All Light Will Fall (18 page)

Tessa looked up then shot from her seat upon seeing me.
“Celeste,” she gasped. “You found her, Neil?”

He shook his head. “Actually, she found us.”

Tessa hurried around the fire, shoving Vin aside on her way
through. He groaned and tumbled into the pillows, rolling onto his back with a
dramatic sigh. “Ignore him,” Tessa said. “It’s that drink the natives gave him.
It’s some sort of intoxicant.” I looked over at him with the assumption that it
was more than the drink that had befuddled him. It was power. And he was drunk
on it.

“You sure are difficult to find,” Tessa said. She looked me
over. “It’s no wonder. You’re id marker . . . it’s fried.” I put a hand to my
neck. I figured it had gone out, most likely on my journey through space.
“You’re lucky.” She drew her hair back, exposing her neck. There was a light
scar there on the dark of her skin. “We had to cut ours out. It was hell,” she
said.

“A little pain for a lot of freedom. It was worth it,” Neil
said. He waved his hand. “Come and sit. You must be hungry.”

I was. A few days back, I had finished what E’lana had gave
me. Afterwards, I took a gamble on the island fruits. I had learned plenty
about Niaysia and its agriculture, but that only applied to what New Eden had
discovered. Out here, in the wilderness, there was so much more. Nothing was
certain. Everything was a risk. That was why ARTIKA created us. Because we were
expendable. Easy to kill, but difficult to destroy.

I sat next to Neil, pushing the clutter aside with my boot.
“Excuse the mess,” he said. “This was all Vin. He’s gone mad.”

“No, he’s just stupid,” Tessa hissed. “How does he expect to
carry all this?”

“I don’t,” Vin answered, rising from the cushions. “I plan
to stay right here with all my riches,” he slurred. Then he waved his hand,
picking a scarlet chalice up from the rounded treasure. One of the Meridians
came and filled his cup. She was beautiful, the lavender garb she wore flowing
around her like a wave of mist. Her skin was bright as amber. And her hair was
dark as indigo, a masterwork of long twists and curls.

She kept her eyes down as she served the arsenal. I watched
her; how she eased forward with poise, keeping her hands strong as she titled
the vase. The other natives were startled as they watched from behind her.
There weren’t many of them. I counted ten. They were fairly young. Perhaps no
older than I was when ARTIKA had taken me. I noticed the binds around their
hands and feet.

“They must be it. Your minor complication,” I said suddenly.

They all looked at me. And it was quiet, a nervous sort of
quiet. Neil picked up one of the goblets and held it out for the Meridian to
serve him. “Like I said... they were hostiles,” he shrugged. His tone had a
certain bite to it, like he was aggravated. I ignored it then went about
serving myself.

Vin threw his hand in front of me. “That’s not the way to do
it,” he insisted. He looked to the hostages. “Come!” he ordered. His Hedai was
sloppy, and when the Meridians hesitated, he screamed it again. They came
quickly, circling around him. “Sit,” he demanded. And they sat. Vin looked at
me, his face drowsy with pleasure. “It’s just too easy,” he laughed.

“I told you he was stupid,” Tessa uttered.

“Tend kindly to my friend here. And be sure to make her
comfortable,” Vin ordered. The Meridians went to work, adjusting the cushions
around me. One served me a dish of food, another draped me with silk, another
wrapped me in a coil of beautifully crafted chains. “A tribute to your
greatness,” Vin teased.

I took the chains from around my shoulders and tossed them
aside. Vin scowled. His offense was almost comical.

“You killed those MW’S up there,” I said. They all looked my
way again, and the Meridian girl serving Neil paused in the silence.

“I just got tired of it,” the blonde said suddenly. She
propped her feet up, looking pleased with herself. “Do this, arsenal. Do that,
arsenal. We make the orders, not you, arsenal.” Her voice was like acid,
boiling over her words the more she spoke. “And there was that one snarky
little redhead I hated the most. She thought she was so damn clever.”

“We weren’t supposed be this far north. I tried telling her
that we had left the designated zone, but she was so persistent. ‘Don’t forget,
arsenal,’ she said, ‘I can have you deleted in a second. It’s that easy.’ And
then it happened. I drew my weapon and shot her right between those pretty
little eyes.” She mimicked the sound then shrugged her shoulders with a laugh.
“And the look on her face, it was so pathetic.” She laughed again, her eyes glazed
over as she remembered. There was pleasure in those eyes, a sort of malignant
smile. “It was humiliating, nauseating to be ordered around like some bitch by
those weak and haughty little bastards.”

