Paige stepped out of the darkness to stand beside her husband. Great. The normal scornful look on her face had been replaced with one of strength. What had happened to her when I was gone?
Gray was the third to emerge. “Gray?”
“Yeah. I’m here to help. I joined up as soon as Kyan told me what was going on.”
“But if they find out—”
“I don’t care. It’s not right.”
Kyan squeezed my hand. “We don’t have long. Tell Michael what happened.” Michael and Paige stood together absorbing every word. I told them how Olympus had planned the ‘harvest’ and how Crew was a part of it. Explaining how he had lied to me was hard. Those wounds were still fresh.
I showed them my stomach. The bruises that were still fading away, explaining how I was told that I was infertile and then discarded like trash into the Lesser section. When it came time to explain how Crew helped Gray and I leave the city, the tears came. It was a silent cry. My voice was steady and strong.
Paige stepped forward. “I know you and I have had our differences in the past. But I’m actually glad for what happened. No offense, Kyan, but I’m very happy with Michael. And I want to help. We both do.”
Michael grabbed her hand. “We need you to lay low for now, but may need your help soon. For now, we need to figure out what to do about the resistance camp.”
“Camp?”
“It’s what they’re calling the old prison. They’re locking up anyone they see as a threat.”
“How can I help?”
Michael’s dark eyes bore into mine. “They need to know. Lesser and Greater alike. They need to know what’s happened, what’s still happening.” Realization sunk in. I would have to tell my story to everyone, guard and villager alike. I rubbed the back of my neck, remembering the warning issued by the council. Would I be taken away to the prison? Or would they just chop my head off and eliminate the threat altogether?
Michael cleared his throat. “You may be taken. Do you understand, Abigail?”
“Yes. I know they’ll take me away. But I don’t care. You’re right. They all need to know.”
Gray spoke next. “Kyan, you can’t jump in for her when this all goes down. I know how you feel, but we need you. We need your position to help with the plan.”
“What plan?”
“We’ll tell you eventually, but the less you know going in, the better for you.”
I nodded.
Kyan was tense beside me. “I’ll try.”
“You’ll do more than try, Kyan,” Michael’s voice boomed in the small space. “You have to control yourself. If you want to save her in the long run, you’ll let her go. It won’t be pretty. Everything in your body will scream at you to save her, but you can’t. You can’t be arrested. You can’t compromise everything we’ve worked on. We need you as supply coordinator. It’s the only way. The life of the resistance hinges on you.”
“Fine,” he said. He squeezed my hand hard and looked over at me. “I’ll stay back. But you have to be careful.”
I took a deep breath. “When?”
Paige spoke up. “Anytime you feel the time is right.” She smiled, glancing from me to her husband, who smiled back.
What am I getting myself into? I felt like I was in an alternate universe. Paige Weaver and me, allies? Kyan as a resistance leader? Gray joining against his own? And me getting ready to jump from the frying pan into the fire.
Today, Marian and I would be joined. I knew that the resistance was dependent on this move. A wedding would placate the public. The population of Olympus would be riding the wedding high for weeks, which would give us ample training time. When things are soon settled down, back to normal that is when the resistance will strike. That is when the chess match will begin. One strategic move followed by the next.
Gretchen quietly entered my room. “Do you need anything, Prince Crew?”
“I do not suppose you have any liquor or sedatives?”
She chuckled, wiping her hands down her long dark skirt. “Unfortunately, not. It is perfectly normal to be nervous on your wedding day. You will be fine. The joining ceremony will be beautiful. I have it on good authority that your parents have spared no expense for their eldest son.” She tucked some of the escaped strands her graying hair back into her bun.
“When will my brother arrive?”
“He should be here any moment.”
“Will you send him up when he gets settled? I would like to speak to him before the ceremony.”
“Certainly. I will see that he comes straight to your quarters.”
“Thank you, Gretchen.” She gave me a knowing look before heading out the door. This felt so wrong. Only a few days ago, I placed my ring on Marian’s neck and sealed it. As nice as she was, I didn’t love her. My heart, my ring only belonged to Abby. She was my forever. My heart ached for her as it had never ached for anything before.
She still haunted my dreams. I wondered if she was working, tucked away safe in the village. My father’s comments bothered me, too. I wondered how safe she was and for how long. Just the fact that he was watching her set me on edge. Senn confirmed just last night that she was still in Orchard. I could not risk checking in on her myself. It was too risky for both of us.
I just hoped she did not learn of the joining today. Even though it was only a ruse, she would be hurt. I had already hurt her enough by not being truthful with her before. And one thing was for certain, I never wanted to hurt her again. I loved her, desperately.
Looking out the window, people scurried frantically to bring supplies and goods into the palace for the wedding. The ballroom would no doubt be draped in expensive finery. Bouquets of flowers, baked goods and pastries, and an enormous cake with white icing carried by four large men all disappeared from sight as they entered the palace’s door below.
A short while later, a knock sounded at my door. “Enter.”
Cam stepped in, a hard look on his normally jovial face.
“What is the matter, Cam?
“Nothing. I am just tired from my travels.”
“And where is your lovely wife?”
