Awakening Book One of the Trust Series - By J. E. Swift Page 0,88

the true nature of a sinister man. Declan barely recognized his old mentor.

Lionel’s laughter bubbled up from his chest, his voice cold as he slowly circled around Declan. “So you came to find me. I must say, Declan, it took you long enough to find out, discover who I was. It’s only been twenty years.”

Declan’s mind tried to wrap around what he was saying. Twenty years? Twenty years he had been a traitor to his people, twenty years he had shared the secrets of the Trust. His friendship with his mentor- No, not his mentor, not his friend, he was now his enemy- had been a lie. Declan was sick to his stomach.

Declan could only ask one question. “Why?”

Lionel sneered. “Why? You want to know why? Declan, you of all people should understand. I was a secret founder of the Cine Tofa. It’s in my blood. When I was presented with the opportunity to serve my people by infiltrating the Trust, so deeply, so intimately, how could I say no? My people have benefited from my loyalty, my dedication.”

“You gave up your life for this?”

Lionel looked at him slightly surprised. “Would you not do the same? Did I not teach you loyalty above all else?”

Declan knew that he would have given up his life, taken up another to help the Trust. He would never admit that to the monster in front of him. “But if you were so loyal to the Cine Tofa, why would you train me so hard? Why not make me mediocre?”

Lionel cocked his head. “Declan, you would never have been mediocre. You had too much raw ability for that. So, I did the next best thing. Tested you again and again, learning your strengths and how to play to your weaknesses. Know thy enemy better than you know thyself. Even as a child, I knew your destiny for leadership of this group as a Descendant and would take after your father. I just needed to learn how to take you out when the proper time came.”

“But you forget, old man, that I know your strengths and weaknesses as well. I trained with you.”

Declan did not like the cackle that he produced. “Declan, for one so smart… did you really think I let you see my actual strength? Let you know what my true weaknesses were? Every fight, every training we ever had was calculated, manipulated, and planned. Let’s set the record straight. Every conversation, every handshake, every piece of advice given to you was a lie. A complete and utter lie. I have never liked you. I have always hated you. You and your father.”

Looking in the other man’s eyes, he saw the truth of what he said. There was only one thing to do and it was something Declan had never done before. Kill him.

“Enough talking, Lionel. Let’s end this now.”

Lionel sneered. “There is nothing more I would rather do at the moment.”

Declan quickly evaluated that he could not use the mental attacks that he had learned over the years. Lionel knew all of them and how to defend against them. To that end, Declan was aware now that he did not know exactly what Lionel was capable of. Declan reinforced his blocks that he had in place and added the two blocks that Caitlyn had discovered on her own that he had been able to duplicate. He prayed that would allow him a little breathing room for now. He had now set several more blocks up than was normal, making his mind as impenetrable as he could. He knew that Lionel had done the same. This was going to be a purely physical fight.

He took a steadying breath, levitating the debris that was lying immediately at his feet and throwing it at Lionel with all his strength. Lionel smirked, amused at his students actions, stopping the debris around him dead in its tracks. He set it down, stepping around it moving purposefully towards Declan. He cocked his head at him. “Really, Declan? Is that all you have? You are fighting like a Potential. I taught you better than that. At least fight me with the skill I know you have. We could do this all year if we go at this rate.”

“I would really hate to spend any more time with you than I need to.” Declan respond dryly. It bothered him that he had to acknowledge Lionel was right. He needed to be smarter, faster, quicker. This was not a fight that could