“For the safety of Serre.”
Ms. Voidracker echoed back. “For the safety of Serre.”
“Let’s hope The Regime picks up the packages and goes.”
“That is the ultimate hope: to leave Serre alone in exchange for the fugitives.”
I cocked my eyebrow, turning my head toward Ms. Voidracker’s conversation.
The conductor cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him.
A french-horn player across the orchestra played the first chord in the piece.
I played my first chord afterward.
THIRTY-THREE
Calista
The columns of Serre’s conservatory arched over the double doors like soldiers guarding a precious secret. This building, though white overall, contained small, red accents sprinkled over the doorway. I ruffled my purple dress, teetering to one side when my foot stepped on the fabric. Quickly regaining my balance, I wrapped my arms around my shoulders. Brr… it was getting colder by the second. What a night to have my arms exposed!
On my neck, the rosary sat there like it always did, now blending in with my hand-made dress. I gulped and took in a deep breath. Here goes to being wild and unexpected, right? Enya would be proud of me… if she ever got to the ball on time. With a statement like that, I sounded like one of Dustin’s fairytale princesses!
Stepping up to the doorway, I glanced upwards at the red accents. Over the doors, a scene painted out two people standing on a hillside, arms bound together in a truce. Although this was painted in red, one figure carried a flute or a clarinet in her hand while the other wielded a gun and a C marked on his shoulder. Why would The Regime let Serre keep a design like this while under their control?
Dustin adjusted his gray tie. “They say Serre’s history with The Regime is more interesting than any other city.”
“Really?” I tilted my head.
“Yeah, Red,” Dustin snorted. “Don’t you look out of place.”
“Thanks…” I narrowed my eyes.
“I didn’t mean it. Just not used to you in a bold dress.”
“Huh… I never pictured someone with a metal arm in a tux either.” Wes patted my shoulder and adjusted his suit collar.
Dustin tugged at his ear. “Very funny. Flames. Where is she?”
“Running late,” I quickly spoke up.
“Typical Enya…” he chuckled.
“You ready for this Calista?” Wes’ palms laced with sweat.
I beamed with excitement. “You’re more nervous than I am…”
“It’s sweat!” Wes cleared his throat. “I just finished painting.”
“Right…” Dustin’s metal arm grasped onto the door handle and swung it open.
An array of beautiful sounds swept the room, some high and melodic while others moaned lower tones. The orchestra in the back featured a central figure, one with a violin and wearing the same casual wear he did earlier that morning. Ambert rose and fell with the music, fully embracing it, connecting with it deeper than anything I’d seen before. The melody he played scaled up and down, drawn out like an elegant, sorrowful walk before picking up into a full sprint.
The clinking of drinks and laughs of the crowd muffled his sounds, filling the atmosphere with the laughter and dream-filled love I expected Dreamers to have. What would it be like after we took down The Regime? Would we play and dance every day? Have balls with friends and families laughing with one another? The possibilities of dreams were endless.
A figure bumped into me, clinking the two glasses of water against each other as he walked past.
Excitement filled me again as I let out a small chuckle and said, “Ju-long?”
“So sorry, Miss…” he bowed his head.
“I… I didn’t expect you to be here.”
“I’m a fond dancer. Kuan practiced with me, even if she hated it.”
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” Wes’ smile curved even further upward.
Ju-long nodded. “Pardon me, but I have to get back to…”
“Flirting?” Dustin interrupted. “The two drinks gives it away.”
Ju-long’s face reddened like a tomato. “Um… well… I…”
“Go enjoy yourself, man.” Wes patted him on the back.
Ju-long grinned and scampered off.
Dustin’s eyes bulged. “Wow…”
I turned my head to find Enya, making her own grand entrance in the doorway. Immediately, my jaw sank to the floor.
