Fate Dark Side of Betrayer

 "You knew all along, right? As I shut the door behind me, my voice broke like a whip, shrill and accusing.

Leaning against the table, Caius had crossed arms and his face was unreadable. Though it did nothing to ease the tension between us, the firelight sparkled in his eyes.

" careful, Arden," he murmured softly. "Accusations of that kind can land you in hot water."

"I'm not interested in trouble," I said quickly. "I give the truth great thought. That mark on your hand did not suddenly show up on your hand. From the outset, you have been connected to this.

He straightened and caught my eye with a hard jaw. You believe I am working against you? Following all is."

Is I incorrect? "I questioned, approaching closer." "Something more comes to light every time I start to believe you. Something that begs me to wonder why you are even here.

Unspoken tension permeated the heavy, tense air separating us. Steering toward me, Caius spoke softly but deliberately. You are enraged, and you are quite entitled to be. But you hardly know me if you just momentarily believe I have been lying to you.

My chest constricting, I replied, "Don't turn this on me." Caius, you're hiding something. It is clear to me. And we are done unless you tell me the truth.

" Done? He laughed, his lips curving into a sour smile. "Arden, you never get to "be done." Not with me. not with this.

The moment was broken before I could answer with a loud bang from the hall. Both of us turned toward the sound, instincts driving in. Caius reached for the sword I had left on display against the wall while grabbing his dagger.

His voice now all business, he added, "Stay behind me."

I shot back, already headed toward the door, "Not a chance."

The corridor was deserted, yet from further down the faint sound of feet echoed. We trailed them silently, the conflict between us momentarily put aside as we concentrated on the possible hazard. A signal that we were entering somewhere unlike usual, the symbol on my wrist blazed weak.

Turning around a corner, we discovered the commotion coming from a broken vase with pieces all about the floor. But my blood stopped cold not from broken porcelain. It was the man standing over it, clearly back-to- us.

Again, I said, my voice cutting.

The figure turned, their hood slipping back to expose a face I too well knew. It was the identical guest from past—the one claiming they had no option in their betrayal.

Holding my blade securely, I responded, "I told you to leave."

"I couldn't," they said, sounding begging. "You don't understand; more is at risk than you could possibly know."

With his dagger shining in the low light, Caius moved forward. "You would better say it quickly if you have anything to say," he said.

The betrayer's eyes flickered between us, fixed on me. "Arden, please. I do not represent your opponent.

"Could have fooled me," I remarked coldly. " initiate a conversation. now.

They hesitated, their shoulders slumped and they sighed heavily. "This is not how it was meant to go. I reasoned... I felt I could guard you. But fate does not operate in such manner. It spins everything, including the greatest of intentions.

"Stop hiding behind Fate," I snapped. "What activities did you engage in? "

Their voice hardly audible above a whisper, they said, "I gave them the key." "The one thing they needed to get this all in motion.

The words strike me like a gut-reversal punch. My hand on the sword wavered, then I felt Caius's steady touch on my shoulder. "What essential? My voice shook as I asked.

"The one attached to the mark on your wrist," they said. "The one tying you to fate."

The room seemed to tilt, their confession weight down on me. I staggered back shaking my head. You're lying.

Their agonized expression stated, "I wish I were." "But the truth is as follows. And right now they are approaching you.

"who? "Caius demanded, moving forward." "who is arriving?""'

"The Circle," they stated with broken voice. "The people in charge of Fate. They won't stop till they have taken everything from her.

I started to open my lips to talk, but splintering wood cut me short. The front door exploded open, and black-clad individuals hiding behind masks surged in. Their motions were dead, exact, and coordinated.

"Get low! "Pulling me behind him as the attackers advanced, Caius yelled.

The struggle that came was anarchy. Blades collided, metal against metal filling the air with loud cries of anguish. Moving like a force of nature, Caius dropped one assailant after another with his dagger flashing. But there were too many of them; for each one we killed, two more seemed to replace it.

"Ar Den! "He answered, his voice slicing through the anarchy. "We have to relocate..."

I nodded and ducked behind a sweeping sword, toward the closest exit. The betrayer trailed closely, their face pallid but resolved. Last to get at the door, Caius slammed it closed behind us as we staggered into darkness.

Running continued till we reached the deep of the woodland, the noises of pursuit fading far away.

My chest heaving, I fell against a tree trying to gather my breath. While the betrayer walked frantically, Caius stood close with his dagger still in hand.

"This is your fault," I screamed, my voice shaking with rage. "They came due in part to you.

They shot back, "they came because of the mark." "And they will keep coming if we cannot find a way to break it."

The symbol on my wrist blazed to life before I could reply, its light blinding in the dark. The eyes of the betrayer grew terrified, as Caius moved forward with a terrible look.

"What is it? Panic tumbling into my voice, I asked.

"It's a summons," Caius remarked, his voice tense. "They have indicated their next action."