Thin Hope

by Holly Hook

  Something that felt like an electric shock swept over Riley. “You’re Revolution Fire, aren’t you?” Why did she feel shocked? It wasn’t much a surprise.

  Jacob put a finger over his lips to silence her. He nodded. “Have been for three years. Did a lot of communicating with your General over in Keilara. Patrick. I always had to wait until the Emperor was occupied with one of his sermons to do it, to be sure he wasn’t spying on me.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t want to tell him what had been going on with Patrick lately, or that he seemed to have gone over to work for Delainia. Poor Jacob had enough on his mind. Was Patrick the reason Delainia had invaded? If he told Darren Storm that Ivan was about to start invading Keilara, Delainia would have wanted to move before the Emperor did. “How are you planning to slip out tonight without getting caught?”

  “My sister wasn’t Imperial Commander at the time,” Jacob whispered, as if the Emperor might be listening. “I am.” He stood. “You have to get dressed for dinner. Look like you’re just starting to warm up to Ivan, to make him a little more comfortable. I’ll meet you here afterwards, and we’ll go.”

  * * * * *

  The dress the maids had provided her was a little too tight around her waist, making it hard for Riley to breathe. Not that it mattered much: the whole prospect of dinner was doing that to her. How was she supposed to choke down food and stare at the Emperor the whole time? But if she didn’t do this, Ivan might decide that the plan of making her happy wasn’t working, and he’d come back up here and—

  There was a knock on the door. “Princess, are you ready for dinner?” one of the maids asked through it.

  “Yes,” Riley said, straightening out her white lace skirt. The color of this dress would make it hard to slip away into darkness tonight. She really hoped she could find something dark to put over it before they left. If they got caught, she couldn’t bear to think of what could happen to Jacob—or her. At best, she’d be killed. At worst, married.

  She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, allowing the maid to escort her down the gold-trimmed stairway and past the open plaza. Emperor Ivan’s statue stared down at her as it spouted water into the fountain below it, like it had every time she had to go use the bathroom. The nameless maid stared down at the floor as she passed it, as if in reverence. Or fear. Riley couldn’t tell which.

  The maid didn’t speak a word to her all the way to the dining room, which Riley hadn’t even seen yet. She found herself walking through a wider hallway with a marble floor, with huge archways leading into different rooms. One led into an area with a curtained hot tub, now empty. A maid stood with her back to them, scrubbing it, although the entire room was practically sparkling already. Past the next archway, a mini put-put course spread out underneath a glass roof, lit up with colorful lanterns. The Emperor had truly squandered all the country’s wealth for himself.

  Riley nearly bumped into the maid as she stopped in front of a pair of ornate double doors. “Here, Princess,” she said, opening one of them with an ominous squeak. “Enjoy your dinner with the Emperor.”

  The maid departed as if she’d said something that would anger Ivan. Gulping, Riley stepped into the darkened dining room and paused in front of the table.

  Luckily, the dining room and the table in it were both quite long, with only one chair on each end, which meant that she wouldn’t have to sit anywhere near the Emperor. Ivan himself sat on one end, tapping his fork on his empty plate, filling the room with a hollow ding sound.

  “Please, my Princess,” Ivan said, giving her a smile that was both fake and slimy at the same time. “I invite you to sit down.”

  Riley slowly moved toward the table in utter silence, pulling the chair out and sitting down in it, making sure her eyes never locked with Ivan's. For the first time, she noticed all the food spread out all over the table, down the entire length, easily enough to feed twenty people. A turkey sat steaming on a platter in the center, underneath a dark chandelier, while plates and silver bowls filled with sides covered most of the red tablecloth. It was, hands down, the biggest feast for two people Riley had ever seen. Her own plate shined at her in the dim light, but she made no effort to put anything on it. She didn't want to make it look like that she was comfortable around the Emperor—yet. It would give him too much suspicion. It was best to take this slow, to make it seem like she was slowly warming to him.

