by C J Benjamin
“Oh, Nova that’s not necessary. Hollis has been kind enough to help us so much already . . .”
“Nonsense. I too think you have encountered some peculiar dangers with the civer ants. They don’t normally behave that way, you know? I’d be delighted to grant you safe passage to your destination.”
“Really, Hollis, it’s too much to ask of you.” I glared at Nova.
I didn’t want to be stuck inside Hollis’s cluttered, swaying shell for the long journey back to the Troian Center—especially with that ornery bird, Isby, and the even more intolerable, Jemma. Not that I wasn’t grateful for Hollis’s help and his interior was large, but the eight of us in such a confined space was surly a recipe for disaster. I’d rather take my chances in the forest and move quickly, before the Ravinori could regroup.
Plus, Jovi had expertly lied to the group about what really happened when the civer ants attacked. I was still worried that the truth might come out if we stayed here and dwelled on it. But I could see it was too late. My friends were too excited to pass up the rare opportunity to travel by rover. Everyone was already nodding and thanking Hollis for his generous offer. I was apparently the only one who didn’t think this was a good idea.
“It is decided. I will take on this noble duty, my Eva. I exist to serve you,” he said with another bow.
I sighed deeply as I watched my friends gather up their things and one by one disappear into the giant tortoise’s shell. Nova breezed past me and stopped for a moment to glare at me. “It’s good to know you listen to someone,” he said with a hostility that surprised me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“It is decided,” he said mimicking Hollis, sarcastically and disappearing into the magic shell before I could offer a witty retort.
I’d returned to Hollis’s now bustling core as I stewed over Nova’s standoffish behavior. The others were walking around Hollis’s spacious interior in awe, gushing as they inspected their surroundings. They seemed elated with Hollis’s invitation to transport us to the Troian Center, but I was miffed. I stood arms crossed in protest, mirroring Nova’s cold stance across the room.
“What’s his problem?” I mumbled to myself.
“What’s whose problem?”
I turned to see Jemma standing next to me. I must have been so deep in thought that I didn’t notice her approach. She really had a knack for bad timing.
“Now’s not a good time, Jemma,” I replied.
“It’s never a good time with you, is it?”
“What did you say?” I asked, my voice and blood pressure rising.
“What’s your problem with me anyway? I’m your sister and I’ve done nothing but try to be a good sister to you since I found out.”
“Are you kidding me?” I was shaking with anger. “If this is you trying to be a good sister . . . Well you can STOP TRYING!” I screamed at her.
“You’re such a spoiled brat, Geneva! You think just because you’re the Eva everyone just has to do whatever you say? Well I don’t care who you are!” Jemma taunted and poked my collarbone with her slender finger!
My mind exploded. I saw angry, white spots of rage, dancing in my vision. Jemma’s pretty face was pinched and mean, just as I remembered her from the Troian Center, when she made it her mission to make my life miserable. It was déjà vu of the rubble pile. I was trying desperately not to launch myself at her, but everything in my being was fighting against me. I was shaking as I raised my hands and tried to form my next sentence carefully while controlling my livid temper.
“Jemma,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
“What, Geneva? What are you gonna do?”
“Nothing. She’s not going to do anything,” said Sparrow, cautiously stepping between us, putting her hand on mine, calming the shaking.
“Sparrow, I can handle this,” I whispered to her.
“Oh, really? Can you?” Jemma jeered.
By now everyone was watching us, but I didn’t care. At least I didn’t until I saw Nova. He was shaking his head with disapproval shining in his eyes. My heart dropped and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I had to get out of here before I started crying. I wouldn’t give Jemma the satisfaction. I turned my attention back to her wickedly beautiful face.
“Yes. I can Jemma. And that’s why I’m the Eva and you are not!”
I turned on my heels and stalked away from her, pulling Sparrow by the hand behind me. I didn’t have a plan. I just wanted to put some distance between Jemma and myself, so I headed into the dark tunnel I’d seen the last time I was inside the giant rover tortoise. Luckily I’d been right, and the shadows parted, leading to a long hallway. I was relieved it hadn’t been a dead end and I wouldn’t have to face the embarrassment of walking back into the living room. I could feel their eyes staring after me as we left the room. I pushed the thoughts of the rest of my friends from my mind and trudged forward down the dimly lit hallway. It twisted like a narrow maze lined with a collection of different doors along the way. They were varying colors, sizes and shapes. The first two I tried were locked, but finally I came upon a short royal blue door with an antique gold knob. I twisted the knob and it creaked open.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim light inside the room. It was painted a deep hue of purple and the floor was littered with dozens of large gold silk pillows. There were giant triangular shaped paintings, made to look like ornately framed windows. They were glowing with some sort of magical light, which gave the illusion of natural outdoor light. The room seemed safe enough. I could feel my emotions threatening to spill over, so I pulled Sparrow in behind me and shut the door, before collapsing in a heap on the pillows.
“What was that?” Sparrow asked.
