The Fire Inside

by Skye Ryan

  Iolana smirked and then began walking towards the double doors. “Now let’s go see the kitchens. I want to see what’s for dessert.”

  Lia spent the rest of the afternoon showing Iolana around the compound and navigating the complex network of tunnels and passages.

  Iolana for her part didn’t mention anything further about her scheme, instead she played the part of the doting if not slightly off-balance wife. She acted as if she had a happy, bubbly air tinged with a kind of naiveté that the clergy found endearing. Lia was glad to be rid of her by the end of the afternoon. The things she had said set off an avalanche of thoughts Lia had often tried to stymie. And yet, the idea of being free, made her whole body tingle in anticipation.

  After she bade Iolana good evening and set off to retire for her one and only break of the day, her personal prayer, she came up to the small room and took in a deep breath.

  She passed a few other Constants on her way up to the prayer room, one of whom looked at her crossly. Lia recognized the Constant as Lena. There was no love lost between herself and the silly girl. Since she was chosen to be groomed for the Councilman, Lena had made it her personal mission to make Lia’s already hard life even more unbearable. A few times Lia had found herself being given to punishment due to some infraction caused by Lena’s actions. When Lia had been pulled away to be housed with a different set of Constants, her contact with Lena had been minimal. Lia had thanked whatever force had caused such a change. There was something cruel and unforgiving in Lena, and Lia preferred her now daily toils in the rectory and the kitchens and beyond to the easier work of sorting flowers and hanging sconces with Lena at her side.

  Lia shivered slightly as the girl passed her and hurried into the small, dimly lit room. There was only a candle, a small kneeling pad and window in the room. The personal prayer was set aside each day for Constants to “reflect,” on their duties to the Empire. The High Mother rarely inspected the rooms during prayer time and many Constants used the time to rest.

  Lia pulled off part of her heavy uniform and folded it into a pillow. She then laid on the cold, hard floor and closed her eyes. She had plenty of time for a nap until the next bell and this was the only part of the day Lia could honestly say she looked forward to. She thought for a moment of what had transpired earlier between herself and the Councilman’s wife Iolana, but she quickly dismissed the ideas that swirled about her mind. She unconsciously rubbed the module Iolana had given her in her pocket but soon found herself falling into a light, but much needed slumber.

  CHAPTER TWO

  L ia awakened just as the bell had begun ringing. She yawned and stretched, her body protesting a bit from lying on the stone floor. She quickly stood and pulled her top back onto her uniform and smoothed it out. She had one more task before overseeing dinner and she was determined to get it done so she could retire early. She grabbed a few supplies from a nearby closet and traipsed down the hallway, nodding to various Constants and clergy before heading off to clean the High Mother’s room. Lia found the task to be quite simple as the High Mother kept a mostly clean area. Her only grievance was having to procure all of the woman’s dirty undergarments and wash them by hand. The woman was incontinent; and she was too proud to receive aid by the healer and left the distasteful task to Lia. Lia pulled out a set of keys and looked through the set. She picked out the right one and opened up the door. She walked inside the anteroom, inspecting the area and dusting here and there. She was absentmindedly arranging the various bric-a-brac along the mantle above the hearth when she heard a small yelp, and then a long drawn out moan.

  Alarmed, Lia grabbed a small but heavy statuette. Was someone hurting the High Mother? Had rebels gained entry to attack? Lia couldn’t be sure, but she didn’t want to go in unprepared. She stalked slowly into the High Mother’s sleeping area and nearly dropped the statuette in shock. The High Mother was on her bed, skirts raised up above her waist and a nameless Constant was in between her legs, loudly slurping and licking.

  The High Mother was moaning and thrashing on the bed. She then grew nearly stiff and began gruffly giving instructions.

  “You stupid ninny, quicker and to the right. Yes, right there. Faster I said. I’m nearly there! Yes, yes, Oh!!” The High Mother gave a small yell and Lia bumped into the wall and dropped the statuette.

