The Partisan Chronicles [Dystopia | Supernatural | Mystery]

Andrei

We woke to the sound of the hatch opening, and to a burst of conversation from a chorus of familiar voices. With varying degrees of urgency, we all made our way to the common room. And for those who knew each other, it was a reunion as to be expected. Riz rushed to my left and pulled me into an enthusiastic side-hug. Markus Lund and Lucas Bellamy introduced themselves to those they hadn't met, and Maryse, having not been captured by Palisade evidently, was subdued in her own introductions.

While Riz took a moment to acquaint himself with Teeth, I took a moment to orient myself in a moderately sized room filled with a significant percentage of everybody I'd ever met.

It was loud, and every conversation blended into the other until there was almost nothing but a steady buzzing sound. I wondered if that's what it felt like for a budding telepath in a quiet room full of people. Adeline would one day confirm my suspicion. I honed in on one conversation—Rhydian and Evelyn, an amorous exchange. To another, Finlay, Markus, and Bells banded together with Adeline. Alexander and Jakob, and Maryse…?

"Hi, Andrei," she said.

"Hello, Maryse," I said. What else? I was relieved she hadn't been captured or killed, but I wasn't particularly thrilled she was there, either. "You're alive, and you're here."

"Yeah, no thanks to you."

Riz straightened his posture at my side, having still been petting Teeth. "Maryse, if you came all the way to Amalia to give Drei shit, I'm taking you back."

"I am sorry," I said, "for what it's worth."

"You shouldn't apologize, Asa," Jakob called over, his voice traveling closer as he spoke. He positioned himself near Teeth and Riz. "The wave was my idea."

"And are you sorry, Jakob?" Maryse asked.

"How would it make you feel if I were, Maryse?"

Judging by his tone, it seemed the psychologist's presence had put Jakob in a bitter mood. He'd otherwise seemed to be having a peaceful conversation with Alexander.

"At least it makes sense now," Maryse said. "You've never liked me."

"You think Jakob tried to kill you?" I asked.

A sharp whistle from the corner—Rhydian. The buzzing stopped. "Maryse, let it go, lass. Shit happens. You're fine. And Jakob, did you try killing Maryse?"

"No," Jakob replied.

"Right, then. Everybody piss off."

There was a moment of silence before almost everyone returned to their previously held conversations. Jakob remained nearby.

"Where's Sinclair?" I asked.

"With Sebastian checking in on Marta," Riz said.

For the better part of an hour, catching up was done, laughs were had, and by the time it finally seemed everybody had run out of words, we were alerted by a quiet, steady rumbling overhead. Closer and closer until the rumbling stopped above us.

The hatch opened, the breeze bringing with it the smell of wet dirt and roses.

"I can feel him again," Everleigh announced. "The concert's on."

Someone moved across the room toward the stairs. A waft of metal and cinnamon.

"She brought carriages," Adeline said. "And horses."

The rest of the room moved together toward the stairs.

"You'll be driving yourselves, and leaving no later than nine this evening. Sharp." Everleigh explained. "Make sure the others are here on time."

There were horses and carriages outside, but with no drivers?

"How did you get the carriages here with no drivers, Everleigh?"

"With my mind, Andrei."

With her mind. Of course.

"It'll be a two day trip. Bring snacks. I'll be too busy with other preparations to help you. The carriage on the left is filled with everything everybody needs to look presentable for when you arrive." A pause. "Wait, who are you? You're not supposed to be here."

"Maryse," Maryse said.

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"You're a bit tall, but maybe. Good thing I brought extras."

Extras? The others filed up the stone steps in a rush, weaving around me. Whether I hurried to find out or not, in the end I would learn what Everleigh Gloom had brought us.

Therefore, I returned to the couches.

Lidia Roska had once given us all formal wear for the party we were to attend at the old Vonsinfonie schoolhouse. Again, I soon learned we were delivered formal wear.
This time, for a concert at the old Vonsinfonie theatre.

While everybody each found their parcels, mine delivered to me by Finlay, some chatted excitedly about the event.

"We never did get to dress up for the last party," Adeline commented. "Everyone's going to look fantastic, I can hardly wait."

"Well, we can't leave now, can we Rhydian?" Evelyn said. "You'll take me, won't you?"

For whatever remained of Everleigh's preparations, she enlisted Alexander's help, and she ordered Strachan Number One and Strachan Number Two to join them as well. Finlay and Bells sounded happy enough to oblige. The hatch rumbled closed behind them when they left.

