The Assassin's Conquer (Book Two)

Chapter Thirty-Alexandria

Ryia appeared with Niamh and Leo. I was relieved, for I thought she was going to disappear again. "Niamh, these are my friends" Ryia said. "I know who they are! They let us stay in the castle when our camp burned down!" Niamh said. "You....did?" Ryia asked, looking at me. Leo laughed and said, "yeah, I guess I forgot to tell you that". Ryia sighed.

Niamh ran over to me and hugged me. I was shocked that she did that. I didn't know what to do. Should I hug her back? Gosh, I really wasn't good with kids. "I'm happy to see you again, Alexandria!" She said. Before I could respond, she hugged Terrin. Terrin made an annoyed face, but Niamh didn't see. I could tell Terrin didn't like kids. Then, she ran over and hugged Aaron. I wasn't too surprised at his reaction. He hugged her back and said, "I missed you, Niamh!"

"I missed you too!" She said. So Aaron was the type of guy who liked kids. I never knew that about him. I was surprised that he never told me. I wasn't to surprised, Aaron was the kindest man I had ever met. Niamh walked over to Ryia and held her hand. I didn't think that Ryia would be the type of girl that loved kids, but she seemed to do really good around little Niamh.

"Alright Niamh, can you go play with Leo? I need to talk to my friends" Ryia said. Niamh nodded. She took Leo's hand, and he led her out of the room. Ryia looked at us when they left. "Alright, explain yourself!" Said Terrin. He sounded angry and frustrated. For once, Ryia looked scared. What was going on with her? She twiddled her thumbs and looked down.

"I....I did some things during fae camp....things I regret" she quietly said. She sighed and looked up at us. "I....I can't live, knowing I did these things. I didn't want any of you hurt....so I pushed you away. I made you hate me, so I wouldn't hurt you like I hurt the others" she said. "Ryia..." I said. "No! If I tell you, I know you'll think of me as evil. As a monster! So I can't be around anymore. It's best if I go" Ryia said.

"We don't want you to go, Ryia! Do you know how much we missed you?" I asked. "If I tell you.....you'll regret the very thought of even knowing me" Ryia said. I sighed. Aaron looked up at Ryia. "Can....I tell you something?" He asked. Ryia looked confused, but she nodded. Was Aaron really going to tell her, and in front of Terrin? I knew what he was going to say, but he only trusted me with his secret that he told me long ago. Could he really trust Ryia and Terrin?

"When I was seven......I ran away from home, due to my abusive parents" Aaron said. Ryia looked at him sympathetically. "Just before I joined the army.....I found out that they were going to be put on trial. I was forced to go. In the end, the judge made me decide if they would live....or die" Aaron said. Ryia lightly gasped. I clenched my eyes shut.

"We all have things we regret. I've only told Alexandria about this.....and she excepted me for who I am. I don't see why she won't do the same to you" Aaron said. "You....chose for them to die, didn't you?" Ryia asked. Aaron shook his head. "When the man asked me for my decision, I simply walked away with no response. The judge chose to kill them. But it was my fault. I could have saved them, but I was too selfish" Aaron whispered.

I smiled sympathetically at Aaron. He smiled back. Ryia took a deep breath. "Alright" she said, "I'll tell you".