Echoes of Betrayal

Chapter Twenty Alexander

I leaned against the trunk of a large oak tree, watching my little sister, Azzie, as she spoke. Her white hair glowed in the moonlight, and her light blue eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and worry. She was only eighteen, much too young to be dealing with the burdens our family often faced.

"Why are you here, Azzie?" I asked, keeping my voice low to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. "You know it's dangerous to be out this late, especially around the academy grounds."

Azzie sighed, her expression shifting to one of frustration. "Father had one of his mean outbursts again. It was worse than usual, and I didn't want to stay at home and face his wrath. So, I came to see you."

I frowned, feeling a surge of protective anger towards our father. His outbursts were becoming more frequent, and it wasn't fair for Azzie to be caught in the crossfire. "You should have sent me a message. I would have come to get you."

She shook her head. "I needed to get away, Alex. Being near you makes me feel safe." She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.

I hugged her back, feeling a pang of guilt for not being there for her more often. "You're always welcome here, Azzie. But you need to be careful. This place isn't without its dangers either."

Before I could say anything else, a sudden noise broke the silence. We both turned towards the source, and I saw a figure in the shadows. My heart skipped a beat when I realized it was Karyna. She looked startled, and her eyes widened as she recognized us.

"Karyna," I called out, but she had already turned and started to run away.

"Azzie, stay here," I said quickly, breaking free from her embrace and taking a step forward. "I'll be right back."

"No, Alex," she said, grabbing my arm. "Let her go. She probably thinks... she probably thinks something else. Let her calm down first."

I paused, torn between following Karyna and staying with my sister. Azzie's grip on my arm tightened, and I could see the concern in her eyes. Reluctantly, I nodded, knowing she was right.

"Fine," I said, my voice laced with frustration. "But I need to talk to her later and explain."

"Of course," Azzie agreed. "But right now, I need you."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Alright. Let's get you settled for the night. We can talk more in the morning."

As we walked back towards the dormitories, my mind was racing with thoughts of Karyna. The look on her face when she saw us together was etched in my memory, and I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and frustration. I needed to make things right with her, to explain the situation and reassure her that there was nothing going on with Azzie and me.

But that would have to wait. Right now, my sister needed me, and I couldn't let her down. I would find a way to fix things with Karyna.

I would find a way to fix things with Karyna, even if I didn't yet fully understand why it mattered so much to me. For now, I caught up with my sister, falling into an easy conversation as we walked back towards my dorm.

"So, what else has been going on with you?" I asked Azzie, trying to focus on her rather than the whirlwind of thoughts about Karyna.

Azzie shrugged, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. "Not much, really. Just trying to stay out of Father's way and focus on my studies. But it's been hard, you know? Sometimes I feel like I'm just biding my time until something worse happens."

I nodded, understanding her plight all too well. Our father's temper was legendary, and it had only gotten worse over the years. "I'm sorry you have to deal with that, Azzie. I wish there was more I could do."

"You're here for me now, Alex. That's enough," she said, offering me a small, reassuring smile.

We continued walking in silence for a few moments before I decided to share something that had been bothering me. "Mother's been at the academy a lot lately," I said, glancing at Azzie to gauge her reaction.

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? That's unusual. She normally stays away from the academy unless it's something important. Did she say why?"

I shook my head. "No, she hasn't told me anything. But she's been... different. More intense, if that's even possible. She's been training one of the students—Karyna, actually. It's like she's on a mission or something."

Azzie frowned, deep in thought. "That's strange. Mother's always been secretive, but if she's focusing so much on one student, it must be for a reason. Do you know what kind of training she's giving her?"

"Not really," I admitted. "But I get the feeling it's something big. Karyna has this relic that seems to be important. Mother's been pushing her hard to unlock its power."

Azzie looked at me with concern. "Be careful, Alex. You know how Mother can be when she's fixated on something. If she's that invested in Karyna, it might mean trouble."

"I know," I said, my mind once again drifting back to Karyna. "I just wish I knew what Mother was planning."

As we reached my dorm, I put an arm around Azzie's shoulders. "Let's not worry about it too much tonight. You need rest, and we can think about this more in the morning."

She nodded, her expression softening. "Thanks, Alex. I really needed this."

We entered the dorm, and I helped her get settled in the spare bed. As I watched her drift off to sleep, my thoughts returned to Karyna and the mysterious pull I felt towards her. I didn't fully understand my feelings yet, but I knew for certain I would protect her, no matter what.

After getting Azzie settled in, I found myself unable to sleep. The incident with Karyna weighed heavily on my mind. I decided to write her a letter, hoping to clear the air and perhaps arrange a time to talk.

I sat at my desk, the soft glow of a candle casting flickering shadows on the walls. Picking up a quill, I began to write:

Karyna,

I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to meet you this evening to discuss what happened earlier. Could you meet me at the old oak tree after dinner?

Best, Alexander

Folding the letter, I quietly slipped out of my dorm and made my way to hers. The hallways were silent, the only sound being my soft footsteps against the stone floor. Reaching her door, I gently pushed the letter underneath and returned to my dorm, hoping for a positive response.

To my surprise, a response came almost immediately. I unfolded the piece of parchment and read:

Alexander,

I appreciate the gesture, but I'm meeting your mother in Thornwood this evening. Perhaps we can talk another time.

Karyna

My brow furrowed as I read the response. What was my mother doing with Karyna in Thornwood? That village had been abandoned for decades, left to crumble and be reclaimed by nature. The unease in my gut deepened. Why there, of all places?

I returned to my dorm, my mind racing with questions. What could my mother possibly want in Thornwood? And why was Karyna involved?

As I lay in bed, sleep eluded me, thoughts of Karyna and my mother's mysterious plans swirling in my mind. Eventually, exhaustion overcame me, and I drifted into a restless sleep, filled with fragmented dreams of dark corridors and whispered secrets.