Chapter 13
The storm raged just outside of the ship. Snow came down, as thick as summer rain, turning the whole world white. Were it not for the onboard sensors, and Hope's own instincts, they would've crashed hours ago. It hardly assured Cupid, whom sat sourly in her chair, scowling at the window. She'd bitterly complained for an hour about being dragged from her bar, as if that was the greatest issue at hand. Not the fact their psychotic sister had escaped her prison, with only gods knowing what happened to Ophelia.
"Fee better not be dead," said Cupid, finally wrenching her gaze back to Hope. "We'd feel it, right?"
Hope stifled the worry gnawing at her mind. Truth was, she had felt her sister's distinct powers but it was different somehow. Changed. She told herself it was there but what would happened when they saw Ophelia again? It had been a thousand years since they last spoke. Hell, it had been nearly that long since she'd even uttered a word to Cupid and they'd been on the same planet for the latter half of that. She should've reached out…and now time was slipping through her hand like sand.
Moment by moment, gone.
"Of course." It was all Hope could say.
The silence took hold again, echoing the divide that existed between the two sisters. It clung firmly until the sensors squawked that they'd arrived and Hope guided the ship down. The ship gave a shuddering, resounding thump as it landed and Cupid quickly unbuckled herself. The pair of them donned their winter gear, then headed out. The ramp dropped and immediately the icy wind slammed into them, sending Hope staggering back a foot. She caught herself as a calm air fell over her. When she looked up, Cupid's hands were up before her, hands glowing a feint white light. A pale bubble enveloped them and Cupid dropped her hand. The air was still bitingly cold but at least the wind passed over them, soundless.
"Thanks," said Hope.
Cupid nodded curtly. "Yes, well I'd like to be done with all of this. So, lead the way."
Hope couldn't find it in herself to be angry at Cupid's dismissive nature. Her sister clung to her life, in whatever shape it was, and for the independence she so fiercely guarded. Yet for all of her pride and feelings, she'd still agreed to join Hope on this hairbrained mission to steal back the device they needed to keep safe. It couldn't be trusted with Superman anymore. Not with their sister's dangerous powers.
With a deep breath, then exhale, Hope nodded and set off across the icy shelf. The ship turned invisible behind them. They trekked swiftly across the ice, protected by Cupid's shield, towards the mountains. Ice crunched underfoot. Up ahead, a structure took shape, set against the mountains. Towering pillars of crystal jutted from the ice, like an icy pyramid but there was discernible door. They stopped before it. Cupid looked left, then right, and upwards before she turned, arching an eyebrow.
"Well, do we knock?"
Hope smiled and tugged off a glove, finger by finger, then set her palm against the icy wall. The wall hummed in response, then a space dropped down, the shape of a door. She glanced at her sister, still smiling. Cupid scowled, then stalked inside. Hope hurried after her, falling into step as they passed through a series of rooms. Some filled with a myriad of weapons and items, some alien, some local. Things clearly deemed too dangerous for the outside world.
They continued into another room, larger, with dozens of tables set amongst the randomly dotted crystal pillars. On every table, an array of alien items. Little statues of Kryptonian deities. Priceless mementos from Krypton. Hope's heart tightened as she ran a hand along one of the tables, freezing over a ring that sat atop a simple cushion.
It couldn't be, could it?
She lifted up the ring, holding it to a band of light that cut in from above. There was a feint inscription on the inside of the band, worn nearly invisible. Enough for recognition and for Hope to know exactly what it said.
For my love, Emeria-El.
Tears threatened as she quickly slid the finger onto her exposed hand, then tugged the glove that had been stuffed into her pockets. When she looked up Cupid was staring at her, puzzled.
"We're stealing regular junk now?"
"This isn't junk. It's mine."
"A ring?" Realisation dawned on Cupid's face. "Oh, you-"
"It was a long time ago. Come on," said Hope.
They left the room behind, exploring the vast fortress until they came to a door. Hope touched the door with her palm but it refused to open to her. She stepped back, frowning.
"Now what?" Cupid asked coyly, crossing her arms.
Hope knelt down and slipped her bag off her back, then opened it up. She dug out two small silver blades, then stood up. Cupid had her tricks but Hope had her own. Drawing on the energy stored within her, she summoned it up and to her hands. First, the tips of her fingers started to glow, then her whole hands and she set them against the door.
"I am Emeria-El and you will obey me," she whispered harshly and surged the power into the door. "You obey my bloodline."
The door hummed and opened. "Welcome Emeria-El."
Cupid followed Hope inside the smaller room, crammed full of what was unmistakeably weapons.
"Now, that is creepy. Do I want to know how this icy hole knows you?"
"The A.I has a database of Krypton, so there will be records of me. I probably confused the poor machine, given I should be long dead. It's programmed to obey anyone of house El, which is the family Vex and I started."
Cupid nodded. "You certainly kept yourself busy these years."
"Didn't you?"
"After you decided the device was best with you and ran off to your new life, I did a little exploring. Saw stuff, lived. Figured when this time came, I wanted to go out knowing I'd actually lived a little. Felt independence before it's gone."
They fell silent as their eyes fell upon a small silver box, polished smooth on every side, gleaming. A cold shiver ran down Hope's spine. It had been so long since she'd seen the cube, nearly nine hundred and eighty years. She'd entrusted it into the protection of one of Krypton's most secure vaults. As a distant guardian, she watched over it from afar. Always vigilant, just in case Hysteria came. As Krypton went into decline, she appeared out of the shadows, crept into the house of El, and upon learning of the plan to ferry Kal-El off world, she'd smuggled the cube into his craft. Then she found out where it was programmed to head to and she set off in advance, her heart breaking over the incoming destruction of a world she'd come to think of as home.
"Oh, screw this," said Cupid decisively and strode forward, grabbing the cube without hesitation.
Hope stepped forward, as if to stop her, to snap and hiss that something might happen. Nothing did. Cupid spun around, holding it victoriously. She tossed it to Hope, whom caught it with both hands and stared down at the cube.
"We had a good run," said Hope. "It's time we end this."
When she looked up, Cupid held a look of hardened resolve. As much as her sister grieved for what she was to lose, she knew what had to be done – and what awaited them, if they somehow pulled off the impossible. Hope gave a nod, then set off to the exit.
Watch out, Hysteria, we're coming for you.
