Alea Iacta Est

Runa was silent, listening, watching, always watching. Not once did she raise her voice, though her eyes seemed to grow colder, darker the longer she stared at the other Atlantean. 

Was this to be every Atlanteans excuse? Were there none who would admit to their attrocities? Perhaps some of them were true, but all of them? Runa watched Schala, jaw tight, fists clenched behind her back. It would have made sense, though. At the very least, it would have made sense to keep the Council in the dark. 

“Schala.” She said, her voice strained as she turned, not allowing the other Original an undefended shot at her back. “For your sake, I hope you are honest. Your mother may be a fighter, but I don’t think she could survive the discovery that you could have done something yet chose inaction.” Without giving her a moment to reply, she went on. “The survinvg Atlanteans who are awaiting their trials have been allowed to repair the island. Any found outside of its borders have been marked as hostile and may be pursued with deadly force. It may be destroyed, but you have a chance to fix it.” It was obvious that last sentence could be taken one of two ways, but she didn’t elaborate. 

She stopped in her tracks when the other Atlantean spoke up again, listening intently to what she had to say. She didn’t dare turn around, in fear that she would show even more weakness. That was what she was now. Weak. She was willing to account for Temen, as she was a part of Adamen’s council, but for the people who were being sent down there, she really had no clue. She had thought the people there were enemies of the city, people who committed crimes and endangered citizens. Little did she know that Adamen’s definition of enemy was different from hers.

Schala kept quiet as Runa went on, occasionally opening her mouth to reply only to be shut out by the other Atlantean. She didn’t mind. The young woman had every right to speak now that she was free from the lower grounds. She was finally getting her justice. When she had finished, Schala nodded. “Then I shall fix it to the best of my ability,” she said quietly. There was much work to be done to the city, both physically and systematically. There was no doubt in her mind that a new council would be made, that is if there was going to be one again. Adamen was going to be arrested for his crimes and it was up to the mainlanders to decided if they were going to allow his heir to take over.

Before taking another step, Schala turned to Runa and bowed her head.

Runa had begun to answer the question before Schala uttered those last words. Fidgeting for a moment, she swiped at her nose and scratched at her eyebrow. “You didn’t know…” She chuckled hoarsely. “What did you think, Schala? Did you think she got lost on the way to market? Took a wrong turn and decided to spend seven centuries away from home? It’s not as though she had a whole lot of places to go.” Her tone lost it’s laugh and grew more spiteful the more she spoke. 

“You know when she was first thrown down there, my mother couldn’t believe it. She called it the beginning of the end. If Adamen was throwing down his own council members, it wouldn’t be long before the others caught on. Before they realized the madness. My mother died waiting for them to catch on. Yours kept waiting for you to. It wasn’t long before she figured out you weren’t coming.”

There was nothing in her heart but disgust at the feeble excuse that Schala had given. 

“To answer your question, she’s much better now that she’s not living in squallor. We weren’t sure she would survive the battle, but…” She shook her head. “That woman has an otherworldly resolve.” 

Stepping back from the mouth of the alley, she stood to the side and gestured with her hand. “Go back to your home before I make you.”

“I didn’t know-” Schala was cut off before she could even finish her sentence and with every retort Runa was making, she wanted to shrink within herself until there was nothing left. In a way, she was right. She had been careless. She wasn’t thinking and that made her the perfect mind to control by Adamen. However, the more Runa fired at her, the more furious she became as well. Her eyes shut closed as the young woman went on. 

What kind of daughter was she to leave her mother like that? Her heart ached at the thought of the dear woman having to survive the horrid conditions of the lower grounds. She was all she had left and she allowed both of them to be walked on by Adamen. That was not like her at all. That was not the way her mother had raised her to be. Tears stung her eyes as she opened them, brows furrowed at Runa’s remark.

“You think I would have let that happen to my mother if I had known, Runa?” she spat. “What was I thinking? I couldn’t think! That was the problem! If I had known, Runa, if I had known she was down there, I would have fought tooth and nail to get her back or die trying,” she hissed. “But I didn’t know because I was kept in the dark. Adamen must have toyed with my memory because I remember nothing. Don’t you think for one second that I had turned my back on my mother!” She pressed her hand against her chest, as if trying to keep her heart from shattering into pieces. She drew her gaze down as a lump began to form in her throat. “If I had known... I would have... I would have killed him,” she stammered. I’m so sorry, mother. If I had known... Schala knew the damage had been done, that she probably wasn’t going to stand for the excuses her daughter was making, but if she was still listening, she would make her apologies now than later. She owed her that much and more.

“She is a fighter. Always will be,” she muttered as she hastily wiped at her tears. She only wished she had raised her the same way.

Schala looked at the young woman, face passive once more. 

For a while, Runa had stood atop one of the taller buildings, observing the city around her. It was damaged, there was no doubt of that, but she knew better than to believe it to be irreprable. She had seen much torn asunder only to be pieced back together, to be made stronger, herself included. 

Despite the destruction, she couldn’t help but think that the city was beautiful, what with its mismatched buildings and the scent of smoke in the air. The sky was so blue in the daylight and gradually turned a multitude of colors as the evening wore on. How had she ever turned her back on such a sight?

Of course, her peace of mind was soon interrupted at the image, far below and to the south, of a figure moving stealthily, clinging to the shadows of the building. Someone did not wish to be seen, clearly, but it had been long since she had felt hospitable to anothers wishes. 

