by M. J. Reed
The question caught me off guard. “Oh, no. I want to be a mom one day, I just wanted to see Wrenna turn that lovely shade of purple.”
Wyatt laughed, sending a jolt of warmth through me. I’m still filled with uncertainty about my future, and I’m nervous about what’s going to happen in the next few weeks, but thanks to Wyatt I feel hopeful again.
Maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.
Chapter 16
I could be arrested for a curfew violation for being out this late, but I have to see Cora. I feel like I owe her some kind of explanation. Not that there’s much left to say since I’m marrying another woman in a few days.
A part of me doesn’t want to see Cora. What am I even going to say to her? “Sorry, but I’m marrying Priya instead. I’ll see you around.” The thought of hurting her makes my heart ache, but, much as I hate to admit it, I’ve been developing feelings for Priya. I just have to tell Cora that I’m falling for someone else. I sighed. It’s not like there’s anything I can say that will change our situation. I don’t want either of us to get sent to level seven. Better for us to end it now before our relationship destroys both our lives. I’ve gone over all these thoughts a hundred times already, but I’m having trouble squaring them with the way I feel about Cora. This is going to be rough, but it has to be done. I squared my shoulders and set my jaw in determination as I arrived outside Cora’s house.
The light was on in Miles Halax’s study. I thought Cora’s dad was working tonight. I thought, worrying that I had snuck out after curfew for no reason. I peeked through the window, and instead of Miles, I saw Cora. She sat on the edge of her dad’s desk, idly swinging her legs as she spoke. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but she was talking to someone. No, not someone, another man. My breath caught in my throat as she leaned over and squeezed his arm. They laughed. What’s she doing with that guy?
I had heard that Miles Halax had taken in an outsider who had stumbled onto the city by accident. In fact, Departure’s newest arrival is all anyone seems to be talking about lately, but I’ve been too wrapped up in my own problems to pay much attention. I guess I should have been listening to the gossip of the day. After all, he’s been staying with Cora.
It surprises me that he and Cora are being left alone together, unsupervised. The city is in an uproar over this guy. The church is trying to get people behind the idea of colonizing the surface, security is on high alert, no one seems to know anything about him or why he’s here, and Miles just leaves her alone with him? I rolled my eyes. At least she looks like she’s doing okay. In truth, Cora looks like she’s doing more than okay. She appeared to be having fun with the stranger, and it irritated me. I rapped on the glass to get her attention.
She rushed to the window, surprised, but happy to see me. “Lonn!” Cora greeted me, helping me climb in through the window and pulling me into a hug. I breathed in her familiar smell, and it made me feel warm from head to toe.
“Hey.” The surface-dweller greeted me flatly, as Cora and I broke our hug. He extended his hand. “I’m Wyatt.”
The outsider, Wyatt, was a few inches taller than me and more muscular. I don’t like this guy. He looks dangerous. “I’m Lonn, Cora’s boyfriend.” I introduced myself, putting some emphasis on the word “boyfriend.” What am I doing? I came here thinking I was going to break up with Cora! Now, I just want to punch this jackass she’s hanging around with! I’m such a hypocrite. “Nice to meet you.” I glowered, as angry with myself as I was with Wyatt.
Wyatt nodded by way of reply. I can’t be sure, but he doesn’t seem to care for me much, either.
“What are you doing here?” Cora asked. She looked flushed with excitement, but I wasn’t sure if it was my visit or her conversation with Wyatt that had amped her up.
“Look, Cora,” I began, reminding myself of why I came here. “I’m supposed to get married soon.” Her face fell as I spoke, but I forged ahead. “I’m supposed to marry Priya, and maybe that would be best.” I finished, my resolve wavering.
Cora visibly withdrew towards Wyatt. “I was so sure we were going to get matched up.” She said, her voice far away. Uncertainty washed across her face, and it broke my heart. She looked at me, eyes shining with tears. “I guess it didn’t work out that way. But do you really want to give up what we have?” She asked, straining to keep the pain from her voice. “We’ve been together for so long, and,” Her voice fell to a whisper. “I love you.”
I didn’t know what to say. “I- I love you, too.” I managed, but my uncertainty shone through in my tone.
Wyatt stepped closer to Cora and put a hand on her shoulder. I’m sure he meant for the gesture to console Cora, but instead, it just aggravated me. I felt my face redden in rage, and I clenched my fists. “Can’t you leave us alone?” I snapped at him. “We’re trying to have a private conversation!”
“If Cora wants me to go, I’ll go,” Wyatt answered evenly, looking to Cora for confirmation.
Instead of asking him to leave, Cora turned on me. “What do you care if Wyatt stays? You’re breaking up with me either way! Why shouldn’t I be able to have a friend around for support?”
Her defensive attitude caught me off guard and put me on the defensive. “I didn’t say I wanted to end it!” I yelled. “I just thought,” I was going to break up with Cora, but I don’t want to give her up. Not after all we’ve been through. “Maybe I could marry Priya, and we could still see each other,” I suggested meekly. I could tell immediately that this was the wrong thing to say.
“Are you fucking kidding!? How could you possibly think I would be alright with that?” Hot, angry tears fell as she spoke.
