章 21: The Unexpected Reunion

I followed silently behind my old team, they where quiet and tense in the presence of Drake. Why wouldn't they be, they didn't know him after all. He was a stranger, a threat. A man that had pinned there leader up against a wall so menacingly. Of course they would be upset. More so because I defended said man that had pinned me against the wall. They trust me to the ends of the world and back, but they would never trust him. It was my fault, I was disturbed by my findings and couldn't bring myself to tell Drake about everything that was happening. He was only responding to my attitude and that caused him to act up.

Of course there are better ways to handle situations like these, but his calm methods in the past haven't worked. Only the rough ones got anything out of me, and that was probably because of the way I had been raised. Bottle everything up until it was beaten from me. I suppose if I want to keep his trust, I should start by telling him what happened to me. What really made me really act up and ignore him. It was time to tell him my terrible secret that I even kept from Sebastion.

The grass crunched under our feet as we approached a large, and disfigured barn. It sat in the middle of a meadow well over run with weeds and tall grass. The roof caved in the middle, making a giant hole. The windows had long since shattered, only leaving a frame in it's place. Crows cawed loudly and took off in a flash, dozens screeching as we approached. We where well outside the village limits. No one would be here unless they where absolutely spying on us.

"We will stay out here and talk. That barn looks like it will collapse even at the slightest breeze." Alliah spoke up. I slowly nodded in agreement and pulled down my mask once again, enjoying the freedom it brought me. Maya, Jaden, Alliah, Jespah, and Devante followed suit. Maya crossed her arms across her chest, lip out in a pout as she stared at me. She was still so childish, even after all this time. Her brown hair fell in ringlets down her face, her soft baby blue eyes glued to me as she studied my face. She had such a soft and small button nose. Alliah pulled back her hood as well. Her sharp blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. Her dark hazel eyes weary as she stared at Drake. Her nose was long and pointed, giving her an exotic and pretty look.

Jespah's mouth fell into a grimace as he pulled his hood off. Brown hair fell down over his shoulder, wrapped in tight ties keeping it together. His glared was also on Drake. The distrust evident on their faces. Devante sat there, his arms crossed over his chest. He wouldn't reveal his identity until he knew he could trust Drake, and that might be never. His once happy and joking demeanor gone.

"Start by telling us what happened to you those two months you vanished Aria. It's not like you to just vanish without saying anything. Sebastion was just as clueless so this was no accident. You disappeared just like the other Soldiers. Then you reappear and take out a quarter of the Guild? Something happened to you, something dark. I can feel it." Jaden threw his hood off, his eyes boring into me. I sighed in defeat and nodded. Something did happen, something I wish I could forget.

"Aye. Something very much did. Something that I even keep from Sebastion. This is not something I want to talk willingly about, but it has to do with what the General said at the table. Something very serious is going down and you may be able to provide more information for me." Jaden's eyes narrowed and nodded his head.

"We live to serve General. We will provide the best answers we can. Now start talking." I gave him a warning glare, I didn't like to be bossed around by underlings, and had no desire for to be bossed around. I may have been gone for three years, but that didn't make me soft. Not entirely anyway.

"Those two months I was gone, I was subjected to the worse torture I had ever experienced. It was led by Drakos son Jasper. It was all day every day. Everything from whippings to rape. At the time I didn't understand what was happening, but I am slowly starting to piece it together. Do you remember that Secret Project Drakos mentioned?" Devante stiffened, his body tense because he knew exactly what I was talking about. His oldest brother Gavin had been recruited to it. He knew that you never came back.

"Aye, it's the one that Nicklos and Gavin where submitted too. They where never heard from again. I remember." I blew out a long breath and nodded.

"Well they wanted to recruit me as well. I learned over time that the torture process is to break the mind and make the soldier more obedient if you will. They used special drugs to increase the rate of submission, but it never seemed to work on me. So they got...creative." I said darkly. So creative they would often talk about how they where hurting Sebastion because I would not submit to their will.

"So they where making Super Soldiers." Alliah spoke up, grim and dark. I gave a curt nod. Yes, soldiers who would only listen to the ones who had tamed them to be this way. It was the only reason I could think of that they would use such horrible methods.

"Jasper let his guard down one night and I managed to break free. I killed him and dragged his body all the way to Drakos's room. He vowed to make me his damn breeding sow until I bore him a despicable son in replacement of the one I killed. So he ordered his men to capture me and began the onslaught. I snapped that night, but not in the way he intended. I was lucky I was saved when I was. Which brings me to my next point. It seems they are scheming against the Eastern Kingdom. They want their gold and Iron, for what they wouldn't say. But they have threatened the Princess's life it they did not comply. They said once they had everything they needed they would attack within the months time. I don't know how they plan on doing that though considering I am a key ingredient for their attack. Again, I am not sure for what, but it didn't sound good." I muttered placing and hand on my fore head agitatedly. "I just know they plan on using Sebastion against me. To make me more compliant with their demands."

