Kerttu's Elite - A Sequel

Dead Suit - Chapter 8

The plane ride back was unbearable. Anyone could be dead. Anyone. I kept wiping my face with my hand and tapping my foot. I was losing my mind. We didn’t know the casualties, we didn’t know who attacked, we didn’t know anything. The phone lines were cut. This was a mess.

Amberly was just as antsy, her eyes were fretting back and forth. She was probably thinking of Berry.

“He’ll be okay.” I wrapped her left hand in mine, placing it on the soft leather seats. “I know it.” She sighed, laying her head on my shoulder, her long brown hair mixing with mine.

“Who are you stressed about?”

“Everyone. The public will be so scared. Another attack. And what if Lupita’s dead? Or Louisa?” I postulated, looking out the window. The clouds surrounded us, the stark white material equalizing it to heaven. It brought tears to my eyes. This might be the place where Shaan was at it. Tyrion, Jakob, any of my suitors were now. Thankfully, my family was away but what if Adim was...I couldn’t even finish the thought. The holy temple surrounded us, the hellish thoughts pervading our minds.

Dad was returning from Swendway, leaving a wearied Mom on the seat alone. Johan and Calix did not know of the attack and were jumping giddily around. They kept pulling on Mom’s dress train but soon gave in to her inaction. I got up, moving to sit with Mom, patting Amberly on the side as I did.

I sank into the wealth filled chairs. “Are you okay?” I tested, admiring the kickassness of my mother.

“I don’t know, Kerttu. Are you?”

I looked down in my lap, shifting my hands. “I want everyone to be safe. That’s all I want.”

“Yeah, me too.” She kissed the tip of my forehead. “Is the Swendway line open?” she asked a flight attendant walking by.

“Yes. He is on route to Illea and should be there an hour after us.”

“Thank you.” Mom turned to me, instantly calmed. “I can’t wait for him to be here.”

Even though this wasn’t the best of times, I had to know. I had to hear the story again. “How did you handle the feelings for your Elite?”

She was clearly shocked, adjusting in her seat. “Why do you ask?”

“The thought of losing any of them...I don’t know what I would do.”

“They’re people, Kerttu. People you have learned so much about over this last month and so. It makes sense that you don't want them to die.” She giggled, pausing. “That’s kind of human courtesy.”

I laughed and we talked for the rest of the flight. I told her about how I had made up with Shaan which she was very excited about, my walk with Jakob, and the surprising revelation that was Chaarlie. Anything to keep my mind off the palace. Then we touched ground.

It was vacant. The air, the halls, the footsteps. All gone. Lady Brice met us at the door. Her head hung unusually, no perk in it.

“Where’s Eikko?” she asked immediately. Her hands were wringing her clipboard, her tired fingers repeatedly grabbing at it.

“He’s coming in an hour. What are the casualties?”

I looked down at the bows. They had caught onto the uneasy air. “Do you guys want to go outside and name plants? Yeah?”

Johan nodded and Calix regained his energy, bounding for the stairs. Lady Brice pursed her lips, adjusting her bun.

“21 maids and butlers, 5 of the cleaning staff, and 10 unallotted members of the palace. And there was one,” her eyes drifted briefly over mine. “Major casualty.”

“No,” I deflected, forcing her to meet my eye. “Who?”

She gulped, still avoiding my gaze.

“Jakob is dead.”

**Man, what will happen now?**