Page 81 of When Monsters Rise
“It’llbe chaos without direction,”Erelimsays. “Shouldwe step in?”
Ididn’t come here to lead.Itwas never my forte, and these people don’t know me, butIcan support the true leader.Theperson these people should look up to.
Rue.
“It’snot our place to lead here,Erelim, but we can helpRueandShem’swatchers.Thesepeople know her.Theyunderstand her importance and her connection to theMorningstar.”
“Maybethey should know that all hope is not lost,”Erelimsays. “Thatwe can still fix their world.Thisplace is a sanctuary and they’re safe here.Thereis no way for theDominionto discover the truth.”
He’sright, andI’dagree to reveal it to them except…Mygaze falls onJilyanastanding by the alter area past the crossing section of the church.Hereyes are dull and red-rimmed from crying at the news ofShem’sdeath.Buthow real is her grief?
Thiscreature deceived two celestials.
Shefractured this world.
“Idon’t trust the djinn.”
Erelimfollows my gaze. “Ah…yes…Isee.”
“Untilwe can be sure of her motives, the truth aboutRue’sability must remain a secret held by a trusted few.”
“AndRue?Doesshe trust the djinn?”
“Yes.”
“Inthat case, you’ll need to speak to her and convince her not to confide in the djinn.”
“No,Itold you already!”Mira’svoice rises in exasperation as people close in around her.There’spanic in her eyes as she scans the room, as if searching for a lifeline.
Fuckit. “Enough!”
Myvoice is a boom that reverberates around the chamber, and all eyes turn to me: inquisitive, frowning, upset.
Idon’t give a shit. “Shemyazadied so that all of you could be safe, and this is how you repay him?Bybickering over inconsequential things such as rooms?Begrateful you have a roof to shelter under.Begrateful that you have your lives.”
Severalpeople drop their heads in shame.
“Butfor how long?” someone demands. “Shemyazais dead, which means we’re fucked.Who’sgoing to fix theMorningstarand get us our world back?”
“Idon’t know.”Ilift my chin. “ButwhatIdo know is that if you fight amongst yourselves, none of you will live to find out the answer.”Istep forward into the crowd. “Whilethere is life, there is hope.Believethat we will find another way.Trustin that.”Ilook toMira. “Allocatewhatever rooms you see fit, and if anyone argues, they can sleep on the pews.”
Miranods curtly. “Youheard him.Nowlisten up…”
Iwalk away, andErelimfollows, leaving her in charge once more.
“Weshould speak to the watchers,”Erelimsays. “Tellthem what we’ve learned of theDominion’splans and tell them about the human resistance.”
“Yes, but not withoutRue.”Iglance across the room, toward the door that leads to the back of the church. “Nottonight.Tonighteveryone needs a moment to breathe and process.Tomorrowwe’ll make plans.”
Chapter36
RUE
BastianandBeeleft me to get myself cleaned up in the small washroom off the study.Iwas grateful for their comfort, butIneeded a moment to collect myself.Alone.
Myhead was fuzzy from crying, and although the awful weight of loss that sat on my chest was still there, a part of me felt lighter.I’dhave to learn to live with these feelings.Thisemptiness.Learnto accept it as a part of me.
Butfor now,Ineeded to pull my shit together.
