Page 70 of When We Lost The Moon

“You’re safer here, and I need you to be safe right now.”

I took her hand and led her to the spot where Nigel had tossed the key. It still took a few minutes to find. I gave it to her with one of my daggers, pressing it into her small palm as dust and pebbles rained down from the ceiling.

“Anyone down there?” a familiar voice called.

I saw a shadow far above, in a silhouette of the open well, and then a long frayed rope holding a rusted bucket fell halfway into the cavern.

“The rope, it’s too short!” I yelled.

“Then jump,” came the reply.

Jump. Like I’d seen Damien jump, or the elite. This would be nothing for them. I couldn’t imagine jumping that high. I’d led everyone into a trap. They’d followed me here, to their destruction. And I couldn’t even get out of a hole in the ground.

But I was buzzing on elixir already. Straight from Damien, the last of him. I glanced at my bracelet. It had gone silent, no longer worrying me with alarms. I thought it was busted, but was surprised to see the faded number at 57%. Nearly double what would have driven other humans mad. Far more than I’d ever consumed before. A calm fell across my shoulders, not like a weight, but like a blessing. I needed his power.

I bounced a few times on the balls of my feet, then raced around the pond, stumbling over the bones, trying to find firm footing. I increased my momentum until I was fast enough to scale the walls. I didn’t overthink it. I ran up the side of the cavern and pushed off towards the nearest hanging vine, grasping it with my fingertips and then seizing hard. It tore the roots, but held my weight, so I climbed higher. It wasn’t all that different from climbing trees to get over the perimeter fence, which I’d done hundreds of times. Even so, I tried not to look down.

The angle wasn’t right, once I was close to the ceiling, so I swung the gnarled root to the side until I could grab the rope and give it a firm tug. It looked ancient. Would it even hold me? I took a breath and yanked the rope as hard as I could, launching me up until I could latch onto the stones above. The twine snapped and I heard the bucket splinter as it crashed to the ground below. I clawed the rest of the way up, blinded by the light, digging my fingers into loose dirt and roots. I was almost up when a rock moved and I lost my grip. Gravity took hold of me, but then a hand caught my wrist and hauled me to the surface. I spilled out of the well and sprawled onto the soft grass surrounding it, my world spinning.

19

It was nothing but a forgotten patch of overgrown lawn in the back of the palace. Almost idyllic, and framed with wildflowers, despite the horrors it was harboring below. I flinched when a shadow fell across me, and I remembered I wasn’t alone.

“Ready to join the fighting, princess?” Gemma said.

“Are we really doing this?” I asked, rising to my feet.

“Well it’s a little late to call it off,” she said, gesturing down below. I let my eyes adjust to the pink evening light, ignoring the twinkling of stars, and focused on the city of glass and stone that spread out before us. The setting sun reflected off the citadel towers, and the acrid smell of smoke stung my nostrils. A black plume was rising into the sky near the gates, which lay open. In the distance I heard the clash of metal and shouting. I was late to my own war, and I was coming barehanded.

“How’d you find me?” I asked.

“Trevor saw your signal, sent me to check it out.”

Right. The moths. A few of them fluttered nearby, hovering above the grass.

“What happened? It’s not sunset yet.”

“Yeah, the plan went a little awry. Hard to coordinate everyone. Some of your havocs were intent on starting the battle before the elite were around, others were opposed. They didn’t exactly reach a firm agreement. But it worked, we’re in. And if we’re stealthy, we’ve got a little time left before sunset. How’d it go with Damien. Your siblings?”

I shook my head, a little confused. Down in the cave I felt like I’d already conquered the sun, but up here the last of its golden rays wrapped around me like a warm cape.

“They’re not coming,” I said. “But we have to stop Nigel, he’s planning on killing everyone after tonight, as soon as he places himself on the throne.”

“Won’t exactly be a nice ceremony,” she smirked. “If there’s anybody else left. You have anything to change into? You’ll attract every slagpaw smelling like that. Plus you’ll terrify our allies; you look like you just rose from the grave.”

I surveyed my body in the cool air and fading light. I wasn’t injured, though my clothes were drenched in mud and muck, and glittering trails of purple elixir cascaded down my chin and neck.

“What about you?” I asked. Gemma was in jean shorts and a leather jacket, with plated armor at the shoulders and elbows, carrying a machete and a pack full of gear. Her dark curls danced in the wind and her eyes were bright with elixir.

“I can handle a few slagpaw if we move quickly,” she said, “but I’m not bringing bait along.”

“Just a minute.” I reached into the bag for the dress Tobias had made me bring. The crown was gone, but I’d just have to get it back. After I killed Nigel. I stripped down and tried to wipe my skin as best as I could with my soiled garments, before slipping into the lightweight dress. The scarlet fabric felt cool and smooth against my skin.

“Come on, the others are waiting.” She blazed down the hill and I followed as quickly as I could, sprinting after her. My body felt foreign to me at first, but once I found a rhythm I realized I could push myself even faster if I wanted to. The alleys were dark, even though the sun was just barely visible on the horizon, blazing a deep orange warmth. I crept after her silently, stepping over bodies as we darted between dark corners of the citadel. There seemed to be far too many, but I could only hope most people had the sense to stay indoors.

We froze when we reached a larger intersection, after spotting a slagpaw, chewing on a royal guard, crunching through his armor like a can of tuna and licking the insides.

“They’ll go after the guards first,” Gemma nodded. “More elixir.”

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