A light blinked on Suki's arm and a hologram opened with Evren's face. He didn't wait for hello's. "We have proof Kaghan was working with the Viceret when he took over Thora's kingdom."
Lena gasped. "What?"
"When I couldn't find anything through our regular resources, I asked Myri and Dessa to go through your father's records." Evren was talking fast and excited. "According to your father, Kaghan ordered the kill on Thora's father. A kill that was made by the Viceret. And not any Viceret. It was made by Ras."
"Wait, slow down," Suki said with a mix of shock and delight. "You're telling me that Ras, the same man who implanted Gideon with the control device, killed Thora and Selene's father? You can't be serious.”
"Oh, that's not even the best part," Evren said, smirking. "Once I connected Ras to Kaghan, I then searched the Zoons database and found a source that told me that Selene plans on killing Kaghan after the treaty is signed."
Lena's jaw dropped open and it took a moment to gather her words. "Selene has the right bloodline to rule the Divitian throne," she said.
"Which means with Kaghan dead, Selene will be the rightful ruler of two worlds," Suki said finishing Lena's thoughts.
"Unless Thora challenges her," Azara said. When everyone gave her blank looks, Azara sighed. "Do I really need to explain it to you?" She said. When no one responded, Azara rolled her eyes and continued. "Selene and Thora are from two different mothers. Thora's mom is a commoner but she was the firstborn. After Thora's mom's death, the king married a woman of noble blood. And had Selene. There was a vote on who would be next to rule. Thora won. But then Kaghan—who ruled another part of Divitia—attacked. The king was killed and his two daughters disappeared. Kaghan became the leader of the whole world. If Selene kills Kaghan now, she is in line to rule as long as it's not challenged. But Thora can challenge it."
"Does Selene know this?" Lena asked.
"Probably," Tarek said. "But, there are some pieces to this puzzle we don't have the answers to. But if I were to guess, I think Kaghan knows Selene wants him killed. So he's holding onto Thora as some type of security."
"If this is true," Azara said. "We need to free Thora now before they use her as a bargaining chip." She stood and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
One of the club's doors banged open and Bates came running in yelling, "We've been compromised. Defenses are on their way. We need to get out of here."
Everyone jumped to their feet. Suki grabbed her glider and pointed Tarek to one. She grabbed Lena and pulled her onto the glider. "Tarek take your sister, we need to get Lena to The Port where the Defenses can't touch her."
"I thought you said we could trust the people here," Lena called, hanging on tightly to the back of Suki as they took off through an underground passageway.
"I thought we could, too," Suki said.
As they exited the underground, Lena looked over her shoulder to see Tarek and Azara right behind them and Defense soldiers on airbikes following.
"Suki, they're behind us," Lena yelled.
Suki crouched down causing Lena to follow. "Hang on," she yelled as she angled the glider upwards and started flying over the top of the city. Tarek pulled up alongside them with Azara hanging on desperately to the back of him.
The Defense soldiers followed right behind. They were catching up. Lena could see the glimmer of The Port shield ahead of them.
"Lena, you and Azara are going to have to jump through the shield," Suki yelled handing her the the device that would put a hole in the shield. "Tarek and I will get rid of these guys." Suki pulled a sonic gun from her arm and aimed it at the soldiers and pulled the trigger.
The bikes the Defenses were on lurched into a spin. Suki dropped the glider to the ground at the edge of the shield. "Go. Now!" Suki yelled pushing Lena off the glider.
Lena pushed the device into the shield creating a hole big enough for her and Azara to go through. "Tarek, push her off," Lena yelled seeing Azara still clinging desperately to him.
Tarek tilted his glider and pried Azara's hands off. "Jump," he yelled giving her a push.
Azara landed in a heap next to Lena.
Grabbing her, Lena half pushed half lifted her through the hole, and then quickly followed, closing it behind them.
Soldiers fired at the wall, but it was no use. The shield protected them.
