The Prince or the Crown

chapter twenty-two

"The City of Solace. It's... Beautiful," I whispered, staring out Aeaka's twelfth story office window. 

Aeaka wasn't kidding when she said it was an underground metropolis. 

Buildings up to fifteen stories high stood in a giant underground cavern that looked at least fifty acres wide from where I was standing. There were no cars on the streets below, but people rode bikes and walked on either the sidewalk or thin concrete road. I could see cafes, restaurants, small shops and grocery stores, offices, and behind all the buildings, farmland and bits of livestock peeked out between the alleys. 

But the most beautiful part were the bioluminescent glow worms that lined the ceilings and walls like a thousand tiny stars. Their blue light cast the entire city into a starry night.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Aeaka whispered. "It's night right now, but once it turns to day, those giant white orbs you see on all those buildings and windows will light up with warm yellow light, casting the city in artificial sunlight. Although you'll still need to take your vitamin D."

"How many people live here? Is this whole city made up of refugees from Azmir?" I asked. 

"This city has been alive longer than Azmir as a refuge for people whose lives are in danger back where they live. There are many families here, too, and some children have never seen light outside of the cavern," Aeaka said.

"That's terrible," I breathed. "Can they leave?"

"Of course they can. Anyone can choose to leave if they wish. Many families choose to leave before they have children. Sometimes, we can give them life under a new name almost anywhere around the globe. It's expensive, but it's worth it. But many families choose to stay and not risk their kids growing up in the dangerous climate they came here to escape from." 

"I can't believe you've kept all this hidden from us," Kavek breathed in awe. "When did you even find out about this place?"

Aeaka laughed. "It's a long story. We should get to my apartment before I need to head back to the palace. I'm returning from Malahaera. ...Plus, I have to go do what I came here to do."

"Alright, let's go," I agreed, moving to the door. "Oh, one more thing: do you guys have wi-fi?" I asked.

The princess grinned. "The safest in the world."

—

ONE WEEK LATER:

"Yeah, but it could be important. Can you go get it? I don't want to get up," I said. Kavek teasingly rolled his eyes but got up and picked up the ringing phone.

"Hello?" he answered. "Oh, hi, Aeaka. Yeah, I can put you on speaker."

He pressed the button and Aeaka's panicked voice filled the room. "Guys? I need you to get to the Solatium building, quick. We were right. You guys remember how Chloe Michelle just won the Matching a few hours ago?" She paused. "Kavek, our parents have been killed."