Elude

Can I Trust You?

A figure steps into my room and my mind spins. Did he send someone in to kill me? What if that's someone out to get me? Are they going to take me and torture me?

I can barely make out their facial features, but the thing I see is the scar. It's Jace.

"You didn't show that to Caelan, did you?" he asks quietly. "Is the floor soundproof?"

"I didn't," I say. "It's probably soundproof. Look... Why are you here?"

"Can I trust you?" he asks. I start to say yes, but he interrupts. "Never mind. You shot Caelan in the chest. Of course I can't trust you."

"And you've done so many terrible things to me," I say. "I can't trust you."

"Then why do I feel like I can?" he asks. "I don't want to be enemies, Matthew. I regret most of what I've done."

"Most," I say. "Do you regret essentially stalking me for six years? How about yelling at me in front of Nox?"

He just sighs. "I regret ever laying a finger on you. Or a whip. I guess I was a bit controlling. You did deserve to be yelled at, though. As I said, you are an annoying brat."

"Am I really mentally unstable?" I ask. "That applies more to you than me. I, for one, have never whipped somebody."

He laughs. "I wouldn't mind if you were locked up in a mental institution. That part was also true. Remember when you got drunk?"

"Not really," I say and we both laugh. "It's kind of a blur. I passed out on her bed and I'm pretty sure I threw up in the toilet."

"Maybe that article about your possible drinking problem is right," he says.

I shake my head. "I don't drink that much," I say. "Only at parties and dinners."

"This looks like a pretty nice room," he says. "Can I turn the light on?" Before I can reply, he flicks the light switch.

"Oh my god," he says and looks at my leg. "You're not wearing long pants. You look really tired."

"I am tired," I say as he walks into the room.

"Your shirt is on the floor," he says. "And your jeans."

"That's what you notice?" I mutter.

"Sorry," he says. "Habit. So, about the shorts. Caelan?"

I nod. "You know him so well."

"I spent a year training him. No wonder I do." He trails off. "I have something I've been meaning to tell you. I swore Caelan to secrecy about it."

That must mean it's really big.

"While I was training him," Jace says, "he was talking about a young general in Imperium. He said that he thought the general was a threat. I joked that Caelan should kidnap him and take him for our side. Eventually Caelan left, and he remembered the idea."

"So it's your fault." I stare at him. "Is that why Caelan doesn't seem very remorseful? Does he blame it on you?"

"Yes."

"Should I blame it on you?"

"Yes."

"Do you want me to blame it on you?"