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Ainsley
As if the cave and rainforest hadn’t been tormenting enough, all of our attention suddenly snapped to Killian’s voice and followed where he’d spotted the damnable airship.
I lifted my hand to shield my eyes from the bright sun, after emerging from the cave in the middle of a city that had supposedly been wiped off the map. “Who could it be?”
“That, dearies, is a very good question, given how you’re the first two airships to hover over our city in months.” Evelyn’s sharp voice barked out her response as she moved to the edge of the shoreline, as if those few paces would magically provide her better perspective.
“There are two others directly behind it,” Killian said, his wary tone drawing me closer to him. “Well, whoever it is appears to be flying directly toward us instead of—”
Killian tensed at my side, shoving me behind him. “It’s Gretta,” he added angrily, jerking his head around to face Evelyn. “What have you done?”
I watched on in horror as the three airships continued their approach and slowly peered over my shoulder in Evelyn’s direction. Bruno stood in a defensive stance in front of her, protecting the traitor.
“Get to the air chamber in the tunnel,” Evelyn said. “We will outrun her there.”
Her calm demeanor infuriated me even further, as it clearly had the others.
Jo was standing with her mouth open, frozen in place, same as Killian.
“Why?” I whispered.
Evelyn stomped forward, only to be halted by Bruno as he grabbed her arm. She brushed him off. “Stop standing around, looking like the sitting ducks we are and get inside the air chamber this instant,” she demanded once more.
“So what?” Jo hissed. “We can all have a nice little chat with that monster?”
Evelyn pivoted on her heels, storming off in the direction of the chamber that would lead us back to the tunnel.
“Your choice.” Evelyn shrugged. “I’m heading inside where we will be safe and may outlast that she-devil.”
“She wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t done exactly what your traitorous mother did!” Jo yelled. She thrust her hands toward Evelyn as I shouted at her to stop.
However, I was too late, as a gust of wind lifted Evelyn from her feet before she could react, tossing her onto the sandy beach.
“How dare you?” Evelyn shrieked, standing slowly and lifting her hands toward the water, creating a swirling funnel as though it would sweep this dreadful island up in its wake.
I stared at Jo, aware that if the situation didn’t deescalate and fast, we would be in for a hell of a fight amongst ourselves before Gretta even landed.
Killian and Rek ran toward Bruno with their weapons drawn.
“Enough!” I cried, utterly exasperated.
The others ignored me, clearly blinded by the rage of betrayal.
I had no need to call a storm that would bring additional attention to us. Those ships were already flying confidently with what appeared like full steam, heading straight in our direction. Instead, I ran forward. Bruno was a few steps in front of Evelyn, so I planted my body smack in the middle of the chaos.
“I said, enough,” I shouted, tossing my hands to the side as thunder rumbled in the distance. Not a full-blown storm, I told myself. Only enough to garner the attention of the five people in front of me.
Jackson’s eyes were homed in on the incoming airships—the only one keeping a level head in the situation, it would seem.
“Take a minute,” I insisted. “The enemy is coming at us now, not amongst us.”
“Except the traitor is with them,” Jo argued, flinging her hand toward Evelyn. “She refuses to deny it!”
“That’s because I will not stoop to a level low enough to give your ridiculous notions merit.”
My head snapped to the woman in question, staring her down. “You deny it?” I questioned, brashness lacing my tone.
“I do not need this. Let us return to the air chamber and allow her to pass.” Evelyn stalked closer to its entrance.
