Loveless/ a POWERLESS fanfiction story

Chapter 38: Brian

I return the horses to the royal stables. The corners of the dimly lit space are filled with the scents of hay, leather, and the sweat of weary animals. The horses snort, their warm breath turning to faint mist in the cool air. I tie off the reins of the last horse and glance over my shoulder, expecting Blair to say something at any moment.

But she isn't there. She's gone to see Mrs. Hope, leaving me alone.

I'm about to leave when I feel a faint movement behind me. A shadow glides along the wall.

"Oh, it is Brian," a familiar voice drawls.

Lenny.

He steps out of the shadows, his face clearly visible in the faint light of the lantern near the entrance. His sharp gaze locks onto mine, and I know this isn't a friendly visit.

"I didn't expect to see you here," I say calmly. Though I should have expected it—he must have heard from the guards that the mad Archer bolted from the palace on horseback.

"I'm here to remind you of something," he says, stepping closer. He stops near a stall, careful not to spook the horses. "No matter what happens during the Trials, Paedyn Gray must not die. At least not by your lady's hand."

"You didn't need to remind me," I reply curtly, peeling off my gloves and tossing them onto a bench. "I remember perfectly."

"Do you?" His tone turns cold. "Then why did the General summon you?"

I meet his gaze, letting the silence stretch.

"I'm the girl's bodyguard," I remind him. "And that girl is extremely valuable to the General. If anything happens to her, the General will kill me before I can say 'rebellion.'"

"Keep your voice down," Lenny hisses, glancing around.

"Do you have plans?" I arch a brow. "Something I should be aware of?"

Lenny frowns. He doesn't trust me, and I don't trust him in the slightest. But if I give him too little, the Resistance will cut ties, and I'll fail both my missions. Too much, and I'll meet a swift end under the General's orders. Balance is my only shield.

"Because I have an idea," I smirk, lowering my voice. "Do you happen to know that the royal box at the arena has its own private tunnel?"

Lenny looks at me blankly, and I sigh with exaggerated patience.

"How would you know?"

I've studied the palace inside and out. A few years ago, I borrowed—stole—the blueprints from Captain Cole of the guard and made a copy. I couldn't risk keeping them in physical form, so I hid them in the stables and spent days committing every detail to memory before back them. Naturally, the royal family has an escape route for emergencies, such as an uprising during the Trials. Over the years, that knowledge has saved my life more than once—like the time Blair, Sadie, and I barely escaped an unplanned attack by those idiot rebels.

"And?" Lenny prompts, his confusion clear.

"Well," I shrug, "the final Trial will take place in the arena. Think about how a hidden tunnel leading to a room used exclusively by the royal family could be... useful. Keep in mind, the arena—the Bowl—is essentially a massive room lined with shields imbued with Silence, rendering most Elite powers useless."

I catch the flicker of understanding in Lenny's eyes. It's almost amusing to watch his thoughts swarm like a hive of agitated bees.

"Plague, you're not entirely useless," Lenny mutters, and I grin smugly. "Where's this tunnel?"

I laugh, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"That's highly sensitive information, my dear friend, and I'll only share it directly with one of your commanders."

"Oh, no. Absolutely not," Lenny snaps. "I don't trust you that much."

"And I don't trust you that much," I counter smoothly. "Understand this—if I'm risking everything by sharing information I've obtained solely due to my position in the royal guard," I pause for effect, locking eyes with him, "then I need to be sure it's worth the risk."

He presses his lips into a thin line, silent. I've trapped him with his own argument from a month ago.

"I need to know," I continue, "that I'm risking it all for people who are just as willing to take risks for victory. I want to be on the side of the winner."

Finally, I deliver the blow that leaves him no room to argue.

"If I fail, I'll be destroyed—by your friends and the king's alike. But if I succeed, you'll get the chance to see that throne fall. So tell me, Lenny, what do you fear more?"