by Peach, Hanna
“Whoa,” said Alyx as she let her gaze run across the DreamScape.
“They’re like manmade skyscrapers but made of some sort of crystal,” said Israel.
“We were never told how amazing this place was in lectures,” Tii’la said as she studied the closest building. “We weren’t even told about these buildings.” She turned to Jordan. “Why wouldn’t we build like this anymore?”
“For these buildings to have been made, it required teams of Seraphim all pitching their magic to work together. The DreamWalkers designed it in the ‘Scape and the MemorySong made sure that copies of all the details and plans were placed in everyone’s minds. The Alchemists would create the raw material and FireTwirlers forged the crystal while the AirWhisperers would blow the liquid glass into shape. The EarthSifters would create the stable foundations and the WaterBearers cooled the glass to let it set. The MirageWeavers would weave wards into the very fabric of the city in a way that it was self-regenerating, like a perpetual motion machine. That’s why these wards still stand even today. Everyone played their part, everyone worked together to build something that was greater than what we could do individually.”
“So no one lives there anymore?” Israel said.
“We abandoned this city before splitting into three under the three Original Elders,” Alyx explained to Israel.
“Why was this place abandoned? It looks pretty kept together if you ask me.”
“There was a growing feeling back then that The Elders were not leading our people correctly,” Jordan said. “There was an uprising led by Elder Raphael himself.”
“But it didn’t work,” Alyx said.
“No. All those years ago, someone betrayed the rebellion and the uprising was crushed. Elder Raphael was killed. Atlantis was abandoned and the Elders separated and created the cities and society we know today. All to keep us from ever rising up again. Memories were altered, so that no one would remember what almost happened under Raphael’s leadership. Except some managed to hide these memories in secret and smuggle them out of the society so that some of us out here could remember. That’s why we, us Rogues,” Jordan used the Society’s name for FreeThinkers, “are so dangerous to them.”
“But why wouldn’t the Elders want us to know the truth about Atlantis…about what we’re capable of?” said Tii’la. “It seems so crazy that they would construct such a lie to hide our history.”
“If we all knew the real story of Atlantis, then we might realize how powerful we are if we work together.” Jordan turned to Tii’la, a fierce look on his face. “If we realized we could work together, imagine what we could do against the Elders. At least, that’s what the Elders think. They would rather keep us separate, chained and divided by class, and bickering amongst each other. Didn’t you ever wonder why the Elders structured our society in Michaelea and Urielos and Gabriela that way? Why did they create such a separation between us: Castus and Warriors, between Elders and Earth-borns, Society and FreeThinkers? Why do you think they separated the professions and chose them for us? Why, if we have the technology to build such incredible structures, are the pods in Michaelea made crudely by wood and canvas and straw? Built hand by hand? They don’t want us working together. They don’t want us thinking for ourselves. Together we could overpower them. That’s what almost happened here over a thousand years ago.”
Tii’la remained silent. Her eyes wide.
“That’s so sad,” Alyx said.
“As they say,” Jordan said. “‘Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely’.”
Jordan let the DreamScape fade and Alyx found herself suddenly back in Tobias’ office.
“Well then Jordan, thank you for that informative demonstration,” Tobias said, clearing his throat.
Jordan smirked. “No problem.”
“Show off,” Israel muttered under his breath, but Alyx heard it.
“Alyx, it’s clear,” Tobias said. “You need to go to investigate Atlantis. Take Jordan with you. His knowledge of Atlantis will prove invaluable.”
Alyx felt her cheeks flush as she glanced at Jordan. Things were so strange between them now. Would he even want to help her, to go with her alone to investigate? Jordan wouldn’t meet her eye. That seemed answer enough.
“I’m coming too,” Israel said.
“Israel, I don’t think that’s wise,” said Jordan.
Israel swung towards him, eyes darkening. “I don’t think it’s your call.”
Jordan shrugged. “Nothing personal. Just trying to keep you safe. You were captured during the battle with Samyara, remember?”
“I freed myself and won us the battle by killing Samyara, remember?” his voice heated up.
“Boys, please,” said Tobias.
Israel glared at Jordan. Jordan met his glare with an indifferent stare.
Alyx placed her hand on Israel’s arm. At her touch his anger seemed to diffuse. Angel? he said into her mind.
Please, Israel,” she thought back to him. You need to stay here until it’s safe.
But I’d be with you. I’m always safe with you.
I can’t do this and worry about you at the same time. Michael will have people out looking for the missing piece. And you. I can’t take any unnecessary risks with you.
But…the last time you and he went together alone…
Guilt stabbed her, opening up those wounds again. I love you, Israel. It shouldn’t matter if I’m forced to spend time with Jordan. It’s just for a mission. I love you.
Israel cupped his hands around Alyx’s face. To everyone else they would have just looked like they were gazing at each other silently even though so much was being said.
“Get a room,” Jordan muttered. But they both ignored him.
I know you love me, Israel said in her head.
Then trust me.
You really want me to stay, angel?
Please, you’re safer in the castle. I can’t lose you.
Then I’ll stay.
“What are they doing?” whispered Tii’la.
