Loveless/ a POWERLESS fanfiction story

Chapter 14: Brian

As she leaves the general's office, her face is devoid of expression, like a mask from which all color has been wiped away. I watch as her steps slow slightly, as if the weight of their conversation is pressing down on her shoulders. We pass by the Guards, and I wait until the sound of footsteps masks our words before I ask, "Are you all right, Miss Archer?"

Lost in her thoughts, she barely flinches but quickly regains her composure. Her voice is cold, as though she's trying to convince herself, not me. "Completely," she replies curtly. I know she's lying. I know it as well as I know the rhythm of her breathing when she's focused during training or the look in her eyes when she sees something that can't be fixed.

We continue walking in silence. Her steps grow more confident, her gaze fixed ahead, and I realize she's heading toward the wing where the guests are usually housed.

Just this morning, while chatting with the other Guards on the training ground, I managed to pick up some news. First, Captain of the Guard Russell Cole has fallen out of favor with both the general and the king. No one knows why, but Cole spent at least an hour in the general's office and came out pale as a ghost, as if all life had been drained from him. Second, two guards have disappeared from the palace, one of them a Shield—a rare but highly useful ability among the Elite. No one knows what happened to them, and Cole is clamping down hard on any questions or rumors. And third, most of the guests have already arrived for the first Purging Trials ball. Among them is a certain Mrs. Hope, who lacks noble lineage, yet General Archer himself ordered her to be housed in one of the guest rooms.

I listened to these conversations with a neutral expression, hiding my emotions behind a mask of indifference, but inside, I was filled with joy. Everything was going exactly as I had planned. I knew the king and the general now suspected that the two missing guards might have sided with the Resistance and had stolen the Silencer's body to return it to his family. This weakened Cole's position while simultaneously strengthening my own. I had won twice in this game, and the thought nearly made me laugh.

We approach the doors leading to the guest wing. Blair hesitates for a moment, as if something inside her urges her to stop. Her fingers tremble as she touches the door handle. She takes a deep breath, and for a moment, I think she might change her mind and leave. But then the door swings open, and Blair steps back in surprise, bumping into my chest. I feel her sharp shoulder blades and the scent of her hair. Strangely enough, after weeks of training together, her proximity has become familiar to me.

For a brief moment, she tilts her head back, and our eyes meet. She quickly looks away and returns to her original position, meeting the eyes of the person who opened the door.

In the doorway stands a full-figured  woman in a simple but very neat and modest dress. Her back is straight, her silver hair gathered in a tight bun. A soft light spills from the room behind her, making her figure seem almost ethereal. When she sees Blair, surprise flashes in her eyes.

"Mrs. Hope," Blair whispers, her voice sounding as though it takes all her strength to keep from breaking down. I see the tension in her shoulders melt away, giving way to something softer, but no less powerful. Perhaps it's love.

"My dear," Mrs. Hope replies, her voice warm and comforting. She extends her hand, and Blair rushes into her arms, as if she has finally found her way home.

I watch as Blair buries her face in the folds of the woman's dress for a moment. Mrs. Hope gently strokes her back, whispering words of comfort that I cannot hear, but which seem to seep into Blair's soul. She is likely an aunt or a former nanny. This scene unexpectedly brings a sting to my eyes—Mrs. Hope reminds me of my own mother, whom I will never be able to embrace again.