The Partisan Chronicles [Dystopia | Supernatural | Mystery]

Rhian

"Why are you people always giving us clothes? Are we really that poorly dressed?"

"Absolutely," Sebastian said.

"Terrible," Zacharias chorused.

"Yeah," Michael added. "No offense."

Turns out, Zacharias's twenty-thousand parcels weren't for him.

He needed us looking nice for Avis. Everything in place and everything looking pretty brought the lass a sense of peace and calm, and if we went in looking like a pack of vagabonds, she'd panic, and that would be bad, I suppose. So, more outfits.

Zacharias and Vivienne Delaterre had designed everything to everybody's tastes and practical skills, everything made with leather and cloth in shades of brown, cream, and black, with a splash of pale blueish-grey. With everybody suited up, it seemed to me we'd traveled forward in time from pre-Divide Auditoria. All done up with sashes, straps, and brass buckles.

They'd even taken into account the fact I'd be outgrowing my clothes at a steady pace soon, having built in a way for me to let the pants out on my own, and fashioning me a clever chestpiece to wear over the loose tunic I kept tucked in for now.

Not to mention, we all got new jackets. Mine was short, Strauss's was long, and Adeline's had a fair number of hidden pockets which she was excited about, obviously.

We set aside the parcels meant for Markus, Riz, Bells, Maryse, and Everleigh.

"Putting them back into uniform, Zacharias?"

"No, I'm providing everyone with a sense of unity through fashion, and you of all people, Sebastian, should understand that."

I looked between the brothers with their near identical suits and rolled my eyes.

Whatever. We looked fancy as fuck.

And there was one more thing. Adeline's gift for Strauss had turned out to be a pair of sun-goggles, or according to our pre-Divide experts, sunglasses. They'd been in fashion back in their day. In any case, these particular sunglasses were more like sun-goggles, not only shielding Strauss's eye area in the front, but on the sides as well—stopping anyone from seeing what he was missing. Prior to having them made, Adeline had asked Jakob if he'd like some for himself, but Jakob told her he was fine with the blindfold on account of the goggles reminded him of Avis. He said he'd let her know if he changed his mind.

Zacharias had him a nice one made to match his new outfit, anyhow.

After making sure everything was fitting everybody correctly, Strauss and Adeline disappeared into the workroom to brainstorm The Idea, Gus left to run some errands for the supplies we'd need for The Idea, and Zacharias, Sebastian, and Jakob packed up into the theatre room for a family meeting also in relation to The Idea.

For me, that meant having a Catch Up With Michael Day.

Hadn't had one of those in ages.

"Michael," I said.

"Rhian," he said.

"How are you feeling?"

"I don't know."

"Aye, that's fair."

We had a sit on the couch. It was quiet for a minute.

"Rhian," Michael said again, but not in that way. There was more coming. I could tell. "Was I happy? Before?"

I kicked my shiny new boots up on the table. "You're asking as if I even know what that means. But I reckon you were content, I guess. We couldn't often talk about what you'd get up to in the field. I could tell it was hard on you sometimes, mate, but you seemed all right with your lot in life. You were a big reason why Gus and I didn't defect sooner."

"Me? Why?"

"You were a bit like an anchor for us, I reckon. Whatever horseshite happened to us out there, we'd end it all back at Palisade, and there you'd be, you know?"

Michael leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.

"Why didn't I want to defect?"

"One of those cases of the uncertain versus the certain, and I'd wager the biggest reason most of us don't defect. Not much out there for a Partisan on the lam. At least at Palisade, for all it's bloody worth, we had something."

"Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks."

"'Course," I said. "Besides, you really were a big deal around there. Tough walking away from fame like that."

That brought a smile to New Michael's face the same way it would have brought a smile to Old Michael's face. Good times.

"That reminds me, remember when we worked that security gig at that dance festival in Delphia together?" he asked.

"Aye, spent most of that event keeping look-out while you—"

"—entertained the ladies," Michael finished with a grin. "I remember like it was yesterday."

"Look at you, remembering shit."

Michael chuckled, in part incredulous, and in part amused. "You had my back."

"Aye, still do, and we're gonna get your storybook or whatever. What do you think about The Idea? You've been affected by Avis and the Anima in ways more than most of us."

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"Yeah, Helena Varis, right?"

I nodded.

"You think she was playing with my mind and my feelings, too?"

