The Kingdom of Broken Glass

Betrayal

(Julian's Point of View)

Raysa's laugh sounded through the field, echoing around them. He dove forward for half a second, meaning to grab Liza and protect her, before he realized what was happening. The girl he loved, the girl that he trusted more than anyone, had just led him into a trap. She had betrayed him to the fullest extent. His heart cracked, breaking into pieces that he swore he could feel.

Raysa and Nathaniel appeared before them, but Julian barely noticed. He was so focused on Liza, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. There was no way this was happening. His entire body felt frozen, and he felt as if he was rooted to the ground. Liza was his first love, she is his first love, and she had traded him for someone they had only known a couple of months. They have barely even known Raysa for a whole season.

Liza refused to meet his eyes.

Raysa and Eleazar spoke to each other, Julian could hear them talking but he was not processing their words. Nothing was processing with him right now. The only thing in his vision was Liza. She stood with her head hung low. Her hair was falling into her face and reminding him of the Liza that he used to know, except that Liza would never betray him. She had actively led into danger, knowing there was a grave chance that he would be hurt, she was probably counting on it. Julian's heart clenched at the thought.

Suddenly, fire shot out of Raysa's hands in his direction. Well, Eleazar's direction but Julian was standing right next to him. His fight or flight instinct kicked in, but he knew that he would never run. He had asked Eleazar to do this for him, he could not leave the man behind to die.

Julian threw himself to the side, ducking out of Raysa's aim. He rolled on the ground for a moment, wanting to stay as low as possible before getting into a crouched position. His eyes scanned the field, trying to make sure that Liza was also out of the line of fire. She had stumbled backwards it seemed and was sitting on the ground behind Nathaniel.

Their eyes connected for the first time since Raysa had got here. He was forced to lurch to the side, avoiding another stream of fire from Raysa's hands, but he never lost eye contact with the girl he loved. Liza looked nervous and he could see the war raging behind her eyes. He hoped with all of his might that she would turn on Raysa and help them instead. She didn't seem to want to help Raysa, which was a positive sign at least.

Julian hears Eleazar cry out and he knows that he has to do something fast. He grabs a crumpled piece of paper out from his pocket, the same paper that he had written another letter for Liza except this one he had never sent, and sends it instead to Amon. It went up in flames as it would appear in front of Amon any second now. Him and Violet were not far from here, but still they would need to come fast.

Julian looked back to the action, noticing Nathaniel also stepping out of the way of the fight. Nathaniel was ready though, he had his fighting gear on and his weapons already in hand. Julian felt another sting of despair go through him as he watched his previous mentor. Over the last couple of months, he had developed a friendship with Nathaniel. Yes, Nathaniel was his mentor first, and friend second, but Julian had really liked him. He hoped that they would not have to fight today.

After another couple of minutes, Amon and Violet finally ran into the field. The fighting briefly stopped at their presence. Julian ran to Amon's side, backing Eleazar up fully. The four of them were a force to be reckoned with.

Raysa acknowledged Amon, something she had not done with Julian. For some reason, Raysa had taken it seriously personally when Amon had left her. He only left because Merigold had wanted him to, and yet Raysa seemed to take this as a personal attack. A dark look passed over her face as she spoke to her previous student.