I’ve never been to Rome, but it’s the classiest place in the City, designed and reserved for coupling and engaged twosomes. I’m wearing a figure-hugging, silver evening gown, on loan from the inventory. Everything needed is readily available, thanks to the pagos. Frowning at the thought, I catch my train.
Castor stands up looking perfect, like a wax figure when I enter the restaurant. His skin bronzed and eyes perfect… but empty. “Freya,” he says, pleasantly surprised. “I’m glad you made it.” Right away, he touches my hand, making his claim, and kisses it gently.
Couples at every table stare, wide-eyed at us. Castor Quinn and Freya Skarsgard. They’ve already created re-enactments about our relationship that air regularly. I refuse to watch them, but December tells me how dishonest and exaggerated they are.
“Freya,” he says my name again, enjoying it. “So I think we should start planning our future.” He pulls out my chair and then takes a seat. “I have been assigned to the Council starting July 30th. My Father will be retiring and I will be taking his place. This means that right away we will be living in building 40.”
He smiles. Building 40 is the highest ranking living-quarters in the City. Only Creators and Council members are permitted to live there.
I force a smile. He orders for me from the fixed menu digitally installed in the table. A hologram appears with the food selection and illuminates with the words “20 minutes,” in reference to the estimated cook time.
Glancing around, everyone is still staring. Then, I notice a couple in the corner. It’s Apollo and Andromeda!
Apollo is resting his elbows on the table with his enclosed hands resting on his chin. Andromeda is talking, but Apollo keeps looking at me. He smiles and looks back at Andi when he notices me watching him. How is this going to be easier?
For a minute I hate him. His being here makes this a million times worse. Why does he want to torture himself?
My shoulders lift in agitation, and I fidget in my chair. Castor is still droning on. “We need to have two children before we can move on with our relationship.” I almost gag. He means consummate it.
“Yeah, that is important…listen will you excuse me?” I say, and stand up to go to the restroom. Castor blinks like he’s coming out of a stupor and says, “Sure.” Apollo watches me and leans in to whisper something to Andi before standing up to follow me. I hurry and dart toward the over-sized, luxurious hallway, decorated with gold and maroon emblems and wallpaper. Pictures of Creators evenly placed down both walls with a large portrait of Saros at the end.
Couples casually stroll together down the corridor, laughing softly and discussing their interests. There is a large opening that leads to the women’s and men’s restrooms. I wait there.
Apollo turns the corner and bumps into me on his way to go inside the women’s room. “Ouch, that’s a little persistent. You must really enjoy women’s bathrooms,” I say satirically.
“How can you joke right now?” His beleaguered eyes are vacant of humor. “How can you come here? You knew where we would be. Do you enjoy watching me with him? I don’t see how this is going to help.”
“Of course, not,” he says, like he finds my questions stupid. “You look amazing.” He bites his fist melodramatically, eyeing my figure.
“Well— I start to say.
“I want to go through the scanner with you,” he says, cutting me off.
I’m speechless. “You’ll let me try to appeal with a geneticist?” My heart suddenly fills with joy. “Yes, you haven’t announced your engagement yet—
And if the Council refuses, we can leave together?”
“We leave together,” he says.
“What?” I almost shout in disbelief.
The happiness is so overwhelming, I hug him tight. He touches my arms softly and unravels them from his neck. “We have to stay out of trouble until then,” he says, and smiles. My smile.
“I still have to find the Saevas and I want to help the people for good.”
“We’ll figure that out once we know what’s going to happen,” he says. He truly is the loveliest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. I turn to go back to my table.
“I love you,” he whispers.
This giant, muscular, beast of a man is mine. Every word I say he clings to, always fascinated by my every move. I’ve never felt more loved. “I love you, Baby,” I say, the words coming from the very depths of my soul. I walk back to my table, beaming in blissful nirvana, my smile starting to hurt my cheeks.
