Shadows of Truth and Deception (Levi • OC)

CHAPTER 29 - Apologies

apology /əˈpɒlədʒi/ — a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure

     Aiden and Jasper were in another inn with Mila, Carter, and Isaac. Reinae found them in the small dining space, their heads hanging low, each silently focusing on their plate of bland food. She had to take a deep breath and force her legs to move to their table.

     Her brother was the first to notice her approaching, as if he'd sensed her presence. He immediately stood up, his mouth opening to utter a flood of questions and apologies, but Reinae lifted a hand, making him sit back down slowly. She took a chair from the neighboring table and sat between Aiden and Mila.

     She felt the heaviness of their stares, each harboring a mountain of worries, scoldings, questions. Before they could speak, she downed what was left of her brother's beer and sighed.

     "First, there are some things I need to say," she started stiffly, meeting their eyes. "As a captain, that is." Her eyes lingered on Jasper. "In the last few days, many things transpired, and I did a poor job of informing you or guiding you through it all."

     "None of us blames you- "

     "I know," she softly interrupted Carter. "But I still let you down, if you blame me for it or not. So there are some things you should know that I should've told you days ago. First," she said, her throat closing up. "We have failed twice. The first time, it only raised questions from the Military Police, who wanted to take Eren into custody. Now, it has caused dissatisfaction and anger throughout the Capital. The damage to Stohess is... great. And we have discovered nothing—at least nothing worthy to them."

     "So what do we do?" Isaac asked, leaning forward on the table, his hazel eyes full of worry.

     "Nothing for now." Reinae scrunched her nose in annoyance. "All of us responsible for this raid are being called in for questioning in about... ten minutes," she said, glancing at the clock on the wall, entirely unphased by the fact she'd be late. "What happens after that is unknown."

     "What happened to the Female Titan?" Mila asked sternly.

     Reinae barely visibly flinched. "I'm not sure. They took her underground for monitoring."

     "Will they try breaking the substance around her?"

     "I don't know, Mila." Reinae rubbed the bridge of her brow. "I don't think it can be broken, which is why we're in such deep shit. We have no answers, only more questions."

     "What do you mean by that?" Jasper asked, the warmth of his eyes duller than usual.

     Reinae signed to the waiter for a beer. The silence after Jasper's question was long enough for all around the table to share worried glances. Reinae leaned forward slightly, and they mimicked her gesture.

     "There is some shady shit going on," she said, her tone low, quiet. "The church knew about the titan in the wall. They have control over everything regarding the walls, which was given to them by the government, meaning all higher-ups probably knew about it."

     "What?" Mila exhaled, her blue eyes widened. "Why didn't they say anything?"

     "The minister said it's their holy mission to protect this secret," Reinae said with disdain. "But..."

     She bit her lip, glancing around. Her friends raised their brows.

     "But, what?" Aiden asked, leaning even closer.

     Reinae's eyes flashed. "I think there's someone above it all. Someone controlling the church and the government."

     The table fell quiet. Carter and Isaac, while visibly disturbed, didn't quite know what to do with that theory. Mila leaned back in her chair, nervously biting the skin around her nails. But Jasper and Aiden... It took them one moment to connect the dots.