IVY #2
“I hope that is the case, but as legend has it, there have only been a handful of phoenixes since the First Kingdom, and each one that has arrived has come prior to a new kingdom evolving,” Viola explains, and understanding of the starkness of what she is saying takes hold of me.
But before I can speak, Sax beats me to it.
“So there could be a Sixth Kingdom?” he asks, and Professor Viola shakes her head, planting her hands on her hips as she addresses the entire room.
“I don't believe so, as it's not us at war with The Fates.”
“Why were the other kingdoms at war with The Fates?” a girl I'm not familiar with asks.
“Because they believed their solidity was superior. They didn't want to share power and control with others,” she explains, and Hugo sighs.
“What they haven't learned yet is that we benefit from working together.”
A hum of agreement cascades across the room at my brother’s words.
“The war is beyond our borders,” Viola explains.
“And what do The Fates have to say about it?” Silas asks.
“They don't say anything,” Viola admits with a shrug, making my eyebrows pull together in confusion.
“So, if we operate under The Fates without a leader like the other kingdoms, who makes the decisions?” I blurt, earning a soft smile from my brother.
“Us.”
“And if The Fates don't like it?” I ask.
“They make it known,” Baron answers, clenching my hand tighter.
“How?” Bonnie chimes in, and I bite back the desire to roll my eyes.
The silence that takes over the room this time isn't as daunting, though it lingers, as if there’s still much to discuss but not enough answers. There’s a need to formulate a plan for our next move, until Hugo clears his throat.
“Any further information on Leonardo?”
My heart almost stills at the mention of the man in question, but my stomach dips when Viola shakes her head.
“He's made his presence back in the Second Kingdom very well-known, but there haven't been any further concerns.”
“I think we already have enough concerns, don't you?” Teddy states. “Surrounding Ivy,” he clarifies, earning a scoff from across the room, and I can guess which one of the two girls it came from.
“Yes, but I'm more curious about her parents than him right now,” Viola explains, and my spine snaps ramrod straight.
She brushes her tongue along her bottom lip as she stands, curling her hand around the back of the chair in front of her.
“Because they have the ability to get close to you, whether we like it or not.”
I appreciate the truth from her, but it doesn't change where I stand.
“I don't want anything to do with them, nor will I tolerate having anything to do with them,” I state, glancing at my brother, who shrugs.
“That won't stop them from trying.” I hate the words from Hugo’s mouth, especially because it's from him, and I know he would not withhold information that involved my safety.
Although, if I recall how I came to be here to begin with, I don’t know how confident I feel in that assumption.
“And there have been no sightings at all?” I clarify, and my brother shakes his head.
“There have been no sightings of our father since the outpost. We believe he may be with Leonardo, but it's only an assumption. There's nothing solid there.”
I hate having a personal conversation with an audience, but the second this all unraveled it seems to have become everyone’s business.
“And mother?” I ask, my skin tingling at my temples as I await an answer.
“Her last sighting was at the ball before the power outage. No one has seen her since.”
Stomach churning, I startle at the overwhelming anxiety that takes root, threatening to crumble me from the inside.
I dip my head, deep in thought, as Sax takes control of the conversation.
“What was the other matter to discuss?” he asks, but I can still feel far too many eyes staring at me.
“We should delve into the abilities Ivy has first,” Viola declares, and my brother grunts.
“She can resurrect and heal, that's for certain. She's still exploring, but let’s move to the other topic for now.”
I peer at my brother through my lashes, in awe of the way he can stand his ground protectively, and I want to run into his embrace. Instead, my fingers clench tighter around Baron’s, seeking silent support that I wish I didn't need or want.
Yet I really fucking need and want it right now.
“There are some rumors,” my fencing professor states, guiding the conversation.
“About?” my brother asks.
“Other kingdoms are prepping for something.”
“What something?” Silas asks, and the professor shrugs.
“We don't know, but it feels combative,” Professor Carbon explains, the energy in the room shifting slightly.
“What does that mean for us?” Archer pushes, and Viola sighs.
“It means we have two choices.”
“Which are?” Baron bites.
“Continue as we are with our heads down, working off rumors while hoping nothing comes to fruition, or we…” She doesn't speak, her gaze trailing around the room, but the elongated pause irritates my brother, who chimes in.
“Or we invite them here and ask them for ourselves.”
Somehow, the atmosphere grows thicker.
“Invite them here?” Francesca bites, and Viola sighs for the thousandth time.
“Yes, some kind of ball or event would work,” she clarifies.
“And do you think this is a good idea?” Silas asks, lacing his fingers together as he tries to contain his frustrations.
“Yes,” Viola reiterates.
“What about everybody else?” Archer interjects, casting a gaze around the room, and there's a mixture of responses. All I can do is sit frozen in place, feeling completely overwhelmed by the fact that I'm getting involved in this by choice.
I should probably have regrets right about now. Yet, I don’t.
“The last time we invited people here to an event designed to help us understand what they wanted, Hugo's mate died,” Silas grunts, stealing my breath.
“What?” My gaze latches onto my brother, sadness seeping across his features as my heart shatters into a million pieces. “Hugo,” I breathe, and he offers me a tight, sad smile.
“It's a chance we all take,” he offers, and I shake my head.
How did I not know this?
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask, but this isn't about me right now. This is about my brother, and he’s in pain.
But why is Silas so concerned about what that means?
My mind rattles with so many thoughts, curiosity and overwhelm threatening to cripple me in front of a room of people I’m not entirely familiar with or comfortable being vulnerable around.
Sax’s hand finds my thigh, offering another pillar of support.
“What do we say?” Professor Viola asks, cutting through my thoughts like I'm not in the middle of a spiraling breakdown right now, and Silas blanches, rising to his feet as he slams his fists against the wood, but before his snarl can snap through the room, a zapping sound flickers through the air.
Immediately drenched in darkness, panic and chaos fill the space as two words leave Baron’s mouth, ready for the domino effect of madness.
“Power outage.”