Her hair blended from her normal dark brown into red and orange, flickering in the light like a flame. Smoky eyes gazed around the room, and her dark red lips matched the color of her velvet, off-the-shoulder dress. Her black heeled boots clicked on the floor, each step showing off the round curves on her waist and thighs. Each step displayed confidence in her round body.
Placing her thick hands on her hips, Enya wasn’t a diva. She was the lady of the hour, a fire of red in a sea of formal white. She flamed more beautiful than any girl in the crowd, filled with a wild passion. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said Enya was a goddess. She’d outdone us all.
“Wow…” Dustin scanned her up and down. “You look wicked… not that you weren’t before.” Dustin stretched out his hand, reaching for hers and did a small, formal bow.
She took his hand and smiled. “What’s this? An ex-government employee asking for my consent again?”
“May I…?” Dustin eyed her hand.
She raised her hand to his face, letting him kiss it. “I’m up to playing princess for a night.”
“Well, did you want to dance?”
“What does it look like, metal arm?” Enya placed her other arm on his shoulder.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder, wearing a pair of khakis and a worn caramel sweater. Her kind, coffee-colored eyes gazed into mine, showing a sense of pride I’d never seen in her shy nature before.
“Mom." my face lit up.
“Shall we, Calista?”
We circled the people laughing around us, happy to be reunited. I could’ve been as young as Ivory, jumping on the inside like a ten-year-old. Mom spun me out and twirled me back into her arms, gripping me just like the nights before I went to bed. It seemed like so long ago, even if it was roughly over three months since we left Fortress. We’d both grown up some, but together we still held our mother-daughter connection.
I laughed and embraced her. Slowly, she kissed my cheek, so warm and filled with so much care. Looking up at my mom, the woman who inspired me for years, her worn face warmed seeing me smile and enjoy myself at the ball with hundreds of other Dreamers. In that crowded room, filled with laughter and magic, I was the only person she cared about. That was love.
When the orchestra slowly dwindled down their tune, she brushed her hand against my face and grinned. “I’ll go get us some sodas. The fizzy apple kind.”
I smiled. Mom always knew what I liked.
A familiar face bumped into my shoulder, causing me to turn his direction, my face beaming with excitement.
Ambert didn’t smile. “Cal… I…”
“Golly, this is great, isn’t it? I bet it’ll be like this every day with The Dreamers in charge.”
He touched my shoulder. “We’ve gotta leave. Now.”
“Aren’t you enjoying being part of your orchestra?” I crossed my arms.
“This isn’t about that. Something’s up here.”
“I thought you’d be all over a city of music.”
“Cal…”
“That violin means more to you than Enya and me.”
“It isn’t like that…” Ambert quivered. “The Commander’s after me.”
“Why? You never say anything to me anymore.”
He shifted his eyes away from me. “... I don’t know, okay?”
He was hiding something from me. I furrowed my brow and straightened my posture like Enya. Maybe my dirty glance would get him talking. I ha
d responsibilities away from him. People I cared about. Dreamers I needed to reach out to like Aurelia.
“I’m trying to survive, Cal. Fighting The Regime… it’s crazy. Not without proper resources.”
“We’ve got hope. Enya says that’s the strongest resource we can have. Why can’t you believe that? Military school? Being The Commander’s favorite?”
“Keeping my family safe. That’s more important than beating the system.”
“... Then you don’t want to help me find Aurelia?”
“Of course I want to.”
“Then help us fight!”
“... I didn’t say I’d kill hundreds of people. I didn’t sign up for rebellion.”
“Even if it means never playing music again?”
“There’ll be somewhere else. Somewhere we can escape to.”
“This is our fight.”
“This is a Dreamer’s quarrel with The Regime. It’s not personal to me. I have to leave Serre to protect you.”
“At least I’m not abandoning my family.”
“My mother was dark, my father… I don’t even know him. You and Enya are all I have. I’m not losing either of you.”
“Really? Wow… you really do just hang out with Enya unless there’s trouble. Am I a leech to you?”
“No, you’re my little sister. We promised to protect each other. I don’t want to see you get tainted by a looming war.”
