Chapter 6: What now?

The jitters won’t let up as I sink into my office chair to catch my breath. I jogged here in a half-hearted attempt to burn through the nerves, but it only stirred them up more. My chest is tight, like something unseen is circling above, waiting to strike.

The jog itself was weird and manic. Snow swept through town in thick, restless sheets, carving through the streets like it had a purpose. People were bundled deep in coats and scarves, heads down, rushing to escape the wind that sliced through bone. I kept my pace brisk, and scanned every shadow, my ears tuned for the same hurried footsteps that didn’t belong.

Just before stepping inside, I froze on the sidewalk while people hustled past me. I squinted into the distance and spotted hundreds of Enforcers moving in and out of the mines with sharp, deliberate precision. A dark aura hung over the operation, hissing in the wind and brushing against my cheeks with every gust.

Higher-ranking officials stood outside the mines, overseeing the caravans of Dark steeds pulling massive loads of Flaire up north. I watched their rhythm, steady and unbothered, but found myself looking past it.

I was searching for something. For someone.

The usual east-bound route diverted, as well as ours, so it’s clear that every last ounce of it is being sent North to the king. Why?

~

Shuffling through the loads of paperwork I’ve ignored for the past week, weeks? A pink note pokes through a sea of white, “Leo to fix units two and four. Don’t forget.”

I reach into my memory, searching for anything that existed prior to my house being raided, receiving the notice of our certain demise. I tap my fingernails against my desk to jolt it. What is this again? I read it again, trying to recall conversations with Mei from days ago. That's right, the hinges on units two and four needed replacing. Got it.

A light sound comes from my door – a welcome interruption.

tap tap

I fold the small paper and tuck it into my drawer. Eve's standing outside. I smile, happy to see she came in.

“Come in," I say lightly.

“Hey,” she says with a sideways smile.

“Hey.”

“I wanted to come by and check on you…”

I rotate my chair to face her.

“That’s nice of you. My head wants to kill me more than the Enforcer did. How are you?”

We both shrug, dark humor passing between us without explanation.

Eve quickly closes the door, glancing around before sitting on the floor beside me.

“Well, all three of us were nearly murdered yesterday, so I guess besides that I’m fine,” she says with a shrug. We pause and let the weight of what happened settle, the memory of brushing up against death still thick in the air.

“Where’s Mei?”

“At home,” she replies. “She feels guilty.”

“Guilty, why?” I pace behind my desk, arms crossed.

“She feels responsible for you fighting that Enforcer. You know how she is.”

“Yeah, well. This isn’t on us. It’s them.” I nod toward the window, but she knows who I mean. I change the subject.

“Are you guys coming over for dinner tonight?”

“I’ll drag her there. We should probably debrief,” she replies, sighing. I nod.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The silence lingers between us. I don’t know what awaits us after the uprising, if consequence is coming soon. But I know her smart-ass remarks to Enforcers won’t be taken the same way anymore, and I can’t always be there to protect her. I steady my hands and finally turn to face her.

“Your stunt at the bakery. With the Deathlord—”

The front bell chimes, cutting me off. A gust of wind sweeps through. The lobby falls silent. A voice as smooth as molasses floats in from the distance.

“Hello, I don’t believe I learned your name,” I overhear. Tina responds in the shakiest tone, like she might never breathe again. Eve bolts to the door but keeps hidden, peeking out. It’s Colin.

“What the fuck is he doing here?”

“Will you stop spying? Close the door and sit.” She tiptoes over and shuts the door, dragging the chair from the corner to my desk. She glares like I just killed her cat.

“I meant to tell you,” I whisper harshly, my eyes fixed on the movement outside the window that frames the door. “The Order assigned him to "monitor" the operations here. He came to collect my debts in person and told me then, I don't know any details beyond that.”

Eve’s brows lift, her jaw slack.

“He will be here? Like inside, here? And you’re letting this happen?”

“And what exactly am I supposed to do?!”

She whisper-yells, “I don’t know, something! It’s your business!”

I glance past her shoulder. He’s still talking to Tina, nodding like a normal person interacting with another. That in itself is bizarre, but then he pivots and starts walking toward my office. My heart falls to my stomach.

“Eve, he’s coming” I say, rushed. She huffs and turns, just as his shadow stretches across the doorway.

Knock knock

We both freeze. She mouths something to me, but I’ve departed from my body. I can’t process a thing. He stands with his hands crossed, waiting patiently outside the door. Purposely avoiding looking through my window.

I yell out, “One second!”

I face Eve while trying to clean the mess on my desk.

“I need you to leave, I can’t have you around him.”

“The fuck I am, I’m not leaving you here. Alone.”

I scurry from my chair and grab her wrist, “If he was going to hurt me he would have already. Please go meet Leo at units two and four, he’s fixing the door hinges.” I swing the back door open and push her out, “go!”

I straighten my stance, tugging at my shirt and pants. Get it together, I tell myself.

After a forced breath and a smile, I sit.

“Come in,” I call.

My legs shake beneath my desk, I rest my hands on my thighs to settle them.

The door gently creaks open and he glides in. He looks, well, normal. Suede slacks and a fleeced-lined denim coat with his hair tied back in a bun. A distance aroma of pine floats in the air, pleasantly. His outfit is so informal it feels illegal, like I’m bound by law to look away.

He ducks below the doorframe to enter, tall, like the Official that barked the World Law at me, but not lanky. He’s dense. Maybe that’s why he’s so different from the rest – or at least so far. There is something actually to him. A soul, perhaps. Maybe even a personality.

“Good day, Jo.”

He smiles and waits, his smile is like perfectly crafted marble. Bright but real. I catch myself staring and almost forget I'm due to respond.

“A mandated visit, I assume?”

His dark eyes flicker, we study each other longer than we should.

“I hope my visit isn’t unwelcome,” he says with a quickened pace.“I know local businesses took heavy damage after yesterday’s incident. I wanted to make sure you…” He clears his throat. “That your building is structurally sound.”

I cross my arms, glancing around at nothing specific. I don’t want my nerves to be too obvious.

“The building structure is fine. It’s everyone in it that I question,” I say, looking away.

“I understand that,” he replies, begging to say more. A tinge of electricity shocks beneath my skin, I jump up and freeze. A sudden swarm of whispers floods my ears, shouting at the top of their lungs. I cover my ears and cower over. “Save us,” they cry.

“Jo,” he rushes by my side, his hand on my back. “Are you okay?”

The whispers cease, I feel his warm hand on the base of my spine. I savor it longer than necessary and take a few deep breaths. As soon as I budge he removes his hand and returns it to his side. The darkness, the whispers. They’re back.

I’m thrown back to yesterday, collapsing under the King’s paralytic power. Colin lifting it for unknown reasons. I rise from my worn office chair and face him, steadying myself. Something happened yesterday. I can feel it. And I think Colin has something to do with it.

He meets my gaze, but it doesn’t feel like any exchange I’ve had before, not with him or anyone. Many questions arise, but one sticks:

“Why are you really here?”

Colin doesn’t reply, but turns and strides to the back door. Through the glass, Kat and her young daughter are outside, making do with the weathered playground equipment, their laughter rising softly into the air. He rests his elbow against the doorframe. A beam of sun shoots off his chin, showing his stubble. I could stare at him for years.

Our eyes meet, he expels a long, contemplative sigh.

“Because I can't seem to find myself anywhere else, Jo.”

Something, I don’t know what, locks into place.

And I'm not sure there's a key.