How could she have room to worry about my wedding? “Could you get them to wait an extra two or three
days?” I ask.
“I…I suppose. I could tell them that I feel too ill to travel. Why?”
My idea is a crazy one. “If I can get you to the rebels, will you join them?”
She’s shocked, but she says, “Of course. I already sup- port them, but how will you find them?”
I look down at my feet. “Keep my secret to yourself.” She gasps. “Oh, Universes! You’re a rebel?”
I nod.
“But…But how?” she sputters.
“It’s a long story, but when Ivan chose me, I was pre- pared to come here and murder the Mersiovskys. Now, I’m not sure what I’m doing.”
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“The rebels wouldn’t accept me, would they?”
“You’re a first, but you were married to Petrov and carry his child. I doubt they will see you as a threat. Be- sides, I will talk to them and ensure you will be kept safe.”
“You’re that high up in the rebellion?”
“I’m here in the palace, so yes, the rebellion leaders take heed of what I say. They don’t always agree, but I think they will this time. I need to go talk to a friend of mine if it’s alright. I’ll be back to check on you later.”
s
“How is Zadie?” Angelica asks as soon as I enter her room. She doesn’t look up from the embroidery she’s working on.
As usual, she knows my thoughts without me speaking them aloud. “She’s not well. She told me she’s pregnant.” Angelica drops her needle and thread, and the cloth slides to the floor. “That wasn’t in the information we
gathered! How did that not end up in her file?” “She found out recently and needs our help.”
Angelica wrinkles her nose. “I know she’s your friend and maybe even a rebel sympathizer, but we can’t jeop- ardize your mission for her.”
“You know it has nothing to do with my mission.” Angelica presses her lips into a thin line.
“If we don’t help her, I don’t know what will happen, but I can guess Petrov’s baby won’t live or if it does it will
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have a horrible life. Though you are jealous of her and an- gry at Petrov, can you set that aside? This is for the child, not them.”
“I’m not jealous. I’m hurt. Petrov broke my heart, and worse, his child is with a First.” She rests her head in her hands, and though her voice is muffled says, “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to see him pay, but now that the time is here, I don’t know what I want.”
“I won’t make you help them. If you don’t want to, I understand.”
I could always speak to General Hardcastle, but some- thing inside me warns me not to. I don’t trust him, not yet. He may be a leader, but he is human, which means his mind and heart are fickle.
She laughs curtly. “If I tell you I won’t help them, you’ll find a way to convince me to change my mind or tell me I’m making a mistake. Zadie is your friend, and you want to see her safe. If we can find a way to get her away from the guards, I can get her somewhere safe.”
“Really? You agree to help?”
“That’s what best friends are for, aren’t they? I wouldn’t dream of letting you get to have all the fun and danger without me. A good, treason-filed act makes my stay here more enjoyable,” she replies. She’s silent a mo- ment before adding, “I still love Petrov, you know.”
“I guessed from the way you ignored Zadie.”
When she looks up, there are tears glinting in the cor- ners of her eyes. “After he left, I blamed the Mersiovskys.
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Now again I can blame them, but this time for his death. Talia, I can’t wait for the moment I can kill the Royals. They are bloodthirsty and will destroy the smallest piece of happiness.”
The funny thing is the Mersiovskys have been the ones to give me happiness.
“I should try to get her out during the execution. Eve- ryone’s attention will be focused on Petrov. You’ll need to be there, but she could follow me out,” she says.
“What if someone sees you? And what do I say to ex- plain your absence later?”
She shrugs. “If someone sees us, I can take care of it. I was supposed to be an assassin after all. As for my disap- pearance, say I went home. My mother unexpectedly fell ill. I’ll come back when she is well.”
I suppose Ivan will believe me. I want to tell Dmitri about the plan so that he can say goodbye to Zadie, but I know I can’t. I can’t take any unnecessary chances.
“I’ll go back and help Zadie gather a small bag of things to take with her. I’ll stay with her to make sure the Royals don’t disturb her. I’ll meet you outside my room when the time comes. From there, can you get her out?”
“Of course, I studied the palace architectural plans you loaned me.”
If this plan works, we will be quite lucky.
s
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I spend the night in Zadie’s apartment to make sure her family doesn’t take her way without me knowing. They said they would take her away the day after next, but I don’t want them changing their minds.
When morning comes, we spend several hours in wait. We pack her bag and get ready, but she’s worried. Her husband’s going to die, so I don’t blame her at all when she breaks down crying. She scribbles a note and gives it to me. I’m to give it to Petrov if I can.
We talk about the things we’ve done since we first met a few months ago, and we talk about random things to distract her. When someone knocks on our door a few minutes before noon, we jump in surprise.
Before either of us reach the door, Ivan enters. “I was sent to fetch you. The…event starts soon.”
I hug Zadie and whisper in her ear, “I promise I’ll see you and your baby again in the future.”
