by SJ West
“Are you still basing your theory that he’s in charge of the resistance off of what happened six years ago with Cal?”
“Why else would Abaddon have been there?” Jered asks. “It makes perfect sense to think that he’s leading this rebellion against your mother out of retaliation. We just haven’t been able to catch him at it yet.”
“If that’s true, then the meeting today is pointless,” I argue.
“No, it’s not,” Liam tells me. “We’ve heard rumors that some of the people in the resistance want out, but they know if they leave, their families will be placed in danger. If the person we’re meeting today truly does want to become a spy for us, we may be able to dismantle the resistance from the inside out. It’s a chance worth taking.”
I can’t argue with Liam on that point. If they’re able to end the rebellion on the surface, my parents can continue their work down there and not have to worry about placing the people in the down-world in danger. Every time they try to share cloud city technology with the down-worlders, something always happens. Either the new technology is destroyed, costing us money, or cities who support my mother are attacked. I don’t really understand why a group of people who say they want to protect the down-world attack their own cities and people, but I suppose the logic of a terrorist group doesn’t always have to make sense.
“And what will you be doing today while Liam and your dad are attempting to broker peace?” Marcus asks me.
“I’m supposed to go to Stratus with Mom so Brutus can enlarge my bracelet,” I reply while holding up my right arm so Marcus can see how small the bracelet is on my wrist. “It’s almost too little to slip over my hand. Brutus said he’ll have to use up all the silver he has left to make it big enough for me to wear comfortably.”
“I would much rather be going to Stratus than New York,” Liam laments.
“That’s just because you’ve fallen in love with Cara,” I tease.
“What?” Jered says in surprise. “This is the first I’ve heard about a love affair brewing between the prince of Cirrus and the princess of Stratus.”
“Oh yeah,” I say, like it’s old news to me. “Liam can’t be around Brutus’s daughter without getting tongue-tied and clumsy nowadays. He’s totally into her, but I’m not sure she feels the same way. At least, she hasn’t mentioned it to me.”
“Is it true?” Jered asks Liam. “Have you fallen for Cara that hard?”
“Maybe,” Liam reluctantly replies, looking bashful now that I’ve revealed his secret.
“He has,” I tell Jered. “His thoughts are anything but pure when she’s around.”
“Liana!” Liam shouts, looking completely mortified by my invasion of his privacy.
“Well,” Jered says, looking uncomfortable with the subject, “it’s perfectly natural for a boy his age to be having certain thoughts.”
“Of a carnal nature you mean?” I ask innocently, holding back my laughter at Jered’s expense. I love making the men around me blush like school boys.
Jered clears his throat nervously. “Of that and thinking ahead toward the future. In three or four years’ time, both of you might decide to settle down and start families of your own just like Lucas has with Bai.”
“Lucas has known he would marry Bai since he was a child,” I point out. “I, on the other hand, haven’t felt that kind of connection to anyone yet.”
“Not from lack of trying,” Liam replies sarcastically with a wry grin.
“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, not feeling up to talking about my failed attempts at love.
“Liana,” Marcus chides, “you know that isn’t a nice thing to say.”
“And what Liam said is?” I ask harshly, questioning the double standard.
“No, it wasn’t,” he replies, giving my brother an admonishing glare over his shoulder as we continue to walk. “Both of you need to calm down before you say something that can’t be taken back.”
“Marcus must think we’re thin-skinned,” Liam says to me inside my mind.
“If only he knew how many fights we’ve had talking to one another like this,” I reply, unable to hold back a chuckle.
“Sometimes I don’t think people understand how close we are and that our fighting is just how we communicate with each other.”
“As far as I know, there isn’t anyone else within our circle of friends who can talk this way.”
“Besides the twins Dad said Lilly had back in the day,” Liam points out.
“Okay, so no one living can understand it,” I clarify. “You know I was just picking on you about Cara, right?”
“Of course I know. I could see it in your thoughts.”
“Do you want me to test the waters while I’m in Stratus and see if she feels the same way about you?”
“No,” Liam states firmly. “I can do my own testing the next time I see her. I don’t need you to play matchmaker for me.”
“Well, she would be a fool not to fall madly in love with you,” I tell him in hopes of boosting his ego. “Any girl would be lucky to have you interested in her.”
“You know what’s funny?”
“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“I think I’m one of the few people in the world who know how kindhearted you are but that you like to hide behind this tough girl exterior. Why won’t you let other people in, Liana?”
“I don’t know,” I reply, giving the equivalent of a mental shrug. “I guess I’m just naturally skeptical of other people’s motives for wanting to be my friend. You know how it is for us here, Liam. The kids our age in the city like to think of themselves as our friends because they believe it increases their social ranking. I don’t need friends like that. Neither do you.”
“They’re not all that conniving,” Liam reminds me. “But you’re right. We do have to be careful who we trust and confide in.”
“Anyway,” I tell him, wanting to get off such a depressing subject, “good luck in the down-world with Dad today. I hope this person you’re going to talk to is the real deal and not just someone looking to cause more problems.”
“We have to follow every lead, at least that’s Dad’s opinion.”