I rush through dinner. The food, as always, is the perfect macronutrients distributed in interesting soups, bars, and casseroles. My meal was very rich tasting, lessening my anger about Castor ordering for me.
“So why don’t you play Ignis Impetus with Roman?” I ask casually, killing the time. “Our Father wouldn’t let me. Roman wasn’t prearranged to be on the Council, so he’s allowed to get injured,” he laughs. “I see.” I take a bite of my food. Apollo still watches me in between conversation with Andi, jealousy stinging me probably more than it is him.
“What are you doing after this?” Suddenly it becomes clear that he wants to be alone with me. Stuttering for a moment, I’m finally able to gather my composure to speak. “I was planning on meeting December.”
“Oh, because I was kind of hoping we could go to the tower, or you could come over to my house. It’s allowed now.” An evil glimmer sparkles in his blue eyes.
“Maybe another time,” I say in as friendly a tone as I can manage. He’s openly irritated, dropping his muscular chest back in his seat. I’m learning he’s very immature. Why they’ll trust him to be a leader is beyond me.
We finish eating and he heads to the Sky behind me. Walking quickly, I half-heartedly try to lose him.
“I can ride with you back to your place,” he says.
“I might just meet her at the archives. Thanks, though.” Now he’s extremely irritated. “So you’re waiting here for the 7 o’clock? That’s not for another half an hour.” He pauses. “I can wait with you,” he says, running his hand down my back. Reaching around I pull my hair over my shoulder, interrupting his touch. “No, that’s okay.” I say, irritably.
“Ahem.” A man clears his throat from behind us. Looking back, I realize its Apollo. I tell him with my eyes to stay out of it. Castor turns and backs up a few steps, distancing himself from Apollo. It’s obvious he doesn’t want any involvement from the massive, Ignis Reaper.
Andromeda gives me an evil grin and moves closer to Apollo. I’m just happy they’re not engaged. Otherwise, I know she would be glued to his body. Turning back around, I pretend not to notice as the Skytrain arrives.
Castor is hesitant to board, but I tell him to “Go,” a little more rudely now. He rolls his eyes and gets on the Sky train, followed by the glowing Andromeda and Apollo. Her dark hair matches Apollo’s perfectly, a mental note that makes me feel irrationally distraught, maybe because it makes them look perfect together.
Apollo winks at me as the doors close. I smile and turn to go back inside.
I roam the halls of Rome for thirty minutes, taking in the restaurant’s beauty. We are extremely fortunate, Apollo’s words haunt me. If we go through with the scan, there’s no turning back. But no matter what alternative I try to think up, there’s no denying how I feel and no way I can pair with Castor and live in this City alongside Mr. and Mrs. Apollo and Andromeda Ailmar.
I go to the community closet and get a faux-fur coat to protect against the dropping temperatures. When I get outside, the air is wafting with the usual bitter chill; I can smell the moisture on the buildings, like cement after rain without the warmth.
The skytrain is right on-time as usual.
A large, muscular figure appears as the doors open, and Apollo exits gracefully. His mouth creases into a half grin, his stone-blue eyes stand out against his olive complexion and the grey of the background. He adjusts his jacket, lifting his broad shoulders, before stepping forward.
“Are you re
ady?” he asks, in his crisp, baritone voice.
18
People stare as we take the Skytrain to gamble our entire lives away, hoping for phenomenal results from the Match Compatibility Scanner. “I’m your trainer. They don’t know why we’re together. Don’t panic,” he says, gazing at my face, trying to read my expression. “I’m not. But it’s going to be pretty obvious once we reach 151.” I smile through my nerves.
“I love you, Baby” he says.
I breathe out hard. “I love you.”
For a moment he looks like he is going to kiss me, but turns away after I break eye contact, awakening to reality and realizing we’re in public. “When we get there, why don’t you let me wait in line alone, and you come and meet me when I’m called. I don’t want anyone interfering. I want to see our results more than anything. And it’s not that I need our genetic compatibility, I just hope the results are phenomenal so they’re enough for the Council to consider letting us pair,” I say, the fear of someone stopping us is very real.
