OPHELIA FOWLER SCRUTINIZED THE METAL ENCASING OF THE SECOND BOMB. There were two intertwined snakes engraved on the metal, their heads facing each other. Ophelia had seen the symbol before, but gave herself a headache trying to remember where.

The clock on the side of the rectangular casing read one hour, fifty-eight minutes. One touch and the bomb could explode. Worse, as Silas said, the second bomb distracted them from the main event.

"Has anyone tried deciphering the symbol?" Ophelia questioned.

The detective stood up, the breeze sending a chill down her spine. She felt like somewhere across the lake and into the woods someone watched her every move.

"Can't find that symbol anywhere," Silas said, "It isn't associated with any known terrorist groups."

"No," Ophelia said, "This is—"

She remembered a nightly visitation to a townhouse, where a painting of the same intertwined snakes hung on the wall.

"Miss Fowler?" Silas asked, his red hair billowing in the wind.

The detective apologized. "Could you send for Dr. Auden Oberlin, please? In the mean time, I will address the villagers."

"I don't think it's smart to leave the bomb—"

"See to it that the doctor is here immediately. That is an order," she demanded.

"We have less than two hours!" Silas thundered. "Do you really want me to believe the former empress' doctor will be able to detonate this bomb?"

"We both know this is no ordinary bomb," Ophelia explained, hoping Silas would get the hint and not question her further in front of the other bomb technicians.

With a nod, Silas backed away from the bomb, a frown etched on his lips. Ophelia headed back to the center of the lake villages with a first responder, where Ronan finished writing a speech for her to give. With the heavy protective clothing off her body, Ophelia took a deep breath, absolutely fearful that Dr. Oberlin wouldn't be there in time.

Ronan's viridian eyes seemed forcefully awake. He pulled Ophelia to the side. "Fowler, listen up. Valencia escaped the safe house. We have no eyes on her. The guards say she's likely with Elliot Knox. Our next move is your call."

Ophelia glanced around, watching the podium being set up and villagers huddled together under old blankets, shielding themselves from the terrible wind. She caught herself tapping her foot against the dirt.

"Close down the roads heading to the lake villages," Ophelia said, "Have police stationed at every ten miles with choppers watching down. She's heading here, most likely. And get me everything we have on Elliot Knox."

Ronan nodded. "On it."

Although having reread the speech multiple times, Ophelia still felt the butterflies in her stomach. She hadn't given a devastating speech like this since Valencia became empress. The daunting realization that a bombing was Valencia's first major catastrophe hit her hard as she scanned the faces of the crowd. The lake villagers huddled close together, tattered grey blankets wrapped securely around them. Ophelia saw their eyes: drooping from the lack of sleep and restless, searching the crowd for another bomb or the bomber themself.

Ophelia cleared her throat, and began, "The lake villages hold a special place in all our hearts. When people think of our beautiful empire Lehua, they think of the pristine blue lakes these villages hold, and the unwavering spirit and grace of the citizens living in this area. The lakes are a favorite summer destination of many. I, myself, have countless memories of splashing around in the cerulean waters with the sun glimmering down on me.

The one thing that I could never forget about these visits is the happiness in the villagers' eyes. This is your home and you are proud of it.  And I have to tell you, there are so many people who don't live here, yet the lake villages are a like a home to them too.

Last night, surely, started off as a night like any other. But when the bomb detonated, tragedy struck. We gather here today to mourn our loss. It is deeply saddening to have lost our fellow citizens, but let me remind you, the spirit of the lake villages is not lost. You still have your grace. This is not the end of that happiness I used to see in your eyes.

On behalf of Her Imperial Majesty Valencia Lenard, I thank you all for your courage today. The first responders, police, technicians, doctors and nurses have done their best today. The families of those lost and those injured are putting up their best fight too. We pray for our peoples' wellbeing.

The bombers who have done this will be found. We will find them. They will be brought to justice. And I know you've heard of the second bomb, so I am here to reassure you that it is highly unlikely that it will cause any casualties if detonated.

Our love for each other and our love for our empire will help us overcome this catastrophe. They cannot scare us because we know our love is power they can never take from us. That's our strength. That is why we will push through another day and why our beautiful empire will live on. Long live Lehua."

"Long live Lehua," the crowd echoed.

Ophelia could make out the tears in their eyes. People hugged each other and smiled despite the tears and heartache. This is love, Ophelia thought. She had never seen such love and pride toward the empire when Cyra and Andreas ruled. Ophelia figured that Valencia was what Lehua truly needed.

As she stepped off the makeshift stage with guards around her, Ronan quickly fell to her side with a
laptop in hand. Ophelia's mahohony skin glowed under the noon sun as they walked far from the crowd.

"We can't get much on Elliot this quickly. But we did find something," he paused, "disturbing."

Ophelia sighed. "Tell me."

Ronan placed the open laptop on a small table in front of them. "We found some footage from inside the palace. Just watch."

The first scene was of Valencia, staring at herself in the mirror, her chest exposed. Ophelia squinted at the image, but couldn't make out what Valencia was looking at. The footage cut to Elliot in the adjacent hallway, watching the empress during a private moment. He walked out of the frame as Valenica fixed her dress.

"Go back," she said, "What's on her chest?"

Ronan replayed the video and paused at that scene. "Trust me, I've tried to figure it out. We just can't see from this angle."

When Ophelia didn't say anything, Ronan asked her, "Isn't this odd?"

The detective often had good judgement. When she met Elliot, she knew something with him was off.

"Yes," Ophelia said, "but I don't think this is useful yet. Any word from the choppers?"

"We're trying to establish a connection," Ronan answered, "but you know how these villages are."

"Is Dr. Oberlin on his way?"

Ronan nodded. "He's being flown in."

"Then get me on the highway," Ophelia said, "because we're going to Valencia ourselves."