◇ Too Many Secrets ◇

▪︎Verena▪︎

"Do you remember how well-trained we were?" Dawling said watching some students training video "Rosalind.."

"..put us through hell" Ben laughed "I've still got the scars"

"And not one of the students took down a simulation Burned One." sighed looking at her notes "Most of them gave up"

"They're not ready yet, which is why me are training them" Saul grunted wearily, glancing at me.

He was weird with me. The two of us drifted apart a little. When I tried to approach him, he made some excuse. As if he was trying to avoid me. Or he acted cold with me. But always looking at me worried, from afar. I thought we were fine with each other. And I don't remember doing anything to upset him.

I was even tempted to look at his memories, but the one time I did, I hated it. I was hoping he would tell me himself, but so far nothing.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when the door is slammed open.

"Marco" Saul got up worried "what happened?"

Taking advantage of the closer I was, I helped him to a chair. I get down in front of him analyzing him

"Noura and I were tracking a Burned One not far from the school." groaned in pain. I take his hand off his hip, seeing his bloodstained shirt. I lift it up seeing the injurie. It was much smaller than mine, but it was deep "Once we killed it, we let our guard down. It was't alone."

The time is coming.

"I'll get some Zanbag" Ben announced going towards the door

"Please let Nicolai know" I beg

He agreed with a nod

"How close was it to the school?" Dawling asked

"Noura and the battalion will take care of it. Don't worry" he looked at them thoughtfully "But, we were taught that the the Burned Ones are solitary hunters. two of them traveling togheter.."

"Well, it's rare, but it happens" I look over my shoulder seeing their exchange of glances. They don't even try to hide how worried they are

"It happened to me" I commented giving Marco a friendly smile "I was surrounded by four"

I lift my shirt showing him.

"At least yours will have a cool scar" he said making me laugh "Mine will look horrible"

"It's going to be a charm" I wink at him playfully

"Then we should alert the Solarians"

Saul's thick voice caught our attention.

His posture was rigid with his arms crossed, and he was staring at me not looking like he was in a good mood.

"We tried. They've been radio silent for days. And they pulled their troops from the battalion"

oh ou. Shit. Shit. Shit. Stella.

"What?" Saul asked "When was the last time you spoke with Luna?"

"It's been a while"

"Is there something happening I should know about?" Marco asked curious

Dawling hesitated before replying.

"The queen removed her daughter from the school over a week ago. Since then, she's been distant"

"We don't have many more troops. If the Solarians abandon us, we're in serious trouble" there was a few seconds of silence "Do you know anything Neith?"

I look up at him noticing I was making a face that probably hinted that I knew something. Well, I really knew.

"No" I deny uncomfortable having them staring at me "If I knew I would say"

"I don't believe you" I look at Saul, surprised "You know something but you don't want to tell us. In fact, there's a lot you're hiding"

"If I had known that the Solarians had withdrawn I would have told you or sought help"

"Did you order them to leave?"

"What? No," I exclaimed, offended, "Why would I do that?"

"I don't know" he shrugged his shoulders "You tell me. Because it's weird that you disappear in one night, and then the troops leave. Or you whisper with your friends, or you stay on the phone all the time"

"Luna cut us off. Nobody answers us. And she left everyone who was with me out too so they wouldn't give me information. The phone calls and messages, it's me trying to get something" His posture softened. "How can you think that of me Saul? All I've done is try to help and you accuse me like that?"

He uncrosses his arms looking at me guiltily.

"What about the soldiers you called last time? Can you ask for their help?" Marco looked at me hopeful

"They're on a mission outside of Solaria. I haven't had contact with them for a while. Sorry."

I whisper guiltily to him. He squeezes my hand showing me he understands.

"I'll help Marco to the greenhouse" Dawling said already pulling Marco with her.

I wait until the door is closed and turn to Saul.

"How did the idea of ​​me taking the battalion cross your mind?" I ask

He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

"Is that why you've been acting weird with me the last few days?"

