Remy
Prepare for war.
Dear God, where had that message come from? What was going on behind the scenes? How could I get word to Linette without the Senator or guards getting suspicious? I wracked my brain during the morning’s class.
Just before lunch, somewhat of a disturbance rose outside in the hall. A group of guards and soldiers rushed out of the building, getting in their vehicles and heading toward Primo Town. My heart flew into my throat. It was all I could do to finish my lesson. What was happening in the encampment? Had they found the radio?
By the time the children filed out for lunch, and the Senator walked in, my pulse was racing so fast I could hardly breathe. He looked sullen.
I was so lightheaded I wanted to sit down, but I couldn’t look suspicious. I leaned a hip against the desk and clasped my hands as he approached and stopped.
“Quite the activity today,” I said.
“Yes. Unfortunate activity.”
Breathe, Remy, breathe.
“Is everyone okay?” I asked.
He glanced toward the window, then back at me. “A woman in Primo Town has broken the law, and must be dealt with accordingly.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. No response was adequate. I waited for the rest of the information to drop, knowing we’d come so far. Only four days until the mating time. So close, only to be caught.
“Ms. Oliver, who worked in the kitchens,” he said.
It took two full seconds for my body to respond to what he was saying.
“What?” I whispered.
“Do you know her well?”
“No. I know who she is.” She was a tall, thin, brunette. About thirty, maybe thirty-five. Grumpy, but she’d never been mean to me. Then again, we’d never spoken much either.
“She is pregnant,” he said.
My mouth dropped open as that news hit me. I blinked rapidly, feeling ill.
“What will happen to her?”
“Well, if she reveals who the father is, and he is of a different race than her, we will allow her to live until the child is born.”
I covered my mouth against the harsh brutality of it.
“Do you know who she had relations with?” the Senator asked me.
I shook my head. “No, sir.”
“No matter. My soldiers will find out easily enough.” The Senator swallowed and nodded. “The sooner we can deal with this, the better for all.”
All I could do was stare at him in horror. He did look regretful, but it didn’t matter. He was going to kill her.
“Ms. Haines . . .” The Senator stepped closer. And closer, until we were near enough to touch. “If the child is biracial, I will recommend that you get to tend to it in its infancy.” A small smile crossed his lips, as if, in a morbid way, he were giving me a gift. “It is not generally how we do things, but I can have a crib brought to your accommodations. Just until the child is old enough to begin lessons. Two years? Perhaps three? Then he or she will begin life as a family unit within Primo Town.”
His head cocked, and God help me . . . his eyes were full of affection. He believed this was what I would want. A murdered woman’s child, as a consolation gift for having my own ovaries mutilated. I pressed my lips together against a sob, because I knew when it came down to it, I would raise that baby with all the love in my heart. But it was wrong. So wrong.
The Senator raised a hand, as if to lay it on my shoulder, only to drop his arm in defeat.
“There was a time, in the height of my congressional rule, when I became accustomed to touching. Handshakes, patting of shoulders, even hugs, and kisses on the cheek. But . . .” He looked toward the one guard at the door, then back at me. “This feels different.”
“It feels different for me, too,” I said in a trembling voice, and I meant it. I had never in my life had such ambiguous feelings toward another living creature. My emotions around him were muddied, and my body’s reactions were all over the place.
I feared him. I took comfort from him. I was disgusted by him. I admired him. I pitied him. I was drawn to him.
“Ms. Haines, in four days things will be much quieter around here.”
My breathing faltered and I managed an, “Okay.”
“My people will be celebrating an annual tradition. It is of the highest importance to our race. In years to come, nearly all adults will participate, but we must work up to that level of safety.”
I nodded, waiting for him to use the word “mating,” but he never did.
“I should warn you, those who do not participate will be overly aware of celebrations in the building. There will be high tensions, agitation, even animosity, so you will keep more distance than usual from the guards and be on your best behavior.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
I met his eyes meekly, my heart hammering as I worked up the courage to ask the question Linette wanted to know. “Will you be celebrating, Senator?”
His eyes bore into mine, and I swear a torrid wave rolled in the space between our bodies.
