Page 135 of The Cerulean Sister
I am stared at for a long time before he finally lifts his wrist and mutters something, most of it coded. He turns his head like the reply is being spoken into the earpiece of his helmet.
"Affirmative," he confirms into his wrist. "I will escort you." He gestures for me to follow.
I walk beside him to the wing of the Estate nearest the courtyard the Viathan fleet occupies. More commanders line the walls, one posted at each pillar. I have not seen a single Estate guard or worker since we came down this wing, like the Viathans have completely taken it over.
"Wait here," the commander guiding me says, pointing to the opening of a stairwell.
"Here?" I ask, confused, but when he leaves without an answer, I take a few steps up the twisting spiral stairs that block my view of the rest of the hallway.
I lean against the blocky, carved wall waiting to see if the commander will come back to take me the rest of the way or if this is truly the meeting location.
It may be foolish for me to seek 99 out in the Estate, even if I have been allowed to move around on my own again. It's still dangerous. Crixa does not fully trust me, and if it were not so close to the conjunction when all temple members are needed, I know I would still be pushing my cart.
The light tread of footsteps echoes into the spiral column of the staircase, the noise funneling upward into an empty watchtower above. The space is so narrow, only two people can stand the width of the stairs, their shoulders almost touching.
My heart drops to my stomach when 99’s determined steps up the stairs halt when he sees me. There are no candles to illuminate the space, only the glow of the ones that bounce their light into the entrance from the hallway.
He takes a few more steps toward me, the light of his armor blotted out in the darker space.
"Are you well?" he asks, his chest rising and falling in large breaths like he walked briskly to get to me when he heard I was near. He does not pull me into an embrace like he normally would, instead standing too far apart from me a few steps lower.
"Yes. Are you?" I run my hand down my veil, fidgeting under the intensity now filling the small space.
My heart beats a little faster, not because of our potential of being seen together but because of the way he looks like he has been waiting to hear from me.
"I spoke to Lord General again this morning."
"Will you tell me how it went?"
"He was very receptive." He takes two steps up the stairs and leans against the wall across from me, now level with my eyeline.
"That is a good sign then?"
He nods.
"Selene testified? The records were enough?"
"They were." He crosses his arms. "He is drawing up the order now."
I press my hand to my chest, reminding myself to breathe. "He will approve an investigation?"
"He is faster than the Viathan emperors, but he will still be slow, methodical with the next steps."
I can't help but feel a tiny bit discouraged that he does not have more of a triumphant update, that there are no commanders currently storming the Temple of Divine Mothers and making sure the women are ok and safe as we speak.
He ducks his helmet to meet my eyes again. "Major progress has been made. It is enough to dismantle that temple for its crimes."
"Really?"
"The Viathan emperors will have to hold council on the matter with Emperor Matthias when the investigation is complete after the conjunction."
"That is too long, 99."
"I know you want it sooner, but the investigation will halt any activity. Those women will be safe as soon as Lord General submits the order."
"It means I will have to stay in the Estate for longer."
He nods.
