(57)
Nobody bothered the truck as it slowly made its way to Shangri-La, to Nestra’s complete lack of surprise. Vassily was keeping an eye on the freed slaves who were still high on something, while Aunt Clecle kept chugging various medicines, half wrapped up in blankets. Nestra’s paranoid nature kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It didn’t. The universe was vexing her by being on her side.
Between the relative calm and with Aunt Claire within arm’s reach, Nestra finally allowed herself to calm down, at least a little. The adrenaline fading from her system made her tired. At least she wasn’t hurt this time.
It also gave her time to think.
A gleam, huh. She’d waited for so long for that, and she’d also found her path. The true form. Having a proper gleam mask now would be…
It would be really fucking nice. But also it was so late in her life compared to everyone else. She would be hopelessly behind. She would also finally, finally be in the race.
There was no doubt that she would accept, of course. There was no question, not after the efforts aunt Clecle had gone through. The only thing that could stop her would be Sereth warning her it would lead to her discovery. If the operation failed, then that would be it, but what if it succeeded? Would she become like some of the people she despised? What would Stibbs think? What would it change about her life? Fuck, so many things to consider.
But she wanted, she really, really wanted it, because it meant her parents might love her again. Wait no, not like that, more… they would know how to show that love. How to treat her like their daughter with normal gleam bonding moments: the training, the first raids.
She wanted that.
She wanted that so bad. Please, let it be that it wasn’t some sort of mistake. Or a scam. Let her have her hope.