“I’m not. I’m frustrated, but I’m not mad.” His voice remained perfectly calm, not a hint of the anger she was trying to incite.
“Why are you frustrated?” It was a question she knew she shouldn’t ask. A question designed to take the two of them down a non-useful path.
“This role.” He didn’t explain the statement, and Clara let the silence reign between them, debating pressing him or allowing him to expand it on his own.
After what felt like an eternity he continued, “Do you know how much I had thought about…us?”
Clara felt her face heating now, and her stomach twisted painfully as she answered,“There is no ‘us’ Carver.”
“Not now.”
“Not ever. I think this role is playing tricks on you. You’ve made it very clear,veryclear, there can’t be an us.”
“I know.” He answered softly. “It frustrates me when you act like that because it makes what we could have had feel tooreal.”
“That sounds like something you have to get over.” Her tone was harsh, but he needed to understand. She couldn’t keep running circles around the idea of them. “You told me to get in character. You told me to be convincing. I have done everything you suggested, and I’ve done it damn well. You can’t get mad at me for following the instructions you laid out before me.
You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to trek across the country with my ex-boyfriend to save the nation? Yeah, absolutely not. But here I am. So get yourfeelings,” she spat the word like a curse, “together Carver, cuz we aren’t failing this mission. If I’m not allowed to be emotional, you certainly can’t be.”
He didn’t respond for a long time. Clara refused to apologize or feel bad about what she said. It was fair. He deserved every word and more. His decision split them apart, now he didn’t get to play around with the idea of bringing them back together. It wasn’t an option. No matter how traitorous her heart wanted to be.
30CARVER
Julia pulled Clara to the side, encouraging her with some motherly advice or something–Carver wasn’t quite sure. He only knew that for the next hour, he was stuck walking next to Mark. How thrilling. While Julia accepted everything Carver and Clara told her without hesitation, Mark was far more inquisitive. Every response provided an opportunity for another question, and similarly to Julia, no topic was taboo. In fact, Mark had a tendency to question everything. Even the most minute details of their conversation.
How long had they lived in the south? What kind of factories and shops? They had honeymooned on which beach exactly? The questions went on and on, but Carver refused to be frustrated, instead he focused on the much needed break from Clara. All the emotions he had fought when he ended things with her were rushing back, and he was still refusing to give them any ground. His reasons for their break up were still valid, and holding her hand or a picture of them in bed wouldn't change that.
“Is your wife aware of the projects that will be on display in Noxvalis?” It was the first time Mark addressed the future as opposed to prying.
“Projects?” Carver asked, a flash of paper with the word “creature” written on it coming to mind. Was this what Command was trying to hide?
Mark glanced over his shoulder to make sure Julia wasn’t close. “Noxvalis is the most scientifically advanced nation.”
“Yes.” That wasn’t a sinister secret.
“People with that kind of knowledge rarely use it for only good. They usually use it to gain more power.”
Again Carver said, “Yes.” Did Mark have a point with this?
“Noxvalis created biological weapons.” Carver forced his expression into surprise. “Not only that, but they have been experimenting with genetic modification.” Carver also knew this, but continued to feign utter shock. “The festival is a fun cover for them to show off the…creatures they have created with this modification.”
This was confirmation for him. Command hadn’t mentioned anything about this, and he didn’t have to fake his surprise. “Creatures? They’ve created creatures?”
“The rumor is they have mixed DNA from various animals and spliced it into the DNA of human embryos.”
“But you believe it’s not a rumor?”
Mark lifted a shoulder. “I can’t be sure. I’m not sure if Julia told you, but I’m on the counsel board at Calyndor. I serve the queen. We hear all kinds of reports. Most of them go in one ear and out the other. People make stuff up all of the time for attention.”
Concern bubbled in Carver–they were journeying with a government official from their supposed kingdom, but if they hadn’t been found out by now, they should be fine. It was just their luck this was the group they joined. “So why did you believe this report?”
“I didn’t say that I do.” Mark carefully evaded the direct question, “For sure, at least. But this is one of the few reportsthat has come in from several different officials of various nations, and several Calyndor citizens who had returned from a trip to Noxvalis.”
“I see. Why are you telling me this? Isn’t it sensitive information?” Carver tried not to sound too untrusting, but it was a valid question.
“Your wife is very innocent.” Mark smiled softly, like a father talking about his daughter, “I just want you to be prepared for how this could affect her if the rumors are true.”
Carver almost laughed.Innocent, ha.Clara would be so proud to know just how well she had completed her cover. “I appreciate that, Mark.”
