The Inevitable Eclipse

Chapter 11 - The Parent Trap

For a moment, Ivy allowed herself to study Void where he stood, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, brow furrowed in concentration. Unlike her, he was listening intently to Hawk and Owl's debate. It struck her how uncomfortably familiar he was. The way he stood, his eyes, the way he had one foot crossed over the other.

She lowered her head and turned her attention to the map Hawk had lain out on the wooden table. Her silky hair slipped out from behind her ear and hung by her face. Frustrated, she pushed it back behind her ear.

Hawk stood in front of Void, palms resting flat on the circular wooden table in the centre of the room, opposite Ivy. His mask was still firmly on. "We need to rally the people. Show them who Clarissa really is. Show them what a dictator she really is. We need the people to trust us and we need Illumina to do that."

Ivy looked up.

"Take her away and Clarissa's entire tower of cards falls. The people believe everything that Illumina says, she's their shining star, their golden girl, if she turns against Clarissa, shines some light on all of her wrongs, then the people will turn against her in a heartbeat."

Owl was standing next to Ivy. She was at least a head shorter than her, her auburn hair was held back by one of the navy and silver Night Fall bandanas that they all wore on their faces. "We need to figure out why Illumina is staying with Clarissa? Is she bribing her? What does Illumina gain from this?"

Hawk nodded. "Good question, Owl." He looked over his shoulder. "Void? You know her the best, what do you think?"

Ivy almost snorted at that. She too looked at Void to see what he would make of that comment.

He pushed himself off the wall and moved next to Hawk. "I don't think Illumina would ever accept a bribe."

Correct.

"She's ambitious," He continued. "We didn't really talk that much about our personal lives but I had the feeling that she wasn't from a very... wealthy background. I don't think she was born in Tenebris, I got the impression that her family moved here to start a better life. She mentioned something that implied that once."

Ivy had to look away. He was getting too close. She twisted her fingers together until Owl put one hand on hers. She didn't look at Ivy, but the motion was enough to make her stop. Owl was right, she was acting foolish. If she didn't pull herself together and get ahold of herself, Owl would figure her out and then it would be over.

Hawk's eyes were narrowed. "Interesting. Money?"

"No."

"Power?" Hawk tried.

Yes.

"No," Void shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe Clarissa is blackmailing her? Making her stay?"

At that, Hawk's eyes lit up. Ivy jumped in before he could. "If you're right, then she has motive to join us."

"But why hasn't she accepted any of my offers before?"

"Did you tell her where to meet you?" Ivy said and there was something satisfying about that, a thought she had had as Illumina so many times before. "Next time you leave her a note give her a time and a place, see if she shows up."

Owl blinked. "You never told her where to meet you? Seriously? I don't think Illumina is the problem here."

Ivy grinned. While Void just shook his head no mumbled something about 'priorities' before continuing. "That might work. But I will need you guys there, in case things go wrong."