Page 7 of The Divide that Binds Us

My gaze returns to Evangeline when a glowing, white light outlines her body.Her floral-patterned Trace Mark flashes to the pace of her heartbeat and glows brighter now that she’s with her tree.Eventually, the tree develops a white outline that reaches the mushy soil.Scattered roots throughout the forest reveal themselves like luminescent veins in the ground.

My phone vibrating pulls me out of the moment.I check the E-Force app and find a new mission assigned by Master Azul that reads, “Cave Inspection.”I try to tap it with my thumb to see the details, but nothing happens.There’s usually a dropdown feature that gives more information, but...maybe the app is broken.

Another mission from Azul appears in the queue that says, “Special Agent Mission.”I mash my thumb on that one too, and nothing freakin’ happens.

I look up as Evangeline is stepping away from the tree.The glowing current of roots dims until all that’s left is darkness and us.Evangeline picks up her phone and wipes it gently against her pants.I turn my light back on, frustrated with the app.

“You look mad,” she says.

“I think the work app is broken,” I mutter.“Feel better?”

She nods but is fiddling with her fingers.“Y-Yes.”

It’s theorized that Spirit User powers are randomly generated based on personality.If so, the universe was cruel to Evangeline when she was Traced.Ability to mimic other people’s powers?Great.Connection to the earth and can manipulate it?Stellar.Becoming forever bound to a tree that if it gets chopped or burned down, she dies too?Terrible.Avoiding the tree for too long and becoming ill?Awful.

My fears are nothing compared to her constantly living with this fact.

“Are you sure you’re ready?You’re gonna need to lead us back because I couldn’t even tell you which way to turn to get outta here.”

She nods again with that doe-eyed look exaggerated from the flashlight shining upward on her small face; her Trace Mark flashes rapidly in the darkness.I walk over and wrap my arm around her bony shoulders, turning off my flashlight so we only use hers.

“How’s dance practice with Rachel going?”I ask.

“G-Good.So, there’s a performance coming up we’re in and...”She continues talking but starts walking.I stay huddled with her as she leads us through the forest path, talking about her passion for dancing.The temperature drops in minutes, probably in the fifties for a mid-May night, and the crickets emerge with their nightly chirping.I shiver a few times and accept that the wetness has soaked through my socks.

After ten minutes of traversing and almost getting lost, we make it out.Inside the base, foot traffic has decreased since few members have overnight patrols.Security locks the automatic doors for the evening, so only members can scan their badge to get back in.

“I have to finish laundry before bed.Wanna visit Billie in the morning?”Evangeline asks.

“Sure, just swing by whenever you wake up and we can get breakfast too.”

We part ways as I go through the stairwell and head upstairs to the golden marble balcony.The self-service café is always running and stocked with cookies, pastries, bagels, and tea, but members hardly come up here.I scan my badge and grab a chocolate chip cookie before continuing to Master Azul’s heavy, metallic door.I knock lightly and wait until she shouts for me to come in.

“Oh, Alice.Hi there,” Azul greets me and gestures to step into the chilly, dark room.At her desk, she folds her hands and beams a smirk at me.I sit across from her, shoulders locked.“I was just about to see if you were still awake.I’m assuming you saw the missions?”

“Affirmative, there aren’t any details—at least the app isn’t showing anything.”

Azul nods.Her bright, uncharacteristically big, cobalt eyes stare into my being, drowning me in their tidal wave.“Queen Sophie has asked if we could inspect a cave on the outskirts of Topaz Island.She wants an updated inspection.I’ve made arrangements for you to leave tomorrow afternoon and stay approximately one night.Does this turnaround work for you?”

“Yes.And the Special Agent one?”I press.

“One second.”Azul turns to her computer.I want to ask about Billie, but she probably knows as much as I do.I try to keep from bouncing my leg, so my eyes wander.

Her room is icy and dim with no windows, so it kinda looks like a dungeon cell.The flooring is metal, and the walls are cement and gray.The whole left wall has surveillance monitors showing different sections of the base.Seashell-shaped wall lamps emit a fuchsia light lined up on all the other walls.

Azul’s bracelets jingle as she moves the mouse and types a few times.She scratches her thick brow, making her pearly seashell necklace hit the fuchsia lighting just right.Finally, she leans back in her chair and stares intently at me.

“The Special Agent assignment is confidential.You are going to investigate the dragon murders.”

“But the monarchs only want their Guards to do that.Did they change that?”

“Not quite,” she says.I open my mouth for another question, but she raises a halting hand.“That’s why this mission is top secret.”

I’m racking my brain, but I’m honestly surprised and speechless.I should do as instructed and not question it, but something must be wrong if it’s just me doing this.

“Ultima are the Protective Dragon Agents.I-I lack the skills they train for.”I suppress a violent shiver.

Azul wheels her chair backward and pulls off her wool, batwing poncho from over her head.She gathers the feathery strands of her champagne-blond hair into a messy ponytail.

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