His eyes flashed cold. “My lovely wife? My lovely wife is dead, brother. Did Father not bother to tell you?” Cam and I were nearly twins in appearance and seeing him bereft was like looking at myself in the same state.
“No. I have not spoken with him today.”
Cam snorted. “Cora died three weeks ago, Crew.” He walked until he was at my side, where he stopped and stared out the window along with me.
“What happened to her?”
“We were vacationing in Everest. She took ill. No one is sure what the illness was. That is the strange thing. No doctor or physician could tell me what had plagued her. She began having night sweats, which caused her entire body to tremble terribly. In the few days to follow, a horrible cough led to vomiting blood and her entire body swelled with water. It was,” he swallowed, “incredibly difficult to watch. If I could have taken the illness from her, I would have.”
When his voice broke on the final word, I pulled him into an embrace and held him as he sobbed into my shoulder. My brother had never cried in front of me before. Not once.
Our father entered the room just after Cam had composed himself. Father’s hair had grayed even more since the harvest of Lessers. He had also become a monster in my eyes. He always must have been, but it was difficult for a child not to idolize their father. He had always been a hero in my eyes. How wrong I had been. I would see this through. With the resistance, I could set things right, correct the wrongs he had inflicted on others.
“Are you ready, Son?”
Though he addressed me, it was Cam who answered, “Of course he is, Father. He was born ready for this.” Cam clapped me on the shoulder and with his eyes, thanked me for the tender moment we had shared, and for not mentioning it to Father.
“Cameron, you should go get dressed.”
Cam cleared his throat. “Yes. I will meet y
ou at the altar, brother.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He left us. Father fixed his cold eyes on mine. They silently studied me.
“You seem to have forgotten about Abigail rather quickly.”
“I will never forget Abigail. But she and I cannot be together. We both know it is true.”
“Does she know of Marian?”
“I do not know. But, as she is in Orchard Village, it would be nearly impossible for her to know about any of my affairs.” I made sure the buttons on my shirt were completely pushed through the holes then straightened my sleeves. The necktie was strangling me. I swallowed against it.
“Well, one thing is for certain, Son.”
“What’s that?”
“She will know in just a short while.”
I looked up from the shine of my black shoes. “How is that?”
“We are broadcasting the union to all Greater cities and to all of the Lesser villages under our direct supervision. It is a time to celebrate. Orchard will be included. They will be treated to a great wedding feast, courtesy of Olympus. The Lessers will have full stomachs and their sour moods will be greatly improved by your pairing today. Everyone loves a wedding. It gives hope for a bright future. Do you not agree?”
Gnashing my teeth, I nodded. “Yes. Everyone.”
The unnatural smile stretched over my father’s lips betrayed his anger.
“If you want Abigail to remain safely in Orchard, you will go through with this wedding. You will smile and act genuinely happy. If you fail to do so, even in the slightest, she will be eliminated. I will not have her distracting you from your duty to Olympus or the duty you will have to your wife and future heirs. Do I make myself clear, Crew?”
I fixed my eyes on his. “Crystal.”
“Good. Your tie is crooked. Fix it. We will meet downstairs in half an hour.”
The slamming of the white wooden door behind him signaled the end of the conversation, as per usual, with my father.
Thirty minutes later, I was escorted from my room by two Olympian guards. Their eyes darted left and right, scanning for threats. As if anyone would dare threaten the King. My father had publicly beheaded too many people. No one overtly challenged him anymore. I was led to a station where two women attacked me with facial powder, to “lessen the shine” of my skin and to make me “more handsome for the cameras.” Those cameras would carry my betrayal straight to Abigail.
Servants buzzed in and out of a room just down the hallway, which I assumed was Marian’s. She and I had spoken a lot in the past few days, even staying up all night to do so. She was angry, almost bitter at my Father. She blamed him for stealing her fertility, her dreams for a family. While I agreed that my father did help cover it up and was still attempting to do so, he did not develop the vaccinations. Though, I supposed, he did make them mandatory. But in all honesty, he was trying to rid the Greaters of the threat of illness.
Why was I trying to defend him? I raked my hand through my hair, upsetting the two stylists, who squawked like angry, wet hens and began trying to set my hair back into some form of perceived perfection.
Nothing was perfect here. Leaving Olympus taught me that. When I boarded the train for the first time to head to Orchard Village, I had no idea what to expect. The Lesser section of Olympus was completely segregated. I’d only seen a Lesser twice in my life and had fantasized them to be monstrous. In reality, they were anything but. On that trip, I had learned who the real monsters were. And it had truly been eye-opening.
I was bent over a washtub, scrubbing the Dutch oven when loud pounding sounded at the door of Ky’s cabin. I stood up and ran over. It was early, way too early to report for work. The sun hadn’t even risen above the horizon. Gray and Ardis stood at the door. Ardis’s hand was poised, ready to beat the wood again. I wiped my wet, sudsy hands on a hand towel. “Can I help you?”
Ardis smiled. “May we come inside?”
“Do I have a choice?” I stiffened.
“No.”
“Then, please, come in.” I waved my hand dramatically.