Lena faced the wall breathing hard. She turned to Azara who was sitting on the ground next to her. "We've got to hurry," Lena said offering her hand to Azara.
Azara's eyes were wide and she was breathing heavy as she stared at the soldiers only feet from them. She looked more scared than Lena had ever seen her.
"Azara? Are you okay?" Lena asked pulling her to her feet.
Azara blinked. Turning to Lena, she immediately straightened her posture and resumed her usual look. "Of course I'm okay," she said. "It's you who looks a mess." She turned and started walking away from the shield. "Just act like you fit in, will you? And could you please tame your hair?"
Lena felt her hair. It had fallen out in some sections and she could feel the frizz and flyaways. Quickly she flattened it as well as she could and followed after Azara.
***
Lena and Azara walked openly through the streets of The Port. "We've got to hurry," Lena said. "I don't know how long I'll be safe here."
"And you've put me in danger again," Azara said acting like it was just a minor inconvenience. She glanced at Lena. "In a rush or not, if we're going to see a king, you can't go like that." Azara led her into a dress shop.
The ladies of the shop smiled when they recognized Azara. "How may we help you?" one said coming to stand before them.
"Not me this time," Azara said and pointed to Lena. "Her luggage was lost in transit. And I'm afraid we don't have much time before our diplomatic appointment."
The lady in front of them nodded and snapped her fingers. Azara pointed to a few items hanging on the racks and in a matter of minutes, Lena was dressed in a cream pantsuit with a gold belt. One lady quickly pulled her hair into a sleek bun at the back of her neck.
"Azara, I don't think all this is necessary," Lena said pulling at the gold belt at her waist as an attendant put a necklace around her neck.
Azara, who had changed into a pink dress suit and was straightening her hair with her fingers said, "Nonsense. You'll attract more attention sneaking around looking like you did than if we walk down the street looking like you belong." Azara attached some type of hat to the side of her head. She looked back at the attendants. "Thank you for your quick service. You may bill my account and add whatever you feel necessary for the rush."
The lady who helped them first nodded and smiled.
Azara and Lena left the shop and walked down the street toward the Divitian consulate.
Azara looped her arm through Lena's. "We're just two friends out shopping," Azara said. "No one will give us a passing glance.”
Lena was skeptical, and she was ready to bolt at any sign someone recognized her face, but Azara was right. When people did look their way, their gazes always stopped at Azara.
And soon, they stood in front of the four story Divitian consulate. The flag flew high overhead, a lion with the sun behind it. Lena didn't know what they represented.
Azara led Lena to the front pillars that held the gate. Guards stood to each side.
"I wish to speak to King Kaghan," Azara said.
The guards looked her over. Both standing at attention neither moved anything but their eyes.
Lena stood beside her hoping that neither of the guards would notice her.
When the guards refused to answer, Azara straightened. "Let me rephrase myself. I am Azara, Daughter of the General of the Interplanetary Military Academy."
Their eyes widened.
"You know who I am. Now, deliver my request to your King and let me enter."
The guards immediately ushered them both inside the Divitian consulate. They led them down a hallway with pictures on the walls
. Lena studied them. They were of Divitian royalty, but neither Thora nor Selene were pictured.
The guards led them inside a large room with a dark desk in the middle.
Kaghan stood behind it. When he looked at Lena, recognition dawned on his face. He turned to Azara. "I was under the impression you wanted to speak to me on behalf of your father," he said. "Now, I know otherwise."
"May I present Evangeline Adhara," Azara said gesturing to Lena.
Lena stepped forward. "It is my understanding that you are holding the woman I know as Thora prisoner here," she said with more confidence than she felt. "I demand you free her."
"You are bold to come talk to me this way," Kaghan said.
"Then let me be clear," Lena said. "I have proof ready to release that you are working with the Viceret. If you don't free Thora now, you'll have the whole interplanetary military breathing down your neck. And who knows what else they'll find.”
Kaghan paled. "You're bluffing, You have no proof."
