Page 18 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire (Order #4)

Chapter seventeen

Kaiden

" I t really is the same everywhere," Aaron whispers, his hand loosely grasping mine for comfort.

Weaving through the streets of the Unfortunate sector, though less run down than the shops back home, Unfortunates are still nothing more than civil servants wasting their lives away for reasons beyond their understanding.

Taking berating remarks and slaps from Untouchables, the superiority the divide in society has created is inevitable.

"I suppose it's a little easier to swallow when your living conditions are not miserable," Aaron sighs, taking his time looking over the sector.

"It's the first time you've seen this sector from the outside looking in," Fallan says, his eyes narrowing each time an Untouchable screams at an Unfortunate.

"Shouldn't you see all things from an outside perspective?" I question, shoving the man forward. "Given you betrayed us all-"

Whipping around, the man looks ready to hit, my hand the first to reach out, grabbing his one good wrist. Curling my fingers around his wrist, the urge to break it is enticing, feeding a part of myself I once thought best to keep buried.

"What are you going to do?" I question, holding the man's arm in the air between us. "Are you going to hit me?" I push. "Do you not like how it feels to have your deceit thrown back into your face? You want someone on your side for what you did, pretty boy?" I question.

"Of course you'd be the one to call me that-"

"Is that all you have?" I question, taking a step further. "You want to throw my preferences in my face? Be my fucking guest! How do you think it will feel hurling insults when your nose is broken and you're missing your front teeth?" I question, getting in the man's face.

"You fucked my sister and destroyed my family. I don't think I've properly acknowledged how much that makes me want to fucking kill you."

"Then do it," Fallan hisses. "You want to stand here and hurl threats, be my fucking guest, Kaiden. At least your sister is capable of living up to-"

Seeing red, I drive my fist forward, landing it straight on his nose, watching the man stumble backward, blood dragging down his face. Working on instinct, I pull my hand away from Aaron's, forcing my hands into Fallan's chest, watching the man plummet to the ground, my body quickly following him, pinning him with my knees. Raising my fist once more, I hit the man as hard as I can in the side, feeling a great wave of relief, some eyes gravitating our way.

"Is this what you want, mother fucker?" I yell, hitting the man again. "Fuck you! Fuck you for everything you fucking did to my family-"

Grabbing my arm, Aaron yanks me off the man, his eyes wide with surprise.

"I-"

Pulling me into his chest, he wraps his arms around me, letting me calm down in his grasp, his hand running through my hair as Fallan sputters.

Struggling to stand up, he touches his bleeding nose, his head shaking with disappointment.

"Just as feral as her. I suppose her influence has extended to others," Fallan mocks, the need to continue pummeling the man escalating.

"Don't," Aaron whispers in my ear. "He is miserable and trying to bring you to his level. Don't feed into it, Kaiden," he smiles, ignoring Fallan's spew of insults.

Pressing his forehead to mine, I take a deep breath, allowing the asshole to struggle on his own terms.

"Hey," a voice bellows, all of us turning around, a figured cloaked much like us watching us from an alleyway.

Rasing our brows, Fallan stops his rambling, his focus suddenly on someone other than himself.

Waving us over, we creep closer, all of us startled once the figure takes off in a sprint down the alleyway, none of us hesitating to follow after.

Darting into one of the side doors of the building, I am the first to catch up, wasting no time to follow along inside, despite Aaron's warnings to stay back with them.

Stumbling into the space, my weapon is drawn, multiple pairs of eyes looking my way, blades pointed toward my torso, stopping me from getting any further.

Funneling in after me, the others are at a standstill, the door slamming shut the moment we all have made it into the space.

Fuck.

Pulling her hood down, a woman stands before us, her dark short hair pulled back, her eyes hazed with a film.

Examining closer, a white band is wrapped around her arm, the symbol of the Marked painted on its front.

"Revolutionists," I smile, her blade instantly dropping.

"You're her brother," she sighs. "You're the Apparatus's brother," she smiles, waving her hand in the air, all blades around us sheathing in unison.

Looking around the space, small circular films are being packaged away, weapons of varying degrees being boxed, a good ten people crowded into the small space.

"Barely an Apparatus when she's off working with the enemy," Fallan scoffs, a larger smile playing across the woman's lips.

"That was always her plan," the woman snaps. "Did you think she could lead a rebellion from the outside?" she questions, all of us dead silent.

"What? How did you know-"

"The Veils this society uses are useful in isolating when newcomers have made their way in. Given the way you all are dressed, I'd assume New Haven is your origin. I've heard of you, Kaiden. You're one of the Blackburns she was forced into isolation with during her time away from the light. Which would make you," she hisses, painting toward Fallan. "The cowardly unfortunate who was sleeping with Dove Morgan," she seethes, Fallan's cocky attitude quickly dying down.

Kicking at the ground, Fallan lowers his head, all of our focus on the development before us.

"Part of her plan?" I question. "What the hell do you mean?"

"Forest Evermoore always knew there would come a time when she had to get closest to the Prophet. When that time came, the Revolutionists would have to begin their real work, burning down Sanctum's forces from the inside out. You were not foolish enough to think she left willingly? Were you?" she questions, all of us shamefully bowing our heads.

"Makes sense," she sighs. "She can be one convincing actress."

"Where are all of these resources going to?" Aaron questions, watching the Revolutionists work.