By then, Maryse had moved to the corner with Rhydian and Evelyn. At least we were down to a more manageable number, but when everybody started speaking again, the incessant buzzing returned. I breathed out a heavy sigh.

"Show me around?" Riz asked.

"Yes," I said. "Thank you."

It wasn't long after the new arrivals finished selecting their bunks and unpacking what few possessions they'd brought with them, that the hatch rumbled open once more. We were short hours away from Everleigh's deadline, and didn't expect to see her again until the theatre.

With Riz, Teeth, and the rest of the base at my heels, we hurried into the corridor.

The hatch rumbled closed.

Yet again, we all poured into the wider space where Teeth and I found a safe place by the bar. Sinclair squeezed my hand when she reached my side.

"How wonderful to be home," Sebastian said. "And just look at all of you."

Silence. One, two, three, four seconds, and then…

"…Jakob?"

Jakob's bare feet padded against the stone floor as he raced across the room. The sound of impact when their bodies met in a hug.

"I thought you were dead," Jakob said.

"I thought you were dead, too. Your mother told me you—otherwise I never would have—you were my whole world. You know that, don't you?"

"I know, Uncle Sebastian. You were my whole world, too."

"Bloody hells," Sinclair muttered.

I laid my arm around her shoulders, pulling her in closer. Meanwhile, Michael had made his way over to us, giving me a pat on the back before pouring himself a drink.

By the sounds around the room, there wasn't a dry eye.

"If you will excuse us, my friends," Sebastian said. "My nephew and I have centuries of catching up to do. If you have need of either of us, we'll be in the theatre room."

"Take all the time you need, mister Vonsinfonie," Adeline reassured between sniffles.

When Sebastian and Jakob left, so, too, did Rhydian and Evelyn. Sinclair and Adeline shared a short exchange before everyone excused themselves to get ready, and in the end, Sinclair and I were alone at the bar.

We moved to the couch.

The sound of leather straining and a thump as she took off each of her boots, sinking back into the couch with a relaxed sigh. "So, what's this about a creepy concert?"

"We'll be leaving soon. Our outfits are in our room."

"We have outfits?"

"We have outfits."

"Reminds me of Lidia," Sinclair said.

"It had crossed my mind." I nudged her thigh, urging her to lay her legs across my lap. While we talked quietly, I massaged her feet, and was reminded of the freckle shaped like an "S" on her big toe. We shared information back and forth, though it seemed we'd come to the same conclusions about the Artist in each other's absence.

"Reckon if we can get Michael to remember his time at the studio, we'll have a bit more to go on in terms of how to attack the place. Might also give us a better understanding of whatever it is they're doing to people."

"And Michael is on board?"

Sinclair nodded. "By the by, That Maryse is a real pain in the arse."

"Yes," I said. "How did that happen?"

Sinclair explained the way in which Maryse had managed to survive the ordeal at sea. "She said she wanted to come with us to Amalia so she could, 'go somewhere and do something.' Load of horseshite as far as I'm concerned, but what could I say?"

"You could have said no."

"What, the way you said no?"

"That's fair," I said.

"Keep a read on her, will you? I've got a hunch."

I understood what that meant, and so I said I would.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"I'm feeling like I don't have time to feel how I'm feeling, and that we should probably go get ready. I need a quick washing up."

I leaned over to plant a kiss on her nose, but I missed and kissed her eyebrow instead. "Yes," I said. "You really do."

Once we had all finished getting dressed and Evelyn had finished brushing and styling our hair, I located Adeline. I hadn't liked to rely on her telepathy, but there would be a few necessary exceptions in life. Being able to see Sinclair, her long platinum hair, swept to the side and cascading down her shoulder in waves. The silky, emerald green dress, fitting her form like a second skin. Her scars—thin, white, and numerous. Her awkward, embarrassed expression. The subtle swell of her abdomen.

Yes, there were exceptions, and that was one of them.

Sinclair had always been beautiful to me, and it wasn't as though she was more beautiful then. What it was, seeing her in a way that made my heart stutter and my knees weak, was a symbol of our lives expanding beyond Palisade, beyond duty, beyond anything we could have ever imagined. There, in an underground mansion, surrounded by family and friends who had become like family. And as we all filed up the stone steps in our new finery, I knew:

This was bound to be a trip we would never forget.