Descent

Chapter 27

The Citadel's walls stood as a testament to Ramona King's ingenious nature. Even before the bombs fell, she was efficient in everything she did. What she couldn't have she found ways around, even if it meant undermining, or downright hurting others. What she claimed had been done for her family really was just her way of amassing power in any way she could. Dove knew that as much as her mother preached her actions were to benefit herself and her daughter, Ramona had never actually had a place for Dove in her new empire. That was why she had shipped her off with Mickey and Lou. An effort to toughen up her up. In retrospect, Dove wondered if perhaps her mother had hoped that they would do away with her so that she did not become the woman who murdered her own daughter. No, better to subject hundreds of people to deal with twenty hours of labor day with little to no food and executing those who stepped out of line than commit the act of filicide herself.

It came as a surprise to no one when she executed the Twins. They had failed to do what she had expected but hid it under the guise of a caring mother who was acting out of retribution for the act of leaving her child for dead. Frankly, it wouldn't pass Dove's mind that her mother simply kept her around just to have someone to torture on the daily, even if that person was of her own flesh and blood. It had taken Dove many years to realize that blood did not make a family. She knew it the day her father left and never came back. She knew it the moment a flip switched off in her mother's head and she turned into a blood-thirsty, cold-hearted being with a lust for all power. Dove knew no love between them could ever exist. But thankfully, she no longer sought after it. Not when her new family had forgiven her and accepted her. Trusting her despite all her flaws and mistakes.

Yet, she felt she had yet to fully prove herself to them.

Beside her, a tiny form shifted and pouted, exuding the same feeling she felt inside herself as they both sat there helplessly. Malik very much so Nayeli and Jacob's son. Despite his youth, he radiated with the same determination to help that both his parents had. It had been that same determination that had nearly gotten them both killed when Dove had betrayed them years ago. Though Mai had managed to save them, Dove carried the guilt of her actions to this day. Perhaps because she knew she could have stopped it in the first place, but at the cost of her own life. She could see waiting here doing nothing was causing wrecking him from the inside out. His eyes went on starting at the radio as they awaited Rush's call to come in and get them as soon as they found Mai.

But it was long past the designated call time, and Dove could feel the pit in her stomach beginning to grow larger and heavier with each passing second.

"They're in trouble. Aren't they."

Dayana turned to see Malik was now looking at her. His face was absent of emotion but his eyes were on the verge of collapse. Dove took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring as she exhaled. She placed a hand on his tiny shoulder, leaning in which a smile of assurance.

"We're the calvary, Malik. If anything is wrong, we will help them."

Malik nodded, though she knew her words did little to ease the uneasiness in his eyes. Dove bit her lower lip, indecisive as to what to do. She could not leave him here as she went to check on the others, but bringing him into what surely would be a battlefield would earn her a permanent place on Nayeli and Mai's shitlist. But if she didn't do something now, there may be no Nayeli or Mai left to save. Dove furrowed her brows as she began to jam her fingers along with the dashboard. They grazed over the appropriate buttons and switches that roared La Grosse Patate to life. Malik's eyes were drawn to the sight of the heavy blades churning in a circle, his face instantly brightening as he looked at her. Dove gave him a knowing nod as she took the collective handle into her grasp and used her other hand to man the cyclic, bringing the helicopter to hover off the ground.