by Zara Harris
“No one’s ever refused Kefi. Not the strongest Erostrians. And certainly not a human whore.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” I said, stepping backward to get away from him.
He shook his head. I had backed up until I was inches from the closet. He towered over me.
“My orders are to deliver you to Kefi’s suite. You can dress yourself and walk there, or I can dress you and drag you there by the hair. Your choice.” He leaned in close. “I’d prefer the second option.”
Trapped between him and the closet, I brushed the tears from my eyes hoping he hadn’t seen them.
“Fuck you,” I hissed, pushing against him with all my strength.
He was taken completely by surprise. I managed to knock him off balance and bolt for the door. I flung it open. Simo was still standing there, blocking my exit.
“Move,” I hissed frantically.
He stared down at me and I felt a strange twist in the pit of my stomach. Simo grabbed my elbows and forced me back into the room just as Tyno was steading himself against the closet.
“Thank you guard.”
“Not a problem,” he said, pushing me back into Tyno’s arms.
Chapter Ten
I stared at the ceiling as Tyno used what looked like a pocket knife to slice my sweater off. He bent and started to cut my jeans with surprising gentleness. I exhaled with relief.
He looked up at me, his amber eyes still blazing with anger. “Know that there’s only one reason I’m taking care not to cut you. It’s because I’d fear for my life if Kefi saw that I’d marked his property.”
I turned my head back to the ceiling, completely ignoring Simo.
“I don’t know why you turn away, brother,” Tyno said to him as he sliced through the thick denim.
Simo shrugged.
“I’ve heard about you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Tyno said, pulling my jeans away and leaving me standing there in my bra and panties. “Is it true what they say? Is that why you’re showing the Zeepa respect?”
I pushed Tyno away as he came at me again.
Cursing, he pushed me against the closet and used his blade to slice through my bra straps. “Well?”
Simo grunted. “You think too much. If it wasn’t for me she’d have gotten away.”
I cried out as Tyno cut away my panties, but it was Simo’s words and not my nakedness that hurt the most.
“True. Thank you brother,” Tyno said, throwing my ragged clothing on the ground and taking a step back to ogle at me. I had crossed my arms across my chest but it didn’t seem to matter to him.
I glanced at Simo, still with his back turned.
“You know what I like most about this post, brother?”
Simo’s huge shoulders shrugged.
“Watching the matings. Seeing him take and break these human whores.” Tyno’s spindly hands reached forward, trying to prize my arms away from my chest. I yelped and backed against the wall.
Simo’s eyes burned like fire. “Leave her. I’ve saved your life once today. I won’t do it again.”
Tyno pulled his hands back to his sides. “You’re right, I suppose. I envy your self-control, guard.”
Simo’s eyes were on me now, burning into me. I looked away. I was done trying to figure out where his allegiances lay. I wished for the thousandth time that it was him I had been mated to, not Kefi.
Tyno lifted the awful gown off its hanger and held it up over my head. My arms didn’t budge.
“Lift your arms,” he ordered.
I shook my head.
“Lift your arms,” Simo ordered.
I glared at him. “No.”
“Clementine.”
I shuddered at the warning in his voice. He stepped forward and stood behind me, holding me firmly by the waist. Tyno reached forward to grab my wrists and paused, hands hovered over my chest.
“Her arms, Tyno.”
Tyno snorted with frustration but he obeyed Simo and touched only my wrists to lift my arms above my head and through the spaghetti straps of the dress.
“I’m going to enjoy this mating,” he muttered.
He pulled the fabric over my body and smoothed down the skirts. As they led me out of the room I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. My heart sank. I looked like a whore. My breasts spilled out of the deep, scooped neckline. And the skirt was as transparent as I’d feared. I could see my legs clearly underneath.
They pushed me out of the room like a lamb to the slaughter.
Chapter Eleven
We walked the length of the long, narrow room to another door at the end. I gasped when I saw what was inside. This room couldn’t have been more different to the others I’d seen in the old cathedral. I had so many questions about Kefi, about this place, about what was about to happen to me. But I didn’t want to look at the bastards, never mind speak to them.
The room was large and bright and opulent. I realized it was the old bishop’s quarters, barely changed since before the takeover – unlike the rest of the building. It was obviously being used as Kefi’s chamber now. Much of the room was taken up by a huge four-poster bed on the opposite side beside the window. There was a free-standing claw foot bath in the corner. The walls were lined with tapestries and paintings. Afghan carpets lined the hardwood floors. I hadn’t seen anything like it since the takeover. I gasped at the beauty of the room, forgetting what was about to happen there.
Tyno tutted, obviously irritated by my reaction. I marveled in silence as they led me to the center of the room and made me turn around so that I was facing the door. Then Tyno retreated to one side of the door, gesturing for Simo to do the same.
It was only when Tyno pushed a buzzer on the wall that it really dawned on me. Maybe it was a blessing that I’d been distracted by the gorgeous room in this otherwise ruined old building. It was time for my mating.
