A Citadel of Captives by Bella Forrest
She went ahead, and we followed, making sure to take all our backpacks and supplies. We couldn’t lose anything, especially all the items we’d gotten back from GASP. I knew we needed to sit down and record another message for Caleb and River, but I was also aware of the fact that we had to find Amane first and get as much information as we possibly could from Kallisto along the way, too.
The more data we could provide to GASP, the better.
Kailani
“That wasn’t going to be a good safe spot, anyway,” I said as we moved through the woods. I didn’t have time to pick up the crystal pellets I’d left behind. Besides, I had plenty of those in one of my pouches. “It was swarming with Faulties.”
“Do you think Amane lied when she brought us there? Do you think she knew?” Elonora asked, walking by my side.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
I could see the beach farther ahead, just five hundred yards away. The jungle gave us good cover in the late hours of the night. Insects chirped all around us, and I could hear the waves splashing against the shore, too. It was eerily quiet, but I was still on edge after our unexpected encounters with Faulties.
“I doubt it,” Kallisto said. “The rogue Faulties keep changing their territory. Some have even started fighting one another over control of various patches of dry land. It’s hard to predict our movements if we never sit still.”
“Besides, according to the updated maps of Strava, the diamond colosseums are spreading,” Ben replied. “Could it be that the rogue Faulties are trying to steer clear of the expanding Perfects?”
“Absolutely,” Kallisto said. “The Perfects are horrible fiends. If they spot one of us on their turf, that’s it. Kill on sight.”
That made sense. It also told me a little bit more about the Perfects, as well as the Faulties. Both were extremely territorial. That could work to our advantage later, if we played our cards right. It was just an idea, for the time being, but I figured we could maybe get some of the Faulties to band together and hold on to one of the islands, for example. If they claimed it as their territory, to then be challenged by the Perfects, it could cause a big enough skirmish to keep some of Ta’Zan’s resources distracted, while we found a way into his compound.
“What do you know about Amane, Kallisto?” Rose asked her. “If you’re going to stay and help, I need you to be more forthcoming with us.”
We reached the beach, our boots sinking into the fine white sand. Bluish moonlight painted the ocean in its ethereal marine colors, casting glimmers over the foamy waves as they licked at the shore. Once again, I found myself entranced by Strava’s beauty, only to be swiftly reminded of its deadly dangers.
Kallisto pointed at an island less than a mile away. It was bigger than this one, with a thin strip of beach and a dense jungle skirting the steep mountain in the middle. Based on what I remembered from our topographic studies of the planet, most of these islands were actually the peaks of underwater mountains.
“I know plenty, but a lot I cannot tell you because I promised Amane,” Kallisto replied. “I keep my word. But I’ll share with you what I can.”
Rose thought about it for a second, then nodded. “Fine. It’s better than nothing, I suppose.”
“I’m surprised you have principles,” Elonora muttered. She was still miffed about the colosseum incident, and I couldn’t blame her. I also knew that none of these jabs were malicious in their intent. Elonora was simply trying to elicit emotions from Kallisto, so she could get a better read on her.
Kallisto bit her lower lip, refraining from a reply altogether. I had to give the Faulty credit. She was definitely irritated, but, clearly, she didn’t want to start a fight with Elonora. That told me that she was interested in making this alliance work, despite her volcanic nature.
“We need to get there,” the Faulty said, nodding at the island.
Vesta and Nevis took the lead, creating an underwater pocket for us to go through. They were getting better at it. The walls were smooth and lasted for longer, as we moved without getting wet.
“So, you and Amane are friends?” Ridan asked Kallisto.
“We used to be, yes,” she replied. “Not anymore.”
“But you’re still keeping your word to her,” I concluded.
“Despite what you think, I do have principles and loyalty.” Kallisto sighed. “When I make a promise, I do my best to keep it. And, to be honest, Amane is a good creature. We just didn’t see eye to eye at the time.”
“What happened, then?” Rose asked.
