by A. M. White
“I can’t believe they are all like that. I think some of them don’t want to do that.” As I talked, I realized that I meant it. I wanted it to be true.
Sadie handed me the cloth, “I’ll let you keep some of your decency.”
“Thank you,” I took the cloth and cleaned myself.
“Mira will be back any minute,” Sadie hurried. She pointed at my leg, “How did you get that?”
She meant my scar. “I don’t remember,” I said truthfully.
She shrugged, “Hopefully, the dress will hide it. I do wish you luck. Elijah can be odd and the fact that he took a liking to you could be either good or bad.”
“I know, I saw the guard that made him mad,” I admitted.
She nodded, “Honey, that isn’t the worst I’ve seen.”
I took a deep breath, “Then, I guess I better not make him mad.”
The stairs creaked, announcing Mira‘s arrival. She swept in to the bathing room carrying a gaudy long gown covered in sequins. I quickly noticed the high slit up one side and the low cut neck line. My heart stopped. Thank goodness, the slit was on the opposite leg as my scar. The low neckline proposed that I might be entertaining more than dinner.
“Isn’t this dress to die for?” Mira sang.
Sadie nodded and blushed.
“I am so jealous,” she held it to her and danced across the room.
“By all means, Mira, you are welcome to take my place,” I crinkled my nose at her.
She came close and hissed, “Too bad it does have one flaw.” She held the dress in front of me. “This one little hole, do you see it? It is where Elijah had his last dinner date stabbed for being a dull companion.”
I tried to look unfazed. What kind of sicko was I dealing with here?
“Get her out,” Mira ordered and went back to dancing with the dress.
Sadie helped me up and out into a towel. She directed me to a chair where she worked to style my hair up. When she was finally happy with the result, I was given to Mira.
Mira held the dress so that I could step in to it. She lifted the straps over my shoulders. The dress was twisted into place on my body. The sequins scratched my skin. I had yet to feel so out of place in this world.
Mira whistled at me, “I do think that you will make Elijah happy.”
Then she started to zip the dress. Somewhere around my hips, she began to tug.
“Oops, maybe I spoke too soon. You are going to have to suck in,” she slapped my behind.
I sucked in as much as possible. Sadie pushed on my front to help. The dress slowly began to zip. It was tight, but it zipped all the way. I could feel the fray of the small hole under my breast. It made me shiver in disgust.
Both Mira and Sadie gawked at me.
“You look beautiful,” Sadie squeaked.
Mira struck Sadie across the face, “Shut up.”
Sadie held her cheek and went to cleaning up the room. She didn’t speak again.
“It is time for me to present you to your new master,” Mira sneered.
She took my hand and we climbed the stairs. On the way, I tried to focus and swallow the fear creeping up my throat. I had expected Timothy and Cara to have come back by now. I prayed that nothing had happened and that I just needed to wait it out. I hoped they wouldn’t be too late.
At the top of the stairs, I reminded myself that I was good at acting. The time I had been spent digging for the invisible masters had prepared me for hiding my true feelings. I could do what was needed to survive, but I knew even I had limits.
Mira pushed me in front of her. Chris and the mute guard were waiting for us.
“My lord, Mira,” Chris exclaimed. “I do think this will make Elijah very happy. You can expect to become our new hand maiden on a more permanent basis.”
She beamed at him, “I would be honored.” She curtsied and passed me off. She turned and disappeared down to the basement.
I held my head high. The guard winked at me. Chris held his arm out for mine. We walked to the dining hall.
Chapter Fourteen
Chris unlocked a chain wrapped between two large wooden doors. I pushed down the fear that came with the idea of being locked in a room with Elijah.
“It’s for security. We don’t want your little friends intruding if they decide to come back for any reason,” Chris explained.
As he opened the door I whispered, “You know, I felt sorry for you. I couldn’t believe this world had gone back to slavery among humans.”
He opened his mouth, but closed it when he saw Elijah standing a few feet away to greet us. I had timed my jab just right. I smiled at Elijah.
I kept my eyes forward. Elijah took a step back and leaned against a chair.
“You are more beautiful than I could have imagined,” he said in awe.
The table in the center of the room was dark wood, polished richly. Only two high backed chairs sat at the table. Both adorned with red velvet cushions. There was a massive candelabra sitting on the table which lit the room. I quickly noticed that the door we came through was the only entrance and there were no windows. My heart sank. I steadied myself, “Thank you.”
“Well, stop standing there and help the lady to her seat,” he waved to Chris.
Chris pulled back one of the chairs for me. I felt the cold stone floor under my bare feet. I sat carefully as to not stretch the dress beyond its ability.
Elijah eyes never left me. That made me very uncomfortable.
“You two can ask the help to bring dinner. We will eat alone. You may lock the door as soon as dinner is served,” Elijah instructed.
Chris bowed slightly and rushed the guard from the room. Chris swatted at the guard to make him move faster.
A moment later, Mira and Sadie entered the room with stemware and carafes. They paused and looked at each other to pour in unison, which seemed to please Elijah. He smiled at me. The red wine looked like blood in my glass, it made my stomach curl. I almost expected the liquid to coagulate in the bottom of the glass.