“It was because of you, actually,” Tessa said. “When we
heard you went rogue, it kind of got us thinking.”

“We don’t take orders,” the stalky arsenal said. “Not
anymore.”

“It was bound to happen,” Neil commented. “Ryan was just the
one who triggered it all. The rest of us just followed her lead.”

I looked at them. They made treason sound so simple, so
unpunishable. I wondered if they would survive it. They had the resolve, it
seemed. But did they have the endurance? I didn’t think so. To them, freedom
was nothing more than an idea. It wasn’t alive in their eyes. And it had to be.
For them to survive, it needed to breathe, and sing, and dance. Only then would
they protect it. Only then would it truly become real.

“One of them was still alive. I had to put him down,” I told
them.

Neil raised a brow. “Really?” he said smoothly. “Did he
alert New Eden?” His fingers twitched a little on the chalice he held. As much
as he tried to disguise it, I knew he was anxious.

“He tried,” was all I said.

Neil relaxed. He smirked then took a sip from the cup.
“Sorry about that. I feel a bit embarrassed that the admirable Celeste had to
clean up our mess.”

I wasn’t sure if he was teasing or honest with his praise,
but I ignored it

“I see you had a mess of your own,” the stalky arsenal
noticed. “You lost your weapon.”

“It was taken.”

“Oh? By who?” Neil asked.

“A Meridian.”

“Really?” Tessa gasped. She slid forward, her eyes shining
in curiosity. “I can’t believe someone was able to match you like that. What
happened?”

I stared into the fire, remembering. Uway Levíí had
happened. He was an impossible being. Just the thought of him disturbed me. His
beauty, that startling light of his—it was haunting.

“It happened fast. They attacked me and took me captive. Not
for very long. The Meridian and I... we spoke. He asked about halos. I answered.
And he was furious. Then they were attacked by arsenals. That’s how I escaped.”

Tessa crossed her arms and sighed. “That’s it?”

“I know. I expected too much,” Vin laughed. “What a boring
ass story. Couldn’t you have told it with a little more, I don’t know, soul?”

“I suppose the admirable Celeste is not so admirable, not if
she lets some mere savage steal her precious lifeline like that,” Ryan sneered.

I glared at her, and Vin tossed his head back, laughing
uproariously. “He did take my lifeline,” I hissed. “And I took his.” I slid the
relic from my pocket, holding it high for them to see. The Meridians jumped in
horror, staring wide eyed at the object in my hand. They whispered amongst each
other, panicked that I beheld such a thing.

Vin reached out to touch it. “Let me have a look at it,” he
said.

I drew it away from him. “It’s mine,” I snapped. The eyes of
the Meridians flashed as I staked my claim on the Levíí’s relic. It seemed they
knew exactly who it belonged to. For some reason, I felt empowered, because in
that moment, with his relic high in my hand, Uway Levíí was at
my
mercy.

“That’s some prize,” the stalky arsenal said.

I slipped the relic back into my pocket. The Meridians
watched it, their eyes moving with the sway of the chain until I tucked it
away. “It’s not a prize,” I said. “It’s a reminder.”

“A reminder of what?” Ryan asked.

I glanced at her then turned my attention to Neil. “I was
wondering something,” I said to him.

“Hey Tate, hand me that thing, thing over there,” Vin
slurred. “I want to play with it.” The arsenal looked around then picked up the
gleaming vase and tossed it. Vin set it between his legs and used his hands to
strike it like a drum. Then he started to sing, the lyrics nothing but a bunch
of nonsensical jargon. It was a mockery of the Meridian language.

Tessa rolled her eyes. “What a moron,” she sighed.

“What do you want to know?” Neil asked.

“Seriously, would you shut up, Vin,” Ryan hissed.

“I was wondering if you ran into any other arsenals,” I
asked.

“Hand it over you drunken bastard,” Ryan snapped. She was on
her feet now, trying to pry the vase from Vin.

“Can’t you get it from him?” Tate said.

“I’m trying!”

“We did actually,” Neil answered. His right eye narrowed,
observing me curiously.

“Finally,” Tessa huffed.

Ryan fiddled with the vase, holding an arm out as Vin tried
to tackle her. “I ought to beat you over the head with this,” she scolded. Then
she threw it and it went flying, splashing deep into the marsh. “The next one
to serve him gets shot,” she said in Hedai. The Meridians watched her warily as
she returned to her seat.

