Unspoken // Theseus Scamander

Chapter Twenty-Six - Secrets

Word Count: 1,370 words. 

Warnings: None. 

My report had been scarce on the details. I knew of what had happened that night in Paris, but after two weeks of rest in St. Mungo's, the exact events of the night had faded.

Sitting on a chair outside Theseus' office, I ran my eyes up the scars on my arms. It had been hard to see that night, but the fire had done more damage that I had anticipated. There was a large burn on my side and wounds the size of whip marks on my forearms and shoulders. Matching bracelet's ran around either of my wrists and ankles from the bindings. The gashes had healed, but the scars remained. They would fade eventually, with enough magic, but that would not erase them. 

Taking the jacket off the back of the chair, I shrugged it on as Theseus emerged from the office. He sighed heavily before noticing me and planting a smile on his lips.

"You look tired," I commented.

He took a breath, sitting on the chair beside me. With his hand around my shoulders, I leaned into his hold. Theseus and I hadn't spoken about anything between us in the last two weeks. There had been no need to. So much had happened that night, that it had been far from our minds, or at least far from mine.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I got nine hours of sleep?" he tried.

Turning up to look at him, I found his gaze already on mine. "Over the course of how many nights?"

He scoffed. "You always know what questions to ask."

Resting my head in the crook of his neck, I took a deep breath. "How do we go from here, Theseus?" I posed.

"We track and wait. We watch for any sort of movement and then pounce on Grindelwald," he explained, spite in his tone when he spoke his name. "I will do everything in my power to find Credence."

I knew that. I was aware that he would help me find him, despite disagreeing to begin with. Credence had chosen to go with Gellert, but he had not understood what a monster he was. He wanted freedom, and so he had chased it. He had searched for what I could not give him.

"I know that you will," I replied, standing up. I placed my hands on my hips. "I couldn't kill him. Why couldn't I kill him?"

I heard Theseus stand behind me, his shoes hitting the wooden floor. "Because you are not a monster like him."

I scoffed. "I told him that I would rather watch him rot in a cell, tormented by dementors. I would rather that than kill him and stop his murderous campaign against Muggles and wizards alike. If I had killed him before Leta..."

"Hey," Theseus tried, touching my shoulder. He lowered his hands then to wrap them around my waist. He hugged me from behind. "Leta's death was not your fault. I have blamed myself for it too, but it was her decision to go there and to talk to him, to distract him." There was sorrow in his tone, voice shaking. "Her death will not be forgotten."

I turned in his hold, looking up at him. "She was your fiancé Theseus."

He nodded. "I know, and although we had not loved each other in a long time, it hurts to know that I am partially to blame for her death and for her suffering."

I placed a hand on his cheek. "I have not slept in two weeks," I told him. "I have gotten rest only out of exhaustion. All I can see is Leta and Credence. All I can feel is his hands on me..." I trailed, closing my eyes.

Theseus' grip tightened on my sides. "I am sorry I could not protect you."

I shook my head. "Don't do that."