#ilian

I grew up in the end of the world. See there was a nuclear apocalypse and some of the human race managed to survive. The end of the world didn’t get rid of soulmates. Everyone was born with a tattoo that matched their soulmate’s. Mine was a butterfly, but one of the wings was made out of flowers.

I thought it was really cool, considering where I lived. I was part of Trishanakru which translated to glowing forest. I wondered if my soulmate was from the same clan. But we weren’t the only ones alive. Sky people had come, but we stayed out of it as best we could. Some fighters went to help the Commander, but me and my brother stayed on the farm with our family. I was out in the forest when I heard my brother shouting for help. I ran back to fine our Mother dead in his lap, along with our older brother and Father dead on the ground. 

“Ilian? What happened?” I asked with tears in my eyes. 

“That chip! She made me do it!” He shouted and threw the chip. 

“Ilian…” I said, letting the tears fall. 

“It was the Sky People!” He growled. 

“Mama…” I whispered as I dropped down to the ground next to him. 

“I will protect you. I will make them pay for this.” He gently grabbed my face to look at him. 

“I told you not to take it…” I whispered. 

“We’ll take care of those Sky People.” He said. We followed our people to Polis to overthrow King Roan. He was protecting Skaikru. 

“Once Ai yu don accused Roan kom fotones gon Oso kru gon protecting skaikru he'll as klin proof. Ilian en Y/N na na Ai fos vouture.” ( Once I have accused Roan of the crimes against our people for protecting Skaikru he’ll demand proof. Ilian and Y/N will be my first witnesses.” Ambassador Rafel said as two Skaikru people walked up, we all stood. Ilian placed his hand on his knife and pushed me a bit behind him. 

“Ambassador, may we speak privately?” Kane asked. 

“We know you plan to challenge King Roan.” He added. 

“Bans op” (Leave us) He said and Ilian grabbed me. We started to leave, but Rafel stopped us. 

“Ilian, ste down.” He said. 

“Taim em ste down, den krei dula op Ai.” I said before my brother could tell me to go. Rafel nodded and we both sat down. 

“I’d like to ask you to reconsider.” Kane said, taking a seat. 

“Ask? After everything your people have done, you expect diplomacy?” Rafel asked. 

“Skaifru’s not your enemy.” Kane said and Ilian scoffed. Rafel looked at him and nodded. He slammed down the chip and I immediately felt sick looking at it. 

“Skaikru made me murder my family. If Y/N wasn’t out in the forest then she would have been dead too.” Ilian growled and I placed my hand on his shoulder. 

“You ruined our lives.” I said, but nicer than my brother did. 

“I’m sorry for your loss, but the chip, the technology, it affected all of us, every Clan.” He said and my brother’s glar hardened. 

“You blame Skaikru for the City of Light. Shouldn’t you also credit us for destroying it? After everything we’ve suffered, why spill more blood? The Clans are stronger together.” He asked. I agreed with him, we were stronger together, but I also understood my brother’s drive for revenge. 

“Heh, you see Ilian and Y/N? The king can’t fight, or his minions wouldn’t be here trying to stop us.” Rafel said. 

“If the King wasn’t hurt, do you think this coward would give a crap about your family.” The girl, I believe her name was Octavia, asked coming to my side. 

“Since you landed here, your people have done but rip our world apart!” Rafel said, standing up. Ilian placed a protective arm around me and glared at the girl. 

“Rafel, I urge you-”

“You reap what you sow, Ambassador. The time of Skaikru is over.” Rafel said, cutting Kane off. He walked away and Ilian pulled me up with him. He grabbed the chip and pulled me away, bumping the girl in the process. I pulled my arm away and pulled up my sleeves, it was getting too hot. Ilian hated when I showed off my soulmate tattoo, but I loved looking at it. It always made me feel better. 

“I’m going to get something to eat.” I said and turned to walk off. Ilian grabbed me before I could leave. 

“You will not. Not alone, I told you.” He said and I rolled my eyes. 

