AS MAVEN AND MYSELFย are ushered across the Bridge, headed back to the palace after a long day of shaking hands and secret plans, I wish dawn would come tonight instead of next morning.ย I was acutely aware of the roar around us as we crossed the city.ย Everything pulses with energy, from the transportation on the streets to the lights embedded in the steel and concrete.ย It reminded me of moments in the Great Garden long ago, when I watched the nymphs frolicking in the fountain or the greenies tending to their flowers.ย Instantly, I found their world truly beautiful.ย I understand now why they want to preserve it, to maintain their power over everyone, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let them do it.
Usually a banquet was held to celebrate the king’s return to his city.ย However, due to recent events, Caesar’s Square was much quieter than it should be.ย Maven pretended to complain about the lack of audience, just to fill the silence.
โThe banquet hall is twice the size of the hall at Balairung,โ he said as we entered the main gate.ย I can see some of it
Cal’s legion members were training in the barracks, thousands of them lined up in unison.ย Their footsteps thumped like drum beats.ย โWe used to dance until the morningโat least Cal did.ย Girls don’t ask me to dance much, unless Cal tells them to.โ
“I’ll ask you to dance.”ย I responded, my eyes still on the barracks.ย Will they be ours tomorrow?
Maven didn’t answer, shifting in his seat as our vehicle came to a stop.ย He will always choose you.
โI don’t have the slightest feeling for Cal.โย I whispered into his ear as we stepped out of the vehicle.
He smiled, his hand holding mine, and I said to myself that it wasn’t a lie.
As the doors to the palace opened to us, terrible screams rang out from the long marble halls.ย Maven and I exchanged glances, shocked.ย Our guards immediately went to attention, their hands moving to their rifles, but there weren’t enough of them to stop me from running.ย Maven caught up as best he could, trying to match my speed.ย The scream sounded again, followed by a dozen feet stomping in unison and the familiar clang of armor.
I immediately accelerated my run, Maven right behind me.ย We burst into the circular room, a meeting hall of polished marble and black wood.ย There had already formed a crowd and I almost collided with Lord Samos, but my feet stopped in time.ย Maven hit my back, almost knocking us both over.
Samos grinned at the two of us, his black eyes cold and hard.
โLady Titanos, Prince Maven,โ he greeted, barely bowing his head to any of us.ย โAre you guys coming to watch the show?โ
Showย .ย There were a number of other noble men and women surrounding us, along with the king and queen, all looking straight ahead.ย I pressed forward, not knowing what I would find on the other side, but I knew it wouldn’t be good.ย Maven followed, his hand never leaving my elbow.ย Once we reached the front of the crowd, I was relieved by his warm hand, a calming force to keep me stillโand to pull me back.
No less than sixteen soldiers stood in the center of the room, their booted feet leaving dirt on the symbol of the king’s crown on the floor.ย Their armor was the same, plated in black metal, except for one with a reddish glint.ย Cal.
Evangeline stood by his side, her hair braided back.ย He was breathing heavily, panting, but looked proud of himself.ย And where Evangeline is, there her sister is.
Ptolemus appeared from behind the group, dragging a screaming figure by its hair.ย Cal looked away and met my eyes as soon as I recognized the figure.ย I could see the regret in Cal’s eyes, but he didn’t do anything to save her.
Ptolemus threw Walsh’s body onto the slippery floor, his face hitting the stone.ย Walsh only glanced at me briefly before turning his anguished gaze to the king.ย I’m reminded of
the cheerful, ever-smiling waiter, who first introduced me to this world;ย the figure was gone.
โRats crawl in the old tunnels,โ growled Ptolemus, turning over on his feet.ย Walsh immediately dodged his touch, which was surprisingly nimble considering his multiple wounds.ย “We found this one followingย usย near the river holes.”
