Page 59 of Cerulean Truth
It wasn't a dumb idea for her to accompany me—we'd been tight for years, and let's face it, she was by far the best dancer among us five. Plus, from an outsider's perspective, we looked like a damn power couple—matching in looks, drive, and talent.
However, that wasn't exactly how I envisioned spending my night.
“Actually…” My voice trailed off, not sure how to get out of it, when out of the blue, Jackson swooped in with his long overdue hero-moment.
“Actually, that’s not exactly true... If anyone's going to be Walker’s arm candy, it's going to be me,” Jackson interrupted. His announcement was met with stunned silence from the rest of us. I had no clue where he was headed with this, but the idea of rolling with Jackson as my wingman for the night sounded like some unexpected fun.
“Yes, you heard me right,” Jackson continued, looking a tad sheepish now. We all stared at him in disbelief, knowing damn well that Jackson wouldn't touch politics with a ten-foot pole. The legal profession, as he often said, tested the limits of hypocrisy, but politics crossed any lines he was already reluctant to respect.
“How so?” I prodded.
Jackson let out a sigh. “Over the past few weeks, my advisory role for the Council has turned into a full-time gig. The Council’s been bombarded with inquiries from Leaders and Specialists worldwide about the Great Exposure, and a bunch of these magic bigwigs are on the Committee. So the Council wanted me there; technically, it's notasobligatory for me like it is for you but turning them down didn't feel like much of an option.”
He locked eyes with me as he explained, and I nodded in understanding. I knew exactly what he meant, especially since I'd recently caught wind that the resistance against the Great Exposure was gaining numbers. We’d need all the Orators we could get to draw up our legal possibilities.
"So, I was thinking I'd roll with Walker and catch up with you guys at the reception," Jackson proposed.
"Yeah, works for me," I replied hastily.
Matthew seemed absolutely thrilled at the idea of having not one, but two smart and stunning ladies on his arm. In starkcontrast, Justine appeared visibly crestfallen, a detail I made a mental note of for future reference.
“Awesome, then it's settled,” Matthew grinned smugly. “I'll go with Justine and Nino, and we'll catch up with you lot once you're done with your mandatory crap.”
I nodded absentmindedly, feeling a sudden surge of pent-up energy. Taking slow, deliberate breaths, I tried to regain control.
"I'm heading off for some training. I'll catch up with you guys later," I called over my shoulder, leaving them with surprised expressions as I made my exit.
SEVENTEEN
EMMA
Day one: The Winter Palace
As I stumbled along behind Enya, her resolute stride guided me through yet another maze of hallways, reducing my orientation on day one to a big fat zero.
"So, second cycler?" I attempted some small talk. "Does that mean you're, like, two hundred years old?"
"I was born about a hundred thirty-two years ago." She marched forward, showing no signs of slowing down. "In physical years though, I’m twenty-eight."
We stepped onto an intricately patterned marble floor, the echo of our footsteps bouncing off the stone walls.
"Here we are," she pronounced, and swung open a small door, revealing a round tower-like room. The space inside was nothing short of lovely—warm wooden furniture, gleaming hardwood floors, pristine white walls, and a soft, inviting glow from the lighting. I took it all in for a moment, and was relieved to find my three hefty suitcases at the foot of the bed, patiently awaiting their unpacking.
"You’re probably exhausted," Enya remarked, her tone still sharp. "Freshen up a bit, and I’ll pick you up in an hour. I’ll showyou around Winter Palace today, but I have other things to do than to be your personal tour guide so after that, you’re on your own" she said harshly.
I nodded, holding back the desire to salute her. There was no way to know how she’d take it and making enemies on day one did seem a little ambitious, even for me.
Without another word, Enya exited the room, closing the door behind her.
I let out a weary sigh and dropped my handbag before sinking to the floor, drained by the day’s events.
After a few minutes with my eyes closed, I scanned the room and was pleased to find there was a double bed, a spacious desk, a huge closet which dwarfed any I’d ever seen before, and another door, leading to a small washroom with a toilet and sink but no shower.
Wishing for a touch of normalcy, I reached for my cell phone, eager to call my parents, only to find it not working. At all. All I had was a black screen. I recalled James’s peculiar device. What was it called? I furrowed my brow, racking my memory. "Nexus!" I nearly shouted, relieved I had retained some information.
I needed to get a Nexus as soon as possible.
Rising from the floor, I decided to freshen up and began hanging my clothes in the closet. Enya re-entered the room as I continued to arrange my clothes. She cast a brief glance at my suitcases and said, "You can simply translate them into your closet if you want."
