"The faction-less are a drain on resources, and our current method for addressing them only enables them, and encourages their scavenging, lawless lifestyle." Falen explains. "Even with the upped patrols, sentries and…"
I dig my nails into my palms trying to organize my thoughts which seen arduous in comparison to the conversation around me.
But more so than ever before I hold onto my composure. Determined not to let a single thing slip.
Eric has not taken his eyes off me, I feel them burning into my skin. The first and only look I gave him, confirmed his irritation. His jaw is tense and his knuckles bleached of color, clasped together under his chin with his elbows to his knees.
"The faction-less work for the goods they are provided, nothing is given as hand outs and even that is part of Abnegation's monthly stipend." Marcus Eaton insists, his face grows redder through the holograpgic screen. "We aren't enabling them, we give them the means to survive and help them by giving them purpose, this oversight is not one of inten-"
"Which is why as of now each faction will report how much of their monthly stipend is received, actually used, the excess, their population count and-"
"Dauntless does not have the authority to make such demands!" Marcus cuts Max off, and the tone of his voice is what finally pulls me from my musings.
Marcus is right, but it is also surprising for him to raise his voice at a Dauntless, at all even.
"What could Dauntless possibly want with that information?"
"The faction-less are a problem, Marcus, even you can see that it has developed far beyond control." Falen answers dryly. "To put it bluntly we can't fix shit if you continue to neglect it. It is time for us take responsibility. The faction-less are a result of an issue within our factions and should be addressed at all angles, which means cooperation and communication from all factions."
"You have Candor support." Jack Kang speaks up finally, though his tone is imperious. To Candor this is a waste of their time and I can see it in his expression even holographic, the only thing he's interested in currently, is Marcus' unusual behavior.
"Our concern at Amity is what you intend to do with the faction-less." Johanna says, her frown stretches the scar along the side of her face, pulling her mouth down further, making her expression more displeased and forlorn. "You reports claim to have discovered there are children among their population."
The main reason for this remote emergency conference so late in the day. The reason Jeanine isn't in attendance, already filled in and working on her own way to spin the thread for Candor's news articles.
"The children will be placed under Abnegation's care." Candace speaks. "As part of the factions code 7.2, subsection A. All individuals under the age of choosing is considered a dependent and therefore-"
"They will be counted as part of Abnegation's populace, and the stipend will be modified to accommodate those changes." Eric finishes, shortening her expletive greatly, as he runs his fingers along his knuckles, I notice the red irritated skin scraped off them and though he spoke to everyone his gaze never left me.
I narrow my eyes at him to give him the full effect of my glower and his brow twitches. He shifts to sit on the edge of his seat as if he'll spring out of it any second.
"That is, unless Abnegation has any objections?" Max asks and that works to break off the silent conflict between us when I turn my attention towards the others mainly Marcus.
"Of course not!" Marcus barks before scribbling furiously at his desk. Taking notes, I assume. "How could we have-"
Johanna nods slowly, and I notice she is looking at me, perhaps she saw my silent exchange with the leader Eric. I hold her gaze with one of my own, the same glower I gave him.
"Depending on faction-less response, force may or may not be used." Falen tells her trying to answer her questions even after the interruption. "The faction-less section of the city or their boundaries will be… Significantly reduced, Keeping their presence exclusively near Abnegation, in the area we depicted in our report."
Jack Kang seems to like this, as there will no longer be any faction-less near or around the other factions, namely Candor.
Unless at their own peril.
"Abnegation can continue to perform 'charity', provided that they continue to follow the restrictions and directives that were stipulated in their faction-less procedure." Max adds, putting sarcasm behind his words. "Or at least start to fucking follow them."
Marcus all but scowls as he opens his mouth but Johanna speaks up before he can and his jaw snaps shut.
"Amity consents, with one condition." She says with a sigh, looking away as she shifts in her seat to smooth out her skirt beneath her desk. I follow her downcast gaze to a small tin with daisies in it, on the edge of her desk just barely within view on the holographic screen.
