Apocalypse: The Huntress Luna

Chapter 29

(Magnus)

Wasting no time, we made our way to the house that was used by the female council members and slid into the dark, around the back.

There were only a few lit windows but a lone figure stood at the ranch door, staring out into the night.

She looked lost in thought, expressionless but by the way she hugged her arms, I could tell she was troubled. It was strange to see Selene like this- not so...refined.

Her auburn hair was twisted up into a knot, her grey tee and pajama pants hung loosely on her figure and the shadows grew long on her face.

Watching her still, she reached for her candle and extinguished the flame which finally revealed our glowing eyes in the dark.

Her eyes widened in fright but only briefly before she poked her head out to see who it was, in annoyance.

“Who in their right damn mind is lurking out there at this-”

“Come with us. Now.”

At the tone of Damon’s voice, she paled slightly but nodded and followed us into the night.

We headed in the direction of the fields by the Wall then slid in silently into the back office once again as it was sound proofed.

Once in, I flipped the lock and rested against the door while Damon nodded for her to sit.

“W-what is this about? If you wanted a night with me, you needed only ask,” she laughed nervously, looking from my face to his. She tried to present herself to us, chest out as usual but from our expressions, she knew it fell flat.

“You know, I would normally be up for that but unfortunately this is not one of those occasions,” he winked.

“It looks like you’ve been pretty busy since arriving into this bustling settlement. Come to think of it - I’ve barely seen you around! Have you made some friends?” 

Damon rarely took things seriously, even when it came to interrogating but his methods seem to have worked in the past.

He’s been this way for as long as I could remember and even though he could be hella annoying, I’ve just learnt to go with it.

“Friends?”

“Yeah, you know, friends. Who have you been talking with?” he said, still with that toothy grin.

“Magnus, cmon, what is this about?” She was trying to sound casual about it all but I could see glints of panic in her dark eyes.

“Just answer his questions.”

“Uh, no friends that I can think of- sorry guys. Now if that’s all, I best get back to the ladies.” She tried to rise from her seat but lowered back down when she caught my glare.

“You see Selene, we know what you put those two young-uns up to. We know that Mikal told you about the research aaaaand we have a hunch that you have something to do with the recent explosions. Have we caught your attention yet?”

Her mouth was opening and closing but no sound was escaping.

“I- I don't-”

“Before you speak your next words, I must warn you. I haven't the patience tonight. Why did Mikal bring you in on the research?” I growled.

I was in front of her now, my arms growing darker with fur by the second and my eyes glowing in the low light.

She started to panic but Damon grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back down and crouched low beside her.

“Cmon Selene, you can trust us. Tell us what we need to know, we are on the same side here,” he pressed. I guess you could say this was the ‘good cop, bad cop’ routine but I wasn't lying when I said I was running low on patience. Anyone who willingly puts the lives of the innocent in danger did not deserve my sympathy.

“Okay, look. I’ll tell you what I know but you have to promise me you won't tell Mikal that I told you,” she squeaked.

Damon and I nodded so she continued.

“Y-you weren't supposed to know that I was helping with finding the research. Mikal just wanted to make sure we had all our bases covered, so he sent me in with some intel on where to start. I hired those two boys to go check the leads but they did a sloppy job of it so I did my own recon and put feelers out in the community to see if anyone had heard about Jerry Miller’s research. Turns out someone did.”

“Someone came to you? About the research?” I questioned. 

Although this was a lead for us, this unfortunately confirmed our worries. That Selene indeed was involved in the attacks. 

She has looked strung out the last few days so I'd better hear the whole story first before I think about banishing her ass.

“Yes but it was only ever communicated in writing. I never met with anyone. I would find these notes in the mailbox addressed to me and this person would tell me how I could assist in finding the research since the two locations Mikal gave were dead ends. Then I’d leave a response at the post-office for them.”

“Assist HOW?”

She jumped alittle at my tone but quickly carried on, eager to get this over with.

“Uhhh first they wanted me to check those two offices again. They also said I should check out a lab but I refused when they mentioned staging an explosion. But then...then they asked me to do one more thing because they were sure the next locations would have it.”

She was close to tears now and she pulled her arms close around her once more.

“They asked me to distract two guards at the South Gate but I ended up knocking them out cold...It was the same day the breach happened,” she whispered, sorrowful. 

“If those guards had been at their posts, that person never would have been able to plant that explosive on the gate unseen. It’s my fault- all those people dead or injured, it's my fault!” she sobbed, pulling Damon’s arm over to cry on.

No wonder she was looking sallow these last few days.

She was living with the guilt of the thirty people that lost their lives in the breach.

“Selene. Atleast tell me they told you where they were looking?”

“Just a couple of houses of the residents and council members but since the breach, I haven't heard from them. I don't even know if they found it or not.”

“They didn’t.”

She looked up through her snot and tears, confused.

“They didn’t find anything because we have it and you are going to tell them that for us.”

……………………

(Andy)

The next few days flew by with Tectum slowly but surely gaining it's feet back and before we knew it, there were talks of continuing the Archivio trip.

I barely had the time to fully process what my spontaneous actions meant, let alone see him again. Magnus was tied up 24/7 with Council things and what not but I'm sure we will see eachother again soon.

I just hope it isn't weird…

But to top it off, ever since our lips touched that day, my body hasn't been the same. It was like he kindled a fire in me that was slowly but steadily getting hotter and the only way I could put it out is if I was back in his arms. I honestly don't know how I have survived these last few days other than keeping super busy to keep my mind off him. 

What am I, sixteen again?