"Try me," Lena said. "How do you think I came to know about the information to begin with? I have all of my father's old communications."
"I heard Everleigh was destroyed. Along with all records of the resistance," Kaghan said.
"My father kept duplicate records," Lena answered.
Kaghan looked annoyed but nodded to the captain. "Go get Thora."
"And Aaron," Lena added thinking of Dessa and Remiah.
"And Aaron," Kaghan added.
Chapter Sixteen
Gideon waited in the shadows of his cell as he watched the guard talk to Jenna. This was the second time the guard and Jenna had talked. The guard looked more jittery than the first time. As the guard left their tunnel, Gideon jumped to his feet and rushed to the doors of his cell.
"What did he say?" Gideon asked.
"My father will send out the call," Jenna said.
Gideon grinned. The call to action had been his father's idea. It was a signal the Resistance leaders had used to ready their troops during the early resistance.
"He will reach as many people as he can from where he is. But we have a problem. The guard refuses to help anymore. He says he won't do it again. I threatened him like I did before, but it didn't matter. He says it will be far worse to help us than get turned in for losing his com."
Gideon kicked the ground. "Stars," he said in frustration, running his hand across his head. "Ok, we'll find another way to relay information,"
"What if we get caught?" Corgy said.
"We'll get sent off planet, which is what will happen whether we resist or not," Gideon said. But he knew it could be much worse. His mother would likely torture whoever she held responsible. And by the uneasy looks of the recruits, they knew it could be worse, too.
The clicking of shoes had the recruits scurrying to the back of their cells. Only one person's footsteps sounded like that. His mother was coming into the crags.The anxiety level was palpable. Had the guard turned them in already?
Gideon waited anxiously with the other recruits. He felt his mother turn on his device and walk him to the front of his cell. He fought every step but it made no difference. He still stood at his door and waited for his mother to come.
She had never come into the crags to get him before. This was serious. Again, Gideon wondered if his mother knew of their plans to revolt.
As she came into the tunnel and stood in front of his cell, Gideon's unease increased.
"Get him out of there," her voice echoed.
Ras flanked her before moving to the control panel and unlocking his cell. The man rarely left her side now. His large frame and misshapen face didn't worry Gideon as much as the evil radiating from inside him.
"Controlling you really gives me a headache," Selene said holding her hand over the thin golden headband. She glanced at Zeke's cell. "This is your doing," Selene lamented. "You were supposed to be proof of what happens to those who fight me."
Zeke took a breath to talk and started coughing. It sounded painful. "You turned him against yourself," he said between gasps. "Nothing I can say will change what you've done to him."
Selene sneered and turned away.
The doors of Gideon's cell opened. He stepped out next to his mother.
The recruits wide eyes lingered on him. Waiting—like Gideon—to see if they'd been caught."
"They found Evangeline in The Port," Selene said smugly. "I'm sending you to retrieve her. Then, she'll die because of what she's done to me." Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. She briefly looked at the recruits. "That's what happens when you go against me."
The look on her face made Gideon scared. Scared that Evangeline was going to be hurt, and scared that his mother knew something was happening in the crags.
She started walking away. Gideon had to follow after her. His fear and anxiety raced inside him. He couldn't do anything to calm himself, because he couldn't control himself. They were taking him to retrieve Evangeline. Retrieve her, not kill her. He kept telling himself.
She's in The Port. Which means they can only arrest her. They can't kill her. Unless she fights him. Which she most certainly will.
He followed his mother through a series of tunnels he didn't recognize then into an elevator. When they exited, they were in the fortress hangar. Ras went to stand at the door to the plane. It was already filled with Defense soldiers.
"Bring her back, or there will be consequences," she said before walking away.
Gideon climbed into the plane and stood in the front aisle in front of all the soldiers. He heard himself start talking.
"We just received word from The Port that Evangeline Adhara is at the Divitian Consulate. It is our mission to retrieve the girl, alive, and bring her to the Priestess," he told the soldiers.