“No, Ms. Haines. I will not.”
“Okay,” I whispered. “But . . . you’re not expecting any trouble during that time, are you?”
He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “None at all.”
“Good.” I returned his small smile.
A small walkie-talkie bleeped at his waist, and he pulled it out.
“Bahntan, we have the human male’s name. Martin Bishop. Caucasian.”
They were the same race. I closed my eyes and forced them open again.
The Senator’s lips tightened as he spoke into the handheld. “Gather the town members.”
It didn’t matter that he sounded unhappy. It didn’t matter that he clearly didn’t want to do this. He was doing it anyway, and that’s what mattered. I was not feeling drawn to him at this moment.
“We must go.”
“Let me stay. Please.”
His mouth tightened. “Every human is to be present. I cannot make an exception.”
“Senator.” My stomach rolled, and I pressed a hand to it. “I can’t handle watching.”
“Come,” he urged, temporarily stunning my system with a blast of calmness.
I followed.
On the ride to Primo Town, I wiped a trail of tears from my cheeks, and the Senator pretended not to notice. I felt like a automaton, dragging my feet as we went inside the gates. So many guards were present, surrounding the crowd of humans. In the front of the spectacle, Ms. Oliver from the kitchen was standing on a rectangular hay bale, her hands bound in front of her, and a gag in her mouth. Her filthy face was streaked with tears, and worst of all . . . I could see the lump in her thin belly where she was showing.
On a hay bale beside her was Mr. Bishop, his head high, though it looked like he’d been dragged through the dirt, kicking and fighting, earning himself a blackened cheek.
“Remy!” My head spun toward the tiny voice of Kelsey, who was struggling in Linette’s arms. I ran to them, scooping the girl to my chest and forcing her head into the crook of my neck.
“Sh. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
“No touching!” shouted a guard. I released Kelsey and stood, wanting to scream back at the heartless soldier. The guard moved away, staring down the line as the Senator moved to the front of the crowd.
Linette crossed her arms. The tendons in her neck were sticking out from how hard she gritted her teeth as she stared through the crowd at Ms. Oliver. A small body collided into my hip, and I looked down to see Ronaldo, wrapping his arms around my upper leg. I pressed a hand to his head and looked around for a guard, but none of them were watching us.
I found Tater on the other side, staring ahead like a zombie. My insides lurched at the sight. I watched as the Senator got to the front and raised a hand, which hushed the area into complete silence.
“You all know the rules,” he said in his polite voice. “Unfortunately, two members of town have broken those rules. There are to be no sexual relationships until you are given permission. There is a time and place. Humanity can no longer allow itself to lack self-control. Let this be a reminder.”
Tears streaked Ms. Oliver’s face as she closed her eyes. I swallowed hard, and closed my own eyes when I saw two Baelese soldiers lining up in front of them. Screw the rules. I pulled Kelsey tightly to my other leg and pressed my hand into Ronaldo’s back, pulling him closer too. Though I was prepared, I still jumped when the guns sounded and the sound of bodies falling filled the air.
All around me, my fellow humans were jarringly silent, hands covering their mouths, eyes filled with moisture or something stronger . . . anger and disbelief. Yes, malevolence filled the atmosphere. Could the Baelese feel it?
I glanced behind me to see the nearest guard about seven feet away, but ten people stood between us. I stepped closer to Linette’s back.
“Mating begins in four days,” I whispered. “The Senator is not participating.” She made no show of having heard. I smoothed Kelsey’s hair back, then tweaked Ronaldo’s chin. “Be good, both of you. Listen to Ms. Linette.”
They nodded with tearful eyes.
Linette bent to scratch her ankle, whispering without looking at me.
“Find out exactly when the other ships are coming. And the code to the gate.” She walked away, gathering the kids, not looking back.
Unless that information fell into my lap by dumb luck, there was only one way I could obtain it. At the moment, getting close to the Senator was less appealing than ever.
I joined the Senator in the back seat of the vehicle, this time with a steel coat of armor around my heart. I didn’t cry on the way back to the palace. He slumped in his seat, staring out. In his hand, draped across his leg, I saw a slight tremble.
I refused to feel bad for him.