Revelations (Song of Sophangence Book 4)

by E. I. McAllistair

  “It was a simple mission-”

  “Was it now? Perhaps for someone trained in the art of infiltration and extraction of information. Dan has aptitude for neither of these. There was also an absurd amount of luck, or I should say the lack of such to this mission. More or less, the only way we would have gotten any information would be if one of us were to be captured, which almost happened, but as you were aware, Dan’s defenses are top tier, which caused him to thwart the attempt even in a semi-conscious state. This mission should have been given to someone with Telepathy, or some other means of discretely extracting information. Therefore, the failure falls to you for improperly assigning your agent.”

  “There was no way-”

  “You are correct. There was no way for either of us to successfully complete this mission. We should be thankful we came out with only this level of damage. With Dan’s abilities, he could have very well killed everyone in the club instead. I believe this alone is cause for celebration, but as that is unlikely, given your unwillingness to bear the weight of your responsibilities, at the very least, Dan should be given another chance. This time he will be able to choose his own mission, and he will actually have time to prepare like any normal mission, since that was also lacking as well.”

  “Don’t be absurd! I told you I would not be bullied-”

  A portal opens to a sunny office, a gray-haired man in an expensive suit jumping in shock at the sudden intrusion. When he notices the face peering at him, he immediately relaxes and brightens.

  “Anaar! You could have just called! I heard about that incident from last night. Unfortunate, but these things happen. Have you considered what I asked you about?”

  Anaar’s expression changes to that of someone dealing with troubled emotions. “I thought about it, but unfortunately it seems I can’t bring myself to even consider it with the organization setting up operatives for failure and then casting the blame elsewhere. I don’t feel comfortable nor even safe continuing to operate for you. With Dan’s dreams of supporting his family being crushed without being given a fair chance, my heart is too heavy to concentrate on such a dangerous and complicated operation. You will need to find someone else. I just wanted to tell you right away since Ms. Finnes here is being so inflexible and there would be no chance of anything changing. Do have a good-”

  The man jumps from his seat. “Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!” He steps to the portal and does a small motion, which causes the portal to widen so he can step through. “I humbly apologize for giving the wrong impression to an operative of your standing. We would never dream of being so unprofessional! Would we Veronica?!”

  The stunned woman stammers as she tries to find the words for a response. “Of, of, course! Of course not! Of course not! That is it! We would never do anything of the sort!”

  “Perfect! Glad we have this all cleared up. So Anaar. You’ll do it?”

  “I’ll consider it again, but I can assure you I could not even begin to accept it without Dan’s retry set up and I know it is fair.”

  The older man nods vehemently. “I’ll get someone right on that. Veronica, you finish cleaning up this mess and see that it doesn’t happen again.” He steps back through the portal, it snapping shut immediately after.

  “Well, it seems we are done here. Just so you know, I am aware of at least two of the people involved. They will only be alive long enough to tell me the details of their operation and I rescue those I can.”

  Anaar strides out of the room, Dan scrambling quickly after him. Happy to be out of the room that was thick with tension, he peers at Anaar for a long time without saying anything. Weary of being stared at, Anaar speaks up.

  “What is it Dan?”

  “Why you do that for me? I fucked up. Bad too.”

  “I would think that much is clear. We are family. I wasn’t going to let you take the fall for something that really was oversight on their part. If you are feeling even slightly bad for them, don’t. With what they make off us, we should be getting ten times what they pay us. They aren’t saints by any stretch of the imagination. Don’t worry about it, just focus on knocking the next one out of the park.”

  Dan smiles as Anaar speeds up, indicating he intended to part ways. Dan stopped him before he could get too far.

  “Hey, can I get a ride to Mags’?”

  Anaar continued striding without looking back. “Not a chance. That is your mess to clean up. I’m not being even slightly complicit.”

  Dan watches dumbfounded as Anaar walks away. He knew Maggie was not happy, but she helped him get ready for his meeting without any complaints. He scratched his head as he walked down the hall trying to find the exit.

  “What in the hell did it do…?”

