The Monster's Stratagem (Lesbian Story)

60: Battle of the Commanders

Dawn didn't see Syrena for a while after their debacle in the corridor, and the princess did not go to lengths to rectify that despite wishing to. With how she acted, she was almost too embarrassed to seek her out. So, Dawn buried herself in work instead. It was harder to do than she originally thought, still hearing those despairing words which reminded her of why she should've stayed enemies with Syrena in the first place. Anything other than enemies wouldn't cut it, they weren't designed to be friends. Now it was much too late to return to hatred, and Dawn was suffering the consequences of it.

In a desperate attempt to distract herself from the longing and pain that rapidly built within her heart, she had made a list of everything she had to achieve: find the Monstra traitor, or traitors, find and block the tunnels, have the emergency meeting with the monarchs and convince them to act while also sussing them out. She had been over this a thousand times within her head, and yet none of her plans brought her any comfort. Not when she felt like she was losing, when she was still blind to what was happening. A part of her was tempted to reenter Kings Grave and just stay there, to rip the weeds out from the root.

A knock sounded and the door to her courtroom swung open. Hope swelled within her before promptly dying within her chest. "It's still a shock to see you alive in the mornings."

Rose grinned as if she could read her mind. "Not who you were hoping for, huh?"

"I'm not cut out for this."

"I know, I heard everything from Leixa."

"Who must've heard from Syrena." Dawn huffed, rubbing her eyes with her palms. The Commander was a private person and would usually never share matters of her personal life, only the Second was rather persistent and knew how to make her talk. Regardless, Leixa was just about the only friend Syrena had, and perhaps she wanted someone to vent to.

"Perhaps jealousy wasn't the best call."

"I'm painfully aware, thank you."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to solve this mystery."

"I meant about Syrena."

"Nothing, I'm going to do nothing." Except maybe apologise.

"You can't just leave it."

"Watch me."

"Dawn."

"Rose."

"You love her."

"And it's ruining everything."

"It's not, you are." Her palms slapped the table, reminding Dawn of why Rose was her best friend. She could always count on her to tell her the truth. "Or you will be if you do nothing."

"I have bigger problems to worry about than a girl." Dawn still argued, albeit weakly.

"Not just a girl, this is Syrena."

"Again, I'm painfully aware." Her gaze fell to her scarred palm, knowing that the owner of its twin had been hurt by her actions. "As skilled as I am, I cannot solve this and figure out how to love someone at the same time."

"Haven't you been doing just fine so far?" The redhead rounded the table, taking a seat in one of the empty chairs beside her lifelong friend. "I mean, you've loved Syrena for a while and you were still able to concentrate on this."

"I want it all to stop."

"What do you want to stop?"

"Everything, at least until I can catch up." She took a breath, finally attempting to voice how torn she was inside. "I'm being pulled in so many different directions, and I cannot figure out which side to appease first. The people working against us will not stop, not until whatever they are planning rears its ugly head which we need to be prepared for, but I cannot for the life of me concentrate on such an immaterial thing when my heart feels as though its being ripped from my chest."