unbroken (unexpected series)

Chapter 43

        As a part of the WPP, you couldn’t have any contact with your old life; you were constantly looking over your shoulder, the unease in your stomach never truly faded. I had lived that, yet even here I didn’t forget about that feeling. I still had the knots in my belly. These people, so many of them had lost that, and now I was going to put it back. The only people that had any sort of connection to the outside world were Lux, Leland and Marlon. Other than that, none of them knew what was happening. Many had come to believe that they were safe.

        They weren’t.

        I had heard it, the slip Connor made was minor when Gabriel arrived at their home, ‘finally gave him what he deserves,’ Connor thought.

        Oh god, please don’t let this be about me, Lola shrank down in her seat next to her father, his arms across his chest in the middle first row, while Gabriel had seated the Ryans on the first row of the left side. I already had my laptop at the podium, I let the white backdrop down, the projector turned on but I kept the lights on.

        “How is Anthony?” I asked Marlon directly, “Good Luna, he was sleeping, still a bit out, I tried to wake him, but-” I shook my head.

        “It’s fine, you will be sure to pass tonight’s message along, I hope?” he nodded once. “Good,” my tone serious and just to hear those short exchanges the chatter quieted.

        “Lets begin, I’m sure all of you are curious to learn just why I called this gathering so close to the last one outside of this very hotel?” I eyeballed certain people, I wasn’t going to look away, they were. When I heard a few ‘yes, Luna’s I continued.

        “How many of you know now why I am on the island? In fact, how many do not know why? Raise your hands,” I gave a clear command at the end and watched as not a single person lifted their hands.

        “How many of you are unaware of who I am?”

        My eyes darted over the audience, “Exactly not a single person in this room currently, doesn’t know who I am, I’m the Queen of the Were. The Chosen One. Everyone knows’ that…” some people nodded, others gaped at me wide eyed.

        “So my question is, if you know who I am, who do any of you think you are to question my judgment, go against my wishes?” the room was so quiet, you could hear the crickets from outside. “No one is going to speak? You all seem to have plenty to say behind my back, are you all cowardly and unable to say it to my face?” again I looked over the crowd.

        “Mrs. Hellmann?” I called her out, “You went against my wishes, attempted to change both your daughter and husband on your own, and now look what happened? You murdered your own child.”

        “So tell me, who you are to question, my authority,” I edged in my command tone, “please stand.”

        Then I just waited, “You are a child… we would be fools to put ourselves in the hand of a child-”