by L. S. O'Dea
“Put that away,” whispered the Guard.
He slid the knife into the sheath as he stepped back, frowning at Ray’s hand on Trinity. Jackson shook his head in warning.
“When are you going to come and be mine, my darling,” purred Ray.
“When are you going to give up all your other mates?” She stepped away from him but kissed his cheek, softening her rejection.
“Anything for you, my dear.” Ray chuckled and turned toward the table. “Tim, give me your daughter.”
Hugh’s hand drifted to his knife again. Ray was a player. It was written in every line on his face and every practiced movement he made. Trinity wasn’t going to be with this male. He’d make sure of that. Jackson grabbed his arm, tight. He glared at the Guard.
“I’ve told you. You’ll have to woo her like everyone else,” said Tim.
Ray laughed loudly. “Everyone else has failed. I will woo her in my own way.” He winked at Trinity.
She smiled, rolling her eyes.
“But enough about us, my love.” Ray turned toward Hugh, his smile wide, but it no longer reached his eyes. “Let me get a good look at High Hugh Truent.”
Jackson dropped his hold on Hugh’s arm but didn’t move away.
Hugh pushed back his hood. “Thank you for the cloak and”—he glanced at Trinity—“the stain. It was very effective.”
“And very odiferous.” The animosity in Ray’s eyes lessened a little. “Come, High Hugh.” He glided back to the table and the others followed.
Tim stood, giving Trinity a quick hug. “You’re late. I was worried.”
“We had to travel along the river.”
“Why? That doubles the time.”
She tipped her head at Hugh.
“I wasn’t that loud,” he said under his breath.
“Please. Ten Producers are quieter.”
Everyone laughed and his face heated. The fact that at this moment he was glad he was covered in shit because it hid his embarrassment really summed up his life. “I never claimed to be an expert in the forest.”
Tim grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him close. He stiffened and then forced himself to relax. This wasn’t one of the prison Guards. A fist to the gut wasn’t coming.
“I’m glad you’re safe.” Tim hugged him harder.
His throat tightened. All he could do was nod. Before his arrest, they’d realized that the dislike that they’d had for each other for most of their lives stemmed from how they’d been raised, especially the two different sets of rules. When Hugh’s father had been gone, his mother had treated Tim as a member of the family and Hugh had resented her love for the Servant. When Hugh’s father had been home, Tim had hated being forced to play the role of House Servant.
Tim gave Hugh one last pat on the back and then pulled out a chair. “Sit. Rest.”
He sat and Tim took the chair next to him. Jackson sat off to the side, eyes roaming the room but not in appreciation of all the females. The Guard was uneasy, not particularly welcome in this House Servant hideout. Trinity sat next to her father and started filling a plate with fruits and bread.
Ray studied him from across the table as the Servants from the other area trickled through the door until the room was close to bursting. Hugh’s stomach rumbled, but this was Ray’s domain and it wouldn’t be wise to eat without an invitation.
A pair of green eyes, gleaming in the corner, caught his attention. They were slanted and exotic, staring from the darkness. It was a female. He didn’t know how he knew but he did. There was something about her eyes—a knowledge, a promise of pleasure—that drew him. Keeping her gaze locked with his, she stepped forward into a shaft of light from a nearby lamp. She was exquisite, small but perfectly shaped. She wore a robe that shimmered against her body, accentuating her curves with each breath. She had long, wavy brown hair. He couldn’t guess her age. Her face was round and smooth, her skin flawless, but she was no child. Her eyes betrayed her experience. She was a female fully grown. She motioned almost imperceptibly to a younger, dark-haired female who then pushed away from the wall and sauntered toward them.
Ray picked up a slice of bread. The dark-haired female took it from his hand, breaking off a small piece. She offered it to Ray and he pulled the bread and the tips of her fingers into his mouth, sucking slightly. His hand ran down her back and rested on her hip. Her lips curved in a sly grin as she stared at Hugh.
He glanced back at where the older female had been but she was gone. Trinity glared at him as she stuffed a hunk of fruit in her mouth, chewing forcefully. He had no idea what she was upset about this time. He sent her a questioning look and her eyes shot across the room, landing on the mature female he’d seen earlier. The female’s lips tipped up at the corner and he could’ve sworn that Trinity snarled at the other woman before turning her glare back toward him.
“Are you not hungry, High Hugh?” asked Ray, keeping his arm around the brunette as she fed him tiny pieces of food.
“I am.” He turned his attention to his host. “However, this is your home and I wouldn’t dare to presume that your food is mine.” His time at the Council building would serve him well. He was quite familiar with pissing matches.
Ray studied him a long moment and then smiled. This time it almost reached his eyes. “Please, eat.”
His stomach rumbled again, but he hesitated before taking a plate. “Is there somewhere I can wash first?” He held up his hands which were covered in the stain.
Ray nodded and a female Servant went through a back door to return a moment later with a pitcher and dishes. “I’m surprised jail hasn’t made you less particular about hygiene.”
“I don’t mind dirt, but this is shit.”
