Pride and Ashes - S01 E35

Story 2 years ago

Pride and Ashes - S01 E35

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 35

In Which I Smile

Close your eyes and picture the sun.

That's what it feels like to love her.

Warmth.

I went back to the science department. 1

Back to my lab.

I was obsessed.

I went to unlock the door, but found it already unlocked.

Panicking, I threw open the door, looking wildly into the room.

Jasmine and Yasmine were sitting there, staring at my instruments, but making no moves to touch or interfere with them.

They jumped up at the sight of me.

"Fayette!" Yasmine said, her voice high pitched and strained, "What are you doing here? Why are you not laying down!?"

I shook my head and went over to my instruments. I assessed them, making sure each was in their proper place.

"Fayette," Yasmine said, her voice becoming more worried, "Fayette look at us."

"You didn't touch anything did you?" I said. My voice was panicked and shaking, "You didn't mess with anything did you? Did you touch this?!"

"No Fayette we didn't," Jasmine stood up, her hands raised calmy, "calm down Fayette. We didn't touch anything."

I felt a sigh of relief leave me.

"Explain," Yasmine said. She and her twin came closer, cornering me now.

I shook my head, "I ....I can't tell you."

"What's this then?" Jasmine held up a small piece of paper- on it were my scratched in words-

"To whomever reads-

Ask the King.

-Fayette"

"I...," I felt myself deflate as the twin's eyes tore into me and my secret.

"Your King ordered you to do something didn't he?" Jasmine asked.

I couldn't even nod my head to confirm their thoughts. I tried to communicate with my eyes.

Jasmine nodded, "He threatened you?"

I looked up, then back at them, my eyes silently nodding my answer.

"And you can't tell us because he ordered you not to tell?"

I wanted to weep at how accurate Jasmine was. How clever she was.

They watched as the tears silently fell down my face.

"Oh Fayette," Yasmine said.

Both sisters came forward and wrapped me within their embrace, whispering soft words of comfort as I cried into them.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The secret had been such a heavy load. It had ripped me apart inside that I could not tell Alto. I felt some of the pain lessen now that someone else had a small clue of the burden I carried.

We stayed like that for some time before I pulled away.

"I have to work," I said, my throat raw from tears.

"Fayette, let us help you." I shook my head at their request.

"I have to do this alone."

"We'll be waiting at the dorms then," Yasmine warned, "I expect to see you there by ten at the latest, otherwise Jasmine and I are coming to drag you out."

I nodded and waved them away.

I mixed different solutions and went over every detail of what could have gone wrong with the clear liquid.

When it became near ten I started my walk back to the dorms.

I collapsed on the bed once I reached it.

Yasmine and Jasmine had quickly moved us all in a more spacious dorm near the first month so we could all be together. I laughed when I saw a bunk bed being carried in, but the twins were very serious.

"We've never slept apart," Yasmine said, her eyes shining with an unspoken threat. 1

Now they were watching me from their same bunks, Yasmine peering down from the top while Jasmine closed her book she was reading at the bottom.

"There is a phone call for you."

I stiffened at the words. Only one person would want to call me.

"Right now?"

Yasmine nodded, and pulled out a phone, "He's waited for five minutes now. Told me he would rip my tongue out if I hung up."

I looked at Yasmine questioningly, wondering if I was thinking of the correct person.

"Hello?"

"Fayette."

I exhaled a sharp gasp of air, suddenly punched in the stomach and unable to breath.

"Al..Alto..."

"Fayette."

Silence hung between us as I absorbed his breathing on the other end. I closed my eyes, becoming painfully aware of the twins eyes on me. 1

"Fayette, I received a call that you were injured," his voice sounded strain, not the usual blank tone that he held whenever he talked.

"I was sick for a while," I lied.

"You were poisoned."

I fell down on my bed as I curled up around a pillow, turning my back to the twins, "it was mild."

"The doctor did not say so."

"Alto," I was in disbelief at the way the conversation was turning. No 'I missed you' 'I love you' 'It's good to hear your voice again.'

"They said you had been found outside the science department, in your wolf form, the poison in your system for almost six hours."

"That's...that is true...."

"Explain to me Fayette, how no one heard you."

"What?"

"No one heard you. You've only shifted two times in your life. Now three. You must have screamed. You must have been in pain. So why did no one hear. And then why-," 2

My eyes were dazed as he continued talking, "explain to me why you were not found lying outside a populated building, for six hours."