She smiles through her tears as she lets me go.
I follow Ivan out the door. “I need to grab my hat be- fore we go down,” I say.
He follows me and waits outside my room as I enter. “Is it time?” Angelica asks when she spots me.
I nod. “Zadie will be ready when you get there. Make sure Ivan and I are out of sight before you leave this room.”
I turn to go, but she says, “I noticed you flinched last we spoke when I mentioned killing the Royals. When it
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comes time for their destruction, you will make the best decision. You are not as weak as everyone believes.”
She is right; I am not weak anymore. I will do what I feel is best, not what she or the leaders tell me.
s
Arriving at the square, I find Dmitri standing with his mother and Kir. He looks well, tanned and as hot as al- ways.
“When did Dmitri return?” I ask, pulling Ivan aside for a moment of privacy.
“I sent for him yesterday when I received Zadie’s let- ter.”
We stroll to our places, Ivan on my left and Dmitri my right, and I act as the human barrier between the two. It would be in poor taste if they argued today.
Petrov is led through the crowd waiting, his hands bound behind him. Scratches cover his body, and his face is bruised. People scream insults as he passes them by, but he doesn’t look worried. He looks placid as the guards es- cort him forward.
His execution is simple compared to the usual, bloody means of death set aside for traitors.
The Empress stands nearby in a gown of gold. She didn’t have the courtesy of wearing purple. Purple was the color of morning before the Mersiovskys took over and changed the old traditions. Now the color of mourning is
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black, but my mother taught me the old traditions. I don’t agree with all of the old traditions, but this one I do.
Petrov may be considered a traitor, but I know how much Zadie cared for him. His death should be mouned.
A white staircase rises above us in a spiral and disap- pears t
hrough the clouds. It’s known as the “Stairway to the Nothing World,” because whoever walks it will no longer belong to the world of the living, but rather the world where nothing is. I wonder if the “nothing world” is empty as we are told. The scientists believe that death is the end, but I know many who worship the old religion that talks of a God and an afterlife. I believe in the old religion and practice it, but voicing my thoughts will bring criticism and suspicion down on my head.
The staircase is designed for a criminal to climb until either they jump to their death or die of dehydration and starvation. It’s not pleasant, but there are far worse deaths to be had. Petrov could have been given serum. Created by the military, its sole purpose it to test one’s strength by making the body believe it is undergoing dif- ferent things. One serum causes people to feel like they have a heart attack, and another will bring on the same pains as felt during labor.
The guards stop and release Petrov at the foot of the stairway. Petrov’s expression changes to one of worry as his cheeks pale. It is as if he just realizes he is a dying man. Before he has long to contemplate, I step forward.
Dmitri reaches out to grab my arm and pull me back, but
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he is too slow. Ivan stops Dmitri from following me any further.
Walking to Petrov, I place a small note in his hand. “I promised Zadie I’d get this to you. She wrote it last night.”
He smiles as regret fills his eyes. “Tell her I love her.” “I’ll tell her, but I think she knows.”
“And tell Angelica I’m sorry.”
He sighs as he turns to face the stairway, the letter clutched so tightly his knuckle turn white. That letter is his last lifeline to his wife and humanity, and he has spo- ken the last words of atonement he will ever have a chance for.
“You need to know something else.” I take a step closer and lean towards him. “Zadie is pregnant.”
“Pregnant?”
“She would have told you, but she didn’t get the chance. I don’t know if she tells you in the letter or not.” Tears fill his eyes and begin to slip down his cheeks.
He remains silent as he considers my words.
“Don’t worry about Zadie. She should already be on her way out of the city to the rebels,” I whisper.
“Thank you.” He looks up at the sky before taking the first step.
Life and death are supposed to be separate. If that is true, why do they seem to be so tightly woven together in the White City?
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Before Petrov is halfway up the staircase, the alarm sounds. A guard runs into the square and gives a message to the generals. Hardcastle walks over to us.
“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Did you not order your cousin, Zadie, to stay within the city?” he asks.
Ivan glances at the Empress standing nearby before nodding. “Yes, that was the order.”
“She’s gone.”
“What do you mean?” Dmitri asks. There is a hint of relief in his voice.
“She escaped with the help of several people,” General Hardcastle says.
My heart pounds in my chest. I hope they get far away before the guards go after them. But several people helped them? Who accompanied them?
I glance at the princes. Neither of them is quick to give orders though the general waits. Couldn’t they distract the guards a little longer?
“Did surveillance show who helped her?” the Empress asks.
Hardcastle shakes his head. “They covered their face. We can tell it was a woman, but little else. Of course, we will continue looking. I’ll order men to follow them.”
The general turns and starts to give orders to break up the crowd. By this point, the crowd is confused and no
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longer interested in Petrov. The guards start to push peo- ple out of the square as I look up to check on Petrov. I can’t see him anymore.
