Fate Dark Side of Betrayer

"You never told me you knew them," I murmured, my voice cutting like the charge hovering around. As though waiting to see how Caius would react, the shadows of the collapsing structure seemed to reach toward him.

 He froze, his dagger partly back into its sheath, then turned to face me. "Knew who? His voice was low, but the flutter of uncertainty in his eyes betrayed him.

 "You know exactly who I'm talking about," I shot back, moving closer. "The enforcer." The one who merely aimed at murder. Not even try to ignore it, Caius—I noticed their attitude toward you.

 "They looked at me like they wanted me dead," he stated steadily. "Which, in case you haven't observed, isn't exactly unusual these days."

 "Don't lie to me," I cried, my voice quivering with rage. " Not now. Not following everything.

 Elara stood off to the side, observing the cross-armed and raised brow exchange. She said, "This should be interesting," with a contemptuous voice.

 Caius ignored her; his whole attention was on me. "I don't owe you an explanation," he murmured at last, his voice sharp. Not about them. Not relating to anything.

 "You owe nothing to me? "I cut him off, laughed viciously. "You think you can just lock me out? We have been battling side by side for weeks, sacrificing our lives for each other.'''

 "Maybe I have my reasons," he remarked, approaching closely and speaking softly. "Did you consider that at any point?"'

 Our conflict was a live thing, intense and stifling. Elara's presence simply made things worse; her subtle observations like a scalpel turning in my side.

 With a firm voice, I said, "Reasons or not, we're supposed to be in this together." Given your concealment of things, how am I meant to believe you?'''

 His jaw closed, and for a split second I thought he might crack. He then inhaled deeply and retreated, his shoulders slightly slumped. His voice softer now, he replied, "You don't trust me." " I understand it. But you have more issues than I do if you consider me to be your adversary.

 His comments dropped weight on me, and for a time I was unsure of how to react. Caius had always been a mystery; his background seemed to me to be buried in shadows that I could never sort. Now, though, those shadows seemed closer than ever, poised to consume us both.

 "We have no time for this," Elara remarked, breaking through the quiet. "The Circle is not waiting while you two work through your emotions."

 "Stay out of it, Elara," Caius ordered forcefully, his eye flickering to her.

 "Gladly," she responded. "But don't expect me to be quiet about it if your secrets kill us."

 The conflict between us heavy and silent, we continued over the woodland. The shadows all around us seemed to move, moving oddly as the sigil on my wrist blazed weakly. I sensed the weight of something invisible crushing down on me more the distance we travelled.

 Do you feel that? I broke the stillness by asking.

 With his fingers on the hilt of his dagger, Caius nodded. "We are under observation here.

 "By who? Elara asked with a harsh voice.

 "I have no idea," he remarked. "But it's not friendly."

 As we descended into the woodland, the shadows grew denser and the air grew colder, heavy with the smell of decaying earth. To try to cool the burning heat, I placed my hand against the symbol on my wrist, which blazed more brilliantly.

 Caius abruptly stopped and held up a hand.

 My heart thumping, I froze and looked around the darkness. Footfall reverberated gently, then got louder every second that passed. From the shadows, then, a man materialized.

 It was the regulator.

 Though I could not see their characteristics to identify them, their face was covered with a hood. It was clear from their tense posture and strong edge of voice when they spoke.

 "This is where you have been hiding," they replied, their voice full of contempt. From you, Caius, I expected more.

 My chest constricting, I turned to him. You do know them, right?

 He answered nothing, staring at the enforcer. He drew nothing even as his hand tensed on his dagger.

 "Caius," I answered with shaking voice. " Say something."

 The enforcer laughed, the sound harsh and frigid. " Oh, he won't," they remarked. "He has always been excellent at quiet. That is his survival, after all.

 "What specifically are you referring to? I demanded, moving ahead.

 The enforcer slanted their head and looked at me. "You know, do you? He never disclosed you his former identity.

 "That's enough," Caius replied, his voice low but full of threat.

 "Why? "The enforcer reacted with a shot back. "Afraid she will see you for your true nature. "

 Between them, the air was charged with electric weight from unsaid facts. My chest tight with a mixture of guilt and resentment, I gazed at Caius.

 "What exactly she is referring to? "I asked." "who are you, Caius?"\\"

 He looked at the enforcer, his mouth clenching and he ignored. The stillness was deafening, and my uncertainty in my chest got more pronounced as it stretched.

 The enforcer told her, their voice tinged with hate. Let her know what you accomplished. What you were?

 I staggered back, my head racing, the words like a blow. Silence from Caius was an answer in and itself, cutting through me like a razor.

 "You have been lying to me," I exclaimed, my voice shaking. This entire time.

 Quickly and with a panicked tone, he added, "It's not what you think." "I did not—".

 I clipped him off and said, "Save it." It still amazes me that I trusted you.

 The ground shook under us and the symbol on my wrist blazed brilliantly before Caius could reply. The enforcer laughed; their voice rang throughout the forest.

 Their voice cold, "Fate doesn't forget." and neither do I.

 The shadows moved, and more people appeared with glinting weapons in the low light. Surrounded, the weight of Caius's secrets pressed down more than it had ever done.