“Okay,” he says softly, as we arrive at Building 151. We exit separately, allowing other passengers to fill the gap between us.
The line isn’t as long as usual, barely straggling outside the building. Apollo takes a seat on the concrete steps, a strong, powerful, and picture-perfect man. He’s so impeccable, it’s surreal. He sits steadily and faultlessly, it’s like he was carved from stone and placed on those wide, solid stairs for our viewing pleasure.
It’s an unbelievable feeling to know that he’s mine. Well, I have his heart. It will be up to the Council if I will ever be permitted to openly call him mine. But I have hope, which is more than I’ve had in a long time.
When my name is called, Apollo appears out of thin air and takes his place beside me as we are led into the familiar strikingly, white room by a woman with silver hair. I lead him through the usual process of placing our hands on the processor to retrieve our genetic files. Resting his hand gently on the processor, he appears uncomfortable. His hair hangs wild and his dark lashes and brows encase those perfect cerulean eyes, shimmering blindingly bright from the florescent lighting.
There’s something vicious in Apollo’s masculinity, in the way he carries himself, in his features. I’ve always been so intimidated by him, and still am, aside from the fact that I’ve fallen in love with this frightening Messorum. The deepness of my desire is scary, but beneath that hard exterior is a beautiful man wrapped around my finger. And I know without a doubt, he wants what’s best for me.
He always tries to do the right thing, in every situation, even if it goes against what he wants in the moment.
I struggle with that. Sometimes I react without thinking and don’t understand the consequences of my actions. But I know without hesitation or reservation, a life without Apollo would be miserable. Somehow I knew he would belong to me. Every woman in the City probably dreamed that they would end up with him, but for me it was more than that. It was like meeting my other half, the person that encourages me to be better, strengthening my resolve and weaknesses.
Apollo mouths “You’re beautiful,” as the scanner processes, holding my gaze. The intensity gets to be too much, and I look away first.
The door lifts and Dr. Rios steps into the room. “Hello, Freya,” he says, recognition gleaming from his eyes. “Hello.”
“You two,” he says, staring at us both for a moment in astonishment. Excitement spreads across his face.
“You two are what we call an Optimum Match.
Well optimum matches are over ninety percent compatibility with at least one perfection being passed on to your offspring. You two scored a ninety-seven percent! It’s the highest I’ve ever seen.
Apollo actually smiles and laughs, influencing a chain reaction that spreads to Dr. Rios. Both men are beaming. “That’s not all. We are not able to determine all the perfections your children will adopt, but it’s unlike anything we’ve seen. I am submitting my report to the Council,” he says, enthusiastically.
Apollo’s previous happiness falters. He eyes me for reassurance, and I breathe in deep and smile. “Actually, we need to talk to you about that. Um— I need a geneticist to plea on our behalf, against our selected pairings as soon as possible.
Without hesitation, Dr. Rios says, “I accept. These results are unbelievable. And might I say, Apollo, I’m a huge fan of yours, and I see here that this is your first time through the MCS. You made an incredible selection with Ms. Freya.”
Dr. Rios studies me with his eyes slowly, prompting Apollo to clear his throat in a threatening manner, startling the smaller man. “Oh. Well you can both get your files at the front. Freya, you know the drill,” he says, this time he looks away quickly, keeping his lustful observations to himself.
“Oh, and fill out the information you pick up today, and I can appear before the Council with your results. Have a good day.” The doors lift and he departs promptly.
“It’s happening!” I say, before getting choked up. “I know.” Apollo’s smile is breathtaking. “We have to leave immediately if things don’t go right,” he says, falling serious again. “I don’t understand how they could deny our results,” I say.
