While the two of them experienced vastly different reactions and emotions, I found myself somehow forced to be the only sane one.
“When do you plan to rescue them? What’s the next step? How are you ensuring there isn’t a breach in the rebel base’s location?” The words came out like a whip, my voice deepening as I let the strategist in me take over.
Nova somewhat relaxed in my hold, her nails digging into my forearms as we awaited the commander’s response. On the ground, Desi continued to cry.
Maitoza leaned back against the wooden back of her chair, her fingers tapping her chin. “Well, I personally reached out to the general to see if I could have Celeste returned in exchange for Nova’s location. Seeing as you came back alive, I figure he didn’t find you at the protest.”
“You—“
“Bitch!” Nova shouted, once again fighting against me as she finished my sentence. I held her tighter, needing her to be close so I didn’t do something stupid and reckless, like kill the maniac in front of us.
“I did what needed to be done. Celeste is loyal and smart. It seems you two and your little friends are not. Attacking officials in broad daylight, Nova? Really? Based on what your sister has said about you, I expected so much more intelligence and grit. You’re quite lucky that he didn’t find you, because I imagine he would’ve slaughtered you on the spot.”
Every one of her words made me more angry than the last, my muscles tense as I fought against the urge to charge. Nova, on the other hand, began tolaugh.She stopped thrashing in my arms, suddenly still save the shake of her body as she continued to break out into hysterics.
“Oh, you’re wrong there, Commander.” As soon as the title left her mouth, Nova straightened and pressed her palms back into the desk, leaning forward until her face was only inches from Maitoza’s. “General Altair found us just fine.”
While Maitoza didn’t respond verbally, I saw the way her eyebrows rose and her jaw tightened. Good, let her finally understand just how powerful Nova was. Maybe a good dose of fear would knock some sense into her.
“I can tell you’re surprised by that. Shocked even. Here’s the thing. Someone once told me I was born to be underestimated and determined to prove the world wrong. Do you know where that person is now? Dead. Why? Because they too lacked the needed common sense to see me for exactly what I am.”
Nova went silent for a moment, waiting for Maitoza to ask the obvious next question. When the stubborn leader didn’t so much as blink, Little Void leaned closer, their noses nearly grazing.
“Desperate and powerful. You’ll do well to remember that.”
Something inside of the commander must have snapped, because she abruptly stood up and pulled back her arm, bringing her hand forward until it connected with Nova’s cheek in a loudcrack. I jolted forward, only stopping my attack because Little Void cuffed my wrist with her fingers.
“I don’t care how powerful you are. Every single one of you disgusting, despicableshaytanwill be in the ground by the end of this war. You’ll all die, and the world will be better for it!” Maitoza shouted, her hands gripping the edge of her desk like a lifeline. The crazed look in her dark eyes faded almost immediately, as if she realized exactly what she said and—rightfully—feared for her life.
She’d die for having the audacity to hit Nova. Just as my father would. Two sides of the same coin, after all.
Desi stood, wiping her eyes dry as she seemed to simmer beside Nova, her voice darker and more raspy than I’d ever heard it before. “And when were you planning on telling me about this plan of yours? What about my father? Doesheknow? Hard to believe he would when it would be the end of everything he worked so hard to build.”
Nova’s head cocked slightly at that, but the turn in conversation still held her attention enough to prevent her from asking about Desi’s family. Good thing too. We didn’t need to add that headache to the mix.
“He doesn’t need to know. No one does. The only beings in this universe I care about and bow to are the stars. Thanks to Nova, I know that they support me and my plan fully.” Maitoza was smug, though I could tell she was afraid of the predicament she’d found herself in by the way her eyes flitted across the room.
“Ilied,”Nova hissed, her hands once again smacking on the desktop. “I lied about the stars even caring! They felt indifferent towards you entirely! Stopping the genocide of one people by committing the same act of egregious violence against another does not equal justice! You are sentencing innocents to death because of a vendetta! Because of your bigotry!”
“I don’t believe you!” Maitoza shouted back, the collar of her uniform beginning to wrinkle with her sudden movements. A perfect metaphor for her falling persona.
Simultaneously, Desi and I tensed, both reacting to the rise in hostility and fury in the air.
“I don’t care if you believe me! You’re a raging lunatic, and you let my sister be captured because you’re so stars-bent on saving a world that will burn beneath your rule!”
“Yes, I risked your precious sister! Guess what? I’d do worse! I’d kill her myself if it meant bringing about the greater good! I’d sacrifice all of you—everyone—for a chance at a world where eadi don’t cower and hide and serve! I don’t just hope you all die, I’ll ensure your demise!”
Nova had officially reached her breaking point. She shrieked, the sound sharp and painful as she leapt onto the wooden desk and proceeded to tackle the commander to the ground.
Desi and I reacted instantly, moving around either side. I grabbed Nova just as Desi went to reach for Maitoza, but it was too late. We hadn’t been quite quick enough.
Nova’s body bled silver and black as she lifted her hands and threw them back down, stabbing Maitoza directly in the chest with what looked like solidified shadows. Her body burned mine, forcing me to leap back, the skin on my hands bubbling.
Again and again, Nova struck at flesh and bone, leaving the commander a bloody mess at mine and Desi’s feet. Neither of us stopped her. Neither of us so much asbreathed.Each of her downward swings kept time with the ticking of the large, wooden clock in the corner of the room, the seconds marking another stab. Her grunts slowed just as her arms did, until she lay on top of the gore, staring at her hands and breathing rapidly. I feared she might break, but just as I once again reached for her, she pushed herself up. Without looking awayfrom Maitoza’s mutilated body, she said in a strong, unshaking voice, “Time to go.”
Chapter Fifty
Nova
