Page 49 of The Divide that Binds Us

Security whip out their batons that expand into black, wide immunity shields as they hold them close to peek through the window and close in on the girl.Some people run away, and others are ducking.A few are too slow at processing my words and have been petrified, too.

“LEAVE IF YOU CAN!GET OUT OR HIDE!”I bark at anyone remaining in the lobby.The receptionist is already under her marble curved desk while members returning from a shift turn around and run out.

I stare at her feet.She hasn’t moved, so she must be looking around at members and petrifying them—a simple task.Dozens of statues are scattered in the lobby of my team.

Panicked screams drown the hallway.The lobby is littered with frozen members while survivors are crouched with ragged, wobbly breathing and scrunched brows.Hot sweat coils through me as fear makes a home inside.Deep breaths aren’t manageable because I psych myself out with my rigid breathing.

The snake girl is surrounded until all the shields are touching each other and she has no one left to petrify.Now detained, I can throw her in the basement and continue operations as planned with conversion.

A security agent reaches between two shields and stabs the girl with a syringe needle, completely disarming her snake head and returning her back to the wavy blond.Through the swarm of legs, I see her kneel to the floor before all the shields disappear, and her hands are tied behind her back.

“Hold her there!”I order them.

“Not so fast, Commander.”A Guard in black military gear creeps in through the door, crossbow ready and aimed at the girl.“I’ll take it from here.”

I gasp.“Wh-what?With all due respect, this incident occurred on our property.”

“C-Commander, I called law enforcement so they could arrest her,” the young secretary says.Security steps aside for the Guard to grab the chick off the floor and escort her out the building with a nod at the remaining members in the lobby.

I grab the phone from the secretary’s desk to page nurses for help with the petrified victims.The gym doors open with hesitant heads poking out.Drake is the first to rush to me.

“Rio, I am so sorry about that.I...I just couldn’t do it,” he says.

I grunt and fight the suffocating urge to throat punch him.“Go away.”

Several tech workers come to clean up the mess, while the nurses roll out platforms to wheel the stoned victims into care.

Up on the balcony, Master Cedric glares down at me.I look away, ashamed and alone in the middle of the lobby, frozen in time while everyone is moving around.The series of events was too unbelievable to fully grasp.

Lynn approaches me with the twins.

“Are you okay, Commander?”she asks.The twins are behind her, both separately peering over each of her shoulders.

I’m tethered to another realm of thoughts suspended in disbelief.I failed my team with my uncertainty.My day with Cedric will come soon.

But until then...

When my brain operates again, I change out of my uniform and leave.

As the train approachesthe Topaz station, music booms from outside, causing vibrations in my seat.When I step out, my eyes tear up from the excessive vibrancy of the island as animated citizens embark on their extravaganzas.People are floating on balloons, shooting candy to little kids.It’s great to be home.

I grab a taxi and am greeted by Guards at my destination.The bushes are clipped perfectly to line up with the walkway as I stroll by.I go through the heavy double doors, past the foyer, and into a small room with the thick scent of citrus.Mom is seated behind the desk, but she’s on the phone and turned in her chair, facing the window.I close the doors and take a seat.

When she wraps up the call, she spins around to set the phone on the receiver and looks up with her inordinate eyes.

I smile at her.“Hey, ma.Sorry it took me so long.”

Queen Sophie smiles back.“Rio, dear.Care for some tea?”

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