Page 23

Tomoe

T he announcement went the better of the two ways I’d envisioned. That was the good news and about as far as I was able to see on my own. Issue was, with an uncanny amount of people nervous and a healthy mix of those at ease, the rest of the future was a fucking toss-up. Too many possibilities, far too many shifting minds, thoughts, and opinions.

That was the problem. Thought wasn’t linear, wasn’t predictable—not when tangled with fear, pride, desperation. I could calculate odds, chart patterns, map outcomes, but the sheer weight of so many conflicting mental pathways made prediction impossible. It wasn’t chaos, not exactly. More like static. Deafening, useless noise, drowning out what should’ve been clear signals.

The human mind was not as complex as one would think. Within a singular community, groupthink was far more common than theorized. No such thing as an original thought or experience when surrounded by like-minded people. The Compound, as most settlements Before and After, was just that—filled with individuals who shared common morals, values, and expectations. Predictable. Manageable. Until civil unrest cracked through the foundation. Then things got complicated. Less straightforward.

Which meant I needed help. Something I had a sour taste in my mouth asking for.

There were only three of us in Salem Territory that had the ability to see . I’d already had Riley send word to call them back to The Compound and with one residing right outside our walls and the other within, they’d be here within the hour. With little time to prep, I set up my space, laying out my Labradorite, Amethyst, Tourmaline, and Selenite around me. The devil was in the details. Every advantage we could get right now, I would take.

At the moment, finding out our exact number would help us determine how great our odds were. That’s what our chances were—odds. Slim. Pretty much nonexistent. Doom and gloom were a far cry from glory.

What we needed was to see inside Covert Province. Problem was, to see the way we needed to, the amount of power required to get the job done was more than any of us possessed. I had a plan, and it was a fool’s one. Walk among them. Take in every security measure, every magical enhancement, every creation they had. Use it to destroy them.

For Seth. For us.

A knock on the door startled me.

“Come in,” I said, expecting Aileen or Guy to wander in.

Guy resided within The Compound and stumbled in and out of my study as he pleased. Usually to gather records or check in to cross-check any ominous visions. He never knocked, though. Aileen was more likely.

Instead, a small, frail child stood in the doorway, and I groaned. “Are you lost?”

Yasmin appeared behind her, with Lola in tow. They flanked the girl, the picture of reluctant bodyguards. A flicker of a vision passed through my mind, filling in the gaps as quickly as they formed—a fractured image of shadows and cages, an aura of fear. Hidden secrets. All of it connected to the child in front of me. Fascination had me leaning forward without thinking, eyes narrowed on the girl. She reeled back instinctively, her shoulders stiff with fear, only to be soothed by the gentle touch of Yasmin.

“It’s okay, Lilia,” Yasmin murmured softly, never breaking eye contact with me. Daring me to scare her further as she ignored my scoff. “This is Tomoe. The Seer we talked about.”

Frankly, ‘Lilia’ looked like she’d been through some shit. Her hair was tangled, skin pale, eyes seeing yet unseeing all the same. All symptoms of a powerful Seer who saw far beyond anything they’d ever hoped. There was trauma in knowing the future, present, and past. To see the hope from here and now and watch it all fall away in the future.

“What is this?” I inquired, directing a meaningful glance at Yasmin.

“Lilia is from Covert Province,” Yasmin replied. She stepped slightly to the side at Lola’s advance. “She’s here to help.”

Lola’s sharp gaze flicked to me, dark, shadow-like magic swirling around her before retreating at Lilia’s hunching of her shoulders. “I am here to help the child ease into her gifts. Our expectations are that you will provide the guidance that only a Seer can offer.”

“Yeah, I don’t fulfill many expectations, much less on demand.” I waved a dismissive hand. “This isn’t a school. I have business to tend to.”

Lola’s expression hardened, her voice slipped into a tone more solid than steel. “Amaia extended help on your behalf. You will do as told by your general.”

“She’s not my general,” I replied flatly.