Above us, ocean creatures swam, curiously watching us as we advanced through the water. Some of them got close enough for us to see their full splendor—massive, majestic, whale-like creatures with black-and-white stripes, accompanied by flurries of yellow-and-red fishes. They didn’t stay down here for long, though, as they made their way closer to the surface.
“Amane was the first to leave, before Ta’Zan kicked me and my siblings out,” Kallisto explained. “She already knew what Ta’Zan was planning to do. He’d just taken your people, and he’d already created the first Perfects. I was angry with Amane, at the time. I thought she’d betrayed us all, not to mention Ta’Zan.”
I noticed how she’d stopped calling Ta’Zan “Father,” just like Amane. That reinforced my thoughts: Kallisto was definitely switching to our side. Deep down, there was still a sliver of doubt. But I chose to focus on what was right in front of me, and that was a Faulty willing to help us.
“You don’t know what it was that she and Ta’Zan disagreed upon,” Rose replied.
Kallisto shook her head. “She kept saying it was about the Perfects, about his use for them. I got to speak to her just before she left. She wanted to get as far away from Ta’Zan as possible. She begged me not to tell anyone. I do know she felt bad for leaving, since her sister stayed behind.”
“Wait, what?” I breathed. “What sister? Aren’t you all brothers and sisters?”
“Yes, because we were made in the same way, not by blood, but Amane and Amal are different. They came from the same embryo. It split in the artificial womb. They share the same features, the same physical and cognitive abilities. They’re unique among the Faulties,” Kallisto explained. “Together, they were priceless to him, though I don’t know for what, exactly. They worked closely with Ta’Zan. That’s the one thing I know for sure. They had access to his labs, all the biological samples. He trusted them more than anyone else. After Amane left, Amal was left to do her work, too.”
We reached the beach, and the waters settled behind us.
“Coast is clear,” Elonora announced, scanning the area.
Kallisto took the lead again, headed straight for the jungle, and silence settled between us for a minute or so, as we continued our search for Amane.
“So Amal stayed with Ta’Zan,” Ridan said, frowning. “Amane did let it slip that she left someone behind, and that she felt sorry for that.”
“I can’t blame her,” Kallisto replied, wearing a sad smile. “The two were inseparable. Where Amane went, Amal followed. I was there for a few more hours. Then Ta’Zan and the others, Amal included, left us behind. For a while, I thought Amane’s sudden departure had influenced his decision to abandon us. I blamed her. Amal was sure as hell angry with her.”
Rose sighed. “So that’s why Amane’s reluctant to help us. It might put her sister at risk if Ta’Zan finds out.”
Kallisto nodded. “On one hand, I doubt Ta’Zan would kill Amal if Amane helped you. But, on the other, he could make her life a living hell. He needs them both. I just don’t know what for. I do know it’s important; otherwise, the rogue Faulties wouldn’t be scrambling to drag Amane back to him.”
“Which makes it all the more important to find her,” Ridan concluded.
The jungle unraveled before us, its gnarled trees rising and twisting like wooden serpents, branching out in rich, dark green foliage. Nocturnal animals roamed the area—I could hear some of them chirping in the bu
Hunter gave me a soft nudge. “It’s quite far,” he said. “Just a big cat trying to get a late dinner.”
I chuckled softly. “Good thing we have a wolf with us to give us the lowdown on these jungles,” I replied.
Dmitri cleared his throat, demanding my attention. “Honey, you’ve got two wolves. That’s a double whammy, right there.”
“Double trouble, you mean,” Rose said with a playful smile.
Kallisto watched our exchange with keen interest, visibly amused, then pointed to the north, where the mountain rose proudly from the woods. “Amane usually picks mountain caves for her safe spots. They’re quite secluded. Not easy to spot. Perfects frequently fly over these regions, so it’s imperative to stay out of sight.”
She continued to lead the way through the woods, and Elonora continued to carefully scan the area ahead, looking for Amane.
