by Nina Walker
When the room had finally settled, she asked her first question, her eyes sweeping from person to person. “So, any marvelous plans you’d like to pitch?”
The two-star general I’d been arguing with cleared his throat. “We were considering bringing the alchemists we do have onto the base so Sasha here can train them.”
He motioned to me like we were old friends and I rolled my eyes. Figures.
“And what use would that be?” she replied. “We only have children and elderly left.”
I straightened in my chair. “That’s what I said. But I still think we should remove them from whatever prison they’re in and give them a proper life.”
She smiled and studied me. She wasn’t annoyed by my input like so many of the men had been. It was quite the opposite. She looked at me like I had valuable opinions that deserved a chance. I perked up, confidence building.
“It’s already done,” she said. “We’ve moved them to a much better facility where they can live as normally as possible given their particular set of circumstances. Even their family can stay with them as often as they’d like.”
“Oh, thank you so much!” I gushed. “If only I’d had that kind of treatment as a child, so much would have been better for me.”
“Don’t thank me,” she replied. “Hank convinced me of it. It was his idea. He’s even offered to train them.”
I leaned into Hank and gave him my biggest megawatt smile. He wasn’t an alchemist, true, but he knew more about the magic than anyone. And he was the most patient person I’d ever met. He would be perfect for the job.
“That’s wonderful,” I said.
“It is wonderful,” she agreed.
Over the next hour they dived into the current status of everything war-related, factoring in the tumultuous political climate and what could be done about it.
In the end, it was decided that more troops would be leaving in two days’ time to go shore up those already fighting against the New Colony soldiers and alchemists. The plan was to beat them with sheer numbers and weaponry.
I kept my mouth closed. Hank, Tristan, and Mastin would never support me going with those troops. But I was brimming with excitement. It didn’t matter what anyone else’s opinion was on the matter. I was done letting other people control my life.
One way or another, I would be joining those soldiers.
I’d be getting out to where the action was, making all those people who worked for King Richard see that they’d made a huge mistake. Going to the war would mean fighting my own kind. It caused my heart to pound so hard I could hear it in my ears. But I refused to be afraid.
I was ready. I’d been training for this my entire life.
I would fight those who’d stolen my childhood. I would reunite my family. And I would prove to all these closed-minded Americans that alchemy was a gift.
Mastin caught my eye over the table and his jaw tensed. Ever so slightly, he shook his head. It didn’t matter. I didn’t need his support.
I nodded once and then turned my attention back to the President. She was a woman who’d climbed her way to power, who wasn’t afraid to do what needed to be done, even if the men around her hated her for it.
I smiled. She would understand.
14
Jessa
The music moved through me like my body was another instrument in a grand orchestra. I danced for everything I couldn’t say, my arms and legs extensions of the feelings playing inside. The song ended, and I plopped down in the middle of the studio floor, flat on my back, looking up at the ceiling and catching my breath. While my chest rose and fell, the faint scent of floor polish wafted around me. The room was dim since the lights were off and the curtains drawn, only some of the afternoon sun peeked in around their edges. It relaxed me, dancing alone in the dark.
This studio was the perfect place to spend as much time as possible between alchemy classes and training in the gym, but it still wasn’t enough to quiet the stress. It was building to something bigger, louder and louder.
My eyes fluttered closed, and I forced it down.
Madame Silver would arrive any minute. Surely, she’d seen the disastrous broadcast. Maybe she’d have some sage advice to offer about my situation. She always did have a level head about these kinds of things, even though ballet issues and life issues didn’t always cross over.
Dad was livid when he found out what happened with Celia. He hadn’t been invited to the exhibition, and now we knew why. He would have intervened in King Richard’s publicity stunt! The broadcast aired around the same time we’d come home that night. I refused to watch, locking myself in my room. Dad had come knocking an hour later. When I’d opened the door, terrified at what he would think of me, he’d buried me into a comforting hug, letting me cry it out. Eventually, as my tears mellowed, his anger grew. He’d stormed from the room, demanding to speak with the King.
Needless to say, I didn’t let that happen.
I’d been able to talk him down, and eventually he’d relented, not because Richard deserved the benefit of the doubt, but because his entire stay at the palace was precarious as it was. We both needed him to stay under the radar as much as possible, to get in line and behave like everyone else. The next day we’d had an interesting Sunday dinner with Richard and Lucas. It had been filled with awkward silences and three uncomfortable people trying desperately to avoid eye contact. Richard didn’t seem to care.
I groaned. Why was this my life now?
And where was Madame Silver? She should be here by now. I sat up and rolled out my neck. A quick glance at the clock confirmed she was five minutes late, and that woman was never late. It was in her DNA to be early to everything.
The stray image of Celia attacking me flashed through my mind. I rubbed my scalp, wincing. It was all healed now, of course, but the memory lingered. Even though she’d been manipulated, the look on her face would haunt me to my grave. The girl despised me. Did I blame her? The way she saw it, I had taken the crown.
