Page 72 of A Touch of Gold and Madness

If my father knew this, he’d find a way to disintegrate the rest of the surviving world as it stood. It saddened me I couldn’t be a fly on a wall to witness him learn of this discovery.

Something else from that encounter popped into my mind. Something I’d forgotten about amongst the events that followed. “That Endarkened woman…” I said, bringing his attention to that topic. “When she was dying, did you notice how she… she seemed at peace? It was as if her lucidity returnedin those last moments.”

Another staunch silence reigned oppressively in the room. Everyone shifted in their seats before once again looking to Chrome for answers.

At first, he didn’t speak. He seemed to replay the memory in his mind as he stared at the wall behind me. For a moment, his stark expression flickered with a hint of something that was dangerous in our world. It was so faint, I doubted anyone else caught it. Like a fleeting butterfly, it was gone before it had the chance to settle.

But it bore the question:why?

He didn’t deign to answer me. Before I could protest, he spoke, “Meeting adjourned.”

That look vanished. In its place sat the composed, hardened mask of the living ghost of our past. But I couldn’t erase that glint of emotion from my mind.

The first time I’d seen him don—well,hope.

The room they gave me was within the oak lodge, not one of the cabins lining it. I stood wrapped in a fluffy towel at the edge of the queen-sized bed. The thick mattress perched on top of a stacked-stone frame, a mixture of light and dark grays.

I rifled through the clothes Scarlett and Cotton had packed for me. The cool breeze from the balcony chilled my skin from the scalding shower. I’d never appreciated that luxury until I’d scrubbed away recent events.

The scented soaps soothed my mind and lavished my skin like the silkiest of creams. I felt like a new woman. And in a sense, I was. The Gray Monroe from four days ago was left behind on the cold marble floor of the King’s Palace ballroom.

I thought of the name that Orion had first called me: Aeran. Was that my Elemental name? Given to me by whom?

After Chrome’s dismissal of the debriefing, I was escorted to my sleeping quarters. I was grateful to be allowed to clean up and change before my meeting with Orion.

I chose a worn pair of black cargo pants that hugged my shins, one of my favorite pairs. Scarlett really pulled through for me. Another pang shot through my chest at the thought of my dear friend and what befell her after my disappearance.

I sifted through the jumble of clothes. I layered a matching hooded sweater over a tight white tee. I was finally out of the leather gear I wore on missions and into my casual attire that was more comfortable.

I found my combat boots and laced them up, steeling my warring emotions with each eyelet I tightened. Everything had happened so fast since my return from the failed mission to kill Griffin…or Chrome. It was all a whirlwind of events and revelations that threw everything I thought was true for a loop.

And the most shameful part of all was I still craved my father’s approval. I still held out just the slightest bit of hope that he might change his mind about me, seeing as I was his only child. But the voice of reason—anger—always shut it down before that hopeful voice rose too loud.

There wasn’t much a brush could do for my knotted waves. The braids on either side were tangled, and I simply didn’t have the energy to battle it.

The bathroom didn’t disappoint. A jacuzzi that could easily fit three adults was off to the side against the wall. Whereas the room was made of wood, the bathroom was nothing but beautiful shades of gray riverbed stone.

The shower wasn’t exempt. Greenery draped down the stone walls, bringing a more serene sense of nature to the experience.

The Hollow was nothing like the cold, gaudy beauty of the King’s Palace. It was a luxurious beauty of peace and comfort. I felt like I could finally breathe.

In the mirror in my bathroom, my blue eyes looked haunted—empty—behind shades of gray. Angry, I couldn’t stand the reflection. Such a disappointment. A failure. A burden. A waste of valuable resources.

I closed my eyes and pulled on the mask of Princess Gray, the one who faced down her people’s opposition daily and made them cower with only the cut of her gaze. The mask that declared I feared no one, even though I was familiar enough with the emotion that it had become a companion. I may harbor fear like a host of an oversized parasite, but I’d be sure to instill more into others around me.

A knock came on my door an hour later as I perused the built-in bookshelves. I placed the book I’d been skimming back in its place and moved to open the door.

I was greeted with white pupils lined with baby-blue irises. Her lip pulled upward just the slightest as she assessed me. Suspicion bathed her unnerving eyes as she peered down her nose at me.

Despite her distrust toward me, she gave off a soothing energy.

“I’m here to take you to Orion’s office.” She spoke in a stiff tone not compatible with her delicate persona.

I gave a brief nod and followed her out, clicking my door shut behind me. I studied her movements for any potential weaknesses as we strolled through the hallways. She was all grace with her silent steps and fluid motions. Every action reminded me of a whisper, so quiet and smooth that it would be easy to underestimate her in combat.

She never looked over her shoulder as we walked in the echoes of our footsteps. It wasn’t a complicated layout—with a few long hallways that branched off every so often.

Like the rest of the lodge, the interior consisted of oak logs and thick trunks that served as rafters. Sconces lined the hallways, providing a warm glow of comfort. Various sizes of framed photos and paintings lined the walls. All were candid shots or group photos of a happy community prior to Devolution Day.

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