happened to their plan?
“Since Chancellor Dominic Erato is gone, you’re not allowed to stay in the palace.”
“Now wait a minute!” Aisling objected.
Sekai kept right on talking like she didn’t say a word, “You must go back to your life as it was before you came here.”
Aisling stepped forward quickly and said, “You can’t do that.”
Sekai looked at Aisling and asked her calmly. “Are you disputing the orders of the new Chancellor? That’s who I’m speaking for.”
“No, I’m just-”
“You are disputing the orders. Let me wake you up to a couple of facts, Aisling. Number one, Chancellor Frederick Erato
Aisling stepped back with defeated pride. Her confidence turned to worry quickly. She crossed her arms and looked away.
Three women entered the room carrying folded clothes. They placed them on the nearest couch, and they walked right back out.
“These are your new clothes. The garments that were given to you must be left behind, including what you’re wearing. You have five minutes to change.” Sekai stood by the settee as the women grabbed the one size fit all grey t-shirts and grey sweat pants.
The women stripped down and dressed quickly. Clothes were left all over the floor. Several guards walked in and gathered behind the nervous women.
“Sequester Katarin, Pili, Coraset, and Aisling. Escort the others to the palace gates.” Sekai ordered the Elite Guards.
The four women were marched out of the great room, and when they reached the end of the hallway, the guards separated them. Coraset heard Katarin’s calls. She wanted to help her and but two Elite Guards held on to Coraset tightly. She knew it wouldn’t do any good to try and fight them. The Elite Guards were trained killers, and they wouldn’t hesitate to put her down if she tried to resist them or getaway. She heard one last cry from Katarin before a door slammed closed.
Coraset was taken to Sekai’s office, which surprised her. The Elite Guards stood on either side of the door. She fearfully sat down in the nearest seat and waited.
Sekai arrived shortly afterwards.
“Why am I here?” Coraset asked.
Sekai leaned on the front side of her desk with her hands together. She asked, “What happened when you were with the Chancellor?”
Coraset stated nervously, “We ate.”
“You did more than that,” Sekai commented.
“That’s all we had time for.”
“Do you think I’m stupid, Coraset?”
“No, not at all,” she answered quickly.
“You and I both know what happened in that room.”
“Were you watching us, Sekai?” Coraset tried to appear calm, but she was a ball of nerves inside.
“The Chancellor is always being watched.”
Coraset didn’t need further explanation. She had to ask. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
“There are many others, including myself, who wanted him out of office. There was a plan already in the works, but you took the task right out of our hands. What was in the vial, Coraset?”
“Poison,” she answered smartly.
Sekai asked impatiently, “Who do you work for?”
She stared at her, a clear indication she wasn’t telling.
“It’s the same person that altered your history, and I could easily track that person down.”
“Well, have at it. I’m not talking.”
Sekai nodded with a smile. She went to sit behind her desk and said, “I knew you had another motive for being here. I just didn’t think that was it. Whoever your handler is, he or she will be proud of you.”
“Whatever,” Coraset stated with disgust.
“You will be allowed to leave the palace, but you are no longer allowed to leave Erato for any reason. If you try, you will be arrested and brought back to the palace.”
“I have no real reason to leave in the first place. Why are you telling me this?”
“You might be pregnant.”
“I can’t get pregnant. Nobody can.”
Sekai leaned back in her chair and asked in a smart manner, “Do you remember the question you asked me the last time you were in here?”
Coraset couldn’t recall any question at first, but then she remembered the shot. She asked the doctor about it, but he left without answering her question.
Sekai revealed, “The shot you were given promotes fertility.”
Her heart began to flutter. She had sex with the Chancellor without protection. He ejaculated inside of her. Coraset swallowed hard. She asked, “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Coraset was speechless. She didn’t know what to say. She could feel the heat rising in her face. The truth of the matter is that she didn’t want to have Dominic Erato’s child. She didn’t want any children at all.
Then another thought popped in her head. She asked, “What about the other girls? They got the shot, too?”
“You, Aisling, Katarin, and Pili were administered the shots.”
“Do they know?”
“Aisling knows. The Chancellor told her the night he slept with her.” Sekai answered dryly.
Coraset figured that’s the reason why Aisling thought she was going to stay in the palace, even though the Chancellor was dead.
Sekai commented, “She might be pregnant, as well. She is being held to the same set of rules.”
“What about Katarin and the other girl? If they can get pregnant, and they-”
“They will not be released.”
“What are you going to do with Katarin?”
“She is no longer your concern.”
“You better not hurt her, Sekai!”
“Or you’ll do what, Coraset? Your threats mean nothing to me, and I’m not Aisling. I would recommend you keeping the possibility that you’re pregnant to yourself. Rumors like that spread fast, and you could be putting yourself in danger.”
“Is that a threat?” She asked angrily.
“Oh yes, it is very much a threat.” Sekai stood and nodded to the Elite Guards at the door. They walked up behind Coraset and made her stand.
“You will be escorted to the gates of the palace. You’ll have to find your way home from there. Remember, Coraset, you are being monitored.” Sekai watched as she was marched out of her office.
The Elite Guards escorted Coraset to the western gates of the palace. She didn’t want to leave without Katarin, but she saw no other choice. She couldn’t stay at the gates forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Coraset started her trek through the Erato Government Center. There were long flights of steps leading to marble and stone buildings. All of the lawns and parks that adorned the area were perfectly manicured and decorated with floral bushes and statues of Erato leaders. Coraset barely noticed as she rushed to the western gate of the Erato Government Center. She simply wanted to get home.
