Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.

Kael.

Her words were like sharp blades drilling holes into my skin all at once. It made my body jerk awake even though my mind didn’t feel completely cleared of the sudden haze that had suddenly clouded it.

And goddess, at this point, I couldn’t ascertain if it was because I had already started drifting into lala land, but I could not even bring myself to form a coherent sentence. Not without feeling like an abject fool.

So I forced myself into a sitting position, and for a full minute, I didn’t speak but could only blink up at her in confusion and surprise because hell, I hadn’t expected her to come here... not after listening to what her father had to say... not after everything.

She should hate me, or so I thought. But the look in her eyes told a different story. It was one clouded with annoyance and sadness... but most of all, pity.

She pitied me.

And that was something I never thought I would see. When I wouldn’t respond to her earlier question, she folded her arms across her chest and asked again; "Why have you three been avoiding me since you left my office this afternoon? Mind you, you snuck off... you didn’t even tell me you were leaving."

Dang, straight for the head!

Sometimes, I usually always forget how smart she can be. Sometimes, I forget that she is the genius brain behind most of the technological breakthroughs that pushed Frostclaw. Inc from ranking 11th in the country to second in the continent.

My hands clenched into fists by my sides and I lowered my head, suddenly feeling too ashamed to look at her. Suddenly scared of the emotions that would be laid bare in my eyes.

My heart skipped a beat when she leaned even closer and goddess, I could smell her expensive perfume... her sweet scent... and her annoyance.

"We were not avoiding you..." that was Caelum and his silly pathetic attempt at trying to iron things over.

"Really?" She snorted disbelievingly, and it took the stupid Buffon another minute to form another word. He drawled;

"Yes... trust me."

But she didn’t trust him. That was obvious.

In another pathetic attempt at making her feel better, he continued; "We left because we figured that you needed some alone time with your father, especially since you both are just meeting each other for the first time in your lives..."

That made her eyebrows raise in askance. I didn’t miss the flicker of irritation that crossed her face as she hissed; "Really?"

"Yes, really." He answered, but even a blind man could see how difficult it was for him to look at her. Not like I can blame him.

A beat of silence settled between us, one that was suddenly broken when he said softly; "I also have something to say to you."

She turned to him, cocked her eyebrows and asked; "What?"

"I have been meaning to say congratulations and to let you know how glad I am that your father is alive."

He should’ve known that that was something he was not supposed to say— at least not now, but I guess, this is Caelum. I mean, who else was stupid enough to say something like that especially after the role we played in the past?

Who the hell would say that after being literally responsible for the man’s ’supposed death?’

He opened his mouth to continue but before he could get the words out, Leilani beat him to it. "Are you glad to know that my uncle is not?" She cut in, making him slam his lips shut.

Exactly.

I shook my head. "No, we are not and we are sorry."

She turned to cast Zevran and Caelum a glance, only to turn away from them and glare at me. In her eyes was rage and betrayal... and something else. Something akin to... disbelief and sorrow all coiled up together in a tight knot.

She hissed; "Is that why you left?" She asked, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure of what to say to her. I did not know if lying my way out of this was the best option, so I nodded once.

Her sadness morphed into disappointment.

"You left because you were ashamed?" She hissed, and this time, it was Zevran who responded.

He walked over until he was close enough that his arm brushed against hers. His eyes were soft— softer than I have ever seen it— and for some reason, he looked worn out. Depressed. Like he— we— had lost.

"We couldn’t face you."

That was Zevran, always telling the truth no matter how raw it may sound. That was him reminding me of the coward that I am by hiding away behind my emotions.

"We always have not been able to accept that you forgave us so easily after finding out about the roles we played in your father’s death, and today... today after we met him and listened to his side of the story... Today after we found out that he was innocent and that we were only pawns used by our father and Beta Malakai for their devilish schemes. Today after we found out that we had killed an innocent man— your uncle, our embarrassment only grew. We realized then and there that we do not deserve you, and we hoped to disappear from your life..."

"...without informing me first." She cut in, her voice crisp and filled with... devastation.

For the first time, I looked up at her, and goddess, my heart felt like it was being shredded into a million tiny pieces when I saw the tears pooling at the corners of her eyes.

"You three decided to walk away because you found out you were wrong? What happened to saying you’re sorry?"

"Leilani, what amount of ’sorry’ can make up for what we did?" I cried, my voice breaking. "What amount of sorry can heal the wound our actions must’ve caused to your father? Did you see the way he looked at us? Did you see the look in his eyes?"

"Were you expecting him to look at you with love in his eyes, even after knowing that you three are the children of one of his worst enemies?"

"No."

"So of course, there would be some hostility in his eyes. He will not like you just like that. You have to grow on him!"

I didn’t speak after she said that because come to think of it, what do I say?

How do I explain that it cannot be that easy?

How do I tell her that my guilt was eating deep into me?

I was jolted out of my thoughts when warm hands pressed against my face and I blinked just in time to see Leilani looking up at me with eyes full of... love.

Am I seeing things?

She drawled; "I will not lose you, not because of your cowardice or because of a past that does not define who you are. I will not lose you three because you are afraid. As a matter of fact, I am holding off from moving out of this house until you all come to terms with the fact that whatever happened happened in the past."

I could not help it, I gasped.

"Leilani...?"

"...I’m going off to sleep." She cut in with a note of finality in her tone.

My heart raced as I watched her pick up her bag and walk towards the stairs. However, she had just climbed the first stair when she suddenly stopped and turned to us, her eyes bright as she muttered;

"Also... I need your help. All of you."

Our heads snapped up in unison.

"My father and I plan to get back at Darius. He played a huge role in what happened and we plan to ensure that he doesn’t continue to sit on his stolen throne."

"And you need our help?" Caelum asked, confused.

She nodded.

"Why?"

"Because I trust you three. You’re the only ones I trust," she drawled, and with a wide smile, added; "...Maya too."