Tailing them?ย How could he be so stupid?ย However, Walsh is not stupid.ย No, it was an order,ย I realized with increasing horror.ย He was watching the train tunnel, making sure the way was clear for us to get back from Naercey.ย And while we managed to arrive safely, he didn’t.
Maven’s grip on my arm tightened, pulling me to him until his chest was pressed against my back.ย He knew I wanted to run to him, to save him, to help him.ย And I know we can’t do anything.
โWe went as far as the radiation detectors would allow.โย Cal added, trying his best to ignore Walsh who was coughing and spitting up blood.ย โThe tunnel system is very extensive, much more extensive than we originally thought.ย There must be dozens of miles of it and the Red Front knows it better than any of us.โ
The King of Tiberias scowled beneath his beard.ย He pointed at Walsh, asking him to come forward.ย Cal grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the king.ย Thousands of types of torture filled my mind, each more
worse than others.ย Fire, iron, water, even my own lightning, could be used to force him to speak.
“I will not repeat the same mistake again,” the king growled into Walsh’s face.ย โElara, make him sing.ย Right now.”ย โWith pleasure,โ answered the queen, freeing her hands
from his sleeves being too long.
This is worseย .ย Walsh will talk, he will drag us all down, he will destroy us.ย Then they will kill him slowly.ย They will kill us all slowly.
An Eagrie amidst the group of soldiers, a seer with the ability to see the future, suddenly leapt forward.ย โStop him!ย Hold both hands!”
But Walsh is more agile than he looks.ย โFor Tristan’s sake,โ she cried, before slamming her hand over his mouth.ย He bit into something and swallowed, making his head snap back.
“Healer!”ย Cal shouted, clutching Walsh’s throat, trying to stop him.ย But his mouth was foaming and his body was convulsingโhe was choking.ย โHealer, right now!โ
He convulsed violently, breaking free from Cal’s grip with the last of his strength.ย When his body hit the floor, his eyes widened, looking but not seeing.ย Dead.
For Tristan’s sake.
I can’t even grieve for him.ย โSuicide pills.โ
Cal’s voice was soft, as if he was explaining it to a child.ย However, I guess I am indeed a child when it comes to war and death.ย โWe used to give them to officers on the front lines and our spies.ย If they get caughtโโ
โThey won’t talk,โ I blurted back at him.
Be careful,ย I warned myself.ย As much as Cal’s presence makes my skin crawl, I have to endure it.ย After all, I was the one who let him find me on this balcony.ย I have to give him hope.ย I had to let him think that he had a chance with meย .ย That part had been Maven’s idea, as much as it pained him to say so.ย Meanwhile, for me, it’s hard to tread the fine line between lies and truth, especially with Cal.ย I hated him, I knew that but something in his eyes and voice reminded me that my feelings weren’t actually that simple.
He kept his distance, standing an arm’s length away from me.ย โIt was a better death than he would have received from us.โ
โWill he be frozen?ย Or perhaps burned for a change of scenery?โ
“No.”ย Cal shook his head.ย โHe’s going to the Swollen Bowl.โย He lifted his eyes from the barracks, glancing across the river.ย On the far side, nestled between tall buildings, was a wide oval arena with spikes around the edge like a crown
malignant.ย Swollen Bowlย .ย โHe will be executed in a broadcast, as a message to all.โ
โI thought you guys didn’t do that anymore.ย I havenโt seen one in over a decade.โย I barely remember those broadcasts from when I was a little girl, many years ago.
โExceptions can be made.ย The arena battles did not succeed in stopping the formation of the Barisan, perhaps something else will.โ
โYou know him,โ I whispered, trying to find a small glimmer of regret in him.ย “You sent it to me after we met for the first time.”
He crossed his arms, as if the gesture would somehow protect him from the memories.ย โI know he comes from the same village as you.ย I thought that might help you adjust a little more.โ
โI still don’t understand why you care.ย You don’t even know that I’m different.โ
A moment passed in silence, broken only by the shouts of a number of lieutenants, far from below, who were still training even as the sun set.