  The High Mother looked over and saw Lia standing there, a dumbfounded expression upon her face; she smiled cruelly.

  “Go about your duties. And be sure to wash your face and mouth,” she told the young woman whose face was flaming with embarrassment. The Constant was naked from the waist up and hurriedly pulled on her uniform and scuttled out the room.

  The High Mother languidly pulled her skirt down and stood. She smoothed her uniform and patted her hair.

  “I trust you will say nothing.”

  Lia stared in helpless astonishment before nodding.

  “Good. We are each other’s sisters. You may now clean the bed.”

  The High Mother strolled out of the room and Lia stared at the soiled sheets, her mind trying to mull over what she had just witnessed. The Empire was clear on behavior between those of the same sex, though Lia hardly cared what anyone did in that regard. She often turned a blind eye to the dalliances of her fellow Constants. Though there were times when they were found out, and they were often punished and never heard from again. Lia knew they were probably killed, and it was an example to others to operate with the utmost secrecy.

  No, Lia was shocked that the High Mother would engage in anything that was so forbidden by the Empire, that she would so brazenly flout the rules. The High Mother even actively discouraged masturbation; she would often punish Constants who were found to have touched or pleasured themselves, citing sexual desire outside creating a child “a sin to the highest degree.” Lia wasn’t shocked because the High Mother was attracted those of her ilk, no, Lia was shocked because the High Mother was a hypocrite. Lia walked over to bed and sniffed in distaste. The woman smelled bad. She felt sorry for the Constant who had the misfortune of pleasuring her. She looked down at the soaked linens with disgust. With a heavy sigh, she began stripping off the bed spread and sheets.

  She didn’t know why anything that anyone did in the Empire surprised her. They were all hypocrites to some degree she supposed. Lia came from the room with the linens bundled in her arms and she made her way to the laundry. She dropped them into a tub, filled it with hot water and soap and set it to soak while she went back to clean the rest of the room. She returned and swept quickly under the bed and around the room, dusted, wiped down the windows and straightened the High Mother’s wardrobe.

  She went back to the laundry and set about scrubbing the sheets and blanket. It was hard slogging work, but Lia enjoyed the solitude. The laundry was usually only busy the end of the week, when most of the compound underwent a weekly thorough cleaning. She pulled the soaked items into the machine for drying. It was the only truly modern convenience allowed to Constants, and it was only due to the desire for quick fresh linens. Most of the work around the grounds was done by hand, as the Empire often toted hard work over expediency. Once they had completely dried, Lia pressed and folded them. She quickly walked back to the High Mother’s room and made the bed. After giving the room a once over, she locked up and headed to the kitchens for dinner preparations.

  When she walked in, she expected the kitchens to be a hub of activity, but instead heads swiveled over to her as she came further in. She looked about in confusion and noticed that several guards were standing against the walls. She was wondering what was going on and then some semblance of an idea came to her when she noticed Lena’s face. Lena was smiling a bit evilly and Lia looked back at her with narrowed eyes, wondering what game she was up to now.

  Lena pointed to Lia and proudly proclaimed, “I saw her! I saw Constant Lia with—with a man not more than an hour ago! She was rutting with him.”

  One of the guards approached her. “Do you know the man she was com
mitting a sin with?”

  “No. He may have been a visiting clergy. But I know what I saw.”

  “That’s—that’s not true!” Lia stammered. “I am pure! I have been attending to my duties all day!”

  Lia noticed that the High Mother had walked in cane in hand. She rapped it a few times and stood, her hands primly folded.

  “The High Mother can vouch for me! I just went to clean her room. I finished her laundry, swept and dusted. That alone took me more than an hour.”

  The High Mother said nothing at first, then she shook her head. “I know not of what she speaks milord. I haven’t seen this Constant all day.”

  Anger swept through Lia. “You—you hypocrite! You know you saw me! You know what you did--,”

  “Guards,” the High Mother ordered, “Take her away. Give her some time to think about her actions.”

