Bridget Bundy - The Secret Weapon

Coraset smiled and lied, “Yes, I did.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that he already knew about you, Katarin. I couldn’t tell him anything.” She moved to sit down on her bed.

“You think he’ll choose me next?”

“I’m not sure. I should have asked him for you. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay, Coraset.” She went to the door and peered down the hallway. “I wonder what he’s waiting for.”

“He told me he had to go to work.”

Katarin nodded and sat down on the bed with her hands on her lap. She was clearly disappointed.

Coraset asked her hoping to change the subject, “Katarin, where are you originally from?”

“You mean before the outbreak?”

“Yes,” Coraset said as she sat down across from her.

“I lived in San Diego.”

“Anyone in your family survived the outbreak with you?”

“It’s only been me.”

“You’ve been by yourself this entire time?”

“Yep, I think I was ten years old when my mom died. I guess my dad is dead, but he left us before the outbreak. So, I’m not really sure what happened to him.”

“How did you survive? There was so much looting and people getting hurt and killed over food and water. How did you make it being so young?”

“I stayed away from people. I hid a lot.”

“So, how did you get to Erato?”

“I found a flyer in San Diego.” Katarin answered. “I followed the old highways to L.A. to get here. I was so scared, Coraset, but that piece of paper promised hope and a safe place to live. I had to come. I’d been out there by myself for so long. I was tired of being afraid, of being alone.”

“I remember seeing those flyers, too. The Federation made Erato sound like it was the promise land.”

“It-”

Before Katarin could finish what she was about to say, someone started screaming from the great room. Katarin instantly took off running to see what was going on. Coraset had a feeling the fuss was about the Chancellor. She walked out slowly. She entered the great room and saw girls huddled around Sekai and the other women that brought them all there originally.

By the time Coraset reached the small group, Sekai and her constituents left the room. They locked the doors to the garden and pool area, and the other set of doors to the hallway. Some women were whispering and others cried. She looked for Katarin hoping she heard what was going on.

Coraset found her sitting on the sofa, staring straight ahead. She joined her and touched her hands. Katarin didn’t respond. Tears rolled down her eyes. Coraset stood and got the attention of another woman.

“What’s going on?” She asked her.

“Chancellor Erato is dead.” The woman answered.

Coraset nodded, secretly smiling within. She turned back to Katarin, who had her face buried in her hands. Coraset remained with her. She wished things could have been different for Katarin. It was more than apparent how important it was for her to be in the harem. She felt like she had nothing else. Coraset didn’t know what to say to comfort her. She simply sat beside Katarin as she wept.

“What’s going to happen to us now?” A voice sounded from the crowd of women.

Aisling announced as she crossed her arms, “Well, he already said that he was going to marry me. So, I’ll definitely get to stay in the palace.”

“He never said that,” another woman objected.

“You weren’t there. So, how would you know?”

“Did he put a ring on your finger? I don’t see a ring.” Another lady joined in the crowd that was growing against Aisling.

“I don’t need a ring to prove anything. He took me to the ball. I stayed the whole night with him while all of you were in here. All of you just better get your stuff packed because you’re out of here.”

Everybody started arguing and fussing, and Coraset grew tired of the cattiness. She helped Katarin to her feet, and she walked her back to their bedroom. She didn’t want to see or hear any more noise. In her opinion, their argument was ridiculous. The man was dead, and they were his harem. Therefore, there were two possible outcomes. Either they were going to be all sent home or the Elite Guard was going to kill them.

Coraset put Katarin to bed. She was really worried about her. She wasn’t reacting in a normal way. She never truly got to know Chancellor Erato, and she was absolutely devastated like she’d known him for a lifetime.

The question Coraset asked herself was killing him worth it? Was the human race really that bad off with him in charge? The simple truth was that it didn’t matter now. He was dead, and there was no turning back. Now, Coraset simply needed to wait and see what happened next.

The next morning, the doors to the harem were unlocked. Most of the women were already in the great room. Sekai sent Jorda and Lacey to get the other ladies out of bed.

Once everyone was gathered, Sekai stood in front of the ladies and announced, “Chancellor Erato is indeed dead. The cause is unknown at this time. A new Chancellor has already been named, and it’s his brother, Frederick Erato. The inauguration will take place this afternoon.”

The choice of Chancellor surprised Coraset. Xavier and Malie thought that Sergei would be chosen. What 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 has a wife, and number two, he doesn’t want you.”

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.