Warm light cast hypnotic shadows across Elijah's and Shiyu's hotel room. A news reporter discusses the latest event in Tyrial on a television above a mahogany dresser. Geometric multi-colored bedsheets and black pillows covered the double beds. A black and mulberry colored rug covered the floor. Soft baroque music played from a radio on an onyx-painted wooden table near the window. Sturdy, handcrafted chairs and potted plants decorated the room.
Elijah lit a cigarette as he observed Shiyu staring at the downtown Tyrial skyline from the hotel room window. The scent of flowers, detergent, and wealth lingered in the air. Elijah glanced at the flowers situated on the cabinet. The cherry blossom and orchid petals glowed with vitality as Shiyu glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.
"How did it go?" Shiyu asked as she turned her head back to the window.
Elijah exhaled a cloud of smoke as he took a seat next to her. "Complicated," he muttered as he stared out at the window at the neon skyline. "Factions are forming. Sarah and company recruited a woman named Alice Vonevermoore, and things are getting weird."
Shiyu rubbed her hands through her long, straight black hair.
Elijah slid the orchid flower across the desk. "We need to talk about Emily."
"I thought we had this discussion, Elijah," Shiyu replied as she glanced at the flower.
"Have you seen her diary?" Elijah asked as he smoked. "I don't know what's going on, but she is no fucking normal kid who is just a really talented musician."
Shiyu sighed as she rubbed her neck. "Obviously," she replied.
"Give me something, Shiyu. Is she like you? A sorceress, a conduit of some nature?"Elijah asked as he picked up the orchid. "Do you remember flowers in our hallway, because I sure as hell don't."
Shiyu's tattoos glowed as she slowly closed her eyes, then opened them. She picked up the orchid and smiled as she sniffed it. "Elijah, don't concern yourself with what she is. Just be happy that she is on our side. That is all I will say."
Elijah rolled his eyes as he smoked.
"She will let you know when she is ready to tell you," Shiyu explained as the orchid bloomed, as Shiyu's tattoos glowed an electric blue hue. "Sages are not the only ones with magic about them, Elijah."
"I know that, but outside of the Mage and Conduit Academy... you don't stumble upon them in the wild," Elijah replied.
Knock....Knock
Elijah glanced at Shiyu with a raised eyebrow, then glanced at the door.
"Who is it?" Elijah asked.
"It's Arthur, we need to talk."
Elijah glanced at Shiyu, then put his cigarette out in an ashtray. "One moment!"
"What the fuck is it now?" Elijah grumbled as he got up and walked towards the door. "What's this about?" He asked as he opened the door.
Arthur rubbed his red mask briefly as he forced a smile on his face. "Straight to the point, per usual," he said as he glanced at Amos, who was leaning on the wall with arms crossed.
"It's about Marcus Lexington," Amos stated with a stoic expression as he brushed his dreadlocks from his mulberry mask on the right side of his face. He then glanced down the hallway as the elevator opened.
DING
Elijah stepped out of the corridor and then pulled out a cigarette. His eyebrow raised as Rachel, Alice, and Sarah exited the elevator. He felt Shiyu push past him as she stared at Rachel walking beside Alice.
"Something tells me Emily is not going to like wherever this is going," Shiyu softly said to Elijah as she crossed her arms. She glanced at Emily's hotel room, then at Rachel's worried expression. "Should I get Emily?"
Elijah shook his head. "Not yet...let's see where this is going," he whispered as Rachel approached him.
Rachel rubbed her neck. "Hey, so we got a problem."
Sarah glanced around, then looked at Elijah with a stern expression. She fluttered her fan as she cussed under her breath while she glared at the elevator as if it owed her money. Elijah rubbed his forehead, then looked at Rachel before focusing his attention on Arthur.
"What did Lex do?" Elijah asked.
Arthur clutched his cane as he looked at Sarah, who leaned on the wall with Amos. "He is building a coalition. Buying loyalty with information. Controlling introductions, promising protection that won't last."
Elijah shrugged.
"Ten chosen so far, more will join by the time of pilgrimage," Rachel interjected as she crossed her arms.
"That is a problem...he is trying to monopolize everyone he can under his banner," Shiyu said as she glanced at Arthur.
Arthur nodded. "If this keeps up, all one hundred chosen will split into two or three factions. Anyone who isn't a part of one will be picked off once the pilgrimage begins."
"Strength in numbers. The ENGINE doesn't reveal the trials of the pilgrimage, which makes people plan for the worst-case scenarios," Shiyu explained.
"He was playing chessmaster, and we fell for it hook, line, and sinker," Sarah groaned as she fluttered her fan. "Picked our rooms, threw a party, and now he's building an army."
"This is why we wanted to team with you guys. I predicted this would happen," Amos said as he looked at Elijah. "By the way, where is Emily?"
"She is in her room. I can go get her," Rachel replied.
"No...not yet," Elijah interjected as he tapped Rachel on the shoulder.
"Why not? She should hear all this," Alice insisted with a raised eyebrow.
Elijah sighed as he smoked. "Because Emily doesn't give a fuck about coalitions. She doesn't care about the pilgrimage at all."