I stepped backward. “I’m not leaving.”
“Cal…” he clenched his fist and shut his eyes. “You know what? I’m fine.”
“Then stay with us… please…" my eyes watered. “Have some fun with us tonight and stop being so worried about everything.”
He gazed into the horizon of the ballroom, looking out at all the faces around us. His expression laced with worry, the same way he did around Father, and his clothes remained stained by dirt. He hadn’t even changed for the ball. I turned my head to see what he was looking at. Ms. Voidracker whispered to another elder dressed in white. They nodded and strode toward us.
Ambert turned to look back at me, the low humming of sounds coming from his fingertips. “You’ll know where to find me.”
He left me alone, tears in my eyes. What… what kind of brother would do that?
Enya rushed toward me and narrowed her gaze. “Where did that blockhead go off to?”
“He…" my voice croaked. “Gone. He’s gone.”
“Dang it! First, he rambles on about spies, whispering, and such, and now he leaves you? I don’t know what’s gotten into him!”
“… Did you all watch that flash-key?” I looked up at her, wiping hair away from my mouth.
“Our mom was connected to Mai. Friends with her. I called it a load of crap. Garbage. He couldn’t possibly…” Enya rolled her eyes. “I’ll get him.”
“What’s this about spies?” Wes remained poker-faced.
“Don’t tease her now, Paint Can. Ambert’s flown the coop.” Enya released a sigh and stormed off to get Ambert, folding her arms over her chest.
“You okay, Calista?” Wes rubbed my shoulder.
My voice shook as tears leaked from my eyes. “No…”
“You know you can tell me anything, right? I got you into this mess in the first place.”
I nodded. “He’s scared…”
“Dreamkillers, right?”
“... He doesn’t have hope.” I looked into Wes’ eyes. “He doesn’t believe in me.”
“Hey! Don’t say that. He’s definitely proud of you.” he wiped my tears with his green tux sleeve. “He’s… just having trouble believing in himself.”
Grasping onto Wes, I embraced him tighter than I’d ever done to anyone before. Slowly, I pressed my head against his chest. “I… I can’t bear to lose you too.”
I needed an anchor. Despite the adventures I had with Ivory, Enya, Ambert, and the others, Wes latched me onto my dreams like a boat’s anchor to the ocean floor. His sea-blue eyes twinkled with the same excitement as his artwork, but now at me. He believed in me, just like many Dreamers did. Maybe I needed to believe in myself too.
He brushed a strand of my hair out of my face and wiped away a tear. “You’ll always have me. I promise you that.”
My heart fluttered. “Wes… I…”
“Yes?” His eyes sparkled the same brilliant blue they always were.
Sometimes I looked at Wes and saw a jokester, optimism and hope bleeding from his artistic veins. Other times, I saw him as a friend I needed most. But both those things faded away when I looked closer at his soul: beautiful like a piece of art, kind, and full of vigor I couldn’t find on my own. Wes opened me up to many things: beauty, dreams, creativity, and even first love.
Golly, that thought shouldn’t have been in my head, but there it was. An idea. A spark of passion Wes always talked about. Over time, I’d fallen for the artist. I developed a crush on the boy who introduced me to freedom: the one who broke me out of my cage.
Repeating my words again, I leaned closer to him. “Wes… I…”
“Wallflower.” Enya put her hand on my shoulder. “Ambert’s gone.”
And just like that, the moment was ruined.
“He wouldn’t just leave.” Wes’ jaw dropped.
“Ju-long glanced out the window and saw him leave with Ivory and Kuan across the bridge,” Enya moaned.
“He told me he went outside, but he’d never leave us!” I said.
Enya crossed her arms. “Bet it was for some stupid clothes for Ivory or more training for Kuan…”
“We’ll catch up if we hurry.” Wes lifted me up from the ground.
I put on my backpack and met up with Enya and Wes in the middle of the ballroom.
