DEVIANT [H.S.]

24 - Shattered

"All of this... the Protector Core, murdering Deviants, smoke screens... it's all because you magnified the story of my mother's death," I tell Jeriah, my voice unstable. "This is all your fault, and you will pay."

Jeriah then rises from his chair, anger outlining his tense jaw. "I've built my entire life around your safety, Serena. Macayla only had enough time to name you before she passed on. Do you know how I feel? How I have felt all of these years... alone? Is that something I should pay for?"

I don't raise my gaze to meet his. Talking about my mother is sensitive to both of us, and even Jeriah's confident persona has broken down a bit right in front of me.

Let's lay all the cards on the table, then.

"And my Protector? Do you know where he has wandered off to? I mean, I've been wondering where he has been all this time since he's obviously not protecting me like you assigned him."

Jeriah runs a hand over his chin, his blue eyes still locked on me. "You think you can throw that in my face and intimidate me? You think you are safe? With them? You've obviously found the Coalition, so has Caleb, and it's only a matter of time before I do, too."

Shit. I shouldn't have laid that card down.

The Deviant Coalition could be revealed at this very point in time, all thanks to my one act of courage. What about Harry? Malachi? All the other Deviants? Where would they go? Who would save them?

Everyone I have built myself up to save could come crashing down in seconds. I don't want that blood on my hands. I don't want that blame.

I don't want to end up like Jeriah.

"Serena, you're looking pretty upset. Is something on your mind?" Jeriah speaks up, snapping me away from my thoughts with the same crack of whip as a rubber band.

I shake my head. "No, I'm fine."

Jeriah then paces over to his desk and sits down in his maroon swivel chair, his hand still running over his chin. "I'm guessing Caleb has been hurt in some way. I bet he blended in pretty well with you all."

"How can you be so sure about that?" I ask back, standing up and walking over to his desk.

He smirks back at me, his eyes taunting me with every stride I take. "I took the liberty of punishing him for your disappearance, but quickly realized he could add to my mission. So I threw him out on the streets."

I decide to avert the conversation to a more casual subject. "So, why is the mansion trashed?"

"You ask too many questions. I have no clue why I didn't disown you sooner," Jeriah comments, narrowing his eyes in my direction.

He then rises from his chair and saunters over to the edge of his desk, rounding it and stepping towards me. Soon enough he is slowly circling me, looking me up and down, observing every breath I inhale, every puff I exhale.

I say nothing back to him. I have nothing more to say. I didn't come here to release any more information I didn't want him to find. I just let him circle me. I can feel his warm breath on my shoulders, near my scalp, everywhere. It seems like everywhere.

"Oh, Serena. You see, you were and always will be a hindrance to my plans for this country. An obstacle. A problem. Now, since you're finally back in my grasp, I can make you disappear again... in any way I choose."

I do my best to hold in my fighting words and let him force my hands behind my back and pressing them in, pushing me to a life-size window overlooking our neighborhood that feeds into the bustling city below.