Unspoken Shadows

The Weight of Secrets

Allen sat at the edge of his bed, staring out the small window of the dorm. The moonlight filtered through the blinds, casting shadows across the room. Lavi had finally fallen asleep after another restless night spent obsessing over the book he'd found a month ago, and Allen, for the first time in what felt like ages, could breathe. But even now, his chest felt tight with guilt and the weight of secrets he could never share.

He had always been good at hiding things. He had to be, considering his situation. But lying to Lavi, who had trusted him with so much, was harder than anything else.

The phone buzzed on the desk, and Allen's heart sank. He knew who it was before he even glanced at the screen. The Millennium Earl never waited long to remind Allen of the arrangement they had, of the delicate balance he was forced to maintain. With a quiet sigh, Allen picked up the phone and left the room, making his way to the common area, where Lavi wouldn't overhear. He glanced back at the closed door of their shared room, hoping the other wouldn't wake up anytime soon.

The phone buzzed again, and Allen finally answered. "What do you want?"

"Ah, Allen," came the familiar, unsettling voice of the Earl. "No need to be so cold. I was just wondering how our dear prince is faring. You've been keeping an eye on him, haven't you?"

Allen gritted his teeth. "He's fine," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just working through some things."

A low chuckle sounded from the other end of the line. "Oh, I'm sure he is. Especially with that little book he's been so fond of lately."

Allen's breath caught in his throat. Of course, the Earl knew about the book. He always knew. But Allen hadn't mentioned it—not yet.

"How do you—"

"I have my ways," the Earl interrupted smoothly. "But you already know that. I trust you've been keeping a close watch on him, yes? After all, we wouldn't want him stumbling upon things he shouldn't, would we?"

Allen's stomach churned. He had been watching Lavi, just as the Earl had instructed, but it wasn't out of malice. He cared about Lavi, and it tore him apart inside, knowing that every moment he spent with him, he was betraying him. Every time Lavi asked for help, every time he looked at Allen like a trusted friend, Allen had to force down the bile rising in his throat.

"Lavi's... fine," Allen said again, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "He's just focused on the book."

The Earl hummed thoughtfully. "Yes, that book. I do wonder what he's hoping to find. Something about his past, perhaps? Or maybe... something that could complicate things for us?"

"I don't know what he's looking for," Allen said, his voice tight. "But whatever it is, he hasn't found it yet."

"Good," the Earl replied, his voice a smooth purr. "Because if he does, you'll need to make sure he doesn't get too close to the truth. We can't have him unraveling everything now, can we?"

Allen swallowed hard. He hated this. He hated every second of being caught between the Earl and Lavi, forced to play both sides while trying to protect the people he cared about. But he had no choice. Not if he wanted to survive. Not if he wanted to keep Lavi safe in his own way.

"I understand," Allen said quietly. "I'll handle it."

"See that you do," the Earl said, his tone final. "We wouldn't want any... unfortunate accidents, would we?"

The line went dead, and Allen lowered the phone from his ear, his hands shaking slightly. He shoved it into his pocket, leaning against the wall as he closed his eyes. This was tearing him apart, bit by bit.

Before he could collect his thoughts, the phone buzzed again. This time, the screen flashed with a different name. Tyki.

Allen's jaw clenched as he answered, walking further away from the room. He didn't need Lavi overhearing this conversation either. "What do you want?"

Tyki's voice was smoother than the Earl's, but just as dangerous. "Allen, Allen. So cold. Just checking in on our little arrangement. How's the prince holding up?"

Allen rubbed his temple, his patience wearing thin. "He's fine," he muttered. "Still working through some things."

"Oh? And what might those 'things' be? Surely not just schoolwork."

Allen sighed, glancing back toward the door of their shared room. The book lay on Lavi's desk, its old leather cover worn and cracked. It was no ordinary history book—it detailed old vampire bloodlines, alliances, and secrets. Something about it had ensnared Lavi's attention, and Allen could see the toll it was taking on him. But Lavi wasn't one to let go of things easily, and Allen didn't know how to help him without betraying him further.

"There's this book," Allen admitted, his voice low. "Lavi's been studying it. It's old. Something about his family's past. I'm not sure where he got it, but it's been on his mind a lot lately."

Tyki let out a low, amused chuckle. "A book? How quaint. You sure it's not more than that?"

"I'm not sure of anything right now," Allen replied, his voice laced with frustration. "But whatever's in that book, it's keeping him up at night."

"And you haven't told him yet?" Tyki asked, his voice taking on a mocking tone. "About what you've really been doing? About how you're reporting every little thing back to our dear Earl?"

Allen's stomach twisted at the reminder of the lies he was entangled in. "No," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't told him."

"Good," Tyki purred. "Keep it that way. We wouldn't want to spoil the fun, now would we?"

Allen could practically feel the smirk in Tyki's voice, and it made his blood boil. He hated being a pawn in their twisted game, but there was nothing he could do. Not yet, anyway.

"Anything else you need?" Allen asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Not at the moment," Tyki replied smoothly. "But do keep me updated, won't you? I'd hate to miss out on the next development."

The line went dead again, and Allen stood there, staring at the phone in his hand. The guilt weighed heavier than ever, pressing down on his chest like a stone. How much longer could he keep this up? How much longer could he lie to Lavi, to himself, before everything came crashing down around them?

Taking a deep breath, Allen turned and made his way back to the room. Lavi was still asleep, the book lying closed on his desk. Allen watched him for a moment, his heart aching with the knowledge of what he was hiding. He wanted to help Lavi. He wanted to protect him. But how could he, when he was the one delivering him into the hands of their enemies?

Slipping back into bed, Allen stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. He was trapped, and the walls were closing in. He only hoped he could find a way out before it was too late—for both of them.