Jaden was quiet as he processed the information, his eyes churning and turning dark with each passing second. Drake was likewise the same. Although there was something much darker in the depths of his eyes. A raging anger that I never knew could exist in him. It was honestly scary to look at.

"Those bastards. The other Assassins disappearing left and right, the massacre of small villages. It all makes sense now. He is building his army up. He must have sensed that people where starting to turn against him. Captain Bregus would be interested to hear about this." Captain Bregus was a well known loyal soldier of mine. He was smart and skilled. Many times he figured his way out of deep situations where we would have likely died. Also we shared the hatred for Drakos. His family was murdered by his hands and wanted revenge as well. So I appointed him my Captain to take charge if I where to ever leave.

"That was what I feared. He wants gold and Iron to help weaponize his army. Listen, I know you hate Drakos, but I need you in there and gathering more information. Do you understand me? It is imperative that you gather as much as you can. I'll send out a letter to you when we come up with a plan." Devante nodded his head slowly.

"Of course General. We live to serve you." They spoke in unison. I sighed heavily and nodded. Thankful that I had them at my back.

I knew I could count on you guys. Please stay safe. We must leave before we start to look suspicious." They saluted in unison, but not before Maya threw her self at me. Her lips quivered as she held in tears. I smiled sadly over her shoulder. She was so precious, so naïve even if she was in a guild. At least that was how she acted. She really and truly was quite deadly.

"Tell Sebastion I miss him would you? I'll see him soon." She whispered into my ear. I chuckled at her request, knowing that she was truly infatuated with my brother. Always had been. I knew deep down too that my brother had a deep regard for her as well, but could never bring himself to ask her out. It was quite adorable. A budding romance even in the darkest of places.

"Of course Maya. I will tell him I saw you. Now go, all of you." I demanded. Maya let go, a mournful look upon her face as they all stalked past us. I watched them silently, waiting for them to disappear before I would address Drake. That would give us enough time to separate so we wouldn't look suspicious. Once their bodies disappeared behind the tall grass, I slowly turned to Drake. I was surprised to meet his pained eyes. His hood was now dropped exposing his face. His eyes where dark, full of anger as he gazed at me.

His hand slowly reached for mine, his fingers intertwining with mine. The sudden intimacy shocked me. I mean it was what I wanted, but I wasn't expecting him to give it to me, especially after everything I said. Did he not realize I was part monster? Drakos almost had his way when I snapped. I could have been a mindless zombie too if he had done it right. I wouldn't be standing before him right now, in fact I would have been working against him. But there was no hatred in his eyes. Just sympathy, maybe even a little bit of compassion

Without a word, he gently pulled me to him, coaxing me into his arms as he wrapped them around me, hugging my waist. Why was he being so gentle? I held so much information from him at the beginning. This could have saved us so much time, maybe even put us ahead more. Possibly we could have stopped all those senseless attack on the villages and saved those abducted kids. Kids who where much like me and could never mourn properly. Life stripped from them all in a matter of an hour before being shoved into harsh trainings.

"Do you not think ill of me Drake?" I whispered against his chest. It only made his grip tighter against me as he buried his head in my neck. He was acting so strange. It was hard to understand what kind of person he was. First he was skeptical, then caring, then demanding, throwing me up against walls, and now he was passionate.

"I have not felt ill of you Aria. I only feel ill of myself. I care very much for you, so much that I can't control my temper. You kept secrets from me, you let your health decline so much that you practically went nuts and wouldn't let anyone help you, and now you are telling me that Drakos wants you for a scheming plan." The hurt in his voice was evident, and it even made me a little teary eyed. He admitted he cared about me. But why? I have done nothing but cause him pain too, so why does he sit here and fight for me a stranger that once use to be the enemy.

"Let's head back and tell the others. For right now you will need to lay low until I can figure something out. I can't have you getting caught and expediting what ever Drakos has planned. Do you understand me?" He asked raising my head with his finger. I swallowed nervously, and nodded my head once. I felt his grip loosen, his hand reaching for his mask as he pulled it off his face. I felt my breath hitch in my throat as he slowly closed the distance between us. What was he doing? Was he really going to kiss me? Was his regard that deep? But why? I was a monster!

All of my thoughts flew out the window as his lips landed softly against mine. Slow and gentle as his hand held firmly against my back. The tenderness feeling so new, I wasn't sure how to act. I never knew a man could be so warm, caring, and kind. All the worry and stress faded from my body as I pressed against him, not wanting him to let me go. For once, the world melted away, leaving just him and I. Our feelings where the only thing that existed. How interesting these last few weeks have been. So reserved I was when I first met him, and now all I wanted to do was make him happy. But I couldn't really, not until Drakos was dead and I was no longer wanted. Could I be so selfish and steal this happiness for myself anyway, hadn't I deserved it after all this time?

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