Page 28 of The Divide that Binds Us

As we’re riding toEmerald Island, Derrick approaches me with the book from the library.Lynn and Eric huddle around us.

“There it is—Skylar,” Derrick says, pointing to the page in the book.

“I knew he looked familiar.”Eric rubs his chin.“I think...we learned about him in mythology class, right?”

“Not likely,” I murmur, taking the book to look closer and then glancing up at Derrick.“The girl summoned this?”

“I super swear she did,” Derrick replies.

“I swear, too,” Eric adds with a stern gaze.

I stare at the rough sketches in the leather book.The human legs extend to the torso, wings, and head of a bird, but human arms also protrude from the back.It’s beautiful and terrifying even as a pencil sketch.

“You realize that is impossible, right?Skylar is the Holy Bird of Naven.It is all a myth,” Lynn explains.

“She’s right.Maybe the girl had a similar creature who resembles Skylar.”I pass the book back to Derrick.

“Naven isn’t a myth, though,” Derrick insists.“Did y’all ever learn about the Era of Chaos in school?You remember the world was split into six islands and one isle, right?”

Lynn purses her lips.“Obviously.”

“Okay, well, after the Era of Chaos, the Superiors created Naven.It’s an alternate world if Zeala basically like...craps the bucket.Rumor has it, the door to Naven lies somewhere in the Tower of the Superiors,” Eric explains.“Naven is also where the dead go in the afterlife, so, not a myth.”

“I do not believe in that,” Lynn simply says.“Naven and Skylar are purely myths until proven to exist.”

The twins gasp in unison right when the train comes to a complete stop as people gather their belongings to depart.

“WEEELCOME TO EMERALD ISLAND, FOLKS.Enjoy the food!”the conductor blares over the loudspeaker.

“If the girl had some connection to Skylar, she would have been to Naven first.That means going in the Tower of Superiors or dying and arriving there,” Lynn hisses.“None of that makes sense or real to begin with.”

We leave the train, greeted by locals who pass peaches to everyone deboarding.Someone in a giant broccoli costume convinces visitors to taste their seasoned vegetables on a stack of wooden buckets next to them.The twins fall for it and end up walking away with a two-pound bag of broccolini.

“This is false advertisement,” Derrick grumbles, holding his paper bag.He slips the book in it to give himself a free hand.“Anyway, no use arguing about things we don’t have more info on.”

Lynn’s jaw tightens.“Agreed.”

The thought of the creature being Skylar boggles my mind.What if shecansummon him?Someone would’ve said something by now about his presence, right?How many people know what he looks like?

I push the thoughts away and look at my team.“Okay, where is the field you heard about with the ge—”

Lynn slaps her hand over my mouth and pulls me aside to a gazebo with peeling yellow paint.Before I can protest, she jerks her head to the station we just left.The twins sit behind us, inspecting the broccolini.

I stare at the station until I notice two Elite members patrolling and keeping the foot traffic moving.We’re too far to see their names, but judging from the twins’ obliviousness, neither member attacked them.

“I am sorry, Commander, but that was necessary,” Lynn whispers, withdrawing her hand.“That is Rachel and Robert.Tess said they patrol here regularly.”

“Any powers we need to be aware of?”I ask.

“Not sure about Robert, but I have heard Rachel detects danger.We should not get too close to her,” she replies.We look at the twins and then at each other.“I am afraid I do not know where the gem is located.Maybe if we visit Tess’s village, they can guide us there.”

Rachel and Robert welcome people and direct traffic for the produce wagon trucks to drive down a dirt path toward endless stretches of farmland.Most citizens wear overalls, aprons, or worn tunics paired with aged shorts or capris.They greet each other with warm smiles, tired waves, and simple nods with their straw hats.

“How big is this gem?”Derrick asks.

“Big enough to be an issue,” Lynn mutters, looking at me.“Well?”

I don’t want to go to Tess’s village.They’re private and prefer to not get involved in matters outside the tribe.We don’t have any other options right now.

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