"You've been acting weird" he countered, getting angry again.

"No I haven't"

"Yes, you have" he insisted, running his hands through his hair. He did this when he was frustrated "Let's start with the labyrinth fire. Your nose bleeds all the time. And you practically died for a few seconds"

"Believe me, I'm also crazy to know what the fuck is happening to me because I have no idea. When I find out I'll tell you" I smile cynically

"Okay. And you said you were looking for information, but I doubt these conversations make you smile like that"

"Like what, Saul?"

"With affection. With longing. It's not the same, but it's similar to the way you smile at me"

Cassian. I've been talking to him a lot this week. I miss him. And I can't wait for them to meet. That way Saul won't feel threatened like he does now.

"You think I'm cheating on you" I said with a sigh.

Part of me was hurt that he thought that, but if I were in his shoes, I would be scared too.

He looked at me and what I saw on his face and in his eyes sank my heart.

He was vulnerable and insecure. Very different from the man I see every day.

I approach him kissing him passionately. Trying to convey through the kiss how much I loved him. Our tongues in a slow and delicious dance. I hug his neck caressing his hair. His grip on my body tightened, closing any space for me to pull away. Like I want to get away from him.

I pull our mouths away from lack of air.

"The person I've been talking to is far from a threat to you Saul. When you meet him, you'll understand" I assured focusing on his eyes "You're the one I share a bed with every day. The one I dream of spending the rest of my life with. It's for you that I gave myself. It's for you that I said yes"

"And that night you left without saying anything?"

"I went to see Stella" Half truth "Luna was being...Luna"

He looked more relieved. But there was still something bothering him.

He studied my face before pulling me in for another kiss. This one was different. Maybe sad, or something else, I can't say what, but it was.

"We need to go see Marco in the greenhouse" I say walking away again. I give him one last peck before heading to the door.

"Who's Cassian?" His question kept me from opening the doorknob. My body froze and I forgot how to breathe.

"What?" It can't be.

"You heard right" I turn slowly to him.

"Where did you hear that name?"

"You said it in your sleep. More than once in the last few days" he looked me up and down "I'll ask again, and I expect an answer this time. Who, it, Cassian?"

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▪︎Author▪︎

"I thought they wouldn't show up" Nicolai greeted his friend with a smile.

Soon he noticed that she was a little pale and haggard. Something happened, and she sure used magic. Which wasn't a good idea considering her condition.

"How are you Marco?" she asked feeling Saul's hands on her shoulders and a kiss on the head.

"What did you mean earlier in Dawling's office?" she frowned "About scars being a charm"

"Ah" She chuckled "Some women like it. Scars are stories, and if the story is about a battle where you fought for your life" She said dramatically making the mens laugh "That'll get her attention. She'll find you interesting. But not all are like that. So be careful"

"And how did he get your attention?" He asked pointing to the man behind her "I'm curious" his body stiffened with pain as Ben prepared the Zambaq

Saul looked at her too, wanting to know.

"First it was his eyes. Then the way he danced with me" she broke free of Saul walking through the greenhouse. This was distracting Marco from the pain "Then the way he talked to me. Then......" She stopped talking, wondering whether to continue or not

"Then.....?" Nicolai insisted having fun

He knew what she was thinking.

Her eyes roamed over Saul's body until they stopped in a specific spot, and she smiled the most malicious smile any of them had ever seen. Her eyes glowing with a lust that Saul used to see only within four walls.

Nicolai tried to hold back his laughter, but it gave a coughing fit that made Ben and Marco laugh along with Verena. Distracting them from Saul's reaction. Which he was grateful for feeling his face heat up a little.

Stopping laughing Verena looked towards him seeing his serious face.

"Don't look at me like that. Nicolai who asked" shrugged, patting her friend on the back

"And you Silva?" Marco asked again "How did she get the attention of the great Saul Silva who never gave a damn about any woman"

Saul looked at the brunette with a small smile. A smile that showed anyone who looked at him how much in love he was with her. And she reflected the same thing in her eyes.