It had been two days since the incident. I couldn’t shake the feeling that my confrontations with her weren’t over. Lucas must have thought so too because he wanted her gone. He’d lobbied hard with his father for Celia’s immediate removal from the palace. Richard didn’t care. He had brushed his son’s demands off with the flick of his wrist, citing the orange magic as the reason for leniency.
But wasn’t Celia humiliated? She seemed like such a prideful person. If I were her, I would want to leave. Geez, I wasn’t her and I wanted to leave.
But she didn’t.
She was still a permanent guest and her parents, permanent fixtures. Lately, I’d seen them every day, always talking with Royal Officers or Faulk, even going into private meetings with the King.
The studio door opened, flashing a stream of light from the hallway. The overhead lights blazed and I covered my eyes. Madame Silver pranced in, a flurry of energy. “So sorry I’m late, Darling. We had an impromptu meeting at the company that I simply had to attend.”
I smiled weakly up at her, unable to share her enthusiasm. That should have been my dance company. Recognition gleamed in her eyes and she rushed over to me.
“Jessa, what are you doing on the floor? Are you okay?” she gasped, kneeling down and gently placing a cold hand on my arm.
I raised my other hand to quiet her worry. “I’m fine,” I said, trying and failing to make my voice sound happy. “It’s nothing. I’ve just been dancing for hours and I was resting up before our lesson.” Okay, it was more than that. It was everything.
“Don’t you have an exquisitely decorated bedroom somewhere for your beauty rest?”
I laughed bitterly, patting the hardwood. “Aw, but this is so much better.”
She laughed along. Then she stood gracefully and reached down to help me up. Her eyes searched mine.
“Do you think it’s safe to talk,” she whispered, looking behind us at the closed door. On the other side were guards, of course, but there could
just as easily be a spying alchemist around here as well. I’d thought Reed was the only blue alchemist who could listen in like that, but Callie had obviously proved me wrong.
I held up a finger. I skipped over to the corner of the room and snagged my stone necklace from where I’d left it, on top of my hooded sweatshirt, next to my stainless steel water bottle. I strung it around my neck, noticing all the colors individually. It amazed me that each could be manipulated in such different and incredible ways. The sheer magnitude of it hung heavy around my neck like another responsibility.
“Are you okay, dear?” Madame Silver asked.
“How is it, that out of all the people in the world, I was born with this ability?” My voice cracked on the question. “Sorry, I sound so ungrateful,” I rushed to add.
Her gaze held mine for a moment. “I don’t know, Jessa. I don’t know why things happen the way they do. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense, there’s no explanation. But hear me.” She reached out her hands and placed them on my shoulders. “You’re this talented for a reason. Don’t doubt yourself. Embrace who you are now so you can grow into the person you’re meant to be.”
“But how do I know who I’m meant to be?”
“That’s the great thing about it. You get to choose.”
I smiled softly and ran my hand along the stone necklace. Some were smooth, others jagged. The stones had been drilled with holes to allow for the black leather cord to pass through. It was mine to wear proudly, nothing to cower from.
And I was lucky. Not everyone could use stones as I could. My magic was strong enough that I didn’t need to use plants, though I could. This necklace added a convenience, a security, to my already dangerous life.
“What color is your favorite?” Madame Silver carefully ran her fingers along the necklace. “Some of these are faded,” she added.
“I need to replace a few of the stones soon. They’re almost used up.” I paused to consider her question. “I want to help people,” I said. “All the colors can be used to help, so it’s hard to choose a favorite. But for now…”
It was time to talk.
She stepped back and I placed my forefinger on the purple, knowing I still had plenty of color left for what was needed. My energy pulled at it purposefully, and I felt it sink in like ink.
What’s going on, I asked Madame Silver, reaching out with the thought. I felt the magic working between us, an invisible string of energy. I walked over to the ballet barre and started the beginning exercises. We always started class the same way. Nobody would ever have to know that we were doing more than just dance in here.
The ballet company is going on tour, she said. We had expected it to be delayed or canceled because of the war, but we just got word that it’s been approved.
My heart sank, and I faltered in my current set of stretches. That will be fun.
I paused. So, does this mean you’re leaving the capitol?
She met my eye with a quick nod.
When? For how long?
She came to face me at the bar, going through the same stretches. She often did that, even though she wasn’t a professional ballerina anymore, she still danced. I guess the same thing could be said about me.
Tomorrow night, she replied. We’ll be traveling, the whole company, to all the large cities in New Colony. We’ll be gone for two months.
I frowned for a brief moment, then pulled myself back together. This was her job, it was normal. I shouldn’t be surprised, as you do this every year. I just forgot about it with everything else going on. I’m really going to miss you.
Her eyes caught mine. I want you to come with us.
What? Confusion settled deep. My heart raced even thinking about it, the pain a dull thud-thud-thud in my chest.