“Freya, they don’t care about the results.” He slowly takes a few steps toward me. “Everything we need to leave the City will be ready; just get to the hovercrafts, bird two. Okay?” Dropping my shoulders in frustration, I lean my forehead to his chest. He wraps his arms around me, but releases them after a few seconds, undoubtedly realizing the building is heavily monitored.
“It could work out for us.” I say, trying to be optimistic. “This is why I love you. You’re single handedly going to change the world because you believe you can.” He pauses. “But promise me, that if things go wrong, you’ll get to the hovercraft. Don’t bring anything, just get there.”
“I promise.”
“Good.
But this room is probably being monitored. Let’s go get the information and get out of here,” he says.
Apollo takes the Skytrain after mine, hoping to dodge more suspicion than we are already dealing with. It’s a lost cause since we are both heavily watched by the media. The City has eyes everywhere, and right now I feel like they are all watching me.
Tonight’s the gathering, so I applied to go before the Council first thing in the morning. Wearing a navy blue pencil skirt and turtle neck, I’m intending to appear as sophisticated as possible.
My heels click down the hallway with the strange doors until I pause, seeing Dr. Rios seated in a waiting area near the Council’s courtroom. He greets me warmly.
“Why do you need an appeal? Did you already get engaged?” He says. Sitting down in a white chair, he takes a seat next to me. “It’s not announced yet, but the Council is influencing me to pair with Castor Quinn.” The geneticist is quiet for a moment, before turning back to me. “He’s going to be on the Council,” he states, mostly to himself.
“Is that a problem?” I ask. He looks like he’s struggling to find an answer. “It’s just usually those pairings are set in stone. You can’t change it.” My heart sinks. Sitting in silent despair, I try to appear confident. “Are you still going to appeal?”
“I mean, I’ve pled a Council member case before. Unfortunately, those have been the only cases I’ve been unable to influence.”
A secretary appears and ushers us into the room. Where is Apollo? Did he change his mind?
Everything is tall and overpowering: the colors of the room, the tables, the chairs, and the platform where the Council is seated. Feeling frightened and overwhelmed, I fight hard to have a calming appearance.
Mel Quinn’s expression turns to extreme irritation when he reads over our case. When he finally glances up at me, there is pure hatred radiating from his eyes. If looks could kill, I would be dead and buried by now.
“Freya Skarsgard, what are you doing here?” Mel asks, flatly.
“I came to influence the best genetic pairing for myself and my future o
ffspring. This is Dr. Rios— “I thought the Council already made it perfectly clear that you will pair with Castor Quinn. Apollo is not Creator bloodline, you cannot pair with him.” The room falls silent. No one moves.
“Let me explain this once and for all. You, Freya, are the best female genetic advancement available for this generation. You will pair with Castor who will ascend to the Council and has a chance to become Saros someday. Apollo, likewise, is the best male specimen, and will pair with Andromeda, so their children can rise to the Council. We already know that together you’re compatibility and percentage would be superb. However, the advancements needed are those that the City takes full credit for, and they will go to the Council.”
He gazes at his wrist as it illuminates. “The Council will not hear of this again. You are required to announce your engagement this evening, and pair officially by the end of the week. You are obligated to schedule your appointment with the infirmary to implant Castor’s male child within 3 weeks after marriage. Once a healthy male and female child is born for the City, Castor’s reproductive abilities will be rectified on schedule and you may have marital relations.”
My chest aches and my stomach spins. I’m going to be sick. I want to run up the staircase right away, but I remain calm. “You may go,” he says, harshly. “But remember, tonight.” Mel adds.
Once the door drops, I flea. My feet pound rhythmically as I take the stairs to the roof. Bursting through the large doors, I immediately begin searching for bird two. There are over a dozen aircraft in a perfect row, so I have to run the flight line to read them. Finally, I see it, the very last hovercraft; I scramble inside after forcing a side door open.
It’s empty.
There’s nothing inside: no bins, no bags, and no rations. Nothing. Breathing erratically, I lay inside, tears stream uncontrollably down my face. Why is he not here? Where is he?
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