“They have a special bond,” explained Tobias. “They can link minds, share their thoughts, what they see and feel with each other.”
“That’s so cool.”
“That’s so overrated,” muttered Jordan. Then in a louder voice, he said, “You two can stop your little love-fight. I’m not going with Alyx to Atlantis.”
“What?” Alyx and Israel both turned at once.
Jordan smirked. “As fun as that might be, I have something else I need to do.” He turned to Tobias. “I was going to ask you when these three rushed in…I want to go with Lukas to investigate that island. Make sure he doesn’t get himself into any trouble. I’m worried about him.”
Tobias sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hands. “Yes. That’s probably a good idea.”
“Alyx, you can’t go alone,” Israel said.
“I’ll go with her,” said Tii’la. She glanced around the room, obviously seeking approval. “I may not have magic or that much knowledge of Atlantis, but I’m smart and I can fight. I can go with her. Keep her safe.”
“I used to fight alongside Tii’la in Michaelea,” Alyx said. “She’s a great warrior.”
“Thanks,” Tii’la mouthed to her.
“It’s settled then,” Tobias said, looking between Alyx and Tii’la. “Get some rest. You two leave first thing in the morning.”
* * *
“Israel, wait,” Alyx said. She had followed him to his room after the meeting with Tobias had ended. She knew he was still upset about Jordan. Israel spun and stared at her. She stood near his door, staring back at him. “I’m sorry. Jordan can be such an ass sometimes.”
Israel let out a breath and he seemed to deflate. “No. I’m sorry. I reacted badly back there. I just… I love you so damn much, sometimes it clouds my head. If it was anyone else I wouldn’t care, but…him.”
“Nothing is going on between Jordan and me. Absolutely nothing.”
“Anymore,�
�� he said quietly.
This word hung between them, making Alyx cringe at the guilt that rose up in her. What the hell was she supposed to say to that?
“I’m sorry,” Alyx said. What else could she say? She couldn’t tell Israel that the feelings that she once had for Jordan weren’t real because at the time, they were. “How many times do I have to tell you, I’m sorry?” She moved to him and reached her hands out. She knew if he accepted her touch, then they would be okay. Her fingers moved tentatively around his waist. She stared up at him and bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I love you. I love you so much. More than my own life. I would do anything for you.”
Israel sighed and pulled her against him, wrapping his hands around her back. “I know I’m supposed to be okay with this. I know that. And I do trust you. I do. But…” A deep pain fell across his face and it stabbed at her heart. “Remembering you kissing him…just the thought of losing you to him…again…”
Her heart broke. “Hey,” she grabbed his face, “get inside my head. You can see my intentions behind wanting you to stay. You can sense my true feelings.”
“Alyx, I don’t doubt you. I don’t need to get inside your head to see what’s in your heart. I know we belong together. I just… I know I have to find a way to let this go. I thought I had. But obviously I haven’t completely.”
“Israel, it wasn’t the same…what I felt for him.”
He winced as he turned his face from her. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“No,” Alyx said fiercely, grabbing his chin so that he was forced to look at her. “You need to hear this. When I had forgotten you…the feelings I was developing for him weren’t anything like what I feel for you. There were parts of him I could never really accept and that meant that we could never work. I never fit him like I fit you. The connection was real but…it was just a shooting star. It was never going to last. Jordan and I were never meant to last. You and I are. You’re my soulmate, Israel.”
She placed her hand on his heart where she knew his scar was. Under her palm she felt his heartbeat. God, she loved that sound. She could listen to his heart beating all day. Like yesterday. Yesterday when they were tangled up in each other, she rested her head on his chest and silently thanked each of his heartbeats for keeping him alive for her.
She noticed that Israel was watching her, a smile growing on his face. “What?”
“You really thanked each heartbeat?”
She realized that he must have gone inside her mind and had seen her thoughts. “Each and every one,” she admitted softly.
She felt the final piece of his cracked heart mend.
Sometimes, he said in her head, I watch you when you’re asleep. I play a game with myself. I look at you and try to see how long I can last without touching you.
Really?
Seriously. In fact, I’m playing it now.
Her body heated as he approached her. How are you doing?
Terribly. He caught her in his hands. See, I just lost.
Well, we do have all night for you to practice…
Actually, we have thirteen hours and forty-two minutes until you’re due to leave. He lowered his lips towards hers. And I don’t plan on wasting another second.
* * *
That night, as he had done so many nights before, Jordan slipped through the halls of the castle from his bedroom towards Cleo’s. His mind was a whir as he pondered his mission with Lukas, leaving tomorrow. He didn’t know how to help his love-sick friend.
Jordan stopped by Cleo’s familiar door, distracted, only half glancing up and down the corridor to make sure that no one was watching. He turned the handle and pushed. The door wouldn’t budge. Jordan frowned. He shook the door handle slightly and pushed again. The door didn’t open. It was locked.
Why would Cleo lock her door? She had never locked her door before. A fear rose in his stomach. Something was wrong.
Jordan leaned his ear against the rough wooden panel. He couldn’t hear anything. No signs of struggle or that she was in pain. The anxiety in his stomach eased but only slightly. Was she even in there?
