Page 59 of Above
“You know just as I do that I don’t really fit in anywhere. I’ve accepted that.” Shrugging, I grabbed the small burlap sack, listening with glee as the coins clicked together in a rhythm that seemed to sing of the life my family might continue to have. Artie’s lips were pursed, his eyes sad as they glittered with unshed tears. Stars above. “Plus, I’m practically running the place at this point. They can’t keep me from succeeding. Don’t worry, okay?”
Without a word, he nodded, taking the lie despite the clear sign that he didn’t accept it. Forcing a smile to my face that didn’t show my teeth, I tapped his hand awkwardly and turned to leave.
“I’ll see you soon, Artie!”
By the time I finished shopping for the supplies and got back to the island, everyone was gathered in the courtyard, readying for our morning run. I got into place, hoping no one would notice my arrival, but as always, Talon seemed to spot me almost immediately.
“Move,” he ordered, the trainee in his way darting off to the left. A sort of parting began in the small crowd, ending to my right. Rolling my eyes, I began my stretches, knowing I’d struggle after not eating this morning and not wanting to pull something. “Where were you?”
“Good morning to you too,” I mumbled, bending down to avoid his gaze.
Talon followed, squatting low to look me in the eye. He had braided his hair back, the twist ending between his shoulder blades. His facial hair was growing in, the stubble sharp where it covered his jaw and cheeks, but fuller on his chin and lip. He looked weathered, as if the black phase had permanently altered and aged him.
“Where. Were. You.” Not a question. A demand.
“I was practicing in the alchemy lab,” I lied, the words falling off my tongue so quickly they could’ve been the truth. But Talon shook his head, unconvinced.
“I checked there. Don’t lie to me, Nova. Az said—“
“Whatever he said is a lie,” I shouted as I straightened, not willing to let Altair of all people make me look bad.
“Oh, really? Then why are you so defensive? Why are you lying?”
“Because everything that comes out of his mouth is worthless!”
“So you didn’t make a move on him? You didn’t openourdoor in your towel, soaking wet and telling him I wasn’t there? You didn’t ask him if he liked what he saw?”
“Well, I—I did, but I—it wasn’t like that. I was—“ stammering, I tried to focus. Altair had spun the conversation. Of course he had. My cheeks heated, mind spinning. Talon was struggling with the illusions and my clear lack of deeper interest. That was fair. I couldn’t blame him. And I had done those things, even if I wasn’t trying to seduce Altair. “I had been in the bath and heard the knocks. He said he wouldn’t leave. I told him you weren’t there and to essentially fuck off. He was staring and I wanted to make him upset because he’s always being so horrible. He’s misconstruing what happened, Talon, I swear.”
“Oh, so he somehow spun the story that ended with your towel on the floor?”
“He what?” I asked, my fingers curling into a fist. But it was a pointless question, because I didn’t wait around for an answer. I turned and shoved my way to the front, knowing that the five of them would be there.
People began to grunt and complain, but the humid, hot air and my own exhaustion paired with Altair’s audacity left me too furious to care. I caught sight of his blonde head, and then I was rushing forward.
“Altair!” I screamed, catching the attention of everyone around us. The cores all turned, a smirk appearing on Altair’s face.
“Back to show me your chest again, Tershetta?”
Not bothering to grace him with a response, I lifted my arm and swung, my fist slamming into his cheek so hard his head whipped to the left.
Arms were around me before I could tackle the worthless core, my screams of fury sounding more like rabid growls.
“Okay, Curls, you got your hit in. Let’s get you back to your spot now.”
“Let me go, Dofrel!” I shouted, trying to wrestle out of his firm grip around my waist. But he just chuckled, carrying me back to Talon. Altair was standing, his sharp cheekbone so red it looked bloody. That smirk hadn’t left his face for some reason, and I went limp at the sight of it.
Somehow, Altair had won this match.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Azazel
“I accidentally called Martha mother today. I didn’t mean to, and it wasn’t like I thought of her as equal to Mother. She was eadi. She was nothing. But…I don’t know. Sometimes it felt like she loved me more than Mother and Father. Not that it matters now. Father made me kill her in my room with my bare hands.”
-From the journal of Azazel Altair, 9219 AS
Tershetta needed to die. There was no denying that. She had to go, and I had to be the one to do it. But each day I felt more and more sure that it needed to be after graduation. If I killed her now, they could make a martyr out of her. They could say my choice to end her was fueled by hatred and didn’t prove her unworthy. Sure, I could attempt secrecy, but how would that serve the stars?