“To aid the cause, to aid the Revolutionists working with the Marked to overthrow the government." the woman smiles.

Reaching her hand out toward me, she smiles.

"Niverna Marlins. One of the newer members to this revolution."

Shaking her hand for me, Aaron sighs with relief.

"My name's Aaron and you already seem to know Kaiden and Fallan."

"I've heard stories," she grins. "Although, I am surprised to see you all within the Precipice. Did Forest not warn you all to stay away?" she questions, crossing her arms with confusion.

"No one wanted to listen," Fallan yawns.

Nodding her head once, a blade goes whipping through the air, its point landing near Fallan's shoulder, Niverna's eyes lowered with hate.

"What the fuck-"

"I had a child," she hisses. "Dove Morgan killed her and boasted to you about it with joy. You're lucky I don't skin you alive," she snaps.

Trying to gain some clarity, I shake my head, rolling my fingers over my eyes.

"So, my sister, she planned all of this out?" I question.

"To the best of her ability. She knew there would come a time she would have to leave the life she loved so desperately and find her way to the inside. Before Xavier, it was simple and straightforward. Now, it would seem her sudden exit was fueled by the list of people she regrettably did not want to leave. War is one hell of a thing."

Grabbing the knife from the wall, Fallan scoffs, waving his arms with frustration.

"You truly think war will solve any of this? Have we not learned from our past-"

"So long as free will exists, Fallan Markswood, there will always be war," Niverna snaps. "In ten days' time, the Revolutionists plan their greatest attack, allied with the Shifters. Forest knows the deadline. We all must make preparations-"

Feeling a gust of wind, the door to the small space swings open, another man concealed in a cloak panting painfully.

"He's found our operation," the man gasps, blood pooling from his mouth. "Run-"

Watching a blade slam into the man's head, we all gasp, taking a step back, Niverna's hands quickly yanking us backward, pulling us toward the farthest end of the room.

"Go," she gasps. "Go!"

Making a barrier with their bodies, those once focused on packing now grab their weapons, all of us barreling toward the floor, her hand running along the wall, fumbling until a latch presents itself.

Flipping it up, a large space in the wall opens up, her hands shoving us all in, one of her men slamming the door shut behind us.

Putting her finger over her lips, we all stay dead silent, taking a seat on the floor, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"What-"

Slamming her hand over my mouth, she urges us to stay silent, touching my ear as we all begin to listen.

Hearing the heavy presence of boots slamming down on the floor, a joyous laugh breaks out through the air, Niverna's body shaking with adrenaline.

"As you can see, a few pesky Revolutionists still try to make leeway in the cities, setting up illegal operations like this," an unfamiliar voice taunts.

"Well, that just won't do," his voice beckons.

I know that voice.

Elyon.

Pressing her lips to my ear, Niverna faintly whispers.

"Atticus is here. The Commander of the Precipice," she grovels. "He has brought the Prophet-"

"What do you say, Elyon?' Atticus questions. "Care to shed some blood?"

Taking in a few seconds of silence, we all wait with fear.

"Gladly."

Horrified, screams rip through the air, bodies slamming into the wall, a thick pool of blood seeping under the crack of the door to the small hideaway. Letting the blood touch our bodies, we all stay perfectly still, flinching each time bones crack or bodies rip clean open. Covering my ears, I lean into Aaron, feeling his body tremble, all of us allowing the blood to seep into our clothing, the men's laughs maniacal, continuing until every scream is silenced.

Smelling the rich iron with every inhale, I focus on nothing but the sounds around me, counting silently in my head, the men's deep inhales uncomfortably close to our hideaway.

"Once all the Revolutionists are dead, our war will be done," Atticus boasts. "But damn is their blood divine."

"I should be getting back to Forest," Elyon sighs, my focus centered on the man. "She has been a bit off these past few days."

"Leaving everything behind to fight a real cause? I'd be off too," Atticus says with empathy. "Though, I do hope my display here was convincing enough to show you how willing I am to back your cause."

Knowing damn well Elyon is smiling, rage builds within me.

"Let's go get you a proper drink."

Hearing the footsteps exit the space, we all wait minutes, no one able to move an inch, our chests barely taking in air.

Shakily reaching his hand toward the latch, Fallan takes the initiative to go first, all of us backed against the wall, the shadows concealing us from the light ready to give away our positions.

Slightly nudging the door open, the mangled bodies of the Revolutionists touch my eye, Fallan's head barely poking outside.

"Shit-"

Watching a pair of hands reach inside the space, we all silence our gasps, watching the man get dragged from isolation, all of us praying silently.

"I fucking knew there was another Marked in here," Atticus snaps, his focus solely on Fallan.

"Fallan Markswood," Elyon scoffs. "So, if you're here, it's safe to assume Xavier is as well?" Elyon questions, Fallan's eyes still adjusting to the light.

"What's new?" Fallan mocks.

"Is there anyone else with you?" Elyon questions, all of us holding our breaths.

Looking back at the hideaway, Fallan makes eye contact with me, his eyes lowering. "No," he hisses, kicking the door shut. "You should know I'm not one to put anyone before me."

Hearing nothing else, the men drag Fallan across the floor, slamming the front door shut, all of us siting in silence.

"What the fuck just happened?" I question, Niverna the first to speak up.

"The Prophet," she hisses. "There will never be peace so long as he is alive. But on the bright side, I suppose Markswood may have some empathy after all."