Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
“Ishould be the one to do it.” Aela argued for the umpteenth time.
“Not happening, Starling. Tarek is going to want to show you off. You need to be seen with him so that you’re not complicit,” Arche replied.
“And what? Leave you to get caught and take the fall? By the Fates, this was my idea!”
“And a brilliant one it was, and I thank you. But still. You’re not going.”
“Arche.”
“Aela.”
“Hells, you’re stubborn.”
“Not as stubborn as you,” Arche said with a wink before he left her to get ready.
She nodded to Zosma, who was stationed outside her door, before going through her suite into her bathing room. Her motions were precise, militant, as if she were a sentinel preparing for battle. She supposed in a way she was.
Removing crystal bands from common class stars that weren’t easily noticed was one thing, but Aela wanted to strike back.
For years, Arche had been stealing crystals from under the Asterism’s noses and having them redistributed throughout the city to common class stars, but there was still more they could do.
Aela wanted to dim Tarek’s power. If he was set on abusing his constellation, then he didn’t deserve them.
The plan was simple: steal as many unrefined, pure crystals from the Asters as possible while they attended the ball, then hatch an escape for unbound stars.
Aela would be the distraction, allowing Arche and Tabitha time to move about the Asterism apartments unseen.
A team that Zosma had prepared would help unbound stars get out of the city.
There would be less security around the traveling rings due to the ball and host of celestials in attendance, easing the escape for the first wave of unbound stars.
Aela finished bathing and covered herself in a robe to peruse her attire options for the festivities.
The hope was that, upon discovering their crystal supplies depleted, the Asterism would turn on themselves, as they often did, and in the disorder, a second wave of unbound celestials could escape, disappearing to the haven previously charted for the separatists to convene.
Aela stood before the counter in the center of her closet, clutching her selenite crystal.
Does everyone have their shard? She communicated to Zosma through the selenite link.
“Yes, Aela. Everything is going well. Now get ready, or we’ll be late,” he replied.
Aela still felt that using selenite for rebellion communication was risky, yet Tabitha had reassured Aela of what she already knew—intention was key when handling crystals.
Their window to execute the plan was narrow.
Aela hadn’t stopped praying to the Fates that the sentinels stationed at each traveling ring had in fact been bought or could be trusted.
She longed to go with the first wave, but Arche had been right.
Tarek would never let her go. Her presence hiding out with the unbound stars would only threaten their discovery.
She would need to find her own means of freedom.
Aela closed off the anxiety that swelled inside her chest and continued getting ready.
Gliding her hands along the priceless garments Tarek had made for her, she selected a silky deep teal dress the color of Tyran’s scales with a plunging neckline trimmed in bronze.
The material was buttery soft against her skin as she slid it on and cinched the back.
Donning the color of her constellation’s epoc gave her strength.
She applied a light dusting of cosmetics on her face, then went over her eyes again, knowing how Tarek liked it just so.
Letting her hair out of the topknot she tied it in for bathing, she finger-combed her ashy tresses.
The soft waves fell to her waist and accentuated her natural curves, which the dress did little to conceal.
Aela exited her apartment, and Zosma fell into step beside her.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Of course. This is not unlike any other time I’ve been a glorified lightshow for the Asters.”
Zosma grunted.
Aela and Zosma filed into a grand room that, for once, was not open to the night air above.
The same dusty-rosy stone of the palace supported the massive domed ceiling, stealing her breath.
A twilight sky and clouds were painted on the arched expanse.
The hues the artist had used blended smoothly, allowing the eye to glide along the mural without catching on any one facet.
Emerald stained silks adorned the ceiling, drooping above the ball attendees.
Glimmering orbs of starlight bobbed in the air.
Like Aela and Zosma, the Taureons came dressed to impress.
Jewel tones dominated the ballroom, but the regalia only drew Aela’s eyes back to the gaudy carvings that decorated the wall.
It was much the same as the throne room doors—hundreds of different plants and flowers with bulls and other animals frozen in their leaps through golden meadows, the eyes of which were polished crystals of varying colors.
Zosma retreated to a side wall but kept a wary eye on Aela as he surveyed the revelry.
