Page 92 of The Ruler
“If I don’t, I’ll lose her,” I said, not realizing what that decision would cost me.
CHAPTER 20
Demands
Pearl
I woke up with someone tugging at my arm. Thinking it was Khan, I spread my arms in a long yawn and smiled.
“Psst.” A low sound next to my bed made me open one eye to see Christina on her knees with a finger to her lips. “Shhh,” she whispered and crooked her finger for me to come closer.
“What’s going on?” I whispered.
“The men are having a meeting and I eavesdropped,” she whispered. “The council sent a message demanding your return.”
I remained still, just listening to what she told me.
“They don’t know that I know,” she whispered. “I think Khan has cameras in here.” Her eyes were big and full of concern. “It’s not right how they exclude you from knowing about the message, and I hate that Khan makes a decision on your behalf.”
I agreed, my belly heavy with disappointment.
“He wants to protect you from sacrificing yourself, but he should speak toyouabout it and not his friends.”
“Did the council give Khan an ultimatum?”
“Yes. Heavy sanctions if you’re not returned, but he’s not willing to let you go.”
I nodded, my mind analyzing the situation. “We knew this was a possibility and a worse-case scenario. I’ll need to convince the council that I’m here by my own free choice or millions will suffer.”
“But how are you going to do that?”
“I’m forced to go back and speak to the council. You can fly Boulder’s drone, right?”
Christina nodded.
“Good, give me five minutes and meet me downstairs.”
“Okay.” Christina and I both knew that the collective came before an individual. I couldn’t let people suffer because of me, and sanctions would hit the Northlands hard. It would only give people like Edward fuel to use against Khan and it would mean that the school project didn’t get a chance to succeed.
I got out of bed to dress and when Christina left I contacted my mother again. My voice was cool and clipped when I spoke to her. “Your demands have been heard,” I said. “But I have my own demands. I want a guarantee that I can return to the Northlands when I’ve spoken to the council.”
“I can’t give you that,” she said with a look of pity, and I knew she truly thought I had been brainwashed and that she needed to protect me from myself.
“Khan is prepared to face the sanctions, but I’ll come back and speak my case if you guarantee that the school project will have your full support.”
Isobel gave a tiny nod. “As long as Kya and the children are safe and you understand that you won’t be allowed to go back for inspections.”
I pressed my lips together in a fine line.
“We’ll rely on Kya and Christina to give us updates,” Isobel said softly.
“Oh, I will come back here,” I said determinedly. “And if you were truly as evolved and open-minded as you claim to be, you would embrace the idea that something here must be special for me to feel that way.”
“Honey,” she reached a hand out to me but I took a step back.
“You’ve preached about tolerance and enlightenment my entire life and now I see that it was all just words.”
“That’s not true.” Her hands dropped down beside her.
