[Xaden x Y/n] Love on the Parapet

Chapter 49

Y/n's pov

'Varrish.' You whisper, his malicious eyes glinting in pleasure as he strides toward you. You stay frozen, feeling your fingers tremble by your side. 

'Vice commandant Varrish, to you.' He replies, his hand snapping over to your arm. You suck in a breath as he lifts up your arm, his eyes piercing as if to examine the bones and muscles under your uniform. 'Someone indeed did a very good job at mending you back. I thought I had crippled you for life. Although...I notice you haven't gotten any bigger since.' Varrish says, his remorseless voice sending chills down your spine. You snatch your hand back, shifting sideways to gain some space from him. His gaze follows you, as if to look at a prized work, down to the end of the relic showing on your neck. 

'I see you must miss your wingleader very much.' Varrish' eyes lit up in malice as you look up, him closing in the distance once again. 'He was the one to collect you after I tossed you out for you to die like a garbage bag, no?' You feel your throat tighten, no words forming on your lips, the memories you tried to block out for so long resurfacing. 

'He's not here anymore, though.' Varrish says matter of factly, and you force yourself to turn away from him, stiffly making your way down the stairs as fast as you can. Varrish surprisingly doesn't stop you, only his skull-shattering laughter following your back as you rush downstairs. The cold sweat wets your back, even as you run away from him. 

Your knees shake as you turn the corner to the next set of stairs, almost hearing your own heart beating against your skin. The dining hall is so ordinary even though Varrish of all people had become a vice commandant of Basgiath, filled with cadets eating and laughing among the tables. Bodhi waves at you, a grin on his face although it gets wiped off of his face the second he sees you. You rush over to them, grateful that you are with the others away from whatever Varrish wants from you after all these years. 

'What's wrong?' Bodhi asks as he brings you to sit beside him, the other's eyes on you. You open your mouth as Imogen's expression darkens watching your pale face. 

'He's the vice commandant.' You manage to whisper, Bodhi frowning as he turns to face you properly on his seat. Liam stops talking to Violet and glances at Imogen, Bodhi's hand on your shoulder, as if to steady you on your own spot. 

'Who is?' Bodhi asks carefully, massaging your shoulder as he tries to relieve the stunned expression on you. You shift, the others growing quiet, almost holding their breath as they wait for your answer. Except Violet only looks around the table, confused as to why everyone seems even more afraid for their life. Liam's face turns horrified as his gaze lingers on you, realisation spreading on his face. He knew there was only person who could make you react this way, especially in front of everyone. 

'Shit.' Bodhi swears, looking up at Imogen for an answer. She only shakes her head, instinctively checking behind her back. 

'What is it?' Violet asks Liam, shaking his arm as she grows more agitated seeing Liam's eyes redden. Out of everyone in your friends, Liam had always been the one who remembered and suffered the memories the worst. Perhaps just as badly as Xaden, who had been the one to find you first after Varrish had broken every part of your body seven years ago. 

'Varrish. His name is Varrish.' You reply, finally realising the faceless name that was introduced as the new vice commandant before but did not know that was the one you and your friends never wanted to see ever in your life. 

Xaden's pov

I jolt up from the bed as I hear Violet's voice in my head, discarding the book that I'd been barely reading since Y/n has been the only thought I've been having these past few days.