Time to trust my instinct and hope that Vienna’s blood oath with Kira runs thicker than the stream of dissent in that room. I use my passkey to access the conference room.
“How about you stop referring to me as ‘the boy’?” I say in a loud voice as I enter. “You want to talk to me? Well, here I am. Have at me. Just leave Kira out of it.”
At least a hundred guns shift from Ethan and Kira toward me in an instant. I ignore them and walk down the stairs and towards Vienna Darcton and Mr. Stockly, outstretching my hand to shake theirs. I don’t think they were expecting me since they seem to be a little tongue-tied.
“I’m Blake Sundry,” I say. “Apparently I’m your biological son,” to Vienna, and to Mr. Stockly, “I guess I’m your worst nightmare, though I’m confused as to why.” I’d never seen Vienna Darcton up close, but I have zero doubt that we share DNA upon close inspection. The eyes. Facial shape.
“You’ve been elusive,” Vienna says. “We’ve had a lot of people looking for you—for your own protection, of course.”
“Of course,” I say. “My father and his cohorts take out a chunk of the city, and you’re worried about protecting me? I believe that.”
“Where were you during the attack?” Mr. Stockly asks me.
“I was at headquarters,” I respond. “But my only goal was getting Kira out alive. My father took her captive. Thankfully, I ran into Brad Darcton who agreed to try to get her out safely if I created a diversion.”
“What diversion?” Vienna and Mr. Stockly say in unison.
“I blew out the glass wall behind my father,” I say. “I apologize for the damage, but it was the only thing I could think of.”
“Let me get this straight,” Vienna says. “You ran into Brad and he told you to create a diversion. You obeyed this, even though your actions resulted in the death of your father?” They both look incredulous about my claims.
“Just ask the security detail that was with him at headquarters. They witnessed our conversation,” I say.
“Okay, so even if you’re telling the truth about what happened at headquarters… what about the Second Chancers? How do you explain away your actions there?” Mr. Stockly says.
“Sorry about that. It was stupid. I wanted to dish back a fraction of the suffering Tristan and Briella caused Kira. And perhaps I was trying to deflect some of the anger about my part in getting my dad and so many others killed, although I’m not trained as a psychologist so it’s hard to know for sure,” I say in a voice meant to imitate the school counselor they’d had me see after the explosion at the Goodington’s.
Paul Stockly isn’t amused. He must think I’m mocking him. The creases in his forehead deepen as his anger increases and voice raises. “Your father killed my Cleave.”
“I’m not here to rationalize my father’s actions and I’m very sorry for your loss. Obviously I disagreed with my father’s tactics or I’d have never helped Brad Darcton. All I can say is that my father felt his cause was just and I can empathize. I grew up with the Exilers and our circumstances were pretty horrible. Eventually my father got my sister and me out and to Earth, but his goal was to bring me back and bring down the Second Chance Institute. He blamed the SCI for my mother’s…” I pause for a moment to correct my mistake, “or who I thought to be my mother… her death.”
“So you admit you came back here to commit treason against the SCI?” Mr. Stockly says, twisting my words, even if his interpretation is the truth. Albeit a rash decision to enter this room, my intention was to calm the dissension, not further fuel it.
“Please separate my father’s intentions for me with my own actions,” I say. “I didn’t realize until I returned to Thera that my father was working with an extremely militant offshoot of the Exilers. I opposed my father’s plans, siding with the Survivalist Exilers, who want peace and coexistence without violence. They are no threat to you.”
“Are we really going to listen to this?” Mr. Stockly says to the crowd. “This boy admits coming here to destroy us. I demand justice and I demand it now, even if it requires forcibly removing Vienna Darcton from her post on the Ten.”
Within moments, security guards surround Vienna, face outward, and point their weapons at Mr. Stockly. Ethan and Kira both run to act as my human shield, saying the dissenters will have to kill them first to get to me. The guards sympathetic to Mr. Stockly’s cause have all three of us in their sights. The two sides shout loud threats to one another.