“I’m looking for Elric,” I said.

“Ah, the smiley blonde!” Vin shouted.

I looked to him. “Yes, did you come across his team at all?”

“Yea, sure we did,” Vin said. He looked to the hostages
sitting still at his feet. “One of you, play a song,” he ordered. He leaned
over, his drunken limbs hanging wildly. He picked up an odd looking instrument
and gave it to one of the younger males. “Play,” he ordered. And the boy did,
timidly at first, until Vin ordered the others to clap. The arsenal laughed.
“It’s just too easy,” he said again.

“Did you really see Elric?” I asked Neil.

He said nothing at first, like he was reluctant to tell me.
“Maybe. Why do you ask?” His fingers went tight around the chalice. There was a
certain tautness in his voice.

“I need to find him, obviously,” I told him.

“What do you want with him?” Tate wondered.

“That’s none of your concern,” I answered. My tone was
almost threatening. Tate received the message, leaning back in his seat. He
slid his weapon into his lap, stroking the trigger lightly. Neil noticed it
too, and gently shook his head. They held gazes for a while before Tate
hesitantly loosened his grip on the Sharp-shooter.

“They were headed north; Zone-12 I believe. It was some red
forest, Elric said.
E’elga
, I think it was. But last I heard, New Eden
lost contact with the Regal team. They’re all dead most likely.”

Dead? I didn’t believe it. Ellis was not dead. He was alive.
I could feel him. Everywhere I went, I could feel him. Even in the dark where
there was neither sight nor sound. Ellis was alive, and I would find him. And
until I did, there was no going home. I swore it and I would stand by it.
“That’s where you’re going,” Neil guessed. “
E’elga
?”

I nodded.

“What for?” Tessa said. “Neil said it already. They’re long
gone. It’s...”

Neil held up a hand, silencing her. “You’d do better staying
with us. It’s only logical,” he said.

“I won’t find Elric with that kind of logic,” I told him.

Neil’s eyes were piercing. They were searching for
something, wondering why I was so determined. And the longer I looked at him, I
saw exactly why he was so adamant to persuade me. It was want, and strategy,
and perhaps even a bit of desperation. Because there weren’t many like us. And
there being so few of us troubled him. That thought, the possibility of total
solitude, of being the only one of his kind, was frightening. I understood him
well. Loneliness was a powerful thing—suffocating almost. And that’s why he had
chosen me. Because I knew this. But it was more than that. His challenging me
in the arena was more than an attempt to strengthen himself. It was an attempt
to gain my favor, to catch my eye. He chose me because he wanted me, because I
was strong and resilient, and dangerously unafraid. “I won’t assume anything. I
have to see it for myself,” I said.

Neil looked away and gritted his teeth. He emptied his cup
then held it out for more. The Meridian girl was quick to serve him, but as she
moved, Vin grabbed her, and jerked her forward. The content of the vase went
flying, spilling over Ryan’s boots where she had her feet comfortably propped.
She screeched, jumping up from the cushions. The music stopped.

“You savage!” Ryan snapped.

Vin laughed, wrapping the girl in his arms. She struggled
against him, trying desperately to claw her way out of his grasp. “It was an
accident,” he chuckled.

“I don’t give a damn,” Ryan scowled. She picked up her glass
and threw the drink in the Meridian’s face.

“Now this is exciting,” Tessa cheered.

“Don’t encourage them,” Tate grumbled.

The Meridian girl wiped her face and threw an icy glare at
the arsenal. She lifted the vase in her hand, and before she could follow
through with the action, Ryan raised her weapon. The Meridian froze, her eyes
wide with terror.

“Whoa! Easy there,” Vin laughed. “We’re just having fun. Put
the gun down, Ryan.”

Her finger trembled on the trigger, just itching to shoot.
Her beauty was suddenly hideous. That hot-blooded look of hers was just too
wicked. “You sick bastard,” she hissed. “You just love playing with animals,
don’t you?”

Vin narrowed his eyes. “Put the gun down, Ryan,” he said
seriously.

I watched her closely. I didn’t know when it happened, but I
found my hand moving towards Neil. There was a hand gun strapped to his hip,
and I was more than tempted to draw it. “Let it go, Ryan,” Neil said. “There’s
been enough killing for one day.”