𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝟭𝟬𝟬 (𝟮)

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐨𝐧𝐞

~ ✮ ✮ ~

chapter thirty-one, Lies

--

"I'LL TALK TO ROAN. IF WE GIVE HIM BACK THE FLAME, I can convince him to show mercy" Octavia suggests trying not to get Indra's daughter killed. "Azgeda knows no mercy. Give me the Flame, Gaia" Indra demands as she puts out her hand to get the flame from her daughter.

Nova looks at Gaia then moves her eyes towards her neck. Nova motions towards her neck and looks to Indra. "It's around her neck" Nova announces and Indra scoffs. "That's nothing, a Totem she's worn since she joined the faith. You are interfering in matters you do not understand" Indra explains and Gaia steps forward.

"Wrong. I'm a Flame keeper. I'm honoring my faith, a faith you once believed in" Gaia argues and Indra steps to her daughter in anger, "Don't you question my devotion" Indra demands. Nova can't believe her eyes. The way Gaia and Indra talk to each other wasn't the way a mother and daughter normally spoke to each other.

"A devoted follower would die before giving the Flame to an unworthy King, an Azgeda King. Heda would be ashamed" Gaia argues and Indra looks her daughter up and down.

"I'm doing what's best for Trikru. You would understand that if you stayed and done your duty" Indra states and Gaia chuckles humorlessly. "You know, I've always heard 'My daughter was not meant to wander the Earth looking for Night bloods. My daughter was meant to lead armies. My daughter was meant to lead our people'" Gaia explains and looks over to Octavia.

"Looks like you found that daughter now" Gaia states then turns her head to Nova, "Possibly two" Gaia declares, looking Nova up and down with a deadly look in her eyes.

"Okay, Roan sent us here to kill you. If neither of us don't come back with the Flame, he will send others" Nova explains and Gaia shrugs her shoulders.

"If the spirit of the Commanders deems it my time, then so be it" Gaia says carelessly and Nova sighs looking to Indra. "What do I do here? Roan will die without this flame and we have to fight to keep him on that throne" Nova says looking to Indra for guidance.

"I can run" Gaia suggests and Indra shakes her head quickly, "He'll find you. Don't throw your life away" Indra states and Gaia scoffs out of anger.

"That's what you said the day I left. You still don't understand" Gaia mumbles looking to her mother before someone slams against the door of the flame keeper room.

"The looters" Indra says pulling out her sword.

"If they find the flame, they will destroy it" Octavia states as the looters shout from outside. "I'll take the tunnel" Gaia states but Octavia stops her and gathers the rest of them in a circle to create a plan... a good one.

The Looters finally break in, led by Ilian. "Drop your weapons," Ilian demands, his voice cold and unyielding.

Gaia swallows a lump in her throat, trying to keep her composure. "You're making a mistake," she pleads, her voice trembling.

"We just want the tech. No one has to get hurt," Ilian explains, his tone almost dispassionate. The four women exchange tense glances before reluctantly dropping their weapons. The Looters quickly move in, bending down to seize the discarded arms and restraining the women.

"No!" Gaia shouts as she is forced to her knees, struggling against her captors.

"I got it," Nova calls out, dropping to her knees voluntarily to avoid further violence.

Ilian snatches Gaia's backpack off her, rummaging through it. "No. No. Let go. Give that back. Don't..." Gaia begs desperately as Ilian pulls out the Flame from her bag.

"Please. That's not tech. That's the spirit of the Commanders," Gaia implores, shaking her head in disbelief. "Please, Ilian, you don't have to do this," Octavia states, her voice steady but urgent.

Ilian's face hardens. "Yes, I do... for my mother!" he shouts, his voice filled with conviction. He raises the Flame high and smashes it against the ground, shattering it into pieces.

Gaia lets out a heart-wrenching scream, watching in horror as the Flame is destroyed. The Looters behind Ilian begin to cheer, reveling in their victory. Ilian and his followers march out of the room, their voices echoing with triumphant shouts.

Nova, Indra, Octavia, and Gaia slowly rise to their feet, the weight of their loss hanging heavily in the air. The room, now eerily silent, feels empty and cold as they stand amidst the ruins of their hopes. The broken remnants of the Flame lie scattered on the ground, a grim reminder of the devastation wrought by Ilian's actions.

"They're gone. And... sorry about your necklace." Octavia apologizes as she stands in front of Gaia. Nova walks over and pulls out the real flame that was safe in her pocket and hands it over to Gaia.

"That was a good plan. Thank you" Gaia says looking to Octavia and Nova.

"You got what you wanted." Indra states sternly while looking at her daughter. Her daughter lifts her head high and puts her hood on her head.

"So did you" Gaia responds before she leaves through the tunnels and Indra, Nova and Octavia leave through the front door with their weapons in hand.

"Indra.. I didn't know you had a daughter" Nova says respectfully. Indra fixes her sleeve and clears her throat. "Family or not... Roan will still want her head" Indra explains.

"Not if he doesn't think it was her" Octavia states and Nova slowly turns her head to Octavia and sends her a mischievous smirk.

________

OCTAVIA AND NOVA ENTER THE THRONE ROOM with a surprise for Roan. Roan excuses the people he was talking to and quickly looks to the two girls standing before him. Once the door is shut and it is clear the guards left, Octavia sets a severed head at Roan's feet.

"He was one of the Looters. You were wrong about the Flame keeper" Nova lies as she looks at Roan who tilts his head questionably. "And the Flame?" He asks. "Destroyed before I could kill him. I'm sorry" Octavia says placing the crushed-up flame in his hands slowly.

Roan throws the pieces of the fake Flame into the fire. "It'll be more dangerous now. More people will have to die to keep me in power, not that that bothers you, Skairipa and Thanatos" Roan says sending them each nod.

"People fell in line behind the Flame. Now they'll fall in line behind the sword" Octavia states.

"And the fire" Nova adds on as she lets out a sigh. "Let's hope Clarke finds a way to save us before they have to. Get out." Roan orders and Nova can't help but think if Clarke is okay and if she has found a way to save us yet.

Nova and Octavia turn around on their heels and exit the throne room together, looking to each other, knowing they lied straight to Roan's face.