Supernova

Chapter Eighty Three - Public Enemy Number One

I didn't bother going around the back to the fire escape, because there would be no point. I was out of my kimono, and the diadem had been locked into a glass case for special occasions only, but I was in a nice sleeveless dress, and I had the evidence of my betrayal sitting on my wrist.

I was wondering how exactly I was going to make the whole announcement, but when I got into the building, rounded the corner into the main space, and saw Momo's face, I realized I wouldn't have to. She was holding her phone in a tight, rage filled grip, so I knew what was coming.

"American powerhouse Cassie Stronghold honors late mother with an intimate traditional Japanese wedding ceremony to Swedish Heir Elias Claeson?" She screamed at me. "Are you fucking insane?"

Legitimate screaming. And swearing. I'd never seen her this angry with me. I'd never seen her this angry, period.

And I wanted so desperately to be hurt and slighted by this, but I didn't allow any of it to register. What I did understand, aside from how the entire room smelled like candy apple, was that this was a room full of people I loved. Although I never would, if I had decided to say sure dad, kill him, it would have hardly stopped with Katsuki. There were so many chips that could be used to bargain against me, and my father would have killed every single one of them if he thought it would get him what he wanted. Despite all the poor choices I'd ever made and the questionable actions I'd carried out, I was a protector at my core, and if it meant they wouldn't meddle with something dangerous, I would make them fucking despise me. And because my bracelet was listening, I decided I'd also give everyone listening a great show.

"You heard?" I asked Momo excitedly as she rushed over towards me.

She didn't answer. When she reached me, her arm pulled back, and she smacked me across the face with such force that it was all I could hear for a few seconds. I could not feel it, but it hurt nonetheless.

"Aw," I said, jokingly lifting a hand to the cheek she'd just struck. "Does this mean you're not happy for me?"

"You," she said, pausing to watch my face as her eyes started to fill with heavy tears of disappointment. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Oh, come on." I laughed a little. "Don't act all surprised. You know me better than that."

"No," she said, her anger leaving as fast as it had come, the sadness taking its place. Her tears started to fall. "No, this isn't right."

"Momo," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. Out other classmates were watching, some were even standing, but nobody was interrupting. It was like I was once again the unpredictable new girl that everyone was only ever comfortable being on the outskirts of. "Don't be stupid. This was always the plan."

She grabbed my shoulders and her voice dropped. "What did they do to you?"

It killed me to see her face like that. It really did. But I was also proud of her. I'd always known she was intelligent and observant.

"What did they do to me?" I pulled away from her and laughed more, making it as cold and sinister as I would when I was about to commit an atrocity and wished to see the fear in a waste's eyes before I did so. I lifted my bracelet between us. "They made me a queen! They made me a fucking legend!"

Finally, she stepped back from me. It was to be her first of many.

"I am the most powerful creature in America," I announced to the room as a whole, refusing to focus in on anyone in particular. I had to close my eyes to keep from crying, but I imagined beautiful things so it would look like I was admiring my own cruel handiwork. "And my King and I are going to pioneer and rule over a new monarchy of our creation! And if any of you have anything to say about that,"