Page 194 of The Order

“Or else what?” I say, leaning forward with disgust. Xavier slams me down, his hold uncomfortable.

“Or else I rip our Kai’s throat and make her watch. I’ll deliver her pieces of the ones she loves and torment her until she goes insane. I suggest you close your mouth before I regret my decision to keep you alive,” Xavier snaps, a sudden shift in the way he speaks. I stay silent, looking at the nod of approval from the figure in silver.

“At least you've convincedheryou meant that,” the figure says toward Xavier, circling us in small steps. “Either way, you both play a very critical role in Forest returning to me.”

“Do your plans always work?” I hiss, looking at the shambles of the office space, my hand outreached toward Andrew.

“There is no perfection without failure, Katiana,” they say, a burning thought lingering in my mind.

“Why keep me alive? Why not have me killed like you had Xavier do to my husband?” I question, feeling a shift behind me at the mention of my husband's death.

“You both have no clue how Andrew passed, do you?” the figure taunts. “That must be so very frustrating,” they continue, finally sitting at the large desk, ignoring Xavier’s scowl.

“You're alive, Mrs. Blackburn, for a reason far greater than you’d be able to comprehend.” The figure looks at Xavier with clasped hands. “Forest Blackburn will fall. You both will ensure that happens,” they finish. I see Xavier shifting again out of the corner of my eye.

“Do you question my judgment, Xavier? Have I assumed too quickly you are as neutral as you have led me to believe?”

“Forest Blackburn and her family are single-handedly the reason my life has been nothing but torture for years. If someone will drag her back here, it will be me. You may deliver the final blow, but what I do to her in the meantime is up to me. You owe me that much,” Xavier says, his tone demanding.

The figure touches their temple. Holding his ground, Xavier watches them, both hands clenched tightly.

“So much hate in that mind of yours. To think I sensed sympathy for a few fleeting moments,” the figure says, clapping Xavier’s back.

Xavier lowers his head, a bow meant to show respect.

“My fealty lies with your Order and all who have died to uphold it,” Xavier says in a tone that tells me he has said that very statement more times than he can count.

“And my reign will continue to reward your fealty until all your privileges…” the figure begins, tapping Xavier’s throat, “…are allowed to return.”

The figure holds the top of Xavier’s head. He remains bowed, his eyes plastered on the floor.

“Find my Apparatus, boy.”

He nods to the figure as he moves away. As he passes me, I drag him down to my level, our noses inches apart. I think of the moments Xavier and Forest shared when they thought no one was looking— the way he watched her move through a room.

“All of this? Was all of what you did for her because of some master scheme?”

“If I had it my way,” he whispers once more, his tone entirely foreign. “I would have slit her throat the first time I met her,” Xavier finishes, pulling away from me.

Rolling back his shoulders, he gives the room one last look, lingering on my face before pulling on his typical charming mask again and breaking orders at the first brainwashed Official he lays eyes on.

Feeling something warm between my legs, I glance down at my thighs, feeling the warmth pool as the smell of iron fills my nose. Crossing my legs, I try to hide the embarrassing stain, unsure how long it’s been since I've been able to change the underwear lining that I typically use to manage my monthly burden.

“You are still fertile?” the robed figure asks, my heart racing at the excitement that laces the question.

Without answering, I stay still, using my hands to cover what I can.

Taking a step toward me, the gleam of the silver mask is nearly blinding.

“Looks like my council has more than one thing to rejoice.”

“And what would that be?” I snap, terrified of the answer.

“With impending death lingering,” the figure says, looking over my daughter's picture once more, only to land on my husband's lifeless body. “The possibility for new life is a gift,” they finish, looking down at my shaking hands.

“I won't help you breed your delusions,” I hiss, my voice course.

They move closer to the hidden entryway.

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