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A round-up of Riga’s men followed, assisted by a willing crowd. Once Aaron was satisfied the area was now secured, a ceremony to officially appoint Eva was held shortly after. It took place in the lower part of Suzu Tower with the tower’s huge doors stretched wide open for as many of the crowd to enter as possible. It was a short but regal ceremony. They all appreciated the beautiful promises Eva made to care for the people and the land.
During the ceremony many of Aaron’s men arrived, among them Vito, one of the four who had been working with Aaron to bring the group through to Kainnan. Some of these men sat near enough to Katerina during the service that she could watch them with interest from her seat, half hidden behind a pillar. When the ceremony was over, the room began to clear as people headed back outside. Katerina lingered however, wanting to meet Aaron’s associates. Before she could show herself, they began talking and she stayed to eavesdrop instead.
Vito was exclaiming, “I can barely believe it — two dead in such a short time! I must confess I have long doubted we could ever get so far. Even if we don’t succeed with the other two, we have half the land now!”
Aaron’s response was hushed, so Katerina had to move closer to hear it, though she deliberately remained hidden. She caught, “So we can’t afford not to deal with the other two. They are the more powerful ones. Either could do unspeakable things in revenge for what we’ve done. They could bring destruction to Eva, or Lyonel and Tobiah. You know they hold more power than Demetra or Alexandre ever did.”
Vito was silent a moment then he sighed heavily. “I guess I forgot the reality of what we face. How many do you have left to use now?”
“Just two, Katerina and Noah — the two that saved Eva today. But I am waiting for word on two others; Madeleine and Josiah. They were captured by Zeus some days ago, but we’re fairly certain he has no idea who they really are or what they’re capable of...”
“That’s not true,” Katerina said sharply, then bit her lip, regretting revealing herself.
Vito exchanged an amused smile with Aaron and held out his hand to her as she sheepishly emerged from behind her pillar. He said, “Ah, you must be Katerina. It’s a pleasure.”
She shook his hand firmly, studying his face. He was close to her father’s age but much better looking, like a blond James Bond.
“What are you saying Katerina?” Aaron was asking.
“When we were in the tunnel, back at that first place you took us to after the plane-crash, Zeus was working with David and he knew we were coming — he mentioned you Aaron, and he seemed to know about us.”
“You never told me this before.”
“I just assumed you knew that. I mean, I could be wrong — maybe he doesn’t know how easily Madeleine or Josiah could kill him...but it did seem to me he had some kind of prior knowledge about us and our connection with you.”
“That certainly changes some things then,” Aaron frowned. “Zeus will be expecting us so it may not be possible to get them out of his prison after all.”
“Do they know anything?” Vito asked.
“No, they were taken before I had a chance to explain anything to them. He won’t have gotten any information out of them regardless of what he’s tried...” He trailed off at the look on Katerina’s face.
“He’ll be using torture?” she asked in a quiet voice.
Aaron studied her a moment, assessing whether she could handle the truth then nodded. “Probably. But he will have realized very quickly how little they know about their purpose here and left them to rot in a prison cell instead. Sorry,” he added as she blanched, “poor choice of words. We’ll just have to step up the search for them.”
There was food after the ceremony, laid out on huge tables in the square. As they sat on the chairs which had also somehow miraculously appeared, eating strange but delicious fruit pastries and bread rolls, they watched with interest the rapid comings and goings all around them. Aaron’s men in particular were appearing for a brief time, grabbing a bite to eat, talking urgently in groups, often with much gesturing and debating then leaving again as abruptly as they had arrived. Aaron was one of those who disappeared for twenty minutes and when he eventually re-joined them he explained that they were rounding up Demetra’s guards and assistants as quickly as possible before they could flee Cereise.
“What about us? Where do we go next?” Katerina asked.
“Next we wait. I’m expecting word from several of my people by midday tomorrow at the latest. We’ll know what to do after that.”
When they had finished eating, Aaron insisted both Noah and Katerina be seen by a doctor despite their mutual insistence they were fine. The doctor — a tall beaming woman — used several strange contraptions on them to examine their eyes, ears, noses, scalps and arms. She declared them bruised but otherwise fine.
After that Aaron offered them all two hours to relax, around the city or back at the house. “But my guards go with you at all times, especially as it will be getting dark soon,” he warned. “You should be safe but we must be sure.”
Alice opted to return to the house, Karim and another man accompanying her. Noah however, asked Katerina if she fancied a walk and they set off into the city streets instead, trailed by two guards.
