The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the district city of Whiteland in a golden hue. She had gone there two days before with a group of the doctors from the Downtown Zodiac hospital to take care of some affairs. Draco's homeland, district 2, the territory of Libra, second most powerful district after Imperious.
Seventeen stood by the window of the apartment in the Medical Condominium she had picked to stay in during their stead in the district, gazing out at the bustling streets below. Each passerby, each conversation, felt like a piece of a larger puzzle she was determined to solve. The council meeting days before had rattled her, but it had also fueled her resolve. The cracks in the foundation of their society were widening, and she was poised to exploit them.
Today marked a significant shift. She had arranged for a clandestine meeting with Claus and Hunter, two of the most influential heirs, who were all in Whiteland with the other heirs, as the next council meeting was to happen in Whiteland soon, they had been going on more frequently given the restlessness of the other districts. Their friendship was forged in loyalty and camaraderie, but beneath that, there lay a vulnerability she intended to leverage.
Seventeen made her way to the small café at the edge of the council grounds, a cozy nook favored by the younger generation. It was here, amidst the scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries, that she would plant the seeds of dissent, different from Downtown Zodiac's cafés that has a wide variety in their menu, here everything was from the cultural menu of Whiteland, meaning she would finally be able to have some good coffee. As she entered, she spotted Claus sitting at a corner table, his face a mixture of eagerness and concern.
The café enveloped her in the rich aromas of brewed coffee, roasted beans, and hints of chocolate. The air was filled with the warm, comforting, scents of lavender, nutmeg, and caramel, mingling with the bold essence of espresso. Sweet fragrances of freshly baked pastries, croissants, and muffins wafted through the café, enticing her senses.
"Serena!" Claus greeted her, rising to pull out a chair for her. His eyes sparkled with admiration, the infatuation she had nurtured in him evident. "I wasn't sure if you'd make it. I'm glad you did."
Seventeen smiled back, her heart racing at the opportunity before her. "I wouldn't miss it. I know you're concerned about the council's direction."
Claus nodded, his expression turning serious. "It's a mess. They're so caught up in their own egos that they can't see how dangerous the situation has become. The outer districts are restless, and if they don't act soon..."
His voice trailed off, and Seventeen leaned in, her tone conspiratorial. "What if I told you that we could do something about it? That we could help guide the change?"
Claus's eyes widened, a mix of excitement and apprehension. "What do you mean?"
Just then, Hunter arrived, his demeanor casual yet observant. He slid into the seat opposite Seventeen and gave her a nod. "What's going on? I hope you two aren't plotting something crazy."
Seventeen chuckled, knowing she had Hunter's attention. "Not crazy—strategic. I was just telling Claus that we have an opportunity to make a real difference. Let's order first, shall we?"
As they settled down on their seat, they ordered their coffees. Claus ordered himself a Libra Latte, a harmonious blend of espresso, almond milk, and lavender syrup. Hunter, on the other hand, ordered a Harmony Iced Latte, a cold brew latte with a hint of rose syrup and a garnish of mint.
Serena—no, Seventeen—ordered a Whiteland's Golden Latte, a turmeric-spiced latte with a shot of honey and steamed milk. It seemed to be Draco's favorite. Although she told herself it wasn't because Draco had constantly ordered the same coffee everytime they were in the café, she told herself it was because it sounded like the best one in the menu.
As she wrapped her hands around the warm cup, the ceramic's gentle roughness was a comforting reminder of the tangible world.
["Gods' above, it's delicious,"] she gasped to herself as she had the first taste of it, unable to hold it, she had another. ["Is this what that vulture had been having the whole time? I had to drink that sea piss and he was having this? How unfair."]
Hunter seemed to notice her delight, which brought a mischievous grin to his lips, "Is it good? Draco always have that one, I never tasted it, not a big fan of tumeric spices, but you seem to have tasted divine ambrosia."
Heat painted her cheeks, "It's delicious."
"Are you sure? I tasted it before, it's disgusting," Claus gasped, surprised. "You like it?"
"I more than like it," she chuckled. "It's mind-blowing delicious."
"Can I have a taste?" Hunter asked her, a childishness in his voice. There was something about him, the way he acted when he was a bit more carefree than usual, that reminded Seventeen of her younger brother, Ten, who was just 13 when the rulers murdered him with their other five siblings. "Can I?" He asked, that childish joy in his voice, messing with her.
Had it been any of the others asking, she would have said no, would have mentioned something about higiene and how many bacterias they have in their mouths. But she couldn't help it, she couldn't ignore the gleam in his pink eyes that reminded her of Ten's, even if her brother had emerald eyes. "Sure," she said, handing her cup to him, "but you gotta let me taste yours!" She bargained like she would have with Ten, who always asked to taste her drinks and food.
Hunter's smile widened genuinely, nodding, they switched cups, tasted each other's coffees and switched back.
"Ugh," he gagged, "that was disgusting."
"Yours is pretty good," she chuckled, sipping from hers again, "but I prefer mine."
"I told you it was disgusting," Claus giggled at Hunter's nauseated expression, joyful at their joyful exchange.
"Shall we get to business then?" She suggested softly. "As I said before the coffees arrived, we have an opportunity to make a real difference."
Hunter raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "Go on."
Seventeen took a breath, her mind racing with possibilities. "The council is weak right now. If we can rally support among the younger heirs and those disillusioned with the system, we could create a movement that challenges the council's authority. Imagine a coalition of heirs pushing for reforms, for real change. We could be the voice of the people."
Claus's expression shifted from surprise to intrigue as he slipped his Libra Latte. "But how do we do that? The council won't listen to us, not yet."