He knocked low twice. “Cleo,” he called through the door.
Her voice came back almost immediately. “Go away.”
Go away? He knocked again. “Cleo, it’s me.” He paused. “Jordan,” he added after a thought.
“I said, go away.”
His hand slid down from the door and he stared at the plain wooden surface as if it may have answers written on it. There were no answers.
“What’s wrong?”
“What part of ‘go away’ don’t you understand?”
“Cleo? Open the door.”
“Go away. As in don’t come back here, Jordan. Not at night. Not during the day. Not ever. You’re not wanted here anymore.”
Of all the ungrateful nerve. “What’s your problem?”
He heard movement, sharp and swift from behind the door. It sprang open in front of him and Cleo appeared, body blocking the door, lips twisted and dark eyes glaring at him like black daggers. “You just feel sorry for me, do you? I’m just a nuisance?”
Jordan’s own words from the other day came back to him and he realized in a dreadful flash that Cleo must have heard his whole conversation with Alyx through the door. Guilt, bitter and heavy sank low into his stomach.
“I didn’t mean−”
“I know what you meant. You didn’t want Alyx to get the wrong idea about us? Just in case she changes her mind about her true love, Israel, and decides she really wants you? Because you’re still hanging on to that hopeless hope that she might?” Cleo snarled. “What am I? Just a distraction until you get what you really want?”
“What? No, I−”
“Because I won’t have it, Jordan. Maybe other women in your life would have slunk back into their rooms to wait for you, repressing their anger and pretending that second best was fine, but not me. Go away and stay the hell away from me.”
Cleo slammed the door so hard in his face that the door frame shook and the noise echoed like a death toll through the cold stony halls. Jordan was left gaping at the door, his mouth moving slowly open and shut. What just happened?
That night Jordan stayed in his bedroom, in his bed, alone for the first time since Cleo had arrived at the castle. The moonlight filtered in through his window, draping silver across his blanket like a shroud. Jordan folded his fingers under his head, trying to relax. When had his bed gotten so uncomfortable?
He growled and threw himself onto his side, hoping that it would lead him to comfort, the sheets crushing under his jerky movements. All this succeeded in doing was facing him towards the empty side of his bed. The image of Cleo’s sleeping face on the pillow next to him came to mind easily, pulling the ghost of a smile from him.
He had joked with Cleo once that she was most beautiful in her sleep. It was the only time she would shut up. Now in the deathly silence, he found he missed the sound of her voice, which always filled whatever room she was in.
He wondered if she was having any trouble sleeping. Probably not. She was probably sleeping like a baby, rudely unaware of the grief she was causing him right now.
What if she had a nightmare?
She’ll be sorry when she has one and I’m not there. The instant he thought this he chastised himself. You’re the reason you’re not there, idiot.
His cheeks burned when he remembered the things that he said to Alyx. Angel’s breath and Cleo had heard them all. He hadn’t meant those things he said. He wasn’t even sure why he said them. They were just words, thrown carelessly around like grains of corn.
Perhaps they had been harmless when he had spoken them, but they became daggers when they reached Cleo’s ears. I feel sorry for her…a nuisance, really.
If only he could take them all back.
If only you could take words spoken and cram them back into your mouth like spilled rice and leave no evidence or consequence of their previous chaos.
His words he cou
ldn’t take back, but perhaps he could soothe their effects.
He hoped he could…
Chapter Seven
“I’ll miss you.”
Alyx laughed. It was soft and satin and angelic. “I just need you to leave me alone so I can get ready. You can come back in an hour.”
The morning light had long drawn across the room from that small crack in the curtains.
“Even an hour sounds too long.” Israel eyed her body, wrapped only in a sheet. “Maybe I should stay, help you…get ready?” He moved towards her, his hands grabbing for the cloth. She twirled out of his reach and he growled. He would cut that damned sheet from her body, just wait and see.
“It’s just an hour.”
“And after that hour you’ll be gone for…days, maybe. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself.”
“You said you’d go and look in on Sparrow for me.”
“I did. I didn’t specify when.”
“You could go do that now.”
“It’s too early. He’s probably asleep.”
“Are you shirking your duties?”
“No, just…delaying them for more important things. Like making sure your naked body stays warm.”
“Israel, he only just arrived here and I haven’t had a chance to look in on him. I’ve been distracted by you−”
“You love my distractions.”
“−so he’s been by himself all day and night.”
“So he’ll survive a few more hours.”
“Israel!”
“Yes, angel?”
“Officium pro amor.”
“What?”
“It’s a motto I read on one of the crests that lines the Great Hall here. It means ‘duty before passion’.”
Israel made a face. “That’s a terrible motto. Horrible. Don’t they know the world revolves around love? Why would I care about anything when everything I care about is here? You are more important to me than anything. Period. Here, I have a better motto for you. ‘Let the world burn. See if I care.’ Now hand over that beautiful body of yours.” He lunged at her again and this time he caught her. She laughed as his hands found their way into the crumpled sheets and against her warm skin. He placed kisses along her bare shoulder.