Chapter 65
Sixty-five
Jada
The ground trembles around us, sending loose pieces of rock and dirt falling towards our heads. We instinctively shield, looking at each other with confused expressions.
“What is going on up there?” I ask.
Elio takes a deep breath, dusting himself off. “It’s them. It’s time.”
I pause, forgetting how to breathe. This feels riskier than following the prophecy’s instructions.
More dangerous than submitting myself to death.
I’ve never acted violently towards another being—I’m not sure that I can.
I was ready to answer death’s call, yet the fear of seeing the finality of it all surrounding me is paralyzing.
“Jada,” Elio calls, once again bringing me back into the present, grounding me from spiraling further.
“You will do what’s necessary. What is right.
The worlds have chosen you. Fate believes in you.
I believe in you. Pluto…he’s not a good man.
He has been corrupted by power, draining this world of everything good. ”
I nod repeatedly. I know this. I can do this. I’ve already faced the worst possible outcome. For Zellie, for everyone’s future. For a better tomorrow.
I look to Elio, a Kosmo who has abandoned his life’s work. Opposing forces, working together. The stars have aligned for this very moment. This is the darkest night and dawn is calling to follow. It is time.
We ascend into disarray. Elio star-shot us on the outskirts of Cosmic Hall, but it’s clear the heaviest action has moved away from the heart of the city.
Debris surrounds us, crumbled stone littering the streets and pathways.
In the distance, shouts can be heard, and even now, people are running in every direction.
The secretary with whom I would drop my meeting records stumbles past us, frazzled and perturbed. “Annette! Which way did they go?”
She scowls at me, as if I’ve committed the greatest crime.
“It’s Janette.” Even now, I itch to apologize, yet I stop myself—she’s never shown me any kindness.
Even worse, she couldn’t be bothered to grant me more than a second of her attention.
I hold my apology in—recovering people pleaser, indeed.
“They split off in opposite directions. They’re rebelling, can you believe it?
” Her eyes flick towards Elio with hunger, as if she’ll find reprieve and acceptance with him.
“Yeah, I can.” He replies dryly, catching her off guard. I stifle the smile that grows by the second; I’m proud of him for unabashedly standing up for what he believes in after spending so long being afraid to take a stand.
The moment is short-lived, as the sounds of objects slamming and battle cries ring from afar. We need to help.
“Which way do we go?”
“Signs of fighting lead south. They could have headed out of the city and towards the training grounds. Let’s start there.” Elio grabs my hand before star-shooting us into the heart of battle.
Three Kosmos on the opposing side are engaged in combat, spread across the open field.
Clusters of citizens work together, timing bursts of power towards the Kosmos when they seem unprepared.
Time and time again, the Kosmos block the magic or manipulate it, sending it shooting back towards the groups.
The people are prepared, though, summoning air shields to shelter themselves.
The citizens craft fireballs and small whirlpools of water, sending them swirling back towards the Kosmos.
A few luckily make contact. I hear Seb amidst one group shouting directions as he uses his own power to tear the ground from beneath the feet of the Kosmos or hone rubble into dangerous ammo.
In the distance, Lando is engaged in a hand-to-hand battle with Portia.
Their movements are harsh and violent—almost as if it were personal.
A weapon is sheathed, hanging loosely by his side.
That must be the imbued moonstone the team was working on creating. But why isn’t he using it?
Two Kosmos, who must be working with the rebellion, attack the second Kosmos in a two-on-one fight.
Their magics clash as the ground rumbles, the sky shifting colors, settling on the deepest black.
It’s then that I notice Elio has placed a protective shield around me as well.
“Brinn is just over there,” he points. “You should help her.”
“What about you?”
We duck as a loose fireball whizzes by. “I’m going to take Zeph on.” He tilts his chin towards the Kosmos closest to us.
“Be careful.” He nods in return, and then I sprint across the open space towards Brinn. She’s hauled several injured civilians away from the heart of the fighting, leaning them against towering cliff ridges.
“Brinn!”
“Oh my stars, Jada. You’re back! Are you okay? Help me with him.” She’s working to extend the leg of a male who has suffered a burn to his upper thigh. He winces as we work in tandem, before she starts her effort to heal the wound. I look away, queasy from the sight of exposed, raw skin.
Unable to help myself, I check on Elio. The Kosmos—Zeph—is shouting at him. “How dare you betray us? You’re as traitorous as these people. We’ve given our livelihood, everything, to ensure they have the best. Was your life so terrible, Elio?”
“Pluto is out of control, and you know it.” Elio warps the ground around him, encasing him in an arched cage made of dirt and clay and weathered rock.
“Come on, Zeph. The way he treats people… How he wants complete control. That’s not what we signed up for.
Think of our original intentions for Astralis.
For the worlds. It wasn’t complete domination.
” Zeph’s dark skin gleams with perspiration as he exerts himself, pushes against the cage.
Suddenly, the cage bursts, sending bits of sediment and dust flying in all directions.
Throwing his hands into the air, he swirls his wrists and throws his hands towards the ground, as a slew of comets appear and rain down on Elio.
I gasp as Elio summons a swell of water with the wave of his hand, extinguishing the burning balls.
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” Every move he makes is intentional—he’s aiming to immobilize, not to injure.
“Jada? Jay!” Brinn’s voice calls me back to the present.
“Sorry. How can I help?”
“Did it work? Do you have the dawnfire?”
“Yes, it worked!”
“Good. Then go find Zellie! She was headed towards the bridge!” Brinn shouts.
Heart pounding, I spare a final glance towards Brinn, then Elio, before turning on my heels and running in the direction of the river. I will not fail Zellie today. I will not fail myself.