The Last Theiro

38

Eden
•••

Tessa jolted up, her slender fingers wrapping around my neck as she pushed me to the ground. My grin faded as I gazed into her alluring eyes. I noticed her pain swirling in those ocean blue depths.

"What are you doing here, Eden?" She hissed at me, her fingers tightening around my neck. 

"I'm here to make things right. Now, if you would so kindly let go of me, I shall explain everything." I raised an eyebrow at her.

Tessa muttered a curse under her breath. "There is nothing to explain. You tried to kill me."

I sighed. My hands reached up to Tessa's shoulder and I pushed her away from me gently. "I know you, Tessa. You're not going to hurt me."

Tessa's hands fell at her sides and her shoulders slumped. I glimpsed tears welling up in Tessa's eyes.

"You don't know me anymore, Eden. We've grown in different directions." She lifted herself from the floor and wrapped her arms around her trembling body.

"We're actually not that different," I smirked at her. "You and I, we're both killers."

Tessa gagged and hugged her body tighter.

I furrowed my brows at her reaction and my eyes flickered to Reign. She glared at me, silently pleading with me to not utter a word about her plan. "Tessa, are you okay?"

"You don't get to ask me that after what you've done."

I took a deep breath, steadying my emotions as I turned to Reign. Her eyes darted nervously to Tessa's slumped form before she took hold of my arm, her nails digging into my skin. I flinched but Reign held her grip firm.

Tessa eyed us wearily. "Just go away, Eden. Please."

My heart broke at the tone in Tessa's voice. She thought I was there to finish what I started but I wasn't. I went there to fix everything, to make everything right, to protect Tessa. Something happened to her while I was away. Something changed her. I didn't care if she was a killer. She was still the girl that I gave my heart to.

Reign jerked my arm and pulled me away from Tessa to a secluded area.

"You are going to destroy everything," Reign hissed at me.

"Why does it matter? Everything is already destroyed." I dug my hands in my pocket and stood confidently in front of Reign, not a trace of fear running through my veins.

"Eden, if you do this, I'll end you."

I lifted my head, my eyes meeting Reign's. "No, you won't end me. You need me."

She cursed and ran her hand through her hair. I couldn't believe it. The First Theiro was scared.

"You're scared of something. What is it?"

"N-no, I'm not scared of anything," she stuttered.

"Who is it? Who are you scared off?"

Reign closed her eyes and leaned against the tree. "What I am about to tell you is a secret. Don't say anything about this to Tessa."