Page 139 of Beyond The Maples
"Defectors...?" I ask stupidly, needing confirmation.
"Rebels, defectors, the resistance, revolutionists. Everyone whispers different things. We've yet to land on a catchy name," he says with the faintest uptick of his lips.
"But you've been..." I start, but I'm not even sure where the thought goes.
"Yes, I've been working both sides. We all have," he answers quietly, studying my face.
"You've killed people, your own people then."
His hands drop away from mine, and the utter deflation that passes over his face makes me feel bad for even saying it out loud, but it's true. Tane and his legion have made a name for themselves by being the government's faithful, vicious soldiers.
Which means Tane's been slaughtering his own people.
"I have done unforgivable things. I am not innocent, or good, Maple. I have so much blood on my hands..." He pauses, no doubt remembering the nighton the roof.
His devastation that night suddenly makes sense. Indignation claws its way through all the feelings of betrayal, because maybe he didn't sell me out like Deacon, but I still can't trust him. Or any of them, for that matter. I pull back, leaning away from him.
"I need to go."
Tane looks as if he might argue, instead he gives me space.
I walk through the group. I can feel Deacon's eyes burning into me—I don't look at him—I don't trust myself.
"Let's go. Time for a family meeting," I mutter, making eye contact with Hollis. She gives me a nod, and the rest follow.
I walk into our sleeping camp, my limbs feeling heavy.
"Wake up," I command loudly, dipping down and running my hand over Willow's sleepy face.
The twins fly up first, alarmed, seeing that our numbers have somehow grown—putting them immediately in fight mode.
"What's going on?!" One of them demands.
Farra is the next one to leap to my side. Panic blasting through her eyes as she takes a look at Deacon bound behind Vera.
"Calm down. We have a lot to talk about," I peer over at the newcomers. "Everyone needs to have a seat, and our new "friends" are going to tell us everything."
"We are?" Lachlan questions, his one blonde eyebrow liftingup.
"You are—because I am tired of all the secrets, and half-truths. You're going to tell us everything, or we're going to have a problem," I square my shoulders, somehow looking down at the legionary who usually towers over me.
He looks at Tane, who gives a subtle nod of approval.
Linden and Willow are dazed from sleep, but noting the bloody and tied up Deacon, they both rush over to him. I put my hand out, stopping them.
"What are you doing?! Deacon's hurt!" Willow looks at me, like I'm the one who's betrayed her.
Pain spears my chest, because I know this is going to break her. Destroy that last bit of childhood left intact that I wanted so badly for her to hold on to.
"Hollis!? Maple, what in the underworld is going on?!" Linden demands, trying again to get around me to help Deacon.
"Deacon is an informant…" I begin, but my words die in my throat at Willow's stunned expression.
"No, he's..." Linden starts, but he must see something in Deacon's emotionless gaze because he stops, his shoulders pulling back like he's been slapped.
"He's been selling us out. For how long— I have no idea, it's all been a lie," I look at Farra. "I'm sure it's why Kethler was suspicious, and why you were interrogated. He must have seen the plant, or guessed we had something. He... he sold out Dad too," I look around at the shocked faces.
Something snaps Deacon out of his haze as he stumbles towards us.