  Ivan raised one hand on the other side of the table, smiling a show-off smile. A white-blue flame appeared above his palm, growing brighter by the second like an impending explosion. Riley tensed, then relaxed as the blue flame shot up towards the chandelier, stopping in front of each candle long enough to ignite it. Within seconds, every candle blazed above the table, casting a gold shine on all the silverware.

  “How do you like this feast, Princess?” Ivan asked as if he had prepared it himself.

  “It’s...it’s okay,” Riley said, struggling to keep the stutter out of her voice. Take it slow. “It seems like an awful lot.” She thought of all the people of Lateine out there, barely able to feed themselves. The thought made her want to smack the grin off Ivan's face.

  “You don't want any food?” Ivan asked, narrowing his eyes at her. “You should be starving after I rescued you from the war. You haven't eaten much over the past few days.”

  Rescued? Something inside her snapped, pushing all her timidness to the side for a moment. “Listen,” she said, glaring at Ivan and pointing a finger at him. “Call it what you want, but you took me against my own will. I call it kidnapping.”

  Ivan twisted his features into a look of mock hurt. “It’s the best thing that has ever happened to you, Riley. You may not realize that now, but it’s true. I’m going to end all these wars between our countries and unite the continent under my spiritual guidance. It’s meant to be.” His features relaxed. “There is a reason I have been Emperor for two hundred and thirty-nine years, longer than any other Lateinian leader. I’ve escaped every attempt on my life, every attempt to take my throne from me, thanks to my magic.” Ivan adjusted his crown, as if losing it would mean death. “I believe I’m meant for this, Riley. I truly do.”

  “Meant for what? To become dictator of your neighbors?” An image flashed into her mind: that of Frelladon, its colleges demolished, its houses crumbling and old, and soldiers patrolling the streets every night, making sure everyone obeyed the curfew.

  Ivan gave her a harsh look that made the words die in her throat. Riley swallowed and forced down a drink of water to quench the dryness forming in her throat. This wasn’t going well. Why had she lost control like that? At least she was getting better at not being that quiet, timid-looking girl.

  “You’re young, Riley. You didn’t witness the atrocities that I have. The Emoshi Genocide. Delainia experimenting on its own people. Wars. People need a strong leader to be united, or they will always fall into chaos. My people know this, and soon yours will, too, and Delainia will follow. There will no longer be any fighting between Emoshis and humans and Delainians and Lateinians. And you, Riley, will finally have a safe life filled with comfort and all the luxuries you could ever want.”

  She forced herself to look away from the Emperor, at the turkey still waiting to be eaten. The steam had stopped rising from it. Riley let out a slow breath. It was time to start making it look like he was making her happy. “It would be nice if the wars stopped, yes. But is this the only way? My parents are working for the same thing. They made laws to protect Emoshis.”

  "No one else has succeeded, my dear. No one else is powerful enough. I’m different.”

  One of the double doors clicked open, and an aging butler came in, shuffling into the room as if the Emperor would fry him with his magic at any moment. “Would you like some more red wine, my Honorable Emperor?” the butler asked. He had rings under his eyes, as if he’d been up working for two days. Maybe he had.

  “No, thank you,” Ivan said, waving him away as if he were an annoying fly.
<
br />   “What about the lady?”

  “Well, my dear, you want anything?”

  Riley resisted the urge to stare at Ivan with disgust. She couldn’t imagine that she could possibly hate the man any more. But she gestured for the butler to come closer. “Yes. I would love some red wine.”

  The butler hurriedly walked over to her, most likely to get away from Ivan. Riley rummaged through her dress pockets and produced several keils, the bills she’d kept with her since leaving to go hide at her grandmother’s estate. The butler filled her glass full of the red liquid and started to step back when Riley stopped him.

  “Here,” she said, handing him a few of the bills. He might not be able to go out and spend the money, but at least the gesture would help him feel better. She was sure Ivan never tipped his workers.

  The butler stared down at the money as if it had landed from another planet. “Th...thank you, Your Highness,” he said, retreating out of the room.