“I think you should leave,” Wyatt said, irritated that I had upset Cora.
“Who are you to get mad at me?” I asked, ignoring the stranger. “You’re the one hanging out with strange men in the middle of the night!” I gestured at Wyatt as if to prove my point. A part of me knew I was overreacting, lashing out, and saying all the wrong things, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. Seeing Cora with Wyatt made me angry, and I spoke without thinking. “Maybe, my getting matched with Priya wasn’t a mistake. Maybe, we aren’t meant to be together, and you’re the only one who can’t see it yet!” A tense silence loomed over the room. I knew that my outburst was something I couldn’t take back, but I wasn’t entirely sure if I wanted to.
Cora was crying heavily, though quietly, now. The only sound in the house was her meager sniffling.
Wyatt wrapped his arms around her shoulders and glared at me. “I don’t know if this helps,” He offered, tentatively. “But Sade mentioned that some of the matches were changed this year.”
I was startled. “Sade said that?” I asked, as I eyebrows shot towards my hairline.
Wyatt nodded in reply but didn’t look at me. Instead, he pulled a small gauze pad out of his pocket and offered it to Cora. I was sure that if he weren’t busy trying to make Cora stop crying he would have hit me.
I fumed at how close Cora and the stranger seemed to be but tried to ignore it. “Well, Sade would know.” I murmured, thinking of how she and Dr. Ward were always hanging around one another. For all I know, Wyatt could just be lying to make Cora feel better, but it seems like too specific a thing for someone unfamiliar with Departure’s operations to lie about.
Cora wiped her eyes. “If the matches were changed, maybe we were meant to be matched with one another.” She still looked angry, but I could see the wheels in her head turning. She’s probably envisioning us overcoming some kind of dramatic conspiracy and living happily ever after. I can’t blame her. It’s a nice thought, but it’s not realistic.
I shook my head. “Even if we were supposed to be matched up, we would need proof that the matches were changed to do anything about it. If I refuse to marry Priya without any proof of foul play, I’ll just get myself into trouble.” Even as I spoke, I felt conflicted. I want to marry Priya. I admitted to myself. But I can’t picture my life without Cora. I briefly con
sidered telling Cora about my growing feelings for Priya, and my confusion surrounding our own relationship, but I thought better of it. The Halax’s, like most upper tier families, have an emergency panic button that summons security. All Cora would have to do, would be to press that button, report me for a curfew violation, and I would be in a world of trouble. Better to leave here without pissing her off too much.
“I’ve got to go,” I said, wanting to end our conversation as soon as possible and avoid watching Cora cry again. “Look, I’m marrying Priya soon. If you can find proof that you and I were supposed to be matched up, then maybe we can figure something out.” I said vaguely. I took one last look back at Cora and Wyatt, more confused about what I wanted than ever, before fleeing from the Halax house.
Chapter 17
Oswalt stood on the platform overlooking the fourth-floor storage area. “Search the lockers.” He commanded solemnly. The Cardinal was surrounded by his equally grim looking father, several department heads, and a few of his priests. They all watched quietly as my enforcers began a sweep of the storage area.
Theft is a serious crime, one you could be sent to level seven for, and a rash of burglaries have been reported this week. A part of me is glad to see the city’s bigwigs taking crime around here seriously, but Oswalt’s holier-than-thou attitude always manages to rub me the wrong way. What an ass. Standing up there above us all. Like he’s so damned perfect! I shot one more irritated scowl his way before joining the search.
I opened locker after locker checking for items that might have been stolen. Of course, I was the one who took everything we’re looking for. I thought with another scowl. I should never have gotten into bed with Paul. I wanted to blame Paul for convincing me to steal for him, but I can’t shake the knowledge that I’m the one who’s actually doing the deed. Fuck, this feels terrible! My job is to protect the people of Departure, not steal from them. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to open another locker and continue with the charade. Just remember why you’re doing this. This is for Jarno.
I pretended to check the list of stolen items I had been given but turned slightly so that I could see Sade Charr. I’m sure Dr. Ward’s buying alcohol from her. I bet she’s got everything he’s paid her stashed away somewhere by now. Meanwhile, she’s searching lockers as if she has no idea where any of those things wound up. I could feel myself turning beet red in anger as I watched her. Sade and I may both be breaking the law, but I’m doing it for my son. She’s just doing it because she’s a bored, spoiled, agitator.
Sade stood and headed towards the rear of the storage area. For a moment I almost called out to remind her to follow the search pattern, in order, per protocol, but then I remembered that Sade’s locker is near the back row. Could she have left something incriminating in her locker? I slipped quietly after her, heart thumping in excitement.
Sade seemed to be making it a point to ensure no one was following her. Every few rows she would stop, look down the aisles, turn to look over her shoulder, and then continue on. Unfortunately for her, I’ve been following thieves and criminals around the city for a long time, and I wasn’t going to blow my chance to bring Sade Charr to justice.
I snuck after her, ducking behind lockers as needed to avoid her seeing me. I was almost afraid to breathe for fear of alerting Sade to my presence. When she reached the second to last row of lockers, she made a quick right turn towards her locker. I waited, hidden, at the end of the aisle as I heard her open the lock. Got her! I quietly rushed to catch up with her.