There was an air of jubilation everywhere which was infectious. Unlike their previous trips through the city, people were out; relaxed, laughing and talking with one another. Being amongst it all, Noah and Katerina soon found themselves smiling and relaxing too, even teasing each other.
“It’s a strange feeling to actually feel safe and not on guard,” Katerina commented after a while as they leaned companionably against a fence watching a family playing together. “It has become so normal to be afraid. I keep expecting something bad to happen any moment.”
Noah nodded, studying her. “What’s also strange is that I feel like I’ve come to know you a little but I’ve never seen this side of you before — happy, relaxed, laughing — not even at the airport before we left.”
A shadow passed across her face for a moment at that and she sighed heavily, “Patrick, what a jerk.”
“I agree. He’s a real jerk. You deserve better than that.”
“Everyone deserves better than that.”
“Come on...let’s sit awhile.”
They made their way to a small park and sprawled on the grass together. Katerina could feel Noah watching her but kept her gaze elsewhere. After a few minutes he commented, “You know we never talked about that kiss.”
“I had to stop you, that’s all,” she said quickly.
“That’s all?” he asked. She looked up. He had moved nearer so he was right beside her. She met his gaze, feeling suddenly nervous, but stayed silent.
“I’m glad you did...kiss me,” he said. Feeling bold, even a little reckless, he put a hand to her face, trailing his fingers down it, and leaned in slowly. She felt hypnotized by his beautiful eyes and the touch of his skin on hers; could not move. His kiss was tentative and she felt herself responding against her better judgement. When she did, he put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in closer, kissing her passionately. She responded likewise, winding her arms around his neck, losing herself in it.
A few moments — then he seemed to come to himself and released her. Embarrassed she pulled back, looking away, until Noah said, “We probably should get back to the safe house, Aaron will be waiting.”
She nodded, getting to her feet quickly.
They walked back in silence, their mood solemn, both deep in thought.
Katerina was wondering what to say, what to do now, only too aware of Noah’s nearness, for he was staying protectively close. She was torn between tension and joy, between the tension of still being on Kainnan and the awkwardness of the kiss but the pleasure and implied promise of it too. Their success in getting rid of both Alexandre and Demetra made it seem increasingly possible they could return home and eventually have a normal life again. Which meant dating Noah was not totally out of the question. Even with a four-hour commute between the cities they lived in, she had to admit she actually really wanted to think it could be an option...
Noah’s thoughts were taking a different path. He was already wrestling with himself, regretting the kiss, wondering what to do. Not that Katerina was not desirable, beautiful, intelligent or even fun. She was all that and so, so much more. Yet he was back again at the knowledge that dating someone like Katerina was too dangerous. He dare not risk caring for someone who could hurt him as his parents constantly hurt each other. The realization that he was still thinking that way despite his decision at the ball not to let himself like her, shocked him. He had assumed he could switch off his growing feelings simply by deciding to. Apparently that was not the case. Apparently he desired her more than he had let himself acknowledge — and that had to stop immediately.
As they approached the house it occurred to Noah that he should say something to defuse what had happened. But when he stopped her, she looked up at him so trustingly, he abruptly lost courage.
“Noah?” she asked after a moment.
“We should get inside and find out what’s happening,” was all he said.
One of Aaron’s men opened the door and showed them through to the lounge where Eva and Aaron were talking quietly by the window. They turned to face Noah and Katerina, speaking at the same time, Aaron saying excitedly “Good news!” and Eva asking, “What’s happened?”
Her question silenced Aaron and he crossed to the pair. Katerina looked away awkwardly, unsure what to say, while Noah held Aaron’s gaze somewhat defiantly.
“Did something happen?” Aaron addressed Noah.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Noah lied.
“Eva knows when something isn’t right so something must have happened...”
“Katerina? Something has happened between the two of you, hasn’t it?” Eva interjected.
Katerina looked away, trying to keep her face impassive, then abruptly shrugged. “Yes. We kissed.”
“You did?” a surprised voice asked from the doorway as Alice walked in.
“We did,” Katerina admitted again.
“And you have feelings for each other?” Eva asked the question on everyone’s mind.
This time Noah and Katerina spoke at the same time. She said, “Yes,” as he said, “No.” The discrepancy was so embarrassing the room went deathly silent. Noah said hastily, “I mean I think she’s great, but...” He trailed off awkwardly, turning to her, “Katerina you’re amazing, but...”
“But what?” She couldn’t hide her hurt and surprise.
“But I don’t...” he cleared his throat and lied again, “I don’t feel that way about you.”
“That’s not what you implied when you kissed me,” she said quietly.
“I’m sorry,” he reached his hand out to her. She moved away as if he was dangerous. With the others watching she felt so humiliated she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. “I’m sorry...I’m really sorry,” he tried again.
