Devils | ONC 2023 SHORTLISTER

eight

"Elena," Maverick called, slinging Kaz's arm over his shoulders. "Are you alright? Can you walk?"

She nodded wordlessly and stood up on shaky legs. Maverick easily gathered up his brother, Kaz's head lolling against his shoulder. Elena felt Amara's gentle hand on her elbow, steadying her when she swayed. She still felt a bit dizzy and drained out.

But, at least, she had her memories now.

* * *

"The Commander wants to see you," Amara popped her head inside Elena's room. 

It was past ten in the night and Elena had just woken up from much-needed sleep. That didn't mean she wasn't feeling cranky.

"Now?"

Amara gave a rueful smile. "Yeah. How are you feeling, by the way?"

Elena pinched the bridge of her nose, crossing her legs under her. "Better, I guess."

"Okay, then. Don't be late!"

She stood up and stretched, yawning loudly. She might not admit it but it was good to be home. Even though the home was the headquarters of a military base. Elena padded into the bathroom, checking herself in the mirror. There were still dark circles under her pale blue eyes, but she didn't look as pale as before. They had been taken to the infirmary and Elena hadn't seen Kaz since. Maverick had popped in once to ask if she was alright. Once the healers said she was good to go, she drifted to her room and collapsed onto the bed. Once this is all over she's going to sleep for a whole week. 

Elena quickly wound her hair into a long braid, splashed some water over her face and grabbed a jacket that was thrown across a chair. She slipped her foot into her boots and jogged out of her room towards the Commander's office. She saw a few familiar faces but no one paid her much attention. Elena knew not everyone knew about her memory loss and everything that had happened. They didn't have any reason to pay any attention to her; As much as they were concerned, she was a familiar sight.

She stopped in front of the familiar dark door. She hadn't been inside the office many times, only when they first found her and a few days ago before the mission. But she had passed it many times; waited outside it for Maverick. Elena took a deep breath and rapped her knuckles against the door. 

"Come in, Elena."

Of course, he knows it's me.

Elena could feel the tension in the room just as she opened the door. Commander Mordino was standing by the window, his hands clasped behind his back. Kaz was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk glaring daggers at the table, his arms crossed over his chest. Elena shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. She could cut through the tension with a knife.

"Have a seat, Elena," Mordino said, slipping into his chair.

Elena plopped down onto the only available seat next to Kaz. She eyed him from the corner of her eyes but he was still trying to burn a hole in the table with his eyes. She could never read him; She never would. 

"So," Mordino leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped on the desk. "At least you found Nella, though she seems to be clueless as much as we are." His eyes, identical to Maverick's and Kaz's, travelled between them. "But you didn't find anything else. I know the word is getting out that something is happening. I don't want people to panic. We have to find the artefact. We have to destroy it if needed."

Both Elena and Kaz looked up in surprise. Yes, Elena understood it was the best way to make sure something like this won't happen again. She knew that statue had the power of the old gods inside that would destroy the whole Lost City if that power was released. It wasn't just about finding it. It was about finding it before it was too late. 

"We lost too much priceless time because of your whole fiasco," It seemed like Mordino aimed it at both of them but his eyes were accusingly directed at Kaz. Kaz didn't drop his gaze but Elena saw his shoulders tense.

"It's not his fault," Elena said abruptly. Kaz looked at her in barely concealed surprise. "I was the one who ruined everything by going after that man and then getting my memories lost. I was the one who didn't listen to him. I endangered both our lives. Not him."

Mordino didn't say anything, just narrowed his eyes at her. Kaz was silent too but Elena could feel his shocked eyes on her. Maybe as he had said, losing one's memories did change them. Either way, Elena owed him one for not abandoning her when she lost her memories even when he had perfectly good reasons to do so. Maybe he did it for his brother but Elena had let him down in the past. She won't do it again.

"Then do you know anything more than we already do, Elena?" Mordino asked slowly. "We have patrols in the human world—"

"That's what you are doing wrong," Elena sat straighter, suddenly everything clicking into place. "It's not in the human world. It's in here. It's in the Lost City."

total word count 10,675