by Coralee June
A loud buzzing erupted, alerting me to the arrival of our guests, and I shook off the remaining feelings of lust left behind by Josiah. The effects of Josiah’s compliment still hit me like fireworks, making it hard to focus. Rolling my neck, I lifted my chin and prepared myself to meet the ever-important Black family.
The buzzing hissed again throughout the house, and Mistress Stonewell ordered from the common room, “Open the door, you idiot!”
After twisting the knob, I was surprised to find a younger, teen girl that appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen scowling at me. She wore a thin, white dress, which showed off all her developing curves, and bright-red lipstick. She had dark-black, straight hair and beautiful, deep-brown eyes. She was stunning.
“Good morning, Ma’am,” I said politely.
“Oh good! A Walker,” the young girl said in a distracted manner while fanning herself. “Quickly, gather our suitcases before someone steals them. I’m not sure where my brother disappeared to.” She huffed in discomfort and smoothed her dress.
“I’m sorry, do you not speak English? Are you going to let me inside?”
I fumbled in embarrassment, stepped to the side, and bowed as she entered the Stonewell Mannor.
“Please have a seat,” I said while motioning her towards the white couch in the Stonewell’s large common area. Mistress Stonewell introduced herself politely, while the young teen made herself comfortable. The room was decorated in all white, giving off a sort of clinical feel. Mistress Black practically blended in with her white dress. I quickly placed a tray of baked cookies on on the table in front of her, and after making sure that she didn't need anything, I made my way outside to gather her belongings. Josiah still hadn’t made his grand entrance. It was typical for the Walker to announce the Master of the home to new guests prior to him entering the room, but I wanted to gather her belongings first.
I went outside to the busy street, where transports hovered by quickly, blaring loud music and honking at a parked transport in front of our manor. I looked inside and found many pieces of brown luggage and began huffing and hauling each heavy piece out and towards the building. It felt like a lot of luggage for a mere four-day stay.
“STOP THIS INSTANT!” a booming voice commanded from down the street. I turned around to see what the cause of the commotion was and dropped the clunky luggage. A tall, tan man with wild, curly, black hair, brown eyes, and a rugged beard waved his arms at me in a frantic and aggressive motion. He wore black jeans and steel-toed boots with a partially-unbuttoned, navy-blue sweater, revealing some of his delicious chest. He was attractive in a terrifying sort of way.
“What do you think you are doing? Stealing is punishable by death in my Providence.” He had a clipped accent and a sharp gaze that made my fingers tremble.
“I . . . I’m so sorry . . . Mistress Black asked me to collect her luggage. I . . . I assumed that this was it. Oh, pl-please don’t report me to the Archés,” I begged with a stuttering voice. I then dropped to my knees and bowed in fear. Walkers had no rights. If I were accused and convicted of stealing, not only would I lose my position in the Stonewell home, but also go to jail. The gruff man sighed and ran his hands through his curly hair with more force than necessary.
“Fuck. My apologies, babe. I’m not used to your Providence’s use of Walkers. My sister is more educated in your ways. I thought you were trying to steal from us,” he explained with a sneer.
“N-no. It was my mistake. I should have announced my presence and my intentions. Please forgive me for my transgressions.”
He looked me over curiously, then without saying a word bent over to help me carry the sizeable and cumbersome luggage. “Oh, please allow me to get that for you,” I pleaded. “Master Stonewell is waiting for you inside.” Allowing Master Black to bring in his suitcases would be reason enough for Linda not to give me my rations for the day, not to mention I’d be forced to recite the laws regarding proper etiquette when housing a visiting Master.
“A pretty, little thing like you isn’t big enough to haul these up the steps,” he said lightly while ignoring my pleading expression. He gathered up the two heaviest suitcases and began walking up the steps towards the front door. “Master Black, if you don’t allow me to bring in these suitcases, I’ll be punished,” I whispered, praying that he would not be angered or offended at me correcting him.