“You know I can protect myself.” I said. 

“You’re not going any-” 

“Ilian, nothing is going to happen to me. Please, we both know I need a little adventure.” I said. 

“You can go when it’s dark.” He promised and I smiled. 

“Fine. Better than nothing.” I said. 

When night came I went out looking for anything that could interest me. That when I found the Sky girl Octavia wandering around in a black cloak. I was going to duck and hide to prevent any unnecessary conflict, but I saw her arm. She had the same tattoo I did. My eyes widened. She was my soulmate. Ilian was going to hate this… I couldn’t stop myself. I rushed up to her and pulled her into a dark alley. She tried to fight me, but luckily didn’t land any hits. 

“Stop! Please!” I said and she stopped. 

“Y/N?” She asked and I smiled a little, I didn’t think she would remember me. 

“Are you planning on killing me?” She asked. 

“If I were, you’d already be dead.” I said. 

“Then what?” She asked. 

“Your tattoo.” I said pointing at the butterfly. She looked down at it then back up at me confused. 

“What about it?” She asked. I lifted up my sleeve and showed her the same one on my arm. Her eyes widened and looked back up at me. 

“You’re my soulmate?” She asked and I nodded. 

“But you and your brother hate me and my people.” She said. 

“True, but I don’t personally blame you like my brother does. Whoever it was that brought that horrible chip here is who I blame.” I said and she smiled a little. 

“Good to know my soulmate doesn’t hate me.” She said and I giggled. 

“My brother can’t know about this.” I said and she nodded. 

“He’d kill me.” She said and I nodded. 

“I have to go before he comes looking for me.” I said. 

“We’ll see each other again.” She said and kissed me. My eyes widened, but I let this new feeling take over. This was my first kiss. She pulled away with a smile and turned, leaving like nothing happened. I ran back to Ilian and tried to keep my happiness hidden, but I couldn’t.

“What happened?” He asked. 

“Nothing.” I lied. 

“Why is your tattoo out?” He asked and I bit my lip. 

“Y/N.” He said in a warning tone and I sighed. 

“I found my soulmate.” I whispered. 

“Really? Who is it?” He asked with a smile. 

“I can’t tell you.” I said and his face fell. 

“It’s someone from Skaikru?” He growled and I flinched slightly. 

“They killed our family!” He growled louder. 

“I can’t help who my soulmate is!” I shouted with tears in my eyes.

“Please Ilian, I’ve wanted this for so long.” I begged and he sighed. 

“Which one?” He asked. 

“You’re not going to hurt her, are you?” I asked. 

“Depends.” He said. 

“Please…” I whispered. 

“Y/N, either you tell me now or I will chop off every last Skaikru’s girl’s arm until I find the one with the same tattoo.” He said and I bit my lip. I honestly wouldn’t put it past him. 

“Octavia…” I answered in a whisper. He grit his teeth and turned away. 

“Go to bed. We have the meeting tomorrow.” He said and I thought it best not to fight with him. 

The next day at the meeting we were waiting for everyone to arrive. Octavia walked up behind us and Ilian looked back at her. I looked back and smiled slightly, but when I saw my brother’s face I turned back to the front. 

“Where is Rafel kom Trishanakru?” King Roan asked and then one of his people walked in. He stood and looked at everyone. 

“The ambassador was found dead this morning. His heart stopped.” He said and people started talking. I grabbed my brother’s hand and squeezed. 

“Hofli  Spirits kom Heda guide em safely hou.” (May the Spirits of the Commanders guide him safely home.) King Roan said as everyone bowed their heads. 

“Let us begin.” He said and took a seat. 

“You gonna kill us too?” Ilian asked Octavia and my eyes widened. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said and my brother turned back around. 

“Ai laik fiya hashta bilaik family.” (I’m sorry about your family.) She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked back at her and she turned to leave. 

“Some soulmate.” He said and I sighed. Why couldn’t it be someone my brother approved of…