A/N: A massive thank you to everyone who's following the story, sorry for the long wait. I decided to tell chapter 2 from different POVs so tell me if you prefer it or want me to write the third chapter more like the first. Don't forget to leave a review if you spot a mistake (no matter how small) or if you think there's anything that needs improvement or if you just want to say something nice, that's cool too. Hope you enjoy the second chapter!
Mare POV
"Your brother's lover yes, you can say it you know Cal. And you must be Mare, Maven's told me all about you." He smiled. I feel the bile rising in my throat. But how? How could Maven have spoken to him? Thomas died before Maven met me. Well "died". He certainly wasn't dead now.
"Hi, yes, I am Mare. Not to be rude or anything but how are you here? I thought you were, you know, dead." It's embarrassing to even say the words out loud but there's no way to put it politely.
"I was. But I'm a, what are we calling ourselves these days, newbloods is it? Yes I'm a newblood with the power to resurrect the dead. I found out when I brought my pet dog back to life by accident, pretty intense if you ask me. Anyway when Maven burnt down the building I was trapped in, which was not fun I can tell you, I came back to life. It seems my powers make me incapable of dying too. I didn't want to return to the war so I decided to slip away and enjoy not being conscripted. I left Maven plenty of clues to come find me but I can't say he loved me enough to actually follow them." The boy smiled wistfully.
"No he loved you alright. He thought you were dead and it corrupted him." I show him the branded M on my skin, "This is what you turned him into." Anger is the only emotion I can feel. It's all his fault, Maven became the way he did because of Thomas, who is now trying to explain himself.
"That was never my intention. The way he used to be, I would never have thought him capable of any evil. But I guess I was wrong. My powers also allow me to travel to the land of the dead, it's a painful experience so I do it sparingly but when I heard that you killed him I had to, had to see for myself. When I found him I barely recognised him; he had so much hate in his eyes, so much pain."
I can't stomach it and run out the room. Cal follows me closely.
"Mare look at me. I'm here, everything is going to be fine." I want that to be enough to make everything ok again but it's not. It will never be fully ok.
"Cal, every time I look at Thomas I can only think of him. I'm not sure whether I can take it." I plead with him, hoping he'll understand. And of course he does.
"I know… Maven… hurt you in every way possible but Thomas isn't him. We need to give Thomas a chance, he's innocent in all of this. He's a newblood just like you." I notice Cal struggles, just like I do, to say Maven's name.
"I know that but I can't talk to him. I think I need a few minutes." I look into his eyes.
I'm suddenly aware we're standing very close to each other. It would be so easy to kiss Cal and let everything else melt away. He senses it too. My brain tells my heart that I shouldn't fall into the trap I fell into ages ago but I've had the time I needed to figure out what my heart wants and my heart wants Cal. There is no doubt that I love him and I want to grow old with him, maybe even have kids. Maybe. There's a lot of fractures in our relationship that need mending before I can even think of that but the time for being apart, at least, is over.
"Of course, I'll talk to him first, just come back in when you feel you're ready. I love you." He takes my hand in his, gives it a gentle kiss and before I get the chance to say it in return, he's gone back inside. I sit on the floor and begin plucking up enough courage to face Thomas.
Cal POV
"I knew I was ugly but I didn't know the sight of me would make Mare retch." Thomas laughs as I enter the room.
"You know very well that's not the reason she's retching. Do you have any idea what my traitor of a supposed brother did to her? He's all she thinks about when she sees you. But I'm not here to talk about that, we're both trying to get over it, not relive it. I want to know why you came looking for us." My words are matter-of-fact, lack any warmth and with their aid I turn into the general, the King I once was. I never really knew Thomas, I only saw him on the frontlines with… Maven. However, when he 'died' it wasn't hard to guess that my brother had had feelings for him. My mind drifts as the memory of that dreadful day slowly creeps in. Thomas' reply brings me back to the conversation I was trying to have. Well. It's more of an interrogation.
"The truth? Because I've no one to turn to. No family, no friends, I just want to be with people who understand what I'm going through. All I'm asking is that you give me a chance to be your friend. What do you say?"
"A friend?"
I'm shocked. No one has ever wanted to be my friend. People respected me and listened to me certainly but only Mare had ever bothered to get to know me. She was the only one who truly did, apart from Maven of course but then he was my brother. And even Mare is so much more than just a friend. We've been through so much together, even betrayed one another on multiple occasions but that will not be repeated. I want to leave it in the past where it belongs and focus on getting our relationship right this time around. I look back at Thomas, I can see he's been through similar pain to me, having a loved one who you trusted turn into a monster before your very eyes until you don't recognise them, it changes you. We have a moment of mutual understanding.
