Chapter 71
Seventy-One
Autumn raced around her bedroom, tossing supplies into an open bag. An extra bodysuit in case she needed to change, a helmet, and a pair of warm socks. Space could be a miserable cold place, especially with an ongoing war. Firelight erupted beyond the forcefield and into the oncoming night. The dual suns set over the vast metropolis of Giarldinia, casting an orange pink glow. For the first time, the city was dark and quiet.
She had to get to her dad and Dante before it was too late. There was no telling what horrors the Grand Supreme was up to. All she could think about was her dad sitting alone in a cage, covered in filth with cracked glasses and rags for clothes, and Dante walking the halls of an enemy ship by himself.
As she pulled on a midnight-black bodysuit and a pair of boots, Mr. Hiss emerged from beneath the bed. He yawned and stretched before purring and rolling on the floor, exposing his soft underbelly. He blinked his innocent cerulean eyes. He wanted to play but she didn’t have time. She ran her hands through his hot-pink fur, calming herself down. She would miss him too.
A knock came to the door, distracting her from her tortured thoughts.
“Come in,” she yelled with a shaky voice. Her adrenaline spiked to an all-time high.
Emblem and Allegoria came sputtering through the door, out of breath. Emblem approached her, moonglow hair framing her delicate jaw.
“I’m sorry we’re late. We’re here to prepare you?—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Autumn put the finishing touches on her plaited pigtail braids, pulling them through simple black hair ties. She smoothed her hands down the length of her thighs. “It doesn’t matter where I’m going. Nothing matters anymore.”
Leyla and Ronan followed, both dressed in onyx bodysuits as well. It was like a gathering for a funeral. They watched her quietly from the doorway. She walked over to them, folding her arms.
Ronan opened his mouth as if to speak. Worry lines flickered across his strong brow. “I don’t think it’s a good idea that you go.”
“I don’t either,” Leyla added. Her brown eyes grew glassy as she pulled her in for a hug, sobbing bitter tears against her arm. Her blue cheeks slicked wet. “I think it’s a trap.”
Autumn’s eyes wavered between them, sensing their sadness. “Then what do you propose we do?”
Ronan stepped forth, running a hand through his brown spiky hair. He stared at her with his emerald-green eyes. “I’ll go. The Grand Supreme has always had a fondness for me, perhaps I can negotiate or distract him long enough so you can escape?—”
She shook her head, that wouldn’t do. “No, I can’t drag you into this mess. This is my problem to solve.”
Leyla glanced at her. “We’re here to help you. You know that don’t you?”
“Listen you guys, somebody has to stay here and take care of everyone while I’m gone.” For a split second she reminded herself of Dante who gave her the exact same lecture before he left. She blinked the oncoming fog from her eyes as she recalled the last conversation they had. “Sean needs you, and Kyo and his family need you. Stay here and take care of them. If the shit hits the fan, then you can leave, but I won’t have you risk your lives for me.”
She walked back into the room, grabbing the satchel from the floor, throwing it over her shoulder. She hugged Emblem and Allegoria for dear life. It was, more than likely, the last time she would ever see them.
As she went to pass through the doorway where Ronan and Leyla stood, Leyla pleaded with her large brown eyes. “You don’t have to do this. There must be another way.”
Autumn stared at them for a moment before speaking. “Sometimes, there is no other way. Sometimes you have to face your problems head on whether you’re ready or not. That’s life.”
Leyla’s mouth fell. Sometimes the truth hurt. They followed her down the hallway in silence as she made her way outside to the docks.
When they arrived at her destroyer on the palace roof, Isidora stood there wearing a long tulle gown, Sean wore his inline skates, and Kyo huddled with his family. The sky and the city were pitch dark. The sole sources of light came from beyond the forcefield in the form of cracking fire and liquid stars.
Kittlen ran over and gave her a warm hug, burying his face into her stomach. A red bandana remained tied across his brow and over his long, pointed ears. “Aww, do you really have to go?”
“Yes,” she hugged him back as he rested his soft cheek against her. “But I know you’re going to be safe while I’m gone.”
Treble walked over and hugged her as well. “Thank you again for everything, but most of all, thank you for your kindness.”
She flashed her a small smile in return. Treble curtseyed as she joined Kittlen. Sean rolled up to her and kissed her cheek. Kyo placed his hand on her shoulder. His moonstone mohawk glowed beneath the night stars.
“Good luck,” he said.
“Thank you.”
Finally, she was met with the former empress.
“I wish we could talk you out of going,” Isidora’s dark-brown eyes flashed with grave concern. “I wish there was a better way. But with that being said, you’re the empress. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be there in a heartbeat.”
“Thank you,” she turned and waved one final time. Leyla buried her face in her hands and Ronan steadied her weight.
Autumn boarded the destroyer, closing the door. Her heart pounded so fast she could barely breathe. She took her seat, placing her bag on the floor beside her feet. She buckled her harness in place, closing her eyes, inhaling and exhaling. Okay, she could do this. If she couldn’t rescue her dad and Dante, nobody could.
She reached for the control console. Hopefully she could figure this out. Maybe she should’ve asked for directions or something because the steering panel looked much different than her aircraft, divided into two pieces.
But she was a licensed driver, she reassured herself, so it shouldn’t be too hard. She had this under control.
Autumn hit buttons and pulled gauges. The spacecraft rose in slow motion. Her body flooded with relief.
Okay, great, she was well on her way. She whipped out her communicator—she had to act as quickly as possible.
“Lower the forcefield for one minute,” she texted Ronan.
“As you wish,” he responded. The sky somehow became clearer as the twin crescent moons sparkled through the night.
The spacecraft soared into the air. When she glanced out the window, her newfound family became dark specks of dust, still gathered on top of the palace. The metropolis of Giarldinia disappeared into the night.
A chill skittered down the length of her spine. Perspiration pooled in her gloves. The next stop was the Grand Supreme.