Legends of Darkstalkers and Nightriders

Chapter 15: Trust Her

Emma’s POV

Later that morning, I heard Sadie training in the woods, the sound of knives hitting trees repeating every few seconds. I approached her, watching her for a few seconds.

“Sadie?” I said.

She glanced over at me before throwing another knife. “Yeah?”

“Can we talk..? About Alvin being your uncle,” I replied, moving over to her.

She stopped and didn't answer for a long moment. “Why do we need to talk about it?” she asked finally.

“Because, if we don't resolve it, Blaze is never going to trust you and he'll try to convince me to do the same.”

“He's been trying to convince you since we rescued him.”

“Yeah, but now that you've actually done something to confirm his suspicions, he's not going to let it go. We–”

“I haven't done anything!” Sadie said, irritated. “So I didn't mention Alvin was my uncle! Why does it matter?!”

I sighed. “Sadie, you lied to us! That's the biggest problem, not what you lied about, but the fact that you lied. If you lied about this, we can't know what else you'll lie about. That's the problem.”

“I didn't lie, Emma,” she said. “I just didn't tell you, mainly because as far as I'm concerned, that man is not my uncle.”

“Okay, fine. All I want is to understand,” I said. “Can’t you please just talk to me? I mean, really talk to me.”

Sadie looked down, fingering the knife in her hand. “What's there to talk about? Alvin's my uncle, I hate him. That's all there is to it.”

I sighed again. “Fine.” I turned away and headed back to the fire, sitting next to my brother.

Blaze looked at me, not having heard any of our conversation. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Just frustrated.”

“About what?”

“Sadie,” I admitted. “I don't even know what I want her to say, I just want her to actually say something.”

Blaze fell silent. “Are you sure you can trust her, Em? Because the more I see of her, the more I'm convinced she's not to be trusted.”

“She helped me save you, Blaze,” I said. “She didn't have to do that, but she did.”

“Maybe, but that doesn't mean we can trust her, it just means she wants us to trust her.”

I shook my head. “You're being paranoid.”

“Am I? Because it's not being paranoid if it's true,” he retorted.

“What's true?” Sadie asked from behind us and we turned just as she touched down.

“Nothing,” I said.

Sadie studied us. “This is another one of those ‘don't trust her’ discussions, isn't it?”

“As a matter of fact, it is,” Blaze says shortly.

Sadie was quiet for a long moment. “Why do you need to know, Em? We've known each other for almost two years. In all that time have I ever lied to you or tried to hurt you?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“But you're always disappearing at night, and not telling us anything. Forgive me for seeing all of that as suspicious and wanting to protect my little sister from it,” Blaze said.

Sadie ignored him, meeting my gaze steadily. “What would I have to gain from hurting you or betraying you? You're the only friend I've ever had, why would I ruin that?”

I studied her. “You wouldn't,” I admitted. “Blaze, I trust her.”

Blaze shook his head. “Then why won't she tell us the truth?”

Sadie glared at him. “Why do you always have to bring this up?!”

“Because you're hiding something! Why won't you tell us?!”

Sadie looked away.

“Come on, Sadie! Answer the question! Why?! Why do you keep secrets?!”

“Because it hurts, Blaze!” she snapped suddenly, glaring at him. “Okay?! It hurts! And it hurts even more every single time you bring it up! Does that satisfy you?!”

Blaze frowned, but didn't say anything.

Sadie turned away. “I'm going for a flight.”

“Sadie, wait,” I said, not wanting her to go. I gave Blaze a pointed look.

Blaze just shook his head as he walked into the treeline and I sighed.

Sadie still stood a few feet away, rubbing Stardancer’s nose.

“Look,” I said, “I'm sorry, okay?”

“It’s fine,” she said quietly.

“No, it's not. Blaze shouldn't have yelled at you like that and I shouldn't have doubted you. You're my first real friend too, and I don't want to throw that away.”

Sadie fell silent, stroking her dragon affectionately.

“I’ll go talk to my brother.” I turned away and headed into the trees in the direction Blaze had gone. Nova and Echo followed me and I scooped Echo up, perching her on my shoulder.

When we got back to the campsite later, Sadie and Stardancer were gone.

I looked around. “Sadie?” I called.

Nothing.

“Sadie?” I called again.

I was met once again with silence.

Blaze shook his head. “This is exactly what I was talking about, Emmie, how can she expect us to trust her when she apparently doesn’t trust us enough to tell us where she’s going when she disappears.”

“She’s probably upset with us,” I replied. “Especially you. You don’t have to be so on guard all the time.”

Blaze stopped in front of me, meeting my gaze. “But that is my job. I am your big brother, it is my job to always be on guard for anything and anyone who could take you away from me. I lost you once, I will never do it again. Me being so suspicious of and hard on Sadie isn’t just me being a jerk, I am trying to keep you safe.”

I sighed. “Blaze…”

“And I know you’re not a kid anymore, I know that. I know you are very capable of taking care of yourself, I know how strong you are. But that doesn’t change the fact that I am responsible for you and I will never drop that instinct of wanting to protect you from any sort of harm. You understand that, don’t you?” His voice was gentle as his amber eyes searched mine.

I studied him before nodding. “I understand.”

Blaze pulled me into a hug and I wrapped my arms around him, embracing each other for a long moment before pulling apart.

“Promise you’ll give her a chance? A real chance?” I asked.

My brother hesitated before nodding. “Promise.”

I sat down on the ground and leaned against Nova, Echo climbing onto my lap. I stoked the hatchling as we waited for Sadie to come back.

Hours later, Sadie and Stardancer land by the fire. The sun had almost completely set.

“Where were you?” Blaze demands. I gave him a look and he sighed, relaxing. “Where did you go?” he asked again, this time all the frustration drained from his voice.

Sadie shrugged. “I just went for a flight.”

My brother rolled his eyes, but didn't push farther and I smiled.

Written by: xoxAnnee