“I can see Faulties here and there, but they’re quite scattered. Most of them are solitary, some in pairs, but I can’t find Amane,” she murmured.
“How far can you see?” Kallisto asked.
“Up to three miles, approximately,” Elonora replied. “Though the terrain does play a part. Sometimes, the layers can be really thick and can blur my long-distance vision. This is different from back home, though,” she explained. “There are certain types of stones and metal that I can’t see through, it seems.”
“Whoa, that’s new,” I breathed, quite surprised. “When did you notice that?”
Elonora shrugged. “Just now, actually. I think there’s something about this mountain, in particular. There are parts of it that I simply cannot see through, properly. I can only make out some vague shadows.”
“There are mineral deposits in this area, specifically in the mountain,” Kallisto said. “We call it serium, and it’s relatively rare and valuable. Ta’Zan uses it to power many of his devices.”
That was interesting new information. “Tell us more.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t know the technical details, only what the Faulties who work with him directly have told me. Serium is a solid mineral, and, unlike others in its geological class, it absorbs and stores electrical energy. This area, in particular, is quite prone to thunderstorms between the seasons. When lightning strikes in these parts, the energy is naturally drawn to the serium deposits in the mountain. They don’t have a known limit. They just keep sucking energy.”
“Like natural batteries,” Dmitri concluded. “Jovi would have a field day playing with this stuff,” he added, then stopped himself. Sadness enveloped him, nearly breaking my heart in the process. I hated seeing him like this.
“Yes,” Kallisto replied, not noticing the sudden change in Dmitri’s expression. “Ta’Zan uses them to power all his machinery, including the pods that kept us in stasis.”
“But I could see right through the cave there,” Elonora said, frowning slightly.
“The deposits were under the cave,” Kallisto explained. “All the cables were connected to it, through the ground.”
“Is that why they were glowing all blue?” I asked, remembering the display in the pod cave. Kallisto nodded. “They were drawing energy from the serium.”
“Yes. All by itself, serium may appear dull. It looks like black crystal, only it has some faint shimmers within. That’s what we look for when we mine for it. The blue shimmer. Once you connect the serium, even in its raw form, to a device that functions on electricity, the mineral just comes to life. It lights up blue, and so do the cables, just like you saw,” Kallisto explained.
“So the serium obscures your view?” I asked Elonora.
“I don’t know for sure,” she replied. “We’ll need to get closer to the mountain, so I can see it better.”
I squeezed Dmitri’s arm gently. “Think you’ll be able to have a look at that serium and maybe figure out how it works?”
He looked at me, slightly surprised, then smiled and nodded, losing the sad cloud that had darkened his gaze earlier. “I think so. I can maybe scrape some off and experiment with it.”
“Just make sure you don’t electrocute yourself. You do have a history,” Hunter interjected, chuckling softly.
“Normally, I’d have a comeback for you, but in this case, I have to admit you’re right,” Dmitri said. “I do have a history with electricity, in general.”
“Hey, that’s how the greatest inventions came to be. Trial and error, my friend,” Hunter replied, then put his arm around Dmitri’s shoulder. He’d noticed the young wolf’s emotional fluctuations, and he was trying to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Dmitri was an incredible creature, as jovial and happy-go-lucky as his siblings. But grief was beginning to change him, and I would hate to see him disappear beneath a layer of darkness and thirst for revenge. I knew the Blackhalls well enough to understand what losing a loved one could do to any of them.
This wasn’t easy on Dmitri at all. I couldn’t help but appreciate Hunter’s intervention. As a wolf, he seemed to be more attuned to Dmitri, in a way. I had a feeling Hunter was the best equipped out of all of us to handle Dmitri, and to keep him focused on the mission.
We needed him. We couldn’t spare a single fighter in these circumstances.
Elonora
As we made our way through the jungle, I found myself unable to stay away from Nevis. We walked side by side, though neither of us spoke for a while. His aura was still quite confusing, with threads of red, black, and gold intertwined, making it difficult for me to pin down specific emotions. We stole glances at one another, but only when the other wasn’t looking.