  Ivan glared after him as the door swung shut. “That was cute,” he said to her, switching back to his smirk in an instant. “He’s just a servant, Riley. There’s no need to...what’s the word? Tip.”

  “He works hard here,” Riley said, fighting to keep her voice under control. “You have wonderful servants, and I appreciate them.” She could disagree while still sounding she was agreeing, couldn’t she?

  Ivan stared at her with a clueless expression, as if he wasn’t sure Riley was insulting him or complimenting him. He seemed to decide it was a compliment, because at last he smiled. “Yes, my dear. You’ll love living in the palace. I will share my immortality with you, a secret that few are allowed to know. We’ll have a wonderful life together, and you’ll make a fine Empress.”

  His words made Riley’s stomach curl in on itself again. Already, she missed Jacob. He seemed to have been gone for years, not minutes, back to command the soldiers of Lateine against his will. He was the only thing that had made the past few days even remotely bearable.

  “So, what do you think of Lateine?” Ivan asked, taking a sip of his wine.

  She needed to answer carefully here. “I would love to see more of it, but I can’t see much over the palace wall.”

  “Perhaps you would like to see my amusement park tomorrow? My people find it very entertaining, and I’m sure that you will, too.” Ivan stabbed the turkey with his fork, tearing off a huge piece with manners that would have made her mother go into a rage.

  Riley remembered Jacob telling her about the money it sucked out of Constance’s citizens. “Of course. I’m sure I’ll love it.” The words felt unnatural coming out of her mouth.

  Ivan settled into his chair and chewed. He seemed to be relaxing, which was what they needed right now. “Of course you will. All of Constance loves the entertainment I have so generously provided them. Imperial Land is even starting a branch over in Frelladon, to show Keilara and the rest of the world what I’m about. The world will love me for bringing peace...and love us.”

  Riley forced down a bite of food, which felt dry and flavorless. Ivan really, truly thought he was the savior of the world. The man was borderline insane and delusional. No wonder he had remained single for hundreds of years. Any sane woman would take an octopus before him. “I’m sure that your citizens are happy to pay to enjoy Imperial Land.”

  Ivan missed the sarcasm, because he smiled, took a gulp of his red wine, and spilled a bit of it down on the table. “Of course they’re happy to leave their offerings. I have protected all of Lateine from war for hundreds of years, and my people know that they owe me.”

  Riley didn’t ask him to elaborate. She’d had enough of Ivan for the rest of her life, and pretending to tolerate him, and they were only five minutes into dinner.

  * * * * *

  “So, how was dinner?” Jacob shot Riley his trademark grimace whenever he asked these kinds of questions.

  She told him. “I can’t believe he really thinks he’s like a god. If he tries to convert Keilara...” she didn’t finish. Why couldn’t she just say what she wanted to say—that she wanted to kick him where it hurt?

  “I understand what you’re saying.” Jacob stepped into the bedroom and handed her a cloak made of dark brown cloth. “I got this from one of the maids downstairs. Put it over your dress. It’s time.”

  At those two words, her heart sped up. The secret passage. The Emperor’s sermon. They’d have to pass through it undetected, and then through a good portion of Lateine. Soldiers patrolled everywhere. They might not even make it. “Jacob, I’m really nervous about this.”

  He took her shoulders as the cloak fell over her body. “We have a chance, Riley,” he said. “My sister wasn’t Imperial Commander when she tried to escape. I am. I can pull strings.”

  He was right. Riley let her shoulders relax. Just maybe, she’d be back in Keilara within hours. Something in Jacob’s deep brown eyes told her that. Before she could realize what was happening, his face drew closer to hers, blocking out the guest bedroom in seconds, and then his nose brushed hers and their lips met.

  Warmth spread through her whole body, chasing away all of her worry for a moment. Riley hugged Jacob, pulling him closer. She didn’t want this to stop. But seconds later—or was it years—Jacob pulled away and let out a breath. “I...I...”

  Riley couldn’t find words, but not because she was nervous. Little tingles still raced across her skin, leaving a deep calmness inside of her.