  24

  Maggie found it hard to believe she had an entire day to herself. Dan was busying himself seeking redemption from Anaar. Phavian had been very proactive in organizing the next Seeds event, which was odd, but welcomed. Her classes were particularly easy in the current trimester, which allowed her far more freedom. With nothing pressing on her plate, she thought it would make for a good time to catch up with Stefani, as most of her time had been consumed in preparation for her next show.

  Maggie ordered her drink at the café, and whilst waiting for it to be prepared, she spied Zenia sitting in the corner farthest away from everyone. Even at a distance, Maggie could make out how utterly downtrodden she appeared. Once she collected her drink, she moved to sit with Zenia, her puffy eyes and tear streaked face coming into focus as she approached. Zenia was so aloof, she did not notice Maggie approach and gently place her hand on Zenia’s shoulder.

  “Zen? Are you okay? Did something happen?”

  After a delayed reaction, Zenia sprang to life, suddenly aware of Maggie’s presence. Sniffling and trying to straighten her back, she looked at Maggie, giving her best attempt at a smile. It was very weak, but she did manage to slightly upturn her lips, but the pain in her eyes never changed.

  “Maggie! Oh, I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with me.”

  Maggie stared at Zenia with a discerning eye, wondering if she was so obvious when trying to hide her feelings. “Are you sure? Because the tears and runny nose don’t look like a cold.”

  Zenia immediately began wiping her face with the back of her sleeve, as she was unaware of how she appeared. Maggie sat down, taking hold of Zenia’s hands.

  “Zen, come on. You aren’t doing yourself any favors by trying to hide something that is so evident. That’s what you have friends for. It’s going to tear you apart if you just try to hold it all in.”

  Zenia halfheartedly nods, taking a deep breath before she began. “It just feels like… Like if I say it, if I speak it aloud to someone, it will make it real… Jeremy and I broke up. Well to be more accurate, he broke up with me.” Her back straightens more and a fire flickers in her eyes. “Actually, he savagely dumped me for some bitch that looks as if she owns nothing that is her actual size. It is always at least two sizes too small.”

  “Wait, he seriously stopped going out with you, and immediately became official with this other girl?”

  “Yes! He broke up with me, through text no less, and in under an hour I saw him walking, holding hands with her! Like I never even existed!”

  By this point, Stefani had finally located Maggie, giving her a quick hug from behind and a kiss on the cheek. Just behind her was Shonte, who moved to occupy the fourth seat at the square table.

  “Zen! I didn’t know you were going to be here! This is Shonte, I don’t think you two have met yet.”

  Shonte waves as she sits down. “Hey, I’m Shonte. Nice to meet you. You can call me Shonny if you want. Is you alright? Them eyes extra red.”

  Zenia had not expected Shonte to be so blunt upon just meeting someone. Not only did she not want to burden everyone else with her problems, but she also did not know Shonte. Though there was no denying something was wrong, she did not feel comfortable discussing it with someone she did not
know. Her mouth parted, but she became stuck, as there were no words she could formulate for a response. As she was thinking, Stefani’s Vizer chimes.

  “Hey, you… What?! Oh you are just too sweet!... You know I love you too. Can’t wait to see you later!... Love you!... Bye!...”

  Stefani ends the call, her face aglow, a wide smile upon her face. “Isn’t it just the best having someone who loves you and sees you? I mean really sees you? We are so lucky to have that! We need to find someone for Shonte! Zen, does Jeremy have any eligible friends you think are hot?!”

  Maggie’s jaw fell slack just as Zenia burst into tears and began wailing loudly. Shonte looked to Stefani, which caused Stefani to look to Maggie. Maggie leaned over to Stefani to whisper what information she had learned. Stefani immediately understood how much damage she had done, jumping from her seat to hug Zenia and apologize.

  “Zen sweetie, I am SO SORRY! I had no idea about you and Jeremy! I really didn’t mean it! You two just seemed so happy and perfect…” After seeing Maggie’s eyes go wide and her passionately shake her head, Stefani realized she had done it again. “I’m just going to sit back down and stay quiet…”

  Shonte had more or less come to understand the situation from the scene that had played out, and thought to try her hand at consoling Zenia.

