Even once sat safely inside the truck, out of earshot, Nathaniel was silent. Eerily so.
"I know you're mad. Let me have it," I begged him. The silence was scarier than anything he could say. I kept waiting for an outburst, sitting on the edge of my seat.
"I'm not mad at you."
"You suspected that she'd do this?" That's why he was angry all morning.
"I didn't think she'd actually be so stupid! I never— I'm sorry..."
"No, please," I answered genuinely. "Go on. I want to know the extent to which she's screwed by helping me."
"The council will decide on a test before you are fully welcomed into the Legion. You will have to prove you are worthy of the Burkhard name. Ubel will try to hand you an impossible test. If you fail or if at any point they deem your actions a reflection of betrayal, Aadya will face the same punishment they choose for you."
"So, if I do something that warrants a death sentence per the council's belief, she would receive the same sentence?!"
What is wrong with these people?
"Is that why everyone was so shocked?" I asked.
Nathaniel nodded. "We're one of the original seven clans, and there's only two of us left. If something goes wrong with this, I will be the only Burkhard left, and that could very well mean the end of our clan."
I toyed with the collar of my shirt. It was getting hot in here. I reached over the driver's seat to crack a window open, gasping for fresh air. This was no good.
I didn't notice Aadya approach the truck, startled when she opened the door with narrowed eyes.
"What did you tell her?" she confronted Nathaniel. "She's on the verge of a panic attack."
"She wanted the truth," he bit. "Don't patronize me. I'm supposed to be the angry one."
Aadya sighed and buckled herself in the driver's seat. We drove in silence, air still trapped in my chest.
Rather than drive to their house, Aadya stopped in front of a home I didn't recognize.
"Why are we at the Abe's house?" Nathaniel questioned her.
"I will be away for a few days. I have things to attend to," she said.
"Well that clarifies things." Nathaniel scowled at her. I didn't expect to see this side of him. He was making up for my uncharacteristic silence.
"I need to figure out what he's planning. I'm doing this to give us an advantage." She exited the truck, keys still in the ignition. "Please start training with her in the meantime."
Nathaniel's anger swivelled back so intensely that I nearly got whiplash from his thoughts. "You want me to train her?" he demanded. While he had been passive and annoyed, rage finally boiled over.
"You're probably the best bet out of anyone in the Legion, Nathaniel. You know that."
Nathaniel shook his head. "That's beside the point. If I fail to train her well, not only will you be abandoning me, but I will partly be responsible for both of your demises!"
Aadya, with her head usually held high and strong, now looked defeated. Her muscles seemingly gave up on her, body slouching as she lost all fight. "Please, Nathaniel..."
He watched her silently, breathing through his nose before sighing as he resigned his front.
They shared a few words when Nathaniel jumped out of the truck to take the driver's seat. I was too tired to try to eavesdrop. I scooted over to the seat Nathaniel had occupied and waved at Aadya as we departed.
They didn't speak the rest of the ride of home, and I didn't bother asking anymore questions. He only broke his silence to advise me to go to bed.
"We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," he said.
Wonderful. My life kept getting better.
YOU ARE READING
Daughter of Ogden
FantasyAva was just a regular girl. A regular girl who could read minds but never dared confess her secret. With her secret safe, she lived a normal life. Who knew it would all come crumbling down after a perceived hallucination? When Ava first saw Nathan...
