Fury and Flame | 3

6 | 9

D E L P H I N I U M

It had barely been three days since we were in America, and yet it felt like years. So much had changed in such a short time. War had been declared, we'd been destroyed in battle, Neve was dead and we'd singlehandedly caused a riot and killed the new Russian leaders.

We were in New York once again, both to discuss our next course of action and to get Arlo to the help he desperately needed. My heart sank when I remembered how he'd been meaning to keep it a secret until he eventually died from it. I wondered what we'd do without his odd comments and penchant for destruction.

All nine of us were in the back of the room as countless officials sat around a wide table. I looked to my left, where Arlo and Finn stood together. Now, the former's dark under-eye circles and sickly pallor made perfect sense. How hadn't we noticed it earlier?

"Imperium has finished their march across Ukraine and taken it," a stout man at the opposite end of the table said, bringing me back to the present. "Just as they did in Russia, they've put another leader in place. But they've learned from their mistake in Russia. For the Ukrainian is one of the enhanced soldiers Orion made himself. We also have reason to believe she and her officials have been put through the Mind Sweeper."

A chill began at the top of my head and trickled down to my toes. Not only had Orion created enhanced soldiers for himself, he also had complete control over them. I swallowed and blinked away the memories of the Mind Sweeper that threatened to rise. At the mention of them, I still got that shaky panicking feeling deep in my bones.

"Russia is no longer directly claimed by Imperium, but still unstable and susceptible to another attack," the same man said. "Imperium must be contained. We must watch closely for another invasion—one that the country will be too weak to combat."

"Anyone is too weak to combat them," a tall, gangly woman retorted. "Their weapons, forces, and sheer numbers are too much for us. Especially after our severe loss in Ukraine."

"Only a few thousand of our combined troops survived. Hundreds of thousands died in the bombings and initial attack. We no longer have enough people to fight in this war. Without any, we are doomed."

I thought of the way Riley and Finn riled the Russian masses with only a few hard words. They'd been panicked and afraid for their lives—but strong and angry enough to revolt under our guidance. What if we could recreate that event in a much higher-scale event?

"Say it, Delphinium." I looked at Benny, but he did nothing but jerk his chin to the room full of leaders.

After a moment's thought, I stepped forward and said, "I have an idea." All eyes in the room went to me and I waited for them to shoot me down—either from mistrust or simple dismissal. No one said anything.

"People are terrified all around the world," I said. "They fear their country will be next to have its people slaughtered and government ruled over by madmen. But fear is a tool. It makes people wild and angry. It can be used to our advantage."

"What do you advise we do?" The specticaled man nearest to me held eye contact and I was so surprised he'd asked for my advice that I wondered if I'd imagined it.

"I think...I think we need to make a statement to the public. We need to make them see our dire need for troops. No one really understands Imperium, so they fear them even more. We need to rile them to rage. We need to get them ready to fight. For all of our sakes."

"And who will do it?" The first man eyed me. In fact, they all were.

"No...I don't think I'm the best choice. I just-"