Millennium Academy - The Fractured Shadow - Novel I

Chapter 17 - Veran Gonzalez

"Kid, you're hanging on a thread as it is. I can't be expected to vouch for you, can I? Sorry, Veran, no can do."

"But-"

"No. Just- Just no." she shook her head and adjusted her ruby skull pin on her cowl. "Veran, my job is hanging on the line here. And you haven't been helping matters. You let our inventress go! Just like that! John Withers is not a forgiving man, you know. He could put me on probation like he. did. you. His anger right now... just be glad it's you he's taking it out on- NOT me."

"But Rae-"

"It's Raelyn. Now go away."

He walked away dejectedly. He'd asked everyone who'd known him as a kid, anyone who'd taken his side before. No one wanted to help him. Withers had torn away his pin, his status, his credentials. Everything he had. And now his sister.

BANG! A sharp pain flooded his chest. Veran opened his eyes, and found he'd run into a Shokstick, a weapon of the kind that had been used to torture Vera.

Who'd leave this around? He thought with a scoff. He moved to put it back on the rack, but a thick hand blocked him in the movement.

"Kid, you're not authorized to handle such-and-such equipment." Bruce Logan chuckled dryly.

"Don't call me that!" he shouted, turning several heads.

"Hey, I'm just doing what I'm told. Besides. Kid. Not authorized." He replied, holding up his ginormous hands. He placed the Shokstick back on the rack where it bonged. He walked away, chortling and shaking his head. "Kids."

Veran glared at the acolytes watching, fists clenched. Snickering, they watched as he fled, around the corner.

He was at RA HQ- More commonly known as Ruby Alliance Headquarters, the confidential, credential-restricted hangout for Jezeb Ruby's acquaintances, servants, and beloved followers. It was a hotspot for shady, ruthless spies, all of them on her orders- and her orders only.

Veran sighed. The acolytes were blind followers. No one would listen to an idiotic teenager! What was he thinking?

"Stupid. Stupid." The only person who might listen to him now, the only person who shouldn't listen to him ever again, the person who'd been listening to him his entire life- damn him, was the person he needed to talk to the most right now.

Vera.

_***_

"Veran, go away. I don't want to talk to you." His sister snapped, looking disgusted with him, eyes red and raw from frumious crying.

Well, so much for that.

"Vera, please. I've lost my credibility, my credentials - heck, maybe even my sanity! And it's all 'cause I let you go-"

"Oh, so it's my fault now?" She griped.

"Er... well...no, that's not- em, c'mon, Vera, I don't have time for this! My only problem is with the people who demoted me, and they demoted me because I tried to save you-"

"You," Vera scoffed in indignation. "You not only are incompetent at keeping your job and me safe, you also have no idea what the Alliance is doing. You've been here for months! You're clueless!"

"Well-"

"No! Don't make up excuses, Veran Gonzalez! I've had enough of you! You put me and yourself in danger for what? What is worth doing all of this?"

"You're right. But if you want to get out, you're gonna have to cooperate. I don't have a plan right now. Gimme a couple days, and I'll help you escape. Then we can figure out this whole shitty mess. Kay?"

Vera glared furiously at him, mouth twitching slightly. "Fine. But once we get home, you are dead to me. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a brother. ."

Veran was satisfied with this, albeit a bit panged at the thought of losing his sister. He turned abruptly, and headed toward the door, shuddering at the other captives, lurking in their cells.

And then he stopped suddenly, and turned around to face Vera, solemn. She deserved to know the truth.

"I wanted revenge."