Page 49 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"Who the hell are you?" One of the guards yells, my hand's raised.

"My name is Xavier Evermoore, I have a prisoner here on behalf of New Haven-"

"Evermoore?" one of the guard's questions, all of them exchanging a glance of confusion.

"Yes," I start, ready to continue on with my act. "I have-"

"They were expecting you and Markswood," the closest guard snaps. "I'm assuming you accepted her offer?" one of the guards questions, my confusions escalating.

"What offer?" I question, Fallan now flailing like a madman.

"Forest Morgan sent out an offer to Fallan Markswood and has now extended the invitation to Xavier Evermoore. You being here means her message was well received?" they question, the smile from my face immediately dropping.

Crouching down to the ground, I grab Fallan's hair, tearing the gag free form his mouth. Ready to do more than give him a small poke to the side, I raise my fist, nothing but violence guiding my actions.

"Front pocket, asshole," Fallan hisses, keeping his voice down. "I didn't really know when the best time to tell you was in between being gagged, detained, and stabbed."

Reaching into the man's pocket, I pull free the note, the others still silently waiting for my word. Looking over the familiar handwriting, the words scrawled across the paper settle with me, some small bit of hope forming in my heart as I choose to read between the lines.

"She gave you this?" I question, Fallan's eyes going wide.

"It's clearly a trap, Xavier-"

Shoving his head back down, I ignore the ramble he was sure to begin, waving the note in the air.

"Of course, we accepted the offer, but we brought a few others to partake in this beautiful city," I smile, throwing on the Commander charm as best as I can.

Waving my hand to get Aaron's attention, Kai and Aaron step out from concealment, leaving Valerie to keep watch on the vehicle. Looking over our group with grins, the guards step aside, clearing a straightforward path through their back entrance.

"Right this way, Mr. Evermoore," one of the guards smiles, a thin mask of color coating over the guard's eyes.

Odd, I've never seen color like that in a Cleansed eye.

Helping me lift up Fallan, he stumbles to his feet, my hand severing the cords around his wrists with the knife still stained with his blood. Once we drag Fallan to a standing position, Aaron and Kai lug the man, all of us moving past the guards with stiff shoulders. "Your woman is waiting on you," one of the guards mocks, the mention of Forest in any connotation sending fire rushing through my blood.

"Fiancé," I reiterate, my voice cold. Forcing my arm forward, I grab the man by the neck, clamping down so hard bones shatter after a mere few seconds. Watching his body barrel toward the ground, the other guards stand in disbelief, the others in my group watching as if this is nothing to them. "Tread carefully when mentioning her," I hiss, anger dripping from my tone.

Moving past the guards, every single man willing to watch us with superior expressions lowers their heads, Kai's body making way next to me.

"Sorry you had to see that-"

"You should have killed them all," Kai whispers. "I wouldn't have minded."

That's the last thing the man says before leading the charge into the unknown city.

Much newer than the Unfortunate sector back home, the people still walk with hunched backs, trudging along to partake in their daily duties, their eyes void of life. Taking extra notice of each passing patron's eyes, the unfamiliar hue coating every person's iris becomes alarming, Kai the one to shine some clarity on the situation.

"They call them Veils," Kai whispers, all of us out of place in our newer clothing. "An upgrade New Haven failed to take in."

"What's it do?" I question, watching the lingering stares each time we make way past anyone.

"Separates the Unfortunates from the Untouchables from what I gathered," he mutters. "But given we're outsiders, I'm sure we are sticking out like a sore thumb right now."

Seizing the opportunity to stand next to Kai, Aaron grabs the man's hand, his focus on no one but the brunette.

"Are you doing okay-"

"I'm fine, Aaron," Kai snaps, a worried expression panning down Aaron's face.

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