Yasmin chuckled sarcastically. “Whether you’re up for the task or not, her power reaches far beyond that title. And as her sister , I’m hoping your support can be offered as a willing favor.”

“Favors have expected payments.”

Attention from Lola sent a chill down my spine that could not come from anything other than the threat of unfriendly fire. “And yet, a favor is already owed. Allow me to call it in.” She gritted through her teeth.

“Mind if I keep a record of that?” I muttered.

Yasmin’s mouth twisted slightly. “That’s not … that’s not how this works, Tomoe. Be that as it may, Lilia here has seen a glimpse of something in the present that future-her deemed should have been shared with you. Did I get that right?” she asked, glancing over at Lilia, who only shrugged with uncertainty. Yasmin nodded as if that was answer enough. “Anyway, here we are. Well, here she is. You won’t be able to see this information any other way. Not with the security Ronan has in place. We’re here for moral support.”

I sighed, running a hand over my face. “Fine. Take a seat, Lilia.” I glanced over at the others, crossing my arms. “The two of you—there’s only enough room in here for one to stay. I vote Yasmin, since I don’t appreciate your attitude,” I said, staring pointedly at Lola. “You, out.”

Lola’s gaze turned to ice as did the room around us. Her stare locked onto mine in a silent but potent challenge. Energy crackled between us—lightning before a storm. We weren’t a coven, and we had no expectation of getting along. Sure, she had helped Alexi and Amaia, thus, me by proxy. I couldn’t give less than a shit or two. I worked best alone. Her expression was unreadable. Without a word, she silently turned on her heel and left, the door snapping shut behind her.

Turning my attention back to Lilia, I softened my voice. “My colleagues will be here soon. If you don’t want an audience, we need to do this now. Give me your hand. We aren’t bonded, so this won’t work the same, but we can channel each other enough to get the gist.”

Lilia hesitated, glancing nervously at Yasmin, who gave her a small nod of encouragement. Tentatively, she reached out, placing her small hand in mine. Her touch was cold, charged with a latent power coiled tight and barely contained.

The vision came in fragments, fuzzy and unclear— a dark corridor, rows of huddled figures, the pervasive feeling of dread. I caught a flash of a small figure moving through what appeared to be rows of cages. I struggled to hold on to the image, but it slipped away, leaving only the faintest echoes of despair and something hopelessly insidious.

Lilia pulled her hand back, visibly shaken, and I steadied her with a strong gaze.

“You’re sure?” I asked, my voice serious.

Lilia nodded slowly, and for the first time, her voice was barely a whisper. “Yes.”

“What’s wrong?” Yasmin asked, and eyed me with concern.

“I need the others,” I muttered, already moving to make room, my hands quickly gathering various ritual items from nearby shelves and spreading them out on the table.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Yasmin demanded, sounding a little frantic.

“We need a tie,” I replied, laying out the items with practiced efficiency. I’d only had to do this a million times since Duluth.

Her face twisted with alarm. “Wait, like … like that bonding ritual Lola sent those witches down here to do? No, not without her parents’ permission.”

I ignored the fact that the word witch left her mouth more bitter than a curse word. “I don’t give a shit about permission?—”

“I do.” Yasmin’s jaw set in defiance. “I’m her teacher. There’s trust here. Trust that I already broke by involving Amaia in the first place. This is too fast for her?—”

“Yeah, I don’t have time for that,” I snapped. “I’m sure her parents will get over it when they realize people stuffed in cages aren’t just being worked to death. They’re being experimented on, tortured, and turned into Pansies. I need a clear vision of this, and I need it now.”

Yasmin’s mouth fell open, her brown eyes wide with shock. She swallowed. “I’ll, um … I’ll go get her parents.”

My gaze had already drifted back to Lilia. “Yeah. You do that.”

I sighed at the nearly vacant room, eyeing Lilia’s small, trembling form. “Listen, kid,” I began, not sugarcoating shit. “This ritual we’re doing—it’s a tether. It links us, bonds us, allows us to share visions, sometimes a lifeline, whatever might help in the end. Normally, it’s stronger between people with a deeper bond or blood connection. It should help make this vision a bit clearer.”