Ivan wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “Thank you for helping Zadie.”
My eyes widen, but before I can explain, he kisses me chastely on the lips. “There is time to talk in the future, not now.”
He leaves me standing in shock. Between the kiss and him thanking me for helping Zadie, I think this day can- not get stranger.
My lips still tingle when Dmitri comes forward. I blush realizing he saw the kiss. He eyes throw daggers at Ivan, but he doesn’t comment.
“We should go inside. You don’t want to be here when Petrov decides to jump,” he says.
I follow him inside as he clasps my hand. I’m content to follow along until we reach the stairs to our rooms. “We need to talk.”
He stumbles as he turns to see me, but I reach out in time to keep him from falling. He curses as he straightens. “I wish I had my legs back.”
His gate is not as steady as usual as he leads me down the halls through the giant, glass-domed room into an in- door greenhouse. It’s hot and humid but reminds me of a day in the forest back home in the height of summer.
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We stop when we come to a pond filled with shimmer- ing fish and surrounded by enormous, yellow flowers. It’s peaceful, and here we are quite alone.
Stepping towards the pond, I focus my attention on the fish swimming to and from, a few of them stopping to look up at me as they mistake me for their caretaker. Too bad I have nothing to feed them.
Dmitri pulls me out of my reverie. “You wish to talk?” Hugging myself, I say, “That could have been us to-
day.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Our situation is not that different from Zadie and Pe- trov’s. If the wrong person finds out or we publicly an- nounce our relationship, you might be watching my execution.”
He huffs as he sets a hand on my waist. “My mother, Ivan, Kir, and Hardcastle already know. I fear few others opinions. It will never come to execution, and if it did, you would not die. I would.”
I face him, startled by his words. I search his face to understand the meaning of his confession but find him as shocked as me.
“What do you mean?” I ask softly, reaching for his hands.
His gaze falls to his feet as he chuckles. “You know you ask ‘what’ a great deal?”
I frown. “Dmitri.”
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“I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I know many wish me dead and the rebellion wants my family gone, but if any punishment comes from our relationship, I will make sure it falls to me not you.” He takes a step torward me. “You are my star, the bright point in my universe, and if you no longer burned bright but I still lived, what would be the point?”
That feels like an admittance that he loves me, but say- ing “I love you” will somehow make this real, and that ter- rifies me as much as it thrills me. The reason I’ve stood the secrecy so long is I’ve told myself he cannot possibly feel the same as me.
I swallow and change the subject. “I have a question about something your mother said to me a while ago. She said there was a lot I didn’t know about Sergio and her marriage. If it is not prying, I wonder if you might tell me what she meant.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what she meant.”
Why do I have the feeling it is another secret yet to be told? The White City is built on lies, and perhaps the Em- press was hinting at another secret at the city’s founda- tion.
He cups my cheeks in his hands and turns my face up towards his. “In all this grief, I have one good piece of news.”
“Anything good would be wonderful to hear.”
“I’m staying. Ivan approved it this morning. I’ve had to come back twice for the different crisis, so Ivan believes it
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is best I stay here in case anything else happens. Bad things have already happened to two Royals, and he fears a third incident.”
“You’re staying? Before the wedding?” “Yes.”
I throw my arms around him. “Thank the Universe!”
I rest against him for several moments, my joy replac- ing most of my pain. I know so many things are likely to go wrong, but he’s here. Safe.
For a moment, we hold on to our secluded peace, for- getting the events of the day and letting them melt away.
{ 32 }
Chapter 32
HE REST OF THE DAY IS SILENT. RESIDENTS OF the
palace are hushed, and servants speak in whispers. No one who supported the Firsts wanted Petrov to
live, but losing Zadie, the star of society news in the White City, shocks many people. Zadie is loved by all the classes even though she is not a full-time resident of the city. She would have left soon anyway, but after she found a first for her husband.
I eat dinner in my room to avoid the talk downstairs. I’m sure many people curse Petrov for being a rebel and for ruining Zadie’s future. Georgianna eats with me, and we talk until she has to return to her duties. She fills me in on tabloid-worthy gossip and talks about Kir. Her eyes light up anytime she hears or mentions his name.
By the time Georgianna leaves, it is still early in the night. Georgianna helps me undress before she leaves, so I have no intention of leaving my room. Choosing a book
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from the stack on my dresser, I slip into bed and curl be- neath the covers. Two hours later when there is a knock at my door, it takes me a moment to snap out of my book. “Miss Alkaev, Prince Dmitri is here to see you,” the
new guard calls.
I glance down at my thin nightdress. “Give me a mo- ment!”
I hop out of bed and run to the closet, grabbing my robe and wrapping it around me. Running to the dresser, I grab a brush and tug on my messy curls. The guard knocks again before Dmitri enters. I turn in time to look as natural as possible.
City of Deception (The White City Series Book 1) Page 22