My mouth becomes dry, a breath caught in my throat and I dig my fingers into my ribs. Amity deliveries will be next week, I'll be accompanying them.
"And that is?" Max asks disinterestedly, while twirling his pen around and around between his fingers.
Falen begins stacking his paperwork together as though we've already concluded.
Johanna twists her hands together in front of her placing them on her wooden desk before raising her chin. "That the children be distributed evenly between each faction and-."
"Fuck no. I think I can speak for Erudite And Candor aswell?" Max shakes his head and Jack Kang nods agreement a bit too eagerly.
"If you want them, then they can be split, half to Amity and half to Abnegation." He drops the pen to push his chair away from the desk with a loud scrape. "Thank you all for taking time out of your schedules this evening, we'll be notifying you shortly of the arrangements and should we see the need, we'll make adjustments."
I move at the same time as Eric but I placed myself strategically closer to the door and I am out it before he can reach it.
Jade had left the infirmary of her own accord and now sits chatting animatedly across from me in the bench at the canteen.
Her expression and appearance betrays nothing of the events of today, or her injuries. She wears a jacket zipped up to her chest, the sleeves covering her wrists, and her hair braided neatly over her shoulder.
I'm caught between listening to her, and the others. At Gabriel and Joseph discussing the new developments and news circulating Dauntless. It has traveled inexplicably fast. Possibly from already having been a rumor before, after the last conference regarding Abnegation.
My eyes are constantly searching the entrances to the canteen for Eric. Half expecting him to appear as he usually does.
"You should talk the leaders into letting us join the faction-less hunt." I'm pulled from my scanning by a carrot pressed into the side of my cheek.
I take it and bite into it, the audible crunch loud in my ears.
"Gabe!" Jade chastises, bringing her palm across his back. He laughs raucously and jabs at her instead.
She gives me a knowing look. Her new resolve and appearance is noticeable, she seems more serious, but still easily engrossed in conversations and the normal behaviors of before, effortlessly.
"All dependents and civilians are forbidden to leave the compounds without permission and supervision." I say, resting my cheek in a palm as I stare at the ripples made in my coffee from tapping my fingers along the side. "It is not a hunt."
I make a show out of picking up my fork and spearing the food, bits of meat on my plate. Chewing, swallowing thickly. The taste is abhorrent but I persist. Taking a deep gulp of coffee to wash my mouth. My body could use it.
"Zeke says it's just the leaders way of recruiting more people for patrols and on the wall, that most of the squads might not even come across any faction-less." Joseph says as if helping along.
I'd wonder at the thought that Eric may be avoiding me. Or that he is preparing something as equally heinous in recompense for my behavior this morning. My fingers twitch in anticipation.
"Well, what about you?" Jade asks. "Are they making you participate in some way?"
They all lean in, interested and I'm not oblivious to the jealousy in Gabriel's expression.
"No." I reply tersely. The leaders will each be leading their own squads and Max is to remain in Dauntless. I take a breath. "But…" They lean in, interested. "Remember, I told you I'm visiting the other factions."
They laugh at the way I've held them in suspense as if I alone was given a special task. The look Jade gives me is one of relief and respect, it twists in my gut.
Apparently I was however, there is a new position for "faction ambassador" that they would like to bestow upon me.
I drive the thought away and study the way Jade now carries herself, a little bit straighter, so eager and willing to accept my lies also, as if finally being made aware of my burdens and the dangers meant I wished for her to shoulder them with me.
For her to prove that she's capable.
It is Paul who approaches us now, his expression amused, probably remembering our interaction from the night before. His neon green hair seems brighter and harsher under the lighting tonight.
For a moment I regard him as an enemy.
Before he can say a word, or get closer to the table, I down my cup and stand. Dinner is over.
My finger presses the red colored tack further into the board through the map of the city, until it sinks all the way in. Leaving only the circular red cap, a bump, a dot over the smooth grid paper.
The map of Chicago, our city, is littered with these pins, their metallic shafts glistening in the fluorescent lighting of our war room.
