Empyrean

Chapter 12

Chapter 12-Serena

Palace Royal Bedchamber

Morning, 6th of Pachon, Year 612

            I tried to save her. I tell myself while simultaneously attempting to hide my disgust for the prince. The fact that she just allowed her death to happen was either making the whole ordeal easier or more difficult, but I still haven’t decided which. “So. Are we done here?” I inquire in the most monotone and coldest voice I can muster.

            “I think we are!” The prince replies. “If you see a servant on your way out please do tell them to come in here immediately. These bodies need to be reserved as best as possible for the funerals. Thank you Serena.”

            He is way too jolly to have just lost his father and assassinated his mother. “Of course.” The way we are talking to each other reminds me of a game that Mentor had me play with him in the old days, when we played S.R all day. It was called Implications. In this game you can never say what you mean, but you must imply what you mean to the other person through body language and tone of voice. I feel like I am playing that game again, but trying to lose.

            I leave the palace as quickly as I can, ignoring the torrential downpour as I speed-walk through the streets. It has been raining for a while it looks like and no one can be seen on the road. Thoughts rush through my mind. Who is leading this rebellion? Does Lír deserve to rule? Now that I think about it, there is nothing I can do about these things. And even if there was what would I sacrifice to change the world? But the whole notion of other cities out there somewhere…what are those people like?

            I shake my head sending water flying from my hair in all directions not that it makes anything wetter than it already is. “Stop thinking so hard Serena.” No shame in talking to yourself. I’ve lost all my friends to my training. I used to be in good standings with everyone in my class. They all liked me, but as soon as I was exalted above them they all resented me. Except for Lucy and Jacob of course, they are my real friends. But still! Lucy loves Jacob and Jacob is too smart for anyone’s good. If there is a rebellion coming from the Zenith and probably some if not most of the Red, then our outpost is going to be one of the first targets and we are right in the middle of the fight, behind enemy lines even!

            It is only now that I realize I am going in the wrong direction. This path will get me back to our headquarters, but that would require me to go down all of the sectors. The palace was built on the top of a giant one-sided hill one of seven visible from the palace. And as you walk down the hill you leave the richer parts of the city for the nastier ones. Eventually you reach the bottom of the hill and you are in Zenith One. But the population of Zenith one is so large that it wraps around the whole hill and eventually reaches the back of the palace. Which is why I guess it is faster to go that way and climb up that ridiculously steep hill on the other side. I have even been on the roof of the palace once when I was a kid. It’s one of the most beautiful places I have been, nay the most.

            A thought crosses my mind, like a litter flicker in a dark room before the fire starts, like the first drop of water that lands on your nose before it rains, like the sound of the gun before the bullet bores itself into your flesh. I wonder. What is it that the Zenith do in the rain?