Gideon wanted to yell, to scream that they couldn't do this. Mentally he fought every word that came out of his mouth. But as hard as he fought, nothing changed. She still controlled him. And he still said what she wanted.
Fear pulsed in his veins.
Soldiers kept casting wary glances between Ras and him but no one spoke.
He sat in a seat next to Ruddy.
The old weapons instructor didn't talk to him or even look at him. He just sat in the seat, cleaning his gun.
Gideon tried to ask him for help. But his efforts were futile.
They were admitted to The Port through one of the entrances and flew directly to the Divitian Consulate. Gideon stood at the front of the group, leading the way with Ras on one side of him and Ruddy on the other.
As they walked to the doors, Divitain guards stopped them. "Vicerets aren't allowed inside our halls," one of them said with a shaky voice.
Ras looked like he was about to argue but instead stepped to the side to let Ruddy and Gideon lead the troops inside.
They walked through the halls. The Divitian guards watched but didn't question their presence. Gideon stopped in front of large double doors. He didn't have to be told who was behind them. He could hear her voice. And Thora's voice. Gideon's mind tried to fight the control. He wouldn't do this. He couldn't do this. Two of the people he loved most were behind that door. And there was nothing he could do to protect them.
***
It took a long time for the soldiers to retrieve Thora. The whole time Azara and Lena waited in awkward silence while Kaghan stared them down. When Thora and Aaron were brought to the office, Lena was amazed she didn't look more tattered or abused. In fact, she looked like she had been taken care of fairly well.
"Lena, my dear girl, what on earth are you doing here?" Thora said as Lena ran to wrap her arms around her friend.
"We have a deal, Miss Adhara," Kaghan said.
"You gave me Thora, I will not release the information I have."
"No, you won't." Kaghan's lips turned up in a vicious smirk. He nodded to the guards who opened the doors behind where they were standing.
The doorway was filled with Defense soldiers.
Lena's stomach d
ropped. "You alerted the Priestess," she said.
Azara gasped. "Gideon," she whispered.
Lena turned back to the doorway. Gideon stood in the center. He looked pale and darkness circled his eyes. "What has she done to you?" she asked stepping towards him without thinking.
Azara grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "That's not Gideon," she whispered.
"I give you permission to arrest this girl," Kaghan said then began to laugh as if he'd fooled them all.
Aaron moved before Thora could. "You should not be King. Hail Queen Toralei." Pulling a knife from the nearest guard's belt, he threw it dead into the center of Kaghan's heart.
Kaghan's laughter turned wet and a look of shock filled his face. He looked down at the knife then slouched limp and dead.
The room seemed to freeze. Nobody moved. Not Lena. Not Thora or Aaron. Only Azara moved, placing a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.
Then, everything seemed to happen all at once.
"Aaron, what have you done?" Thora gasped.
"Forget the king. Get the girl," Gideon yelled. "Alive."
Defense soldiers poured into the room and moved towards Lena.
The Divitian guards rushed to their king, calling for help.
Gideon moved towards Lena.
Divitian guards shouted for no one to move.
Defense soldiers ignored them and rushed towards Lena.
The king slid further down in his chair, blood soaking his tunic.
Aaron raised his hands to the air.
Azara looked as if she was about to faint.
"The throne is rightfully yours, Queen Toralei," Aaron said.
"No!" Gideon screamed, his voice high and shrill. He pushed through the guards coming closer to Lena.
Divitian soldiers surrounded Aaron and threw him to the ground. He didn't resist as they cuffed his hands behind his back. The same soldiers yelled at Defense soldiers not to move while others called for help from The Port authorities.
Lena and Azara had gathered together trying to protect each other.
Azara's breathing was coming quick. Her eyes were glued to Kaghan's dead body.
"Azara, you have to be calm," Lena said. She grabbed Azara's face and forced her to look away from the dead king.
The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series Page 59