She ignored him pointedly, asking Aaron, “What’s the good news?”
Aaron waited a moment, but neither Katerina nor Noah appeared inclined to speak again. “The good news is we got Josiah and Madeleine out. They’re on their way to us now. They’ll get here tonight then we’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“That’s great news,” Katerina exclaimed, forcing a happy smile despite feeling far from that. “I think I’ll rest until they get here. Can you tell me which room is mine?”
“I will,” Eva offered. They left the room together, Katerina avoiding Noah’s eyes. He looked at his sister but she was frowning at him, unimpressed. Sighing, he sank into a couch and wondered how long it would be until everyone forgave him. Especially Katerina. He had undoubtedly hurt her with first the kiss, then their embarrassing simultaneous confession. But it was better a little now than a lot later, he comforted himself.
It was late when Josiah and Madeleine arrived with their entourage of guards. The house erupted with action as people tumbled out of beds and couches and raced to the lounge to greet them.
Madeleine looked considerably less put together than she had back at the airport when they all first met. Her face was free of makeup and her beautiful curls wild and messy. She was in a plain red t-shirt and loose pants supplied by Aaron’s men. Josiah looked exhausted, with scabs just healing on his wrists, reminding Katerina of Aaron’s admission they might have been tortured. As if he had read her mind Josiah caught her gaze and smiled at her weakly.
They told the group they had been transported in an enclosed vehicle of some kind for hours. On arrival in Zeus’s land they had been placed in prison and held there since. They saw each other a few times but were otherwise housed in separate cells with a variety of other prisoners coming and going. From their fellow inmates, they had each learned a considerable amount about Zeus, none of it good. “I thought I was going to die,” Madeleine confessed, tears in her eyes. “I’m so glad you got us out,” she turned her baby blues onto Aaron gratefully.
After an hour, everyone made their way to bed except Josiah. He caught Katerina’s arm as she moved past him and asked her to wait with him. She stood beside him as the others filed out until Noah stopped in front of her and said, “Please Katerina...” Then she shook her head mutely, turning her face away from him. After a moment, he left too.
“What was that about?” Josiah asked, curiously.
“Nothing,” she shrugged. “What did you want to talk about?”
He sighed heavily. “I just need some time to process what’s happened but I...ah, I really need someone with me. It was so hard,” his voice cracked slightly and she put a supportive hand on his shoulder. He had wasted away and his body was lean and wiry. His face was gaunt, his eyes seeming bigger and darker.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked gently.
He nodded and started pacing. “Yes. I mean I don’t want to but I think I need to. They tortured me Katerina! Beat me, starved me...told me things, such awful things! They wanted to know who I was and where I was from. But I knew if I told them anything they would kill me. So I would pretend to myself I was someone else and tell them things about that person...” his voice trailed off.
“Did it work?”
“No...and yes...I couldn’t pull it off because I didn’t know enough about this world we’re in. But eventually they decided I suffered from some sort of delusion and that was why I couldn’t explain myself coherently. Then they left me alone.” He crossed to the windows and looked out into the darkness, his body tense with the memories.
Katerina came and stood beside him again. She reached out a hand and touched his wrist gently. “These scars look recent.”
“They are. They had just started to interrogate me again when Aaron got us out.” He turned to face her, looking down into her eyes intently. “I appreciate you listening Katerina. I have to tell you, when I was in there you were one of the things that kept me going...the vision of your beautiful face. I wondered if I would ever see you again, ever have the chance to do this...” and before she could even begin to guess at what he intended, he leaned in and kissed her on the mouth.
It was a short kiss, over before she could react, much more unexpected than Noah’s. In moments he was standing back, studying her uncertainly. “I’m sorry...”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I don’t mind.”
He smiled with relief. “Good. Then perhaps you’ll let me do that again sometime?” When she didn’t respond, he said, “I can wait. We have time together, now I’m free.” He looked out the window again. “I’ll be okay on my own now. I just needed to talk. I’ll go to bed in a few minutes.”
Katerina nodded, “Alright. See you in the morning.”
It was a relief to get into her bed after everything that had happened that day: catching and jumping off the early train to Cereise, Caleb’s death, the battle to take Suzu Tower. She was physically and emotionally drained. Yet despite that, it was thinking about the two men who had kissed her that kept her awake for a long time. The difference in their kisses was startling. Noah’s was electrifying, captivating, but she no longer trusted him. Josiah’s was...pleasant. But at least he was open about desiring her, out of the blue though it was. Noah had just left her confused, hurt and angry.