  “I...think we have to get going. The Emperor should be starting now,” he finished.

  He was right. All the warm, happy feelings vanished in an instant, as if an evil Emoshi had entered the room and sucked them out. Riley pulled the brown cloak over her dress and followed the Commander—no, he was just Jacob—to the guest room door and down the hall.

  They passed the old butler on the way down the gold-trimmed stairs and another maid as they raced past the statue. Would they tell the Emperor about this? The butler might not, but the maids she couldn’t be sure about. There was no going back now. The thought somehow calmed her. Riley wouldn’t have to fight with herself about whether or not to make a break for it, and neither would Jacob.

  “This way,” he said, his cape falling around him as he stopped in front of a steel door that lacked all the gold trim of the rest of the palace. He opened it, revealing a dark staircase lit with dim yellow lights and letting out a musty basement smell at the same time.

  “This is where you have to live?” Riley couldn’t help but ask as they descended. The basement in Keilara’s palace didn’t smell this musty, even before her mother had ordered the dungeons redone.

  “Not anymore,” Jacob said, reaching the bottom. A concrete floor and a row of paint-chipped doors stretched out in four directions, and a pipe nearby dripped water onto the floor. “The passage is down this one. Stay quiet.”

  She did. Only the muffled sound of their footsteps echoed off the hallway walls and doors. Behind one, a little kid started crying. Riley couldn’t blame it. She would, too, if she had to stay in this palace all her life.

  Jacob stopped in front of the last door, one that was painted black with a brass lizard head attached. It seemed to stare out at them as if warning them back. He knocked three times on the door, held his breath, and waited.

  Riley tensed, ready to turn and run at any second. But two knocks came from the other end, along with a voice. “Is that you, Commander?”

  “Affirmative.”

  The door cracked open, revealing a Lateinian soldier in gray. Behind him, a tunnel that smelled of earth stretched into dimly lit gloom. “Come on.”

  Riley squeezed through the opening and Jacob closed it behind her. The guard eyed Jacob, his gaze warning him back. “Commander, your sister—”

  “Here.” Jacob stuffed his hands in his pockets and produced a handful of jewels, which glittered in the dim light. “Sell these and get your family some extra food on the table.”

  “Th...thanks, Commander,” the soldier said, closing the doo
r with a gentle click.

  Riley had no time to wish the soldier good luck, or add her own tip, because Jacob took her arm again.

  “How are we supposed to come out where Ivan isn’t?” she asked, running down alongside him and dodging stray roots. The question had been burning at her since dinner.

  “There’s multiple openings. Designed so the Emperor could escape any assassination attempts. We’ll come out under one of the rides.”

  A collective cheer, so loud it made the ground above them rumble, erupted above them. The people of Constance were all gathered here tonight in their forced worship of the Emperor.

  The tunnel forked above them, and Jacob took the left tunnel. The cheering grew louder for a moment, as if they were passing underneath the crowd, as stray specks of dirt rained down on her. Riley coughed on the dirty air and pushed through after Jacob.

  The tunnel seemed to stretch out forever, branching multiple ways, but Jacob must have known where he was going. He didn’t pause once until the tunnel itself ended in a mass of dirt, stone, and moss.

  “This is it,” he panted, pressing against the ceiling. “Careful on the steps. They’re slippery.”

  “Steps?” Riley eyed the mass of stone. Protrusions stuck out from the moss, barely visible.

  Another cheer burst forth outside, along with an indistinct, booming voice. The Emperor’s sermon had begun.

  Jacob raised both hands, and a white-blue glow surrounded them for a second before it shot upwards, blasting the invisible trapdoor open. Fresh air whooshed down from above, chasing away the earth smell. Riley breathed it in. It was the best smell she could imagine. It was the smell of escape and freedom.

  “...People of Lateine, rejoice tonight in the protection I have provided you for hundreds of years. Rejoice in the magic I have provided this land, and—”

  “That’s him,” Jacob mouthed, shooting her his grimace. “Let’s go. All clear.”