Page 70 of The Cerulean Sister
August sighs, unfazed. "I can't let you do that, Lord . . . Hollock, was it?"
I want to shoot August a warning look, but even simply telling him to stop would bring attention to our familiarity, and I am determined to not let my mouth give away anything the moment we land.
"You risk your life. It is protocol to search a ship entering another world's dock."
"Yeah, I thought you would say something like that. Showy, but not very thought out, like that strange little outfit you have on," he responds without looking at Lord Hollis and begins to tap on his data pad. "As you can see, I am well within the three worlds’ law to deliver here, andsheis the delivery." He flicks his chin to me and then holds the screen out to Lord Hollis.
"Get that blasphemous thing out of my face, Viathan, and leave while you can."
"No conflict there, and . . . uh . . .blessedconjunction." August mockingly bows.
He is being over the top, and at first, I think he cannot help it, but then I realize he is cushioning the first meeting, taking up some of the attention as I acclimate to my surroundings.
When his eyes flick to mine for a very brief, indulgent second, I can see how hard he is trying, how difficult it is for him to drop me off and leave me here. He is putting on a show to distract and pull focus, not only from what I may be going through but to hide his own feelings as well.
"I advise a swift departure," Lord Hollis says too loudly.
August waits for a long time, just staring back at the slimy man, intentionally taking up time. He glances at me, and I nod slightly, hoping it conveys how much I am screaming inside for him to go while he can.
"Happy to have her off my ship," August says in a stiff voice, then turns to ascend the ramp.
I can't say goodbye. I shouldn't even say thank you. I am a delivery, and he is a Viathan pilot simply doing his job.
No priestess in the Estate would offer him politeness, and even though I want to hug my friend and say I will see him soon, I cannot.
As the ship leaves, I wait until most of the guards are looking upward to see it lift off the ground. The dust and wind allow me to hide my expression as August’s ship ascends up into the sky.
"I am happy to see you in the veil again, even if it's on such drastic terms." Lord Hollis gestures me toward the entrance of the Estate.
The stone walls are a strangely lit color from the last time I was here, the conjunction eclipse creating an almost haunting shadow in places that would normally be bright with natural light.
I smile politely and nod as we cross the high archway to the sound of guards falling into formation behind us. The hairs onthe back of my neck stand straight up, sensing how close they are.
In all the scenarios I ran through in my mind to prepare, I did not practice how natural it would feel to walk around, my body knowing the air, the feel of the floor here, falling right back into the environment with ease.
That alone scares me more than seeing the number of guards who came to meet me.
"You have heard of your sister's pilgrimage, of course?"
"The reason for my desire to atone." I try to command my voice to be monotone. "It was enough to make me see how foolish I have been."
He hums. "The long night of the conjunction always baffles me. Such unusual events occur."
It's impossible not to sink into the inky abyss of his mind, a trap luring me into the depths. The moment he mentioned her, it was like a vine stretching out, looking for something to latch onto and coil itself around for any news, any recent memory of her in the Estate that he may have. My desperation taking hold, like I am pulling out the vines by the invasive roots and trying to detach myself before he notices.
"That was very rude," he says, amused.
I can feel my forehead tighten in confusion.
Oh. He felt it.
Suddenly, I have the sudden urge to cough, to hunch over and heave. The sensation is like solid pieces of me are being pulled out without permission.
Lord Hollis's face is smug as he watches me clear my throat. "You will have your gifts back when you behave. I was ordered to take them away, but I had to see if you would try." He closes his eyes like he has tasted something delicious. The humming sound makes me sick.
A single snap and I feel an emptiness spread through me, my mind crackling where my gift has been taken away and my fingertips freezing where light used to warm them.
Lord Hollis's gift is temporary; he can't hold mine forever.
