Dead if you do, Dead if you don't

Chapter 8 Confessions

I breathe in as I open the door to the throne room.

"Athena, We didn't know you got back early." Queen Charlene says in her cheerful tone.

"I need to speak to y'all. In private." I say looking over to the civilians who were meeting with the royal family. King Malik dismissed them.

"I have something I need to confess." I say, a lump forming in my throat. The King nodded for me to continue.

"I was sent to infiltrate your ranks, to assassinate y'all." I heard the Queen gasp. I looked down at the floor, not able to meet their faces.

"How could you do this to us?" I looked up and saw the heartbreak on Cassian's face.

"I was forced." I reply.

"My father became the head of a rebellion and assassin group after my mother died. He forced me to do unimaginable things, and he said that if I didn't do it then he would kill Aster or make her do it instead. I couldn't let him make Aster into a murderer so I would do what he asked." I sighed.

"My father has had a grudge against y'all for a long time so he sent me to infiltrate your forces and get close to you then kill you. But I did the worst thing an assassin can do." I paused.

"I started to actually care for your family. Look, I don't care what happens to me, torture me, behead me, I don't care. Just don't let him hurt Aster, and don't punish her. She's only a kid. She joined the royal guard to escape our father." Cassian got up and walked out of the room. I felt tears start to flood my eyes. Then Lillie gets up,

"I'll go talk to him." she says as she walks out of the room.

"Why are you just now telling us this?" The Queen asks, in a soft voice.

"I was scared of what my father would do to Aster. I was supposed to give him information on y'all but he could tell I was holding back information, so he threatened to hurt Aster. I tried to blame me failing on him but on founder's day he got violent and actually hurt me. I want him away from Aster and I can't continue going against y'all. I can't continue to hurt y'all." My voice cracked at the end.

"Who is your father?" King Malik asks.

"Derrik Carter, but you would know him as Deimos Barrett." As I spoke the King's gaze flashed to mine with horror. He whispered to the Queen. She stands up and tells me to follow her.

We walked out into the hall where Cassian and Lillie were talking.

"How am I supposed to trust her? Was everything so that she could stab me in the back?" He asked. I could see the anger written all over his face.

"I think we can trust her. Why would she tell us everything if we couldn't? I think she actually cares about us. You didn't see her face after you left. She was about to burst into tears, and did you see her eye? She tried to cover it with makeup but I can still see that she has a black eye. Her father has really scared her." Lillie says. Aster walks up, looking confused.

'Your sister told us everything.' Lillie signs. Aster's face flashed with horror.

'Is it true? Did your father threaten you?' Lillie asked.

Aster nodded, 'Athena more than me but yes.'

'I'm so sorry I should have talked to you first but I couldn't deal with him anymore.' I said, walking up to them.

'It's ok. Are we going to be in trouble?' Aster asked.

"We are still deciding what's going to happen to y'all" Queen Charlene said as she takes me into the meeting room.

"Anything else you are keeping from us?" Nora asks, not able to look at me.

"No... wait! Yes, there is a secret base. If you give me a map I can show you where it is." I say. Nora hands me a map and gives me a quill. I circle the area where the base is. The Queen leaves to go talk to King Malik.

"So, was our friendship fake? Or did you actually care about me?" Nora asked.

"No, it wasn't fake. I actually cared about you." I replied.

"Why did you do it? Go behind our backs?" Nora looks up at me.

"My father threatened to hurt Aster, what else was I supposed to do? Let him kill her? I had to make sure she was safe first. I would do anything for my sister, you have to understand that." I say, still looking down at the floor.

"I understand, I didn't know he threatened her. I would've done the same for my brother." She sighs.

"Alright Nora, you're coming with us." The King says as he and Cassin walk in.

"Wh-where are you going?" I ask.

"To meet your father." Cassian said, coldly.

"Then I'm coming with you." I say.

"No you're not, you've betrayed us enough." Cassian glares at me.

"Well, have fun getting trapped in the maze-like tunnels and have fun getting in the base to begin with." I say.

"You can come." King Malik says.

We meet up with a small army of guards. We discussed the plan before riding to Redmere.

After three hours we finally arrive at the base. I knock on the wood in a specific pattern. Kenna opens the door and her face turns to shock as she sees everyone.

"You did it." She smiles.

"I did." I smile back. Kenna wraps me in a hug.

"Come in. You have perfect timing. He's in a meeting with some other heads of the organization." Kenna says as we walk down the winding stairs. We walk past my room,

"Wait, I have to get something really fast." I say. Cassian is ordered to stay with me while the others continue.

"This is your room?" Cassian asks.

"It was, looks like my father tore through it while I was gone." I reply.

"It looks horrible." Cassian says. He was right. My whole room has papers all over the floor, my bed was torn up and my drawers were ripped apart.

"Probably one of his fits of rage." I shook my head. I grabbed a notebook and put it in my pocket.

"Ok, we can go." I say, avoiding Cassian's gaze.

"We stopped for a notebook?" He asks.

"Yes, it was my mothers, I'm not leaving it." I say walking out of my torn up room.

We met up with the others who were about to enter my fathers office. The door opened with a loud bang.

"What is this?!" I heard my father demand.

"We know your secrets Deimos." My fathers eyes widened as the King spoke, then his gaze turned to me.

"You! You betrayed me! I should kill you for that!" He yelled.

"You are a failure. All you have ever done your whole life is be a disappointment and that's all you will ever be. You think they care for you? They will turn on you as soon as they get the chance." He spat before grabbing a gun. He aims towards Kenna.

"No!" I scream as the bullet flies out of his gun. I rushed over to Kenna, but I was too late. My knees give out as I hold onto Kenna.

"That will teach you not to go against me." He laughed. I turn to him, rage burning into my mind.

"You will regret that." I close my fists.

"Oh I'm so scared." He mocks. I punch him in the face, knocking him out.

I turn to Kenna's lifeless body on the ground. I collapse to the ground sobbing. I feel a pair of arms around me.

"Get off of me." I cry out but the arms stay wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight hug.