Page 75 of The Divide that Binds Us

“That’d be great.”Derrick puts one sassy hand on his hip.“Then maybe the Superiors will come down and fix this.”

My skin is prickly and hot despite the chilling gusts of wind hitting us at the top steps of the base.Words can’t describe the sheer and utter disbelief I feel from what Zeala is becoming.

Lynn turns to me, arms still crossed.“Well, Commander?What do you think?”

“What doIthink?”I gulp and run my fingers through my dry hair.“If we don’t figure this out soon, then we’re all screwed.”

Chapter 16

Blood in the Rot

Elite: Alice

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Billie and I sit ina circle on the dry, black grass outside the Elite base, while Evangeline lies on her back, palms pressed into the soil with her eyes closed.I’m disoriented, but they insisted we catch up on things since I’ve taken a back seat with my suspension for a few weeks.

“You’re gonna have to repeat what you said, you talk too fast,” I tell Billie.She’s sitting with her legs crisscrossed and eating from a bowl of potato chips.

“Mildred has some weird nonsense going on over there, but I don’t think King Remington knows,” Billie muffles.She licks her fingers and then digs them into the bowl for more chips.“Ugh, I just love how salty these are.”

I snap my fingers in her face.“Focus.”

“Right, sorry.We couldn’t find anything that definitively confirms she’s involved, but something ain’t right with her.Even the weirdos who stopped Evangeline with tattoos on their hands.It’s all bad news.”Billie reaches the end of the bowl but licks her fingers again.

I watch Evangeline crease her brows.Hands still buried in the ground, her Trace Mark pulses a steady glow.A cardinal bird lands on her forehead, but she just smiles and keeps her eyes shut.Assessing the earth has her paler than usual.

“And Natasha?”I ask, staring at my Trace Mark.It has a filigree pattern that I find myself endlessly tracing with my finger.

“Glad you asked.”Master Azul’s voice comes urgently from the front steps as she approaches in black knee-high boots.She towers over us with her hands on her hips.Rebecca lingers behind her with a clipboard in her arms.“I’ve combed through the surveillance cameras several times and it doesn’t appear she returned after stopping by last night.An announcement will be sent to everyone to not trust any interactions with Natasha.Commander Rebecca filed an official complaint with Queen Oona.”

Billie slouches and stares at the grass.

“So sad how someone we considered family is suddenly our rival,” she mumbles.

“I know.I miss her.”Azul frowns.“Somehow the family was notified she was potentially at Ultima but were kicked out before SOMEONE went ballistic with her hair.”She gives Billie a sour look of disdain.“Did you think I wouldn’t find out, Ms.Castor?”

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