Aliath's quarters were quiet. Not silent, but contained.
Hela sat across from Aliath, her posture composed to the point of stiffness. Her back was straight, her hands folded neatly in her lap, yet the tension in her shoulders betrayed her calm. She had not moved since Aliath had spoken last.
Aliath leaned against the edge of the table, arms loosely crossed, and his expression unreadable. To anyone else, he might have appeared relaxed. Hela knew better. He was testing her. Somehow, every time they met felt like a test. Like she was in an experiment, and only Aliath knew all the variables. And every time she left, she felt like a part of her was exposed a little more. He was caving into her very being in ways that made her feel more vulnerable than most.
And for the first time, she would take the initiative.
She would break the silence first.
"You are staring," she said. Hoping that her words would lead to a light conversation.
"I am thinking," Aliath replied calmly, his eyes slowly meeting hers.
"That's worse," she teased.
A faint smile tugged at his lips, but it faded quickly. His attention drifted away from her, his gaze unfocusing as though he were listening to something no one else could hear.
From a distance, he could feel a disturbance in the weave of magic. Subtle, controlled, familiar.
Very familiar.
"…Bitrus," Aliath murmured.
Hela's eyes snapped toward him. "What about him?"
"He's using magic," Aliath said. "Carefully."
She frowned. "You can tell that from here?"
Aliath straightened, his mood shifting. "Bitrus never uses magic carelessly. If he is acting now, it is deliberate."
Another ripple passed through the air. Sharper this time. Purposeful.
Aliath's eyes darkened.
"And he is not alone," he added. "There are others."
The word hung heavily between them.
Intruders.
Hela felt it instantly. Her instincts screamed before reason could intervene. She knew exactly who they were and what this implied. Bitrus had caught the men sent to survey, and even worse, Aliath could feel it too. Without any doubt, she was convinced that she was compromised. She needed to get out of there immediately before he acted.
Or better still, before he changed his mind on being passive towards his suspicions. She was fairly certain he had been harbouring them since the day they met. Contrary to the rumours, she knew for a fact that he was smart. And calculative. Every whimsical act was purposeful. And only when he wanted would the rest understand his purpose.
Magic surged within Hela, rushing upward like a tide seeking release. Her circuits ignited, power coiling tight, ready to tear space apart if needed.
Aliath turned toward her.
"Hela."
His voice was quiet, but it cut cleanly through the moment.
She froze mid-breath.
Slowly, deliberately, Aliath raised one hand. He did not cast a spell. He did not threaten her. The gesture alone was enough.
"Stay," he said, with a tone that almost sounded desperate. She had never been more confused in her entire life. This man was her enemy. She was trained to hate him. Yet, every word, every action seemed to endear her towards him. And somewhere deep within her, she felt herself being pulled towards him. And he turned towards her.
Her magic faltered, dispersing reluctantly, like fire smothered beneath ash.
Her eyes widened. Genuine shock crossed her features.
"You noticed," she said softly.
"Yes."
"You were not even looking at me."
"I did not need to."
Silence settled again, only heavier this time. She knew that whatever he was, he was far beyond anything she could comprehend. There was little to nothing she could do if he decided to act.
So, there was no reason for her to hold back anymore.
And for the first time, Hela decided to throw caution to the wind.
Hela exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. "So that's it, then," she said. "You finally stop pretending."
She needed clarity. Even if it would come at the expense of her mission. The heart tugs were worse than any physical pain she felt. The pressure is overwhelming. She needed to know…
Aliath tilted his head slightly. "Pretending to do what?" His eyes screamed ignorance of what she spoke about, but her experience with her told her differently. Even then, she could only see what he wanted her to see.
And this infuriated her. A visible flash of anger sparked in her eyes.
"That you don't know what I am! Who I am!" she snapped. "That you don't know I am dangerous. That I am your enemy!"
"I have known that since Khaloran," Aliath said. His gaze remained distant.
Her jaw tightened. "Then why," she demanded, standing abruptly, "do you keep letting me remain here?" Her voice softened, almost breaking.
Aliath studied her.
Not like an enemy.
Not like a criminal.
But like something unfinished.
"Because," he said after a moment, "you interest me."
The words landed harder than any accusation. Hela felt the weight of his words stronger than she would have anticipated.
Her anger faltered, replaced by confusion. "…That's your answer?"
"For now."
She searched his face for calculation, deceit, strategy. She found none. Only curiosity. Controlled, dangerous curiosity. And that scared her.
Before she could respond, Aliath turned toward the door. He turned slightly to look at her. There was something soft in his gaze. Almost unjudging. Welcoming even.
"Come with me," he said.
Instinctively, she took a step back. Aliath's gaze drifted towards her feet for a moment before he met her gaze once more. He waited for her response patiently. Silently.
Her heart sank. "Where?" she asked.
"One of the intruders has been caught. I want to show you that I see you for more than you think I do. A friend, perhaps."
But I am your enemy! We both know that!
Every instinct told her to refuse. To disappear. To run. It was a terrible idea for a million reasons.
But for some reason, against all odds, she decided to follow him. For her heart had become the legs with which she walked, and her head simply followed behind. A terrible idea, or a future untold, time would tell.