Chapter 17
Seventeen
Jada
Ididn’t expect a leader of a rebellion to be so…
nice. Yet here we are, a free pastry, a kind smile, and a link in the form of Zellie between us.
Zellie clearly hasn’t spoken to her yet about our disagreement; there’s no way she’d be treating me so warmly otherwise.
Her disdain for the Kosmos was evident enough in her expression after I mentioned my position, but she politely probes further while joining me at a table.
“So the Order picked you for a job, huh? Must have made quite an impact.”
Wearily, I respond, “Apparently, they thought my diplomatic personality would be a good fit for the job of a Scriptor.”
“It’s unusual that they offer a position willingly like that.
They’re pretty private. Most Astrals or Celestials work for years to get that type of position.
” Celestials and Astrals—the citizens that make up the population on Astralis.
Like humans, they live and breathe like us. Unlike humans, they possess magic.
What is she looking for? It’s not like I manipulated them. “Perhaps I was in the right place at the right time.”
“You don’t think they could be taking advantage of your connection to Zellie?” And there it is. Is this going to be the general consensus?
I wipe the remnants of the turnover from my mouth. “They’ve shown no ill intent towards her or me.”
“The timing seems a little too convenient to be a coincidence.”
“Timing how?”
“Of Zellie gaining her powers, whatever they are. Of her making a move against them.”
According to Zellie, the move made wasn’t one of her choosing; it was the rebellion’s.
It was this female’s. What would Zellie have done if they hadn’t made the choice for her?
A cold shiver wracks my body, thinking of her spontaneity and the consequences that could have ensued from a bold choice.
Thinking of the “what ifs” won’t do me any good, nor will getting on Zell or Brinn’s bad side.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“Just… keep an open mind, will you?”
I offer a soft smile, but inside I’m shriveling. I’m such a fucking people pleaser. “That’s what I do best.”
While I could have spent the remainder of my day exploring the new world, I was desperate for the comfort of my home.
I need to think this through. Did I make a decision about working with the Kosmos too hastily?
I need my people. It pains me that the category doesn’t include Zellie anymore, but after six months without her, I developed new connections to keep me afloat.
It’s not that I don’t love Zellie. I value her and our friendship, but she cannot expect me to change my belief system—something we’ve grown up with—overnight.
For now, we can support each other from afar until we find some middle ground.
I pause outside of the portal, taking in a fluttering butterfly—purple, with glowing wings. I’ve only ever seen one in books. In awe, I watch its wings work, allowing the creature to move freely about the world. I want to be like you, I think. Free.
The whirling portal spirals inwards, jolting me back into the Commons on Lunara.
A line has already formed for lunch, and I think about how our food is rationed, only accessible if we use one of our three meal tickets for the day.
It’s not like this on Astralis. I’m angry with myself the second the thought crosses my mind, and I mentally shove it as far away as I can.
The Kosmos had good intentions in opening up their world to us; of that I do not doubt.
But perhaps they didn’t think through how we would feel when we returned home.
A body scan completes, allowing me access to the chutes leading to The Chambers—a world of difference from walking freely wherever I pleased without needing permission or access granted on Galatea.
Damn Zellie for getting in my head and tarnishing my excitement.
This was my one chance at more. I land on Torin’s floor and find myself at his door quickly.
He opens the door after my first knock, a wide grin on his face that dissolves quickly as he takes in my current state.
“Well, this is not how I left you yesterday. What’s wrong, Jay?” he pulls me through the doorway and into his arms, simultaneously kicking the door shut.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I admit, a whine escaping my throat.
“No one does, but the galaxies keep spinning. There’s no rush to figure anything out today.”
“You don’t even know what’s wrong,” my muffled voice escapes from the confines of my face, smothered into his chest.
“Don’t need to. Everything always works out; it’s how the universe works.”
“You’ve been reading far too many happy endings.”
“On the contrary, the last one had a twist I didn’t see coming, and we have no idea if they live happily ever after or not. But your life isn’t scripted. You decide the plot.”
I hum and turn my cheek against him, listening to his heartbeat, allowing the steady thumps to calm my racing thoughts.
“Tell me what happened,” Torin demands.
I untangle myself from the warm cocoon of his embrace and settle onto his bed, bracing myself against the wall.
“For starters, Zellie is no longer human, but no one seems to know what she actually is. She’s convinced the Kosmos are evil, trying to rule the galaxies and have diminished the human race to be as insignificant and small as possible. ”
Torin’s eyes bulge as he takes a seat on the edge of the mattress. “And what do you think?”
“I think… Zellie has changed. Not only on the outside, but in her heart, too. She’s hardened, and it hurts to witness. I hate being on the receiving end of her sharpness, when we’ve always stood side by side.” I sniff as the dam breaks, tears I’ve been holding in endlessly leak from my eyes.
“Maybe the Kosmos has neglected us, based on the evidence when comparing Galatea to our world, and the differences in how we live. But I also believe they’re trying to change their ways.
They offered me a position within the Order.
They're communicating openly and giving tours of their city themselves, for stars’ sake!
” I wipe the tears away. “But… there’s a rising rebellion against them, filled with citizens of Astralis that don’t believe in them either.
That has to be for a reason, right? And that makes me feel dumb, like they’re tricking me, or using me…
and not simply seeing me for who I really am. ”
The admission is freeing; the tears cleanse my anger and doubts away.
Torin scooches closer to me, the proximity permitting me to rest my head on his shoulder.
“I think you’ve had to be strong for far too long.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to see the good in people, in the worlds.
That doesn’t make you stupid or weak. That makes you everything these worlds need. ”