Built on smoke and mirrors

Chapter 31

"I thought you were here so I was first on the scene," Kol said as he shook his head. "There was so much rubble and bodies. I thought I lost you." 

Behind a building, without prying eyes, Kol let his emotions get the better of him. His eyes welled with tears as he looked at me. He didn't seem to mind that Ezra was near.

I wrapped my arm around him and held him. "I left the capital before it got bad. I went home but you weren't there. Mr. Green said you came to the capital to fight this war of the Motherwealth."

"I just wanted to get to you." 

I smiled as I let go of him. "And I thought the same." 

He let out a tired breath. "It's been a heavy few days." 

I could only imagine. Kol shouldn't have ever come. Maybe I should have never come to begin with. Hell was where I belonged. "Let's go back home." 

He bit his lip as if debating about leaving. 

My eyes widened. He hated the Motherwealth more than I did. Why was he even thinking about it? "This isn't our fight, Kol. We don't owe the Motherwealth anything."

"You don't understand. I learned Mom and Dad were from the Motherwealth. This was their land."

My mouth fell open. He was mistaken. He had to be. "No, they were from Hell."

He shook his head. "They were from the capital. I found Mom's housing records. Her family still lives a few miles down the road." He pointed towards the gates. "I wanted to talk to them. Understand why they left."

"I doubt they are still around. I imagine most have run for the country for protection," Ezra spoke up for the first time since finding Kol.

"I have to at least try, Telvi, come with me." 

And I had to. Deep down I knew we didn't fit in at Hell. I didn't understand why. I thought it was because Mom lost her mind and burnt bridges. But maybe that was wrong. We were hated for the same reason Mr. Green was hated. We were not from there. 

"What's the street name?" Ezra asked. 

"Wall street. 1340 is the house number." 

He nodded knowingly. "It's not far from here. I'll get you there." 

I peered around the building and saw the group continuing to work. "What about them?"

"I think I can sneak out. They don't keep a good eye on us. A few have already run off." Kol started to walk the opposite way without making any more of a plan. It made my stomach churn. What if we were caught?  

"Shouldn't we hide until it gets dark?" I ask, trailing after him. 

He shook his head. "It'll be fine. I promise. The people here need the money. They stay because of the money. I don't need it. I can leave." 

"But there is a draft back home. They need people."

He scoffed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "They don't act like it here. Rumor has it that they will be surrendering soon anyhow." 

Ezra quickened his pace and took lead. "It's just a short walk from here."

I huffed behind him, elongating my stride. I never realized he walked this fast. 

I didn't know what I would find out once we made it to our family's house. A part of me didn't want to know. If they went to Hell, there had to be a reason for that. What if old bones just lay in peace? 

"I have a list of questions I'm hoping to ask them," Kol said as he trailed behind Ezra. "I just hope they haven't fled."

It was as if I wasn't important anymore. The excitement of finding me was worn off. Kol was onto the next thing on his mind. Now that I was found, he could find the so-called family we had.