Price of Power

To the end of the month, since they separated Lariska wanted to be in her best possible condition. Her mother’s words stuck in her head, but after a while, she started to doubt that Caduka will even return. Because of this, she felt anger which she began to vent out during the exercises. But when she was calm again she was repeating herself that whatever she is doing it required time and that she will come back when everything will be ready, at least she hoped so. From time to time she had to return to the duties of a Cleric like per example the usual surveillance. She was taken despite her objections to meetings regarding the disappearance of Velvet. She had no idea how she wasn’t recognized, she didn’t think about that at all when she decided to return. Yet even if someone would start asking her questions, a thought that she could know something was rejected. The same day and almost the same hour she was talking with Lucian and despite her being a unicorn, like both of her parents, she couldn’t teleport.

In time nice words which she was repeating to herself began to be insufficient, she was more and more impatient. Almost a month without any message, sign of life. Was she so hopeless that she preferred to just blow her off? That the only thing she could do was killing? She was coming out of the laboratory, Laurie and friends of her were worried because of her unusual behavior, but she refused to talk about this. Anyway, the majority of the students had no idea about Clerics. On the way to her quarters, she began to think about blowing the whistle on Caduka just to make things move forward. However, it looked like it will go without it. She opened the door and saw her in her bedroom sitting on a bed and reading her book as if nothing happened, visibly happy with something.

”Interesting lecture, anyway, nice room you’ve got here.”

She said before Lariska even realized what was happening. From one side all her anger immediately faded out, on the other, she had the right to just be outraged.

”How did you get here?”

”And who was teaching you how to use lockpick?”

”But how did you get here unnoticed? How you knew which quarters are mine?”

Caduka looked the other way.

”Yeah, I suppose there’s not much point anymore in hiding this before you.”

Lariska wasn’t paying attention to that, but before her mentor could have a different hairstyle for each day. She just liked to play with her hair, from mohawks to the braids. Yet, for all that time nothing has changed. Since their first meeting after the years the right side of her hair was luxuriant and combed the way it was completely covering the right part of her face. Meanwhile her left looked like it was just regrowing. Caduka put down the book, stood up and moved the hair, Lariska couldn’t believe, hair was covering a mechanical prosthesis of once healthy eye.

”For… for how long?” Lariska asked.

”Long enough to get over it.” She said sitting down covering back her eye.

”And I understand, that this lets you see through walls?”

”If you can describe this like that, I can turn it on and off. I made it myself ...with little help.”

”Can you tell me how did this happen?”

”No, maybe later, now we have to take care of other things.”

”It’s about time, what took you so long?”

”Gathering information? Waiting for a proper moment? Not getting myself killed? C’mon, I know that it took me a while but I wouldn’t leave you like that ...second time.”

”So I understand that everything is ready?”

”For us to act? Yes, come, I’ll show you something.”

Lariska came closer and she took out of her pocket a brochure on which was drawing of middle-sized palace.

”There is located our first target: Viktor Lafrenière. It is also a reason why I didn’t come earlier. You see, tonight there will be some celebration and I thought that we should start from it, good occasion.”

”What has he done?”

”Supposedly incitement of the higher social classes, but there must be something more. Anyway, that’s not enough. I plan to learn more during this ball.”

”Were you looking in his district?”

”What do you mean?”

”You can sneak, better than anybody else, like you are invisible, sneak in, there must be something.

”I tried, but I think it’s protected too well. But despite that this will be a closed party, I’m sure that part of the district’s staff will be there, and the district itself empty. Then I could look around there. I would join you later when you will be already inside.”

”Alright, and how do you plan to crash us in? I suppose you do not have tickets.”

”There won’t be a problem with me, but you…” She paused and looked at her. ”Do you know that you are really similar to your mother?”

”You suggest…”

”A little bit of makeup and you will be just like her, maybe younger a little ...just don’t tell her said that.” She added with a smile.

”Why I cannot just pretend that I went to a party?”

”Because you are a Cleric, if they will know that you were there and something will happen to Victor, you will immediately be taken for the hearing. And your mother, well… she’s harmless.”