Red mark each faction-less safe-house whose population is estimated greater than allowed and the blue pins mark Dauntless patrols. Then hastily marked pen strokes indicate which squads will be assigned to sweeping which areas, rounding up the faction-less for 'relocation'. And lastly the designated section for factionless to reside near abnegation.
I trace a path from the river to the buildings where I ran into Paul's patrol, my finger pushes their blue pin in, and then I mentally note the open area, unmarked by any pins or scribbles where I know Kirk and Evelyn's band of faction-less are hidden.
They will have given up the children for their safety but I would not know at which pinned location they would be hidden.
When I turn to Eric he stares at the black horizon through the glass windowed wall, rain falling in light drifts just outside. The spring rain to begin washing away the last of the winters slush. Earlier this year than last.
I watch his throat tighten, his jaw clenched. He reaches a hand up to his head, his fingers brushing against his now closely shaved scalp before curling around the back of his neck as if he's deep in thought.
Or possibly lost in it. I recognize the movement, and when I do, it makes me tense.
The others have already left the room, having gone over the plans, and assignments for this week. Preparing themselves and getting rest for an early morning wake up call.
I'm to visit Candor and then Abnegation the following day, but Amity will be postponed until distribution day, to have aditional escorts.
"Genesis?" I turn at the sound of my name and see Garrett standing at the doors, hovering hesitantly, unsure whether to enter or not. He's just arrived from Erudite.
"She'll be there in a minute." Eric says without inflection.
Garrett looks to me and then past me, at Eric before nodding and leaving. I betray no discomfort in my appearance, standing with my hands clasped behind my back.
A show also, that I am not readily able to defend myself. Nor did I intend to. I meant it to be a blatant underestimation of Eric.
He approaches. I know the sound of his movements and I can tell his mood has darkened because Falen has grown even further out of his reach, just as he suspected of his ability to hide behind the excuse of reassessing faction less threat.
That it would put more strain on his relationship with Erudite, with Jeanine, for 'crying wolf.' When Falen had given her what she wanted to use against Abnegation.
Just as Falen had said.
Such is the nature of their game, coming precariously within reach, only to dance away unscathed. To give Eric the idea that victory was attainable, and then show him he does not have quite as much power as he would think.
That Falen is two steps, three, maybe more ahead and that even Max, working with Eric and Jeanine, would favor the Dauntless rule. This must be Falen's cover, among many he could assume. Their way to have Dauntless purge the faction-less of the lawless scavengers that Kirk claims threaten them.
It would get rid of the ones against Kirk and force the rest, the ones that can't fend for themselves, the ones driven off by Dauntless, to join them.
'Doesn't look like much yet, does it?'
But what use could faction-less have a gathered force for? What would Falen want with them in the long run? How many Divergent would they accumulate?
And why does Falen bother in these games with Eric? When he could be easily disposed of.
Eric grabs my arm above my elbow and wretches it to my side thrusting me backwards into the map out of my deductive contemplations. I feel the flat pins being pushed into or knocked off the board by my body.
I stare into Eric's eyes waiting expectantly, his narrow and he grips my throat, leaning in close, his body almost crushing mine, pressing me hard into the map, his leg pressed against the outside of my thigh.
I don't fight his grasp, though I can feel the restriction of air becoming an imminent hunger to my lungs.
He drums the fingers of his other hand against the map. My throat begins to burn as almost a minute goes by without adequate air.
His mouth hovers over mine as his fingers loosen on my neck so that I'm able to inhale. I stifle a cough as my body tries to adjust to the sudden release of pressure.
My hands have curled into fists at my sides, nails once again biting into the flesh of my palms.
"You can fool everyone, you can even fool Jeanine." He says, as he reaches behind me and grabs my wrist with his other hand at the same time.
He presses a pin into my palm, the metal point poking through my skin, pressing it, sinking it in till it is embedded fully. I do not flinch.
His hand grasps my chin, tilting my head to the side, exposing my neck. "But you can't fool me. If you're so determined to do everything on your own. . .Don't bite off more than you can chew." He kisses my neck below my jaw before releasing me.
"I'll see you after your appointment." With that he turns and disappears through the doors.
