Automatons ✔

Chapter XXIII

Cheeks jewelled with tears, lips quivering— not from the chilly evening breeze but from the pain that was unwrapping itself through her loud sobs. She survived being a political target, she survived beasts of the night while she slept on cold Mediterranean roads, so why couldn't she survive a man's hurtful words?

The beauty of the river behind the prison called for her, its glimmering water seducing her to submerge in it and let go. Maybe the cold water can make her forget the ice in his soul, or maybe it can at least revive her heart with shivers. And so without taking her clothes off, Nerezza's tresses were combed by the gentle waves of the river as her body floated like she was on top of a cloud. Slowly, she felt the rope of woe that was girdled around her neck loosen as she swam around.

Behind her, Demetrius stood watching her swim carelessly; jealous of the water that tickled the same body he once embraced. His passion hanged like the last raindrop from a lonely cloud, waiting for her to turn around and look at him. He missed those almond shaped eyes that brought sweet dreams to him every time he stared at them. And in each of those dreams, he saw a brave young girl who fought to survive a world that was trying to kill her. God she was strong and ravishing, with stars above her glittering for her sake, and the moon's reflection swaying on the river's surface just for her attention.

Nerezza turned around and her sobs were silenced by Demetrius's presence. Her body suddenly became warm for his stares sheltered her soul like they usually did when she was a teenager. She ran towards him, with tears still gleaming on her cheeks and embraced him tightly.

"I am so glad you came, my soul has been bent low with heartache!" She cried out.

"I warned you that he will only break your heart. He broke it through Éloa before you even met, how did you not see this coming?" Demetrius patted her head.

"I haven't felt such attraction in years, I was smitten by him like a desert flower smitten by rain." Her eyes seemed to scintillate with sadness.

"You are strong enough to move on. We don't have time for romance, we need to march to Washington. Rodion agreed to join our fight and his group will be coming with us." He smirked.

"I knew your charisma will convince him," she wiped her tears off, "did you take the President where I ordered you to?"

"Of course, I never disobey my boss." He kissed her cheek.

"Good, Yoel knows that there is something between us. We need to make sure that he never discovers that I have been remotely controlling you and your siblings."

"Éloa has also been noticing behavioural changes in us. Maybe you can find a way to control her brain as well?" He wondered.

"I can't, she's the newest Automaton model of all of you and my father created her after I left. Her system is too different for my software." Nerezza sighed.

"I will try to find a way to grant you access to her system, at least that way you can figure out how to take over her brain and stop her doubts."

Nerezza nodded, "let's go get ready for our trip."

                      "Okay everyone, I am honoured to announce that our group will finally fight for what we believe: The rights of those who don't have rights. For many years humans have been living bi-curiously as slave owners by mistreating our robots, and it is up to us, misanthropes, to establish a new world for the machines that are better than our kind!" Cheers followed Rodion's announcement.