a dangerous combination [discontinued]

~ F O R T Y - FO U R ~

Sophie plastered a smile on her on her face as the door to her bedroom opened the next day, knowing who it was just by the clack of heels that had led up to her doorway.

"Hey, Biana."

Biana smiled back at her, and plopped down on the bed. She certainly looked as if she'd finally gotten some sleep.

"I have something to tell you," Biana said softly, staring at the seams in the quilt.

"Which is?" she prompted after Biana didn't elaborate.

"We-ell," Biana said, now tracing her fingers over the details, "Tam kissed me, for starters."

Sophie covered her mouth, pretending to act surprised. She didn't want to ruin the moment. "For real? That's great!"

Biana nodded shakily. She smiled again, but something was off about it. Was it the twitching of her face muscles?

Is she okay?

Biana swallowed, before opening her mouth to speak.

Instead of words, however, a sob escaped it. And just like that she burst into tears.

Sophie sat still, letting her cry alone for almost a full minute before realizing she was doing nothing to help. She hugged Biana and patted her back awkwardly. "Aw Bi, what happened?"

Biana was shaking, and Sophie wondered if she'd said something wrong.

"Re-remember when you told us the story about the guy who was with you when you got captured?" Biana asked after taking several deep breaths.

"Yes?"

Biana shook again, and Sophie wrapped her arms around her tighter. "Remember how d-dad looked s-so scared?"

Sophie thought back to that day. Yes, she had gotten slightly suspicious when Alden asked so many questions about her prison guard and later left the room hurriedly, but Sophie had long forgotten about it, putting it off into a mental box in her brain labeled 'unimportant.'

Only now was she remembering.

"I-I confronted him about it. And he told me about a family member I'd never even heard about."

The words were falling so fast that Sophie was barely able to catch them.

The pieces were coming together now.

She finally realized who the guard had reminded her of.

Fitz.

They had the same strong jawbone, the sharp nose, the built body.

The same gleam in their eyes.

Sophie suddenly shuddered, realizing what this meant, but motioned for Biana to go on.

"B-before Fitz and I were born, he said that th-there was another. Another boy. But he made his own choices, as Dad put it."

"Tam was the first person I told about it. I-I don't know, I felt like I c-could trust him.

Sophie sat through the story of Tam kissing Biana, numbness slowly overtaking her. She pulled away from Biana and looked her in the eyes.

"Does Fitz know about what Alden told you?"

Biana managed a shaky laugh. "God, no. He would probably rip the house apart in rage."

Sophie had to agree. Fitz tended to get a bit, ah, unpredictable when he was angry.

But this was too big a secret to be kept from him. Biana finally stood, telling Sophie that she had to go.

Sophie suddenly understood what she was going to do and nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Biana shook her head no. "The less people nearby to feel the wrath of Fitz Vacker, the better."

As she turned to go, Biana called out one last thing over her shoulder.

"His name is Alvar."

Alvar....

~~~~~~~~

I regret nothing :)

- Riya

6/14/20 (12:41 am)