  “I don’t know what this Jeremy dude look like, but he was probably too damn ugly to be with you anyway. Don’t let no busted ass dude-” Shonte looks down at the picture Stefani is showing her. “That’s him?! Damn he fine! Okay, well… he might be fine, but these men ain’t shit noways girl!”

  As Zenia continued to sob, showing Shonte’s attempt had failed, Maggie decided to pick back up where she left off before Stefani and Shonte joined them. “So Zen, I know this hurts, but we have to talk about it to help you get over it. Were you and Jeremy having problems? Was there any indication that he might be unhappy in the relationship?”

  Zenia pulled out a tissue and blew her nose, which had started to redden. “No, it just came out of the blue. ‘I can’t be with you anymore. Sorry.’ That’s it. Six months of dating and that is all I get. I don’t understand. I guess he just wanted something different, but he never said anything! I really loved him so if he would have just asked, I would have done whatever I could to give it! I’ve been judging my body, personality, everything! I still don’t know what I am missing!”

  “I don’t think you are missing anything. You are beautiful. You are definitely one of the best people I know.”

  “I guess that just isn’t good enough then is it? This girl he is with is everything I’m not. She is tall, wears skimpy outfits and lots of makeup, has these huge tits and ass, and from what I have heard, is dumb as a rock. Maybe I should just look like a stripper too. I don’t have the body she has, but maybe that would at least get me more points.”

  Shonte stood up angrily, something about Zenia’s last statement lighting a fire in her. “Oh hellz no! Don’t be ‘round here thinkin’ you gots to be no ho for no dude! Yeah he fine and all that, but if that be the kinda shit he like, let him go have it! I’m tired of these damn lil’ boys tryin’ to dictate who the fuck we gone be!”

  Stefani stands up alongside Shonte. “Shonte is absolutely right! Don’t go trying to conform to some ridiculous image of perfection! I know just the thing to help with this! I say we go into Haxby for makeovers!”

  Shonte nods her head, very pleased with the idea, however Maggie looks at both of them, confused and appalled. “Makeovers?! You just said she shouldn’t be trying to become some ideal for a man’s sake! Now you want her to go get all dressed up in a manner that isn’t her style?!”

  Stefani places a hand on Maggie’s shoulder, smiling sweetly, but her eyes telling Maggie to calm down. “Maggie, I think you misunderstand what the purpose of a makeover is. It has nothing to do with Jeremy, or anyone else for that matter. It is about giving back to yourself every now and then. No one is expecting Zen to transform into someone new, but it will allow her, and all of us to pamper ourselves a little. Winter is such a pain here, and as we are moving into Spring, wouldn’t it be nice to remind ourselves what we can be, rather than what we are forced to be? It will be fun!”

  Maggie still had reservations, as her makeovers in the past were anything but fun. She did take the time to acknowledge that whenever she had done it, never was it for her sake, but always for someone else. She wondered if it would feel different if it was all on her terms.”

  “Let me call Anaar and see if he can drop us-”

  Maggie places her hand on Stefani’s arm gently, shaking her head. “That’s a bad idea. Thanks to Phave, everyone is on punishment now. Asking to be transported somewhere will get you hung up on at best, and blown to pieces at worst.”

  Stefani looks at Maggie with a sour expression. “Okay… Since Phavian is ruining things for everyone as usual, I guess we will take the shuttle. Luckily it leaves from here so we can hop the one coming in the next ten minutes no problem.”

  Zenia herself was not convinced this outing would make her feel any better, but she thought it would at least take her mind off the situation. On the ride over, the three of them tried to make cheerful conversation, but it was not enough to keep Zenia engaged. Maggie, who had decided to sit next to Zenia, wanted to continue exploring Zenia’s feelings.

  “I know this is devastating for you. I just hope it doesn’t cause you to swear off everyone so you don’t have to risk feeling the pain again.”

