“I don’t want you to tell me,” she stressed. “I want you to be careful. You’ve always been wild and dangerous and yes, I’ve known you long enough to expect this but I’m not stupid. You’re playing a very dangerous game. You sent Jin’s soul somewhere,” she paused to kiss the inside of Penume’s wrist, “and that’s why I can’t locate it.”
Penume stopped swaying and Sunny looked up at her, her face stern at the silence. Without a word, Sunny moved back to the console and pulled up Jin Amaris’s record. “Only love would drive me to such lengths,” she muttered.
“And those lengths are?”
“I don’t know how long this will work. They are going to come looking for it one day and I won’t be able to explain this but…“ She pressed a manicured finger to the screen and a picture of Jin pulled up with a fleur-de-lis icon superimposed over most of it. Sunny dragged it from one side of the screen to another labeled SONO-RUAH-STORAGE BIN 5A. “For now, the “record” will show Jin’s soul is stored in location 5A238, the same storage location where we store Khavah’s right before she cycles into a new vessel. Hopefully, this will buy you some time as I don’t think anyone is stupid enough to mess with the same storage bin as the Great Mother’s.”
Penume stared at her, momentarily glancing off to the screen as Jin’s image faded. She bent and turned Sunny’s chair so she could look deep into Sunny’s eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, how this is going to work, what is going to be the consequence of the things I’ve done but…one day, I’m going to tell you to run. Don’t ask me any questions and damn your loyalty to this place. All I want you to do is run.”
“You’ve been telling me that for years and for years I’ve told you that I’m not. I am a General of Caeli and a healer. If war comes, I will not leave this place. I will not leave you.” Sunny rotated back towards the console. “We’ll talk more tonight.”
Penume rolled her eyes behind Sunny’s back. Her intended always turned sour when Penume brought up the topic. I don’t want you to experience war, little one.
She entered the observation room to find one of the solutions to that problem. Aria was in the bed, the covers thrown to the side and her Sono hospital robe on the floor. She sat crossed legged, her gown hiked high up on her legs, and her head lowered. She was running her fingers through her hair, cursing every time a digit got tangled in a head full of curls.
“This is impossible! There was a reason I wore my hair the way I wore it!” she growled. “Why does she have so much damn hair?”
Penume shook her head before she took a seat behind Aria. She grabbed a comb from the hospital tray and tilted Aria’s head forward to gather her hair. “I think her hair…your hair is beautiful.” She began to gently untangle Aria’s kinks. “It’s so soft and free and wild. So very natural…so very you.”
“Yeah, yeah. My hair wasn’t a hassle. This, all these curls and kinks, is a hassle.”
Penume pulled Aria’s hair back. She noticed Aria’s missing scarification symbol. All Luminary Generals and The Leader got one. Aria’s was a Leo symbol. She was also missing other scars, scars that told stories the Caelilorist couldn’t duplicate, stories that were felt with emotion and pain and lessons. She had a new body without all of the things that made Aria, Aria.
She parted Aria’s hair then dipped her fingers in some fragrant argan oil and coconut butter before she began twisting it, leaving a big chunky, beautiful plat when she was done. “If it’s too much of a hassle,” she said as she finished another braid, “astral projection is still a thing. You want your old hair, you can have it. Do whatever you need to before your soul is one hundred percent synched with your new body.”
“Yeah,” Aria murmured quietly, tilting her head so Penume could finish another braid, “It just seems disrespectful to change it.”
Penume hummed. “It’s your hair now, Aria. We’re working on a plan for Jin. Your cousin’s plan, of course, so I don’t know what to expect.”
Aria looked back through the last of her curls. “How much trouble is Ahn in right now?”
“Plenty. I think he’s using it to our benefit. Khavah needs him and I believe because of that he will be just fine. They held a preliminary trial and I thought Anais was going claw his eyes out.”
“She left him. What’s she got to be mad about?”
Penume shook her head. “Has anyone other than Ahn been able to figure that woman out?”
