Time could change a lot of things, but as Brokk pushed past the sea of people clad in black, he knew nothing could ever prepare Emory for that. He hoped desperately that the woman a world away would remember him as he once was. That above all, she would remember the depths of their bonds of friendship and forgive him for the choices he has made since.
***
“Please proceed to the dining hall. Please proceed to the dining hall....”
Stomach twisting, Brokk lined up to enter the next elevator heading down to the dining hall. Numbly stepping in, the grate slid shut, and he was dropped into the ground. The wind howled, and he tried to prepare himself.
When they came to a grinding halt, he realized the dining hall was nearly full already. Stalking in between rows of familiar faces, he took a seat at the nearest table. Brokk scanned the crowd near the front; Nyx’s purple hair reflected against the lanterns’ glow. As if feeling his gaze, she turned her head, locking her eyes on him.
Her mouth was set in a grim line, and she slightly tipped her head toward him. They all knew from this moment on everything was going to be different.
As if on cue, Memphis walked out, stopping to take in everyone. He was dressed in a pale blue shirt and black pants, his lace up boots shining. Brokk could read his friend in a second, the inner turmoil evident from the slight quirk in his nose, his pale eyebrows knitted together.
“Good morning.” Memphis’s authoritative voice quieted the bustle in the room, and he clasped his hands in front of him. “Firstly, I am sorry to take you all away from your tasks but thank you for coming. As always, I applaud you on the combined efforts to overthrow Adair. As you all know, we formed this rebellion to form a sanctuary to anyone who has been terrorized by the Mad King. We are here to heal and gain our strength, so we have a fighting chance against him.”
He paused and the room hushed further.
“As a group, we have accomplished amazing feats, but we have all lost too much over the years. Every person in this room has trusted me without question, has taken me as their leader. All of us have been working toward one resolution, to reclaim our world.” Memphis paused again, his voice echoing in Brokk’s mind alone. “It’s time.”
Sighing, Memphis continued out loud, “I have not been entirely honest. In fact, I have lied to protect a secret that was never mine to keep. For this, words cannot begin to express my regret and guilt.”
Stony silence resonated throughout their friends, their family. Brokk’s heartbeat thumped in double time, his stomach dropping.
“Years ago, there was a girl with an unusual ability. Her name was Emory Fae. She was also one of my good friends and the rightful heir to Kiero. You may have heard about her untimely disappearance, about her death at the war of the Academy. This is a lie. Six years ago, she came to Brokk and me for help, and we agreed.”
Brokk felt like their eyes boring into him could set him on fire.
Shifting uncomfortably, Memphis pushed on. “Adair had already slaughtered her parents. Had broken the Academy and the peace Kiero had found during the Faes’ time. He was planning to kill her to end the royal family. When the time came, I erased her memory, and Brokk...well...”
Standing up, Brokk ran a hand over his buzzed hair. “I have the ability to manipulate time. I connected to a channel, to another world, and brought her there, left her there for protection, so that when the time came, and Kiero needed it most, Emory Fae could return and claim what is rightfully hers.”
Anger licked through the hall in a ripple of a thousand whispers. Brokk back-pedaled fast. “It’s not as specific as you think. I can only go through channels I have connected to before. I can’t go back and change history.”
Nodding, Memphis continued, “We saved Emory and transported her to a place called Earth. She has no recollection of us, or of this world. We were selfish. But we intend to bring her back. I will restore her memories and, being a leech, means that she can steal abilities. If we can get her near Adair, she has a chance of ending him with his own ability. She is the only one who can help us win our war. She will be the face of Black Dawn Rebellion, and returning to her rightful place as heir, we will have a chance. We use her to stop Adair.”
Memphis was driving a knife into his heart. Brokk knew this was a tactic. Memphis had to hold the rebels together. Brokk would save her a thousand times over and never feel regret for doing it. His Commander only saw his guilt.
Adair was the cause of Kiero falling into ruin, and the blame laid on him alone. If Emory had stayed, there would be no chance...no hope.
Shouts rattled off the walls now, as accusations were thrown at them. Black Dawn had digested the news, and looking around, Brokk realized their words would mean nothing. It was up to their actions now.
Memphis exclaimed, “I promise you retribution. I promise you a free land. It is time to act, and if you will still have me, we will do this together.”
Pure chaos broke out.
Yelling filled the dining hall, and Brokk wanted to dissolve into the wall.
Betrayal. Betrayal. Betrayal.
His blood sang with the word, and he began to weave around the tables and the accusations. Making his way up to Memphis, their plan hardened his heart. Looking out at the defeated faces, the anger rolling in at them from the group of people he considered family, hurt him.
Gripping Memphis’s forearm, they both looked to Nyx, hoping that she could settle the rebels. The voices turned to white noise, and Brokk took a deep breath, feeling
