The True Partizan - 4

Don't Apologise - Part 3

"Can I tell them?" Lola buzzes with enthusiasm.

You're with your friends in the hideout under the Erwin statue, as usual, banshee are on video call again, as usual. And Raphael has just run in with the twins.

"We'll tell them together." Raphael declares.

You frown. "What is it?"

"Look!" Lola brandishes a pristine white envelope, and you immediately recognise the imprint on the seal.

A wolf head.

"It's an invite to the Golden flower festival."

Although you were quiet enough before, silence seems to drop like a weight in the room.

You glance at Lottie, unsure of what her reaction could be.

She just looks surprised.

"The flower festival? How did you get an invite?" You ask, assuming the Maravish family no longer wants anything to do with your family and friends.

Besides Ellie. And Jamie. And Claude.

"I got one. Anastacia got one so that means Saskia did too."

Sayuri brings her face closer to the camera. "Oh."

"Isn't it great!" Lola gushes.

Everyone looks at you and Lottie.

Wei grimaces on the big screen. "No? How will Lottie and y/n go?"

Lottie's eyes drift to the floor. "I...don't know."

You harden your gaze, determination growing in your eyes. "We'll find a way. We always do."

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The weather at Rosewood is bitter and cold. It has already been a year since last Christmas, a year since you and Jamie had that awful fight.

You're older now. 18 is a big jump, and yet you still manage to feel more vulnerable and alone than ever.

Jamie leaving ripped everything good about you away from you. Replacing all your sarcasm, ambition and ridiculous sense of humour with an increasing lack of motivation and a persistent dull ache in your heart.

You sit at your window, stroking Vampy in your lap and watching the snow as it's brutally whipped around in the wind.

A knock diverts your attention from the weather, and Lottie and Binah tumble into your room, Lottie's snivelling like she has a cold.

Vampy jumps up and hisses at the loud entry, slinking past them through the door and leaving the room.

"Whoops, it looks like we upset Vampy." Binah states.

Lottie ignores the cat, walking further into the room. "Do you want to go to Paris?"

You double-take. "What?"

"Paris. With Anastacia and Saskia? It has come to my attention that the Leviathan are plotting to strike at the golden flower festival (which you've probably guessed) and-" she pauses to sneeze, "Saskia has managed to arrange a meeting with the partizan council in Paris so I can get some help to protect Ellie."

Lottie looks confused with your expression, which is pity. Even you're a little bit confused with yourself.

"Lottie I don't think they're going to listen to you."

Lottie's face falls, Binah glances down at the floor.

"What do you mean?"

"There are always threats to the Maravish family, and you're right, I would be more shocked if the Leviathan didn't attack during the flower festival. But how will the partizan council contribute anymore than what they're doing already? From their eyes they have maximum security for a ball full of very rich, very famous people who many of which have their own partizans too."