Gideon nodded and shook his hand offering his gratitude.
Aldebaran grabbed Lena’s hand and kissed it. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Evangeline Adhara.” Aldebaran left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Gideon glared at Lena while Suki, Tarek, and Tern looked anxiously between the two.
“She’s going to kill you!” Gideon said, before Lena had a chance to say anything.
“Well, then I don’t have much time to do what I need to to help rescue Birdee and figure out what’s happening to your Father, do I?”
“You’re not thinking this through,” Gideon yelled.
“My mind has never been clearer, Gideon. I’m needed here. You know it just as much as I do,” Lena responded.
“The longer you’re here, the more people you put at risk. All those people who surrounded you out there,” Gideon swung his arm so it pointed towards the courtyard. “They are now on Selene’s list. Their lives—including Suki, Tern, and Tarek’s—will never be the same.”
Lena glanced at Tarek who still sat silently in the chair. She didn’t know how to read him. He wore the same calm expression that he always wore, but when he looked at Lena, she could tell in his eyes that he knew there would be repercussions for standing with her. She wondered if he regretted it. If the others regretted their rash actions in surrounding her. Protecting her. She looked at the other two. A pang of guilt clenched Lena’s chest. Still, she knew what she was going to do.
“Gideon, I’m not leaving,” Lena responded.
Gideon’s face showed a mixture of emotions. Rage, relief, sadness.
Lena wanted to take his hand. To plead with him to understand where she was coming from. To beg him to fight the Priestess with her. But how could she? He’d risked his life, time and again, for her. For the direct purpose of keeping her safe. And here she was throwing his sacrifice away.
“I’m not asking you to come with me,” Lena said “Go on with your life if that’s what you feel is the right thing to do. You’ve done what you could to keep me safe. But from now on, my choice is to stay.”
Lena couldn’t bare to look at him anymore. She felt like she was letting him down. She was beyond grateful to him. She just couldn’t bare to be untrue to herself by following him when she knew in her heart she should stay. Turning away from him, she walked from the room, praying that he’d one day forgive her.
***
Once in the hallway, Lena had no idea where to go. She walked back and forth in front of the closed doorway. She could still hear the music from the Genosee Gala coming from the courtyard. How could they still be dancing after all that had just happened? She kept pacing. She heard Suki and Gideon’s voices behind the door. She couldn’t make out their words, even though they oscillated in volume. The tone of the conversation sounded heated. Finally it was quiet. She concentrated on the orchestra. She had no idea what her next move would be. It was dark and late. Her adrenaline started to slow down and suddenly she felt hungry. She had eaten at the Zoons’ port house. But that was hours ago. Now she felt tired. The arches of her feet ached from the shoes she’d been wearing. She was sure it was a blister that throbbed on the back of her heel. Sitting on the hallway floor, she took off her shoes and rested her back against the wall. She looked at her heel. No blister, just a red spot where the shoe had rubbed wrong. Stretching her legs in front of her, she rolled her feet from side to side as she followed the rugs design with her finger. In a matter of moments her whole world had shifted direction. She felt lost. She didn’t know what her first step should be, or how she would take it without Gideon.
The door opened. Lena looked up as Gideon stepped into the hallway. He looked calmer now. Closing the door behind him, he pressed his back against it and looked down at her. He still wore his tux, but the tie was missing and his suit jacket was gone. He’d rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned the top part of his shirt. As he opened his mouth to speak, Lena’s chest tightened. She didn’t want to argue with him again.
“Okay,” he said.
Lena’s face twisted in confusion. “Okay, what?” she asked, as her chest tightened even more.
“Tell me your plan for staying on Mir.”
“What?” Lena asked. She shook her head a little to make sure she heard right.
“Your plan. You’ve obviously been thinking about it for a while now. If you’re staying on Mir, what is your plan?” His arms were crossed over his chest and he sounded every bit the Captain that he was.
Lena pursed her lips together. She didn’t want to tell him she had no idea what she was going to do next. After several seconds, she replied, “I want to find Thora. And I want to access the Priestess’ system again and find any information on your father and what’s controlling him. I want to fix the device Dorry gave me and figure out how to use it.” She felt like she was rambling. “I want to free Birdee and anyone else who’s been imprisoned because of me. And I want to stop the Priestess from hurting or neglecting any more of Mir’s citizens.”
Gideon raised his eyebrow. “Is that all?” he questioned with a slight teasing in his voice.
Did she hear him right? He didn’t sound mad at all. Lena replayed in her mind what she’d just said to him. She realized she must have sounded ridiculous. These were no small things she wanted to do, but she’d listed them off like they’d be easy. “I sound ridiculous.”
Gideon studied her for a moment and relaxed his stance. “Okay.”
Lena stared at him as if she didn’t hear him right. “‘Okay’ what?”
“I’ll help you, Eves.” Lena’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him. His eyes were steady and his posture was sure. He looked directly into her eyes before he started pacing the hallway in front of her. “But one step at a time. We’ll break into the prison and rescue Birdee. We’ve seen that the Priestess has more information on my father, which Thora has. So, after we rescue Birdee, I’ll take you to Thora.”
