Chapter Two #2
“No, Desi, don’t tell me to calm down when she’s being absolutely insane!
” I shouted, turning back to the pair of stony figures on my left.
Lifting my finger, I pointed not at Celeste, but at Maitoza.
“You can’t do this. All it will do is ensure that Tershetta doesn’t trust you.
The whiplash of finding out her sister is alive will only burn into rage when she understands the lies you told her. She’ll be useless to your cause!”
“I don’t see why you’re pointing at me when this was Celeste’s suggestion,” Maitoza calmly stated, her hands clasped behind her back and her square jaw lifted.
Subconsciously, my eyes flicked towards Celeste, whose pinched face gave away her attempt at hiding all emotion.
This would hurt her too. So then why? “However, I agree that it is a smart move.”
“Anything you think is a good idea should be directly avoided!” I yelled, getting closer to her.
I stood at least a head taller than the commander, and I used that height now as I scowled down.
All she did was look up at me with a pleased smile, the serene expression making my stomach twist—something was so very wrong.
A hand grabbed my elbow, tugging me back from Maitoza and likely saving me from further digging my own grave.
“Az, let me explain.” Celeste’s demand was enough to have me sighing as I turned, wishing I didn’t have to deal with this.
Begging for life to go back to the way it had been before everything fell apart.
Before Nova Tershetta had dismantled it all.
Celeste’s grey eyes stared into mine, wide and clear.
Her hands, which felt so small and desperate, gripped my biceps.
“Please, just listen. If we wait to reveal I’m alive, then she’ll have time to choose the rebellion on her own.
She needs to care about the cause. If she only chooses it for me, then we can’t rely on her being a part of this if I… ”
I watched as Celeste seemed to shrink, her eyes pinching closed and her fingers tightening at the same time her head tilted forward. Stars damn it all.
Reluctantly, I pulled her into me, letting the crown of her head press into my chest as her back gave out.
Sobs poured freely as she relaxed into my hold.
At my back, I heard sniffles come from Desi.
I stared at Maitoza, who continued to watch the scene in what appeared to be victory.
Her smile infuriated me, just as her smug eye contact did.
“If I die, we need Nova to fight with the rebels. They need her, Az,” Celeste said between hiccups.
“Please. I don’t want to do this either.
I’ve been so hard on her. So unforgiving when all she wanted was to keep our family safe.
I’d do anything to be better for her now.
But she…she needs to choose this on her own. ”
What was I meant to say? They weren’t giving me any choice but to agree, and it wasn’t like I was Tershetta’s keeper. Nothing I said would change anything.
Patting Celeste’s back once, I then grabbed her shoulders and gently pushed her away from me. Pivoting, I faced Maitoza head on. “Do whatever you want. She isn’t my problem in the end. Good luck getting her to trust you when she wakes up.”
“Actually, Azazel,” Maitoza said, “this is very much so your problem.”
No. Please, no.
“Nova chose you when she ran. That matters. She’ll need you to be here when she wakes, which means you’ll be in charge of bringing her to the cause.” Stunned entirely, I did nothing but stare at the commander with a slack jaw. She couldn’t be serious.
“Commander, maybe it would be best if she stayed with me. I’ll have to check on her anyway,” Desi cut in, standing up and rushing to my side. She must have been done with Tershetta. Did that mean Little Void would be okay now?
“No, it’s best she stays here with someone she knows.” Maitoza’s eyes moved from Desi to me. “Someone she trusts.”
Abruptly, the sound of Tershetta telling me she’d never trust me began echoing in my head. Bad news, Altair, I will never trust you.
“You are absolutely insane. Tershetta doesn’t trust me, she hates me!” Why wasn’t anyone listening to me? Was everyone but me living in some horrifying delusion?
“Enough, Azazel, the decision has been made.” Maitoza turned her back on me, taking sure and steady steps towards my front door. “I’m giving you two weeks before you must tell her about the rebellion and get her on board.”
Ha! As if it would take that long. Tershetta wasn’t going to sit around and not ask questions. Did she even sleep, for stars’ sake? Convincing her it was just a coincidence that I was here and that nothing was happening would be impossible.
“Before we leave, I think I should get Nova cleaned up. I can come back later to bring her clothes, too,” Celeste interjected, her pleading gaze on Maitoza, who didn’t bother to turn.
“You’ll need as much sleep as possible since you’ll be leading drills tomorrow.”
“I can do it, then,” Desi offered. Maitoza finally whipped around, staring each of us down with something worse than rage or annoyance—pure indifference.