Page 45 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

When she walks away, I allow myself to exhale. The only thing I can think to do is run back to the septic, but that is not an option for me anymore, not without my mom. Not before I figure out what is chasing her and who’s taken her.

Not when I’ve killed one of my own.

Chapter 10

Reality Ruined My Vision

LUCIAN

In the year 5AA (After Arcane), Soma declared forbiddance pertaining to the creation of new automatic weapons powered by the orphia’s life force. They said it was to preserve the peace they’d fostered since the war. While Viridis, Serpencia, and Verena were magically sworn to oath, there are no records that state Lorucille and Soma ever were.

— AFTER ARCANES (UNPUBLISHED)

It takes Calista only three days to barge into my room, screaming, “I could kill you!”

“I don’t believe that’s a new sentiment,” I remark.

She pushes up onto her tippy toes so that she can grip the collar of my shirt. I glance at her hands. I knew I could count on her to find the information.

“Would you release me?” I say kindly, and she lets go of my shirt with an obnoxious sigh and an exaggerated motion of her hands. “What did you find?” I ask.

Her scowl grows deeper than I’ve ever seen, more sullen than the day we found out we were to be wed. “You know what I found!” she seethes, taking a step closer. “Weapons, Lucian. I found weapons.”

This is more than I anticipated. When one refers to “weapons” in this manner, they do not mean swords or bows. They mean weapons, automatic devices with the highest of intelligence in their lands—the magic of the universe embedded into something without a soul and with one goal: to cause destruction.

If Lorucille is still crafting, it could mean one thing: they were planning on betraying the Littaline Compact that deems Soma and them allies. The only kingdom they have the desire to fight—the only creatures they could take anything more from—are the Lucents.

I can only take this one step at a time. While the discovery of a weapon is a grand one, I’m more worried about Desdemona and her mother’s ties to the Arcanes.

“What are the coordinates?” I pray that she will not make this difficult.

“You said we would get our freedom!” she exclaims in what I’m sure is as hushed a tone as she can manage beneath her anger. Her finger raises at me in an accusatory manner. “This could be a death sentence. You could start a war. My family could be ripped from the throne!”

“What do you think is going to happen if Elysia starts making weapons again?” I ask, as if this is what I truly care about. “What kind of a war will we have on our hands then?”

“You’re gonna be the one to start it!” she yells, too loudly. Anyone in the halls with enhanced hearing could’ve heard her.

I reciprocate her angry gaze and say, “It’s already begun. You weren’t there in Soma, but your brother was. Viridis and Serpencia are fighting again. Lorucille and Soma are still at odds over the power of it all. It won’t be long until the fighting begins, and what do you think is going to happen if one of the worlds has a super-powered machine of destruction?” I pause, weighing my options quickly, waiting for some sort of insight into what Calista will say next. I get none.

“I won’t tell Lusia or Labyrinth.” I never planned on it. “My reasoning for requiring the location is not to doom Lorucille. I simply want to know the truth so I can prepare myself.”

Calista sneers at me, and her eyes twitch. “Always thinking about yourself. I see. You never meant to get us out of the marriage!”

“You know I don’t want to marry you any more than Lilac wants to marry Kai. If there is ever a chance of salvation, I will take it.”

“This isn’t salvation!” she yells.

“Neither is destroying the universe. This is bigger than us, bigger than a forced marriage and forced worldly alliances. This is the possibility of universal genocide. Do you want that on your conscience if you happen to be lucky enough to survive what will become inevitable if you keep wasting our time?” Calista glares at me for much too long. I soften my face, unclench my jaw, and say, “Please, tell me the location of the headquarters.”

She exhales, her shoulders dropping, and I know that she is about the give in.

“The mountain region of the welders’ woods. Get me a map and I’ll show you where.”

We do just that.

After Calista has shown me where to find the facility—and before I go to Azaire—I make my way to the lunar lake where I am to meet Desdemona. Lilac intercepts me on my way there.

“What are you doing Lucy?” she asks me immediately.

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