I felt his eyes on me, and as soon as I turned my head, he was already glancing in the opposite direction. It made me want to smile, but I pressed my lips tight instead, trying to keep a straight face.
Something had definitely shifted between us, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. He made me nervous—extremely nervous, actually. My breathing hitched and my pulse raced whenever he was close. But I kept my guard up at all times, remembering how abrasive he’d been just days earlier. I didn’t know him well enough, and although Avril swore that he was an amazing creature, I reserved the right to hold on to my doubts about him.
Still, his low and smooth voice made my spine tingle, making it difficult for me to concentrate. Sometimes, I wished there were more Faulties to fight, so I wouldn’t have to deal with my reaction to his presence.
“We’ll definitely need Faulties on our side if we plan to infiltrate Ta’Zan’s compound,” he said, picking up a previous conversation we’d had, while the others in our group talked among themselves.
“They have inside knowledge,” I replied, nodding in agreement. “Well, we have one, so far. Or so it seems,” I added, nodding at Kallisto, who led the way.
“You should cut her some slack,” Nevis said, giving me a stern sideways glance.
Why do I always feel like I’m naked in front of the class whenever he looks at me?
I sighed. “She sold us out. Don’t think I’m quick to forget that.”
“I don’t expect you to forget it. But just don’t make it the core of your behavior toward her. Like it or not, we need her,” he replied. “I don’t like it either, but this isn’t the first time I’ve had to make uneasy alliances in order to get what I want.”
“I know I should tone it down. I… I know,” I ultimately conceded, then changed the subject once I noticed the glimmer of satisfaction in his icy blue eyes. The last thing I wanted was to inflate his ego any further. “What I really can’t wrap my head around is this whole genetic supremacy garbage.”
Nevis smiled, but there was a sadness there I didn’t quite get. “I do. I get it,” he said. “Ta’Zan is trying to be better than nature itself, but he’s doing it all wrong. Being the most superior lifeform doesn’t require the elimination of the others. Creating new life isn’t the anomaly, but rather thinking it’s
“And, in the end, all he’s doing is crossing species,” I added. “A little bit of this, a little bit of that, and voila! Lab-grown hybrids. That’s all. Nothing special. I mean, sure, they’re more powerful and smarter than anything we’ve ever seen but still, they came out of a petri dish.”
“Hybrids are a thing of wonder, in my opinion,” Nevis replied, gazing ahead at the rest of our group. “It’s always a miracle when one beats the odds and comes to life, naturally and unaided. Most of the time, when species cross, the offspring don’t stand much of a chance. Nature designed us all in a specific manner. Take Hansa and Jax, for example.”
“They may never have their own kids,” I said, remembering previous conversations I’d had with Hansa and Anjani over this—back on Calliope, long before this Stravian nightmare started. “Hansa’s silver blood is quite toxic to Maras. True. But they said they’d like to adopt, once they decide it’s time to raise a kid and expand their family.”
Nevis nodded slowly. “They’re an instance of nature putting its foot down, I suppose,” he said. “Then there’s you, Miss Goode.”
I blinked several times, somewhat confused. “What about me?”
“Your kind fascinates me. As a vampire sentry, you’re pretty high up on the food chain. Surely, you’re aware of that. Especially when one compares you to other supernatural species.” I gawked at him for a while, not knowing what to make of his words. I must’ve frowned, because his gaze wandered up and down my face before he smiled. “You’re confused,” he added. “For the sake of clarity, it was a compliment. You are one of the most interesting hybrids I’ve come across since encountering GASP.”
I thought about it for a while, unable to find the right response. Why was my brain so glitchy whenever he spoke to me?
“Thank you, I guess?” I managed.
“You’re welcome.”
My cheeks were on fire. I had to change the subject again, before the awkward silence settled between us. I could already feel it creeping up, weighing down on my shoulders and making my throat close up. Dammit, he’s got quite an effect on me.