Sinister Secrets

First Secrets First

"Auden," Amos rushed after me, leaning against the railing on the porch.

I stopped, turning back to him.

"You don't even know if you can trust him."

"At this rate, it doesn't look like my other options are solid either. He and I are bound, there's got to be a reason for it."

"A bond isn't always a good thing, Auden. Reginald had a bond with the last protector of the Ouroboros and Reginald used him to find the stone before killing him and attempting to absorb all that power. Reginald lied. They all lie. The Dark is just that. It's full of manipulative creatures you can't even imagine. Who knows if the Dark Lord himself is even sane? He lives there. The Dark broke Reginald, it could be breaking Erebus too."

"What's the alternative then, Amos? Give it to the Elders?"

"No." Amos said, his eyes scanning the Center Court for listening ears. "You find it and you hide it yourself."

"And have everyone coming after me? Living a life of torture until I finally give up its location. No, thank you. I don't want that. I don't want Lords coming after me."

Amos sighed. "What if he uses it for bad?"

"Then it won't be the first time the Dark has gotten the better of a Protector." I shrugged. "There's nothing I can do. I won't give it to the Elders, I don't even think the Lord of the Light knows what's going on, and keeping it for myself puts me in danger for the rest of my life."

"We should wait until we know the right move."

"Well, we've got time. I have to find it first."

"Where are you going?"

"To the Archives. I could use some information to go with what you've already discovered. You work on the Ouroboros, I'll get information about the Dark."

I turned back on my heel and started for the Elder's Chambers. I crossed the path, glancing at Jovie's shop and pausing. She wasn't there. I frowned, searching the large window for her, but coming up empty. It was odd for her to not be there, baking her heart away. The open sign was still on the front door telling me that she should be there and not at home. I continued on the path and around the corner. I was a few feet from the alley between the bakery and the deli when I heard a familiar voice.

"We can't keep doing this." Jovie said. "This is wrong." 

I leaned against the brick wall, pressing my ear closer.

"Don't you think it's wrong?" She asked.

A male sighed.

"Don't be mad, I'm just..." She groaned. "I feel shitty for it."

"You do this once a month."

My heart stopped in my chest.

"I know, but if she fou-..."

"She won't." Relm said. "And if she does, she did it to herself."

I leaned my head against the bricks and stared up at the sky. Not even at night, in the middle of the day Relm was tucked away in an alley cheating on me with my sister.

"Did she though? I mean, you act like you can't stand her half the time. I can't blame her for creating this weird separation."

"Jovie, can we focus here?"

"I don't know if I can." She whispered.

He snorted. "So both sisters aren't putting out because of one sister."