โYou’re different to me.โย He finally spoke.
โI wonder what might have happened, if all thisโโI gestured at the palace and the Square outsideโโhadn’t come between us.โ
Let him think about it.
He placed his hand on my arm, his fingers hot through the fabric of my sleeve.
“But that won’t happen, Cal.”
I forced as much longing as possible into my eyes, holding on to the memories of my family;ย Maven, Kilorn, everything we’re trying to do.ย Maybe Cal would misjudge my feelings.ย Give him hope that should not existย .ย It was the cruelest thing I could do, but for the sake of this struggle, for the sake of my friends, for the sake of my life, I was willing to do it.
โMare,โ he whispered, bowing his head towards me.
I turned away, leaving him on the balcony to ponder my words and, hopefully, lose himself in them.
โIf only things were different.โย He whispered, but I could still hear him.
Those words took me back to my home and my father when he said the same thing many years ago.ย The thought that Cal and my father, a broken Red man, could share the same thoughts floored me.ย I couldn’t help but look back, watching the sun dive behind the silhouette of his body.ย He looked at the troops training below before looking back at me, torn between his duties and whatever he felt for the lightning girl.
โJulian said you looked like him.โย He spoke slowly, his eyes full of contemplation.ย โJust like him before.โ
Coriane.ย His biological motherย .ย The thought of the dead queen, someone I never knew, somehow makes me sad.ย He was taken too soon from those he loved, and he left a hole they longed to fill.
And as much as I hate to admit it, I can’t blame Cal for feeling caught between two worlds.ย After all, so did I.
Before the dance, I was so restless, worried about the night ahead.ย Now I can’t wait for dawn.ย If we win in the morning, the sun will rise on a new world.ย The king will step down from his throne, handing over his power to me, Maven, and Farley.ย The change will not shed blood, a peaceful transition from one government to another.ย If we fail, the Crooked Bowl is all I can hope for.ย But we will not fail.ย Cal won’t let me die, and neither will Maven.ย They are my shield.
As I lay down on the bed, I found myself looking at Julian’s map.ย An old item, almost useless, but still comforting.ย The map is proof that the world can change.ย With that thought in mind, I drifted into a restless sleep.ย My brother visits me in my dreams.ย He stood by the window, looking out at the city with a strange look of sadness, before turning to me.ย “There are other people,”
he said.ย “You have to look for them.”
โI will,โ I said, my voice heavy with sleep.
Then the clock struck four and I had no more time to dream.
The cameras fell like trees when they are cut down, every little lens clicking off as I walked towards Maven’s room.ย I jumped at every shadow, expecting an officer or Sentinel to step into the hallway, but no one appeared.ย They protect Cal and the king, not me, no
second prince.ย We are not important.ย But soon that will change.
Maven opens the door a moment after I shake the knob, his face pale in the darkness.ย There were circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept all night, but he seemed very focused.ย I expected him to take my arm, wrap me in his warmth, but nothing came but a chill dripping from his body.ย I realizedย he was scared.
We had been outside for several excruciating minutes.ย Walk in the shadows behind the War Command building to wait in a position between the building and the outer wall.ย Our position was perfect;ย we could see the Square and the Bridge, with most of its gilded roofs, the War Command building covering us from the patrolmen.ย I don’t need a clock to know we’re on time.
Above our heads, the night faded, turning dark blue.ย Dawn will rise.
At this moment, the entire city was quieter than I could have imagined.ย Even the patrol officers were still sleepy, slowly moving from one post to another.ย Excitement coursed through my body, making my legs tremble.ย Somehow, Maven remained unmoved, barely even blinking.ย He stared through the diamond glass walls, always watching the Bridge.ย The focus is surprising.
โThey’re late,โ he whispered, without moving an inch.ย “I don’t.”
If I didn’t already know, I would have thought Farley was a shadow, capable of appearing and disappearing from sight.ย He burst out of the shadows, pulling himself out of a drain.
