open.
Demas stood beside a large desk with several files spread across it. Marcus leaned against the bookshelf, his arms folded. Both of them looked at me.
Neither looked surprised.
"I wasn't spying," I said.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"You were standing outside the door."
"I heard my father's name."
No one spoke.
My patience snapped.
"You said I deserved to know the truth."
I looked directly at Demas.
"What truth?"
His expression stayed unreadable.
"I think you misunderstood."
"I know what I heard."
"You heard part of a conversation."
"Then let me hear the rest."
Marcus glanced at Demas.
"I'll leave."
"No," I said quickly. "Stay."
Marcus looked caught in the middle.
"I don't think this concerns me anymore."
Without waiting for an answer, he slipped past me and quietly closed the door behind him.
Now it was just the two of us.
Exactly where I never wanted to be.
I folded my arms.
"Talk."
"There isn't anything to say."
I laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to believe that after mentioning my father?"
"I expect you to stop listening through closed doors."
"I wouldn't have needed to if people answered my questions."
His gray eyes stayed on mine.
"You won't like the answers."
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do."
"No."
I took a step toward him.
"You've been deciding things for me since the night my family lost everything."
His jaw tightened.
"This isn't the time."
"Then when?"
"When I know it's safe."
I stared at him.
"Safe for who?"
He didn't answer.
"For me?" I asked.
"Or for you?"
Still nothing.
I shook my head.
"You know what I think?"
"You've made that very clear."
"I think you're hiding because you're guilty."
A shadow crossed his face.
"If believing that helps you sleep, then believe it."
"It doesn't."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
For the first time since walking in, his expression softened.
"I know."
That simple reply annoyed me more than if he had shouted.
"Stop acting like you understand me."
"I understand more than you think."
"You understand nothing."
I turned to leave.
His voice stopped me.
"Blossom."
I didn't look back.
"Your father loved you."
My heart squeezed painfully.
"I don't need you to tell me that."
"I wasn't trying to."
I walked out before he could say another word.
The next morning, I threw myself into work.
If I kept moving, I didn't have to think.
If I didn't think, I didn't have to wonder why Demas had looked almost... guilty.
The training grounds buzzed with activity.
Warriors sparred in pairs while others prepared for patrol.
Marcus spotted me first.
"You came early."
"I couldn't sleep."
He smiled knowingly.
"I had a feeling."
I picked up a practice blade from the rack.
"I need a distraction."
"You came to the right place."
Before I could answer, Demas walked onto the field.
Conversations stopped.
The warriors straightened immediately.
He didn't look at anyone else.
Only me.
"We're running joint combat drills today."
"I wasn't told."
"You are now."
"I don't take orders from you."
"You do while you're on my territory."
I sighed.
"I really wish you would stop saying things like that."
"And I wish you'd stop arguing with every sentence."
"I only argue with yours."
A few nearby warriors tried not to smile.
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"This should be interesting."
Demas stepped onto the training mat.
"You're with me."
"I can train with someone else."
"No."
"I'd prefer someone who doesn't enjoy making my life difficult."
"I don't enjoy it."
"You could have fooled me."
He picked up a wooden practice sword and tossed another one toward me.
I caught it easily.
"You know how to use it?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Try me."
His mouth twitched.
It wasn't a smile.
But it was close.
We circled each other slowly.
"Ready?" Marcus called.
"No," I answered.
"Good," Demas said. "Neither am I."
Marcus shook his head.
"Begin."
I attacked first.
He blocked without effort.
I swung again.
Blocked.
Again.
Blocked.
"You hesitate," he said.
"I'm aiming."
"You're thinking too much."
"I'm trying not to hit you."
"I don't believe that."
I lunged.
This time I forced him back one step.
A murmur spread through the watching warriors.
Demas's eyes narrowed.
"Better."
"I wasn't finished."
I spun and aimed low.
He stepped aside just in time.
The edge of my practice sword brushed his shoulder.
Marcus laughed.
"She got you."
"Barely," Demas replied.
His voice sounded almost... pleased.
I lowered my weapon.
"You could have ended that sooner."
"I know."
"Why didn't you?"
He looked at me for a long second.
"Because I wanted to see how you fight."
Something warm settled strangely in my chest.
I ignored it.
"I hope you enjoyed the show."
"I did."
His answer came too quickly.
Before I could respond, one of the guards hurried toward us.
"Alpha."
"What is it?"
"The northern patrol found fresh rogue tracks."
Demas's expression became serious.
"Double the watch."
"Already done."
He nodded.
"Good."
The guard hurried away.
The light mood disappeared instantly.
Demas turned back to me.
"Stay inside the main grounds today."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"There it is again."
"What?"
"The part where you think giving orders is enough."
"I'm trying to keep you safe."
"I don't need your protection."
"You might."
"I've survived without it for eight years."
His gaze held mine.
"I noticed."
For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.
Then a familiar voice cut through the silence.
"Demas."
I turned.
A tall blonde woman crossed the courtyard with effortless confidence. She wore expensive clothes and carried herself like she belonged there.
She stopped beside him.
Without hesitation, she slipped her hand onto his arm.
"I've missed you."
Her smile was warm.
Mine disappeared completely.
The woman finally looked at me.
Her eyes traveled slowly over my face before she smiled again.
Only this time, it wasn't friendly.
"So..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"This is Blossom."
- Writer
