I stopped, listening. The sound of it made my heart race.
Then, my eyes narrowed.
The sound was coming from the music room, which had been unused since my mother’s death. That was once her place to escape the world, and my father had built it for her when she was forced to quit the Sanctum orchestra after having me.
I moved to the door, freezing on the threshold.
Leid sat on a stool, my mother’s cello between her legs. Her face was hidden by her hair, and her arm danced to and fro with the bow clutched in a tiny fist.
My anger faded. For some reason I found this sight… beautiful. I couldn’t tell if it was the music or the cadence. Either way, I leaned against the frame, crossing my arms.
Leid eventually sensed my presence, and her eyes rose to mine. She stopped playing, letting the bow fall to her side.
“What are you doing in here?” I asked.
“Playing the cello.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
I nodded at the instrument. “That belongs to my mother.”
“And your mother is dead.”
My stare hardened. “Who have you been talking to you?”
“No one.”
“How did you know that?”
“Because you just told me. With your eyes.”
I looked away, uncomfortable. “You shouldn’t be in here. Put the cello away and return to your quarters.”
Instead, she reached over and ran a hand across a dusty violin case lying on the stool beside her. She opened it up, glancing at me. “Is this yours?”
“Yeah, sort of.” When she only stared, I explained, “My mother gave it to me. She was going to teach me how to play when I was old enough.”
Leid looked back at the violin, sadness etched across her face. “Oh.”
Without another word we left the music room, pausing at the fork.
“Are you going to sleep?” she asked.
“I don’t see any point in that,” I said.
Leid gave me a smile. I was beginning to find it pretty. “Neither do I. We’ve had a long day, Commandant. Would you like to have a drink with me?”
I glanced at my watch. “Alcohol now? It’s five in the morning.”
“You’ve never shown up to work drunk?”
“… Is that a joke?”
Instead of replying, she headed for the dining room.
I followed her, frowning.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, the room was spinning.
I really shouldn’t have taken that last shot, but Leid was goading me. In fact she’d drunk twice as much and seemed completely fine. I wasn’t about to let a little girl drink me under the table, alien or not.
Nausea crept up my throat, but I swallowed it and closed my eyes. I opened them to find her pouring us another round. “No,” I conceded, pushing away the glass. “I can’t.”
She laughed. “Done already?”
“How are you still conscious? I’m probably twice the size of you.”
“I’m cheating,” she said, fingering the cork. “My kind can tolerate an impossible amount of liquor.”
“I knew it had to be something.”
“Is Yahweh secure?”
I nodded, reaching for the pitcher of water. We didn’t say anything for a while.
“Your name means bliss,” Leid stated, downing another shot. “Qaira fortunega.” She’d just recited a welcoming phrase from the ancient priests of Moritoria. Bliss and fortune.
“I didn’t choose it.”
“I find it kind of ironic, given who you are; how you are.”
I glared at her. “And how am I, Leid?”
“You’re the unhappiest person I’ve ever met.”
I glanced away, not particularly liking her analysis. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“But I do. I practically knew the moment I laid eyes on you.”
I didn’t respond. What was she trying to prove?
“I’m telling you this because I want you to succeed, Qaira.”
“By giving me a characterization beat-down?” I asked, shooting her a sidelong glance. Before she could respond, I added, “What the fuck do you care, anyway? Why are you so invested in me? You get what you want regardless, and then you’re off to serve some other unlucky idiot.”
Leid said nothing, her face marked with hurt.
I took a sip of water, unable to meet her gaze. After a moment she left her chair.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “This was a mistake.”
As she passed, I grabbed her arm. My grip wasn’t rough, but firm enough to make her stop. “You don’t know me,” I repeated, quietly. “You don’t know of the things I’ve done, and I don’t appreciate your insight when it’s based on ignorance.”
I released her, and Leid looked down at me. I hadn’t realized how close we were to each other until now. There was a moment between us, a tiny fraction of a second where things could have taken a very drastic turn. However, that window was lost when she stepped back.
“Take comfort in the fact that whatever you’ve done, Qaira Eltruan,” she paused, moving to the door, “I’ve done far worse. Oh, by the way; you have the day off. I’ve arranged for the council to take care of your duties. You honestly think I’d load you up and send you off to work? I’m insulted.”
She smiled, and then was gone.
I looked back at the table, trying to stop my vision from spinning. I was far beyond loaded, and the only thing that could cure it was sleep. Which I could do now.
“What are you doing up so early?” my sister demanded, breaking the silence and making me jump in my seat. Before I could respond she looked at the bottle of Cardinal. “Have you been drinking?”
“It’s fine,” I slurred. “I have the day off.”
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve seen you this drunk in… ever.”
“I was peer-pressured.”
My sister sighed and placed the bottle back into our liquor cabinet. I watched her set a kettle on the stove, smoothing her disheveled, wavy brown hair. She was still in her robe.
“How’s Ara?” I asked.
“He was okay, but didn’t say much. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what happened?”