Chapter Twelve
The door opened and I felt a sob escape my lips as I watched a paunchy middle-aged Erostrian enter the room. His face was covered in a film of greasy sweat. He paused on the threshold and looked me up and down with undisguised lust. I glanced at Simo in terror but he was staring at the ceiling.
“You must be my Zeepa,” he lisped, stepping closer and licking his lips.
I stood rooted to the spot.
“Answer me.”
I closed my lips tightly, defiant.
He laughed. I watched horrified as folds of skin under his expensive clothes shook. I turned away.
“Resist all you like, girl,” he said, reaching forward and stroking my chin with a cold, clammy finger. “You’re mine now.”
He stepped forward surprisingly quickly for a man of his size and grabbed my waist, pulling me toward him. I screwed up my eyes in disgust as his hands groped my body, landing on my ass and squeezing. I glanced at the door and saw to my surprise that Simo and Tyno were still standing there. Unlike Simo, Tyno watched us like a hawk, his face a picture of delight.
“They’re still here,” I said faintly.
Kefi smirked. “It is the custom.”
He twisted me around suddenly. Despite his weight, he was still far taller than me and had surprising strength. He grabbed my wrist and twisted it until I was sure it would give at any moment. I cried in pain as he pushed me toward the bed and threw me down on it. His breathing was jagged as his fat cold fingers tossed layer upon layer of my dress aside.
“I don’t know why they need these damn things,” Kefi muttered.
The room was silent. I gasped as I felt cool air on my ass followed by his stumpy fingers, probing between my legs. I knew what he was looking for. I tried to twist away from him but it was hopeless. I screwed my eyes closed as his rough hands moved closer to my opening.
It took a couple seconds for me to realize that the anguished shout wasn’t my own. All of a sudden, the pressure of Kefi’s body was off me. I twisted around on the bed and looked up in astonishment.
&
nbsp; Simo was holding Kefi in a chokehold and had his huge hand clamped over his mouth preventing him from screaming anymore. Kefi’s face was red with fury, but it was nothing compared to the rage in Simo’s eyes.
“My pocket,” he whispered to me.
I rushed to his side and reached in the pocket of him military coat. Remembering Tyno, I paused and looked behind Simo. I gasped when I saw Tyno lying in a lifeless heap in the corner. I looked up at Simo.
“Hurry, Clementine,” he said softly.
My fingers locked around a small, cold tube. I pulled it out and saw that it was a syringe. I pulled the cap off. I looked to Simo for guidance. With one swift movement, he released Kefi and pushed him down onto the bed, shoving his head into the covers so he couldn’t scream. He reached out for the syringe with the other.
“His pants down, now,” he hissed.
The second I’d pulled down Kefi’s wool pants, Simo jabbed the needle into his white round butt. He waited a couple seconds until Kefi went limp on the bed.
“Is he dead?” I whispered.
Simo shook his head. “That’d be suicide.”
I rolled my eyes, gesturing to Tyno. “Isn’t this suicide?”
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he reached out and stroked my hair away from my face. I closed my eyes and relished his gentle touch. Despite my shock, the feeling of his fingers on my skin sent tingling sparks through my body.
“It was part of the plan.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door.
“Plan?” I gasped, as he reached the door.
He nodded, distracted. Effortlessly, he pulled me to him and grabbed my other wrist. His amber eyes were serious and sober.
“I’ll tell you everything when we get out of here. When it’s safe.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
He opened the door and peered outside. When he saw it was safe, he gestured for me to follow him.
I stepped into the empty corridor and followed him, trying to keep up with his pace. For such a huge man, he moved gracefully. When we reached the front doors, I held my breath. We hadn’t encountered another soul on our way out. It seemed too good to be true.
I could tell Simo was thinking the same way. He crept to the double doors and eased back the bolt. It was so old that it creaked no matter how gently he tried to open it. He cursed under his breath. I looked around nervously, convinced that someone was going to hear and follow us out of the house. Finally it slid open and the doors creaked ajar.
“Come on.”
I took his hand and together we raced down the steps and into the alleyway across the street. When we’d turned a couple corners he stopped to let me catch my breath. I smiled at him in relief.
“I was worried for a while.”
His eyes widened. “Don’t relax yet, Clementine,” he said, stroking my arm. “We need to get you to my quarters before anyone sees you.”
He was staring at my chest. I looked down. I’d forgotten about the mating gown.
“Yeah,” he nodded humorlessly. “You can’t be seen like this. Come on.”
Still breathless, I ran after him, trying hard to keep up his pace. “How far?” I panted.
“Five hundred yards,” he said without turning back or slowing down. “Try and keep up. I know you’re tired but run as if your life depends on it. Because it does.”
I ignored the pain in my limbs and focused on getting out of sight. When he slowed down and stopped at a rundown doorway I could barely feel my legs. I didn’t dare to assume we were safe until he’d unlocked the door and stepped aside to let me in.
“This is it,” he said.
I collapsed on the floor before he’d even shut the door behind us.
Chapter Thirteen
“Clementine. Clem.”
I forced my eyes open even though that was the last thing I wanted to do. My memory was slow to come back. All I knew was I was more exhausted than I’d ever been in my life. My eighteenth birthday. A cell.