Like her, the scent of the ocean clung to the other Atlantean, but it wasn’t until she drew nearer that she caught that which was familiar only to Schala. 

“You are not supposed to be here.” Runa said in a deceptively even voice. The familiar anger had begun to burn at the very sight of the other Original, but she kept it stowed away in her heart, knowing that it would only interfere for the time being. “The Atlanteans have been isolated to the island until the Clans are ready to hear their cases.” Her jaw ached with how hard she clenched it, but after a moment she spoke again. “If you are looking for her, she does not wish to see you. I am sure you can understand why.”

The guilt within her had increased tenfold upon seeing the young Atlantean. She had been one of the rebels sent down and she vaguely recalled seeing her a long time ago, in a more different setting. “I am aware,” she replied quietly. “I... thought I might get a chance to speak to someone about something I have seen and whether or not that will help my case is... up to the people who will listen to what I have to say.” Although she realized the crimes she had committed for siding with Adamen, there was a sliver of hope left for her. Her gift of precognition had to be considered of some use to the mainlanders, even if they despised her. She wanted to stay alive, to prove some use to them. If they declined, then she would accept the consequences regardless.

She took in a sharp but quiet breath at her response. “I... I understand that completely,” Schala murmured and drew her gaze down. Her mother had to understand that it hadn’t been her doing. That she had no control over her actions. That she had no idea she had been sent down there by Adamen himself. That she would have never let that happen to her own mother. Her knuckles were turning white with how hard she had been clenching her fists. She let out a sigh and clasped her hands behind her back. Her frame fell to the side, leaning against the alley wall. 

“Then use your senses, child!” Adamen bellowed, wheeling around. “Valik somehow discovered the truth of Temen. Had he gone back to the Shubure, it would have meant an all out war on Atlantis. They have lost their way. They believe every life precious, but we have seen the contrary. Temen is proof of that. If we had not sent them below they would have destroyed us and only a shell of what we are would have risen from the sea!” 

His temples throbbed as he stared down at the woman, somehow the distance between them smaller than it had been before. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Our people?” He asked, deceptively soft. “Perhaps you have forgotten our people Schala. Our people are out there, not below. The rebels below are no longer our people. They would have torn this city apart if they had their way.” He tilted his head, considering her. “Tell me, Schala. What did you think would happen? That once we were risen, the rebels would get a breath of fresh air and see the error of their ways? No. This was always the way it would be. I can do this. And I will. I will protect our people as I have done and will continue to do. And if you disagree…” He leaned forward so that they were eye to eye, “You may feel free to join them.”

Schala stumbled back at his sudden outburst, knuckles turning white as her fists clenched tighter. She took a moment to think on what he said and straightened her back. They had adapted to the world the only way they knew how. She had seen the clans and they have managed to emerge even more powerful than she ever thought possible. She held her chin high though her eyes couldn’t hold the same defiance. 

“You’ve been spending too much of your time among the humans, Schala. You’re being naive.” His patience had run out and he stood, pacing away from the chairs to look out the window once more. “I do not need to tell you anything, you know what is at stake and you know why. Perpetuating ignorance to guard against your own guilt will not change that. Or perhaps you are preparing your defense should the mainlanders infiltrate us. Do you really believe that will protect you?” 

Running a had over his head, he closed his eyes. “There will be nothing left to discover. We will open the floodgates and the proof of our sins will be washed away.” The emotion in his words was difficult to pinpoint, even to himself. He turned away from the other Atlantean and his quiet resolve was once more in place. 

“Please see yourself out, Schala.” 

Her eyes grew wide at his response but as much as she wanted to retort, there was some truth to what he was saying. She was holding as much responsibility as him, seeing that she was a part of his council. Maybe she was trying to protect her guilt. Her fists clenched as she stared hard at her leader. “I am not perpetuating anything, Adamen. I have as much knowledge about Kino’s actions as they do. Do not question my loyalty.” She sighed. “The moment I became councilwoman, my loyalties to this city have strengthened tenfold and you know that information better than anyone.” 

She shot up from her seat at the mention of his plan, her mouth parted in shock. “You plan to kill them all? You plan to kill... our people.” Her eyes were glued to him as she rushed towards him. “You cannot be serious, Adamen. You will only wreak more havoc on this city. If they have any more reason to trust us less, this will surely break the bond we have with them.” The sight of his turned back concerned her, even more so, it angered her. Although they were sent down there for a reason, the idea of killing them was far from her mind. They were still her people.

Any other day and her ire would have been met with his own, cold as it was. Today, however, he could understand it. Understand it, but not like it. 

“For someone who sees so much, you’re choosing to see very little right now, Schala.” He sighed, his gaze hard as stone. “What happened with Kino was unfortunate and sloppy. So much so that it has brought our people under scrutiny.” He stressed his words to remind her of their place in the world. 

“What do you think would happen if the Beletum came to Atlantis? Flooded our streets, peered into our homes? How do you think they would react if they found the bones our city rests upon? Temen’s continued existence puts our people at risk. And the closing of the passages allows us the time to protect ourselves from that threat.”

Her jaw clenched slightly at his response and she drew her gaze down. In a way, he was right. She was capable of seeing everything and smart enough to make sense of things. Instead of utilizing those skills, she was, like he said, choosing to see very little. Perhaps she was overwhelmed - too excited about the idea that her people were going to take what was rightfully theirs. Or that she was growing compassionate towards the mainlanders. Perhaps she was truly lost about everything. Schala frowned as she desperately tried to push the thoughts away from the forefront of her mind.