Chapter 34
A/N
Photo above is how I imagine the warehouse looks like.
This chapter is in Theo's POV. I hope it finally clears some things up about his character.
Remember to vote and comment. I love hearing your thoughts!
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It was a calm, dark night by the seaport. There was nothing but the salty sea breeze and the sound of waves crashing against the docks.
"Home sweet home," Theo chimed as he made his way through a familiar warehouse. There was a swing to his step because everything would go his way; he'd make sure of it. Even the rusty, bleak walls of this hellhole couldn't put dander on his mood.
He walked along a long ramp on the upper level, looking over the old abandoned containers that served as housing for many of the members of the order. A smile sneaked into his features unknowingly as the image of a gatekeeper appeared in his mind. By the time he'd get back to her, everything would be alright.
It's only a matter of time now. I'm sure of it.
He stopped in front of an old ladder, leading to the highest point in the warehouse. As customary, he picked up a steel rod that was tossed by it and slammed it against the metal steps three times.
"What is it?! I'm busy," a woman yelled, her voice commanding and strict.
Theo paid no mind to the question and instead proceeded to climb. A cheery whistle blew out his lips as he jumped onto the high office, a suspended platform that used to overlook this place when it was actually in business.
The woman stood in front of a table, with her back to Theo. He made extra sure that his steps were loud, but she didn't even spare him a glance.
"A 'Hello, how've you been?' would be nice."
"So, it's you," was the woman's greeting.
Theo sighed. "Good enough. I guess."
"I wondered when you'd show up."
"Did you miss me, Rory?" he asked, walking around the table so she'd face him. She was too preoccupied making notes on the map that was sprawled out on the table to look at him still.
"How many times have I told you? You must call me Aurora," she reprimanded him. After making a final circle on the map, she lifted her head. The moonlight spilled over her right eye, its color white as snow. A jagged scar ran above and below it, shaped like the wrath of Zeus.
Theo must've stared for too long, for Aurora reached up over her braided hair and dragged her eyepatch over it.
"Where've you been?" she asked, "You know I don't like it when you leave too long without notifying me."
"Just needed a break," he avoided the question, "I didn't stray too far, don't worry."
Just a couple of countries away is all.
"Well, I hope you had fun on your little self-appointed vacation. We have to get back to work," she ordered, fixing a few golden strands the eyepatch had pulled out of the braid. "We have a group of new recruits. They're mostly third or fourth-generation Izovenians, but the important thing is they have magic. You'll begin training them tomorrow."
She walked toward the edge of the railing and took a deep breath. "We also have to visit the two south factions in a couple of weeks. Can't trust those idiots to be unsupervised for too long."
"I don't think we'll be able to make the appointment," Theo clarified as he leaned beside her on the railing. "In fact, it might be best to cancel everything."
Aurora scoffed, before reaching into her pocket for a cigarette and a lighter. "Why's that?"
Theo reached for the lighter and held it up against her cigarette. She blew a puff of smoke into his face immediately. Usually, he'd complain, but not today. Nothing was going to get on his nerves.
"There's been a change of plans." Theo picked the cigarette out of her mouth and walked around her.
Aurora didn't seem intimidated by him at all. Instead, she released a chortle and rolled her eyes. "Shut your mouth and get some sleep, twerp. We have work tomorrow."
"I don't think you're understanding me." He took a long, slow swig from the cigarette as he walked toward her and blew it right into her face before saying, "This is a coup."
Only then did Aurora seem a bit unnerved. She shoved him back and returned to the papers on the table. Her fingers fumbled with a stack of papers. "Quite the comedian you turned out to be."
"I've brought you a souvenir." Theo threw the cigarette on the floor and squashed it under his foot. His hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a smooth silver stone. He placed it on the table and pushed it toward her with the tip of his index finger. "Figured it'd be nice if you heard the songs at least once in your life."
Aurora narrowed her eyes at him and then at his gift. "A siren's amulet? How would you get—" Her eye went wide. "No. . . ."
Theo nodded slowly as she realized what that meant. He crossed his arms and looked at the bright moon as he explained. "After years of nothing . . . I heard the Song of Fire a few weeks ago. It took a few guesses, but . . . I finally found its gatekeeper—a young girl."