“Pythia Phi which is why they bumped heads so often. The fights those two would get into,” Aria said shaking her head. “Ahn can handle her.”
Penume agreed. The Dantòs looked like the perfect happy family on the outside but there was always a sort of undistinguishable tension that surrounded them if you looked hard enough. She guessed that was the price you paid when you were in a family of overachievers. Penume stood and placed the comb back in the drawer. “You’re synched over seventy percent now. We have some clothes for you in the closet. A little more modern than what you’re used to I imagine but I’m sure you’ll adjust. You’ll want to get dressed quickly. You’ll have visitors soon.”
Aria’s head shot up, her eyes dancing, hopeful. “Is…”
Penume knew who she was speaking of. “He,” she frowned. “He doesn’t know. No one has been given the authorization to tell him there was a chance to get you back. I’m not sure when that authorization will be given either,” she finished, taking care to soften her voice with the remorse she felt. “I’m sorry, Aria.”
“I forgot. “Aria chuckled, sadly, the hope dying in her eyes. “I forgot that me being alive again isn’t about me or my happiness or anything that I want. Hell! It might even be better this way. He always made me too soft. Can’t have that, now can we?” She set her shoulders and stood. “Give me a few moments then whoever wants to visit can.”
“Certainly.” Penume made her way to the door but paused. Turning, she smiled. “Glad you’re back, my leader.”
The smile returned to her face. “Yikes! So formal, old gal!” Aria replied, grinning. Penume almost laughed at the nickname Aria gave her so long ago. “Glad to be back.”
Penume tried for the door again but this time Aria stopped her with a “Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Gentle reminder that the observation glass is glass…which means it’s completely clear. Like I can see right through it. The next time you and Sunny want to swap spit, tell me in advance. I like a good show, but I also like to be invited to a good show, you know? I’ll even pay.”
Penume’s mouth flopped open and close like a land caught fish before she laughed. “You’re still the same old Aria.”
“Yeah! It’s almost like I never left, huh?”
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
The one thing that Aria loved about this whole bullshit situation they’d set up was everyone had their own plans, their own goals. Ahn wanted world peace, Penume wanted her loved ones to be safe, and Khavah…well, she wasn’t sure what Khavah wanted. She’d never known but she knew she had a plan.
The Above were creations of Khavah, Aria wasn’t. The Above listened to Khavah without hesitation. Aria balked at the idea of their guileless dedication. The Elizi, Khavah’s clan, and the Eliyah, Aria and Ahn’s, weren’t on the best of terms in The Glory Beyond, and that often showed itself in the strained relations between her and the members of Khavah’s family. Yusuf had been different. He’d been a young man much unconcerned with what his clan thought of the noble Eliyah. She could still see his face at his MATE graduation, smiling at her like it was her validation he sought out.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t Yusuf standing in front of her, but his mother. She had a smile on her face, a new face, one Aria wasn’t familiar with. The thing with Khavah was learning her spirit essence, memorizing the strength of her raw spirit mass. Her face meant nothing.
“Aria, dear.”
Aria rose to stand and bowed stiffly in front of the Divine Matriarch and instead of the informal greeting between angels, she inste
ad brought her head forward, touching her forehead to the back of her hand, a sign of utmost trust and honor. Clan issues aside, Khavah was an angel worthy of every esteem.
“Mother Divine,” Aria said, respect strung in every syllable and word.
Khavah tsked. “I know you’ve been gone for some time but I remember asking you to forgo the formalities? I think we’ve known each other too long to trumpet around the platitudes of the nobles.”
The last time Aria had seen Khavah, she’d been cursing her as a foolish brat. Now there was a gleam of respect in her eyes. Death does strange things to relationships. “I’ll try harder.”
Aria moved from the head of the room, allowing Khavah the chair, while she took a knee in front of her. Just over her shoulder, she could see a young girl standing by the door, her back turned them, her stance rigid and information as if she were guarding the door.
