\[Serenity’s POV\]
I keep my gaze fixed on Maverick’s retreating form. Even from where I sit, I can feel his emotions slamming into me, and although I want to comfort him and tell him that whatever it is that he is thinking is wrong, I don’t move. Instead, I continue to watch until he heads out of the infirmary and slams the door behind him before turning my gaze to Eleanor, or rather, Aunt Elise.
“Wow,” she whistles, tearing her attention from where Maverick disappeared. “He’s pretty sensitive, huh?”
“About certain things,” I admit.
As long as I had known Maverick, the only times I really saw him show any type of emotion was when I attempted to hide something from him. There were also the rare moments when he would show his gentle side and even laugh or smile with me, but those didn’t happen often.
“Why didn’t you just let him stay and listen to our conversation?” She pushes, drawing me out of my head as my heart begins to hurt over my inadvertently hurting the one closest to me just to keep Aunt Elise’s secret. “Is it that important to keep it secret?”
Growing quiet, I examine Aunt Elise.
“It’s your secret,” I respond slowly. “So yes, it is that important.”
“Mine.” She barks, confusion forming on her face. “What the hell are you even talking about?”
“I overheard you speaking with my mom.” I explain, hoping she would understand from that. “I know that you’re my aunt Elise.”
There. What I knew was out there. With this, Aunt Elise wouldn’t have to keep pretending to be someone other than the woman that everyone in my family missed so much, especially my mom and uncle William.
“Well, shit.” She finally sighs, seeming to deflate. “Are you going to kill me now, Goddess?”
As she speaks, she looks toward the ceiling as if expecting something, but when it doesn’t happen, a look of relief forms on her face.
“Fuck,” she continues. “I’m really doing a piss poor job of keeping this secret.”
“But why?” I ask, confusion rushing through me. “Everyone has missed you so much! Why didn’t you tell anyone and instead wait until my mom realized? Don’t you know how much they’ve suffered, especially...”
“It isn’t that easy.” She says slowly, giving me a sad smile. “It isn’t like I wanted to keep this a secret, but there are... conditions... that kept me from saying anything. Even now, I’m not completely certain those conditions won’t come into play, but as long as I’m breathing, I’m guessing I’m safe.”
Conditions. What kind of conditions was she even talking about? What the hell was keeping her from letting everyone know that she was Aunt Elise?
“I don’t understand,” I say, furrowing my brows. “Is someone stopping you? Holding something above your head? Is it Eleanor’s parents or her pack? Just tell me, and we can do something about it!”
“It isn’t them,” she responds immediately. “Instead, it’s a higher being, one that all of us can’t go against.”
“Higher…”
Frowning, I consider what she is telling me, and when her exclamation toward the heavens hits me, I realize who it is that she is talking about.
“You met the goddess?” I gasp, excitement rushing through me. “Really? That’s so cool!”
“Not really,” she counters. “And I wouldn’t recommend doing it like me. I died because of a choice I made, and I left everyone to suffer and miss me. Although I came back as Eleanor, I still can’t go back to the life I had before this.”
“But why?” I repeat. “If it’s the goddess stopping you from letting others know, then couldn’t I tell Uncle William for you? You know that he would be excited to know that you’re back. You didn’t see him back then when he lost you. He was…”
“Serenity.”
Aunt Elise’s voice is stern as she speaks, immediately stopping me and drawing my attention to herself.
“Your Uncle William has moved on.” She says. “And things can’t go back to the way they were. Anyway, he has already moved on from me.”
“He…” I begin, but I remember Lydia being in his cabin with him. “It isn’t like that…”
“Like that or not, it is the way it should be.” She continues. “Please, just do me a favor and don’t tell anyone else about this, not even the gentle giant, alright?”
Not even Maverick. Although she was saying in the beginning that I should have let him stay, she was now saying that she didn’t want him to know. I knew his being in the dark would make him pout for a bit, but I was certain he would eventually get over it.
“Please.” She repeats, reaching out and grabbing my hands. “Don’t tell anyone that you know, not even your mother.”
“I won’t.” I respond.
Smiling, she gives my hands a final squeeze before getting up.
“Great,” she says. “Now, we should get back to class before everyone starts to worry.”
Later, I head back to my dorm while the happenings of the day rush through my mind. I couldn’t quite understand why Aunt Elise was so determined to keep her secret from everyone, but I was certain she had a pretty valid reason.
Could it have something to do with time? Was her being in Eleanor limited, maybe? I wasn’t sure, but I would be certain to ask her later. For now, the only thing I should be focusing on is comforting Maverick, who I was positive would be in a bad mood. Just the fact that he wasn’t present for classes for the rest of the day made that clear.
When I reach my dorm, I prepare to head inside but am stopped by a hand reaching out and wrapping around my wrist. Gasping, I turn to find Maverick beside me, and before I can ask him what he is up to, he is pulling me away.
We continue to move until we reach our special spot, where we promised to meet later that day. When he stops, he moves, trapping me against the trunk of a tree with both his arms.
“Maverick!” I gasp, butterflies erupting in my stomach from his sudden action. “What are you doing?”
For a moment, he doesn’t speak; he just stares at me with an unreadable emotion in his eyes. I don’t know why, but it makes my heart hurt and makes me want to hug him, but I don’t dare move or speak.
“Why?” He asks slowly, his voice quiet. “Why are you suddenly so close?”
Suddenly close? What the hell was he talking about?
“What?” I squeak, trying to ignore the strange things I’m beginning to feel. “I don’t…”
“You and the pipsqueak.” He snaps. “You’re so close that you’re keeping secrets even from me. Don’t you know that she could be attempting to use you?”
“Use me.” I repeat, my anger spiking ever so slightly. “Why would she possibly be using me?”
“Because you’re special!” Maverick snaps, his temper spiking right along with mine. “What if she is aware of that and wants to use your blood for her own purpose?”
“She wouldn’t.” I argue, not liking his accusations against my aunt.
“Stay away from her.” He growls, leaning down so that his face is closer to mine. “Otherwise, I don’t know what I’ll do to her.”
Eyes widening, I realize that he is being serious in his threat. He was really more than willing to get rid of Aunt Elise if it meant protecting me.
“You’re wrong.”
“And if I’m not?” He snaps. “What if she were to do something to you? Do you know what that would do to me? Do you understand how fucking painful it would be for me if you were to suddenly be hurt or worse?”
“Because you’re my guard, right?” I sigh, feeling my heart squeeze painfully. “You would blame yourself.”
“Not only that.” He huffs. “Dammit, Serenity, you really are oblivious.”
“Oblivious?” I repeat in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“Grow some sense of what is happening around you.” He sighs, straightening up and taking a few steps back. “Because I won’t spell it out for you.”