Starfall - Chapter 1.3 (Elliott)

Trying to avoid the general’s piercing gaze, Elliott casually slid her eyes to the left, where she was startled to find Jude staring back at her. Though he was General Marq’s son, he neither looked nor acted anything like her. He had bright crimson hair and blue eyes that were brighter and kinder than his mother’s. He was arrogant and loud and extravagant, but he was her best friend. He wasn’t subject to the strict training regimens, diet, uniforms, or rules that General Marq had set in place. He still hung out with them, though, and they let him in. Elliott never had told him of her past with his mother. He had probably guessed a little, though probably not correctly. Her friends would never give away her secret either- they knew all too well how much her friendship with Jude meant to her.

Right now, he was wearing a perfectly spotless uniform, which meant he had time to prepare for this meeting. Odd, Elliott thought. Her anxiety increased as at last she met Evelyn Marq’s stare.

“Everything said in this room will be confidential,” Evelyn said. It was the customary introduction, though rarely followed. “It has come to my attention that there is another world that is somehow connected to ours- through the ocean.”

Elliott stiffened. She had long since divulged any information from that night, and the General and her advisors had always considered it a hallucination. Why would they bring it up now?

“Not only my attention,” General Marq continued, hair perfectly braided, “but to the Chief Militaire. He has chosen us to send a mission to the other world, on reconnaissance, to explore this place and any beings that may exist there.” She held up a document with an official seal, dangling it from her fingers before letting it drop back onto her desk. Elliott’s heart was pounding very loudly now. The Chief Militaire was in charge of their whole nation. He ruled with kindness, but absolute power. He only delegated his great power to the Grand Generals- that meant General Marq. They each ruled over their own section in military style. The Chief Militaire himself was very talented in the military, and his great-grandfather had united all of the nations, back when other nations still existed. No one remembered that time. If he had heard about this…

“I am gifting you, Jude, with this mission, as our greatest captain. You may choose whom to bring with you, but Elliott is required, as she has been there before.” General Marq looked calmly at both of them, and Jude nodded serenely, but Elliott caught his slight twitch of surprise. She was certain that the General saw it too- there was nothing which she did not see, most especially if it was something she could use to her advantage.

Elliott didn’t know what it was, but something made her want to protect that one moment of her life from prying eyes, from the people who would steal everything from her. “No,” she said. She almost didn’t mean for it to come out. Almost.

General Marq cocked her head to the side and set her pen down. “No,” she repeated, almost mockingly. “Jude, you may leave.” This time, she definitely saw Jude hesitate. “Now.” Jude shook his head at Elliott, ever so slightly, and exited the room. A warning not to make things worse than they were. Marq turned the full attention of her silent wrath to Elliott, waiting.

“What if I won’t go with them on the mission? What if I don’t remember the way?” Elliott jutted her chin defiantly, ready to take on the witch.

“Really now. I thought your so called ‘freedom’ meant more to you. I thought I knew you better. I nearly raised you for ten years.” Her words seemed friendly, but her face stayed sharp. “Imagine if you mysteriously died, or your mother, or your sister. I could take your wings, send you somewhere you would never return from. It’s better this way.” Elliott looked down at her hands. How could she have thought to defy this monster? Her life was in the General’s hands. Her family. She stayed silent. “Then I take it you’ll agree. If you succeed, you will only have forty-nine more missions until you are free. If.”

It was clear that Elliott was dismissed. She left the room as quickly as she could, then sagged against the closed door. She ran her hands through her short, ragged hair as she exhaled in a huge breath.

“You’ve got to stop doing that, Looney,” Jude said. Elliott looked up to see him standing in front of her, his hands on his knees so he could bend down to face her. “If you act like this, Mother won’t invite you to her next party.”

Elliott huffed out a laugh and smiled. Jude could always make her smile. “She’s never invited me to one of her parties in her life! I think the only party of hers I would be able to attend is her funeral.” Realizing who she was talking to, she covered her mouth. “Oh my stars. I am so sorry.” Jude smiled, but she saw the shadow pass over his eyes.

“I’ll let it slide. I know she’s harder on you, so it makes sense. Heck, even I want to kill her sometimes. But…” he knelt down and touched Elliott gently on the shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me? About the other world?”

Elliott glanced to the side. “I… I couldn’t. I didn’t tell anyone.” She knew that Jude was sensitive, she knew she should tell him everything so she wouldn’t hurt him further, but somehow she couldn’t. She had kept this secret too long. After a moment of silence, Jude stood up, and she could feel his true nature slip back under his outward curtain.

“Well, come on then, Troublemaker.” His hand was held out towards her, and Elliott looked up at him helplessly, trying to show him what she felt through her eyes. But his shell had come up, and his face deflected all her attempts under an ever-present grin. Sometimes she used to think he was in love with himself so much he was always happy and boasting. After a moment, Elliott took the proffered hand and stood up. Together, they walked to the tongue of the hallway. Elliott looked once more at Jude, who suddenly grinned.

“Bet I can beat you back to the mess hall!” he called, sprinting out the window and taking off at incredible speed. Elliott shook herself out of amazement; she had seen him fly many times. She took of after him, but did not follow him. Lucky for her, she knew the secret routes to the mess hall, having had to sneak in or out far too many times.

Outside, the air was crisp and the sky was bright. All of Silea was gorgeous- water on most sides, and pale patches of grass inbetween which supported the towering trees they made their houses out of. The whole place felt as light as air, and it worked so well with flying. She had never considered that before the other world.