Expelled Souls

Shattered Morning

The sun peeked through the small window of their room, casting a golden hue over everything. Ivy hummed softly to herself, her hands busy as she prepared breakfast. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the smell of toast. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was happy—truly, undeniably happy.

She had Noah, and that was all that mattered. The world around them seemed to fade in importance when they were together, and Ivy felt like a new person. Noah gave her something she hadn’t known she needed—hope, love, wings she never imagined she could have. Every kiss, every whispered word, every touch made her feel more alive than ever before.

Balancing the tray with their breakfast, she made her way towards the training lounge, smiling at the thought of surprising him. She pushed open the door quietly, stepping inside.

But before she could call out to him, voices stopped her in her tracks. She recognized Noah’s voice—low and steady, but there was a seriousness in his tone that sent a chill down her spine. She inched closer, staying out of sight, her breath catching in her throat as she listened.

“We need to strike soon,” Alethra’s voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet of the room. “The Casiddys are vulnerable. If we don’t act now, we’ll lose our chance. Have you spoken to Ivy about this?”

Ivy froze, her heart thudding in her chest. The Casiddys? She stepped closer, her hands trembling.

Noah hesitated. “No, not yet.”

A wave of nausea rolled over Ivy as the words sank in. Not yet. He hadn’t told her anything. He knew about this plan to kill her parents—her family—and he had kept it from her.

Her grip on the tray faltered, and before she could catch it, the tray slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor with a loud clang. The sound echoed through the room, and both Noah and Alethra turned sharply towards her.

Ivy stood there, her chest heaving, her eyes wide with shock and betrayal. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she forced herself to speak, her voice trembling. “Since when did you know?”

Noah’s face went pale, guilt flashing across his features. He took a step towards her, but Ivy backed away, her breath hitching. “Ivy, please—”

“Since when?” she demanded, her voice rising, the hurt evident in every word.

He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, avoiding her gaze. He couldn’t meet her eyes, and that only made the pain worse.

“Did you know,” she asked, her voice cracking, “when you made love to me? Did you know then?”

Noah looked at her, his face twisted in guilt, and that was all the answer she needed.

Her heart shattered into pieces, and she took another step back, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t touch me,” she whispered, her voice broken. “Don’t you dare touch me again.”

“Ivy, please,” Noah reached out, his voice desperate, but she recoiled from him, her entire body shaking. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You didn’t want to hurt me?” Ivy laughed bitterly, her hands trembling as she wiped at her tears. “You’ve already hurt me. You lied to me, Noah. You—” Her voice broke, and she choked back a sob, her mind spinning with betrayal.

Alethra, who had been standing silently until now, crossed her arms and let out a mocking laugh. “You really thought he wouldn’t go through with it? You’re so naive, Ivy. You should’ve known this was always the plan. After all, you are a Cassidy. You can’t be trusted, no matter how much you pretend.”

Ivy’s eyes flicked to Alethra, and her jaw clenched. The anger that had been simmering inside her was now boiling over. But when she looked back at Noah, waiting for him to defend her, to say something—anything—to stand up for her, she was met with silence.

He said nothing.

Her heart sank as the truth hit her like a punch to the gut. He wasn’t going to defend her. He wasn’t going to fight for her.

Without another word, Ivy turned and fled, her footsteps echoing through the hallway as she ran, the sound of her own sobs drowning out everything else.