Master Black turned slowly and once again peered at me with what I could only assume was a curious expression. Just before he could say anything, Mistress Stonewell appeared in the doorway, “Please forgive our Walker, Master Black,” she cooed. “She can be somewhat absent-minded. Although we've provided her with the best training money can buy, she still seems to forget her place in our household,” she sneered. I cringed while she threw metaphorical daggers at me with a deadly expression. Her thin lips forced themselves to smile, but I could sense that I would be punished later for this.
“Ah, of course. Your Walker insisted on carrying my luggage, but I was stubborn,” Master Black answered with a charming grin. “Forgive me for stepping on any toes.” He then dropped the luggage where he stood and walked up the drive where they both disappeared inside, leaving me to gather the rest of their belongings.
It took me a while to get their heavy luggage up the two flights of stairs and inside the guest rooms. Mistress Stonewell paged me twice on my watch, and by the third signal, I was finished hauling all of their luggage. I sprinted to the sitting room where everyone but Master Black and Josiah was scowling at me.
“Good heavens, Walker, our guests are parched. Hurry up and get them some tea,” Linda ordered. I looked over at the full tray of tea and crackers I had purposefully placed on the nearby bar earlier and fought the urge to roll my eyes. She could have efficiently served our parched guests, but she was too prideful to lift a finger. Nevertheless, I nodded yes and made quick work of serving their drinks. I poured Miss Black’s tea first, but she refused to acknowledge my existence. She lacked any warmth and politeness. It wasn’t uncommon for various prejudices to exist against Walkers, but her overall dismissal seemed to speak volumes about her character to me.
When I went to pour Master Black’s tea, he nonchalantly reached into his belt and pulled out a long knife with a shiny, golden handle encrusted with jewels. The sudden appearance of a weapon made me gasp, and I almost dropped the tea tray. Weapons are outlawed in the Galla Providence, and it was rare to see one up close. I trembled in fear and wondered what made him reveal it while I was standing so close.
“I bring my late Uncle’s blade as a gesture of peace. In the Dormas Providence, it is customary to place all weapons on the table when sharing a drink with a potential ally,” He explained while dropping the knife on the coffee table with a loud clank. He then grinned at me, obviously amused by my discomfort. I wanted to scowl at him but bit back the urge.
When it was time to serve Josiah’s drink, (Green tea with two cubes of sugar and a chocolate chip cookie on the side), his fingers grazed mine when I handed him the cup. I blushed at his quiet show of affection, but when I turned around to make my way over to my designated Walker chair in the corner, where I was to wait in case I was needed, I noticed Master Black staring curiously at us. Did he see our brief interaction? I scolded myself. We needed to be extra careful.
“How were your travels, Miss Black?” Josiah asked her politely before sipping his tea.
“It was enjoyable, thank you. We greatly appreciate you lending us your transport. It was much faster and more luxurious than the train,” Miss Black answered in a voice that sounded sickly sweet to my ears. “Oh and, Josiah, please call me Jules. We’re to be engaged, after all.”
My stomach dropped at this revelation, and my heart pounded. It felt like the entire room was swallowing me whole and Josiah’s eyes darted to mine in shame. I forced the teardrops that demanded to fall down my cheeks to remain behind my stony eyes. I knew that arranged marriages between providences were somewhat common, but how could he
be engaged to such a young woman, and why didn’t he, at least, warn me?
I quickly surmised that this all-important deal between the Black and Stonewall families involved this arranged marriage, and it was also the reason why Josiah was so distant over the past few days. Anger filled me to the brim. Was there so little between us that I wasn’t at least owed a warning? How could he let me walk blindly into this situation?
“Jules, you know your engagement to Josiah isn’t final, yet. We have a few other decisions to make before arrangements will be made. Plus, you have at least two years before you turn eighteen and the wedding will happen,” Master Black scolded her with a thick tone. I noticed him once again staring at me curiously, and I prayed that my reaction to this news wasn’t overly noticeable.