Saul remembered the night he met her. What hooked him was her innocent smile, that at the same time it showed the lack of innocence in her.

The nightclub door opened, making the lights shine on her like a magical rainbow.

He also remembered her pulling him to dance with her. Their bodies pressed together, allowing them to feel the places they wanted to explore.

"Her smile," he replied, interrupting his thoughts "The rest I'll keep to myself"

"I'm really happy for you guys" Ben approached Marco with the Zambaq ready "But sometimes I wonder how you guys put up with each other. I remember when Verena arrived in Alfea, she seemed to want to rip your head off Saul. And now she's agreed to marry with you. Courageous to agree to be with someone so grumpy"

"I'm not grumpy" he defended himself with a grimace.

"He's the brave one for asking" Nicolai said hugging her by the shoulders.

"Shut up Nic" slapped his belly "When it was with you I kept quiet"

Ben began to apply Zambak to the wound carefully. Marco bit his lip trying to hold back the sounds of pain. Failing miserably.

"All right, be honest. Am i doing better or worse than old man Silver here?"

"Well, your first Burned One wound is alway the most...painful" Ben explained "Consider it a rite of passage"

"That means 'worse' by the way" Saul smiled putting his hand on Marco's shoulder.

"Did i hear right that Andrea's son played a role in taking down the one that got you?"

"Mm-hmm." he agreed "He'll be a fine soldier"

"Does he have any of Andrea's less ideal qualities, his bloodlust?"

"We've taken our time with him. Were been careful. He's his own man. You know"

Marco groaned again in pain as more Zambaq was applied to his wound.

"Well need to keep doing this twice a day because it will spread. Slowly" also applied to the leg "Weeks to months"

"I ain't worried. Noara and the battalion will track it down by the end of the day" On a cue, his phone started ringing "Would you look at that. There she is now" answered the call excited "What's the status?"

"They're dead" Noura's voice sounded breathless, drawing everyone's attention

"What?"

"The entire battalion. They're all dead"

Saul, Verena and Nicolai went behind Marco wanting to see the call. Noura's face was bruised and covered in blood and dirt.

"I think my leg is broken. I can't fight"

"Well send someone for you"

"You don't understand" Noura looked around listening to the Burned One's growl. When she moved the phone, the skeletal figure of the creature appeared just a few steps away.

"Get yourself to the Barrier, Noura." Saul ordered "Get yourself to the Barrier"

"Noura, it's behind you. Run!" Marco screamed in desperation "Noura, run! Now!"

She struggled to her feet and began to run. Her injured leg made her limp, preventing her from going any faster.

"I'm so sorry, Marco. I couldn't kill the one that attacked you."

"keep moving. You've got this. Remember what we trained for"

"I can't outrun all of them"

"'Them'?"

Saul looked to the side seeing Verena being held by Nicolai. Her face pale and wet from the tears that were falling non-stop. Her eyes glazed over the screen without blinking.

"Yes, you can. Move"

Noura seemed to trip over something and fell to the floor.

Marco begged her to get up. But it was too late. The Burn appeared on camera and attacked the injured woman. The sounds of her body being mutilated and her screams making everyone shiver. Verena also screamed in fright and turned her face away. Silva pulled her to her chest, holding her tightly. Her body was shaking and it was hot. He placed a hand on her cheek feeling the heat. She was burning with fever.

"I need to get to her. I can't sit.." Cried Marco being held by Nicolai and Harvey.

"Wait" Nicolai placed his hand on his chest and held him "She said 'them' "

Everyone turned their attention to the phone hearing more footsteps approaching.

Several Burned Ones appeared, running over the camera.

"How many of them are there?" Marco asked

They heard a sob and turned to see Verena crying. She was in shock. She broke free and hurried out of the greenhouse. Silva tried to follow her, but was stopped by Nicolai.

"Let me take care of her" He ran after her without looking back.

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kisses and I hope you like it♡♡♡

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