Page 112 of The Divide that Binds Us

Five minutes is never enough time to reflect on the pain I’ve endured and inflicted, so when the twins spring to their feet before the train even stops, my heart plummets.

Stepping outside, Garnet Island functions as if they didn’t experience trauma from a section of their island getting shredded.The people parading through the streets wave their mini Garnet flags.Coffee shops are slammed with patrons buying tea.The tourist shop is overflowing with people trying to buy flags and dragon plushies.Derrick immediately trots into the shop, disappearing right into the crowd.Eric groans but keeps his grip on Lynn who squints from the sun.Her skin shines with pink discolored blisters on her face.

“Leave him,” she snarls.“We need to get to Central Square.”

“I’m fine with that,” Eric chirps.

As we’re walking, some streets are blocked off, but I realize why.We’re near the area of Alice’s destruction.Guards are posted so people don’t cut through.On one of the streets, a man steps out of his house and walks to his car out of habit but stops.The street is broken and unsafe to drive on.He shakes his head and grumbles to himself.At another house, a teen spins the wheel of her bicycle that’s sticking out of rubble.

Traffic is also clogged because of the event and the closed-off streets.It’ll be better to go on foot.Lynn doesn’t object even though it’ll wear on her body and its recovery.I’d hate to bolt us there because most know me for lightning and Ultima, so it’ll look like I’m up to no good.Honestly, anytime a Spirit User uses their power for their own safe convenience—like getting from one area to another—it looks suspicious to everyone.

Screw it.I can’t have Lynn walking.

“If Eric transforms, would you be willing to sit on his back?”I ask her.She shrugs and looks at Eric who nods eagerly before literally shimmying right into his lizard form.

Pedestrians gasp and pick up their speed to get away from us, but that’s the most reaction we get.It’s good because we can continue enforcing a new norm.I hate that people pretend we don’t exist and have these powers we want to use safely.

So, here we are, heading to our destination—me walking beside a giant purple and green lizard with a young lady riding his back.When we reach the long, crowded stone bridge over the canal, Central Square comes into view.

“I used to come here with my dad,” Lynn says.

I smile.“I’ve always walked by but never crossed it.”

Eric stops once we’ve reached the edge of the bridge.I help Lynn carefully climb off so Eric can shift back.Central Square is beautiful in person.It’s twenty-five acres of cobblestone stretched before me with wire and wooden benches scattered and accompanied with rose shrubs.This round gathering space has small buildings curved around the edges except for the middle where the edge of the island lies.Several docks are installed to fill the negative space which is heavily guarded by Guards.

Eric points to a cluster of leashed dragons standing off to the side near the docks.Only a few people are with them, so not a great turnout.

“What’s that?Like five dragons this year?”Eric asks.“This whole area used to be swarmed with twenty of them!”

Mass gatherings of people stand by the large marble fountain, spouting water from the mouth of the dragon statue in the center.There has to be at least 800 people, including the vendors with their products lined up on the opposite side of where the dragons are waiting with their riders.

Between where the docks are and the vendors, Water Superior Wyatt stands out in the open, smiling gleefully and blowing kisses.Lynn’s jaw drops before she freezes.

“Oh my—him,” she croaks.

“Go,” Eric encourages while holding his phone.“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!I’ll hang back here and text Derrick.”

Lynn links her arm with mine though it’s slightly elevated because I’m taller than her.We walk gently over to the supreme being rubbing his palms.In between smiles, wrinkles of worry creep around his mouth for a split second before he turns to wave at someone else.

We bow to him with ease, but I feel Lynn’s tremors.Wyatt nods in acknowledgement and then locks eyes with Lynn, losing his smile.

“Lynn Wu,” he says.His voice causes a violent shudder to quake through Lynn.He sounds majestic, with an ethereal layer added to his voice.

Lynn nods eagerly, beaming extra hard.Wyatt smiles back sincerely.

“It is truly...a pleasure to meet you.You’re an amazing violinist,” he intones.“May I?”Lynn nods again, prompting him to grab and kiss her hand.He doesn’t even acknowledge her bandages.

“It is....sooo great to finally meet you!”Lynn squeals.Honestly, if I was her, I’d take this moment to question my Superior on EVERYTHING.

Wyatt bows down to Lynn.“May you make a painless recovery, my dear.”

Lynn inhales sharply, cheeks puffing as if ready to unleash another squeal.

He locks eyes with me next but doesn’t say anything.I bow and he returns the gesture.His lips part, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately he doesn’t.

A flock of kids come up to Wyatt with books, asking for signatures.Wyatt kindly accepts and signs the pages with a pen that materializes in his hand from conjured water.Lynn is so entranced by his actions that I’m not sure if we’ll be able to get her back to Onyx Island to rest.

I pull her aside as more people approach Wyatt.She’s trembling and cheesing wide as we walk back toward Eric who has cotton candy.I survey the pumped crowd carefully, noticing a few posted Elite members but not Alice.People with painted faces roar with enthusiasm.Others wear dragon costumes and blast music from their portable speakers, while others are keeping it simple with flags.The hot aroma of tea wafts through the air as people pass around biodegradable cups, tea bags, and hot water.

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