That’s not possible, I said. I’m getting married in a few weeks. And even if I wasn’t, Richard would never let me leave the palace. He doesn’t care about ballet. I’m a Guardian now.
She kicked her leg up gracefully and bent at the waist. I followed, grateful for the momentary break in eye contact.
What I mean is, I’ve met with a few of the other staff and we want to sneak you out with us, she replied, her voice confident as it filtered through my mind. Our first stop is all the way down south and then we’re working our way back up. You know how many trucks of scenery we have for these kinds of things. And I get my very own trailer, as I’m the lead choreographer. We could smuggle you out, get you to the border, and then you could use your magic to take refuge in West America.
It seemed too risky. But something stopped me from refusing. It was a plan and I needed one of those.
Would they accept you in West America?
I think they would, I replied, excitement beginning to stir.
And if that doesn’t work for you, she continued, then stay with us on the road, but keep hidden. In two months, once we make it up to the north for our final stop, you can venture up to Canada. It will be riskier to wait that long, but the Canadian government accepts New Colony refugees without question.
How do you know that?
There was a long pause. It’s a more common subject in this kingdom than those in the palace would like to admit. But anyway, I have a sister who left many years ago for Canada. She sent word back that she’d made it safely. She wanted me to go too, but I couldn’t leave the company behind.
But there’s a chance?
A very good chance.
A flicker of possibility danced between us as our eyes connected. She thought I was leaving with her, but it was another thought that burned in me.
I could save Dad.
Lily and Jose weren’t going to lose me. I was sticking around to help the Resistance—at least for now. Someone had to stop Richard.
That someone was me.
But I needed to get Dad out of here. It was only a matter of time before he ended up hurt, or worse. Besides, he was the exact kind of leverage against me that wasn’t safe for either of us.
Could you get my dad out, too? I wouldn’t outright refuse my own escape at this point. She wouldn’t understand my reason for staying. I broke our eye contact, guilt coursing through me. But I needed to get her on board with getting Dad away from all this.
I met her eyes again, and pleaded with my own.
Of course, she finally said. It will be more dangerous but I’m sure we can handle it. Didn’t you tell me that your mother and sister are in West America? Your whole family could be reunited again.
Smiling at the thought, I forced the smile to stay in place. They would be reunited and that was wonderful, but I’d still be here.
Here, until I changed things.
And if I had to stay back for some reason, I asked cautiously, like if I wasn’t able to make it because something happened to stop me, and my dad could make it, would you still help him?
I’m not sure, she faltered, her head shaking slightly.
His life is in grave danger here, with or without me, he needs to run.
Your life is in danger, too. That broadcast…We all saw it, it was how I was able to convince the others to go along with this plan. Jessa, it was terrible.
We turned around and began stretching the other leg. Now facing away from each other.
I know that, I practically shouted the response in my mind. Of course I know that. But they’re using Dad against me. If I can’t get out and he can, it would benefit us both. It could save us both. I need to know if he can come with you, just in case I can’t.
Her soft hand rested on my shoulder, I flipped around.
She nodded.
I exhaled and closed my eyes. Thank you.
We’re leaving tomorrow night. Do you think you can get out and meet us in time? We will have someone waiting for you at the stage door all day tomorrow. They’ll know where to hide you.
I’ll find a way, I replied.
Once more, she nodded.
“Are you all stretched out?” she said, her teacher-voice filling the studio space. If
anyone was listening in, they’d hear the best ballet teacher in New Colony giving her lesson and that would be all. “Do you feel warm enough for our lesson? I have a tough one planned.”
“Let’s do it.” I gave her a quick smile. “I’m tough.” But I was no longer talking about ballet and from the insightful glint in her eyes, we both knew it.
“We’re getting you out of here.” I tackle-hugged Dad, the sheer excitement of everything causing me to forget about using my telepathy. “For a walk, of course,” I added. After letting me go, he stepped back, confusion wrapped in his usually steady eyes.
“Let’s grab our coats. It’s so stuffy in here tonight,” I continued, playfully. After a few minutes, we found ourselves outside, the bitter cold wrapping around our bodies. But the fresh air really did feel amazing. Breathing in deep, I allowed it to steel me for what I needed to do next.
The purple stone, still around my neck, hung warm against my skin. I quickly connected with it and reached out to dad. Once it was established what I was doing, he’d stilled, but let me explain everything to him.
You have to come too, he insisted. I’m not leaving without you.
Absolutely not. I need to stay here since I’m the only one with enough power to stop King Richard.
It’s not your job! You’re only seventeen, Jessa. You don’t have to do this.
I glanced behind us, noticing a couple of guards trailing behind us. I turned to dad and wrapped him in a tight hug. The cold was beginning to bite through my clothes, and his warmth poured into me.
You don’t have to understand it. But I’m staying.
He shook his head against me. No. I’m your father. Listen to me. You need to come with us. You have to get out of here. What if I leave tomorrow and never see you again. How am I supposed to live with that?
“I’m getting cold,” I said aloud. “Let’s go inside.”
