36. CHAPTER 36 #3
The stars shot rapid fire now, so many of them. Though she knew they'd never light the sky enough to consume the night, she couldn't help hoping. Hoping that even with how quickly they vanished, they'd destroy the darkness of the capital.
Then, high in the sky with stars falling, deep red exploded in a cloud.
Another burst.
Another.
Pixi Dust tunneled through the sky in an unseen hand, writing for all of Kallum to see. Trembling started in her hands and spread to the rest of her body.
HE LIES
They did it.
Her friends got her message and figured out how to use the drones.
Kira never imagined they'd do it in time for the meteor shower, but they managed to write in the sky the one night everyone stepped outside to watch, even the family of the High General.
SEIZE YOUR LIFE
Everyone was sitting up, staring at the Pixi Dust while the stars flew through the sky and fizzled out. But those dusky red letters remained, burning too bright not to see.
FIGHT
The last word, Kira added because of Zayne.
Because of her captivity. Because even though she was right when she said they grew up in war and knew fighting, it didn't mean they chose to.
All those soldiers too afraid to risk their families could take the opportunities for small acts of defiance.
The workers in the manufacturing district could cause delays with weapons and ammunition.
People needed to seize their lives, but they also needed to fight once they did.
“What…” Mellie covered her mouth, voice catching.
Then Kira felt the eyes on her. She met Zayne's stare, and her lungs locked at the reprimand she knew she'd see. The rage that she used her drone to endanger herself and everyone connected to her like this.
But his look carried no anger. No fear disguised as rage.
The red Pixi Dust reflected in the whites of his eyes, and a smile turned the corners of his lips, his stare unwavering. Full of awe.
The years disappeared, and they were sitting on that stiff winter's grass three years ago. This time, he wore no mask. He let her see him.
The air churned with more than the shock of her Pixi Dust, but with the pull of his body. This didn't begin the moment she recognized him. Kira always felt it around him, thinking it was only desperation or fear or anger.
But her body begged her to slide closer to him and hold him tight against her again. It remembered and recognized him when her mind didn't.
Kira focused on his eyes, refusing to stray to his lips or that stupid shirt. His smell and taste washed over her, and she viscerally remembered the waft of his breath along her lips.
Only a few seconds passed, but those seconds ruined her.
Kira forced her eyes onto the message above, hoping their plan to write in the sky of every major city worked and that millions of people across Ciondo watched rebellion burn against the meteor shower.
The security team that searched the estate didn't know about Kira's expertise with Pixi Dust or drones. They knew to remove sharp objects from her, but not seemingly harmless electronics.
Zayne knew, though. He left her tools and trusted her with them, just like he trusted her that night three years ago with the uranium. Then he made sure her drone made it safely.
This was a man who left nothing to chance and trusted no one but placed his faith in Kira for this. Always had. It was her first time really understanding that.
“The poor Phaedra.” Mellie pushed to her knees. “This is terrible. He'll be devastated.”
The Earth tilted askew at what she said, and Kira couldn't unsee the disgusted way Zayne scowled at the back of his fiancée's head.
“He loves the stars. Oh, I can't imagine how he's feeling. I hope he catches whoever ruined the meteor shower. We worked so hard on this night.”
Mellie worked so hard on this night? She wanted to hurl herself at the other woman. What did she know about work? Kira spent years making tonight happen. Years. And she finished the job even while imprisoned. The two days Mellie threw into planning a party meant nothing.
Zayne withdrew his phone. “I have to go. I won't be home tonight.”
“Are you going to find them?” Mellie asked.
He nodded absently, but when he stood, he looked at Kira again, the amazement in his eyes replaced by fear.
“Watch out for her,” Zayne said to Brock.
His friend nodded.
“That's sweet, babe,” Mellie said. “I'll stay the night here, though. I don't think it's safe to go out on the streets tonight. Do you?”
“No. That's smart.” He looked at his mom now. “Don't hesitate to call.”
“I won't. Mellie, will you go inside and call security for me? Dial one. Ask them to check the premises.”
“Of course.” She jogged to the house.
Zayne spoke quietly. “Don't talk about it here. There's no telling what surveillance there might be. I'm sure the Phaedra is already sending out every drone he can.”
Brock lowered his head, but he was grinning.
“Be safe,” Kira said.
“You be safe.” One last look at everyone, and Zayne walked away.
Kira looked up at the Pixi Dust again with such deep satisfaction. When Adelle came closer, she clasped the back of her head and kissed her temple. “Good work.”
All this time, she knew too?
Mother and son both helped her access everything she needed to fight in her own way.
Kira spoke before Adelle left. “I love you.”
Her smile brightened her eyes like the stars in the sky.
Adelle had a way of speaking where each word sounded so intentional.
“I love you too, Kira darling.” Then her gaze drifted beyond Kira to the Pixi Dust for several seconds, the smile not fading, but her lips tightening slightly.
“Be prepared for everything this will change.”
Kira's heart skipped a beat and then hammered her ribs. Adelle watched her for several seconds before giving her one last smile and walking inside.
What if Kira and her allies made everything worse? And for what? Some words that would fade in a few hours?