The file contained ancient texts describing the origins of Aurelia—this time, written from a time when Aurelia was known as the City of Gold. Each night, we gathered at our apartments to read the texts that depicted an entirely new version of our history. One in which it became increasingly clear that Lucanus and his father had done everything they could to cover up the past, effectively rewriting our history.
“Ready?” Emberly asked as she closed her own locker, the electronic whirl of the lock sealing, before looking me upand down. “Or not.”
I turned toward my friend, her blonde hair shimmering in the low light of the changing rooms.
“You promised, Rae,” she demanded, giving me no other option as she thrust a dress into my hands. “One night. One night without all of this.” She gestured around her with crazy, exaggerated motions. “One night where we can go out and just be girls.”
“I still think it’s unfair that I’m not invited.”
Emberly shot him a look. “It’s agirl’snight,” she confirmed. “And last time I checked, you are not a girl.”
“Glad you can at least make that observation,” his low drawl sounded from behind me. “But I dolikegirls.”
She huffed a laugh. “And we don’t need you scaring the girls off, especially duringgirls’ night.”
“Whatever,” he muttered. “I have tickets to the pilaeria match anyway.”
That had me huffing a laugh. “You would really rather go to girls’ night over the match? You’venevermissed a match.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed on me. “It’s a tough call, okay?” he answered.
“Didn’t those tickets cost you a fortune?”
“Yes,” Finn grumbled. “Don’t even remind me. I’ve been saving for tickets to this match all year long.”
“I still think you should have gotten tickets for all of us to go to the match,” Emberly replied. “Just think, tight jerseys, tackling, the testosterone . . .”
“For the love of—don’t ruin pilaeria for me, okay?” Finn grumbled. “I’m getting out of here. Have fun watching the match as it’s broadcast on the display screens surrounding the pitch.”
Itwasthe one thing I loved about the sport. Each Quarter in Aurelia had a pilaeria pitch that floated above the Quarter. While matches were underway, the outer wall of the pitch wascovered in screens, allowing the match to be broadcast to anyone within view of the pitch as it floated across the Quarter.
“At least we can watch forfreewhile drinking and dancing our way through the Quarter,” Emberly replied before looking at me. “For the love of the stars, Raelyna, get dressed before you make us late for our night out.”
I stuck my tongue out at her, telling myself that this would be good for me as I began to tug the black shimmering dress on before attempting to tackle my hair. My hair was nearly presentable by the time Emberly began rushing me out of the locker room and into the glass elevator to the first floor of the building we’d been performing at.
The music beat loudlyas I finished my drink, swaying to the beat while dancing beside Emberly and Sage. We had hopped from club to club across the Nox District, and I had to admit that they had both been right—I had needed a night out to forget. To just enjoy life and be carefree. To drink and dance my worries away, at least for the night.
“I’m back!” Kasia, another dancer, sang as she returned, hands full with another round of ambrosia shots, and Sage squealed beside me, grabbing her drink before anyone could stop her. We lifted the glasses, drinks sloshing as we counted to three, then downed the shots.
A new song began playing, the loud beat bouncing off the walls, and Sage jumped up and down in time with the music, wild and carefree as time passed us by. I couldn’t remember the last time I let loose as my body swayed to the beat and I finished my drink, feeling the alcohol take effect, coursing through me. My head had a slightly hazy buzz, my inhibitions lowered as wemoved to the music, neon lights surrounding us. Emberly wrapped her arms around me, shouting the lyrics to the song as her body swayed, nearly knocking me off balance.
“Let’s go!” Sage shouted over the music, and excited heads began bobbing as we moved through the throngs of clubgoers, pushing our way to the exit of the building.
Warm desert air brushed against my skin as I stepped outside the club, my head roaring even after I’d exited the building.
“Next stop?” Emberly half-shouted, having yet to adjust to the lowered volume on the street. I swore I could still hear the beat of the last song pounding in my head as we walked down the street, our bodies still swaying slightly.
“I’msohungry,” Sage said, her voice a few octaves too high. “I could eat a whole pizza.”
“Ooo!” Kasia agreed. “And some fries . . . maybe even a milkshake?”
“Food . . .” I answered in conclusion. “We go toward the food.”
“Or . . .” Emberly said. “The food comes to us!” she excitedly proclaimed her latest idea as she pointed to the pilaeria pitch floating high above the Quarter in the distance, the time displayed indicating there was less than a minute left of the match. “We make Finn bring us food.”
“Yes!” It was a chorus of drunken agreements as we walked down the street.
Emberly slowed, walking alongside me, the neon lights of various clubs reflecting on our skin as we moved past the still-crowded lines outside the clubs.