My dear sister; there was so much about the world that I had to hide from her. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
I got out of my seat and began for the exit. My sister looked at me. “Where are you going?”
“To bed.”
“You don’t want any tea?”
“Tae, I’m about to puke all over the fucking floor!”
She cringed. “Okay, go to bed.”
I didn’t need her permission. I was already staggering down the hall before Tae had even finished her sentence.
VIII
ONUS
I COULDN’T BREATHE.
I couldn’t breathe!
My chest heaved and I shot up in bed, coated in sweat. I couldn’t get any air in me.
And then I knew why. I’d forgotten to take my dose of malay before I went to sleep. I hadn’t taken any malay for more than twenty hours. I’d gone to bed so drunk that I had forgotten.
I collapsed to the floor, tangled in sheets, knocking everything off my nightstand. I crawled to the dresser, extending a trembling hand to the top drawer. It was too far. I couldn’t stand up.
The room was getting foggy. My vision was tunneling. I was going to die.
I lay on my side, wheezing, eyes glazing with defeat.
The door opened. “Qaira, I’m sorry.”
Leid.
“I know I said you didn’t have to go to work today, but—”
She froze at the sight of me. All I did was look at her, helpless.
She closed the door. “Where is it?”
How did she know? How could she know?
I pointed at the top drawer, battling consciousness.
Leid bolted to the dresser and threw open the drawer, tearing through it.
A second later she found my syringes and case and knelt beside me.
“Don’t move,” she said, rolling up my sleeve. She paused, stricken by all the track marks on my arm. Then she found a clean spot and ripped open the container cap with her teeth, filling the syringe with malay.
Leid injected the syringe into my arm and I cringed, looking away.
Cold air filled my lungs and I gasped, doubling over in a fit of coughs. I fell sideways, staring vacantly ahead, riding the most intense high ever.
Leid stayed by my side, watching. She seemed concerned, and surprised.
I didn’t like the way she was looking at me. That disappointment. Shame marked my face and I tried to hide it, but as everything sank in the shame turned into anger, then into fury.
This was all her fault. If Leid hadn’t gotten me drunk I would have remembered to take my dose. I wouldn’t be here feeling like a piece of shit. Now she knew. Now she’d always look at me with that air of sad disappointment.
“As I was saying,” she almost whispered, “I know I said that you didn’t have to go to work today, but our—”
Leid was cut off when my fingers curled around her neck and I rammed her into the wall, teeth clenched. For a second I fantasized about killing her as red inked across my vision. But she didn’t even scream. She just stared up at me, expressionless. My anger waned, switching to confusion at the idea that that hadn’t frightened her.
And then the malay-fog cleared and I realized what I was doing. I recoiled, hands encasing my face.
Leid said nothing, standing and smoothing her skirt-suit. I stayed down, trying to get a hold of myself.
“Get dressed,” she said. “Commander Raith just contacted Eroqam. He wants to speak to you.” She moved toward the door.
“Wait,” I rasped.
She turned. There was nothing in her eyes when she looked at me.
“D-Don’t tell any—”
“I won’t.” She closed the door.
I was left in the darkness of my room.
Beside me, my alarm went off. I threw it at the wall.
* * *
The Eroqam Communications room was located in the northern wing, just a little ways past the Commons. Linguists and information systems analysts kept our servers and databases running smoothly, surveyed our radio channels, and also listened in on the whites’ transmissions between Crylle and their base ship.
Leid was already waiting for me when I arrived, standing off to the side so she wouldn’t be in view of the giant projection screen that covered the wall. Isa, Shev and Kanar sat in the third row, between the analysts preparing to connect to our live video feed.
Another analyst handed me a portable microphone that hooked around my ear. “We’re ready when you are, sir.”
I was hardly ready, especially with this hangover shredding my brain like razorblades, but that was life. “Connect to telecom line five.”
The screen flickered, and then Commander Lucifer Raith appeared on-screen.
The room he sat in mirrored ours, with Archaean analysts stationed in rows behind him. But their computers looked nothing like Eroqam’s, their panels clear and emanating strange, blue light. I also noticed that Raith didn’t have an earpiece. I couldn’t see a mic anywhere on him. He wore a white and black military uniform with a gold pendant pinned across his breast.
Raith said nothing at first, letting the tension rise. His long, ice-blond hair fell over one eye; the other gleamed with contempt. “Qaira Eltruan, it’s been too long.”
“I can’t say the feeling’s mutual.”
“I heard you and your savages raided my camp yesterday.”
I didn’t reply, crossing my arms.
Raith tilted his head. “Did you have fun slaughtering my people?”
“Just returning the favor, white. We might as well stop dancing around the real reason for your call.”
Hesitation.
Raith sighed. “Did you kill him?”
I smirked. “Of course I didn’t. What good would that do me? But I’d love to know how you found out so quickly considering Crylle lines are still jammed, last I checked.”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”
“Well how about you tell me or I’ll put a bullet in your son’s head?”