I held out my hand, but he pushed himself to his feet.ย โWhere are the others?โ
“Wait.”ย He pointed towards the plains below.
If I squinted, I could see them, huddled in the exhaust system, ready to rise to the surface.ย I wanted to climb into the tunnel with them, to stand with Kilorn and the rest of my kind, but my place was here, beside Maven.
โAre they armed?โย Maven’s lips barely moved.ย โAre they ready to fight?โ
Farley nodded.ย “Always.ย I won’t call them out until you’re sure we have the Square under control.ย I don’t have much confidence in Miss Barrow’s ability to cast her charms.โ
So do I, but I can’t say it out loud.ย He will always choose youย .ย I’ve never wanted something to be both right and wrong like right now.
โKilorn wants you to have this.โย Farley added, holding out his hand.ย In his hand was a small green stone, the same color as his eyes.ย An earringย .ย โHe said you would find out what this means.โ
I choked on my words, feeling a violent surge of emotion.ย Nodding, I took the earring from his palm and held it up to the other.ย Bree, Tramy, Shadeย โI know every one
the stone and what it means.ย Kilorn is a warrior now.ย And he wants me to remember him as his old selfย .ย Laughing, taunting me, always trailing around like a lost puppy.ย I’ll never forget that.
The sharp metal pierced, dripping with blood.ย When I pulled my hand back from my ear, I could see red stains on my fingers.ย This is the real you.
I turned back towards the tunnel, hoping to see his pair of green eyes but the darkness seemed to swallow the tunnel whole, hiding his figure and everything else.
“You guys ready?”ย Farley whispered, looking between us.ย Maven answered for me, his voice firm.ย “We are ready.”ย However, Farley was not satisfied.ย โMare?โ
“I am ready.”
The revolutionary fighter took a deep breath before tapping his foot against the side of the drainpipe.ย Once, twice, three times.ย Together, we turned toward the Bridge, waiting for the world to change.
There was no flow of vehicles at this time, not even the whisper of a means of transportation.ย The shops are closed, the square is empty.ย With luck, the only thing that will fall tonight will be concrete and steel.ย The end of the Bridge, which connected Western Archeon with the rest of the city, was silent.
Then the city exploded in a cloud of bright orange and red dust, the sun breaking the silver darkness.ย Heat rose, but not from the bomb explosionโit came fromย Maven.ย The explosion ignited something inside him, igniting his fire.
The sound thundered, almost knocking me over, and the river below surged as the end of the bridge collapsed.ย Bridge
moaning and shaking like a dying monster, collapsing in on itself as it detached from the riverbank and the remains of its skeleton.ย Concrete pillars and steel wires snapped and snapped, splashing into the water or hitting the riverbank.ย A cloud of dust and smoke rose, cutting off the rest of the Archeons from view.ย Before the Bridge even hit the water, alarm sounds could be heard throughout the Square.
Above us, patrolmen were running along the walls, eager to get a good look at the destruction.ย They shouted in unison, not understanding what was happening.ย Most could only look up.ย In the barracks, the lights were turned on and the soldiers awoke, all five thousand soldiers jumped out of bed.ย Cal soldiers.ย Cal Legionย .ย And with any luck, our legions eventually.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the flames and smoke, but Maven finally distracted me.ย โThat’s him over there,โ he hissed, pointing at the dark figures running from the palace.
Cal had his own guards, but he got ahead of them all, running towards the barracks.ย Even though he was still wearing his nightwear, he had never looked so fierce.ย As soldiers and officers poured into the Square, Cal shouted a series of orders, somehow making himself heard over the growing crowd.ย โPrepare guns at the gates!ย Put the nymphs on the other side, we don’t want the fire to spread!โ
His men carried out his orders with lightning speed, swiftly obeying his every word.ย Legions obey their generals.
