The Celestial Code

Chapter Two:

The inside was as chromatic as the outside. Did the Celests not have any other color in their wheels? The walls were pure silver, so smooth that they looked almost liquid with the furniture looking like it had come up from the floor. Cushions and pillows filled the settees and chairs, all in mismatched golds and silvers. All decorations had been taken down, leaving the place bare and ghostly.

She strode through the halls, having memorized them over the past five months until she got to Vega's personal war room.

"I don't care what Markos says," Vega growled through the silver door. "I want fifty percent of our troops moved to Rienar or we will suffer heavy losses. We won't be able to take it without backup."

"I'll relay the order," a nasally male voice said. Altair. One of the scrawniest and most annoying soldiers on base. Possibly in all of Avere at the moment.

"Good. And make sure all of those involved in the H-bomb drop are debriefed. And I want..." She trailed off when Dessa pushed the door open. Vega's purple painted lips turned up. "Exactly who I was about to ask for."

Dessa gave a nod, standing at attention.

Altair's mouth turned down in a frown. Tall and skinny with brown skin and wavy black hair and an equine nose, he looked like he belonged behind a desk, not on the battlefields of Avere. But, for some reason, Vega trusted him and she had demanded he come with her. They never went anywhere without the other.

"Lady Vale," Altair said with a differential nod at her. He turned to Vega, his expression turning stern. "I'll relay the orders right away."

"Thank you, Altair."

He scurried past Dessa and disappeared. Altair never stayed long when Dessa entered a room and she was fine with that. The dislike went both ways, and again, she was alright with that.

"General," Dessa said, remaining at attention.

Vega waved her hand and Dessa relaxed as the general's dark brown eyes roved over her. "You just get back from the field?"

"Yes. Came straight here after I heard about Titan City."

She turned her back and walked over to her desk. Yet another piece of furniture that had been used and stolen from the mayor of this town. Sleek and silver and like everything else, seemed to meld up from the floor.

She leaned against the front of the desk, blowing a loose brown curl from her eyes as she faced Dessa once more. Much like Kara, Vega had brought her favorite colored lipsticks. Contraband, but perhaps that was how Kara got away with her hair dyes. Vega turned a blind eye because to write Kara up would make her a hypocrite. She always had different shades of lipstick on, blues and purples, oranges and reds to offset her dark brown skin and brown curls.

Vega folded her arms over her crisp black general suit, her golden badges shining on her breast for all to see. "Elio tell you?"

Dessa gave a single nod and Vega snorted. "Sneaky little eavesdropper. But yes, it is true. Titan City has been captured."

"And my family?"

"The capital is still untouched and protected. I don't think the Celests will be able to breach it any time soon."

"Has anything been delivered for me?"

Vega quirked a brow. Without turning around, she reached onto her desk and slid a letter into her hand. She held it out. "Royally addressed to Her Majesty."

Dessa rolled her eyes and walked over, eagerly taking the letter. The royal seal, a horse mid-run was stamped across the top. Her heart lifted at the sight of it. Still alive. They were still alive and well. Her father and brother.