“It will.”
“We’re going to die, Nova.”
Ripping off my mask, I pivoted to face him. He was staring at the entrance of the main building, his brows furrowed and jaw tight, mask hanging limply in his hand. Uninterested in arguing, I reared back my hand and smacked him across the face. He startled, grabbing his cheek.
“I needed that,” he finally sighed out after a few beats of silence, nodding and placing his mask on. Grunting, I returned mine to my face as well, feeling guilty beneath the rage and terror.
“We’re going to get in and get out. Caleb probably read the note last night when we sent it. He’ll have prepared the others and they’ll all three be ready. We can do this, Az.” When he didn’t say anything, I pushed onto my toes, forcing my masked face into his line of sight. “Say it.”
“We can do this.”
“Good boy.”
He laughed at my words, shaking his head. I wished I could savor the sound, but the bell tower rang out, the beginning of seventeen dongs playing as a group of unmasked elites shadow walked just ahead of us. Az and I leapt out of the trees on silent feet, speeding up and attempting to blend into the large group. No one seemed to notice us, each elite breathing heavily and sagging forward.
Though they all wore the same leathers as us and bore thick, winter cloaks, it felt as if we stuck out drastically. Perhaps it was our even breaths and dry cloaks. Or maybe it was the guilt. Either way, it would be incredibly obvious to anyone looking that we didn’t belong.
Every step took us closer to the three guards at the entrance, their eyes scanning across each elite. I held my breath, praying to the silent stars in my mind that this would work. The doors remained closed, even as the first row of combatants arrived at the entryway.
“Shit, this won’t work.” He was panicking, his hand snatching mine.
“Have some faith, dammit!” If he didn’t, neither would I, and we’d be—at best—dead in minutes.
One of the guards reached for the door, another backing away and scanning the group.Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
The doors burst open, a beautiful blonde practically falling out of the entrance, an entire tray of vials scattering across the ground. The two guards on that side leapt out of the way, staring at the grass where it began to bubble.
“I’m so sorry! I’m feeling a bit sick and I think I got a head rush.” Her voice was wonderfully familiar, melodic and soft. She gripped the elite closest to her by the shoulder, turning them away from the entering crowd of combatants. “You might want to evacuate the area, these are considered airborne toxins. They really cannot be breathed in.”
With that, the combatants began rushing inside, a handful of them calling to their masks as they pushed forward. Az and I moved farther into the crowd, keeping our heads low as we maintained the pace of the others. The guard who had been scanning the group pushed between everyone, trying to get to the other two guards who were arguing over evacuating their post.
“If it’s toxic, then wego.”His voice was low and direct, a tone that brooked no argument. The others stood straight, nodding at the lone elite walking through our shoving crowd. We passed by just as he was freeing himself from the crowd, my arm almost grazing his. I held my breath, not wanting to risk even a small sound that might garner his attention. When he arrived at Zura’s side, he looked down at her, his mask showing no emotion. “Get the fuck out of my sight.”
She nodded, but he quickly reared back his head, forcing his mask into her forehead with a loud crunch. I almost yelped, my hand instinctively reaching out to her, but Az pulled me into him.
We were through the doors just as the elite said, “That’s for being a waste of space.”
A cry bubbled in my throat, my teeth clenched tight and my lips pressed firmly together so as to not free it. Az tugged me forward, forcing me to follow the combatant crowd as we passed by another set of guards. Those two looked less alert as they leaned against the wall to the right of the doors, one of them twirling a knife and the other gnawing on a sandwich.
Just as it had been before, the main building was tall and cold, the red, stone walls and cement floors leaving much to be desired in the way of comfort. But that had never mattered to elites, grunts, or anyone else. This was a place of war and conquest, not a happy home. We’d all known that from the start, but it was jarring coming back to it after weeks and realizing just how awful it had really been.
Stairs rose from the corner to our left, the group moving towards them as if they had no other choice. Their gait was relaxed, pained even, as they neared the stairway.
“Nice job laying low!” I jumped at the sound of Zura’s voice near my ear. She stood between Azazel and I, her smile wide and blood dripping from the massive gash on her forehead. I grabbed her wrist, yanking her into the dark corner at the start of the upcoming stairwell and pulling her into me. I breathed her in, hugging her too tightly.
“I’m so sorry for how I treated you after academy. For not being a better friend.” My body seemed to encapsulate hers, as if I could protect her from all the pain I myself had inflicted. Arms wrapping around me, she hugged me back, tucking her head into my shoulder.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Nova. I’m just so glad you’re okay. I wasn’t sure if the note was actually from you, honestly. I was fifty percent certain it was a trick and I’d be hanged for it.” Her voice wavered, but she continued to squeeze me.
“When we get out of here, I’m going to scold you about unnecessary risks, okay?” I asked as I leaned back, smiling at her despite knowing she couldn’t see me through my mask. She laughed, nodded and wiping at the blood on her brow with a black sleeve.
“Time to go,” Azazel whispered, pressing his hand into my back. Zura flinched at the sound of his voice, her bright green eyes going wide.
“Sorry, I should have mentionedwhomy associate was.”
“Yeah, you probably should have.” Her eyes were weary, her feet taking her a step back as if subconsciously.
“Too late now,” Az added, urging us forward. The three of us darted up the stairs, aiming for the alchemy floor, Zura donning her mask.
