Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 50

I am awoken by a loud crash. I hurry downstairs, still wearing my pajamas, "What's wrong?" I as, out of breathe and full of adrenaline.
Allison turns to me, "We've heard an announcement from the new rulers, Everett, Jaeger and you need to head to the capital, as soon as possible. Everett knows what to do." She turns to him, he nods.
"Okay." I say, darting upstairs and changing into dark jeans and a black tank top. I put on boots and grab my bag, placing the stone in it along with everything I took out of it, before. Brit finally wakes up, she yawns, "What's going on?"
"I don't really know." I answer, heading back downstairs. The two guys are ready. I give Allison a hug, before we head out the door to the train. Everett buys the tickets, and we quickly get in. We go into another room, like we usually do.
The train starts, and I watch as the trees move farther and farther away. "Okay. Just remember we need to be hidden. They might know who we are." Everett tells us.
"How?" I ask
"I don't know."
I am prepared for the jolt of the train stopping, and have put my bag in front of me. I fly into the bag, which only buffers the pain, but even a little less is helpful. We all get off, and wait for the gate to open. When it does, we enter the city. "Where are we going?" I ask
"Mr. O' Riley."
I stop in my tracks, "Are you crazy?"
"Last time I checked...yes. Come on, Addilyn. We need his help. He has men. Woman. He has people to fight."
"What if they don't want to help? He works with the new leaders, he could easily sell us out."
"If he does...we'll sell him out."
I am hesitant, but take Everett's out reached hand. We follow Jaeger, who is eager to get there for some reason. He knows exactly where we are going, and he is very inconspicuous about it. He goes into the trees, with us Not far behind. When we reach the gate, I try to remember the knock. I do, I knock. 1...2...2...3.
The gate opens.
Mr. O' Riley is talking with Tobi and the twins. He stops, when he sees us. Tobi and the twins turn. The twins come to give me a hug. Neither speak. Mr. O' Riley comes over to me, "So, you decided to come back. Was the penthouse not cozy enough for you?"
"I'm not here to ask forgiveness. Or to come back. I need your help. I know you don't like the capital. I know you think hey are a monarchy. I am here, because I am willing to end it. I have people behind me, but not enough to take down the capital. I wish for an alliance with you. To take down the capital."
He looks intrigued, "Oh. How many do you have behind you?"
"Ten," I lie
"You do really need my help, don't you?"
I nod
"Well, what do I get out of this?"
"The capital will be no longer."
He takes a breathe, "I will help if...I have at least part control of the new government."
"Okay."
"Okay. Follow me to my office, please."
Everett and I do, but Jaeger stays. He loses the door behind us, before sitting down at his desk. "Do you have a plan?"
"Take out the head. Forest Green."
He laughs, "No one has ever seen him. That's what makes him so invincible. He controls everything." He's still laughing, "If anyone knew who he was, they would take him out, and have control over the whole world. But...no one knows him. No one has seen him. It's impossible,"
"I have," Everett says, shocking both of us. "I know him,"
"Really?" Clinton asks, unbelieving.
I am still looking at Everett, he nods, telling me 'yes, I have'. I turn back to Clinton, "He has."
"Okay, I will fight by your side."
"Thank you." I say walking out. When I reach the outside steps of the building, I stop. Shocked. Everett looks to what I am looking at, and his jaw drops. Jaeger. Jaeger is kissing one of the twins. Everyone but Tobi, and the other twin is inside. And I am looking at Jaeger and a person I have yet to put a name to.
I make my feet move over to Tobi. She is talking to the other twin, "Don't you think Jaeger and Adam make a great couple, Brice?" Tobi asks Brice.
"Yeah." He looks at her, "It's kind of crazy, you know with the the laws. I feel bad for them."
"What laws?" I ask, when I reach them
He looks to me, "Laws against same gender relationships, when they are more than friends."
Tobi gives him a look, "The new rulers made it a law that basically if you're gay, you are dead. It's so stupid. Especially since so many good people have died because of it. My sister was one of them. She loved our neighbor and some ass sold the two of them out. They were both executed the same day. It's especially hard for Jaeger, being as his father is a ruler."
"Oh. I had no idea." I say
"He keeps it pretty secret, only a few select people know. It's a good thing he trusts you...I am sorry, but why does he trust yo? It took him 3 years tell he trusted me."
"I'm his cousin," I say, before walking over to Jaeger, who has been separated from Adam. One of the older ladies need his help. "Hey."
"Hey." He says, "You're not a snitch, right?" He looks genuinely concerned.
"No. I am not, and I think it's great."
