Legends of Mirandis Academy

Chapter 47: In the Rubble and Ruin

"You're going to crush your coffee cup."

"Luna—" Brielle rubbed her temples, but loosened her grip. The styrofoam creaked beneath her fingers. "I'm so—agh. Thank you for agreeing to come out with me. I'm so frustrated with this."

"So you had the meeting, right?" Luna's hands slid around her own cup. Nervous. Brielle couldn't blame her.

"Yes," she told Luna. "And needless to say, it was awful." Samson's grim smile, his conniving words, the defeated face of Iridia, it all burned behind her eyes. "Ugh, I wanted so badly to believe it wasn't her, but I don't see how it couldn't be! He knew so much and the only way he could have known all those details is if it came right from her mouth to his ears."

Brielle shook her head, trying to rid herself of the memories. Across from her, Luna was muttering something under her breath. She sounded sympathetic, but Brielle wasn't paying much attention. She gazed listlessly at the stained concrete beneath their chairs. It was too cold outside for any sane person to be choosing the outdoor seating of a coffee shop, but luckily neither Brielle nor Luna were particularly sane right now.

"It's like I'm at war with myself," Brielle said. She stared down at her coffee. "I want to believe her so badly. I love being with her, but every logical path leads to the conclusion that she betrayed me. And I think... I think logic triumphs this time. I can't let my feelings keep getting in the way. I can't do this with her."

"Brielle, you... you don't mean that."

"I confronted her and she refused to admit it! She's the only reasonable suspect left. If she had just been honest with me then we could have worked through it, but we can't if she keeps lying."

Brielle glanced across the table. Luna was able to go from a neutral or even smiling face to crying very easily, so it was no surprise that her eyes were in the beginning stages of glossing up. "This is awful. I'm sorry, Brielle."

"It's not your fault, Luna." Brielle's voice was gruff. She looked away as she spoke—then wondered if the motion was suspicious. Did Luna notice?

She was so preoccupied that she almost missed Luna's next words. "Did... did Samson say what he wanted?"

Now, Brielle was certain she looked guilty. There had to be something in her eyes, in her posture! Luna's tone was too casual. She was avoiding Brielle's eyes just as much as Brielle was avoiding hers.

Brielle cleared her throat. Never admit to a lie—that was what Luna had taught her. It was because of Luna that Brielle had been able to accept her own feelings for Iridia. It was because of Luna that Brielle had been able to step forwards, to cast aside perfection and embrace happiness. For, even now—even after the terrible information Brielle had learned—Iridia and happiness were one and the same.

Luna had given her so much. And Brielle had struck a deal to betray her.

"The terms haven't been decided yet." Brielle kept her words clipped, as if she could somehow reveal less by speaking quickly. "They wanted me to sabotage Iridia. But I refused."

"So... nothing has happened yet."

Brielle stifled panic. Luna sounded so urgent! Brielle wanted to shake her, to demand why it seemed as if she already knew how much this would damage her. She wanted to spill everything, dignity abandoned, just for a single moment's relief. No more secrets. No more schemes.

Instead, Brielle took a small sip of coffee. "Nothing has happened, yet," she confirmed.

Luna had taught her how to scheme. And Luna was going to pay for it.