Lightning and Starlight

The Decision

Neera opened her eyes, squinting them partially shut when she saw that neither her nor Vincent had remembered to shut the blinds. The movie screen was still on, stopped at the end. She smiled slightly, looking at Vincent. He was sprawled across the bed, taking up most of it. His body was nuzzled into the bed face down and one of his large arms was draped over Neera's stomach. He laid on top of the covers while Neera laid under them.

Neera pulled Vincent's heavy arm off her and sat up, looking around the room in thought.

Was she numbing her emotions at Badiah's capture? She cared, of course, and she was obviously worried about Badiah...but she wasn't bad off like Selah. Granted, Neera didn't know Badiah nearly as well as Selah did. But, then again, it was Neera's fault Badiah was gone. Maybe she was numbing her emotions. She had only cried for Badiah a few times, mostly after nightmares of what Koen could be doing to her. It hurt Neera's heart to think about Badiah going through what Neera did.

Neera got out of bed and took a shower. It all felt so mundane. Could Badiah do this now? Neera dried herself off, thinking about the warmth of the towel and bathroom against her cold skin. She braided her wet hair, not bothering to dry it. She finished getting ready and left the bathroom. She saw Vincent, still sprawled in the warm, fluffy bed, cuddling with a pillow. She got dressed and left for the main room, determined.

She was going to get Badiah back.

⚡️⚡️⚡️

Neera twisted the door knob to Verena's office and gently pushed the door open a few inches. Verena was in a meeting on her device, worry lines stretching across her forehead as she winced and pulled a hand to her face. Neera quietly shut the door and stood back against the wall, waiting for Verena to exit.

After a while, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and raised her head to find Vincent standing in front of her, his eyebrows creased and his mouth slightly downturned. Worry swam in his eyes, and Neera felt the urge to jump into the green pools of his eyes and console him, forgetting the world in the process.

"Hey. You alright?"

Neera nodded, snapping back to reality. "I just—Badiah is... Vincent, I have to go. Now. I have to fight Koen. The longer we wait, the more time Badiah has to spend in that company. Who knows what she's going through?"

Vincent pursed his lips, searching Neera's face. Neera wondered what for until Vincent spoke.

"Are you absolutely certain that you are ready?"

She looked at him, knowing her answer already. "No. But I never will be. I will never want to face him again. But I have to save her. It my fault she's there. I have to go now."

Vincent took her hands in his, covering them easily. "Be careful. And know that it's not your fault. Ever. You blame yourself too often."

He moved close to her, his head bending to reach hers. "I love you."

Neera smiled softly. "I love you, too. I'll be safe."

Verena's door opened. Vincent backed away from Neera and watched with his arms crossed.

Verena looked between Neera and Vincent. "I'm guessing you want to go fight Koen and have come to persuade me to let you go now."

"Yes," Neera said, looking back to Vincent. He looked sad, but mostly scared. More scared than she'd seen him.

Verena pulled her hands over her eyes. "You know what? If you are so determined to go alone on a suicide mission, then go. I can't lose... Try to come back. Badiah or no Badiah. Koen dead or Koen alive. Come back alive. For Vincent, if anyone. Be strong and fight wisely. You need to be two steps ahead. You can't get hit with any of his water."