  The guards nodded and Lia made to run, but tripped over her long, heavy skirts. She felt herself being lifted up and struggled against the guards’ iron clad hold. She screamed and thrashed and then felt a prick against her skin and then darkness enfolded her.

  *

  Lia awakened tethered to a bed. She felt groggy and fuzzy. She tried to move her head and the room swam.

  “I bet you’re reconsidering my offer now.”

  Lia blinked rapidly a few times and then squeezed her lids tightly, willing her vision to clear. She slowly turned her head to see Iolana gazing at her dispassionately.

  “What did you do?” Lia asked and Iolana shrugged.

  “Not much. A bribe here, one there and you never know what kinds of things you can set in motion.”

  “What. Did. You. Do!” Lia yelled and struggled against her bonds. A shock went through her and her back arched off the bed.

  “My, my. You’ve found yourself in quite a pickle. Tsk. Tsk,” Iolana grinned. “You know, it wasn’t that hard to find out all the gossip around here. I knew Lena hated you, and I knew you walked in on the High Mother during her—em—afternoon session. It was easy to push Lena to say something that wasn’t true. She’s done it before. Especially for the price of extra food in her belly. And the High Mother, well, she could simply make sure you’re shut up permanently.”

  “But I didn’t do it! I’m innocent.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Iolana tone back hard and tinged with something akin to bitterness. “The Empire doesn’t run on facts and figures. It runs on fear. And the best way to perpetuate fear is to punish the innocent.”

  “Why did you do this?”

  “Because you were willing to do nothing. To sit around and be the Empire’s puppet.”

  Tears began to form in the corner of Lia’s eyes. “I’m just trying to survive. Is that so hard to understand?”

  “Surviving isn’t living. And now that you’ve been accused, there’s no telling what they’ll do to you.”

  Iolana’s hard expression melted and she looked down at Lia softly.

  “I will grant you another boon,” she said and Lia felt the bonds slip away. She slipped something into Lia’s hand and then smiled. “You know what needs to be done.”

  Iolana left the room, a jaunty tune whistling softly on her breath. Lia blinked and tried to think. She had built a life for herself as dependable, as adhering to the tenets of the Empire and this is what she had received for her efforts? She blinked back tears. Pathetic.

  She was still mentally wrestling with her situation when she heard the door open. The High Mother walked into the room, her cane rapping onto the hard floor.

  “Constant Lia,” she drawled. “Such a shame that you’re here. You were one of our best and the brightest.”

  Angry tears pooled in her eyes once more and Lia sneered. “I’m surprised you’re not here, when you’ve been having Constants lick your degraded twat.”

  The High Mother quickly crossed the room and slapped Lia across the face.

  “Silence. you imbecile. If you had any sense at all, you would have offered to have yourself in their place.”

  Lia shuddered with disgust. “No thank you.”

  The High Mother narrowed her eyes and stood back. “You know, your mother was one of them, long ago.”

  Lia furrowed her brow. “What did you say?”

  “You heard what I said. You have all of your faculties I am sure. Your mother was my whore. The entire time she was here. She was trash, that one. She came here from one of the other colonies off world. We were going to use her as an example, but she pledged her loyalty to the Empire. And oh, how she begged and pleaded for the life of her young child! She was willing to do just about anything. And I, in my infinite mercy, agreed to take her under my wing and teach her the ways of The Probity. She was a fine lay, she was. I could hardly think straight after a session with her. She had the most talented tongue!”

  “I can’t believe you. You talk about piety and purity of thought and here you are, coercing Constants to be your sexual property!”

  The High Mother laughed. “It’s not coercion. Not really. My liaisons are willing and handsomely compensated. It’s more of a transaction. That Constant you saw offered herself to me! You think I should feel shame? I don’t. I enjoy my power. I wield it how I choose.”

  Lia was breathing hard, her mind a bundle of fury.

  “As for you my dear, you are scheduled tomorrow for a cleansing.”