“My granddaughter, Elle,” Khavah announced as she glanced at the door. “She is an Astral bodyguard neophyte. Actually, she is the reason I am here so early when I know you should be resting. I am assigning Elle and Reem to you.”
Aria’s brow dipped. “As what?”
“Reem as your escort while you reacclimatize and Elle as your bodyguard.”
Aria narrowed her eyes at the elder angel. “Reem? As in Reem Reem? Tall, lanky guy who doesn’t know how to smile. At anything? Ever?”
“Yes. That Reem. He is now a member of The Fallen, a historian, and well respected in Elysian. He is also the highest member of the council I could call to your aide on such short notice.”
“Swell,” Aria deadpanned. “Regardless of his impressive resume, he’s still a stick in the mud. And what about the small child? No offense, to you Elle,” she said as looked back at the young girl, “but you’re a trainee.”
“You would think after all of these years, you would have learned to listen to me.”
“I’ve been dead. If I didn’t listen to you before I’m not sure why you think anything has changed. I may not be at my best but I can protect myself better than someone who hasn’t even finished their courses. I decline.”
“Makak pa janm kwe petit-li led,” Khavah hissed. “You still think your shit doesn’t stink, you bullheaded woman,” she snapped. “It’s not for your protection! It’s to keep up appearances. Do you understand how important it is that you are back? How important it is that the soldiers and generals see you, in your finest, at your finest? You had an Astral bodyguard before–”
“Yeah, until one of your clansmen got her banished to Discord.”
“–and you’ll have one again. This isn’t a request you can decline.” Khavah huffed. “The girl adores you,” she said under her breath as she leaned forward in her chair. “Your legend is everything to her. Don’t disappoint her on account of your pride. Plus our clans need a show of power. With my granddaughter at your side, a direct descendant of my blood, and the Heir of Tambour–”
“She’s the heir?” Aria exclaimed. “What is she doing combat training for? She should be somewhere staring at a waterfall on a mountain, humming and chanting about yarn! Not picking up a weapon!”
Aria could feel the young girl bristle at the comment but it wasn’t like she wasn’t telling the truth. The Heirs of Tambour were to be protected and exalted. “I am just fifty steps away from the door of Sono, which means I am just fifty steps away from being a hero to most but an enemy to some. Do you think all of Shemhazi’s people have been ousted from Caeli? I know you didn’t spend a lot of time here, too busy in your fancy fortress, but it is dangerous, Caeli is dangerous. Why put your granddaughter in that situation?”
“I do it because everything you just said is correct. Caeli is dangerous, most of all for you. Instead of cowering, instead of relying on your reputation alone, I am showing them just how powerful Caeli can be with the power of Divine behind them.”
“It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I’ve been back and you’re are already playing politics with me as your pawn!”
“Knight, Aria. You as my knight. That’s all this is, young lady. Politics. Remember, you didn’t win that war with just your sword. You won’t win this one that way, either.” Khavah stood and approached Jin. As she did, Aria could feel her leaking her spiritual mass. It pushed up against Aria’s and swallowed her, a show of who was really the most powerful of the two. Khavah’s hand was gentle as she placed it under Aria’s chin to lift her face and it surprised her. “Your fiery stubbornness is a good thing, petit. You’re here, everyone knows you are here, and you will change the world as you are destined to do. There is no going back. The world you existed in before this day is gone. Rules, propriety, and politics are here to stay.”
“Fine.” Aria conceded. She bowed before turning on her heel and stalking from the room. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
Khavah looked confused, a frown marring her small mouth. “But you are home.”
“No, I’m here. Aeon Terra is my home.” She continued out of the room but paused at the threshold of the door. “Your name is Elle?”
“Y–yes, my leader.”
Aria’s lip hitched. “I’m not your leader, I’m no one’s leader. I’m your ward. Your grandmother has a lot of faith in you. You’ll have to earn mine.”
“Yes, yes ma’am,” the Astral bodyguard stuttered.