I couldn’t answer her. I was already sobbing. I was so overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the fact that my sister hated me and probably always would. Overwhelmed by Nova’s new disapproving attitude toward me. Overwhelmed by the web of lies I was spinning to protect Jovi. Overwhelmed by the fact that she was a Pillar and almost died today. Overwhelmed that her brother had died. It was all too much. I just needed a release. I screamed into a gold silk pillow and pounded it with my fists, sending little clouds of dust floating into the air.
Sparrow was by my side, rubbing my back and pushing my tangled hair out of my eyes. “Breathe,” she said. “Take deep breaths, Geneva. It’s going to be okay.”
“It’s not going to be okay! None of this is okay!” I sobbed.
Sparrow sat silently with me as I wailed, sputtering and coughing until I had nothing left. I was exhausted, but I pulled myself together, embarrassed by my outburst.
“I’m sorry, Sparrow,” I whispered.
“You don’t need to apologize. You’ve been through a lot. We all have. I get it. But can I just say, you were brilliant back there. You didn’t fall for Jemma’s taunts. I can’t believe you stood up to her like that. She looked like such a fool standing there with her mouth gaping after you spun on your heels,” Sparrow mused excitedly.
“I’m pretty sure I made a fool of myself too,” I said, still sullen.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you see the way Nova was looking at me? I’ve never seen him look so, so . . . disappointed in me.”
“Oh, Geneva, you really just need to talk to him and it’ll all work out.”
“Sparrow, I know you’re always looking on the bright side, but I really don’t think you’re right this time. We’re so hot and cold and we fight all the time. Plus, he’s always spending so much time with my horrible sister. Although . . .”
“Although what?”
“He told me he’s spending time with her because he’s trying to see if Jemma can give him any indicators that will prove his sister might still be alive.”
“Well that’s a perfectly good explanation.”
“I don’t know, Sparrow. It’s just so complicated. And then there’s the whole Kull and Aris prophecy that he can’t get past.”
/> “Oh please! If you’d seen him after you took off after Jovi you wouldn’t have any doubt,” Sparrow said rolling her eyes and waving off my gloomy state.
“What do you mean?”
“Geneva, he was out of his mind with worry. Journey had to tackle him and practically strangle him to keep him from going after you. The two of them almost got into it, but luckily Remi stayed level headed enough to break it up. He convinced everyone that with the civer ants nearby the best plan of action was to stay put and that he knew you would come back to look for us the first chance you got.”
I smiled proudly hearing about Remi’s brave actions. He really did know me best. But then I was back to shaking my head thinking about Nova. It confused me to hear his reaction.
“If he cares about me, he really has a stupid way of showing it,” I huffed crossing my arms.
“Oh, you’re both fools! Beautiful little fools,” she said quoting from our lessons again. Then she sighed and dramatically collapsed onto her back in the pile of pillows.
I sighed and laid back onto the soft pillows as well, letting a smile spread slowly across my face, thinking of Nova actually caring about me.
“He is beautiful,” I said with a sigh.
“Will you please talk to him already?”
“I sort of did. I started to anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“I told him I loved him right before we crossed the vine bridge.”
“You did? What did he say?”
“Nothing. But there really wasn’t time.”
We were both silent, momentarily lost in the painful memories of that day.
“Well, you should try again,” Sparrow said, breaking the silence.
I was about to reply when I heard the door creak open and lifted my head to see Jovi peeking into our little room of pillows.
“There you are! Everyone is looking for you two,” she called, playfully kicking a pillow in our direction.
I snatched it out the air as it sailed over my head. Sparrow and I both looked at each other and then simultaneously threw pillows at Jovi.
“Hey!” she squealed ducking just in time. Without skipping a beat, she was tossing pillows back at us.
This started a full-fledged pillow war. Blurs of luxurious gold fabric were sailing overhead as the room filled with laughter. Leave it to Jovi to bring her gleefulness everywhere. Even into my dark pit of despair and exhaustion.
After a good ten minutes of brilliant battle, we were all breathless and giggling among the mounds of stuffed silk. I gazed up at the white feathers floating weightlessly above us, seemingly frozen in the false sunlight. I flicked my wrists making them spin in tiny cyclones on the light gusts of wind I now effortlessly controlled with my latest power. Sparrow oohed and awed, while I winked at Jovi.
“So, why is everyone looking for us?” I asked Jovi, knowing it was time to get down to business.
“Nova was talking to Hollis about the civer ants and they think that the Ravinori sent them to attack us! He said they would never act that way on their own. Nova wants to have a meeting to go over our plan for when we get to the Troian Center because he’s afraid they might be expecting us.”
I looked nervously at Sparrow. The light-heartedness had been sucked from the room. It was time to get back to reality. Nova was probably right about the Ravinori. The civer ant attack had been bothering me too, but I didn’t know that much about them to be completely sure. I wished we could have just talked about it one on one. I hated feeling foolish in front of the group.
I sighed as I stood, dusting the feathers off of myself.
“Okay, let’s go have a meeting.”
65
“What do you mean they got away? No one gets away from the civer ants!”
