The woman wore the same, though her uniform was decorated with twice as many ribbons and medals, and she didn’t wear a blood-red hat atop her head like the men did. She almost glittered in the dim light from the stormy sky. It reminded me of how the cores dressed. I could practically hearAltair’s voice slipping into my ear in response to the fleeting thought.
I’ve been surrounded by zealots my entire life—people who will do anything for power and the stars’ favor. She is everything they all were. A mirror of my father.
“Azazel, it’s good to see you again.” The woman’s voice was firm, almost empty, if one were trying to listen for what existed beyond the smile and wide-spread arms. I realized then where I recognized her from. She was the woman who led the Sham District protests.
When she turned to me, I instantly knew that—as annoying as it was to admit—the snake was right. Her cunning eyes zeroed in on mine, the smile widening into something predatory. “And Nova, what an incredible honor it is to finally meet you.”
Unintentionally, I found myself stepping to the side, putting Altair and I closer as I studied Commander Maitoza. Her hair was shoulder-length, the pin straight strands black. Her eyes were equally dark, as was her skin. She was noticeably fierce, her body broad and toned. It wasn’t her fierceness that unsettled me though. It was the sparkle in her eye. A hungry look that made me feel like I could be her next meal.
“Altairhas told me a lot about you,” I said with a nod. She quirked a brow, her smile fading into an emotionless grin as she turned to Altair.
“How lovely of him. Did you know he was the one who insisted you get time to rest? Seems you were smart to run to him.” As she spoke, Maitoza took two slow, measured steps towards me, her eyes never leaving Altair.
“I didn’t run to him,” I said defensively, wishing I could take it back the second I said it. Clenching my teeth, I exhaled through my nose and closed the remaining distance to Altair, letting our arms touch. “But I’m glad I ended up at his cottage.”
Grin now a too-wide smile, Maitoza crossed her arms and nodded her head. Behind her, the three men remained silent, though they all wore sneers when their attention fell upon Altair. What had he done to them?
“That’s wonderful. We’re all so glad you’re safe and healed. Come with me, I’d like to show you around and help you get settled into the camp.”
Some camp. This was just as much a military base as the shaytan’s was. In fact, even their uniforms were just as pristine as the officials’. Even more so than the grunts or even the Elites standard black uniforms were. How were they so well put together? How long had the rebellion been active? How long had they been gathering and planning?
“Maybe I should be the one to get her settled, just so she feels comfortable,” Altair said, reaching up to pat my back in what had to have been the most awkward gesture I’d ever seen. Was that what lay beneath all his bravado? How infuriatingly normal of him.
“Well, I do think I’d be the best option, seeing as you rarely come to base. Plus, I’d love a chance to get to know Celeste’s sister.” Maitoza took another step, reaching out and gripping my shoulders. She was perhaps a few inches taller than me, but the aura she radiated made me subconsciously lift my chin, as if she towered me. It was useless to pretend to consider her statement, we both knew she already had me the moment she said my sister’s name.
“I guess that’s fine. I do want to hear more about what my sister did for you.”
“I’m sure you do. I’ll tell you all about her time with us. Come with me.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders, pulling me away from Altair’s side. I was ready to submit, eager to hear anything about Celeste, but Altair’s long, ringed fingers grabbed my wrist, stilling me.
“Don’t you think it’s best that Tershetta has someone she knows with her? After all, you were the one who suggested she stay with me as she healed.” Altair held me firmly, but it was Maitoza he stared at, his grin half-hearted and his eyes half-lidded. When Maitoza turned and faced him with a smile, Altair’s grip tightened.
“I think Nova is old enough and smart enough to make her own decisions. What do you think, Nova? Do you want to speak with me and get acquainted with the base?” Her arm was heavy around my shoulders, her eyes flicking back to mine. I watched as her pupils dilated, growing so large they overtook nearly all of her deep brown irises.
Fanatic was the perfect word to describe her, I could just tell.
I turned back to Altair, trying to understand what, exactly, he wanted me to do. Obviously, he didn’t love the idea of me being alone with Maitoza, and we were sort of allies, so I knew I was meant to take his side. But I wanted to hear about Celeste, and I needed to get a good understanding of Maitoza. Clearly, she had motives more sinister than she let on. But what were they? How did that involve my sister? What did having shaytan help?
“How about you and I meet back here in an hour? Then we can head back to the cottage and rest. I’m still sore anyway.” I hoped he could see the the deeper meaning in my gaze. That he understood I was begging for this chance.
Sighing, he released me, nodding. “See you in an hour.”
“Excellent! Consider strengthening your cloaks while you’re here. The other shaytan have a hard time maintaining it after a while.” With that, Maitoza swept me away, tugging me down a small hill and leaving Altair behind.
Chapter Thirteen
Nova
“General Altair lost the stars’ essence. There were whispers around the shops that the core families are growing weaker. Maybe I’ll get the stars one day and show all the shaytan that even an of eadi can make them cower when given the chance.”
-From the journal of Nova Tershetta, 9273 AS
“You know, your sister once told me that you’d never join our cause.” Commander Maitoza’s voice was soft, though the words felt painfully sharp. I didn’t dare to look at her, instead facing forward and reluctantly picturing Celeste’s face when she said that.
The worst part was that she was right. I wouldn’t consider being part of the rebellion if it wasn’t for her death. If I hadn’t lost Celeste, then I’d still be selfishly clinging to any semblance of normality I could. I’d sit in the discomfort we were so used to, perfectly happy to ruin my soul rather than lose them. In the end, I wasn’t any better than Altair. At least he’d had an excuse. A reason not to know better. Maybe that was why Celeste hated me so much.
“When did Celeste first come to you?”
“Oh, I don’t know, a year ago maybe? Not long.”