Tears welled up in Lena’s eyes as she watched him. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She quickly wiped them away.
“We need more intel on the other things you listed. Then we can make informed decisions about what needs to be done.” Gideon stopped pacing and turned to look at her.
She jumped to her feet stepping on her gown in the process. She didn’t care. She leaped towards him, wrapping her arms around his solid build. He didn’t move as she buried her face in his chest. She felt so full of relief she couldn’t stop crying. Gideon stood still for a moment. Uncrossing his arms under Lena’s hug, he wrapped them around her.
“Thank you, Gideon,” she said into his chest.
He rested his chin on her head and held her close until her tears stopped. Gently pulling away, he reached for her face, brushing back the hair matted against her forehead.
“What made you change your mind?” she asked.
“Suki.” He dropped his arms and stepped away. “She tells it like it is. And after talking—well more like listening— to her, I realized I was wrong. I didn’t see the whole picture.”
“The whole picture?” Lena asked.
Gideon cleared his throat and looked at the ground. He shifted uneasily and took a deep breath. “I need you,” he raised his eyes to meet hers. “I’ve always needed you, Eves. I can’t send you away. And I can’t leave you here by yourself. Suki made me realize it’s going to take both of us to undo what my mother has done. I couldn’t possibly leave you to do it by yourself.”
Lena felt the tears fill up her eyes all over again. Her heart fluttered under Gideon’s gaze. His eyes swam with compassion. Swallowing, she calmed herself enough to talk. “You’re going to stay with me?” she asked.
“I promised myself I would keep you safe from my mother,” he answered. “And I’m not going to break my promise by leaving you to stop her alone. I’m with you. By your side. Always.”
Chapter Thirty
Lena sat on the edge of the sofa while Gideon stood on the balcony staring at
the lights of The Port. She fidgeted with her fingernails, picking at the thin clear coat of polish, hoping to calm her anxiety. A pounding at the door caused Lena to jump up.
Gideon jolted across the room. He opened the door a crack, then stepped back.
Azara pushed her way past Gideon without saying a word. Not looking at Lena, she crossed in front of her and sat in the armchair adjacent to the sofa. The one Tarek had been sitting in before he went to find them something to eat. She still wore her lavender gown, and as she crossed her legs, it revealed a high slit. Azara watched as Gideon closed the door and came to stand opposite her.
“Azara,” Gideon said.
“Don’t Azara me,” she said jumping to her feet. “What were you thinking Gideon. Do you know what kind of trouble I’m going to be in when they put us together? And were you even thinking before dragging Tarek into your war?”
“I don’t need to hear this right now, Azara. If you’re only here to yell at me, you can leave.”
Azara bristled. The muscles in her face flexed as she set her lips in a tight line. Gideon set his own jaw. Lena looked between the two and scooted back into the couch wanting to melt into the background. Suki looked entertained and propped herself up even higher.
After what seemed like an eternity, Azara spoke. “You’re not planning on leaving Mir, are you?” She stared at Gideon as if trying to read his thoughts.
Gideon didn’t answer her.
“What is going to happen when the Priestess finds you and kills you all without blinking an eye?”
“She won’t find us, Azara,” Gideon replied. “She will be looking for a transport ship on its way to Genosee.”
“You’re acting crazy, Gideon,” Azara responded. She put both of her hands on her hips and stared him down.
“Azara, Birdee is Lena’s friend and my responsibility. As are all those kids who were captured while in defense training. I’m no longer going to stand silently until it benefits my position to act,” Gideon said.
“Like you think I’m doing?” Azara snapped.
"This isn't about you, Azara."
"But you still think it's true," Azara said.
Gideon took a deep breath. Lena knew he was having a hard time controlling his temper “I know you didn’t show any real interest in me until you found out who my mother was. Before that, I was only your brother’s friend.”
“You are being ridiculous.”
“I know what you’ve always wanted in life, Azara.”
“And what’s that Gideon?”
“Power,” Gideon answered.
Lena turned to see Azara’s reaction, but there was nothing to see. Azara stared calmly at Gideon.
Gideon continued. “Well, think of this. The Priestess is falling. Worlds are teaming up against her. She thinks she holds power over the interplanetary treaties. But if she can’t control her own world, no other planet would dare let her lead the treaty ceremonies.”
“But she does have control over her world,” Azara countered. “She has control over this world and many others around her.”
“But she won’t for long. This world has become a disaster. Its people are looking for an angel to come and save them.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Lena,” Gideon said.
Azara gave Lena only a passing glance before lifting her finger and rubbing her nose like she smelled something bad.
“The people will follow her,” Gideon asserted, ignoring the silent insult.
“Yes, but they wear rags and have no power. They won’t possibly be able to overthrow the army of the Priestess,” Azara responded.
“They can, and they will. Especially with Lena leading them.”
“Lena hasn’t given anyone a reason to follow her. She’s nothing put a poor orphan,” Azara responded. Her voice escalated with each word.