I open my fist, using my nails to pull the blue colored pin out of my hand. They should have used red for Dauntless.
I cannot see Garrett's face, with my head tilted forward but I hear the pause in his hands as his utensils stop their work for the briefest of moments. A halt in the tug of strings on my neck. A second where his breath stalls.
"I did what I had to." He says argumentatively, his voice low and even.
"When?" I ask, my voice heated. "When did you tell Falen about your infatuation ?" My shoulders become tense with agitation.
I wave his hands away and raise my head to glare at him. This man of almost 20, an Erudite, though he could've fooled me.
His expression is steady, unreadable. He takes a long breath and removes his glasses to wipe them on his coat. "To be honest, I didn't have to tell him, but I suppose I may have admitted it when I thought you to be a target."
I scoff and shake my head. To think that he is the reason that Falen, Kirk and Evelyn must have changed their minds that night when I went after his son in faction-less territory, no, every opportunity Falen had to kill me, he had weighed the risk of loosing Garrett, and decided to let me live.
That Garrett all but delivered me to the faction-less and forced them to work with me, and I them. They could not kill me, so they would have me join them or stand aside. The enormity of what Garrett's done-his part in this-is overwhelming.
"Do you realize what you have done?" The question leaves a bitter taste and comes out almost breathless with disbelief.
His mouth opens and closes and for a moment he reminds me of a fish tossed out of water, unable to breathe. "I…" His gaze lowers, and he places his glasses on the metal cart but then his brows furrow. "What I have done? What I have done is save your life Genesis!"
"Saved my life?!" I sound feral as I grab the collar of his coat, crinkling it in a fist, pulling him down to my level, his hands brace themselves on the cot on both sides of me.
"Genesis." he breathes, his expression and tone becomes one of pity and concern. Over my mortality? I release him, shoving him away.
Some of my anger over such a trivial notion as the reason for preserving my life, deflated. I stare into his eyes and I can sense his hesitation towards me in the way he holds his body so rigid, but he stands taller, straighter.
I'd seen this same effect in Jade.
There are conflicted emotions heavy in the air between us but also, a hardening solid thing in his eyes that drives my gaze away from them, breaking eye contact first.
That concept that would elicit such a vast waste, suddenly seemed that much more demanding, unreasonable and ungovernable. Eric had made me aware of my subconscious, that I had deemed myself undeserving and incapable of it. Heartless.
Yet Eric would also show me that devotion in Jade. That it would make her brave, and resolute. Maybe some of his intention lay in opening my eyes to much more than I originally thought.
My head shakes the overestimation of him from it. He is a contradiction and conundrum in itself.
"I know you do not return the sentiment." He says not looking away, his hands tucked into his pockets. "But your indifference means nothing to me, just the way I feel and long as you live, I will continue to cooperate with them. It's just that simple."
A sort of silence stretches between us, and I am suddenly uncomfortable, staring at my fingers twist around each other until they turn white.
Finally I sigh. "You are a fool."
Garrett smiles a little, there is a blush to his cheeks as if I've complemented him. He places his glasses back onto his nose. "I know… Now, let me finish my work."
Despite Eric saying he would see me after my appointment he is nowhere to be seen. I make my way down the tunnels, passed the canteen once more, glancing in, then to the pit and the chasm, then finally to my apartment.
There is a growing unease within me, churning around in my gut. I'd remembered when even the sliver of distance between us was infuriating, but now his absence, not knowing what it could mean, at his intentions or scheming and what is to come of it, I feel it much more acutely.
At my door I hesitate, thinking that if he is not inside, if I should check his. Wondering if he would expect me to seek him out or not.
When I open my door, I'm greeted by the voices of Jade, Gabriel and Joseph. They sit on the couch and at my table, chatting animatedly about things I do not care to hear. Their voices become unitelligible sounds to my ears.
They continue the conversation, only barely greeting me as I make my way to my spare bedroom to unlock it with the key from the planter, leaving it unlocked and open for them to use if they intend to stay the night.
