Chapter 66
Sixty-six
Jada
Ipump my arms as fast as I can, doing my best to ignore the growing pain in my side and lungs. Running is the fucking worst. But I need to make it to Zellie. I have to make sure she’s okay. So I continue despite the discomfort, covering ground to the best of my ability.
The riverbank is in sight; the bridge not far behind.
The once-beautiful center of Astralis is in shambles.
Smoke billows, glowing bioluminescent flora lie trampled, half-heartedly flickering with their glow, and the river is muddied with stars-knows-what.
Destruction is everywhere I look. Where are they?
As if the universe heard my thoughts, the bridge groans deeply, a low-pitched whine that has the ground beneath my feet trembling.
I look up, finally getting eyes on my best friend as she struggles against Pluto, her iridescent strands whipping in her face with each movement.
Is she alone up there? Where is Orion? The crystalline structure they stand on does not stand a chance against the force of their clashing power.
I scramble over the riverbank, making my way to the left end of the bridge so I can assist. My breath catches as I crest the hill, catching sight of a gathering of people.
Not just people—humans. I can’t breathe, can’t think, as I scan the faces looking for familiar ones.
Until there, standing in front of the group, as if she was leading them, I find Faye.
Faye, who swore she would never step foot here, who said that what I was doing was idiotic.
Faye, who loved me, despite my flaws and ambition and inability to love her fully in the way she needed…
the way she deserved. She still showed up.
A broken sob escapes me as we meet each other halfway, rushing to embrace.
“You’re here!”
“Your hair!”
We speak at the same time, laughing as we talk over the other. “How?” I ask.
“We’ve been training. Torin and I put our differences aside and have been leading the training efforts with someone from here.
A woman named Brinn has been meeting with us.
” She pauses, taking Jada in. “You’ve outgrown Lunara.
Outgrown me. But there’s no reason you should fight alone.
We can take this on. An alliance built on friendship and bravery. Together.”
Through teary eyes, I take her hands in mine and squeeze. “Together.”
“Where are we needed?”
I sniff, spinning to take in the crumbling city.
Chaos reigns in every direction. Seb and his legion must be further north—I hadn’t run into them during my dash here.
How are they faring? Lando, Elio, and Brinn have the southern part of the city covered.
But Pluto… he’s unhinged. I don’t know if Orion is up there, which could potentially leave the two of us against him on our own.
How much backup will Zellie and I require?
The odds are not stacked in our favor, or maybe they’re stacked equally.
I refuse to leave my girl without support, should the need arise.
I take in the swarm of humans behind her. Determined and willing, despite the lack of magic running through their veins. They’re willing to fight for their future, and so am I. For a better tomorrow.
“Here,” I decide. “I need you here.”
I step back, examining the brigade further.
Torin steps forward as well, and my heart swarms with warmth.
I jump into his arms, sighing, “Oh, Torin.” He’s always believed in me, relentlessly showing up for me time and time again.
I have everyone I love fighting for the same cause. I’ve never felt more empowered.
“You look… different. A good different.”
“I have so much to tell you, but not now.”
“We’re all ready, Jay. We’ve been preparing for this moment.”
So have I.
I separate from him, looking at the faces of humans I’ve spent my life around.
Tilting my chin up, I raise my voice. “We have spent our lives accepting the bare minimum. No longer will we be oppressed. We—the humans—and the Astrals and Celestials living in this city are deserving of equal opportunity. Power does not distinguish our worth. Wealth does not distinguish our worth. Honor, bravery, and compassion do. And in that, my friends, we are the richest. The man up there? He doesn’t believe in that.
He doesn’t believe in us. He believes in conquering, in having a world where we all submit at his feet.
Too long, we’ve been oppressed. But no longer.
It ends now. To a world where we look to the sun and smile.
” I raise my arm in the air, the humans following suit with accepting hoots and cheers.
I’ve never given a speech to boost morale, but that is as close as it will get coming from me.
Loosing a battle cry that surprises even myself, I turn, spearheading the human movement to end Pluto’s sovereignty.