REVOLUTION: A Rebel Among Monsters ✔

Eleven••Introductions

(A MAP OF THE UNDERGROUND LAIR will be here soon!!)

Suffocated by Valnia's increasingly strong embrace, Melaynia's breaths shortened.

She was alive. All those years of mourning... but she didn't die. Her family went through hell... for nothing.

Melaynia had wanted this for so long, had dreamed it, had pictured it happening—

Why does this feel wrong?

She shoved her sister off, fuming, fire swirling to life in her throat. "No."

Valnia, brows shifting upward, watched her with widening eyes; but instead of backing off, she marched forward and hugged her again.

Melaynia growled. "I said no!" Again she pushed Valnia off, and this time the elder sister stumbled backward, fighting to keep her balance.

In some silent agreement, everyone else had vacated the chambers, and the Monsters molded into the wall behind them.

That's how they navigate so fast?

Temples throbbing, thoughts gushing through her like crystals shooting into the sky, Melaynia processed all she had learned, but couldn't accept it. The Eldians had actual magic at their fingertips. They never ate teenagers, but made them into a secret army—that she now was a part of.

As if sensing Melaynia's detachment from the current world, Valnia lunged forward again, arms outstretched—

But Melaynia dodged her and veered around to watch her as she shrugged, sighed, and peered up at the rocky ceiling.

"Mel—" She whipped about to face Melaynia, a few stray curls of tawny hair sprawling over her forehead.

She was the replica of her eighteen-year-old self, yet with an eerily seasoned demeanor. Tiny, barely noticeable crinkles near her eyes showed her more mature, a woman inside a teenager's body.

It didn't matter to Melaynia—real Valnia or not, this person was not who she once admired. "No! I'm not six anymore, Val!" She stomped, her fists tightening by her hips. "You've been alive and you said nothing! Mom and dad... they cried for weeks, months! Years. You're selfish, you're cruel, you're—why didn't you tell us?" The fountains of tears she had dreaded unleashing spilled over her lashes, and she tore away, unable to look at the soldier-sister before her.

Bowing her head, Valnia sniffled. "It was a secret mission, Mel. I would have told you if I were allowed." Shame peppered her tone; shame and agony and sadness. "You know I would have."

Infused with disappointment, Melaynia thrust against her, desperate to show how angry she was. "I don't care!" Valnia stood still, allowing her sibling to push. "I don't care what they allowed!" Charging continuously at Valnia, like smashing into a training dummy, banging on a stubborn door that wouldn't move, she shoved, harder and harder.

Valnia never budged.

"Lame excuses! I won't, I can't forgive you!"

The shoves turned to punches—Melaynia dove into Valnia's belly, biceps, shoulders, upper chest; but when her hand came close to her face, Valnia snatched it. "Stop," she whispered, her tears thick as they glistened down her cheeks.

Melaynia knew she'd hurt her; though she winced through it all, never acknowledging the pain, Valnia suffered the blows, but accepted them, aware of her mistakes, of how she had abandoned her family.

"I'm sorry," mumbled Valnia, tugging on Melaynia's hand, forcing her nearer. "I'm so sorry. But I'm here, we're together, we—" She wrapped her arms around her, and Melaynia kept at it, digging into Valnia's stomach, but she didn't escape the embrace.