Sorry it's short, especially since its been a while. I'll make up for it next chapter.
Song Suggestion: Leave My Body by Florence and the Machine
Alex is really good.
This was my first thought. Alex had managed to keep my fear from showing physically. I still felt it but was completely in capable of showing it. Otherwise, my hands would have been shaking the whole time. I knew facing him would be an awful experience and it would bring up too many bad memories. But Alex also gave me a confidence boost. When I confronted Maven this burst confidence overwhelmed most my fear.
But since leaving I've had this nagging feeling.
Did that seriously just work?
Yes, I strode in like I owned the place, but there was no guarantee it would actually work. He let me go. My logical side says he needed me if his reign was going to last. But he could have called in the guards and I would have ended up in the same place I was over a month ago.
This was Davidson's plan and he shouldn't have been able to know fully that Maven would agree. He doesn't know him like I know him. No one knows Maven better than me.
I sit on the couch with Alex in the safe house. She holds a cup of tea in her hands as I tell her my concerns. I know she has a close relationship with Davidson and I probably shouldn't be telling her any of this. But it's not like I have a lot of people to turn to.
But she seems just as perplexed as I am.
"It does seem weird. But one thing I've learned about Dane is to never doubt or underestimate him. He keeps some secrets from me, but most of the time he's pretty open with me. I mean who am I going to tell, the tree next door? But if he's keeping something from me, I'm sure he has his reasons."
"I certainly do." Alex and I jump in unison at Davidson's sudden entrance.
"I didn't hear you come in," Alex says. She clutches her silent stone pendant. I understand the gesture. She will only use her ability if given consent or in dire emergencies. Davidson entering the cabin without so much as a knock unsettles both of us. He knows how light-hearted Alex is, he wouldn't do anything startle her.
"I didn't knock because someone I want you to meet. Both of you." Davidson turns to me with the same look he gave me the day Cal chose the crown over me: apologetic. "Well, you've actually met him Mare, and Alex I'm sure you know of him now that you've helped Mare along. You have to know that I didn't want it to be this way not after learning what he did to you and your family." Gesturing to the door he says, "It was a necessary evil."
"Davidson." I don't even remember standing up. Anyone can betray anyone. I call to my lightning, wanting to blast a full storm into the man that pushes the wooden door inward. He emerges from the cool night. But I want to see his face, to see the lights leave his eyes as I end him and the curse he wields.
"Mare," Alex grasps the end of my fingers pulling me back. But I also know she's doing it to keep from so much as let out a small shock. I can't hurt him without hurting her.
"Come now, Mare," Jon chides. "You had to know I would come into play eventually. Did you really think you saw the last of me?"
"I'm about to." I rip away from Alex's touch and shoot a bolt towards Jon. But Davidson's reacts faster-or Jon told him to expect it-and he raises a familiars blue shield before Jon can fry. He doesn't even flinch.
"How could you do this," I scream at Davidson, directing all my anger to him. "If you know what he did to me, to my family. He's the reason we're broken." I scramble for the words.
"He did this for your family," Jon interjects. "If you didn't go along with than your family would never recover."
This catches my attention. "What do you mean?"
Jon sighs. "Six months from now you would win the war but for your family would be more than it is now."
"Shade is dead," my voices hitches. Every time I think or say it, I a die a little. "My family is shattered."
"Yes," Jon expresses a look of sadness and regret. I want to slap it off his face for what he made me do. "But if you didn't agree to the plan, Clara would have lost her mother as well as her father." And he takes in a shaky breath. "Along with her aunt."
And then all my anger dissipates as quickly as it appeared. "What?"
"In the last battle, when the Scarlet Guard finally ends this reign of terror. Diana is killed. You see it happen. And caught up in your grief you are killed as well. And your family is torn apart."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and I slowly sink to the floor. Clara would become an orphan along with who knows how many. "Why should I believe you?"
"I am many things. I lead you to your brother's death. But I have never lied to you, Mare. I can only do my best to get you to travel the least costly path. Your sister would suffer the most. She looks up to you and Diana. After she loses both of you all of her light and hope would fade and no one could bring her back. She'd act out in pointless rebellion, even give up her craft. Her spirit would die. And without Diana, no one would be there to for Cal. His flame will never light again."
I feel the tears run freely down my cheeks. I remember Gisa before she became an apprentice-all smile and giggles. Her fiery red hair a mess over her shoulders playing without care if it was proper or not. The weight of an entire family yet to burden her.
And then Cal. He may have broken my heart but that doesn't mean I have stopped loving him. I always will.
"Why come here and tell us this?" I hear Alex ask.
"You're both smart," Jon says. "I knew you two would figure it out, tonight. So here I am. I've done horrible things to you, Mare, but you had to learn the lessons you did in Whitefire. Go through those experiences to get here. To get Maven to this point. Every path I've pointed you towards has a purpose. You won't like any of them, but no victory is achieved without some kind of sacrifice. And no, Diana doesn't know I'm behind this."
It's infuriating, how he answers all my questions before I ask them. He does it again.
"Yes, I want you to continue this path because it has the best possible outcome. And yes, it will cost you."
Analysis
All I'm going to say is there is a bit of foreshadowing and teasing in the song choice. Get excited, the next chapter features Marecal!