I wondered what Mira would think about being called,” the help. “I put that jab away for use later. The thought lifted my spirits a little.
The girls marched from the room and returned a second later with silver dishes piled high. Myra served me the platter of greens, some kind of dark meat, mushrooms, and a chunk of bread. The smells made my mouth water and I swallowed to keep from drooling over it.
Everyone’s actions seemed so rehearsed. I felt as though we were all on a stage for Elijah. Our main goal was to entertain him.
“May I please have some water, too?” I asked. My voice was sweet.
Mira looked to Elijah for an answer.
“Of course, my dear, but I do highly recommend the wine. I do wish for you to enjoy it,” he urged. I took that as a demand for me to drink the wine during dinner.
I smiled primly, “Yes Sir, I am sure it is lovely.”
Mira brought me another glass filled with water. It had been too long since I drank and I knew the water was a necessity. My mouth had gone dry as soon as we had entered the dining room.
Mira came beside me to place the water on the table. I couldn’t resist the opportunity with her so close to me. I ground my heel into her bare toes. She flinched, cursed at me, and spilled some of the water on the table.
I caught the glass to save it from shattering on the floor. I tried to look shocked at Mira’s foul language and held the napkin to my mouth.
Elijah raged, “How dare you! You clumsy cow! Guard, remove her at once!”
The mute guard sprang into the room. For a split second, I wasn’t sure whom he was ordering to leave.
Then Mira dropped to her knees. “Please, please my lord. Don’t do this, it was an accident,” she pled.
“This is unacceptable, get rid of her,” Elijah forced himself to stand. His face was red with anger.
Guilt caused me to interject, “It was my fault.” All eyes turned to me. “It was my foot that made her trip. Plea
se have mercy on her.”
Elijah stared at me and then relented, “Please leave,” was all he said. Both Mira and the guard exited; the doors shut behind them. I could hear the chain and lock being latched from the outside.
“I am sorry for that.” Elijah shook his head, “It is so hard to find good help.”
“It’s ok, Mira didn’t mean to, I am sure,” my voice wavered.
“Please, don’t make excuses for the help.” Elijah nodded at me, “We will have a wonderful time despite her. Please eat.”
I picked up the fork. The food looked so good, I wanted to inhale it, but I resisted, knowing it may be poisoned.
“I do apologize for having to be so inhospitable to you earlier, but see, it has greatly changed your outlook on things.” He took a bite of the greens. “I assure you, the food is safe. I intend on keeping you around for a while. I grow so lonely here,” he chewed.
At some point, I had made the decision to play the game. Say what is expected and do what I needed to do to buy Cara and Timothy more time. I took a bite as well. It was heavenly.
“Is it really so lonely?” I shrugged, “You run this village. People are willing to tend to your every want. You must be very well liked by your people.”
Elijah laughed, “Yes, I am very well liked because I rule with an iron fist!” He slammed his hand on the table.
I jumped and forced myself to giggle, “So it seems. Please tell me the story of how you came to rule this place with an iron fist.”
My mother had taught me that trick. Most people would talk for hours about themselves if given the chance. You only have to open the door for the flood to come.
Elijah settled in to tell me his story. I ate and nodded when obligated, but listened also. I may learn something that could prove useful at a later time. He told me about his old life. He had always maintained a bachelor status, even as an aging man. I gathered that he thought women were the inferior sex, shallow, and less intelligent.
Elijah did mention a son that probably died during the first roar. That spurred his hatred of the “moles” as he called them. He had survived by chance. As a retired professor, much of his time was spent fishing. The lake had saved him from the fate many found.
Afterwards, people lost their minds killing each other for supplies or starving. Many people couldn’t survive in this new world without medicine, direction, or know how. Our society had become too dependent on technology and reverted to survival of the fittest.
A small group of people had started forming out here in the woods. They lived in chaos. When he came, they were desperate for someone to lead them. Elijah’s story made him a hero of kingly status.
People from all over came when they heard of the civilization that had been built. It was very clear that Elijah thought highly of himself.
Something had been bothering me about the fact that so many people could live here and the “moles” as he called them had not come for them.
I asked him, “Why have the moles not come for you?”
“Ah, that is the less glamorous side to all of this,” he went on, “They do know we are here and we have a delicate arrangement with them. I have only seen a few of them in my time here. One came in the early days as an ambassador to meet with me. A deal was struck and every new moon a few from our village disappears. They are a sacrifice for the rest of us to continue living. Of course, there are some of us off limits, I negotiated that. No one in my home may ever be taken.”
“That was very smart of you, but you can’t really trust them, can you?” I prodded.
He took a sip of wine. “Well, upon negotiations, I was able to learn a few things.” His eyes twinkled. “I entertained the mole and made sure to keep the wine flowing. They are intelligent creatures, but alcohol is banned where they come from. It makes the mind weak, they say. In the negotiator’s case, they were right.”
“What kind of things did he tell you?” I leaned forward, urging him. I fingered the outline of the dress around the low cut.
