The Descendants of the Ascendance Series - Nessa's POV

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning, Edgar led me away from the tent I had initially been brought to, to the old, rickety building where Addy had found Ev, what I had recently learned was 3 days ago. He had me wait at the top of the stairs for a moment while he went down and taunted her. Shortly after, though, he came back up and beckoned for me to go down.

"You have ten minutes," He warned. "Then, you have a meeting with the monarch."

I ran down the creaky wooden stairs into a cold basement made entirely of stone. In the far corner was a single cell. I sprinted over to it.

"Ev!"

The girl was curled up into a ball in the far corner. She had multiple significant bruises and cuts, her hair was multiple inches shorter, and she looked sleep deprived, but in otherwise good condition.

"Ev, are you okay?!"

"I'm fine," She sighed.

"What'd you do to Addy's leg? It's broken in like 4 places and guess who had to deal with it? Me!" I ranted.

"I didn't mean to break anything, just -" She paused for a moment to contemplate her next words. "-hinder her from coming after me."

"Coming after you?"

"I ran," She explained. "I ran and I ran and I ran. They found me. That's why I'm so beaten up. It was punishment."

"Oh, Ev," I sighed. "Wait a second - where's Walker?"

"He's gone," She whispered.

"Gone?"

"Gone. For good."

"Ev, I'm so sorry."

She shrugged. "I've come to terms with it. Does it hurt? Of course it does, but I've come to terms with it. What are you doing here anyways? Everybody else is gone."

"I've joined the Prozarians," I told her.

"You did what?!" She exclaimed.

"Joined the Prozarians," I repeated. "The Captain -- she offered me not riches or power or wisdom, but belonging. She understands me. She knows what I'm capable of and she's helping me achieve. Unlike you and Addy. You always assumed you were better than me because I'm not as good with a sword, but I have my own strengths and I-"

"Time's up," Edgar called. "The monarch wants to see you, Nessa. Now."

"I'm on my way!" I yelled back. I turned to Ev and whispered. "I'm sorry."

"The monarch doesn't like to be kept waiting," Edgar's voice came.

"I already told you I'm on my way," I snapped, starting to make my way up the staircase, without even turning back to say goodbye to Ev.

Edgar was waiting for me at the top of the stairs, looking extremely bored and somewhat impatient.

"Just to be clear," he started. "The monarch may trust you -- but I don't. One wrong step and -" He made a gesture as if to slit his own throat.

I shook my head and brushed past him, walking the now-familiar path to Captain Strick's office. When I entered the small room, I bowed slightly, but she stopped me.

"Nessa, what have I told you?" She asked. "You don't need to bow to me."

"I'm sorry, ma'am," I replied. "Force of habit."

"No matter," She waved it off. "But - I have received news that Evangeline's little 'search party' is on their way back and should be arriving in a little less than an hour. Now, I thought it only fair that you would receive a place of honor -- a place where they'll surely see you -- next to me."

I nodded. "Of course ma'am."

"Wonderful," She beamed. "Oh, and there is one more thing. I have a gift for you." She went behind her desk and grabbed a simple silver tiara and a small blade with an ivory handle. "These belonged to my daughter. They're yours now."

"I couldn't take these -"

"I insist."

I nodded.

"Now, let's get you freshened up, shall we?"