  Zenia continued to stare absently out the window, the words falling from her lips without the need for thought. “It’s like he cut out of piece of me, and now I’m massively hemorrhaging internally. The most disgustingly ironic thing about that is, I’m considered to be one of the best Medics in the school, but I don’t have any way to even begin healing that kind of wound. Some Medic, huh?”

  Maggie grabs Zenia’s hand, interlacing their fingers and squeezing it gently. “Don’t worry, I don’t think it has anything to do with your abilities. I know a particularly overpowered Medic that probably couldn’t take care of it either. For now, just do what you can to take your mind off it and see if it helps. I’m not going to give you any stupid speeches about how things are not so bad, and how you at least have your health. Toxic positivity is the worst.”

  Once the women had arrived, they were immediately led by Shonte and Stefani, both bursting with enthusiasm. Following wordlessly, only smiling and nodding occasionally, Maggie was happy Stefani finally had someone she could bond with over similar interests. Though she and Stefani were like sisters by this point, it did not change their very different interests and personalities. This proved useful since Zenia had a mindset that was far similar to her own, which allowed her to serve as the safety blanket.

  Though Shonte and Stefani could not contain their joy, Maggie did note the two of them were not forcing her nor Zenia. To her surprise, they were like more tolerable salespersons, quick to notice when something had caught their attention, and inquiring from there. This was indeed a massive departure from what she was accustomed to, which left her wondering if it were due to Shonte being there to soak up Stefani’s enthusiasm, or if the occasion truly did dictate their behavior.

  Initially Zenia was not particularly responsive, but as they visited more and more stores, her icy exterior began to thaw, and she actively engaged with Stefani and Shonte. Her attitude was so shocking, it even affected Maggie, causing her to become more engaged as well. Zenia began to enjoy herself, trying on a variety of outfits that she found beautiful, while still staying true to herself. Though she ended up buying only one outfit due to the prices, by the end of their trip, her attitude was the exact opposite of how it began.

  Tears of joy, rather than sadness streaming down her face, she tightly hugged each of the three women as they awaited the shuttle back to campus. “Thank you so much, all of you. I was skeptical like Maggie at first. I didn’t see what good this could do, but it really helped me get back some of my confidence, a
nd eased the pain. It isn’t gone, but I know better now that I am still a beautiful woman, no matter what someone else might have led me to believe.”

  Stefani began crying herself, while Shonte only responded with a roguish grin. “Girl, we just getting started. I am so mad they ain’t got no hair shop, but it’s alright. Lucky for you I got some braiding hair in my room. I think braids would look better on you than some bundles anyway. We finna go get you put all the way together, and parade around this dumb ass man like the bad bitches we are! Nope! Don’t look over here sir! We don’t needs yo ole raggedy ass gaze! Keep them eyes on that lil ho of yours!”

  All of them laughed, Zenia laughing the hardest since the idea felt delightful to her. She was so excited to enact their plan, that she, Stefani and Shonte could not stop talking about the logistics for the entire ride back to campus. Maggie found herself left out, though it was by choice, only smiling and agreeing from time to time, even though she had no clue what she was agreeing with. As she was the only person with no bags, and had no intention of joining the party, she left the three of them to their own devices and went back to her room.

  Even though half the day was already over, Maggie could not bring herself to simply languish in bed or something else as unproductive. Gathering her things, she was happy to find someone else in a similar situation who was all too excited to keep her company. Meeting in one of the larger inside sparring arenas, she and Pryshka set about training, the ever-looming School Rankings Tournament on their minds. In this session, rather than focus on only certain skills at a time, they decided to have a no holds barred sparring session.

  Though they said there would be nothing held back, they were all too aware of what would happen if they went that route. With no dedicated healer on hand to care for them, they both did their best, without doing anything that would leave the other with serious injuries. Because of this, moments where Pryshka could have fully intwined Maggie in her sword and finished her off, had delays that allowed Maggie to slip out just in the nick of time. Conversely Maggie chose not to use her bow, which despite all her growth, was still the deadliest weapon in her arsenal.