Supernova

Chapter Seventy Eight - You Are Now Leaving the SHA!

A/N: Well, here we are. This is the second last back chapter before all the chapters take place in the UA timeline. Sentimental thank you to everyone who has stuck with me & this story so far.

And on that note, welcome to the betrayal arc.

"I have a surprise for you," Elias told me, coming into the bathroom to interrupt the bath I'd been in for the better part of the evening after a long day of solo training, breaking me out of my daydreams.

I can't say that I loved the sound of that.

But I wasn't really in any position to refuse him. With my habit of swinging back and forth like a pendulum between Elias and Demon, and my hatred for Demon newly reignited after his blatant rejection, what else did I have to crash into but Elias? I'll give credit where credit is due, Elias had been being quite sweet to me ever since we got back from our last tour month. Though I had tried to be subtle about it, my mood had changed after that conversation with Demon, and Elias knew it, because of course he did.

Whatever. What was another night of lying through my teeth if it meant I got to feel the fleeting tingle of his hand brushing mine, and maybe even get a present for my diligence? I'd entertain his bullshit attempt at a dorm room date. I'd smile and hold his hand and watch him move through the motions of yet another attempt to woo and convince me. I'd find scraps of sensation and kindness to cling to. I didn't love that train of thought, but it was, as would absolutely thrill the shit out of Edric Stronghold, a very princess-like way of thinking.

"Oh?" I said back, kicking the plug to drain the tub. "And what might that be?"

"Come out and see," he told me, dipping back into the main room and closing the door behind him.

I can't say I loved the sound of that either.

But I got out of the lowering water and dried off with one of the black towels all the same. I didn't feel like getting back into my dirty training clothes, so the towel was all I was wrapped in as I walked into our main space where the closets were to find some clothes.

I couldn't really put my finger on why, but what I found waiting for me creeped me the fuck out.

Elias had lit candles. Long white sticks with fine flickering flames at their tops in golden holders sat on the bar, the dresser, the nightside tables. I had no idea where Elias had gotten candlesticks, or their holders for that matter, but I supposed that should really have been the least of my worries. We had just done an entire month of missions, and Elias was not only resourceful, but the sneakiest thief I had ever met.

There were two champagne flutes on the bar, filled with some type of bubbling liquid too tainted to suggest soda. Forget the candlesticks. Where the hell had Elias gotten champagne?

What troubled me the most was how he was dressed. His button up shirt and pants, which were not necessarily out of place, were fancier than usual. He had some type of product in his hair. He wasn't wearing his gloves. As far as my clothing, he'd thought ahead of that too. There was a dress I'd never seen before and most certainly hadn't brought with me to Switzerland waiting on the bed for me.

"What's all this?" I asked him, trying not to sound shaky.

"A surprise," he said.

"Why?" I asked. He was acting so casual, but his eyes were flaring something not only wild, but unfamiliar.

"I just thought it would be nice."

This felt like meeting him for the very first time all over again, when I'd wondered what the fuck I'd gotten myself into and if I'd bitten off more than I could chew.