Ardis stepped into the kitchen and began sniffing. He undoubtedly smelled the biscuits and bacon I’d made for breakfast. They were supposed to be for Kyan.
Gray followed behind him, hands folded behind his back. He gave me a strange look, which he erased from his face as soon as Ardis turned around.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
Ardis chuckled. “Your smart mouth is going to get you in trouble one day. Has anyone ever told you that, Abigail?”
“Only every day, Ardis.”
The smile was wiped from his face. He stomped quickly toward me and grabbed my arms. “You do not address me by my given name, Lesser.”
“What should I call you then?”
He loosened his grip. “Commander.”
“Fine. Commander, can I please ask why you’re here?”
Letting me go, he stepped back and straightened his coat. “You are no longer permitted to reside with Kyan Marks. You are not married. It is not appropriate. So, you need to pack your belongings.”
I was speechless. They were making me move?
“Lucky for you,” he continued. “You do not have to report for any work duty today. No one does. Olympus is giving all Lessers a day of rest in honor of the wedding of Prince Crew Cole and Marian Teegan. The Greater city is providing a banquet feast this evening and will broadcast the wedding for you all to see. Report to the village square at sundown. But be prepared to move after the celebration. You won’t be returning here.”
Barely audible, I muttered, “No, I won’t.”
Ardis ticked his head at me, grabbed a biscuit and a few strips of bacon and nodded for Gray to do the same. Gray complied, taking the last of the food, before they both stepped into the cold winter air.
I closed the door and sank back against it. I had to move. Crew was getting married today and I would have to watch. I had the day off of work. I wasn’t sure if I’d survive any of it, let alone all of it.
I finished washing the pans and dried them. Kyan would need breakfast and I needed to fix more biscuits. We didn’t have any more bacon though. I wanted to kick Gray for taking the last of it, but I know he had to keep up the façade. Just because I understood, doesn’t mean my foot didn’t flinch.
I was mixing the biscuit dough when Ky came in the door smiling. He dusted a few snowflakes out of his hair. It had grown longer and was curling around his ears and at the nape of his neck.
I smiled. “You’re happy this morning.”
“I usually don’t get to see you.”
Snorting, I said, “Tell that to Ardis. He thinks we spend way too much time together. He’s ready to fix that, too.”
He shrugged his coat off and hung it on the back of the kitchen chair. Dusting the tiny snowflakes from his hair, he asked, “What do you mean? When did you see Ardis?”
“You just missed him. He and Gray took your breakfast. I’m making you more biscuits, but they took all the bacon we had. I’m sorry.”
He glanced around the kitchen. “What’d he say?”
“He said I can’t stay here anymore. I’m supposed to pack my bags and be ready to move after the ceremony tonight.”
“You know about that?”
“About the grand celebration? Oh, yeah. He made sure to tell me all about the great wedding banquet.”
I stirred harder and then added more flour to the dough so that I could roll it out and cut out biscuits with a glass. Lulu had some metal thing with a wooden handle to cut round biscuits with, but that was gone along with all of our things. Who knew what the guards did with our stuff.
“Where are you supposed to go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Tell me everything.”
So I did. I told him that Ardis had implied that we were being improper by living together, how I needed to pack and had all day to do it, courtesy of the generous King of Olympus, who would also be prov
iding dinner and entertainment in the form of Crew marrying some other girl. I told him how I would be taken to live somewhere else after the celebration tonight.
What I didn’t tell him was that it was all breaking my heart. I didn’t want to see Crew marry someone else. I didn’t want all day free to think about it. I didn’t want to leave Kyan and move somewhere else. And that my mind was reeling. Perhaps I wouldn’t be moving after all.
“We’re going to be on television, too. Did Ardis mention that?”
“No.”
“They are going to broadcast how happy the villages are for the new union. They want to pacify the Greaters in all of the cities.”
“We’re going to be recorded? Live?”
“Yep.” Kyan nodded and sat down heavily in a chair.
I arranged the biscuits and placed them over the fire. “You need a haircut.”
Ky grinned. “Yeah. I’m getting shaggy over here. My beautician took a leave of absence.”
I smiled. “She’s back, so get your hind end in a chair, Mister. We can’t have you looking shaggy for all the Greaters, now can we?”
Rummaging around a small wooden box, I found the razor and scissors. Ky had listened and was sitting in one of the kitchen chairs, a small towel pulled around his neck. “We can do this on the porch if you’d rather. It’s gonna make a mess.”
I shrugged. “I’ve got nothing else planned to do today. Might as well clean up the mess we make.” He laughed. I combed his blond hair back and ran a wet cloth over it. I couldn’t help but notice the deep circles under his eyes. They were working him to death. Maybe he was right. Maybe they were trying to keep us apart. If I lived somewhere else, they wouldn’t need to. He wouldn’t have to work such crazy hours and could get some rest.
Kyan cleared his throat and I started clipping. I didn’t go too short though. It looked good a bit longer, a bit more shaggy.
“How’s your mom?”
“Not too good.”
I’d learned that Ky’s mom had been sick. For some time, she’d been losing weight, but recently she’d stopped eating and her hair was thinning more and more each day. Something was really wrong.
Resist (The Harvest Saga Book 2) Page 4