Also, strangely I hadn't told Calli about what had happened that night either. I guess I was waiting for the right moment but I think I was more worried about what she would think.

She knows me better than anyone and I know I could tell her anything but I wanted to keep this to myself, atleast for now.

What has been even stranger though is that since I’ve woken up after the incident, I’ve felt like a different person. Or more so- more of myself than I have ever felt before in the past. This new me was different but I liked her.

She was more confident and confident was what I needed right now.

Pushing all my thoughts aside, Calli and I spent the rest of the day tending to the last of the patients while we waited for the council members to meet and make their final decision. I wasn't sure what I wanted their decision to be as long as we found out today.

I wanted more than anything to give this thing between Magnus and I a shot but every time I tried to make a decision, my brain hurt.

So I decided I’d just wait for the council's decision and go from there.

Our shift had come to an end so I handed it over to the night crew, slung my Naginata over my shoulder and we began heading to Marianne’s. Ever since the attack, I’ve been having dreams of Vargul breaking into the settlement again but only this time, the Archivio isn't here. Every night, it's the same thing and I can't help but feel anxious every morning.

So now I take my treasured weapon with me everywhere to make sure that I’m never caught out without it again.

We made it to Marianne’s doorstep and followed the buttery, crisp aroma of pastry that was wafting in the air and into the kitchen.

Hair and clothes speckled in flour, Yann popped up from behind the counter with Marianne standing not far off.

“Hi mom, Hi aunt Calli! We made chicken pot pie for dinner and Nana let me help make the pastry this time,” he beamed.

“Wow, really? Well you know what that means now, right? You will be on pastry duty from now on at home,” I teased.

“He actually did a decent job, you know. I won't be surprised if he becomes a cook like me!” Marianne finally turned around to greet us but she stopped as her eyes landed above my head.

“Andy, are you crazy!? Why did you bring that thing with you again!? You are going to take someone's eye out! And leave chips on my ceiling!” 

Calli and Yann doubled over in laughter as Marianne began swatting me with her dish-towel and going off in her thick accent. 

I couldn't help but join in on the giggles and quickly hung my blade up by the door to keep the peace.

We lounged around and waited for what seemed like forever for Gus to get home and I was pretty sure I heard everyone’s stomachs grumbling until the door finally swung open. 

“Finaaaally! I’m starving!” 

Calli shot up ahead of everyone and took a seat at the table, heaping food onto her plate.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting, the meeting took longer than expected, “ Gus puffed as he hung up his coat next to my Naginata. He looked at me questioningly but I just shrugged.

“That’s okay dear, go wash up and then come take a seat,” and she and Yann followed Calli.

I decided to follow Gus instead to the sink around the back to see if I could pick his brain but he purposely kept quiet as I watched him

"So? What did you guys decide?"

“You should have come with me today, love. I thought I had sent someone for you?” he questioned. 

“Yeah you did but I turned them away. I wanted to be in the Infirmary today and to be honest, I needed a minute to think. But since I was supposed to be there anyway, there won't be any harm in telling me, right?”

Drying his hands off, he pondered my words and then gave in. 

“Ah, my dear, you make a good point. We talked it over and we came to the conclusion that it would still be in our best interests to send the team over but with less than half this time. We have been weakened, yes, but we can spare those who are going.”

“So… Do they require me to go still or not?”

“I’m sorry Andy but yes, they will need you to go. You will need to pick a team of three to go with you to teach their people and also learn any knowledge they have. The Watch will be sending fifteen of their own to be trained up which includes Saleem as their Captain.”

Oh. Great.

I took a second to think about what he said but only one thought came to mind.

“Well, is the offer still on the table to take Yann with me?”

“Yes. But I just...didn’t think you’d want to go after all that has happened? Are you sure it is safe to take him out there?”

“After all that has happened, I know that as long as he is by my side, he will be safe. If anything, it makes me want to go even more. As long as the boy gets to come along then I will go willingly. ”

Gus reached for my arm, giving it a little squeeze and then led us to the dining table. Everyone was halfway through their meals and barely looked up as we sat down.

Yann had already dished me some food and watched me eagerly as I took a bite of their pie.

“Wow, you guys have outdone yourselves. This pie is freakin delicious!” His face lit up, giving me the biggest smile and it just warmed my heart to see him this cheerful again.

Calli was on the other side of the table and she just clicked that Gus was back from his meeting. From the looks of things, she was on her second helping and quickly chugged down some water to clear her mouth. 

“Gus! You have to tell us- are you sending people back with the Archivio??”

The rest of the table quieted as I gave him a tiny nod.

“Well, after much discussion, we decided that we will send people but only a handful this time. We can't afford to miss this opportunity. This also means that Andy would have to go.” He looked nervously over to Marianne who had her hand on Yann’s back as he stopped eating and looked down.

His sweet, big smile was gone from his face and it just occurred to me that maybe he didn't want to go.

“Baby, why do you look sad? Is it because you wouldn't want to come with me to the Archivio?”

He looked up, confused.

“Wait, I can still go with you??”

“Of course, baby. I told you before, I’m not leaving you behind,” I soothed.

His face immediately lifted and was beaming once again. He then muttered something about exploring their extensive libraries and that he has to get a proper tour done.

He dug back into his food and we enjoyed the rest of our night together as a family.

At the end of the night, while Gus, Calli and I were cleaning up, there was a knock at the door.

“Andy, can you get that for me? It might be something I ordered a while back,” Gus called over his shoulder.

It was pretty late at night for a delivery so I made sure my blade was within reach before I swung it open.

“Hi Andy. I heard you would be here tonight. Can I come in?”

Yeah, it definitely was not a delivery.