We started to leave until I eyed a few Regime soldiers rounding the corner of the window. Squinting my eyes, I noticed more entering through the doorway of the ballroom, guns by their sides and uniform masks covering their individuality from the world.
Ambert would leave me behind for two reasons: to help me or to protect me. If we were heavily outnumbered, Ambert wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt. He must’ve decided if he separated from us, soldiers wouldn’t kill as many people, maybe even split up to try to find him.
“Great… who invited all of them?” Wes asked. “We’ve gotta go another way.”
I whipped around to the opposite side of the room, Enya, Wes, and I squeezing through the crowds of people at the ball. When the view was finally clear, my eyes caught two familiar faces that led a second group of soldiers. One stern and gazing directly at me; the other’s crooked smile showed her every intention. I gulped. This didn’t look good.
“Surprise!” Mai giggled as she pointed her gun.
Gunshots fired, screams flooded the room, and just as quickly as they started, the sounds hushed.
THIRTY-FOUR
Calista
Father pointed a gun toward me and used his other hand to signal the soldiers to aim their guns at the crowd. The corners of his mouth frowned, a sign of his disapproval. Palms laced with sweat, I gulped in fear of what he’d do now that he found me.
“Sweetheart.” Father kept his expression blank, but his eyes showed doubt.
I took a step forward and clenched the rosary. “Father.”
Dustin and Ju-long rushed to meet us.
“You shouldn’t have come over here.” Enya glared at Dustin.
“You wanna get shot?” Dustin asked.
Ms. Voidracker’s cane clanked across the reflective ballroom floor. Her white faux-fur coat bounced as she walked toward Mai. Wrinkles on her face made her frown more sullen and angry. I tilted my head and looked at my friends, each of them just as curious as I was to see what would happen next. A full blown attack by The Dreamers in the room? A skilled retreat?
None of my thoughts were right. Ms. Voidracker’s solemn lips curved upward after seeing my father, reaching out her hand to shake his like the picture on the
front door.
Enya’s lip quivered as she pulled me back. “You… you invited them here. You traitor!”
“We’ve known each other for a long time.” Father remained firm.
“... Dreamers would never do this to each other,” I croaked.
Mai smiled her signature crooked grin. It looked more sinister than ever. “So, where are they?”
“The boy was in the orchestra. Then, between songs, he overheard me and disappeared.” Ms. Voidracker clutched onto her cane. “I’m sorry…”
“What about the little girl?” Father’s eyes narrowed.
Ms. Voidracker lowered her gaze. “She disappeared with him.”
“What?!” Mai’s eyes widened.
“I told you the information you wanted. Now, leave Serre.” Ms. Voidracker stiffened her shoulders.
“I told you to hand them in.” Mai clenched her teeth. “You have no idea how important they are to The…”
“Serre will no longer engage with you, Mai.” Ms. Voidracker lifted her chin.
Mai giggled and regained her composure. “Fine, we’ll just take the others.”
Ms. Voidracker placed herself in front of us. “They have nothing to do with our agreement. You just wanted…”
“Plans change. I want my daughter back anyway.” Father took a step forward.
Ms. Voidracker held up her cane. “Astra would be disappointed in you, Hugo.”
“Kill her,” Mai ordered.
Father chuckled. “You take orders from me, brat.”
“Do I?” Mai battered her eyes and shot Ms. Voidracker’s head, sending her to the floor.
I gasped. The head of Serre was killed in a single swoop brought by a tiny girl who looked smaller than I did. I quivered from head to toe, my lip the most prominent quivering feature. Water tempted to spill from my eyes as my gaze met Father’s.
Mai wiped the blood from her dress. “That’s one. Who’s next?”
“We’ll never go with you,” Enya yelled.
“Enya wants to sacrifice her friends,” Mai said in a sing-song tone.
Dustin spat on the ground. “Hey, don’t say that.”
Splintering Reality (Breaking Order Series Book 2) Page 22
