Worlds Apart

Chapter 22

J A I L B R E A K

The train slowed. The sky was a little lighter now—twilight—but they were clearly in the city now. Fast transport was probably how Neàl got to all those people so quickly. The gates in the files were probably these Gates.

She smiled wryly. She supposed she had gotten her missing piece.

But at what cost? the voice in her head whispered. It sounded eerily like Dakarai. Her heart sank, pushing into her feet. She just had to keep walking. Out the train doors that slid open soundlessly, onto the platform bathed in city lights, into the van that whirred rather than rumbled. Daisha kept her eyes on the windows, watching the glass buildings and neon lights. The random silhouettes of foliage on the buildings was missing here, all the buildings sleek and towering. There were no streetlights, the roads themselves seemed lit a faint green from underneath.

They coasted by a large holo-screen on the curved face of a wide building, a man and woman yelling wordlessly into mics, starry patterns spattered on their hands and temples. The crowd behind them looked displeased, signboards waving over their spokespeople's heads with scribbled text like 'We are not lesser!' and 'Second-tier ≠ neglect'. The woman glanced around the crowd, wary and scared, before rallying the protestors again. Daisha knew that look. The look of a liar.

What a surprise. Politics worked the same everywhere.

They halted before the biggest set of stairs Daisha had ever laid eyes on. It looked crystalline and clear and their shoes clacked against the smooth surface. They led up to what could only be called a building out of technicality. It looked more like a small mountain. All glass and stone towering into the imposing thick obelisk in the middle. Lights twinkled on its surface, as if the constellations themselves adorned it. Atop the obelisk was an eight-point star, an ominous red crystal that shone against the night sky.

The doors were heavy-set but swung open without a creak as they reached the last step, Elin panting beside her. The tiles were black, a red line leading them straight past another set of doors identical to the first and they entered a long chamber that ended in a black throne of stars, a stern-faced middle-aged woman seated on it.

Riona had never mentioned what system they followed. Daisha had frankly never considered it could be different. A monarchy, of all things. What was Evanos, then? A kingdom? Empire?

They stopped before the steps to her throne, the guards stepping away and touching their foreheads as they bowed. The hall was lined with guards in similar attire, except the stripe was red instead of green. None of them looked happy to see her and Elin. Their weapons were concealed behind their cloaks. Daisha would have preferred if she could see what they were dealing with.

"It's been a long time since we've had visitors from Earth-side." The Queen's voice was hoarse, low. But it carried, surrounding them with her echoing authority. "Your presence here creates problems for us. Assuming you haven't created them already."

She glanced at the guards that brought them in. The mark on her forehead glittered like rubies. The eight-point star. "I have heard of what happened."

"Did you, really?" The royal guards shifted at Elin's demanding voice. "Or did you only hear the half-baked version from your lapdogs, Your Majesty?" Daisha doubted mocking the ruler of the country they were stuck in was wise, but she didn't stop her.

"The Emerald Guardians do not answer to me, girl." She smirked. "Not directly. Either way, you will not speak to me in that manner again." She crossed her knees and leaned back, eyeing them down the bridge of pointed nose. "I shall be lenient as you are outsiders unaware of our customs, but my generosity has its limits, Miss Ihle. Do not test them."