Plastering a pleasant smile on her face, Aela forced herself to mingle with the Taureon elite society.
Thankfully, she was spared further regard as Electra arrived and amassed attention in the ballroom. Aela took a turn around the room.
The Sagittarian sentinels she had seen before The Games were a dark spot in their tactical gear, the black of their uniforms absorbing the ethereal light.
Proxima met her gaze, and Aela dipped her chin and continued walking.
To her surprise, the Heir broke away from the semi-circle of Taureons who were crowding her and made her way to Aela.
“Adjacent, are you enjoying the festivities?” Aela asked, keeping her eyes downcast.
Aela heard the smirk on Proxima’s lips as she pushed a short breath out of her nose.
“It’s something,” the Adjacent drawled.
In her time glued to Tarek’s side, she hadn’t built a rapport with the Heir of Sagittarius. Not that she disliked the female, there just hadn’t been the luxury of time to form a connection.
“I know we don’t know each other,” Proxima began, “but I hope you know that you have a friend in me should you need it.”
Before Aela could remember her role, an ocean collided with a sunset as their eyes met.
“Why?” Aela asked frankly.
“I know how lonely it can be.”
“What can?”
“Wanting change.”
Proxima strode off, her sharp-edged hair a lethal contrast to the elegant updos and finery dotting the room.
Before long, Tarek arrived and captured the ballroom with his charm.
Music drifted from the musicians while the ball flowed from one event to the next.
Tarek delivered a warm farewell speech to Proxima, and prominent stars of the Asterism followed, voicing what they hoped to continue to building with Sagittarius when it came time to neighbor.
Meanwhile, Aela kept her meek mask in place, listening as she worried over how Arche and Tabitha were doing.
“If this crone can do it, so can you. Move your feet, lino,” Tabitha grumbled, knowing referring to Arche as a youngling would get him moving.
He wasn’t young by celestial standards, as he had passed maturity years ago.
Yet, compared to her, he might as well have emerged from the nebulae yesterday.
She dared a look around a corner within the earth elemental quarters of the palace.
Larger than the wings reserved for the other Zodiac Houses, the earthen wing had been renovated, reducing the rooms for House Capricorn to a small suite and even encroaching into the Virgo quarters, though theirs was the largest constellation in the realm.
Though not all bad, Tabitha urged herself to forget most of her memories with her native Line. It had been a millennia ago, but the wounds she carried still felt as raw as a fresh cut.
“I’m coming, alright?” Arche whispered with a sack slung over his shoulder.
The plan had come together rather quickly, and Tabitha winced at the precious crystals inside the sack, wrapped in whatever cloth and padding they could find. She estimated they had ample time and would finish well before the ball was over when the sound of voices carried to her ears.
“Everyone is supposed to be gone,” she hissed.
“They are,” Arche whispered back.
“Here.” Tabitha led the way into another apartment before they were caught. Arche swiped his hand along the quartz door, and it swung inward.
“Perks of being Third,” Arche smirked as they scurried in.
The layout was much the same as others they had pinched, luxurious if not standard for an Aster.
A seating area took up most of the space, while a large bed was crowded into the corner, and a door on the far wall led to a private bathing room.
Most Asters used their palace quarters for business while living on estates in the city.
Tabitha held a rough form of zincite, the deep orange and red crystal guiding her closer to the wealth stored within the apartment.
“Maybe we could try infiltrating their manors if we don’t find enough here. But the wards are strongest in the palace, so I doubt we’d find anything more valuable in the city,” Arche thought aloud.
Tabitha hummed in response, focused on her task.
Arche continued mumbling as he scoured the apartment, replacing everything exactly as it had been when his search turned out nothing.
“Ah-ha!” Tabitha cackled.
“Shhhh!”
Tabitha motioned for Arche to place his hand on a section of the wall.
A rectangular portion throbbed faintly beneath his palm, then slid to the side, revealing their quarry.
Tabitha placed the zincite back in the pocket of her simple brown dress, then hovered her hand over the crystals nestled in the hidden compartment.
“These four,” she indicated to Arche, who added them to the sack. “How ever did you manage this without me?”