“Lena shows bravery every day. In the way she talks, acts. She never thinks of herself. Or how a position will put her ahead. She thinks of her friends. She thinks of the people surrounding her. The suffering, the needy. She may have done nothing you find extraordinary, but I assure you she will. You want to be on her side, Azara. Not the Priestess’.” He pointed at Lena as he talked. His voice growing as loud as Azara’s had been.
Lena looked back and forth between the two of them. Both of their chests were heaving in anger, neither wanting to back down from the argument. Lena wiped her hands on her gown and rose from her seat. Straightening her dress, she put both of her hands calmly in front of her and clasped them together. She felt invisible. Clearing her throat, she looked at Azara. Azara didn’t look back.
“Azara, I know we have put you in harm’s way. Everything that has happened since you arrived on Mir is my fault. For that, I am truly sorry,” Lena said.
Azara looked at Lena, surprised.
“Azara, we need you. Gideon tells me you’re smart and phenomenal at making things happen. We need your skill.”
When Azara’s stature didn’t change, Lena cleared her throat again and added. “We’ll both owe you a great favor if you can help us.”
Azara eyed Gideon then looked back at Lena. She took a moment to process what Lena had said. “What do you want from me?” she finally asked.
“I want you to go to the Allayan consulate and contact Myri and Druinn. They had planned to wait in the City of Arc until we made it off Mir. But things have changed and we’re needing their help.” Lena said.
“You want me to contact them?” she said. “Why not ask Tarek?”
“You know he’s being monitored,” Gideon said.
“And you don’t think that as his sister I’ll be monitored as well?” Azara asked.
“I know you have special relationships with certain employees of the consulate,” Gideon said. “And I know they’ll do anything you ask of them.”
This was the first time Lena had seen Azara at a loss for words. Her mouth fell open as if she were going to argue. Gideon raised his eyebrows, silently asking if she wanted to challenge his implied accusation.
Azara clamped her mouth shut and gripped her hands in front of her. “I’ll find them,” she finally said.
“Thank you,” Gideon responded.
Azara walked to the door with Gideon close behind her. Opening the door she turned back to Gideon. In a voice Lena could barely hear, she said, “I did like you, Gideon. For who you were. I don’t do everything just to get ahead in politics. I’ll find Myri and Druinn for you. But Gideon, after that, we’re done. I don’t want to be involved with you in any way. Ever again.” Azara didn’t give him time to respond. She only looked once at Lena before turning and walking out the door.
Chapter Thirty-One
“My name in General Carina,” a crisp voice announced. “I’ve come to make a deal with you.” The General walked into the dark room where Lucius sat in a high-backed chair. He rubbed his side where the Priestess let her soldiers beat him. They’d broken his ribs. He hadn’t seen the consulate medic yet. He wanted to make sure Lena and her friend were no longer there.
“I don’t make deals,” Lucius huffed.
“And yet, here you are, sitting in a dark room, dismissed from the Priestess’ Defenses and shunned by those who worshiped your father’s position. All because of one small girl.”
Lucius held in a gasp. How had she known about his dismissal from the Defenses? He hadn’t even told his Uncle Aldebaran that the Priestess had dismissed him after the bombing of the training facility. His pride wouldn’t let him. He thought he’d be able to regain the Priestess’ trust. And he almost had outside in the courtyard. But after Aldebaran granted Lena sanctuary, she’d quietly ordered Lucius to be beaten. He’d failed her twice. He knew he was lucky to be alive—even if he was broken.
“What do you want?” he snapped.
“We want Captain Gideon and Evangeline. And we want you to get them for us,” General Carina said, in a straightforward, matter of fact way.
“And w
hat makes you think I would want to get them for you?”
“Let’s just say, we now have a common goal.”
“What’s that?”
“Power,” General Carina replied. “If you get us Gideon and Evangeline, we will have power over the Priestess—the very one who cast you aside. And, if you succeed, we will give you a place of prominence over the Cimmerian armies.”
Lucius scoffed. “Nobody has power over the Priestess.”
“You are wrong. Everyone has a weakness, Lucius. You out of everyone knows that.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
“Well if you won’t help us, we’ll find someone more suited to our needs.” She started walking towards the doorway.
“Wait,” Lucius said.
General Carina paused and looked over her shoulder at him.
“What position will I hold?” he asked.
“You already have leadership training. We would like you to lead as one of our captains.”
Lucius smiled. He liked the thought of being the leader. Telling people what they could or couldn’t do. If the Priestess were to lose control of Mir, this would work out nicely for him. “What do you want me to do?”
The General smiled and turned back towards Lucius. “You know how to manipulate people. I suggest you use your strengths in finding a way to bring us the two we seek.”
“And if I fail?”
“Do you think you will fail?”
“No,” answered Lucius.
“Good,” General Carina said. “It’s an honor to have you on our team. This is how you can contact us.” The General motioned to a man Lucius hadn’t noticed standing silently on the fringes of the room. He walked forward, pulled out an injection gun, and shot something into Lucius' arm. “We’ll be monitoring you. We’ll come when you have what we want. The Captain has less than forty-eight hours to come up with a plan to leave here. I suggest you figure it out.” General Carina gave Lucius one more look over. “I also advise you to hurry.”
The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series Page 37