Part 21 (2/2)

”Hurry” the Queen said as Shayla's trembling fingers punched in the code to get into her suite. When the door opened, the Queen ran inside and Shayla was behind her, closing the door as quickly as it opened, her body blocking the door.

”Where is he?” the Queen said, as she frantically surveyed the room. There was no sign of Gerald on the perfectly made bed or the empty couches. ”What's going on?”

”He's in the bathroom,” Shayla said, just as planned. She had told the men that she didn't want to watch.

”Gerald!? Are you okay?” the Queen said, near-tears as she ran across the room and pushed open the door that was slightly ajar and disappeared inside.

Shayla's body trembled as she double-checked to be sure that the suite door was closed and locked. Gerald was the only other one with a code to enter, as they had just reprogrammed it to avoid any chance for a cleaning crew to come through unannounced.

Shayla heard her mother's quick, m.u.f.fled scream, before a rustling that she knew was a struggle. She heard the tear of fabric, undoubtedly the beautiful new silk sari. She almost ran across the room and into the bathroom, but couldn't. She didn't want to see.

Shayla slid to the floor, unable to hold her body upright any longer. Her body shuddered as she sobbed, hoping she wasn't making a mistake.

Chapter 35.

”Now you know what it's like to have a silver duct-tape for a mouth,” Simon said. ”You've ordered this very thing for countless decent men over the years, so I'm a.s.suming you don't mind it. At least you are having this experience privately. The men are usually paraded in public and every G.o.dd.a.m.n person who sees them knows they're on their way to get their b.a.l.l.s chopped off!” Simon's voice rose as he moved closer to the Queen until he was inches from her terrified face.

Simon smiled before backing away.

”Maybe we'll take you out on the balcony and duct tape your mouth closed. That's what you do to others. That seems fair, don't you think?” he asked, knowing she couldn't answer. ”Maybe I should take your photo and we'll start that way. Smile for the camera,” he said, pulling the cell phone out of his pocket as he prepared to take a photo. ”Just kidding!” he said, when he heard a knock at the door.

”Just a second!” he yelled as he put the phone back in his pocket. ”Maybe it's your savior?” he said to the Queen as he got up to answer it.

”Come on in,” Simon said, greeting Shayla, immediately getting serious. When he was alone with the Queen, that was one thing, but he wasn't stupid enough to taunt her in front of her own daughter. Simon still couldn't believe that Shayla had agreed to be part of this. He was impressed. This apple had certainly fallen far from the tree and he respected that a great deal. Even though the Queen was the devil, from where he sat, he still knew that to Shayla, she was mom.

”How is she?” Shayla said, alongside Nathaniel, both dressed in street clothes.

”She's fine,” Simon said, as Shayla looked at her mother.

”Looks like her eyes are going to bug out of her head. Please take the tape off her mouth,” Shayla whispered to Simon, so her mother couldn't hear. Simon had to admit that Shayla was right. The Queen's eyes were bulging, but to him they looked like their wrath was aimed at her daughter.

”No screaming. I'll take this off and keep it off, but if you misbehave. Can you be a good Queen?” Simon whispered in the Queen's ear, so Shayla couldn't hear.

The Queen's head didn't move. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, but Simon could see that she knew who had the upper hand. Despite his hatred for her and all she represented, he couldn't help but notice her beauty. And even though he detested what she represented, he found himself feeling something for her. Was it a respect for her determination? He wasn't sure. He saw her face relax before a barely perceptible nod.

He ripped the tape off her mouth, hoping that would rip away any feelings of sympathy, or any feelings at all that he felt for her.

”Who the f.u.c.k do you think you are, you piece of s.h.i.+t,” she yelled at Simon. There was a venom in her voice that even surprised him, as his heartbeat quickened. She was tougher than he thought. ”Shayla, get over here and untie me. Now!” she screamed.

Simon's instinct was to put that tape right back over her mouth. That's what he would have done with a back-talking Grounder, but this was the Queen. He looked to Shayla for direction, but first noticed Nathaniel had taken residence on the couch in the corner. Simon considered doing the same, but thought better of it. He had to keep the upper hand, and that meant remaining in a close physical proximity to the uppity subject.

”I need you to do something for me, first, mother,” Shayla said, slowly approaching her mother from across the room. Simon watched her take each step, tentatively at first, but then there was a purpose in her stride until she stopped in the middle of the room, dead straight in front of her mother and crossed her arms. Good. Shayla was displaying strength, confidence, and control.

”I will do nothing for you until you untie me!” the Queen yelled.

”Keep your voice down or the tape goes back on,” Simon said evenly. He didn't want to step on Shayla's toes, but keeping order was vital.

”What the h.e.l.l is going on here?” the Queen asked. ”Untie me, this instant,” she said, her voice quieter, but her message no weaker.

”We're not going to simply untie you until you agree to our conditions,” Shayla said flatly.

”You'll be sorry, my darling daughter,” the Queen said, with contempt.

Shayla hated seeing her mother this way. The long front wrap of her beautiful new sari was torn, her hair slumped to one side, and her face looked like a new crop of wrinkles had erupted since the previous evening when the party ended.

”Are you going to keep yelling or are you ready to hear what we need you to do?”

”Who is the we?” the Queen asked. Even when her mother was tied up, she didn't give in.

”Do you know what the Underground is?”

”Of course I know! It's a lame group of men who think they can take over the world. Don't tell me my own daughter is a member,” the Queen said with contemptuous laugh.

”You will do want we ask,” Shayla commanded. n.o.body else dared speak to her mother that way, but it felt necessary.

”Tell me what you need,” the Queen said sarcastically, looking away.

”You must release all the prisoners from the protests,” Shayla said. ”We need you to record a speech saying that they are free to go. That's for starters.”

”I'll tell you what I need. You better let me out of here before people come looking for me. You think the Queen just disappears and n.o.body notices? There are people who will come looking for me very soon. Gerald doesn't let me out of his sight for five minutes,” she said, looking unconcerned.

”Who do you think Gerald works for,” Simon chimed in, folding his arms in a satisfied stance.

”What have you done with Gerald?! Did you torture that wonderful man?” the Queen asked, exasperated.

”It's not what we have done with Gerald, but it is what Gerald has done for us, for years, decades, your majesty,” Simon said, annunciating her t.i.tle with his own sarcasm. Shayla shot him a look that shut him up.

”What are you talking about? He'll be here any minute,” the Queen said, but Shayla saw her mother's nerves begin to unravel. She was about to start to cave, at least that's what Shayla hoped.

”Mother, he's part of the Underground.”

”You are bluffing. Gerald is the most loyal man on the earth...”

”Loyal to the Underground, just like your husband,” Simon said.

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