Then I go to my own room and open the door, it is empty save for my tablet on the bed. I kick my boots off along the wall and dive unceremoniously into the mattress face first.
I feel warmth in my hand and I turn my head to the side to see Jade asleep next to me, her fingers tangled in mine, fingertips pressed between my knuckles. The bandages around her wrist just barely visible at the blankets edge. I hear her breathing slow and even, undisturbed.
I'd woken with a jolt, though my body had not moved. My mind felt detached, suddenly forced back into a solid state. My heartbeat pulsing in my ears and behind my eyes. Lungs forgotten how to breathe without prompt.
These nightmares have become more frequent, though I've stopped using the painkillers. I touch the pain at my abdomen with my free hand, and then the tender bruising at my throat, closing my eyes to the darkness behind my eyelids.
Feeling Eric's hand grasped around my neck, thumb against the column of my jugular, and his gaze burning into mine. The severe storm of gray clouds. That had not been a part of my dream but somehow, helped to ease me out of it.
I gently pull my hand out of Jades grasp, she stirs and asks. "Going already?" Her voice raspy with sleep.
"Yes." I tell her though I hadn't checked the time. I do that now, putting my watch back onto my wrist.
"Be careful." She says softly as I slip out from under the covers.
I have an unobstructed view of the city. A clear strip of sky on the horizon burns a muted early morning gray. It's a subdued cold, one so prevalent that it envelops me, slowly leaching the residual body heat from my clothes.
From here I can see the top of the wall, bare beams that scrape the sky like splintered finger bones. Reaching, forever reaching. I blur my eyes, trying to visualize how it would look finished, completed.
Down below in the distance I can hear the marching of boots, the gathering of Dauntless forces.
I'm pulled from my thoughts when the door from the stairwell creaks opens and a figure moves out into the light and as if he were expecting me here, he turns in my direction at the very ledge.
"What are you doing here?" Four asks, his voice an angry pitch as he gestures to his apartment. His gait grows predatory as he comes nearer, his eyes only flicking away for a second before locking back on mine.
He scoffs at my silence and turns indecisively as if he's unsure which direction to stalk off in. Throwing his hands in the air, looking back at me once, then twice, dragging both through his hair and raking them back down his face.
Evelyn wants to see him. He does not want to see her.
If he wanted to, he would have by now. In any case, now, is definitely not the time for such reunion but I wonder then, at how long he had known she lived. His reaction would seem he is not pleased, regardless.
I'd delivered her note, as asked.
I only just deleted the footage of the passage just outside of his apartment but it was the view of the city outside his window that drew me. And though I should have just anticipated his response, I wanted to see it. I wanted to witness what sort of reaction a son, abandoned by his mother to the wrath of his father, to bear alone, would have to receiving a mere note.
I know I shouldn't be out here. I'm being tracked once more, regardless of my leash being loosened marginally. I know exactly what excuse I would use if caught here however.
His eyes narrow slightly as he steps closer, using his height over me as if sensing my thought.
I drop my hand to my hip at my wound, in a defensive stance.
He squeezes his eyes shut, pressing his fingers to them and takes a step back, instantly de-escalating, then casting his gaze to the city and away from me.
"You can't trust them." He says. "You can't trust Evelyn."
"I'm limited." I admit. "By design." Trust was never a requirement, or prerequisite to how I would select relationships. It would seem a luxury, one I couldn't afford.
And now. I would not be the one to pay for it, should it come due. It would seem.
Four scoffs and shakes his head slowly.
I grasp at the collar of my jacket, feeling the bruise of Eric's fingers, choking it, to keep words down inside my throat, like a challenge.
Suddenly remembering the feeds, a brief one of the simulation hallway after seeing the one with a bunch of drunken delinquents sneaking in "for shits."
And I couldn't deliberate what Four had to gain from trying to hide it, only what he had to lose if discovered. Not just for damaging equipment. He had tried, I think, and I mean to give him something in recompense.
Though the consequences of their actions were not stayed.
"You need to delete the footage of the screens you isolate off the archive afterwards, it is recorded and saved." I say, it comes out forced, as if I don't want to tell him, I'm not meant to. "From now on, if you're going to break the rules you need to be smart about it."