“I feel honored by the privilege of calling you by your first name, Jules,” Josiah muttered, and I immediately hated how her name sounded on his tongue. Mistress Stonewell revealed a wide grin then looked back at me with a sickening sense of satisfaction. A part of me wondered if she had coordinated this union or if Josiah did. It seemed like the perfect way to provide permanent distance between Josiah and me. Although legally, Josiah was the master of this house, Linda wielded her powers of manipulation like a skilled swordsman. She wouldn’t dare have me removed, as Josiah would merely forbid it; but, she would, however, make my life as miserable as possible as long as I stayed.
“Walker, you are dismissed and free to start preparations for dinner. I will page your watch if you are needed,” she said with a smile. I nodded and shuffled towards the basement. Unlike before, I welcomed the dark, damp, room where even Josiah’s starlight nightlight couldn’t brighten my mood.
Chapter 3
I allowed myself ten minutes of grief and tears before pinching my thigh and willing myself to overcome the emotional turmoil. It was a tactic of avoidance I learned long ago. I knew that eventually Josiah would be expected to marry and fulfill his duties as Master of the home and Governor of the Galla Providence. Although I wanted to have faith in our secure connection, ultimately he was a high ranking member of society, and I was merely a Walker.
I reminded myself that I was lucky. Jules may have Josiah's future, but I would always have the memories of our childhood together, which was something not even Linda Stonewell could steal from me. Although I wanted nothing more than to weep for a love and a future I would never have, I refused to lay in bed and feel sorry for myself.
I gave myself a pep talk and told myself that it was time for me to accept this arrangement and embrace my position in Josiah’s world. Despite wanting to crawl into a hole and cry my eyes out, I kept strong. I just couldn’t let a childhood love jeopardize my safety. I wouldn’t last one hour in the Walker Zones. A broken heart was nothing compared to what I would face if I went there.
After a few hours passed, I went upstairs to prepare dinner. I ignored the childish giggles that overflowed from the living room as I pulled the roast from the oven and set the dining room table. Mistress Black reveled in being the center of Josiah’s attention. She laughed at every word he said, and when I snuck a quick peek in the standard room at them, I noticed her perfectly-manicured hand bravely laying on his shoulder while they spoke.
I fought back the waves of jealousy that tore me apart and allowed the image of them together to burn into my brain. I needed to see Josiah’s new relationship and betrayal. I prayed that, eventually, the pain would make it easier to let go.
When it was time to eat, they filtered elegantly into the dining room, and I poured each of them a glass of wine in silence while ignoring their chatter to the best of my ability. When it was time to serve everyone's food, I didn’t look at Josiah when I plopped his serving down forcefully on his plate. Droplets of grease splattered on his suit, but he didn’t flinch or even acknowledge my faux pas. I almost felt disappointed that he didn’t react to my less-than-stellar table service. I wanted, badly, to be on the receiving end of his stare but hated that his blue gaze would never be mine.
I continued to make my way around the table politely, and with much effort resisted the urge to dump an entire plate on top of Jules’ head. After serving everyone, I put the tray down at the center of their chestnut, eight-guest table and bowed to indicate that I finished. Linda waved her hand casually to suggest that she no longer needed me. I passed Master Black on my way out the door, and just as I moved passed him, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close, forcing me to bend over so that our faces were level.
The motion shocked me, and I started to shake in fear while sucking in a huge gulp of air to stifle the scream that begged to escape. We were so close that I was able to precisely determine that Master Cyler Black smelled of cinnamon and mint, the combination matching his rustic appearance.
He then asked me a shocking, yet simple, question that no one else had ever bothered to ask. “Are you happy here?” His deep-brown eyes bore into me, and I could almost feel his stare tickling at the base of my soul. I looked around the room for assistance. His question was unusual at best, and I wasn’t sure what the correct answer was. You didn’t need to be happy to be safe.
“Answer him, Ashleigh,” Josiah ordered with more force than necessary. “The Dormas Providence is considering accepting some of our homeless, Walker citizens into their community and providing them with jobs in their mines.”