Seventeen smiled as she draw the tip of her right index on the circumstance of the cup, her plan coming together like a finely woven tapestry. "That's where you both come in. You have influence—connections. We can start by reaching out to those who feel marginalized. Create a network, build trust. But we need to be careful. The council is watching, and they won't hesitate to crush any signs of rebellion."
Hunter rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering her words. "You think we can actually do this?"
"I know we can," Seventeen replied, her voice steady and resolute. "But we need to act quickly. The longer we wait, the more entrenched the council becomes."
Claus nodded, his determination rising. "I'm in. I'll talk to some of my friends at the academy. They're fed up with the council's incompetence. If we can rally them behind this idea, we might have a chance."
"Count me in too," Hunter added, his demeanor shifting from skepticism to resolve. "But we need a plan. We can't just run into this blind."
Seventeen leaned back in her chair, a sense of exhilaration flooding her. She had planted the seed of rebellion in both of them, and they were ripe for the picking. "We will take our time to gather our allies and strategize. But we must act like shadows, appearing only when necessary."
With their minds focused on the task ahead, the trio began to discuss potential allies, strategizing over coffee and pastries. They mapped out a network of contacts, establishing key figures among their peers who could help spread the word. Sablina and Amelia were mentioned as possible allies, as their own struggles with the council's leadership could be framed as a rallying cry for change. The problem would be bringing Light and Draco into the plan, Light was the daughter of the General of the Kingdom, Draco was the most up-tight duty and tradition driven of the six.
But 4 out of 6 was better than none.
As they spoke, Seventeen felt a surge of exhilaration. Each word exchanged was a thread in a larger tapestry she was weaving—a rebellion against the council, against the very system that had oppressed her people for so long. The idea of shaping their future, of taking control, sent a thrill coursing through her veins.
After an hour of strategizing, the discussion shifted to personal anecdotes, laughter and camaraderie flowing freely. Seventeen watched as Claus and Hunter interacted, their friendship deepening as they shared stories of their childhoods and dreams for the future. She played the role of the supportive friend, basking in their trust while simultaneously plotting her next moves.
But as their conversation continued, Seventeen's mind drifted back to Draco. She had not forgotten their last encounter, the weight of his gaze still lingering in her memory. He was different from the others, and his complexity both intrigued and frustrated her. If she wanted to ensure her plans succeeded, she would need to bring him into the fold.
"I should probably talk to Draco," Seventeen mentioned casually, gauging Claus and Hunter's reactions. "He's the eldest of you and has a lot of sway with his parents. If he supports this, it could give us a significant boost."
Hunter frowned, shaking his head. "You really think he'd be interested in going against his parents? Draco is all about loyalty to his family, Serena. He's always been that way, since we were little."
"But loyalty can waver," Seventeen countered, her tone persuasive. "Draco is not as aligned with them as you think. There's a lot of pressure on him, and if we can show him that there's a greater cause at play, he might join us."
Claus glanced between the two of them, curiosity lighting his expression. "I think it's worth a shot. If we can convince my cousin that we're not just trying to tear down the council but build something better in its place, he might be interested."
Seventeen nodded, her plan coalescing in her mind. "Then it's settled. I'll reach out to him and gauge his interest. But we need to be careful; he's sharp and won't fall for empty promises. Claus," she looked at him and Claus's eyes sparkled, his gaze locked into hers with an intensity that betrayed his excitement, "can you try bringing Light into it? She's your best friend, that might work better if you do."
["And after that little encounter where she cornered me in the hospital over him, I'm starting to believe the redhead might actually be in love with Claus."] She mused. Which could be used, love was a strong motivation that made people change the world many times, and if the Zodiac Kingdom stay as it is now, with its tyranny, Light will never be able to be with Claus, since inter-district romantic relationships are prohibited.
"I'll do my best," he said firmly, confidently.
"I believe in you," she paused her hand softly over his, making his heart race so much she could hear his heartbeats in her ears. "If there's someone who can bring her into this, that someone is you."
"Thank you, Serena, I won't disappoint!"
["I hate playing with people's genuine emotions, but there's no other way."] Seventeen's smile remained fixed, but a fleeting flicker in her eyes revealed her inner turmoil. "You could never," she reassured him with a wink that brought heat to Claus' cheeks.
With their plans set in motion, Seventeen felt a sense of empowerment wash over her. The rebellion was no longer just a distant dream—it was becoming a tangible reality.
As the sun set and the café began to empty, Seventeen exchanged a few more words with Claus and Hunter before they parted ways. She walked to the apartment she's staying, her heart racing with the thrill of the possibilities ahead.
But as she approached her quarters, the weight of her secrets pressed heavily on her chest. She was playing a dangerous game, and with each passing moment, the stakes rose higher. If she wasn't careful, the very web she was weaving could ensnare her as well.
Stepping inside her room, she closed the door, leaning against it as she took a deep breath. It was time to prepare for her next move, to confront Draco and bring him into her fold.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a small shadow to her palm, watching it dance in the dim light. The shadow flickered with possibility, much like her rebellion.
["Tomorrow,"] she thought, ["tomorrow would be the day."]
And with that, she extinguished the shadow from her hand, the natural darkness further enveloping her as she steeled herself for the challenges that lay ahead. The threads of rebellion were being woven, and Seventeen would do everything in her power to ensure they formed a strong, unbreakable tapestry.
If that wasn't enough, she could always forsaken a bit of herself to use the grimore of chaos. But that, was a last measure, the price was too high to use it when she had other options. Which she does, for now.