Chapter 52

52

The weather flipped, and the bite in the air wasn't going away anytime soon. Winter had arrived in Tolevarre, officially bringing cold weather to most of the eastern territories.

A winter storm brought a blizzard to Imber and the mountain ranges throughout the realm. The people of Solum were working overtime to prevent the crops from being damaged by the frost drifting into the rolling hills.

Amora, the coldest territory in the realm, was used to year-round winter weather, but even it was getting buried by the storm.

Vega wrapped her coat around her tighter, burrowing into the warmth of the collar from the blowing wind, wishing she could find the heat of a summer storm right now. Vega could still summon storms in the cold, but they would only increase the windchill to a level no one would be happy with.

The Solum rebels called for backup at midnight, reporting an unruly group of soldiers wreaking havoc on the locals of a small village called Schoenus that bordered the main city.

Arlet and Vega had been looking through books from Littera, attempting to find an alternative solution Vega knew they wouldn't find when the call came in. They had both jumped up simultaneously, never once second-guessing where they should be during a fight.

At least Arlet and Khort stopped fighting Vega on that front. It'd been nearly a week since she'd realized what it was going to take to break her curse and only an hour less than that for Vega to realize her friends wouldn't budge on their decision not to help her try.

She'd already decided she would try herself if they didn't find a backup by the turn of the new year. But at least their impromptu trip to Solum brought another option to the table.

For too long, Vega had spent her time hiding, allowing herself to be locked away like a porcelain doll—no longer would she hide, cursed or not.

What was the point of being found if she wasn't allowed to live?

Vega left a trail of bodies across the back roads of Schoenus. She didn't leave a single soldier alive if she came across them. Killing didn't hurt anymore, dulling over time to a small ache in her chest. She'd never been keen on taking someone's life, but it had been thrust upon her, and she was sick of being on the other end.

Vega helped the locals move the bodies to a mass burn pit. People died in war, she reminded herself. And war was here…

Vega took a deep breath as she approached Khort and Quinley. Thanks to her and her spying, they knew their rebuttal hadn't sounded an alarm in Stella. Meyer was too busy wrangling up what soldiers he had left in Solum, and Bridger hadn't been seen in weeks.

For whatever sick and twisted reason, Vega had hoped at least the latter showed up.

"I've never seen you in action like that," Quinley commented when Vega stood beside her.

Vega had only known her for a brief moment in her last life—a life in which she was so far from who she was now. "I've never been this version of myself," she replied honestly, pulling her wild battle hair back in a high pony, her usual braids pinning her flyaways down to her scalp.

"I think I like this version." The girl bowed her head, reaching her hand out to brush Khort's arm.

He stiffened at Quinley's touch in Vega's presence. She pretended not to notice, staring as a flame took over the dead bodies, sending their souls to whatever afterlife they deserved.

"I'm going to head back to my post. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with." Quinley waved goodbye to Vega, disappearing before their eyes.

Her invisibility reminded Vega too much of Marlena.

She pulled herself farther into her coat despite the warmth coming from the flame. The fire sizzled, the smell of flesh burning too overwhelming to ignore. Vega swallowed down the bile forcing its way up.

"You okay?" Khort asked, turning from the flame.

His voice distracted her from the smell she'd been fixated on. "Fine," she said, offering a small smile as they walked through the now-empty streets.

The sun was peeking over the horizon, bringing forth a new day.

"Meaning you don't want to talk about it?" Khort raised an eyebrow.

"No, you don't want to talk about what's on my mind, so why bother?" Vega watched as the sun rose slowly from behind the hills and sank behind the winter storm clouds looming in the distance.

"You're still thinking about Earth," he stated.

"I'll never stop thinking about it." Vega shook her head. "Not when it's the only viable option we've got."

Khort sighed. "Vega."

"Please, I can't talk about it anymore." Not with someone who couldn't see what was so clear.

Vega loved her friends, she did… but they'd begun to baby her in wa ys she wasn't used to, in ways that made her feel inferior because of a curse she couldn't control.

She tried to understand, putting herself in their shoes, trying to fathom what it would feel like if it were Arlet with the curse and not herself.

But all she could think about was how Bridger never once made her feel like she couldn't do something—with or without a curse.

And that was a problem because Vega shouldn't be thinking positively about Bridger in any sort of way—not after everything.

Not after the way their kiss made her feel.

"I hope you know Arlet and I are doing what we can to keep you safe."

Vega bit back a scoff, her teeth cutting into the inside of her lip. "Yeah" was all she said.