Elijah sat back in his chair admiring me from across the table. “For one, the largest machines that brought the end of the world are broken. It took all of the energy they had stored to produce the largest roar. Smaller machines are still operational, but they only have the ability to control the camps and surrounding areas. We picked an amazing place to start a village because it happens to be far enough from any of them.”
“So, there can’t be another large roar?” I grinned. There was some hope after all. I continued to trace the neckline of the dress.
“I didn’t say that, my dear, there could be, but we have some time. They are working on gathering more energy and are working on the machines,” he explained.
“I had hoped to remain cordial with Timothy, the fetcher, and his sister. They always paid heavily for their keep,” he sighed.
“I was going to offer them quite an amount for you. Then the mishap occurred last night with that dreadful fellow. Mind you, I am aware of that scoundrel, but to keep the peace in the village, I had to ban your friends. It also gave me an opportunity to make the trade for you.”
I chewed my last bite and swallowed. “Well, I do thank you for that. I definitely prefer civilization to running around in the woods,” I lied.
He smiled and pushed back his chair. “I am glad you feel that way. Talking with you has pleased me.”
Elijah walked over to me. His hands on the high back of my chair. He leaned to my ear and spoke, “I can make sure that you enjoy many comforts in the civilization I have created.”
His breath tickled my ear. He traced a finger down my cheek. I held my breath to hide my disgust for him.
There was a small noise above us. Both of us turned our eyes to the ceiling.
I knocked my fork from the table. It clattered on the stone floor loudly.
“I am so sorry,” I apologized. I pushed my chair back in to him, bending down to retrieve it.
He reeled for a moment, which put some space between us. The sound above was louder now. A large sword protruded through the thatching. Elijah looked from me to the sword.
“Guard!” he yelled reaching for me. I ran around to the other side of the table. “Guard, get in here, now!” Elijah bellowed.
The sword cut a square out of the thatching. Timothy dropped through the hole in the roof. After gaining his bearings, he ran to me, shoving the old man to the ground. Elijah cried out in pain. The chain on the door rattled.
“Get on my back and hold on tight,” Timothy said and scooped me up.
The door banged open. Timothy jumped on top of the table. He leapt to the rafters, swinging us through the opening. The hole led to a night sky. I looked over my shoulder to see the mute guard gaping at us from below.
“Don’t stand there like an idiot! Get them!” Elijah spit.
Timothy navigated to the frame of the roof, skipping over the wooden beams. At the edge of the house, he picked up speed and sprang onto the nearest tree.
I was scared out of my mind. I closed my eyes and wrapped my legs tighter. There was yelling from below. Timothy picked his way around the tree and the large perimeter fence was within reach.
A gun shot rang out. It hit a nearby limb. I muffled a scream by clenching my teeth. Timothy caught the edge of the wall with both hands and slid over. We dropped to the ground.
I rolled off of Timothy on impact. He had me in his arms instantly. He whispered, “Are you ok?”
“I-I think so,” I stuttered.
“They will come looking for us; we have to get going. Do you think you can hold on a little longer?” He asked and held me out to looking me over.
I nodded. I had never been so happy to see someone in my life. He draped me over his back again and took off into the dark woods. He moved so fast it hardly felt like we touched the ground
We heard the noises of a search party behind us. Men were yelling at one another. Leaves and sticks crackled in the distance.
Once, another gunshot star
tled us. I buried my head into Timothy’s neck. I trembled with fear, even though I knew there was no way they could keep up with Timothy’s speed.
Chapter Fifteen
Finally, he slowed down, now and again turning his head to listen. We had to be at least two miles from Elijah’s village. It was then I realized I had torn the dress badly. In order to wrap myself around Timothy the slit had ripped up to my hip. The cold air made me shiver.
Timothy, felt my shaking. “Of course that dirty old man would put you in the least amount of clothes possible,” he sneered.
He unraveled me from him and placed me on a fallen log. I held the slit together and tried to pull up the bodice.
Timothy took off his red jacket and handed it to me. “I think Cara may have something a bit warmer for you when we reach camp,” he said. He sat down next to me, “Did he hurt you?” Timothy looked me in the eye.
“No, not really; I do think today was a day I will never forget though.” I sniffled and tried to draw myself back together.
I have to be strong to live in the new world. I would need to adjust to this kind of living. I tucked my hair behind my ears.
“You guys are going to have to teach me how to fight. If this is what the world looks like, I’ll end up dead before we get to wherever we are going,” I said.
He took my hand and replied, “We will, I promise.”
I squeezed his hand. “I lost my boots,” I admitted. I wriggled my toes in front of him.
He chuckled, “I see that, I will find you some tomorrow, hopefully. I’m sure I will get tired of lugging you around.”
He stood and lifted me. This time he held me in front of him. I rested my head on his chest. My feet were freezing, but the constant swaying somehow managed to lull me to sleep.
I dreamt of the ocean, it was my favorite place in the world. The day was warm and the water sparkled like a million sapphires. The waves were calm, lapping at the shoreline. My skin felt salty and sun-kissed. I walked to the edge of the water and dipped a toe into the shallows. It was cool and refreshing, inviting me to walk in further.