The Walker overpopulation was becoming an increasingly apparent problem, despite the sterilization law that went into effect last year. I, too, would be expected to report to headquarters on my nineteenth birthday in a couple of months to be sterilized. Moving these Walkers to a neighboring Providence would ease a significant burden from Josiah's shoulders. I swallowed deeply.
“Yes, I am happy. The Stonewell family is very good to me,” I replied in half honesty. “They purchased me as a young child after my family died from Influenza X.” I shuddered at the memory of my parent's death, and Master Black watched my distress with a look that mimicked pity. I was three when my parents died of that horrible disease. From what little I could remember, it was crippling to watch them suffer.
Sometimes at night I still remembered them. The way my mother smelled of lilac and how I envied her soft curls. I remember my father’s bright smile and kind eyes. They were poor but happy.
They couldn’t give me much, but in the end, they gave me the greatest gift of all:
immunity.
Being exposed to Influenza X allowed me to discover that I was in the top 2% naturally immune to it. Because of this, I was allowed to be procured by a high-ranking family as help. Josiah used to fondly tell me that he begged his parents for me because I looked like a princess, and he wanted to rescue me like a knight in one of his books.
Mr. Black nodded thoughtfully and pulled me closer, jerking me out of my memories.
“Our providence recently acquired an impressive fortune. A gold mine was discovered within our borders making us one of the richest Providences in the empire,” he said simply. “However, this discovery has been accompanied by some complications. Our population dwindled when we succumbed to the X outbreak, and we were unable to afford the vaccine that Galla produces. We need people to harvest our gold and defend our mines against neighboring scavengers. We are considering allowing Walkers into our village to work in exchange for vaccinations, food, and shelter.”
I considered his deal and smiled. It would give Walkers the opportunity to make their way to a new place.
“Our trade is still in the finalization process,” Josiah interrupted. “This will only apply to our homeless Walkers, those with jobs or belonging to families will not be traded,” he quickly added in what I assumed to be his attempt at covertly comforting me. “We also need to discuss further the terms of payment. It won't be cheap to vaccinate all the Walkers you want, and we have a monopoly over the vaccine.”
“Ahhh! Always talk of money with the Galla Providence,” Mr. Black interrupted. “I think I might like for this particular Walker to join me back in the
Dormas Providence,” he said with a playful smile. I found it difficult to believe that the hard, threatening man that scared me earlier was the same one that smiled at me.
“That is truly a kind offer, but I am pleased with my position here in the Stonewell family,” I answered automatically.
“Oh, babe. You wouldn’t be a servant in my home,” he whispered, and my cheeks heated at his insinuation.
“Enough,” Josiah ordered while pounding his fist on the dining room table. Everyone turned to stare at him. His face was red, and I noticed a small vein throbbing consistently on his forehead. He was visibly upset.
“I apologize, Josiah! Wasn’t it you that said Walkers were like roaches?” Master Black took a sip of his wine, and the hurt that coursed through me stabbed at the edges of my heart. I kept my face still to keep the tears at bay. Josiah didn’t respond and again avoided looking at me. I couldn’t help but feel betrayed.
"The Walker phenomena is a new concept to the Dorma Providence. Everyone within our community contributes. Wealth and status do not determine a citizen's rations. I find your ways peculiar,” he continued.
“Respectfully, I’d like to add that, obviously, your ways aren’t necessarily working. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here negotiating for Walkers to help with your little skirmishes with the scavengers.” Mistress Stonewell took a bite of her food after saying that. She had a happy gleam in her eyes.
Master Black smiled politely in response, but I noticed his knuckles were white and clenched tightly in the form of a fist. “Oh yes, ma’am, you are quite right, but I’d like to add that it was you that invited me. I wonder what that says about the effectiveness of your system.” His boisterous laugh then filled the room, making me smile. Despite his rough, severe exterior, Master Black was snarky and fun.