“This is not your fight,” I say to Ethan and Kira. “I can’t let you risk your lives to protect me.”
“Uh, I’ve always wanted the opportunity to say this. Shut up, brother,” Ethan says, glancing back at me with a sly grin.
“Yeah, shut up, Blake,” Kira says from behind me. She grabs my hand and squeezes it tight.
The stalemate continues for several minutes, no one wanting a repeat of the Militants’ slaughter, but the threats of it continuing. At its most tense point, and when I’ve sweated out every bit of liquid from my body thinking I’m a dead man, a third contingent enters the room and I about have a heart attack when I see the people in it.
“What the hell’s going on here?” a commanding voice asks. “Everyone lower their weapons now.” Both sides are slow to comply, but when they see the masses of new security detail that have entered and plan to execute all of them if necessary, they do so. “So, Sister. Are you going to explain? I got your message about the attack on the city and so we came early,” the man says to Vienna Darcton, motioning for her protective security detail to part. I crane my neck to get a closer look at the man, who does resemble my ‘mother.’
But, his sister? How is that possible? The man speaking is California Senator and United States Democratic Presidential frontrunner candidate, Henry King. He’s Vienna’s brother? That would make him my uncle. With him are the current United States Secretary of State and a whole host of other people who I learned about in my government class at Carmel Valley High. Are they part of the American delegation due for the second night of the city head’s meeting? They are all Daynighters? What the flip? And my dad thought he could take these guys on, the fool.
“Henry,” Vienna exclaims. “It’s been too long. We have much to discuss.”
“I can tell,” he says, scanning the room. “Well, don’t keep us waiting.”
Kira, Ethan and I listen as Vienna dispassionately tells the events of the last week to the American contingent. She doesn’t leave anything out, including my role leading up to and during the Militant attack, her deal with Kira to pardon me, what I told the Second Chancers, and particularly, Paul Stockly’s demands for my immediate execution and Vienna’s removal from the Ten. She allows Paul Stockly to defend his actions and we watch as he backpedals from his harsh stance.
“I see,” Henry King says after hearing the whole of it. “Well, let me meet them.” He turns around to look our way and then warmly embraces Ethan. “Ethan, so good to see you. About ready to head back to law school and follow in your uncle’s footsteps?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan says. “Uncle Henry, let me introduce you to Kira Donovan and Blake Sundry.” Kira immediately steps forward to shake his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you Senator King,” she says. “I’d say I’m surprised to meet you here, but not much shocks me these nights.” If she’s remotely nervous to meet him, she doesn’t show it.
“You are stunning. I can see why my nephew… or should I say nephews are so smitten with you,” he says to Kira, before turning to me. “And you must be my more notorious nephew, Blake?” He offers his hand.
“I guess so,” I say, taking his hand to shake it.
“You have her eyes,” Henry says, I assume speaking of Vienna Darcton. “Do you have anything to add to your mother or Mr. Stockly’s accounts of Garden City happenings?” he says.
“No. I think your sister… uh, my mother accurately covered things,” I say, not willing to give any credence to Mr. Stockly’s fantastical take. One of the
member’s of Henry King’s security detail taps Henry’s shoulder and whispers something in his ear. Henry nods to him. The man then cocks his weapon, releases the safety, and puts a bullet through Paul Stockly’s head. The room silences after a collective gasp.
“Would anyone else like to break protocol, challenge the established line of authority, or fuel further dissension in this room?” Henry says, looking around. No one appears to be taking the bait. “Because my head of security has reviewed the tapes of the last half hour and has a list of those of you who were sympathetic to Paul Stockly’s poison. I do believe that those who commit treason are subject to immediate Exile or execution.”
Henry directs his head of security to take me into protective custody while my fate is discussed and asks Ethan to watch over Kira.