  “What?!” Lia exclaimed.

  “That’s right. A cleansing. You do know what that is?”

  Lia’s face curled up with derision. “Yes, but I’m sure you will still tell me anyway.”

  “I would have loved such fire between my thighs!” the High Mother smirked, “So you know that a skilled surgeon will remove certain—problematic portions of your mind in order to facilitate a more—obedient Constant.”

  “You mean I’m going to be erased.”

  “That’s such a harsh word. I mean you may lose portions of your memory, your personality, key traits etcetera, etcetera but it is of little consequence.”

  “What happened to my mother?” Lia asked and the High Mother beamed. She clapped her hands excitedly. “Ah, yes, your whore of a mother. Well, she fell for a clergyman and actually rutted with the lout. I can’t go around sharing my toys. So, I exposed her for the dirty little tramp she was. She was strung up. Gutted like a fish. The child she was bearing for him did not survive. Such a shame.”

  The High Mother leaned over Lia once more. “Perhaps I’ll have a little fun with you after your procedure.”

  The High Mother leaned in even closer and there with a dawning realization Lia realized the horrid woman was attempting to kiss her. With a roar, Lia swung the object Iolana had placed in her hand. It was a syringe. It hit its mark and was sticking out of the High Mother’s neck.

  The High Mother stumbled and fell backwards. She was trying hard to dislodge the syringe from her neck, but the contents were quickly emptying into her blood stream. She gurgled and her eyes rolled up to the back of her head. Lia shot up and swung her legs off the bed. She stood shakily and made her way to door. She carefully pulled it open and looked outside. It was quiet in the hallway, and Lia suspected in was very late in the evening, possibly a few hours before dawn. She crept out the door and went as quickly as she could down the corridor. It was dark and most of the sconces had been extinguished, but Lia knew her way around the complex and could find her way even in the dark.

  She found the interrogation room with ease, patted her pockets and found that everything she had was still there. She let out a sigh of relief. In their arrogance, they had neglected to check her properly. Their loss, she thought. She looked around and pulled out the ring of keys. She carefully opened the door and stepped inside. She quietly closed the door behind her and walked into the room. The lights began to flicker and come to life on their own. Rows of B-185’s were lined up against the wall in pod-like chambers with transparent glass. They looked completely human, and often passed for them in hostile situations where humans could not go. Th
ey also often tricked people into letting their guards down, which is why they were so useful in interrogations. Lia was sure she had never seen one in use in the complex, but with their uncanny human likeness, she couldn’t be sure.

  She fingered the necklace and pulled it up and over her head. The pendant was a locket and inside it was a lens immersed in liquid. She had seen these contraptions before. The vicar used them from time to time to edit his sermons as his sight was diminishing, but she had never the need to use them herself. She took in a breath and placed the locket on a nearby table.

  She opened her right eye wide and slipped the lens into her eye. She gasped as information flooded her brain. She wanted to scream from the pain, but instead dropped into a boneless heap onto the floor. Finally, after a minute of agony, she was able to crawl up to a sitting position, and after coughing and sputtering, she moved to stand. She quickly raced over to one of the pods and typed in the necessary codes.

  The pod she had chosen housed a B-185 with tan skin, green eyes and long straight black hair. Its body was tall and winsome and its breasts heavy and pert. It was a far cry from Lia’s own thin, pale and willowy body. She began the preparations with the module, she took it from her pocket and attached one end to an auxiliary cable. She slipped the other end of the cable into an input on the pod that connected to the B-185’s central processing unit. She worked feverishly for a few minutes, unsure how long it would take for anyone to find the High Mother and search the grounds. She programmed the empty pod next to the B-185 and opened the dome above them. She and the other Constants often opened the dome to air out the room or to be sure the equipment was functioning properly. The pods often functioned simultaneously as storage containers and delivery vessels. They were climate controlled and had air circulation, but they were meant to transport AI units, not people. She sent up a small prayer that her body would survive the journey through space.