“I think Mom just wants to find Abaddon and end his life once and for all.”
“You can’t really blame her for how she feels. He needs to be stopped before he kills more down-worlders. That’s the part I don’t get. How is he able to keep gaining support when he’s killing innocent civilians on the surface?”
“You know as well as I do that his followers see the people they kill as traitors,” I say. “They don’t want anyone to accept cloud city technology, and those who do are considered collaborators in their eyes. They’re terrorists, Liam. They don’t have to make sense. They just need an agenda for people who can’t think for themselves to rally around.”
“Are the two of you doing that mind talking thing again?” Marcus asks us, looking suspicious of our sudden silence.
“It’s what we do,” I tell him unapologetically. “It’s what we’ve always done.”
“I can remember Lilly’s twins doing that and driving her crazy with it,” Jered laughs as memories of the distant past must be flooding his mind.
“Are the two of you excited about Cal’s birthday party tomorrow?” Marcus asks.
“It’ll be his sweet sixteen,” I say. “I wonder what Ethan and Jules will be giving him this year. It’s not exactly like he needs a flying car on Laed-i. He can fly himself around with his wings.”
“True, but vehicles let you carry passengers,” Marcus points out. “If he’s going to start dating, he’ll need some way to take them out.”
“Good point,” I admit. “I just can’t imagine Cal on a date with a girl.”
“Why is that?” Liam asks, puzzled by my dilemma.
“Because he’s just too sweet. I’m worried someone will take advantage of him. He’s gorgeous, rich, and a prince to boot. Cal’s the total package, and if you and I have problems findi
ng real friends here in Cirrus, can you imagine how difficult it is for him on Laed-i?”
“He has Keelan and Rayden to watch his back,” Liam reminds me. “They won’t let him fall for a gold digger.”
“They’re boys too,” I say, as if that fact has somehow escaped my brother’s notice. “Boys can’t be trusted to think straight when a pretty girl is part of the equation. No, if Cal gets serious with someone, I’ll need to check her out myself to see if she’s worthy of him.”
“You sound like you want to marry him,” Liam jokes.
“If we hadn’t grown up together like brother and sister, I probably would have considered it,” I say seriously. “Like I said, he’s the total package, and those are hard to come by on any planet. Whoever he considers marrying will have to pass my tests first.”
“I’m sure we have a few years yet before you have to test anyone,” Marcus says. “From what I understand, Cal’s been spending a lot of time with Rayden on his father’s farm trying to strengthen his wing muscles. Gideon said he saw Cal lift a boulder the size of a house while flying.”
“Just to show off, or was there a purpose?” I ask jokingly as a picture of Cal doing that enters my mind.
“He was helping Rayden’s dad clear a new field to cultivate.”
“It’s hard to believe how close the two of them have become,” Liam says. “Seems like only yesterday Rayden was the big bad bully that I had to have a talk with.”
“I actually think Cal is closer to Rayden than he is to Keelan now, but the three of them still hang out with each other,” I say.
“Liam!” we hear my father call out from behind us in the hallway.
Everyone stops talking and turns around as we watch my dad stride toward us. He’s wearing his long dark hair down today and is dressed in a tailor-fitted black shirt, pants, and matching long coat. The shirt is designed much like most of his shirts are with an extended v-shaped neckline that ends just below his chest. I can’t help but smile when I see my father. He’s still the most handsome man I know, and that’s saying a lot, considering how many angels I’ve met in my life. Maybe that’s why all the guys I go out with just don’t seem to measure up. I’m not sure if other girls compare the boys they date to their father, but I do, and I have come to the conclusion that it won’t be possible for me to find someone like my dad anywhere on Earth. His devotion to my mother and to us kids is unquestionable, and I know he’s sacrificed a lot of his own time and personal interests to make sure we always know our family comes first in his life.
For years, he’s been working on rebuilding his home in Lakewood in the down-world. Apparently the prince of Hell, Levi, who is still masquerading around as Emperor Zuri Solarin of Nimbo, burnt it to the ground a long time ago. My father is trying to build it back to its original grandeur all by himself. He calls it his quiet time and goes there when he needs a break from everyday life here among the clouds. I can understand him needing time alone. I like to go to my grandpa Andre’s home here in Cirrus and spend the night there with just me, Vala, and Cara, if she can get away from her duties in Stratus. We’ve had numerous sleepovers together there and just pretended that we’re normal girls who won’t have the responsibility of ruling cloud cities and their territories one day. Honestly, sometimes I wish I had been born in the down-world to a no-name laborer like my friend Jackie.
Jackie is the girl Cal and I saved from the rubble in Stanton. After everything that happened that day, Jackie was allowed to visit me in Cirrus on occasion. It took four years for my mother to allow me to go back to the down-world and visit Jackie in her own home. Of course Marcus or my father had to accompany me on those visits, but that was fine by me. All I wanted to do was go anywhere that wasn’t this stupid cloud city. Although my mother has been campaigning for us to lower the cloud city to the down-world, she still doesn’t have the votes to do such a thing. It seems that none of the citizens who are entitled to vote want to live on the surface. Maybe one day my mother’s dream will come true, but it doesn’t seem like it will happen anytime soon.