As we are ushered out of the room I hear ‘Uncle Henry’ say, “Well then, I believe we all have much to confer about. New members of the Ten and Council must be appointed. I want to personally hear each city head’s plan to prevent similar attacks from happening worldwide and we have decisions to make on furthering our plans on Earth’s soil. Let’s get to it. I hope no one was hoping to sleep today, because we’re not leaving until every matter is resolved.”
“How’s solitary confinement treating you?” says my brother, Ethan, who has come to visit, several nights after I’d been sealed in the detention facility. My room’s pretty nice considering—other than the mirrored wall which indicates I’m being watched at all times. Home cooked meals. A treadmill and free weights. Comfortable bed.
“It hasn’t been all that solitary,” I say. “Turns out a lot of people have questions for me. So, how’s Kira? She’s notably missing off my visitor log.” I’ve had oodles of time with my mother and Henry King, as well as the other remaining member of the Ten and the newly appointed additions. They’ve been nice enough to let me know that Kira’s been staying with Ethan.
“Not by choice, I assure you. Until tonight we’ve been banned from visiting,” he says. “She’ll be here soon.”
“You are here first to stake your claim, then?” I say. “She’s due to Cleave one of us, so I assume you prefer that be you.”
“I did see her first,” he says, grinning. “But I don’t think it’s up to me who she ends up with.”
“What do you mean you saw her first?” I say. “She didn’t even meet you until I went missing during the flash flood.”
“Not true,” he says. “We met the night of the Goodington party. It was love at first sight for me. She went running off after she caught Tristan and Briella kissing. I tried to catch up to give her a ride home. But then the explosion happened and you carted her off. After, my father banned me from pursuing her until she’d adapted to Theran soil and the Ten could agree on who was her most suitable Cleave.”
I pause a moment. So now it all makes sense. Ethan’s perfect girl was Kira. The guy Kira spoke of that she’d met at a party who was ‘perfect’—that was Ethan. She’d known him all along. How shocked she must’ve been when he showed up again and she learned he was a Darcton. That must’ve killed the fantasy a bit, although after spending all that time ‘playing’ his girlfriend, she seems to have forgiven him for his bloodline.
“So why did you let me fall for her if you were already head over heels?” I say.
“As I said, I was banned from seeing her until she’d acclimated and met the Second Chancers. The consequences, had I disobeyed, would have been deadly. And, by that time, you two were already spending time in the canyons and the general sentiment was that you’d Cleave ‘any time now.’ I figured I’d lost my chance,” he says, shaking his head. “But then you disappeared and my father ordered me to show her the video of Tristan and Bri and take her home for a break. We got to be good friends.”
“That’s all?” I say.
“She played along with the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing while we were back on earth because she had to. She’d never betray you willingly,” he says. “She’s not like that.”
“But you really love her?” I say.
“Yes. I do,” he says. “More than you can imagine.” Oh, my imagination’s been going wild on you and Kira for a while now, so I think I’m all caught up.
“And she loves you?” I ask.
“I hope so, but I don’t know. I’ve never asked her directly. I know she cares for me. She surely loves you. That, she’s told me many times,” he says.
“So, where does this leave us? Two brothers after the same girl. We’ve both fathered her children. Not looking like it’ll end well,” I say, my arms crossed.
“I will abide by whatever she decides,” Ethan says. “The choice is hers. I refuse to interfere with her free will.”
“That’s the thing though. It doesn’t sound like she does get to decide. She made some deal with your… our… mother to let the Ten decide who she Cleaves. How could she do that?” I say.
“She did it to save your life. That alone should tell you how much she loves you,” he says. He looks jealous, as if she wouldn’t do the same for him. I think he underestimates how much Kira cares for him.
“Well, I don’t stand a chance given what I’ve done to the SCI and the fact ‘our’ mother will clearly favor you over me. Being my egg donor doesn’t really create a strong mother-son bond,” I say, pacing the room.