They reached the hut where Arlet was helping fix up some wounded rebels. She smiled at them both as they approached, but it didn't reach her eyes. There was nothing happy about burning bodies, no matter what side of the line they came from.

"What did Quinley say?" Arlet asked, passing the supplies in her hands to a healer.

"No movement in Aeris, Fortis, or Ardor. It seems they're going to let us have this little battle," Khort answered.

And really, that was what this was— a little battle.

Seventy dead soldiers with rankings under level three, who were looking for trouble, was nothing more than a bothersome morning to those in power.

"Hmm," Arlet hummed. She nibbled on the inside of her lip.

"What?" Vega asked, nodding at her.

"It's just curious. Why wouldn't they show up when they've been jumping at every opportunity to squander this rebellion since the beginning?"

"Because she's planning something bigger," Vega answered, her brow raised as if it were obvious.

She left Khort and Arlet to banter back and forth, something more important weighing on her mind. Vega wandered off towards a small group of Schoenus locals tending to their horses. A petite elderly woman with a curved back and kind eyes smiled at her, chattering to her horse. It whinnied, attention flickering to Vega as she approached.

"What did she say?" Vega asked, reaching out to stroke the horse's soft muzzle. The mare pressed her nose into Vega's hand in a sweet hello.

The woman brushed the horse, its white hair full with a winter coat. "She asked if you were the one with the lightning." Her voice quivered with old age.

Some of Solum's people bonded with animals, allowing them to speak to the creature who chose them—and it was the animal who chose the bond, not the other way around.

Vega nodded with a smile as the horse nickered. "Yes, that's me. Sorry if I startled you."

The little old woman laughed a happy sound, patting the mare on the back after she put the brush away in her basket. "She's okay. Pip has been through worse."

Vega's heart ached. Bonded animals lived as long as their person did, which meant Pip had to be hundreds of years old.

"She and I want to thank you for coming to our aid. It's been ugly around here with the soldiers using our town as a base. They take what they want without respect to those who live here." The woman shuffled her feet, slowly standing beside Vega, where she continued stroking Pip's head. "I'm Belva."

"Belva, it's nice to meet you. Vega." She held out her hand. The woman's grip was surprisingly strong for how fragile she seemed.

Belva's smile revealed she knew who Vega was, but she didn't say it… and for that, Vega was grateful. "Wonderful to meet you."

Vega peered over her shoulder, not seeing Khort and Arlet where she'd left them .

Perfect.

"Is there a horse I might be able to borrow for an hour or so? It's been too long since I've gotten a little alone time, and after this morning, I could really use some quiet to read." Vega let her hand drop away from Pip and fall to her side.

Belva eyed Vega, nodding to a stable at the end of the road. "Come with us. We'll get you set up with someone."

Much to Vega's surprise, a horse was already saddled and ready to ride. She'd snuck out of the back stables without notice from Khort and Arlet, a small satchel of books strung along the saddle.

Schoenus was only twenty minutes from Littera and the Minerva Archives, where she was hoping she could find Colette.

She was Vega's last hope—the last option she might have to convince someone to give her absurd idea a chance.

Vega pulled the cloak's hood up as she approached the city's main road to hide from prying eyes. She suddenly felt thankful for the snow falling in fat flakes around her now at a higher altitude. Everyone who passed was bundled up, their heads down as they shuffled to wherever they were headed.

She tied the stallion to a tree, giving herself an exit into the forest if needed. Vega felt the prickle of eyes on her, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She pivoted in the fresh snow, scanning the area around her.

No one was paying her any mind, but the tingle remained.

Vega reached into her jacket pocket. She gave the horse a sugar cube and a pat on his muscular neck before she snuck into the library's side entrance.

Vega felt the strain on her powers as the door closed behind her, unsettling her. She had spent too much time without the steady thrum of electricity and the whirl of her storms. Vega didn't want to be powerless for even a second. Her hands slid to her sides, confirming her daggers were in their places.

The feeling of being watched had yet to leave her .

She would know if it were one of the bonded.

Vega trailed her eyes across the main room, the light from the glass ceiling above dimmed by a layer of snow. There was no one behind her and no one but the students bustling through the aisles in their white robes.

Vega turned a corner, hurrying down the hall towards Colette's wing.

What if she wasn't here? What was her plan then?

Vega pushed those thoughts out of her mind, focusing on what she could guarantee—not getting caught in the main library of Littera by the enemy.

She looked behind once more, and with her eyes focused in the wrong direction, Vega came crashing into someone. A startled peep escaped the woman now on her ass from the collision.