“And eighty-six the ma’am, shit. My name is Aria. Please call me just Aria. It’s been a very long time since I’ve heard my name.” Aria looked her over. Her uniform was the same as she remembered an Astral bodyguard uniform looking–which was going to be an issue in Aeon Terra. Not my problem. A standard issued metal bō-staff was strapped across her back and at her hip, her weapon of choice, and a rantai–a gleaming, fearsome looking chain whip. It was an odd choice but Elle was an odd choice.
Then again at one time, Aria had been an odd choice. Maybe she would give the girl a chance.
“Ellie, mind if I call you Ellie? I’m going to call you Ellie.” The girl opened her mouth to speak, but Aria forged on, cutting her off. “How do you guys get around nowadays? Firehorses? Light carriages? Wind wagons?”
Elle frowned. “Uh, no. Cars. Trains. Hovercycles. Bikes.”
Hovercycle sounded very interesting. When she died, they were just working on a predecessor to what humans would eventually call automobiles. “Hovercycles. Are they fast?” her voice just above a conspiratorial whisper.
Elle’s frown morphed into a small devious smile. “Very.”
“Good.” Aria rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “Let’s find our stick in the mud and get going!”
CHAPTER FORTY
The distance between Elysian and the edge of Aeon Terra was too far to walk–unless you were suicidal–and too close to take the train. Not that the train mattered. Most of Elysian had no thoughts of traveling in that direction and most of the inhabitants of Aeon Terra were not allowed to travel into Caeli en masse without expressed permission or a slaaf-‘ne–servitude–pass. It was granted to those who’d been chosen to work in Elysian. Aria never liked that aspect, but the majority did and her motions to have it abolished never sat well with some of the nobles in Caeli.
It was just far–Aria didn’t know if she was talking the aristocracy’s stubbornness or the distance. That could be why Aria was riding a Hovercycle at what could be considered the speed of light… if you were a no fun having old, old, old man stuck in a young body.
“Aria! Please! You mustn't travel so fast! You just learned how to ride this morning!”
Aria mimicked his pathetic cries under her breath before she rotated the throttle and accelerated.
Reem was a stickler for the rules–which was probably why Khavah stuck her with him–and wouldn’t know what fun or adrenaline was to save his life. The only reason he’d been appointed to The Fallen was…well, he was simply smarter than any objectionable reason.
She hadn’t spent much time with him before her death but what she did know is he cou
ld use an orgasm…or fifty to lighten up.
“For the love of The Creator slow down!”
Did she mention he was annoying?
Elle rode close to her, one step back, and Aria could see her smile in the rear view reflector of her cycle. “It’s alright, Reem! My CPN reader shows it coming up! I think we are almost there!” the Astral bodyguard screamed over the roar of the hovercraft’s engine.
Aria smiled. Home.
After the war, Elysian had set her and Yeong in some elaborately decorated and posh home on the other side of the Bay. It had too many bedrooms and sat on a lot that could have easily accommodated four or five other houses of the same size. Aria accepted it graciously before turning it into an orphanage to Bon Baji absolute chagrin.
Instead, she made a different choice, one that few understood. She chose to live amongst the rebels in the madinas of Aeon Terra, in a location that was damn hard for any common Elysian to track down.
Aria hated war. There was nothing she hated more. The complexities, the politics, and the death– she hated everything about it. Yet, she recognized the complex, essential parts of it for what it was. The deaths were sacrifices for a cause they believed in. The politics were simply moving chess pieces in a way that created greater gains and secured more power.
The complexities, the grey stuff, was what she understood the most. She understood Azeal. She understood Shemhazi and the rebels. She even understood why people wanted her dead.
It was her understanding of those complexities that moved her to let the people who had fought and lost against her know that she empathized with them and that she was still their leader. That although they had been exiled to the very edges of the civilization they’d only known, she still considered them her people.
They approached the main madina of Aeon Terra–Vox Populi–to the smell of sage, and pure emotion hit Aria. Her memory bloomed like a desert flower, the petals reaching for the warmth and love of the sun.
A Third of the Moon and the Stars Struck Page 26