Behind us, Farley pressed his back against the wall, creeping closer to the drainpipe.ย He would turn and flee at the first sign of trouble, disappearing to fight another day.ย That won’t happen.ย This effort will be successful.
Maven took the initiative to move first, to wave at her sister below, but I pushed her back.
โI have to do it,โ I whispered, feeling a strange calm wash over me.ย He will always choose you.
There was no turning back as I stepped into the Square, into view of the legionaries, the patrolmen, and Cal.ย Spotlights flashed on the tops of the walls, some aimed at the Bridge, others down on us.ย A spotlight seemed to be targeting me, and I had to raise my hands to cover my eyes.
โCal!โย I shouted amidst the deafening sound of the five thousand soldiers.ย Somehow, he heard me, his head snapped towards me.ย Our gazes locked through the crowd of soldiers filing into their trained ranks and regiments.
As Cal moved toward me, pushing through the sea of โโpeople, I felt like I was going to faint.ย Suddenly all I could hear was my heartbeat pounding in my ears, drowning out the sounds of alarms and screams.ย I’m scared.ย Very afraid.ย It’s just Cal,ย I said to myself.ย Young man who likes music and bicycles.ย Not a soldier, not a general, not a prince.ย Just a young man.ย He will always choose you.
โCome in, right now!โย He approached me, using a firm and authoritative voice that could subdue a person
mountain.ย โMare, it’s not safeโ!โ
With strength I never knew I had, I tugged at the collar of his shirt and somehow it silenced him.ย โWhat if this is the sacrifice?โย I turned my head towards the ravaged Bridge, now shrouded in smoke and ash.ย โNothing but a few tons of concrete.ย What if I told you right here, right now, that you can fix everything.ย You can saveย usย .”
By the glint in his eyes, I could see that I had his attention.ย โDon’t,โ he protested weakly, one hand reaching for mine.ย There was fear in his eyes, more fear than I had ever seen before.
โYou once said that you had faith in us, in freedom.ย On equality.ย You can make that happen, with just one word.ย There will be no need for war.ย No one will die.โย He seemed frozen at my words, not daring to breathe.ย I don’t know what he was thinking, but I pressed on.ย I have to make him understandย .ย โYou are the one in power right now.ย This army is yours, this whole place is for you to ruleโand to liberate!ย March into the palace, make your father kneel, and do what you know is right.ย Please,ย Cal!โ
I could feel him beneath my grasp, his breath hitched, and nothing had ever felt so real or important.ย I knew what he was thinkingโhis kingdom, his duty, his father.ย And it was me, the Lightning Girl, who asked him to throw it all away.ย Something deep inside me said he would.
Trembling, I kissed his lips.ย He will choose meย .ย His skin felt cold under my touch, like a corpse.
“Choose me.”ย I breathed softly into him.ย โChoose a new world.ย Make a better world.ย The soldiers will obey you.ย Your fatherย will obey you.โย My heart pounded, and every muscle tensed, waiting for his answer.ย The spotlight shining on us flickered under my power, flickering in time with my heartbeat.ย โIt is my blood that is in the cells.ย I was the one who helped Barisan escape.ย And soon everyone will knowโand they’ll kill me.ย Don’t let them.ย Save meย .”
The words brought him to his senses, and his grip on my wrist tightened.
“It turned out to be you.”
He will always choose you.
โSay hello to the new dawn, Cal.ย With me.ย Withย usย .”
His eyes shifted to Maven who was now walking towards us.ย The two brothers stared at each other, talking in a way I couldn’t understand.ย He will choose us.
“It’s you,” Cal said again, looking confused and broken this time.ย His voice contained the pain of a thousand deaths, a thousand betrayals.ย Anyone can betray anyone,ย I remember.ย โLiberations, shootings, blackouts.ย It all starts with you.โ
I tried to explain, still withdrawn.ย However, he had no intention of letting me go.