Four is quiet then, and he does not say anything in response. Understanding that he can't be careless like that. If I had found them, anyone else could too.
If they haven't already, and didn't assume it was Gus doing his job.
I turn and make my way to the door and remember another thing I had wanted to ask, that I had searched for him to no avail.
"Do you know what Amar has been up to?" I ask then, trying to loosen the tightening at my throat to let me speak freely. "Have you seen him?"
When I look at him, he has his brow raised questioningly but the animosity behind his eyes had dimmed and shifted to something unplaceable.
"I haven't talked to him directly. . .Tori says he asked to be reassigned to wall duty, and he dropped out of instructing this coming initiation." With a tone of heavy disappointment, instead of asking why I wanted to know.
I feel it too, but I also feel relief again, if he were not around. . . I wonder if I would have enough time to ask Tori myself, to get the rest of their conversation, not taken out of context. Why had he not told Four, who would've been his partner this year?
"I heard from Zeke. . .Amar also asked to be assigned to one of the squads." Four adds with disdain.
The bit of relief becomes sour in my lungs. "And you?" I ask, considering it may be why he's up so early. I check my watch to make sure I'm not late.
"No." He says it like I insulted him. "I'm not interested in taking up arms against the defenseless."
"Do you know what they're planning?" I take a few more steps towards my exit and stop a few feet from him. Assuming he knows who I'm asking about.
"Not exactly." He admits with a sigh, shoulders slumping exhaustedly. "Do you? Do you know what any of them are planning?"
I pause and consider telling him, but it would all be speculation. "The only thing I know for sure is that they all wish to usurp Abnegation as head of the government. For Dauntless regime. Beyond that I'm not quite certain."
Four nods his head but he doesn't appear convinced. I check my watch once more and move towards the door. He holds his hand out to stop me.
"Can we talk about this again sometime?" He asks.
"If there is another opportunity." I reply with a noncommittal shrug. "I'm being watched most of the time." I add.
"Eric?" Four asks but not accusingly.
"Not just him." I admit before leaving.
I make it back to my apartment just as the leader Candace approaches it. In her hands she carries a bundle of clothing slightly different than our usual wear, the fabric thicker, and a light tactical vest on top.
I take them from her and she tells me that the leaders will be gathered in the depot, where we will be geared up and assigned our squads.
"We'll be awaiting you." She says, unsmiling and with business formality. "Don't dally."
I nod my head curtly, and head into my apartment. Jade and the others are still asleep.
The depot is a large partially underground lot on the side of Dauntless, that connects to our auditorium, factory and armory, which houses all our armored trucks.
One side of it slopes upwards above ground and opens up to the train tracks, and road out to the city.
All the trucks are parked spaced apart, several of them are already being loaded up with their accompanyment. Larger trucks for passengers and prisoners and the smaller trucks for just soldiers.
I scanned the crowd's for Amar futilely, all the Dauntless gathered are indistinguishable from one another.
Everyone wears black and dark gray BDUs under thick kevlar vests, that are pierce and gunshot resistant, and black full head helmets with fitted tinted visors.
It is only Max and Falen that don't sport the head protection, made easily identifiable, they stand near the armory as squads take turns entering, signing out their equipment and recieving their squad number before being accounted for at their assigned vehicle.
They both watch over the procession with bored expressions. It is only when I approach them that Max comes out of it with a smirk.
"Don't you look sharp today Genesis." Max teases, as he gestures for me to enter the armory. Falen gives me a nod.
I wear the same as everyone else, but my vest is lighter, not as restrictive, possibly not as protective and I was not given a helmet. I assume because I'm acting as the "factions ambassador." I thought it was a joke.
To me it all seems excessive, but it is a show of Dauntless' force. As much for the other factions as it is for the faction-less. A reminder that Dauntless is an army.
When I enter it is Eric, Candace and Paul that are handing out the armaments. Each of them stands behind a table, and behind them are the unlocked cabinets that hang each gun in neat rows.