"Why didn't you tell me anything?" She grew excited, a tremulous smile appearing in her features. "Where did you find her? Did you bring her here?"
"No, I didn't bring her here," Theo explained, clicking his tongue in mock disappointment. "You see . . . she's in Bellenau."
"Bellenau . . . the place where—"
"Father croaked, yes," Theo finished for her.
"But, if you found her there . . . that means she's part of the—"
"House of Fire! Exactly! You're a smart cookie," Theo teased, flashing her a brilliant grin.
Aurora's lips began to tremble. Her hand inched for her walkie-talkie as she asked, "Then, how did you get the amulet?"
He didn't have to answer. By her scared expression, he could tell she'd already pieced it together.
"I'm done being your slave, Aurora," he spit out.
She quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie and made a run for the stairs. "Hill?" she yelled into the microphone, but all she received was static. "Tana? Sean?"
Again, nothing.
Theo stepped in her way, blocking her only exit. "Your guards went sleepy-bye." He faked a pout. It made Aurora's features twist into an angry scowl.
"You wouldn't hurt your own sister," she bluffed, her eyes burning with rage as she stared up at him.
"I won't," he replied, "if you tell me where she is."
Theo held his breath. This was it. Aurora was backed into a corner. She had to tell him where she was now. There was no other choice.
But, even then. Defenseless, without an escape, she denied him this. Aurora burst into raucous laughter. Her hand reached for the railing to steady herself. Theo got angrier as her laughter died down, his nostrils flaring from impatience.
"And lose the only leverage I have over you? I don't think so."
"It doesn't have to be leverage if you join me," he offered. "We could both return to Izoven. The right way."
"Even if you manage to retake the throne this way. As soon as you do, they'll want to return to Acacia's ideas. Open the gates to the humans. Allow technology in. They'll tear Izoven to pieces."
"We can adopt Acacia's ideas without it ending in disaster. It doesn't have to be as Father predicted."
She shook her head, before turning her back to him and looking down at the warehouse. "It's your choice to be a heretic, but I won't stray from Father's wishes."
"I don't understand why you still believe in him. He was cruel."
"He was tough. He had to be."
Theo's patience had reached his limit. "This is ridiculous, Aurora. You've got nowhere to go. Just tell me where Mother is."
"You always did get ahead of yourself, little brother." Aurora let out a low laugh. "Just so you know, you won't find her location on that map. Or anywhere in this building for that matter. It's only in here." She raised two fingers and tapped the side of her head.
Theo clenched his hands into fists. "Then, I'll have you locked up until you tell me where she is."
"Because of your sins . . ." Aurora looked over her shoulder, an eery smile adorning her lips. "You'll never know."
Before Theo could even think to react, Aurora pulled herself up and over the railing.
"Rory!" he yelled, his hand reaching out to grab her, but only managed to catch the edge of her jacket. The light garment slipped off her frame with ease, before she continued to hurtle down into the shadows. The smile never left her face as she disappeared from Theo's view.
A cry escaped Theo as he awaited the impact. He pushed himself away from the railing and pinched his eyes closed. His hands instinctively cupped his ears, trying to keep the bad noises away.
Trembling shoulders, and hands, and legs, and heart . . .
Theo couldn't bear to imagine what would become of his sister after falling from this height, yet his imagination had other plans.
"No, no, no, no," he kept repeating, barely above a whisper.
But . . .
The crash never came.
It had to have been past half a minute now, and there was no sound. In a place like this, the impact of Aurora's body against the ground would've been heard all throughout the warehouse. Yet, there was nothing.
Could she have . . .
He ran back to the railing, looking over the edge. It was dark, but he was sure; there was nothing at the bottom but concrete floor.
"Crap!" he yelled, slamming his hands against the railing. Instantly gathering his bearings, he rushed to the ladder and half-climbed, half-jumped down.
Theo searched the whole ground floor. He searched the second floor as well. He even searched through the place he'd locked up the prisoners. Each container. Each corner of the warehouse.
She was gone.
Aurora had disappeared.
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