The Mask and The Flame | CH. 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Alone in his quarters, uniform half undone, staring out at the Astraedane horizon … Elias thought of Cael.

When they’d first met over a decade ago, it was under strict command from the Sovereign Prime herself.

Plucked from one of the poor towns on the outskirts of Dominaris by scouts, Elias was promised enough money to not only support his family, but to give his dying sister the medical care she needed to survive. There was no choice other than to join the Sovereign Fleet.

Twelve months of gruesome training passed before he ever saw her in person. Not everyone recruited survived those days, but he was the top of his class.

When he finally met the terrifying Queen, she had a mission for him. Her orders were simple: Get close to Cael. Make him trust you no matter what it takes. Observe, record everything, and report the details to me.

At the time, he took it like he had taken any other command: something to execute successfully no matter what kind of toll it might take on his mind and body. He was the best of the best, and he would execute it to the best of his abilities. That’s how he got to where he is now. That’s how he could support his family. That’s how he would save his sister. He became trusted because he would never fail.

What Cael brought out of him, though, he never expected. His wit, his joy—he hadn’t expected to be so disarmed, or for his laugh to crack something open inside of him long held together with desperation … a ray of happiness in this dark world.

That soon turned into all-consuming self-hatred.

Still, he informed the queen as she asked, of Cael’s questions, hesitations, dreams, meals, bathroom breaks … everything. She wanted to know it all.

“You’re nothing like the rest of the soldiers,” Cale had whispered once, lying with him beneath a skylight after breaking into a library at night. “You always look at people like you’re making sure whether or not they need saving.”

The guilt had almost made him come clean …

But he hadn’t.

Staring into the void beyond the window, feeling too many of the things he long ago told himself to stop feeling—a notice popped up on the inner interface of his psionic mask: MISSION BRIEFING 0700.

Elias fastened his cloak and shut the memories away.

✦✧✦

The Whispering Room was a black void in which the Queen loved to have private chats. It opened like an eyelid to let Elias in, and seamlessly shut behind him once he entered. The blackness surrounding them now swallowed all sound, in or out. Perfect for relaying a secret mission.

“Lieutenant Elias,” said the Sovereign Prime, hovering towards him. “I have hand-picked you for a special mission.”

His throat tightened. That usually meant the mission would be … complicated. “Understood, Sovereign Prime.”

“Listen carefully,” she continued. “As you know, a rebel outpost has been established on the Crater Moon, and I have sent my son to infiltrate them.”

He knew. He also knew Cael was nowhere near equipped for such a mission. Thought the Sovereign Bitch was crazy for sending him alone.

“Prince Cael has encountered something there,” her voice was steady, emotionless. “A creature I thought to be extinct. One capable of endangering the entire galaxy.”

Forcing his stance to remain neutral, he realized something: Cael might be his mission. Again. Was he in danger?

“I have authorized a full-scale response. Fire pattern: theta. Subsurface collapse. No survivors.”

“But—Cael—he’s still stationed there.” His voice came out more clipped than he would have liked.

“Yes, and that’s why I’m sending you first. To retrieve him, along with … certain other assets. Under the guise of a peace deal. Before the Moon is completely destroyed.”

A long breath escaped him. He was to save Cael from those wretched rebels, and play a part in the destruction of their home base.

There could be no greater mission.

No greater way to claim glory, fortune—and maybe even Cael’s heart back—than this.

“Yes, Soveriegn Prime.”

“Proceed to landing deck nine. All necessary supplies will be held on your spacecraft. The details of your orders are being psionically uploaded to your mask now.” She waved a hand, already floating away into the darkness. “You are dismissed.”

Elias turned sharply, levitating himself to the Whispering Room’s edge, and it parted for him like smoke. His eyes now flicked through the mission brief blooming across his mask while making his way to landing deck nine. One sentence made him stop in his tracks:

Bring in Ashfall as well, alive.

A simple sentence. A staggering request. Why alive? Why wouldn’t she let his sorry rebel ass burn with the moon? And how in the hells would he get Ashfall to come with him and Cael?

Shaking his head as if it would dispel the thoughts, he forced himself to focus on one thing: Cael. He was going to save him.

He didn’t let himself think of anything else.

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