“It’s almost time for us to go,” my father says to Liam. “Why don’t you phase up to your room and change clothes. I think your mother picked out something for you to wear.”
“She didn’t have to do that,” Liam replies, looking embarrassed that our mother still pulls clothes from his closet to make sure he dresses properly for important events such as this.
“If the choice was left up to you,” my dad says with one eyebrow raised, “you’d probably wear jeans and a raggedy T-shirt. Go up and put the suit on that she chose. It’ll make her happy.”
Liam nods his head and phases up to his room to dress.
After Lucas married Bai three years ago, Liam moved into our brother’s old room, giving up the space we had shared since birth so I could have some privacy. Not that either of us ended up having much alone time when Lyra and then Dax were born.
It seemed like my mother got pregnant almost instantly after Cal healed the wound that Abaddon made with his sword. It took me months afterwards to finally get over the guilt of her almost dying, but when Lyra was born, all of my guilt went away. If the events of that day hadn’t happened exactly as they did, my little sister and brother would have never been born. It was only because of Cal’s healing touch that the damage Liam and I did to my mother’s womb was healed.
“Would the two of you mind going to the site where we’re having the meeting and make sure it’s secure?”
“Of course,” Jered says. Both he and Marcus phase to the surface at the same time.
My dad turns his attention to me and smiles.
“Uh oh,” I say, having seen that particular smile before. “What are you about to ask me to do?”
My dad laughs and holds out a crooked arm for me to take. I’ve always loved how old-fashioned my father is. None of the guys I’ve gone out with have even attempted to be so gallant. Just another reason why I doubt I’ll ever meet anyone who can live up to the standard my dad has set.
“Why is it that I’m so transparent to you?” he asks me as we continue to walk down the hallway.
“Because you’re not just my dad; you’re one of my best friends,” I tell him, hugging his arm to emphasize my words and how much I adore him. “I think I know the meaning behind every expression you’re able to make.”
My dad smiles, obviously pleased with my words.
“I’m sorry your mother and I haven’t had a lot of time to spend with you and Liam lately,” he says with a worried look. “We’ve decided to make time for all of us to take a family vacation on Laed-i. In fact, we’re planning to remain there for a few days after Cal’s party tomorrow. Jules and Ethan have invited us to stay at the castle with them for as long as we wish to visit.”
“A vacation?” I ask in surprise. “I’m familiar with the concept, but I’ve never seen you or Mom put it into practice.”
My dad chuckles at the truth of my words. “That’s another reason we decided to do it now. We’ve been working so hard to make the world a better place for our children that we haven’t had time to actually spend with you. Now that you and Liam are growing up, we realize that our time having you live with us is getting shorter. Hopefully this vacation will be something that you remember in your old age, and until you and Liam have families of your own, we’re going to do our best to make this a yearly event.”
“You don’t have to do this out of guilt,” I tell him. “Liam and I have always understood how important changing the world has been to you and Mom. We’ve been to the surface enough to see how they live and what improvements still need to be made. The living conditions down there are a thousand times better than they were when the Amadors were in power. You and Mom should feel proud of what you’ve been able to accomplish not only for our down-worlders, but also for the citizens of practically every other cloud city. We’re proud of you and Mom, Dad. We always have been.”
“We’re not doing this out of guilt,” he assures me.
“We’re doing it because we want to spend time with you and your brothers and sister. It seemed like Lucas grew up before we knew it, and now you and Liam are doing the same thing.”
“You practically see Lucas every day,” I point out. “He may not live here with us anymore, but he’s still a large part of our lives.”
“I realize that, but it’s not the same. Nothing is ever the way it was after your children grow up and leave the nest.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to this vacation,” I tell him, feeling excited by the prospect. “Have you decided what we’ll be doing on Laed-i?”
“Not really. I thought I would let your mother decide all of the activities.”
“Wise decision,” I tell him. “As you always say, as long as Mom is happy, we’ll all be happy.”
“Exactly.”
When we walk through the door to our family’s section of the palace, we find my mom sitting on the couch playing patty-cake with my five-year-old sister Lyra.
“Where is Dax?” my dad asks, glancing around the room in search of my precocious three-year-old brother.
“Here I am, Daddy!” Dax announces as he runs down the hallway from the direction of the bedrooms with a brown teddy bear gripped tightly in his hands. “I needed Teddy.”
My dad leans down to pick Dax up and lifts him into his arms easily. As my little brother perches on my dad’s arm, he announces, “I’m going to eat cake!”
“Not until tomorrow,” my mother reminds him as she stands from her seat. “Cal’s birthday is still a day away, Dax. You won’t be able to have any cake until then.”
“Kyna will have cake!” Dax proclaims. He seems so sure of his words that I don’t have the heart to tell him that all Kyna will have for us is fruit because she deems it healthier for us kids to eat.
“I suppose we’ll just have to go there and see if she does,” my mom says, even though she knows as well as I do that we won’t be served any sweets made with real sugar in Stratus.
“I’m sure whatever Kyna has for you to snack on will be delicious,” my dad assures Dax before kissing him on the tip of his nose, which makes my little brother giggle in delight.