”And you think this will work out?" She asked hesitantly.

”Why not? You both are coldblooded, you will say that your father had to stay because of something. What? You never had to work in disguise?” Lariska shook her head. ”Then chew out your Director and parents from me.”

”Listen, I am not sure.”

”Are you with me or not? I already have everything prepared.”

”But why I cannot just wait outside with musket and shot him down?”

”You can’t, especially after what you’ve done last time. After the shot wound, they will be able to tell that it has been made with this and no other weapon, what leads to you. Anyway, I thought you yourself could learn something from the guests.”

”So I cannot take my musket?”

”You can, but will you dare to use it?” Lariska in silence looked at her weapon. ”Okay, have you ever dyed your hair?”

”Excuse me?”

”If you want to impersonate your mother you need to have the same soft-black hair color, maybe just shorter a little. I’ve already bought a dye, a simple tint, the color should disappear after the first wash, but…" She came behind her and looked at her hair. ”we have to somehow regenerate fast this hay, or the dye won’t soak up well. I’ll see what I can do.”

She quickly ran out of the room to rummage in her fridge and with what she has found she made a protein mask which Lariska had to wear for half of an hour. In the meantime, Caduka herself took a shower. Next, they started to dye her hair. Lariska felt really uncomfortable. Not enough of that she had to pretend she’s her mother which she respected a lot, the whole procedure was an invasion on her personal space. She had to sit still when someone was touching her hair, a horror, and then the next half hour with a dye on the head. Meanwhile, Caduka saw through her wardrobe and she couldn’t believe that she hadn’t a single dress in it. She quickly slipped away and brought her one.

Yet the worst was just before her, after washing off the paint and combing the hair the time for makeup has come. She was never, ever wearing it. Caduka decided that there was no time for a lesson and she put it on herself. Like for the one side, it was a true horror, for the other it was a lot of fun. After a long time of fighting one with another, there was a time for a dress. Caduka pulled it out of a paper yet elegant bag which she brought. It was simple and light, silk, in a color of a dark plum, and with straps, it was making an impression even on Lariska.

”Come off it, how did you even get this.”

”I borrowed, put it on, soon it will start.”

”Listen, I am really not sure if I want to do this.”

”But when you were younger you had no problems with evening dresses.”

”Yes, younger. Anyway, I am more concerned about pretending to be my mother.”

”This much you don’t have to pretend, I said that you are very alike and not only from the look. Lari…” She added at the end, she knew that without self-confidence it won’t work. She came closer patted and said: ”Put it on, look in the mirror and we will see.”

Caduka smiled to her and despite that Lariska didn’t smile back it raised her spirits. She listened and her old mentor turned away so she could in peace put dress on. She came to the mirror and she couldn’t believe, it was hard to tell if she was seeing her or her mother, yet one detail remained.

”Yeah, also this.” She heard behind her.

Caduka gave her a small box divided into two containers.

”What is this?”

”Contact lenses changing the eye color, do you know how to use them?”

She opened a box, looked closely and yes, you could see there two small, concave plates swimming in transparent liquid. She inserted first on left then right eye and blinked a few times.

”Is it good? Nothing pinches?”

”It is good, but it will be hard to get use to it.”

”You won’t have to, it’s only for one night, can you handle it?”

”Yes, easily.”

”Nice.”

”Anyway, why you are not dressing up?”

”I surely won’t infiltrate a district in a dress. When I’ll be done I’ll come up with something. Well, looks like we’ll be just in time for the opening, take your stuff, we’re not getting back here.”

”Where will I leave them?”

”There is a flat not so far away from the palace, the owners went on vacation.”

”You are not talking seriously.”

”Come on, you will just leave your stuff, that’s nothing wrong.”

”Fine...”

After all, she preferred to leave her equipment in someone’s house than in some ruins for some hobo to steal. She prepared everything she thought was necessary and sat next to her when she was ready, but nothing has happened. Looked like Caduka spaced out.

”For what are you waiting for?” She asked her old mentor.

”Nothing actually, well, maybe we should ...stand up.”