A Darkness With No Name // Book 1: The Warriors of Light

12: Aurora's Betrayal

Song for this chapter: 10 AM, Gare Du Nord – Keaton Henson

Ian woke up in an unfamiliar room, his head pounding. He blinked, wondering if life was worth living, now that such a huge hole had opened up in his life. He didn't ponder for long though, because at that precise moment a sluice of water hit him square in the face.

He fell of the bed, cursing, amidst the rolling laughter of none other than Edward. Ian realised, too late, that this was Edward's room, and he had mysteriously changed into his pyjamas. He went an ugly shed of puce and managed to stutter out, “D-d-d-d-id you-”

“Oh no, I'd never do that,” Edward countered immediately, though his voice said completely the opposite. He turned round to face Ian, and although his mouth was twisted in a teasing grin, his eyes spoke truthfully as he said, “I had Julienne over and she tucked you up in bed. I kept you here to drool over you – I meant, to watch over you.” Ed's teasing lilt was gone in the next sentence. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

Ian sighed, dropping his sopping wet face into his hands. “I feel sick.”

Edward nodded. He knew exactly how that felt. He always felt that way when his wife didn't call him for more than a week. Speaking of which, when was the last time she'd called? He couldn't quite remember...He'd have to ask Julienne. He placed his arm soothingly on Ian's shoulder and said, “I only have one word of advice for you boy; fight and train as hard as you can. Don't lose your only chance to meet him again by being weak and dying in the fight.”

He turned around and left Ian alone to mull over his rare pieces of advice as he searched for something to wear. Ian stretched, and rose up from the floor. Edward turned, and was surprised to see the change Ian's eyes had undergone. Two minutes ago they were pleading, empty, and wide, shell-shocked at the events that had blown a hole in his already war-torn life. Now, they were hard and determined, and infinitely sad.

“I'll see you at training then, Ed,” he said, and he left the room.

Edward stared after his retreating form, and was once again reminded of Aurora. Such concentrated determination in such a small frame.

And speaking of Aurora, what was that thing she'd meant to tell him?

As if summoned, Aurora appeared in the middle of his office.

They stared at each other; he, wearing only his pyjama top and knickers, her perching daintily on his desk. Edward felt himself going red. Aurora was the only person who'd ever managed to make him fell embarrassed. “A knock would have sufficed,” he said, his voice smooth and characteristically sarcastic, completely at odds with his still-reddening face. Aurora's eyes wandered down towards the lower regions, her eyebrows rising slowly. Edward threw his pyjama bottoms at her and dashed towards the bathroom, leaving Aurora cackling, legs flailing in the air as she lay down on the desk.

Edward came out a few minutes after, having regained control over his facial blood-vessels. Aurora was still stretched out on the desk. She was so tiny she could actually fit her whole body on it, with only her toes peeking out over the edge. Edward sat down on the desk-chair, and waited.

Aurora looked at him, considering what news she'd break first.

“What?” Edward remarked.

“Oh, I'm just wondering what I'm gonna tell you first.”

“Good news, or bad news?”

Aurora's eyes darkened, and Ed felt his insides spiral into a queasy bundle of nerves. “Bad. Well, the good part of the bad news is that Lucas is fine. That's literally all the good news.”