“Clementine, please. We don’t have much time.”
It all came rushing back to me. I sat bolt upright. Simo was sitting at the end of the bed, watching me. He reached out and took my hand.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, but we need to leave soon.”
“Where are we going?”
I looked around the dim room. It was as sparsely furnished as my own home – just a small bed, dresser and cupboard. I wondered if it was more comfortable downstairs. The bedroom certainly wasn’t what I expected of an Erostrian guard.
He followed my gaze. “I know. It’s not very luxurious.”
I shrugged. “I just expected more is all. After Kefi’s place.”
“We’re not all the same, you know,” he laughed sadly, stroking the delicate skin between my fingers.
I shivered.
“What’s wrong, are you cold?” he asked.
I stared into his eyes and shook my head. He smiled.
“As much as I’d like to stay here with you, we need to leave.”
I frowned. “But where? I thought we were going to hide here until they stopped looking for me.”
“No Clementine,” he said softly. “That might have worked if you’d gotten away from the medical center. Even Tyno. But attacking Kefi? They’ll be looking for us when he wakes up.”
“How long?”
“You’ve been asleep for an hour. And the sedative works for eight. So six hours.”
I shook my head, unable to understand what he was saying. “How far can we go in six hours? They’ll still find us! Why not stay here. Why didn’t you kill him?”
He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “Listen to me. This is the first place they’ll come when Kefi raises the alarm. But there was no reason to kill him. I have a plan. If we can get to my brother in New York he’ll be able to help.”
“You can take me on the train, right?”
He nodded.
“Okay. But I don’t get how your brother can get us out of this much trouble.”
“He’s on the higher council,” Simo said, standing up and holding his hand out to help me up. “Only someone more senior that Kefi can intervene and save us.”
“And if he can’t?”
Simo looked grave. “Then we’re both worse than dead.”
Chapter Fourteen
I followed Simo out the door, wondering where he’d managed to find women’s clothes at such short notice. He had presented me with a pair of black skin-tight jeans and a slim-fitting grey t-shirt – not something a guy would have just lying around. I looked around as we walked through the alleys toward the train station. There was nothing but abandoned-looking buildings all around us. Then I realized: it hadn’t been a spur of the moment attack.
“How long had you been planning this?” I asked, walking as fast as I could to keep up with him. “And can you please slow down? We’re not on the run anymore.”
He took my hand and squeezed it tight for a brief, delicious second. “We’re not safe yet. We need to get to Saman.”
“But I thought…”
“You don’t have a giant target on your back anymore, no,” he hissed. “But we’re still in danger if the wrong person sees us. I’ll tell you everything when we’re safe.”
We walked the rest of the way in silence. I was relieved when we reached central station. What was once the main hub for the subway and regional trains was now a quiet oasis of calm in the city. The Erostrians has cancelled all metropolitan public transport because of the risk it could be used by protesters. Humans couldn’t own private vehicles either. The only option was to walk. They had kept the train lines open for longer journeys, but only Erostrians were allowed to travel by train.
“Will they believe I’m your Zeepa,” I whispered, taking his arm as we crossed the road in front of the station.
“Don’t use that word,” he hissed.
“But you all use it.”
“We’re not all the same.”
“Why don’t you�
��”
I was interrupted by a sallow-skinned Erostrian guard who wove his way unsteadily to us.
“Brother Simo! What’s this?”
“Yenta,” Simo said from pursed lips.
“Going back to your roots, friend?”
Simo’s features contorted so suddenly that for a split second I was sure I was looking at a stranger. I didn’t have time to react. Before I even realized what was happening, he had grabbed Yenta by the neck and heaved him back against the station wall. I rushed forward and tried to pull him away but I was no match for his strength.
“What did you say?”
Yenta sniggered. Up close I could see his eyes were bloodshot. His smell reminded of the alleyway brothels: sweat and stale booze.
“Simo,” I whispered, tugging at his sleeve. I had no idea what had set him off but he wasn’t giving up. He stared down at Yenta with such distain that I wouldn’t have been surprised if he snapped his neck.
“Simo,” I said more urgently. People around us were starting to stop and watch. “Come on, whatever it is it’s not worth getting arrested for.”
Simo turned to look at me. “Isn’t it?”
“Please.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. With a frustrated sigh, he released Yenta, who scurried away as soon as his filthy boots touched the ground.
“Who was that?” I whispered as we entered the station.
His mouth was set in a firm line. “No one.”
“Didn’t seem like no one,” I muttered, pulling his arm out of his.
“It doesn’t matter. Now’s not the time to talk about it.” He grabbed my arm back and pulled me through the station.
It was the first time I’d been here since the takeover. There were no longer any ticket booths or stores. And the snaking lines for the platforms weren’t there any more either. We walked straight to platform five.
“Aren’t you gonna pay?” I asked, more to break the silence than out of civic-mindedness. I didn’t give a damn about the Erostrian economy.
He shook his head. “We don’t pay.”
“Who does?”
“No one.”