Page 93 of The Divide that Binds Us

“Of course,” Evan scoffs.

Sophie is scrawling a few things in her notebook before staring at everyone with a smile.“So, we’ve agreed to continue not using Spirit Users, but widen the search with more Guards and have them protect common areas where dragons lurk.Are there deprivations anywhere that we can assist with?”

“Crops are wasting faster than we can blink, Sophie dear.It would mean the world to Emeraldians if we could have some aid with resources to continue productions,” Jonah says.

Sophie nods favorably, the incline of her head conveying affection.“Absolutely.”

“Oi!We have labs already studying artificial growth of everything that’s been ravaged by the dead soil,” Oona gushes.Her neon pink waistcoat is fitting.“Please come over some time to check it out!We’re hoping to get this underway before we lose the food supply.”

Jonah’s face brightens, scrunching up his round eyes and large, pointy nose.

“Scrumptious!I’d hope once we figure out how to slow this down to a hard stop, I can resume sending everyone wine.”

“That’d be nice,” Allison grumbles.

Mildred cracks a smile, pleased from how well everyone is coming together, even if it is for their own gains.Jonah is doing great with his desperation act—fully betraying Sophie.He’s been cooperating glumly, but the fresh spring water that’s being imported from Garnet is worth more than any friendship.This is the only solid thing Mildred was able to promise that hasn’t gone to waste from the rotting world.Yet.

Mildred claps her hands together.“Let us continue this chat on our email thread.I will report back to Remington and pray this nightmare is over soon so we can resume our lives again.Please, do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything.”

The monarchs nod and mumble their agreements.Mildred takes one last look at each royal figure, and then at each Guard silently behind them, all branded with a scarlet A on their hand.

Mildred shuffles throughthe Garnet tunnels, heels dangling from her hands, feet worn from new shoes she hasn’t broken in yet.Roon is busy making a few calls.Soon, she’ll need to return aboveground to check on Remington’s staff, but she wants to make sure everyone here is all set.Living a double life wasn’t her intention.

She heads downstairs, now converted from the platform and subway tracks into a simple throne room built from rusted scraps of train cars.Mildred launches the shoes in the far corner of the makeshift room with a thud on the trunk that’s collecting another layer of dust.

Flexing her toes against the cool floor, Mildred entertains the thought of opening the large chest again.It’s been a while.

“Mmm.”She sits in her metal chair with a crushed pillow underneath that’s not doing any justice.She shifts and tosses her veiny, calloused feet over the chair arm, stroking her chin.The neck itching urge builds.“Hmm...”

Finally, she hurls out of the chair and rounds it to open the chest tucked crookedly in cobwebs accompanying the dust.Some of the contents are as random as ever: an opal necklace dangling from a broken, rusted gold chain, baby shoes that belonged to her daughter, Madison, and a developed photo of Mildred with her late best friend, Nancy.

Mildred scans the silver watch she stole from her father before she was kicked out for her string of petty crimes that always landed her in jail.It pained him to banish her, but it was a simple directive from her mother—the coward who couldn’t face Mildred to do the deed herself.At least the watch is her piece of Heath Anguine she cherishes since his untimely passing.

“If only your eyes could gaze upon me now, dad,” Mildred whispers.“My soul did not find college or trade school, or my own business, but I’m doing splendid in the role I’m in now.I have a purpose greater than the Superiors themselves.”

Footsteps descend the stairs to Mildred’s space as she quickly slams the trunk shut, wipes her dusty fingers, and sits back on her cold, hard, throne.She inspects the approaching chiseled Guard, Thaddeus, with a frown.

“Dearest Thad!”she gasps.“What in Naven’s name happened to your arm?Roon mentioned you captured the guy, but nothing about this cut!”

“It was messier than I anticipated.The guy is a strong fire Spirit User.”Thaddeus grunts, holding up his singed red robe.“Everything worked out in the end as planned except my robe got burned and the girl got away.”

“Quell thy thought.Speaking of fire, did you have time to burn that Ultima girl with the violin yet?”Mildred asks, wondering if she missed her chance to dispose of Lynn Wu when she was first Traced in front of her and Remington.Mildred’s promotion via blackmail distracted her from considering the girl another risk.

“Yes, however; she’s not dead.”Thaddeus hesitates.“I don’t think I quite understand...what the purpose of doing that was.”

Mildred stands up to slam her huge hand on his shoulder, smiling down at him.Her muscles flex as she firmly grasps the collarbone poking through his uniform.

“Fire is ever so sacred.Your conjured flames did not take her life, and I trusted you with that.The world is folding in our favor.She didn’t see you, right, Thad?”

“No, ma’am.”He adjusts his vest.“Thank you for trust me!”

Mildred looks up in time for a lanky figure to huff as he descends in a skip down the stairs.He moves his brown dreadlocks while Thaddeus steps aside and nods.Mildred sits back on her throne, sighing happily at her prized member for returning.He had been a lost soul when she discovered him and one of her first followers she educated on the world.Logan is still the only Spirit User follower Mildred has and cares about since Nancy’s unfortunate passing.

Well, there’s also Thaddeus.

“Logan, darling!We’ve been ill with worry for you.”Mildred grabs his cheek when he’s close enough, digging her clawed red nails into his flesh until it breaks and draws blood in her palm.

“Sorry.I had to lay low to avoid getting caught.”Logan whips his head to move more locks from his face, slipping from Mildred’s iron grip.“I...I think I failed Elite’s auditions.”

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