They have screens to assign each gun, and record the serial numbers and ammunition boxes. Paul works diligently, filling each magazine with bullets, tapping it against the table and passing it along.
I approach Candace who is nearest to the entrance and she hands me a pistol in condition 4. I accept it, check to make sure the safety is on, and pick up the magazine she gives me.
I insert it into the gun and release the slide, putting the gun in condition 1 before placing it in the holster strapped to my side. I accept two more magazines and place them in my side pouch.
I could feel Eric's glare burning into the side of my face through the curtain of my hair, worn down today, in my attempt to appear less harsh, remembering how I had frightened Jack Kang's son previously last year. Unsure if I would be encountering him again today.
As I exit the armory, Falen tells me I will be accompanied to Candor by squad 11. He gestures down the left side of the parked vehicles where 6 Dauntless stand at attention, waiting patiently.
I nod and begin to make my way to them. They greet me with none of the stiffness they showed before when standing at attention, as if relaxing because I am their squad leader. The first one raises his visor and I am incensed to see that it is Zeke.
"Gene!" He says excitedly, prancing from boot to boot, letting his gun hang limply on his back, his hands out to his sides in a dance.
The others slap and elbow each other or tap their helmets against each other in mock headbutts. Enjoying the anonymity.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, pushing into my eyes when I see that the other squads are all standing straight, guns slinged across their backs.
"Do you know what squad Amar is in?" I ask Zeke when able to.
He shoves his visor back up with the back of his gloved hand. "I think squad 4, but they already left."
I sigh and motion for them to round up and get in the truck, telling my driver to take their helmet off.
When he does I see that it is Henry. He smiles and puts his hands up like I'd just uncovered a surprise.
"Do you know what our assignment is?" I ask him with heavy annoyance.
"Yeah, we're going to Erudite to pick up a representative and then to Candor." He replies matter-of-factly. I hear snickers from the individuals who climbed on top of the vehicle, intending to ride it.
"Do you know how to drive?" I ask more patiently.
"Of course." Henry says but his smile makes me doubtful.
"Just get in the truck." I sigh, when he gives me a mock salute.
Just as I am opening the passenger door, a hand shoots across it to hold it closed. I glance at the other leaders across the hood of our vehicle, making their way to their squads before turning my glower to Eric.
I'd expected a confrontation, even now, in public, I raise my arm in defense but his hand grasps me by the cheek, fingers behind my ear with none of his usual harshness.
His lips are against mine before I can react.
There is a moment of hesitation on my end but his lips and their urgency, it feels different, suddenly, not rough, not insistent but just different. I could not place it.
My arm circles around his shoulder, hand to his neck holding him there as if his arms wrapping around my waist weren't enough.
There is no teeth from him, only his lips and his tongue. It is unreasonable but it angers me. I press my nails into his skin eliciting the Eric I know.
I hear the whistles and Henry honks the horn of the truck.
He breaks the kiss reluctantly, our breaths mingle.
Eric rolls his eyes at the jeers of the others and looks down at me, his expression unplaceable.
There is a flash, something that looks out of place within the stormy blue of his irises, it rouses more anger from me, my blood hums with it beneath my skin.
I shove away from him, disappointed, and he reaches out to brush my hair away from my face, behind my ear, my hand is up on reflex to swat him away.
Falen frowns at us, from his accompanyment a few trucks away, his brows furrow. He ducks into the vehicle, slamming the door behind him.
It is a show, once again, for the leaders. For Falen.
Eric smirks, suddenly imperious again. In that moment I remember what Falen had said about killing him prematurely, but I wonder if his display would have. . .premature consequences.
"Be careful." I warn him, forcefully softening my features. I'd meant it as a threat, but it comes out deceptively.
"Aww Genie, are you worried about me?" Eric teases, his hand is out once more to brush along the side of my jaw.
I grab it and turn my head to press my lips against his palm. His eyes narrow losing any bit of amusement there was and his jaw tightens. He gets the threat.
I let his hand go and it falls to his side, curling into a fist and he turns to stalk off to his own squad.
Henry blares the horn a few more times.