"Well, you'd been acting strangely."

"Yeah—I'm starting to wonder if I even want to read my book," Michael said. "I'm okay now, aren't I? With you all here? Yeah, I feel like I am. And let's say I read the book, how do I even know what's real anymore? I've had my mind addled so many times now, maybe I'm better off starting from the beginning again."

"It's an option."

"What would you do?"

"Michael, I've no honest idea what I'd do, but I know if I had the choice now to erase it all, I wouldn't."

"Even if it was only the bad?"

"Even if," I said. "But I'm not you, mate. And from what I've seen, you are you, only without all the noise in the way. So, whatever you decide is whatever you decide."

"Whatever are we deciding?" Sebastian strutted into the common room, eventually himself a sit in the chair across.

"Whether or not I should read the book," Michael answered.

At first, I was a bit surprised he was so forthcoming about it, but on second thought, they'd bonded rapidly recently under a serious pact of trust, so.

"Ah—," Sebastian replied. He gave me the 'that's worrisome' look, and I gave him the 'go easy on him' look. "Well," he finally said. "It's an option."

Michael nodded. "I'll think about it. What do you think about The Idea?"

"The Idea is inspired." Sebastian, like Michael, leaned in with his arms on his knees, keeping his voice low. "But if it doesn't work, my friends, we must come together in the only sensible conclusion and put her and her colleagues to rest."

"Aye," I said.

"Yeah," Michael said. "You warned us that if we destroy them, the other Anima in the city might be alerted. Do you think the Canticle would work on them?"

"A mystery," Sebastian replied. "We know the music doesn't affect Partisans, and presumably Barrens, who've been experimented on. But the Anima in Leberecht—"

"—the Anima in Leberecht will have been stripped before they were turned," Zacharias moseyed into the room. "The Canticle will not work on them, and who's to say what Avis has done to herself." Zacharias tugged up his pant legs and had a sit on the opposite couch. "Sorry to interrupt your planning my wife's demise."

Sebastian sighed.

"To be fair," I said, "you haven't seen her in a few centuries, and it's not like I haven't watched you destroy the Anima before. Or feed on an old, but otherwise healthy priest, come to think—"

"You fed on an old, but otherwise healthy priest?" Sebastian asked, aghast.

"When did I do that?" Zacharias replied, offended.

"After we woke you up from your nap, and you did that annoying song bit, we retreated upstairs and found Father Belaia dead."

"Well, that wasn't me," Zacharias said. "It had to have been Lidia. Most likely she had been watching you and seized the opportunity to make me seem threatening."

Lidia did like a good set up and a good priest. It tracked. Glad we cleared that one up.

Sebastian exhaled slowly.

"In any case, Sebastian, when you're through plotting your sister-in-law's death, Andrei Strauss needs to see you in the workroom."

And that's about all it took. Sebastian stood and performed a half-bow before disappearing down the corridor.

Zacharias looked to me.

I looked to Zacharias.

"You're the only one who can convince him," he said, once his brother was long gone. "Other than Jakob, who—you need to convince Sebastian that we will do whatever it takes to help Avis. If The Idea fails, then we try another. Do you understand?"

"I'm not promising anybody anything. Not you, not Sebastian. If it makes sense for her to live, she lives. If it makes sense for her not to, she won't. We'll have to see, won't we?"

"And you'll make that decision for me? For my wife? For my son?"

"Me. Strauss. Michael. Whoever. Someone has to make a goddess-be-damned decision, seeing as you all can't get over your shit quickly enough."

Michael side-eyed me.

But I wasn't done. "Ideally, The Idea works," I continued. "But I think it's important everybody keep their minds open, you included. You especially, probably."

"She's my wife, and she wasn't always like this." It was Zacharias's turn to lean forward, but he did so right before standing. He hadn't brought his cane with him, so he limped his way toward the exit. "Thank you for listening, Rhian Sinclair. I will join my brother in further assisting Andrei Strauss and Adeline Blanchett."

I tossed a two-finger salute, but just before he disappeared down the corridor, I stopped him. "Look, Zach," I said when he turned. "I get it. I don't know what's going to happen when we get to Leberecht, but just know that I get it, all right?"

Zacharias nodded.

And then he left.

I looked to Michael.

Michael looked to me.

"These new clothes really are great," he said.

"Aye," I replied. "They're pretty great."

The boots didn't even pinch my toes.