Page 109 of Above
“The ability to slaughter cores.”
Heart racing, I tried to make them out. Who was it? To want all of the cores dead was…ludicrous.“Iama core.”
“I’m willing to make an exception for the greater good.”
Just then, they stepped forward, the click of the lock sounding as the creak of the cell door echoed off the stone walls. A ball of light burst into existence behind them, revealing two others standing guard. All three wore dark, hooded cloaks, theirfaces hidden. How had they gotten past the wards? I hadn’t tried, but I imagined it was strong magic. I could feel it pulsing.
“Who are you?”
“I am currently your only hope.”
Please. Everyone loves to think themselves the hero. I had no hope. “So you say.”
“Yes, I do.” They removed their cloak, revealing a woman with pitch black hair and skin to match, her face a compilation of straight, fierce lines. “I am Maitoza.”
“Hello, Maitoza.” I was growing annoyed, sarcasm seeping into my tone. “Do explain what you actually need from me so we can get this tedious conversation over with.”
“Spoiled core brat,” one of the people behind her said. I didn’t care. They weren’t wrong after all. And I was exhausted, empty of the energy needed to argue.
“I am the leader of the rebel forces.” She sounded proud. Superior, even. Stars, she sounded like acore. “I have come to rescue you in exchange for you pledging your fealty to our movement.”
“Ah, I’ve heard of you people.” Letting my head fall back, I rolled my eyes, knowing it would piss them off and not caring. “Bravely attempting to overthrow the shaytan forces with no magic of your own. I’m sure we’re all shaking in our boots.”
Unlike the two behind her, Maitoza didn’t growl or scoff. She didn’t so much as sound angry. “Actually, Azazel Altair, you’ll find we have many with magic on our side.”
I couldn’t hide the surprise from my face, utter shock leaving me slow to react.
She wasted no time. “Now, are you with us or against us?”
“Not many options.” What else could I say? Was she lying? What shaytan would join eadi? Who would betray their people in such a way? Briefly, I pictured Tershetta.
“No, there aren’t.”
“What’s stopping you from believing I’ll betray you?”
“Nothing,” she said, little care or emotion to the word. She evenshrugged. “I’m moving with intent and purpose. Ideally you see the merit in that. Dajahim doesn’t need to be pure, it needs to be better. That means equality and equity. That means fairness and peace. I’m willing to make moves some might consider wasteful or dangerous if it means winning the game in the end.”
Game. Winning. She sounded like Father. “One for the many type?”
“Exactly.” Her smile was bright, menacing for an eadi. Surely that’s what she was. I doubted they’d have a shaytan as a leader.
“If anything, I appreciate your honesty.”
“Will you join us then?”
I hesitated, not sure what this would do to Cal, Pri, and Quinn. Would they try to find me? Would they mourn me?
Stars, I hoped not.
“Yes. I’ll come.” There truly was no other answer. Because no matter how much I tried to convince myself my future was over and giving up was the best option, I couldn’t bring myself to give in. I wasn’t made for failure. Which meant I had to look at every stumble as a step in the direction of the finish line.
“Excellent. First rule of business, we’ll get you out of here and back to base, where I’ll require you to raise the wards and begin the slow process of cloaking the island.”
“That’s not easy magic.”
“Good thing we’ve got a core on our side.”
I sat in my new home, the walls bare and the wood worn, considering my next move. Exhaustion was creeping up on me, my heart racing from repairing the rubble that this closet-like home was and cloaking so much land. Land I had once believed to be decimated.