The female Servant placed a bowl in front of him, filling it with water. He began washing his hands as she glided around the table, placing another bowl next to Trinity. A few of the other Servants laughed as Trinity stopped eating. Her face reddened and her eyes flew to him, accusing.
He hadn’t meant to insult her, especially in front of the others. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. My hands are full of shit, not hers.” He held her gaze for a moment, and there was a flicker of gratitude beneath the anger. He turned to Ray who was studying them. “Thank you for your hospitality.” He grabbed a plate, filling it with whatever was at hand.
“It seems that the stories about you are correct.” Ray ran his hand up and down his companion’s back. “Unexpected, but not disappointing.”
“And what did you hear,” he asked, around a mouthful of bread.
“That you truly believe in equality of the classes.”
He took a drink of water from the glass in front of him. “I do. We aren’t so different, genetically speaking.”
“So you said, although you failed to prove it.” There was steel under the Servant’s cordial tone.
“Not his fault,” said Tim.
“No. He’s right.” Hugh’s eyes locked with Ray’s. “Mostly. I failed to prove it so far.”
“And how do you plan on proving it this time, High Hugh?” Ray leaned forward, removing his arm from the female. “The last time you tried you ended up on executioner’s row.”
He finished the last bit of food on his plate and sat back, buying time to try and figure out what this Servant wanted from him. Everyone had an agenda, even him. Ray’s warehouse was filled with items. Maybe, they could help each other. “I’ll set up a lab and prove that my claims are true and then I’ll expose the treachery that poisons our leadership.” He took a handful of berries. It was time to push back a little. Males like Ray fed on weakness. “And while we’re on the topic of those in power, I’m no longer High Hugh. That title was stripped when I was charged with treason.”
“You’ll remain High Hugh to me.” Ray leaned back, his green eyes piercing.
“It is an honorary that sets me above most others and I no longer agree with that.”
“Too bad,” said Ray. “You’ll always be High Hugh to
us.”
Some of the Servants surrounding them hissed and whispered their agreement. The tension in the room was rising. They were outnumbered and surrounded, but he was no longer High Hugh Truent. That man had been an arrogant fool. That man had owned people. He hated that man. Tim shook his head in warning.
“As you wish.” His jaw clenched but he bowed his head slightly.
One side of Ray’s mouth tipped up in satisfaction and his eyes gleamed with the power of one in charge.
“Since we are in your home.” He met the Servant’s glare. Appearing weak would be suicide. He’d learned that in jail.
“Are you saying that outside of here I cannot call you High Hugh?” Ray’s claws were out, tapping rhythmically on the table.
“I’d rather you never called me by my honorary.” He couldn’t keep the venom from his words. His former life, his former self, had been toxic, killing all who got close. “That’s a life and a person who no longer exists and I don’t want either of them back.” He leaned forward. “However, I’m not your boss or your better. You can call me whatever you want.”
Ray’s green eyes bored into his, studying, evaluating. He didn’t blink but he was starting to worry that he’d made a fatal mistake as the surrounding Servants moved closer.
“I’m not sure what to make of you, High Hugh. The stench of your fear covers the odor of the stain”—he glanced around the table—“and that isn’t an easy smell to mask.”
The others chuckled at Ray’s joke.
“And yet, you hold your own.” Ray turned to Tim. “I have more faith in your brother and our plans. They just might work.”
“They will,” said Tim.
“What plans?” He glanced at Trinity. He had a pretty good idea what they wanted, but he’d let them spell it out for him.
“You haven’t told him?” asked Ray.
“Didn’t have time,” said Tim. “We were supposed to travel together, but...things happened.”
Ray’s eyes met the slender, dark-haired female and she moved closer, leaning against him. “Then I suggest you get it done so we can move on to more pleasant topics.” He pulled the girl onto his lap.
Tim nodded and faced Hugh. “I wanted some time to give you the history, but I can do that later. Basically, we need your help.”
He glanced at Trinity. Her golden eyes were studying him with quiet hope and expectation. He fought the urge to squirm in his seat. He was tired of disappointing females.
“We need you to lead the Allied Classes,” said Tim.
“What exactly is the Allied Classes? Although, I think I can guess.” His eyes darted to Trinity again. She hadn’t mentioned that they had a name. Perhaps, they were more organized than she’d led him to believe.
“When you stated that all the classes were genetically similar it started”—Tim’s eyes darted around the table—“a movement. Many of us realized that we deserve better. Since we are genetically equal to the Almightys, we should be treated as such and the AC was born.”
“I never said we were genetically equal. I said similar.” The angry whispers of the Servants started again. He probably should’ve kept that to himself. He had to fix this. He held up his hand. “Calm down. Similar doesn’t mean inferior. I agree that all of us should be considered equals in the eyes of the law, but we aren’t genetically identical.”
“You’re right,” said Trinity. “We’re superior to Almightys. We can see better, hear better, run faster, jump higher and—”
“Yes. You’re physically superior to Almightys.” He was tired of hearing how lacking he was. She’d damaged his pride more in one day than all his years in prison.