Vega whipped her head around, eyes landing on Colette. A smile pulled at her lips, still hidden behind the hood cloaking her. "Oh my gods. I'm so sorry," she cooed, reaching out to help her up.

Colette's soft voice murmured her own apology, accepting the helping hand. "You're fi?—"

Vega let her hood down, releasing Colette's hand.

"Vega," she hissed, pulling her behind an open door. "What are you doing here?"

What am I doing here?

Vega found her words before speaking. "I have a couple of books I wanted to return." It was partially true. She dug around in her bag and pressed two against Colette's chest.

The blonde's eyebrows met in a V shape. "You shouldn't be here. There are too many eyes. The books could have waited." Her voice was a hushed murmur.

"Well," Vega paused, biting her lip. It's now or never. "That's not the only reason I'm here." She looked around the room, catching a student ogling at her from the corner .

Colette followed her gaze, snapping her fingers at the young boy. His eyes diverted from them, and he tottered away.

It wouldn't be long before people learned Vega was here.

"Colette, I need your help with something. You told me to tell you if something in one of the tomes worked." Vega pulled the last book out of her bag.

Colette shook her head, placing a finger over Vega's lip. "Not here." She grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a small office. The lights winked to life as they walked in, and the door squeaked shut. "You don't have much time. Start talking."

Vega swallowed her fear and delved into the gritty details. As she spoke, she flipped to the page numbers she'd memorized. Vega pointed out the most important details, not missing a beat.

"I keep getting pulled back to Earth. That has to mean my curse is there, tied to that world somehow. Maybe the key is just being able to outsmart it… but regardless of what it is, I need to get back to Earth, and I need to trick this curse into thinking I'm dead so I keep my memories this time." Vega felt breathless after spilling her guts to an ally who might be too new to trust—an ally who was the granddaughter of one of Marlena's most loyal praefecti.

Colette shook her head, the ends of her blonde hair rustling over the shoulder of her robe. "I can't help you with this." She walked to the door and peeked outside, searching the corners for watchful eyes.

Vega stepped forward, reaching for her hand, but Colette pulled back. "Colette, please. You're my last hope."

"No. It puts me in too much danger, and I refuse to be put in the middle of a war I can't fight myself out of." Colette's bronze skin had gone pale, fear prickling her skin.

Vega's expression was tight, lips pursed. "You've already put yourself in the middle by helping me."

"I owed Urban a favor. I do not owe you anything. I got you out of here safe, and now I must protect myself. My grandfather has been babbling about seeing you here for days. It's only a matter of time before Marlena shows up here, questioning all of us. Or that Bridger shows up with his army ready to burn this place to the ground for harboring secrets we've been keeping for centuries." Colette ushered Vega out of the door and back down the hall. "I'm sorry I'm not the fearless ally you were hoping for, but I want to live just like the others here in Littera. I will do what I can, when I can to help, but this is not something I will help with."

Colette pulled Vega's hood up for her, moving them quickly through the halls.

Vega wanted to argue with her, to fight and claw to get her way—but she wouldn't. That was what Marlena did, not her. Vega would find another way. She always found another way.

When they got back to the door Vega entered through, Colette stood outside on the stoop and bowed her head as Vega descended the stone stairs. "I am sorry, Vega. Truly. I'm rooting for you, but I am not equipped to fight off Marlena if this goes badly. And I am certainly not sure I'd want to have an angry Arlet or Khort on my ass, either."

Snowflakes were coming down thicker, a white coat layering the ground she stood on. "I hope you know this will end in war, Colette. It's already started. My sister has gotten away with far too much already. I will not rest until she is dead, but first, I have to get the upper hand and break the curse she's been using to keep me prisoner inside my own body." Vega turned, heading back to her horse. "If you're not with us when it's time to choose a side, you'll be dead too," she called back to the young girl standing on the steps of a building Vega would watch crumble if she had to, taking all of Tolevarre's history with it.

Vega was sick of people playing whatever side benefited them. Colette would have to choose, one way or another.

Her borrowed horse whinnied when she walked up, his head falling to Vega's pocket where more sugar cubes hid. She reached in and nabbed another for him to crunch on while she readied herself to get back and start formulating a new plan.

Vega began to untie the horse's reins from the tree when a voice froze her in place.

"How far are you willing to go to set your scheme into motion?"

Quicker than she'd ever moved, Vega twisted away from the horse, and lightning licked at her fingertips with power so strong it raised the heat inside her body.

Meyer's golden eyes gleamed as he raked them up her body, sizing up his opponent. "Hello, Sparks."