Broken Trust

CHAPTER ONE

My hands trail up the side of the bathtub as I scrub the filth of the day away. I shudder as the water starts to get cold. Warmth. Cal. I flinch at the thought. It's been only three weeks. I've gotten a lot accomplished since then and I don't know if he waited for me, or if . . . I don't even want to think about it. I roll my head back, thinking of what could've been. If I had stayed, if I didn't wait . . . No. It's better this way.

I shake my head, droplets falling across the white tile floor. It's not better this way, and I know it. I just, won't admit it. I know I have to stop thinking about him, but I can't help it. I miss him. It's like there's a voice inside my head, telling me what to think and what not to- No. Stop. A chill runs down my spine. Elara Merandus. Even in death she still taunts us. I take in a deep breath. The sudden outburst of my thoughts break me back into reality. She's dead. Maven's dead. Even if they were still alive, Cal wouldn't let them hurt you. I close my eyes in thought, until a knock sounds at the door.

"Yes?" I groan weakly.

"It's Farley. You've been in there for an hour, and everyone wants to wait for you to eat." the voice calls.

  I grin silently. "You don't have to wait for me. I'm nothing that you guys need to care about."

I can just imagine her scoffing behind the closed door. "Whatever you say lightning girl, but . . ." she trails off.

"What?" I say, pretending not to hear the dreaded nickname.

"You're needed at dinner. We have, important things to discuss. Plus, you've been out all day, everyone wants to see you."

I mutter under my breath. "Fine. Be there in ten." When I hear her footsteps trail away, I get up from the water, the air suddenly hitting my bare body. I reach for a towel, wrapping it  around myself. I get dressed, putting my earrings back in. I touch them for remembrance. Pink, red, purple, green, and a bright red. Bree, Tramy, Shade, Kilorn . . . Cal.

I pull a cardigan over my dress, missing his warmth. I wonder what the important news is. Farley didn't give any other hints, so I would probably just have to figure it out myself.

When I walk into the dining room, everyone stops talking. They look up at me, except for dad, who looks down at his plate.

"Mareeeeeee, how wonderful of you to join us." Bree teases.

Tramy quickly follows, as always. He glances at his bare wrist. "Only about a half hour late."

I laugh, feeling the completeness of family, though my family is far from complete.
"Where's Gisa?" I say, pulling up into an empty chair next to Farley.

"She probably has another late night scheduled fitting today." Farley rolls her eyes, trying to feed Clara next to her.

Mom shrugs. "Or out on a date with another guy . . ." She shakes her head. "Let's just say, she's probably busy." I nod.

A gentle conversation carries, but I can't help thinking about what they all wanted to tell me. "So," I start. The whole table goes quiet, even Clara. "What's it that you want to talk to me about?"

Surprisingly, it's my dad who starts off. "Mare, you know how you now have a position with the Guard-"

"Yes?" I cut him off, eager to hear the rest. After a year and a little more, I had finally earned a spot in the Scarlet Guard.