To Be Betrayed (Red Queen Fanfic)

3

MARE

Fern Haulin.

The baby's name is Fern.

The baby Maven killed.

The baby that could've been saved.

I stare at the ceiling, grabbing onto Cal's arm tighter. It had only been a couple of hours since I've discovered the basket in our room, but it feels like an eternity of fighting Maven.

The moon is shining through the curtains, illuminating the room with its light. It's awfully quiet, which scares me the most. What if he strikes when everything is right?

What if he strikes when everyone thinks everything is fine? What will we do by then?

Mare,

Take this as a warning. This won't stop until you come back into my arms. But don't worry, we'll be together soon for your birthday.

I shiver from the recollecting thought, and turn to face Cal. If anything, he's been through as much as me. Maven's betrayal both hurt us. I stare at him, feeling an envy that he can sleep at times like these. But he shifts, and slowly, his eyes flutter open.

"Can't sleep?" He asks rubbing my back soothingly. It was one of the things Cal would do on nights like these that would help me calm down.

"When will I ever be able to?" I chuckle sarcastically, knowing that he knows what I mean.

"Still shaken from Maven's note, huh?" I nod my head in response, remembering how angry Cal looked when he saw me in our room crying.

He knows that I don't cry over little things. I don't cry when I see someone die or when we fail a mission.

But when I saw Fern in the basket, with an M mark on her neck and an eerily letter from Maven, I couldn't hold back anymore.

"I'm tired Cal. I want this to be over," I frown, blinking back a few tears.

"Yeah," he says, kissing the top of my head so sweetly it makes most of my fears vanish into nothing, "I want this to stop too."

"Do you think he'll find us?" I blurt out.

Cal looks thoughtful for a moment, as if wondering how to respond to my question carefully without making me paranoid.

"Maybe. But when he does, you'll be the first thing that I'll protect. I won't let him take you Mare."

"I won't either," I smile faintly at him, snuggling closer to his warm body. I hear him sigh in content, stroking my hair softly.

"Do you miss him?" Cal asks, and I know who he's talking about.

"Of course I do. But every day it becomes more bearable," I whisper, "do you miss your mother?"

"Yeah. I know, I was young when she died but I wish she was here. I imagine what it would like if she never died. Maven and Elara wouldn't have ruined our lives and I wouldn't have to worry about Evangeline."

"What does Evangeline have to do with this?"

"We all know she doesn't love me. But if my mother was here, she'd understand not choosing a bride from Queenstrial."

Coriane would understand. Coriane married Tiberias VI because they loved each other, not because she was the strongest Silver bachelorette in Norta. That's one of the reasons why I hate Queenstrail. It's a competition to win the crown, power, to bear the royal children, not the prince's heart. It's also the reason why Coriane took her life. Elara was just so hell bent on being queen she felt the need to make Coriane take her own life by using her ability. It also just shows how competitive the High Houses can be. Evangeline was born just months after Cal was; her parents planned her birth so they can brag about their daughter being queen of Norta.

I hate the monarchy of Norta. I want the stupid crown to burn along with Maven, and I just want Reds and Silvers to stop their bickering. But whoever is possessing that crown, the continuous hatred between our blood will keep going on. At least I was lucky enough to find pick-pocket Cal that night, even if it lead to Maven's betrayal. At least I'm with him at this moment, because whatever happened outside this room seemed to disappear, for all my attention is reserved on the precious seconds I have with Cal.

"Then who'd you choose?" I can't help but question, even when I already know the answer.

"You know, a girl who's a foot shorter than me, with luscious brown hair that end with gray tips, and she has a bitterness like no one else," he chuckles softly, kissing my forehead. I smack his arm jokingly, faking a frown.

"But maybe if she lived we would've never met."

"Maybe. But Maven wouldn't be torturing you. You wouldn't have to look over our shoulder every five minutes and our trust issues would be as little as Kilorn's–"

"Okay, okay, I get it," I cut him off, rolling my eyes. I make eye contact with Cal, suddenly feeling the whole room change in emotion.

It's more intimate and private, something Farley or the others can't see when we're in public. Something only reserved for the two of us. Cal leans in closer to me, his voice thick and heavy, filled with seriousness.

"But believe me Mare Barrow, the universe destined for us to meet. Whether Elara sits on that throne or my Mother."

I smile at him, the first genuine one in forever, and press a kiss against his lips. It's achingly warm and delightful, sending sparks down my spine. His eyes light up even in the darkness, showing a passion reserved for me. The moonlight creeps through the windows, hitting my skin slightly, but matching my mood; light and carefree.

We pull away, and I rest my head on Cal's bare chest, my heart beating faster when he pulls a piece of my hair behind my ear.

"Tiberias Calore, you certainly know how to tug at a girl's heart."

Cal leans closer, kissing me again.