“From what I understand, Kira offered to Cleave you on multiple occasions and you chose your cause over her,” he says. He’s right, but I glare at him anyway. “Besides, our mother will do what’s best for Thera, not either of her sons. She’s not super maternal if you know what I mean. She still has major issues with my ‘faulty genes.’” No wonder I have trouble with relationships. Between my mother and my father, you’d think I’d been created by a couple of emotion-free robots.
“You have to promise me to treat her right if you Cleave her,” I say.
“Likewise to you,” Ethan says to me, though it floors me that he hasn’t gone running to our mommy to make sure he wins her hand in Cleave. Why would he give in so easily? “Do you love her? Like in the ‘she’s the only one for me’ sense?”
“I don’t buy into the whole ‘there’s only one for me’ thing or do I believe in ‘love conquering all or being all’. I’ve done the love thing before and got burned. But, as much as I’m capable… yeah, I guess I do love her. I just have to keep it all in context. I can’t let the entire world go to hell because of it.” I surprise myself by admitting this to Ethan. I expect him to tell me that it’s not enough. That she deserves better. Because he’d be right. I do love Kira. But, I also love the cause and the people who cared for me in my youth and are suffering as we speak.
He grabs my hand and says, “I may not have asked for it or wanted it, but you are my brother and that means something. Don’t ever forget that.” I don’t know what to say, given I definitely didn’t ask for this, so I just nod. We hear a knock and within seconds the door is open and Kira enters. She looks surprised to see Ethan here and it creates an uncomfortable moment where no one knows what to do.
“I’ll see you both later,” Ethan says. He looks Kira right in the eye and I can see she is guilt-ridden by our triangle. Once the door is closed, she gives me a hug and a lingering kiss on my cheek.
“Hey,” she says. “How are you doing?”
“Not too bad for a prisoner,” I say.
“What were you thinking? Why didn’t you just leave the city?” she asks.
“It’s such a nice place and I’ve gotten rather attached,” I joke. “Plus, I wasn’t able to find a good bed and breakfast to book outside the Eco barrier.” She smiles at that. I have missed her smile; everything about her.
“I’m guessing you have some questions for me,” she says, staring down at her feet.
“I think I’m all caught up with the multitude of omissions on your part—the deal you struck, the babies and the like,” I say. “But I did find out one new tidbit tonight—that ‘perfect’ guy you met at the Goodington party was Eth
an, wasn’t it? And the ‘perfect girl’ he’d told me about was you.”
“I guess. I’m sorry,” she says. “I met a handsome, charming stranger at the party. I didn’t act on my feelings because I was tied to Tristan and then Ethan disappeared, and I figured him for dead. The more I remembered him, the more perfect he became. That doesn’t mean he is perfect. That bubble burst long ago.”
“Do you love him?” I ask.
“I love you—if I even believe in the institution of love anymore,” she says, looking up into my eyes. “That said, I know that being in love doesn’t automatically lead to a lifetime of happiness.” Everything that’s happened has broken her. Or she just doesn’t want to admit her feelings for Ethan to me.
“Trust me. Love exists. I love you. Ethan says he loves you,” I say. She bites her lip at the mention of Ethan and starts to sway side to side a bit. “And I think you love him.”
“Perhaps, but it’s not relevant, is it? Tonight, the Ten will determine which one of you I Cleave and when and how I live my life,” she says. “They don’t care who I’d rather be with.”
“You agreed to that,” I say, regretting the words as they leave my mouth.
“Yes. And I’d do it again given the same circumstances,” she says, a dead serious expression on her face.
“Well, screw the deal. If they Exile me, come with me. We can make our own future,” I say. She pauses and sinks her head.
“You know that won’t be an option, Blake. As much as I’d love to run away from everything and be with you, I can’t leave the people I care about, knowing they won’t be safe,” she says.
“Even if that means we can’t be together?” I say, biting my own lip.
“Even so,” she says. “But you can choose to stay and then there’s always a chance.” She runs the back of her hand down my cheek which sends shivers of desire for her down my spine.
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