The Price of Keeping Secrets

Its been a couple of days since her secret has been revealed. The information spread fast. The people still looked up at her as a leader, but you could see it in their eyes. They feel hurt because Bea didn't trust them.

Sera on the other hand became even more popular, most look at her for advice. She became the only true leader of the group. Bea of course didn't care about that at all.

She only sees Sera when they are planning the attack, which they are nearly done with. As far as Bea can tell, she spends most of her time with Faith. They train together and go out hunting.

Bea looked at her Watch and brought up Sera's status window. The Watches were still connected which is a good sign, it means Sera didn't give up fully on their relationship.

The status read:

Name: Seraphine

Title: Angel Monarch

1st Kill: Archangel of Despair, Horror of the 3rd Tier

Life Essence Absorbed: 1000/1000

'She already fully saturated her soul. And probably helped Faith get close to it as well.'

A sad smile appeared on Bea's face.

'Why? Why did I keep it a secret? I... I trust her fully, with everything... Maybe I felt that she would look at me differently, if she knew my past lover. But I knew what kind of person she was... Fuck, I should have told her... Now I ruined everything!'

She began hyperventilating and tried her hardest to calm down, eventually she managed.

'There's no use thinking about it now. Mistakes were made, now I have to live with them. This is the price of keeping secrets, I will try to fix it after the rescue.'

Bea was still lying in her bed, alone. Then a knock came at the door, the person didn't wait for her to answer and instead barged in.

In the door a beautiful woman stood, she had hair dark as night. Her face was emotionless, but there was something hidden beneath, dislike.

'Seems like she doesn't like lies either.'

Before Bea got lost in her self-pity, Faith spoke.

"My Lady, requires your presence Bea. The final phase of the planning is about to begin."

'Only Bea, no Saint anymore. She is the only one who calls me like this, other than Sera of course. How easily trust is broken.'

"Okay, lead the wa..."

Before she could finish Faith had already disappeared. With a big sigh Bea stood and began walking to the conference room. On the way the people looked at her, but turned away while murmuring a hello.

She sighed again and hurried her steps. After about 5 minutes Bea reached the room where they gathered. Everyone was seated already and other than Lucy no one even greeted her.

"You are late." Said an emotionless voice.

Sera was as magnificent as ever, she even began wearing her crown everywhere she went. It gave her an air of authority.

'After the rescue mission, people will probably begin to call her 'Queen Seraphine' and they will forget me.'

In thruth Bea didn't care about other people and what they thought of her. But losing Sera was like a very deep wound, that couldn't be healed.

Even worse were the nightmares, they increased in frequency since their break up. All of them were similer. Sera fighting, then she gets captured and tortured until she breaks and then she begins the killing and torturing of innocents.

Bea dismissed these thoughts and without a word she sat down. Sera watched her for a couple seconds, then began the meeting.

"As all of you know most of the plan is ready, except one part. We need to make a distraction for the other parts to work."

Sera looked at everyone if they had any objections.

"It will be an assault on the wall. The attack will come from two directions, but they will be close to each other for support. They will of course be led by me and Bea. Any objections?"

No one said anything, they already knew that this will be the plan. Sera looked at them again, then smiled. There was no happiness in that smile.

"Good, then lets talk through the plan once more and flash out the details. Then we will give the orders for the soldiers. Tomorrow night we march on The Hold!"

The mood was solemn but hopeful. They were waiting for a long time and now it will finally happen. Rescuing the slaves will be very hard and most of them will die probably, but they didn't care. They would sacrifice their lives without a second thought for a chance of the rescue being successful.

'They really are good people.'

The planning began in earnest and in a few hours it was ready. The soldiers soon learned of their part in the plan, Sera even ordered Faith to ask them if they want to back out. None lived with that opportunity though.

With nothing to do until tomorrow night she began walking aimlessly through The Bunker. After about an hour or two she found herself in the training hall. The place was already empty, since technically it was the middle of the night. There was only one person still training.

Sera was all sweaty as she moved, her swordsmanship increased by a lot since Bea began teaching her. After a couple of minutes she finished her set and turned toward Bea.

"You should be sleeping, tomorrow is a big day." Said Sera with hidden anger.

"I could say the same to you. Looks like even Faith thought it wise to go to sleep." Bea said with a small smile.

Sera tried really hard not to smile as she answered. "You think she went because of her own choice? I had to order her away, but if I had to guess she still hides in one of the shadows."

Bea laughed and smiled at Sera. It was good to speak to her again. Then her smile disappeared as she said.

"I... I'm sorry... I realized my mistake in not telling you... And I understand if you won't forgive me... But I just thought you should know, that I regret it... If I could go back I would tell you. Sadly the future's wisdom is the past's foolishness."

Sera was silent and emotionless, then she sighed.

"I'm not mad at you. But you broke my trust, I never lied to you and I thought you were the same."

Bea turned towards Sera and done something that left her in shock. Bea knelt before her and said.

"Then from today I swear to you, I will never tell a lie to you, never dodge or ignore a question and always tell you important informations."

Bea looked up and held her laughter seeing Sera's stunned face.

'She looks so cute with that expression!'

After a few seconds Sera regained her composure. Her face was a bit sad.

"Thank you for it. But this won't be enough. I need time, we will continue this conversation after the mission, okay?"

Bea was a bit dejected, but she understood where Sera came from.

'Trust is a fragile thing, it could take a long time to make, but only moments to break.'

"Okay, but until then we could still train can't we?"

Sera hid a small smile and nodded. They both grabbed training swords and began fighting.

The day came and went and soon enough it was night again. They gathered in one of the biggest rooms of The Bunker. The mission was about to begin.