"Yes, and if you don't mind me saying I think you need one as much as I do." Says Thomas. I can see in his eyes that he is so incredibly lonely but I can't say yes if it means hurting Mare.
"It all depends on Mare. I don't want her to hurt every time she sees you because she's thinking of him." I decide to tell Thomas.
"Well that's fair. How about I let you sleep on it and be on my way, I don't want to outstay my welcome after all." He claps his hands, "Now where do you suggest I should stay for the night?"
"There's an inn, just up the road then take a right. I suppose I'll see you tomorrow?"
Thomas gives a cheeky, conspirational wink.
"Might be a bit longer than that. Need to give Mare a chance to get enough sick bags before I show my face again I think."
With those words he goes on his way, the door creaks behind him and his footsteps diminish into nothingness.
Mare POV
I hear the sound of the door shutting. Praying that means Thomas has left, I cautiously creep around the corner.
"He's gone, won't be back for a while." Cal says to me, leaning against a wall. In that second, relief is all I know and I'm thankful for the time I've been given to prepare, to pluck up enough courage to face my demons once again. Then my attention diverts to Cal. His sleeves are rolled up and the top button of his shirt is undone. I find myself flushing scarlet and am very glad for the pleasant distraction. But I push those thoughts away. The relationships that burn with the brightest flame burn out fastest after all. I was lucky enough to be given a second chance, I can't rush in and ruin it because then there would be no hope for a recovery, however tempting it is to just escape from the crazy night this has turned into. I redirect my focus to the much less distracting wall.
"Thank goodness. And thank you, for understanding." I manage to say to him. He smiles and lights the candles in the room using his powers, which fills me with delight and he knows it.
"Thomas wanted us to be his friends. I told him I'd ask you first because I don't want to if it's going to hurt you."
It had never occurred to me how lonely Cal might be. He has no one he can call a friend, no one to lean on except me. If Thomas wants to be his friend then I have no right to be selfish and deny him that. I'm touched that his first thoughts were of me but I can deal with seeing Thomas, seeing… Maven in everything Thomas does, if it means Cal will be happier.
"It won't. I know I'm being unfair on him. He's offering his friendship Cal, don't refuse it for my sake. I'll be fine, it's just a lot to take in with you coming back and then he suddenly appears and then it turns out he's basically immortal. I promise I'll be ok, it's just been a crazy night."
"It certainly has. Do you want to play chess or something to take our mind off of it?" He offers. The thought of being cuddled up to Cal on a couch playing games is very enticing. I could never resist such an offer, especially since Cal is worryingly out of practice, so I agree.
"Yeah I can't imagine you've had much time for chess recently, what with sorting out the future of the Kingdom. At least you don't have to worry about that anymore." I inch towards him, he takes my head in his hands and gives out a low chuckle.
"No I suppose I don't."
Once again, I kiss him.
Thomas POV
I don't go to the inn Cal directed me to. Instead I turn into the forest and run, deep into it until I'm sure no one can find me. The darkness swallows everything and the wind shrieks its symphony of agony. If it were up to me, I would have lived out my life in the hills, away from the world. I'd happily forget everything and enjoy a peaceful life. I envy Mare. She got to escape Maven. But he never left me. He never let me go. Even when I thought I was rid of him, he was still there, waiting. The promise I made to him rings in my head.
"Do you promise to save me if the worst should happen Tommy?"
"Of course Maven, you know I'd do anything for you, I love you."
Stupid boy, making promises to monsters. But how could I have known what he was? We were almost children then, so innocent and in love. Who could resist? He'd manipulated me and I'd enjoyed every minute of it. And I think that's why we were a perfect match. We enjoyed the other's twisted games. Well, Maven would be the one controlling the game but I was more than happy to be his puppet. That's the closest thing Maven could get to love. I know that now and yet it works for me. I'm his loyal servant, ready to put in blood, sweat and tears to please him. Exactly what I'm doing now. I unsheathe the knife which fits so perfectly in my hand and I let myself have just this moment, delaying the inevitable pain for as long as possible. Yet my love for Maven is stronger than my will to survive and I use it as a tool to drive the knife into my heart. It hurts a lot more than I remember.
