Page 36 of Fanning the Flames

Joan brought her hands together. A tiny spark flickered from one finger, but that was it. “What the hell?”

“A preventive measure,” Otis said.

Perry blew out a wisp of a breath. He tried again, but his breezy ability didn’t manifest.

Joan failed to get any of her fire going. It just wasn’t there. “What did you do?”

Walking around the table, Otis said, “It’s a low-grade frequency that operates on a molecular level. It disrupts our mutated cells and renders us powerless. We turned it on as a precaution.”

“So you don’t have your powers either?”

“We can disable it at any moment if need be.”

“I can still kick your ass,” Joan said to Darlene.

She snorted. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Come on, Darlene,” Kade said. “They’re our friends now.”

“They arenotour friends. They will never be on our level.”

“Cut it out,” Zee said.

Well, wasn’t that a cheap shot?Never be on our level.Like people who’d made a few missteps were subhuman.

Otis had been moving slowly toward them. It wasn’t until he walked by that Joan saw the hard look he was exchanging with Perry.

“This is different,” Otis said.

“It’s always the same with you,” Perry spat.

“This is for the common good.”

“You want us to fight your battles for you. If we don’t give you what you want, you’ll betray us.”

“Then give us what we want.”

They stared at each other, a whirlwind of silent words floating between them.

“What’s going on?” Kade whispered loudly.

“I don’t know,” Zee said. Their face said they really didn’t.

“Perry’s right,” Joan said. “You want us to do your dirty work. Jesus, you’re no better than Melvin.”

“We want your help in exchange for our continued goodwill.”

Mark turned to Zee at that. “A fancy way of saying we’re on permanent probation?”

“You are,” Darlene said.

Joan’s internal fire should’ve been bouncing around her body. Not having it was like being slightly irritated instead of furious.

This fucking sucked. They didn’t have a choice if they wanted freedom and…

Sadie.

She’d sworn to do whatever it took to be the partner Sadie deserved. If playing ball with the Supers meant keeping her safe and Joan out of jail, it was worth it.

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