“Find something interesting, Sade?” I asked smugly, as she pulled a baggie out of her locker. There was no hiding what she had. The large bag held several of the missing valuables on the list I had been given.
I pushed Sade aside to see that her locker also contained several bottles of water, a few miscellaneous trinkets, a notebook, and baggies filled with a not-so-mysterious mystery liquid. I opened one of the bags and inhaled. Alcohol. I grinned maliciously at Sade. I did it. I finally caught her red-handed!
“I knew it! I knew you were making this shit.” I snarled, waving her own hooch in her face. I took another whiff from the bag. The astringent odor of alcohol mingled with the sickly sweet smell of rotten fruit was disgusting, but to me, it smelled like victory. “You’re coming with me,” I said, unable to suppress a grin. I grabbed Sade with one arm, scooped up as many contraband items as I could carry with the other, and dragged the girl and her treasures back towards the waiting crowd.
I expected her to try to stop me. I waited for her to try to run or to beg me not to turn her in, but Sade didn’t struggle. Instead, she walked calmly beside me, as if resigned to her fate.
It was everything I had ever envisioned. I emerged from the lockers with Sade and an armload of stolen items. Her brother, the Cardinal, and her father, the Syndic, were both there to witness her downfall. If I can’t take Oswalt down a peg, then I’ll settle for exposing his sister as a thief.
“I’m sorry to inform everyone,” I began, doing my best not to look happy. “That I’ve found the missing property, as well as alcohol in Sade Charr’s locker. It seems she’s responsible for the liquor trafficking happening in the city.”
Olivia Escobedo, the woman in charge of water purification, gasped as I held up one of the bags of liquid I had recovered from Sade’s locker. She’s so dramatic. I thought, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. But at least she’s taking this seriously.
A murmur broke out amongst the prestigious people on the platform. All eyes turned to Reglin and Oswalt Charr.
Worry lines crossed the Syndic’s face. “Where did you get that, Sade?” Reglin asked, incredulous.
She cast her eyes downward and muttered a quiet, “It’s mine.” Sade met her father’s eyes, and for a moment the dignity with which she held herself made the family resemblance clear. “The Constable is right.”
Reglin went into damage control mode as soon as the words left her lips. “Sade, I’m disappointed in you! As Departure’s first family, we must set an example for the rest of the citizens.” He said sternly, wagging a finger at his daughter. It should make me happy to hear Reglin Charr publicly chastise his daughter, but I know he’s only saying doing it to appease those standing on the platform with him. The Syndic turned to Departure’s department heads. “We will, of course, make a generous contribution to the public fund, and Sade will need to complete some community service to remind her of her future position as a public servant.”
Figures she’d be able to wriggle out of trouble. If I caught anyone else with alcohol in their locker, they would be sent to level seven indefinitely. The department heads looked as if they were about to concur with Reglin Charr’s proposal, but then my eyes lit upon Oswalt Charr.
Oswalt drew himself up to his full height and addressed his father. “I don’t think such a light penance would be appropriate.” He said in his usual sanctimonious tone. I could practically hear the other city leader’s heads swivel to look at Oswalt as he continued. “As a member of the first family, any crime she commits should be punished more harshly due to her status, not less. It is our obligation to God to prevent criminals from thriving within our city. Much as it pains me to say it, my sister must be given more than a slap on the wrist.”
Reglin glared back at his son. “I don’t think your sister making a little bit of alcohol is going to harm the city.” There was a general murmur of discontent from the other department heads as Reglin Charr replied. The Syndic is known for being fair and unbiased when making decisions that affect that city, but as Reglin tried to protect his daughter, I could see him losing credibility in real time. Reglin squirmed, hearing the disgruntled whispers around him.
If Jarno were the one in trouble, I would be doing the same thing. I thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for the Syndic.
Oswalt Charr pounced, taking advantage of Reglin Charr’s moment of weakness. “Father, the crime rate per capita has increased dramatically over the past decade! Now you want to let
someone who has committed a crime go free because of her lineage?” He turned pointedly towards the watching department heads. “Is this justice?” Oswalt paused to let his words sink in. “No.” He concluded, answering his own question. “These are signs that we must be more vigilant. That we should be more determined to live by the will of God. We need to be certain that Her laws are obeyed, by all citizens, and return to the surface to spread Her word to the world above.”
I rolled my eyes. Oswalt can’t go five damn minutes without bringing up going to the surface, even when there’s a more important issue right in front of him! Fortunately, the rest of the people gathered on the platform were able to ignore Oswalt’s digression and focus on the topic at hand.
Reglin Charr looked taken aback. The small crowd gathered to witness the search had turned on him.
Oswalt is a pompous blowhard, but at least his moral compass is intact. This is amazing! Sade might actually get what she deserves.
“I suppose, but-” Reglin began. But his son cut him off.
“Then we are in agreement.” He said, wearing a forced grin. He snapped his fingers. “Enforcers, take her to the dungeon!” Oswalt ordered triumphantly.