Last Shadow || Deception Book III

Chapter 17 Pt.II

The silence that descended upon us was so thick I could have cut it with my blade. I waited, with bated breath, for the fallout. For my brother to lunge for me with his sword out, or for Alex and Ally to jump away from me.

"What?" Alabaster finally said. He was still sitting beside Nicole, sword still sheathed, although he looked visibly stunned. "Rianna, what did you just say?"

"I was sent by the Olympians to infiltrate Kronos' army," I found myself repeating, keenly aware of how both Alex and Ally had stiffened next to me, but neither moved nor said anything.

"You're not joking," Alabaster uttered.

It was more of a statement than a question, but I shook my head anyway. "No."

He stared at me, green eyes unreadable like chips of ice. "Why are you telling me this?"

"You're not going to kill me for revealing that I'm a traitor?" I asked quietly. "For lying to all of you the last two years?"

"Answer my question," Alabaster said roughly, his hands clenching together. "Why are you telling me this?"

I fought the urge to flinch from his gaze. "I can't stay here anymore after what Luke did. And I thought it'd be better for you to hear it from me than from Kronos."

"What?" Alex finally cut in. "Kronos?"

There was a moment of silence, and when Alabaster showed no sign of responding, his gaze still fixed on me, Nicole interjected. "Kronos took control over Luke's body, That's why Rianna has been gone since we left the arena."

Alex stared at her in shock. I felt his hand grip my wrist tightly and I fought down the overwhelming relief that swamped me, knowing that he still trusted me, at least enough to still see me as a stable presence. Then, guilt swelled at such a selfish thought when he was clearly reeling from the implications of Nicole's reveal. I cautiously twisted my hand around to brush his, and when he didn't flinch away, I reached for his hand and squeezed it in silent comfort.

"Is there anything else I don't know about?" Ally interrupted sharply. I turned to look at her. She was staring at all of us, her eyes hard, but I caught the hurt swimming in them. "Anything else you're neglecting to tell me?"

"I'm sorry," I started.

"Don't." Ally stood up abruptly. "Keep your secrets to yourself, Rianna. You're just as bad as my father. I don't want to hear your excuses anymore. I know you care," she added as she started walking away "But you clearly don't trust."

"Ally!" Nicole shot to her feet.

"Don't bother," I said as Ally stormed out of the bubble. "Just leave her be. I was expecting that. After all, I did break your trust. I lied. I kept secrets. I'm not expecting anything from you all."

"What's this about Luke?" Alex repeated again, his eyes skipping between the three of us. "What's going on?"

"Kronos is using Luke's body to host his spirit," Alabaster finally said, his voice softening as he tore his gaze from me to our younger brother. "He's basically possessing him."

"What? When?" Alex stammered. "Did you all know?"

"I found out last year during the winter solstice," I said quietly, my hand tightening around Alex's. "That's the real reason why I took that commission to the labyrinth. Well, that and the prophecy about me. But I couldn't face you guys after what I learned, after what I found out about Luke."

"Prophecy?" Alex repeated, his dark blue eyes wide as he whirled around to me. "You have a prophecy now?"

I winced. "I'm so sorry. I know this is a bit of an info dump for you."