Lilia’s ghostly fingers twisted nervously in her lap, eyes darting to the Tourmaline in my hand.

“Our bond won’t be that strong,” I continued, placing the stone gently in her palm. “I don’t know you and you don’t know me. That said, I promise we can trust each other. The connection might be a bit loose, but it’ll do for what we need here.” I watched her fingers tighten around the gemstone, her grip surprisingly firm.

“Stay calm, and if anything feels off, let me know. After we’re … connected, you’ll be a bit tired, kind of weak. That’s normal. No worries, I’ll lend some of my magic once my colleagues show up. When we trigger this vision again, it will be intense. You’ll feel like you’re there in the flesh. It’s important to remember that you are not . Whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand.”

Guy shuffled in, and I gave him the bare minimum rundown on what had just happened with Lilia—no frills, all facts. Aileen appeared right on his heels, catching enough to fall in line without questions. We joined hands, forming a circle as the room’s energy shifted, our focus tightening. Channeling like this wasn’t new, but if Lilia’s vision had any use, I wanted every detail sharp. Unmistakable.

Our hands connected, and despite being only about ten, Lilia took control. She was powerful—more powerful than I’d ever had the grace of connecting with. I wasn’t sure how we missed this during intake. The idea of hidden magic existing within The Compound was terrifying. For a long time, we’d assumed the technology we possessed to be infallible. Impervious. The consequences of such a possibility escaped me as the vision encapsulated us.

Hand in hand, we walked through a barren camp as one. As Lilia—she’d been present. Imprisoned. Dry, gold and green overgrown grass tickled my exposed ankles. The surrounding air was filled with smoke and the undeniable scent of sickness. Chaos ensued around us as people were shoved, pushed through what I could only presume was a workers’ camp. There were no soldiers, only guards.

Crack.

The sound of a whip blistered my ears. A screeching, inhuman scream followed. I turned my head. A man covered the battered, beaten body of a teenager. His hands were covered in soot and ash as he coughed up blood. He pleaded with the guard, voice hoarse, desperate. Begging for more time. Swearing they could continue. That they just needed a moment.

His pleads went unanswered as the boy was pulled to his feet and dragged away. As Lilia’s eyes, as our heads turned, we took in more of the camp. The edges of it were lined with metal cages as far as the eye could see. Behind them, sloppily constructed buildings made of earth, the only light filtering through from small windows no longer than a foot, one on each side.

The man clambered and stumbled after the guards only to be met with a sharp jab to the jaw. He fell, hands clutching at the side of his face. The lower portion of his jaw hung, unattached from the upper portion.

The scene changed. We passed through a side alleyway of tents in pristine condition. The flaps lay open on a few and here was where the horrors unfolded. Women and children alike were strapped to metal chairs, the leather bounding their arms in place containing them from fighting back against the injections placed intravenously into their wrists. Vials of blue and green bubbled in the background.

Suddenly, we were on our ass. A snapping, fresh Pansie was led out of one of the tents. The teenager from the previous vision. His skin was chapped and gray, his dark hair patchy, revealing the pointed tips of his ears that were hidden before. He yanked, tugged as the guards fought to guide him through the tight alleyway, but his newfound strength was unmatched. We watched in horror as he tore free.

His movements were a blur—fast, animalistic. An alarm sounded and the vision flickered, shifting from night to day before finally going out.

My study surrounded us once more. Lilia’s grip on my hand had the blood rushing to other parts of our body. The cold touch and tingling sensation of our hands asleep from however long we were stuck in Lilia’s head jarring. I was drained, my eyes closing as I sat up straight. One glance at the others and I knew they were near their limit but our work was not done. They wouldn’t stop until it was.