“Master, I’m sorry, but I told you the Eva is very gifted. Even with her diminishing powers, she’s very cunning and seems to have many unknown weapons at her disposal.”
“Of course she does, Kobel. She’s the Eva! But we are the Ravinori, and I will not be made to look like a fool! This has gone on long enough. Where is she right now? I’m going to go after her myself and end this once and for all!”
“Master, I’m terribly afraid to tell you that they’ve disappeared. All of them. They’ve completely vanished.”
“What do you mean, Kobel? She’s powerful, but she can’t defy the laws of nature. If she exists you should be able to see her. Is that not what your purpose is?” the tall man asked venomously. “Unless . . . you’re wrong, and the civer attack was successful? They’ve been known to devour a whole body in seconds, but I specifically instructed them not to harm them. They were just supposed to bring them to me.”
“No, Master. I watched the civer ants be defeated by the Eva and her friends. I’m sure they survived. But they split up and I lost track of them trying to trace too many at once. I’m sure they’re still alive. They must be using some sort of new power to conceal their whereabouts. I will find them, Master. I live to serve you.”
“Be sure that you do, Kobel, or I will have no use for you. And, it is as you said, ‘you live to serve’ and if you no longer serve a purpose, you shall no longer live!”
66
We followed Jovi back through the winding hallway. She seemed strangely at home in the rover tortoise. She skipped and chattered nonstop as we trailed behind her. She finally led us to an open doorway, which she promptly disappeared through.
Warm light spilled out into the hallway and something made me pause mid step. It was Nova’s silhouette, leaning casually against the door jam. The light peppered his golden hair and highlighted his perfect jaw line. His face was mostly hidden in the shadows and I couldn’t gauge his mood. I didn’t know which Nova to expect—the one who worried about me or the one who was disappointed in me. Sparrow brushed my shoulder as she pushed past me and whispered, “Talk to him.”
“I’ll be inside in a minute,” I called after her as I paused outside the doorway in front of Nova.
“There you are,” he said with a hint of annoyance.
I took a deep breath and said, “Nova, I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
I paused before answering. I could see my friends gathering around a large antique looking table just inside the room we were standing in front of.
“I’d rather not say here.”
Nova pushed himself off of the door jam and was standing close to me now, completely bathed in light. I could see worry wash across his face.
“Is everything all right? Are you okay?” he asked, his hand instinctively going to mine.
It was such a simple and genuine gesture, but it sent an electric jolt through my being. How could I ever deny I had feelings for him? It would be impossible. Just holding his hand was pure joy.
“Tippy?” he prodded.
“Yeah . . . Yes,” I stammered when I realized I was stuck in my Nova daze and hadn’t answered him. “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to talk to you about something I’ve been thinking about.”
“Come on you two,” called Journey from inside the room.
“Coming!” called Nova. “Tippy, can we talk after this meeting? We’ve been waiting for quite a while and I think everyone’s getting a bit restless,” Nova said.
“Sure, it can wait,” I said giving him a reassuring smile, while mentally wishing I could kick Journey for interrupting us!
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” I said returning the squeeze he gave my hand.
As we entered the room, I was once again astonished by Hollis’s never ending interior. The room was round and as large as one of our lesson rooms at the Troian Center. It had high, arched ceilings with dark wooden beams sporadically placed above us. The walls were the color of scorched wheat and adorned with beautifully painted frescos. I was pulled away from examining them further when Hollis’s voice boomed, echoing through the room.
“Are we ready to start?”
“Yes, we’re
all here. We’re ready, Hollis,” replied Nova.
Hollis cleared his throat theatrically before proudly welcoming us.
“Welcome to the rotunda. It has been quite some time since I hosted Truiets here and I am beyond proud to serve you on such a noble cause. I want to put your minds at ease and let you know that those who are after you, won’t be able to find you here. Rovers are a safe haven, immune to the techniques of tracing. After speaking with most of you and gathering information from what Isby and I have recently observed in the forest, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are dark forces working against you. As we discussed, your quest back to the Troian Center will be safest if I usher you there myself. A task I’m honored to take on.”
The room swayed slightly under our feet and I imagined Hollis was bowing.
“Hollis, what makes you think that there are dark forces after us?” I asked.
“Many things, my Eva. The civer ants are a fine example. They never behave irrationally as you all have described. They don’t attack. They are scavengers. They clean the island of carcasses. They don’t go out of their way to take down perfectly healthy prey.”
With the little I did know about civer ants, their behavior did seem peculiar. The others all seemed to be nodding in agreement, but I wasn’t so easily convinced.
“What could have made them behave that way, Hollis?”
“The Ravinori, of course. No other dark forces would possess enough power to control animals like that.”
I shuddered, instantly thinking of the way Greeley had controlled her tarcats, Ria and Khan.
“Are you sure it’s the Ravinori?”
“Positive. The civer ants are one of their master’s favorite weapons.”
We all stared blankly around the rotunda waiting for Hollis to explain.
“You do know who I’m speaking of, don’t you?” he asked after our silence.