โHow many people have you killed with your dawn?ย How many children, how many innocent victims?โย His hands were hot, hot enough to even burn.ย โHow many people have you betrayed?โ
My knees buckle, giving out from under me, but Cal doesn’t let go.ย Vaguely, I heard Maven screaming somewhere, the prince lunging to save his daughter.ย But I’m not a princess.ย I’m not the girl who was savedย .ย As the fire grew hotter inside Cal, burning behind his eyes, lightning began to course through me, fed by anger.ย Electricity surged between us, throwing my body away from Cal.ย My mind buzzed, laced with sadness, anger, and electricity.
Behind me, Maven shouted.ย I turned just in time to see him shouting back at Farley, gesticulating wildly.ย “Run!ย Run!ย โ
Cal came to his senses faster than me, shouting something to his soldiers.ย His eyes followed Maven’s call, reading the clues as only a general could.ย โThe drainpipe!โย Cal roared, still looking at me.ย โThey were in the drain pipe.โ
Farley’s shadow disappeared, trying to escape as gunfire overtook him.ย Soldiers ran around the Square, ripping open steel gratings, gutters, and pipes, exposing the systems behind them.ย They crashed into the tunnel like a huge flood.ย I wanted to cover my ears, to drown out the screams, bullets, and blood.
Kilorn.ย His name echoed softly in my mind, nothing more than a whisper.ย I couldn’t think about it for long;ย Cal is still standing
in front of me, his whole body was shaking.ย But he didn’t scare me.ย I don’t think anyone can scare me now.ย The worst has happened.ย We have lost.
“How many?”ย I shouted back at Cal, finding the strength to face him.ย โHow many famine victims?ย How many were killed?ย How many children were snatched away to die?ย How much,ย my lord princeย ?โ
I thought I knew hate before today.ย I am wrong.ย About myself, about Cal, about everything.ย The pain made my head spin, but somehow I remained standing, somehow I didn’t sway.ย He would never choose me.
โMy brother, father Kilorn, Tristan, Walsh!โย It felt like a hundred names exploded out of me, echoing all that was gone.ย They mean nothing to Cal, but everything to me.ย And I know there are thousands of others, even millions.ย Millions of forgotten mistakes.
Cal doesn’t answer, and I expect to see the anger I feel reflected in his eyes.ย Instead, all I saw was sadness.ย He whispered again, and those words made me want to fall and never get up again.
โIf only things were different.โ
I expected sparks, I expected lightning, but nothing came.ย When I felt a cold hand on my neck and metal cuffs on both of my wrists, I knew why.ย Instructor Arven, the Silencer, the figure who could make us ordinary humans, stood behind me, suppressing all my strength until I was nothing but a girl again.
whining.ย He had taken away completely, all the power and all the power I thought I had.ย I’ve lostย .ย When my knees buckled this time, there was no one to hold me upright.ย Faintly, I heard Maven scream before he too was pushed to the ground.
“Older brother!”ย he groaned, trying to make Cal aware of his actions.ย โThey will kill him!ย They will killย meย !”ย However, Cal no longer listens to us.ย He was talking to one of his captains, and I didn’t want to hear his words.ย I couldn’t even hear it even if I wanted to.
The ground beneath me seemed to shake with each rifle shot far below.ย How much blood will stain the tunnel tonight?
My head was too heavy, my body too weak, and I let myself slump to the tiled ground.ย It felt cool under my cheek, slippery and cool.ย Maven was thrown forward, his head landing next to me.ย I remember a similar moment like thisย .ย Gisa’s screams and bones being crushed echoed faintly, a ghost in my mind.
โBring them inside, to the king.ย He will judge both.โ
I don’t recognize Cal’s voice anymore.ย I’ve turned him into a monster.ย I forced his hand.ย I forced him to choose.ย I was so excited, I was so stupid.ย I let myself hope.
I’m a fool.
The sun began to rise behind Cal’s head, framing it with the feel of dawn.ย The light was too dazzling, too strong, and too early;ย I had to close my eyes.[]