Commander Raith stared vacantly at me, his thoughts on my threat imperceptible. “If Yahweh Telei dies, then so does Sanctum.”
I laughed quietly. “That’s quite a threat, Commander Raith, especially coming from someone who has yet to even talk to me face to face.”
He leaned in, eyes fierce. “You have absolutely no idea what we’re capable of, Nehelian. And even though you’re poking the beast with a stick, I’m still willing to negotiate terms for Yahweh’s safety.”
“Given that Yahweh’s in Sanctum, it’d be counterintuitive to destroy it, right?”
“… What do you want?”
“No more attacks on Sanctum, or your son dies.”
“That last attack wasn’t my doing. I can’t account for all the Archaeans on my ship who hate you, Commandant.”
“Maybe you should try a little harder.”
“How did you know?”
I paused. “Sorry?”
“How did you know about my son?”
I resisted the urge to glance at Leid. “Your rebels sing a pretty song after they’re stuck with enough sharp objects.”
Raith smiled. “I don’t believe that. No one would have ever given Yahweh up.”
“Truth hurts. Maybe you should walk it off.”
“Let me see him.”
“That sounded like an order. Let me remind you that you’re in no position to make demands.”
“I don’t believe Yahweh is unharmed; and even if he is, I don’t believe he will stay that way in your care.”
“That stings. I’ll have you know that I love kids.”
“Let me see him!” Raith screamed, slamming his fist against his desk. The feed broke for a second and the screen flickered to static. “If you don’t let me see my son right now, I’ll launch everything we have on Sanctum!”
I was glad the feed broke, since I hadn’t wanted him to see me flinch. I looked at Leid. “Go and get the kid.”
Lucifer’s image returned as Leid stepped out of the room. All we did was glare at each other.
There was an insurgent in Sanctum, and now I had proof. It was a bittersweet discovery, because even though I’d just provided the evidence to back my hunch, I had no idea who the insurgent was. I also had no idea where to start looking.
On second thought, I did. The only people who knew about Yahweh’s capture worked for Eroqam. Leid had been right, again.
She returned with the angel boy moments later, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder to nudge him forward. Yahweh looked at the screen and fell beside me. At the sight of him, the hardened frown on Lucifer’s face softened.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
The boy shook his head. “Don’t waste your resources trying to free me, father. I’m only one of many.”
I stared at the kid, caught off guard by his sense of selflessness.
“You are more valuable than you know,” Raith said. “Don’t you dare try to play a martyr, do you hear me?”
Yahweh nodded, glancing away. Their conversation was very awkward.
“Sorry to interrupt this moment between you,” I interjected, “but my time, like your son, is invaluable and I’d really like it if you could agree to my terms so I can get back to work.”
“So long as you keep to your word, Commandant.”
I gave him a serrated grin. “What, you don’t trust me?”
Raith smiled, bleakly. “When will Yahweh be returned to us?”
“I haven’t really decided yet. Let’s see if you can stop the attacks, and then we’ll talk.”
“You’ll be hearing from me very soon.”
The screen went black.
Kanar stood, applauding. “Excellent job, Commandant. I
t looks like we’re finally making some progress.”
“Don’t count on it,” I sighed, handing the earpiece back to the analyst. “Are all the supplies at the Aeroway?”
“We’re working on transferring the last shipments now,” Isa said. “We’ll discuss the specifics tomorrow morning.”
I looked at Yahweh, who stood there with his eyes cast to the floor, hands shoved into his pockets. “I’ll take the kid back to his room.”
* * *
Nothing was said until we reached his holding room. As I punched in the code to the digital lock, he looked up at me.
“That was foolish, you know.”
“Oh yeah?” I said, barely listening.
“You should have demanded that Lucifer leave The Atrium.”
I laughed, opening the door.
Yahweh wrinkled his nose. “Why is that funny?”
“Because I don’t want Raith gone, kid. I want him dead. You’re biding me some time to figure out how to get on his ship.” I shoved the boy inside, and he stared defiantly at me.
“Your malice will be the death of you, Qaira Eltruan.”
“Everyone keeps saying that, but here I am.” I shut the door, locking it.
Raith and his filthy whites had poisoned our world for too long. They’d taken a proud city, a proud world, and disassembled it piece by piece. Sanctum was in a state of decay because of the seventy-year we’d been forced to endure. No, Raith wasn’t getting off scot-free. I wouldn’t let him rock up on another planet and do the same thing to them. They were parasites, and parasites deserved to die.
I turned and found Leid standing in the hall, flashing me a grin. I watched her with trepidation; she was acting like this morning had never happened. How could she?
“I commend you on a performance well done,” she praised. “So, what are you going to do with the rest of your evening off?”
IX
A LESSON OF DOMINANCE
LEID LOOKED OVER THE MENU, HER WARY frown falling to a grimace. “Nothing on here looks good.”
“You chose the place.”
“I know.”
“You’ve been mulling that over for twenty minutes. You better pick something soon or we’re going to look like idiots.”
The Antithesis- The Complete Pentalogy Page 29