Chapter 40
Forty
Jada
The entire operation has been moved underground.
Seb has made himself a burrow of sorts, a home that is entirely too small for the seven of us.
Brinn, Lando, Orion, Leo, Seb, Elio and I stand and sit against various surfaces as we discuss what Elio has told me—he knows where Zellie is, and he wants to help.
“How can we trust you?” Orion pointedly asks.
“I’ve been biding my time, the same as you have working for us.
What started out as an order that believed in good and in justice has slowly been corrupted into something far darker and corrupt.
This isn’t what we had in mind when we formed the Order.
Pluto is drunk on power and hungry for more.
He’d see every planet in the galaxy devoured if it meant he was in control. ”
“He makes a fair point, Orion.”
“The timing is suspicious.”
Lando rubs his face. “Stars above, Orion, it’s the only lead we have!”
“And it could very well be a trap!” He shoots back at his friend.
I mindlessly play with the end of my pink and silver strands. “Do you want to vote on it? Will that make you feel better? Because I vote we trust him.”
“As do I,” Brinn chimes in.
Seb adds, “My history with the Kosmos has been traumatizing, but I will say that Elio has never personally inflicted threat of harm or physical pain on me.”
Orion throws his hands up. “Fine! Fine. I don’t particularly care, as long as he leads us to Zellie. Where is she?”
“Beneath the Cosmic Hall lies an ancient chamber—a cavern, really—that was intended to be used as a shelter if—”
“Get to the point.” Orion is dangerously teetering on the edge of snapping.
“It’s where they perform their experiments. Away from prying ears and eyes. The only ones who know of its existence are well… them and us.”
He’s giving us information that will lead to his death. He’s sacrificing himself by sharing this information. “If you lead us there, they will know it was you.”
“Or me,” Leo adds so quietly, I’m not sure the group heard him.
Icy eyes chill me to the core. “Then we'd better make it worth it.”
Seb’s underground network is a labyrinth of tunnels that can lead us all over the city and directly to the Hall.
Moreso, the Kosmos aren’t aware of its existence.
The team has split up into small groups with different operatives.
Brinn and Orion are briefing the rest of the Children of the Constellation while Seb and Lando plot out best ways to infiltrate the Cosmic Hall.
Elio and I aren’t particularly useful in the ways that matter, so we’ve taken to roaming the tunnels.
I’m itching to check in those on Lunara, but going above right now isn’t the safest idea.
“So… what does the prophecy mean, exactly?”
Elio has removed his cloak, a symbolic gesture—a Kosmo is never seen without their cloak.
Underneath, he’s simply a man. He wears a simple tunic; the sleeves rolled to reveal muscled forearms, and slim pants hugging his thick thighs.
Who would’ve known this hunk of a man was hidden beneath—there are layers to us all.
“If I knew, don’t you think we would be out finding that person?”
“How do you not know?”
“Hierachies within hierarchies, I’m afraid. I’m fairly new to the Order. Pluto operates on a ‘need to know basis’. And I wasn’t worthy of knowing.”
“But you knew of its existence?”
“I knew there was something he meant to hide at all costs, yes.”
I hum, our conversation quietening as we walk the halls bathed in small flickering orb lights. It smells of soil and water—of freedom.
“Your friend was right. Fate favors the dreamers. I believe that is why we’ve been brought here—to make a difference, together.”
Maybe he’s right. Why else would the stars align to allow for me to be here? To find Zellie, to save her. To discover who I am and what it is I want. To yearn for more.
“What will you do?” Once his deceit is discovered; when they finally realize his betrayal.
A soft smile, one that could be interpreted as sad, even. “Be as free as the stars.”