The crowd quieted except for a few snickers and mumbles of agreement.
“However, we seem to have gotten off topic.” He turned back to Tim. “I’m glad that you’re demanding better treatment, but I don’t see what that has to do with me.” His eyes went to each Servant at the table. “Trinity has explained about your fight and that I’m the face of your movement.” He smiled slightly. “Not exactly sure how that happened, but I’m honored.”
“Then you’ll help us?” asked Trinity.
“No. I’m powerless. Less than powerless. I have no money, no connections and no friends with connections. Worse than that, I’ll be hunted and more than likely captured at some point. The best I’d do is become a martyr for your cause and I’m not ready for that role.”
“If we’d wanted a martyr we’d have left you in jail,” mumbled Trinity.
“Trinity,” said Tim. “Don’t say that.”
“Why? It’s the—”
Tim grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side of the room.
Her words were like a kick in the gut. Deep down he’d known that they hadn’t risked their lives to rescue him because they cared for him, but there’d been a whisper of hope in his bruised soul that he’d meant something to someone. The truth was he’d gotten exactly what he’d wanted in life. He’d been rich, famous in his field and successful. He’d been too busy and self-consumed to build real friendships. Even his relationship with Viola had started because she’d been Conguise’s daughter. She was smart, pretty and she would’ve been the perfect wife for an up-and-coming, young scientist like himself. The fact that he wasn’t sure that he’d ever truly loved her ate at him every day. She’d deserved better than him.
He was tired and all he wanted to do was to see someone who did care about him and that was a short list. He’d never see his sister again, unless he was arrested. He couldn’t risk involving her in his life. So, that left Sue. He smiled slightly. His only true relationships had been with his Guards. He turned in his chair. “Tim, it’s okay. I’d rather the truth than lies. If we’re done here, could someone take me to see Sue?”
Tim said a few more whispered words to his daughter and then walked back to the table. She followed him, almost bristling with indignation.
“But, it’s not true.” Tim sat down next to him. “I was coming for you no matter what.” He put his hand on Hugh’s shoulder. “You’re my brother.”
He leaned back in his seat and almost groaned. Another kick in the gut. “About that.” He might as well get this over. “We’re not related.”
Tim laughed and then stopped when Hugh didn’t grin. “What are you talking about? You said—”
“So, you lied to us. See Dad, I told you we couldn’t trust Almightys. They’re liars and cowards.”
He ignored her. Her comments didn’t deserve a response. He turned so he was looking directly at Tim. “When I said we were brothers, I believed it. I believed Barney.”
“Don’t bring my grandfather into this,” said Trinity.
He spun around. “Please shut up for one minute. Just one minute.”
Her mouth dropped open and silence fell over the room. She blushed as a few of the female Servants giggled.
He’d embarrassed her again, but this time he wasn’t sorry. There was only so much of her mouth he could take in one day. He turned back to Tim. “As I was saying, I believed Barney but I needed proof. It was one thing to tell everyone that Producers and House Servants could create viable offspring and something else entirely if Almightys could procreate with the other classes.”
There were a few murmurs of agreement from the Servants around the table.
“I compared your blood to mine and we’re not related.” He looked into Tim’s eyes and he was sorry. The Servant had been a part of his life since he’d been born. It’d been nice believing they were brothers.
“Are you sure?” Tim’s vibrant green eyes dimmed with sadness.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I was going to tell you, but then I was arrested and...it never came up when I talked to Little Sarah and I had no way to contact you.”
“So, I’m not part Almighty.” Trinity glared at him. “Thank Araldo.”
“I didn’t say that.” He grinned at her but it was more a baring of his teeth than a smile.
“What?” She almost screamed.
>
“Tim is half Almighty.”
“How can that be?” asked Tim. “You said—”
“I said we weren’t related and we’re not, but one of your parents was an Almighty. I’m assuming that Barney is your father. I don’t see any reason for him to lie about that.”
“Why would he lie about my mother?” asked Tim.
“At the time, he wanted me to rescue you.”
“And you’d feel more obligated to rescue your brother than a family House Servant,” said Tim.
“I would’ve gone to get you anyway.” It was true. He’d done it for his mother and he’d wanted access to the fifth floor in Conguise’s laboratory, but mostly, he’d gone because Tim was family of sorts.
Tim’s gaze locked with his. “And I would’ve broken you out of jail even if I’d known you weren’t my brother.”
“What if you’d known I wouldn’t help with your fight?”
“Yes. We may not be related by blood but you’re still family. I remember when Mo...Sarah brought you home.”
He believed Tim and he was thankful for the loyalty.
Ray nudged the female Servant from his lap and clapped his hands. “Bravo. You’re one big, happy family again.” Trinity snorted and he glanced at her, smiling. “Well, almost.” His smile died as he faced Hugh. “I don’t want to break up your reunion but we have issues to discuss, ones that affect many of us.”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t help with this fight of yours and”—he glanced around—“you aren’t going to like this but you should stop. Surrender or run off. Do whatever you have to in order to stop this rebellion before it becomes something more and you’re all dead.”