Atlantis

Chapter Thirty-Seven

*I changed chapter 36 so go see the new changes if you haven't already. Thank you so much.*

It was long before the riders returned, and when they did, both riders were dead.

"Skaikru must pay.If they refuse to give up their leader, then we must take him." A man, Pent, said. His words rallied all the others who heard.

"No." Faye insisted. "The Commander's orders were clear. Without the resources they need, they will see what leads to their survival." Faye said, trying to calm the crowd. 

"The Commander is weak. And you're a dog trailing behind her." He drew a knife and charged her. 

Faye grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back and taking the knife, pressing it to his neck. She watched the crowd stand still, waiting for her next move. 

Fyae threw Pent to the ground, kicking him in the face to keep him down, then addressed everyone.

"We are here for our people. If you think blood must have blood, then let it be the blood of our enemies, not our own! The Sky People take what they want and what they think is theirs. You may not agree with Commander's way, but she has proved to be a worthy leader. Peace is the goal, does it really matter how we get there?"

Everyone shifted and whispered among themselves. 

"You listen to me. You follow me! Trust me when I tell you, when Pike is turned over, he will suffer our pain and pay for our loss." Faye had the attention and power she needed. No one stood to object to her, and she would keep it that way until she was no longer needed.

She walked away, silently demanding a path to be cleared as she went back to her tent. 

Nia came skipping in. "I love you so much." She smiled, wrapping her arms around Faye. "You will make a great commander, if and when her spirit chooses you." 

Rich came in just after Nia. "You've earned their respect." 

Faye slammed the knife on the table and wiped her forehead. "I haven't earned anything. They will not wait for Skaikru to submit. Barely three days and they already grow restless." Faye was getting frustrated.

"They are simply grieving. They've lost so much." Rich said.

"Of course they have. We've all had losses. They killed my brother. They've killed more of my people than I can count. I can't go home because of them." Faye said. She bit the inside of her lip to stop it from shaking. "Get out." Faye said. "Both of you, leave. Now."

She fell back in her chair. She just wanted to go home. Her brother is waiting there for her, unaware of everything going on. All he could see was his sister coming home. But he was gone. Would he even recognize her.

- - -

Bellamy sat on the ground, staring at the cave wall. He knew no one was coming for him.

Indra suddenly stood. She glared at him before heading to the entrance of the cave. Her voice spoke in the language Bellamy didn't understand. The person she talked to sounded familiar.

Indra finally returned with a hooded stranger following. Bellamy didn't know how to feel when she removed her hood to reveal her face. She, again, spoke so Bellamy couldn't understand.

"Where is Octavia?" Faye asked. 

"She left for Arkadia. Probably in there right now." Indra said. For a long time they only spoke in Tradgeslang.

"Indra, please. She has no idea what she's facing in there." Bellamy said. "Pike has tripled his security. There's surveillance everywhere. He'll see her coming."

"Good, we're counting on that." Indra said. She picked at the meat in her hands from the bird Faye had hunted.

"He still trusts me." Bellamy stood. "If anything goes wrong, we can use that."

"I saw where you earned that trust. On the battlefield where you massacred my brothers and sisters." Indra said. Faye placed her hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her.

"Should I have let Pike kill you?"

"Why didn't you?" Indra asked.

"The same reason you haven't used that sword on me." Bellamy said. 

"Octavia."

"We are running out of time. Cut me loose. She could die in there." Bellamy said. He tried to plead with them, begged to go and help his sister.

"Then Octavia kom Skaikru will earn the warrior's death you denied me."

Bellamy pulled on the chains as Indra left the cave. 

"Please, Faye. I have to let me go. Let me help her." Bellamy said. He pulled on the chains. 

Faye turned to look at him. "I owe you nothing. You come to my home, kill my people, take our land." 

"And you betrayed me in the mountain." Bellamy reminded her.

A horn blew from outside. Indra ran in. 

"The red smoke. Heda." She stared at Faye. 

"No." Faye could feel her eyes burning with tears, her throat closing. "I wasn't there." 

"What is it?" Bellamy asked.

"A new commander has risen." Indra told him. "Come on. Faye, we must go." Indra said.

"And you go running? Just like Mount Weather, huh? Maybe this time, you won't come back. Your loyalty will always be to Lexa." Bellamy said standing up. 

"Don't you understand. The one person keeping your people alive is dead. I have to go, or you will all die." Faye said. 

"Then take these chains off of me, and we can help each other." Bellamy pleaded. 

"Leave, Indra." Faye demanded.

"Faye..."

"I am still in charge." Faye turned her head to stare in Indra's eyes. "I said, leave." Indra watched the tears leave her eyes.

"I'm sorry about Lexa-" Bellamy started but Faye cut him off.

"I'm going back to the blockade. I will take Pike's head and bring it to Polis. I will do what it takes to ascend, and Skaikru will follow under my command and they will have nothing to fear from my people. If I can trust you, you make sure Kane knows this."

"You can trust me. I promise."