"What do you mean, doesn't care about the pilgrimage? She is chosen, she has to care!?" Sarah asked as she turned around and stared at Elijah with narrow eyes.
"Just get her," Shiyu insisted as she rolled her eyes.
Everybody's eyes glanced at Emily's room as they heard the doorknob turn.
"Guess she heard us," Rachel chuckled.
Dread crept up Elijah's spine as the door creaked open. Emily's white mask glistened in the light as she stepped into the hallway, rubbing her sleep-crust eyes. He watched as she glared around at everyone with a perplexed expression. Her expression grew sour as she stood there without saying a word. She then turned around and went back into her room and closed the door.
Alice chuckled. "So that's Emily?"
Sarah grumbled under her breath as she fluttered her fan. "Fucking bitch."
"She really doesn't give a shit," Alice laughed.
"Clearly, but she is still chosen and still a part of your team, Elijah," Arthur said.
"First off, we haven't agreed to anything yet," Elijah replied as he smoked.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Why are y'all so resistant!? We know each other for fuck sakes!"
"Because we are not in it to win it like you are," Rachel explained.
"So you want to die!?"
Rachel shook her head. "No, we want to stalemate the ENGINE."
"I am sorry, what?" Arthur asked with a raised eyebrow.
"One PRIME and everyone else dies, we want to make sure the ENGINE won't get what it wants."
"That will never work," Amos interjected. "You can't just stall something that's immortal."
Rachel shrugged. "Maybe...maybe not, won't know until we try."
"And you will never know if you're picked off right from the get-go," Arthur interjected as he looked at Rachel. "We need to ally, your motives regarding the ENGINE don't matter if you are dead due to overwhelming numbers."
"Emily decides," Elijah said as he looked at Arthur.
"You going to let that bitch make the call!?" Sarah fumed as she rolled her eyes, then looked up at the ceiling.
"I thought you were the leader of your little Brady Bunch?" Arthur asked with a raised eyebrow.
Elijah shrugged. "We formed around her concept. None of us really wanna become PRIME."
Sarah sighed and rubbed her nose. "Unbelievable."
"It would never work," Amos muttered. "We might as well try with others chosen."
"No, it could work," Alice insisted as she rubbed her hands through her long silver hair. "They still have to participate in the pilgrimage. We just split if we are the last ones alive."
"Yeah, but."
"There isn't a but. We wouldn't have to worry about anything because they don't want what we want. So long as we don't stab each other in the back...it works."
"Let me talk with her," Rachel said as she looked up at Elijah.
Elijah shook his head. "Nah, I got it," he said as he walked up to Emily's door and knocked. "Can I come in?" He asked as everyone got quiet as he heard Emily's footsteps.
The doorknob turned as Emily creaked it open to let Elijah in.
"How are you holding up, kid?" Elijah asked as he observed Emily scribbling in her journal at the side of her bed.
Emily sighed and closed her diary, then glanced out the window. "Fuck the pilgrimage...fuck the ENGINE. I won't play its stupid game."
"Trust me, I know that, but we can't do anything about it," Elijah replied as he sat next to her.
"Not yet at least," Emily muttered as she clinched her fist as she stared out the window.
"Do you know what's going on?"
"You mean the whole alliance thing? Yeah, I heard y'all."
"What do you think?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "Not a fan of the idea of teaming with them."
Elijah nodded. "Alright then."
"But they do have a point, and maybe I can convince them to get on board with what we are trying to do."
"You think you can get along with Sarah?"
Emily chuckled. "Fuck no! But I can try," she groaned, then looked at Elijah with a forced smile.
"I will try to keep her away from you," Elijah smiled as he stood up.
"Thanks, sourpuss," Emily smiled and hugged Elijah. 'Now fuck off...I wanna sleep," she grumbled as she threw a pillow at Elijah.
Elijah groaned as the pillow broke his cigarette.
"Shit, my bad."
Elijah smirked. "It's fine, gotta buy a new pack anyway," he replied as he pulled out an empty cigarette pack from his coat pocket. "Guess I will tell them the news. Sleep well, kid."
Elijah turned off the light and stepped back into the hallway. He glanced around at everyone as they turned their attention towards him.
"So what did the little bitch say?" Sarah asked as she rolled her eyes and fluttered her fan.
Elijah chuckled and shrugged. "She's cool with it."
"Wait, what!?" Sarah replied as she dropped her fan.
"That's shocking," Shiyu muttered as she crossed her arms.
"She still doesn't give a fuck, but she heard us," Elijah explained.
"So you all are still seeking to sabotage, is that what I am hearing?" Arthur asked.
Elijah nodded. "Yup, and who knows, maybe you will change your minds. If not, that's fine...we can split when that time comes."
Alice snickered. "See told you, Amos. Time for you to come with me and get your first drink."
Amos grumbled. "I am never making a bet with you again," he said as he reluctantly followed Alice down the hallway.
"Very well...then I guess we are an alliance, then," Arthur said as he shook Elijah's hand. "We should celebrate. Get to know one another."
Elijah shook his hand. "Don't make this awkward, Arthur. This is strictly business, and also keep Sarah away from Emily if you can."
Sarah rolled her eyes and then retreated to her room, slamming the door behind her.