Lilia’s dark hair clung to her sweat-slicked face, strands plastered to the curve of her cheek. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her pupils dilated, her entire frame shaking with tension as if on the brink of collapse. Guy sat rigid, his unshakable composure fractured. His jaw was clenched tight enough that the muscles twitched, hands trembling against his knees. A deep crease carved between his brows, and though he swallowed hard, he said nothing. Aileen was frozen, lips parted slightly, as if caught mid-gasp. Her eyes jumped between us, rapid and unsettled, working to grasp the meaning of what we’d witnessed—what it meant

My own hands curled into fists, nails pressing into my palms to keep me grounded. My throat was dry.

But we weren’t done. We wouldn’t be until we had answers.

“Are you okay to continue?” I asked, Lilia’s dark hair plastered in sweat against her face. “I saw a flicker briefly. I believe that you have more to share.”

Lilia drew herself together, wiping a trembling hand across her forehead. “I’m okay.” Her next pause came with a bit more strength. “This is for our people, right? Good people.”

“Yes, honey,” Aileen answered though her hazel eyes wandered to me. The nonverbal questioning if she was truly in the shape to continue with our efforts.

“But we want to make sure that you are okay too,” Guy added, the sincerity behind his words not matching the hesitation in his eyes. “This is a lot for any mind, let alone a young one.”

We all wanted to go on. Were desperate to. This was the most information we’d been presented since we started digging months ago. Things that could only be told through the eyes of someone who had experienced it firsthand thanks to Ronan’s tech.

“I’ve lived through worse,” Lilia said, ominously. Haze took over my clouding eyes, her vision sucking us back in.

We walked the cold, misted streets of a pristine city. This was the present or the future. I wasn’t quite sure. The only thing damning my assumption that it was The Before was Covert’s propaganda, plastered across the brick and stone facades of the buildings lining the street. A green-and-white sign hung from a fully functioning streetlight, swaying slightly in the breeze. Bank Street.

People stood on both sides, black sedans passing through the nearly silent streets. Though the area was full of people, no one spoke. Dark, heavy bags were apparent underneath their eyes. Exhaustion could not fully encapsulate the state they were in. Some sported suits, while others wore dilapidated clothing. Clean, but clearly worn past the point of acceptable in The Before. The streetlights were on. The hum of HVAC units filled the air, an invisible current wrapping around us.

Electricity. The coal stained hands. It all made sense now. Ronan was mining. Though he may have aimed for a sense of new-normalcy in his territory, the defeated faces of his citizens warned he faced the danger of rebellion, if only given the chance.

The vision flickered again, and then, I saw Alexiares and Riley. Arguing in the streets in front of the capitol building, but their words were unintelligible from the distance I stood. Wild, curly hair sneaked into the building behind them. They were distracted, no longer paying attention to her with their focus on whatever they were discussing. She glanced back at them, sorrow and regret displayed across her soft features. With a deep breath, she stepped inside and went fully out of view.

I glanced down, trying to figure out who I was watching this through. I saw a teenager reflected there—long, dark hair falling in unkempt strands, a gaunt face framed by hollow, haunted eyes. The ragged boots I ‘wore’ took one step, then two steps forward, following close behind her.

Another flicker and we were inside. I peered around the corner of a dimly lit long, narrow hallway. Amaia and Ronan’s voices could be heard arguing from the other side of a door. A ripple of energy passed through the hallway—a shield settling into place. Not the kind we used in battle, but one of air, subtle and almost imperceptible, yet unmistakable in its intent.

Flicker.

Chaos. Running. Screaming. My heart-rate picked up, this time, I felt it as my own. Terrified of what I was about to watch unfold.

Flicker.

Amaia and I were face-to-face. Hopelessness soured her expression as her fire raged around her.

“Stay close to me,” a voice said. The voice of the girl, whoever we were lurking through the eyes of.

The world around us erupted, and then went black.

I gasped for air, my hands flying to my chest. No. It can’t be. My vision from only a few months ago was back, this time solid. Decided. Coughs emulated around me as Lilia fell to the floor, choking on the oxygen of the room. Guy and Aileen surrounded her, comforting her though they were in no condition to do so. Aileen’s gaze settled on mine, her face washed with pity. Whoever we were watching through, had died, and Amaia had been in the same room.