"If only it were legal."
I take a breathe, "Well, we'll make it legal. After the war."
"How can you be sure we win?"
"How can you be sure I'm not going to sell you out?"
"Faith. Trust."
"I have both of those, faith in our winning. Trust in the troop and in magic."
We are both watching as Adam helps the woman pick vegetables for dinner. Jaeger is lucky. He has something that can be never be replaced, but then there's the little dark spot, it's illegal. But, he is willing to give in to love. He knows the consequences if he gets caught, but he is willing to risk it...for love.
Now, I have a reason to fight this war. For my cousin to have the equality he deserves. For him and everyone else to love who they want to love. Now, I am not fighting for something Allison believes in, but something I believe in. Something I want to fight for. something that needs to be fought for.
x x x
Maxwell looks annoyed, he didn't like me staying at his house the first time. I can't imagine how he feels, now. I think he's doing it for Tobi. I still, think he likes her. I can't think of any other explanation. None that make sense anyway. Everett and I are in the spare room, Jaeger is staying with Adam, and Maxwell is in his room pouting.
"Follow me," Everett says, getting out of bed.
I yawn, "What time is it?"
"Midnight."
"Where are we going at this time of night?" I get up anyway, and slip on my shoes and sweater. I had to sleep in my clothes, which was very uncomfortable.
"I can't tell you, right now. It's something I have to do, though."
"Okay." I don't argue. I can barely see, so I grab Everett's arm, and he walks us outside, into the light of the moon. It is beautiful. We go through the doors of the wall holding everything in. I can barely see anything, so I am depending on Everett. He knows where we are going.
We are in the part of town where very few people live, because it isn't anything like the other part of town. The houses here were made hundreds of years ago, and weren't destroyed with the others. Just like they weren't remodeled. They are the closest thing I've seen of early life. It's beautiful.
"Come on," he says, opening one of the doors with. Key he got out of his pocket.
"You lived here?"
He nods.
I stop, "Why are we here?"
"Just follow me." I don't, he grabs my wrist lightly, "Come on."
I do. He takes me upstairs, and into a room. He closes the door behind us, and then turns on the light. The room is filled with books. It's like a library. It has aisles of books, and every wall is filled.
"Would you believe me if I told you I read every boom in this room?" He asks
"Really?"
He nods
"Why bring me here? I know I love books, but there has to be a bigger purpose."
"There is. Um...I remember you talking about the history books," he takes my wrist, and leads me to the back wall, which is filled with history books,"
"You're kidding?"
"No. I have every history book written. Well, all the ones since the new rulers took over, and I've read each on." He laughs a little, "My father had to go to a meeting in Placerville, actually, when I was little, so he got me a new one...about technology. A little kid came up, and ripped a few pages out. So, I never read those, but...other than that, yeah." He pulls the boom from the shelf.
"Everett..." I look at him, I put my hand son his, I smile, "Those few pages...I found them on the ground, and ready them over just about a million times."
"You're kidding."
I shake my head.
"What are here chances?" He looks befuddled., "Wow."
I look at Everett, contemplating asking him a question, I look away, then back up at him, "Do you really know Forest Green?"
He puts the books on the shelf, and gives a half-smile, "Since the day I was born."
"What?" I am so confused.
"Forest is my father,"
"Everett," I say, grabbing both his hands, "W-why didn't you tell me? I'll end the war. I won't start it."
"No. He's a monster." I must have a confused look on my face, because he clarifies, "I may have his DNA, but he has never been a father to me. He treated me decently when my mother was alive, but when she died, I stated a year...then I ran away. Placerville was just one of many times I had moved. That's why I don't tell people my last name."
I give him a hug, I have more reasons to fight this war, now.
"We should get back." He tells me, and I nod.
We walk back. Maxwell is asleep on the couch. We quietly walk back to the bedroom. After I close the door, he turns to me. "You know the ring you always wear?" He looks down at my left hand, I nod. "Where did you get it?"
I laugh a little, "I went to the forest for the first time, and I was going to turn back, when I saw a little shining thing. I went to it, and then I saw the bridge, which led me to that little swing. Why?"
He smiles, "No reason, really. When I moved to Placerville, I lost that ring. It was my mothers, she wore it everyday. He mother gave it to her, and it's been passed down for generations."
"Everett, here." I say, taking it off my finger.
He takes it, and get on one knee, he takes my left hand, and slips it on, "For my love for you." He stands up,s nod whispers into my ear, "It looks a lot better on you than me, anyway."
I laugh, giving him a hug, "I love you."
He kisses my cheek, "I love you, too."