I felt a tear roll down my face. A pain began to rise within my chest.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"I was found. Didn't they tell you that Yasmine and Jasmine found me?"

"Yes. But then it occurred to me- why did they take you all the way to the medical wing? It's a long walk there Fayette. Why did they move you. Why didn't they call help. Why didn't they get someone to help them carry you."

"They were...panicked, it was all they thought of in the moment."

There was silence on the other end as a low, soft growl was heard from Alto.

"You're lying."

I sobbed into the phone. I felt Yasmine and Jasmine's hands on my back, rubbing soft comforting circles as the other stroked my hair. 2

"Why are you lying to me Fayette."

"I'm...not..." I choked out in between sobs, my heart breaking as even then I lied to cover up my lies.

"Why are you lying to me Fayette."

"Alto.." I couldn't control my sobbing. It occurred to me that me crying was just another clue to Alto that something was up, "Alto please trust me, please."

"Why."

"It's all I ask of you Alto, I ask that you trust me. Please- I love you, I don't want to hurt you, I would never voluntarily hurt you, please."

"Enough." The words cut through me like an ice dagger to my heart, "I've heard enough of your lies Fayette. You lie in your letters. Don't think I haven't noticed. And then my men tell me you are not eating. You are not sleeping. You are sneaking away during the weekends. You go somewhere. And now you've been poisoned. But you won't tell me the truth."

"Your men?" I questioned. 2

A humorless chuckle was heard from the other end, "you really didn't think I would let you leave without having someone watch you?"

I felt panic surface within me.

"The only thing is- my men can't tell me where you go on the weekend. My men should have seen you and rescued you the moment they saw you weak and poisoned on the campus grounds. The only problem is they didn't."

I felt numbness curl into me as I realized that Alto had trapped me in my own lies. I had admitted to it when he knew already and had proof that it never happened. He would make a great King.

"Where do you go Fayette?" the question rang within the air as I heard his voice break.

"Do not say you love me when you are seeing someone else."

I sat up then, suddenly and with all sorrow gone. 1

"Seeing someone?" 1

"You are meeting with someone in the science building. I know it."

"Alto?! I'm meeting with no one! I love no one but you! I want you- I want no one else. How can you have so little trust in me."

"My men see it. They see you go there."

I heard the sorrow within his voice, the acceptance that I had cast him aside for another. But in the moment I felt like I was about to tear the phone apart. I had too much on my plate to deal with a jealous wolf who was pointing fingers at me.

"Alto, what must I do to remind you," I said softly.

"Fayette, I just want to know why."

"Alto...let me tell you something," there was silence and I knew he was bracing himself for it, setting up a wall within his heart for my next words, "You're all my heart talks about Alto. I would choose you above anyone else. I would choose you in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality. I'd find you and I'd choose you over and over. I could have every inch of your body pressed to mine and I would say 'pull me closer."

He took a shuddering breath as I continued, pressing on with whatever form of poetry I could to console his wounded mind.

"You are my sunshine. You are my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know, Alto, how much I love you."

There was silence on the other end as I waited for Alto to respond.

"It's been...tiring without you. It's been harder than I thought it would be Fayette."

I take a shaky breath as he continues, "I have doubts and questions. Agony that I can't keep you safe. Who are you talking to? Are you missing me? Do you want me still? Do you even remember me or has someone better come to claim you."

"Never," I said, "no one could ever claim me but you."

Alto gave a small laugh, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for my outburst."

I sighed into the phone.

"I'm coming." 20

"Wait what?"

"I can't bear to be apart from you anymore. And I need you safe. You are my sunshine Fayette. I'm tried of these grey days."

I smiled into the phone, "When?"

"I'll leave in three days. I don't care if Father says no. I'm coming. I want to see you."

I laugh out loud as the sudden rush of warmth flows into me.

"I've missed you so much," I said.

"I have to my little sunshine," I smile at the nickname.

"I love you Alto." 1

"I love you Fayette."

The line stayed open before I heard the audible click of Alto hanging up.

I turned to Jasmine and Yasmine.

"EEEEKKKKKK!" Yasmine grabbed my shoulders and violently shook them as Jasmine watched smiling.

"I can't believe he's coming here!"

In my moment of blissful happiness I let Yasmine grab my hands and twirl me around the room- excited about the happy surprise. I ignored the pain that shot through my body- basking instead in the happiness.