The Renegade

Chapter 26

 I hold my breath as he utters the words, my heart hammering so loudly I can barely hear him. You can leave. He's going to let us leave Domus. I can't think beyond this moment--I can't think about the cold wilderness waiting for us or the war between Domus and the Civilization. We're going to survive. That's what matters.

"Father Paul--" one of the men says, but Paul holds up a hand.

"It's done, Regis. It doesn't matter if they live or not anyways. None of them will ever--ever-- be admitted into Domus again. They've done enough damaged." He squares his shoulders and stands tall though the bags under his eyes betray his age and worry. "This is nothing more than a setback. We'll still destroy the Civilization, I assure you of that."

That golden feeling of victory inside me fades. Did I actually believe that our blackmail would do anything but pause the war momentarily? Of course he has other weapons. Of course this isn't the end. We might have slowed him down, but thousands will still die.

"We want out now. Dropped by helicopter 20 miles away," Luk says. "No hesitation."

There's an edge to Luk's voice. Father Paul could back out of our deal at any point, and we need to get away before he does that. Should we ask about Ior too and try to save him? Is he dead or is he safe, still masquerading as a loyal Doman? But I can't worry about anyone else right now. I need to make sure we make it out of this dome alive.

"Of course. Prepare the helicopter," Paul says, surprisingly cooperative. A knowing grin plays on his lips, and a sinking feeling drops in my stomach. What has he done or what is he planning to do? "My dear Patriarchy, would you excuse us? I'd like to have a word with our civilian friends before they leave us. Oh, and please fetch my granddaughter as she will apparently be joining them."

The men file out, eying us with both fear and curiosity. We remain chained to our chairs--all of us except Audra, who stands at the door with nerves of steel.

"Let us go," Luk says between gritted teeth, straining against the chains. "We'll keep our end of the bargain."

Paul laughs and walks down the stairs from the dais to pace in front of us, hands clasped behind his desk. "You think you've accomplished something here today, don't you?" he asks, and I don't dare answer. I thought we did. I saw the look of horror on his face when he heard that Hayl's compound had destroyed the poison gas. But something in his expression has changed--the defeat is gone. He knows something that we don't.

"Just let us out," Luk repeats. "Give us Ila and we'll leave you in peace."

I know his words are meant as a peace offering, but I can't echo them. I have no intentions of leaving Father Paul here to wreak havoc on the world and Domus. We may leave, but I swear we'll be back to put an end to this. That's the difference between me and Luk--he wants peace and I want justice.

"You think you stopped me," he says with a chuckle. "But you haven't. You never will. I'll admit this is a bit of a setback, but you can't stop me, Luk. None of you can."

"Why can't you just give up?" I ask desperately. I close my eyes and zhear bombs dropping on the Civilization, the roof caving in, the screams of the dying. "Hasn't there been enough death? You already killed hundreds of civilians and Underlings, and most of them were innocents, just like your children. Can't you just--just be done and let them live in peace?"

Father Paul sneers at me. "Do you really think things are that simple? Do you really think that if I stopped attacking them, they would leave us in peace?"

"It's not the same Civilization that stole your children!" I exclaim, pulling at my handcuffs. "Don't you get that? The Underlings rebelled, and they might have even taken over. You already decimated parts of it with your attack. If you offered peace, they would have no choice but to accept it in their weakened state."