Chase Grim

by V. B. Marlowe

  He bowed his head before he spoke. “My Lord, I want to first thank you for entrusting me with the prestigious position. I knew when you took the throne things would change for the better. I’d like to talk to you about improving the conditions of Litropolis. We are Grims. We go assignments, although we are not assigned many, just as Grims should, yet we don’t reap the same benefits. We give a tenth of the lifestones we earn to the colony to help run the Mill, though we don’t benefit from electricity or the security of the Watchers and colony workers.”

  The room was silent as Opus paused and coughed. We all knew what he was saying was true.

  “My Lord, have you ever been to Litropolis?” he asked.

  I had. Although it was strictly forbidden, Naomi, Keira, Bram and I had gone there. I didn’t say so though.

  “If not, My Lord, I implore you to go and observe our conditions. Just for a little while. Being the fair man that you are, I’m sure you will agree that Litropolis isn’t a fit dwelling for any Grim.”

  Lincoln stopped taking notes and tapped his pen on the table. “What do you propose we do about that, Opus? Surely you know there is not room for all of you in the other parts of the colony.”

  Opus looked down at his hands.

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” I spoke up. “It won’t happen overnight, but I want to have apartment buildings built in the city. That way more people can be house and you won’t be living in shacks and tents. It’s not perfect, but it’s much better than what you have now. You will have running water and electricity. Every family will have their own apartment.”

  Opus’ face lit up and he nodded his head gratefully. “Thank you, my Lord. Thank you. That’s all we ask for is solid roofs over our heads and electricity. We don’t need anything fancy.”

  His words stabbed at my heart as I thought about all the empty rooms just going to waste in the Estate. I figured every house in the Upper Estates had to have rooms like that. How many people could we house if we really wanted to?

  Perry, who had been sitting back in his chair, leaned forward. “Those are very pretty words coming from the both of you but do you any idea how much it’s going to cost to build apartments.”

  “I have,” I lied, but I knew we could afford it. I just had to take the money from the right places and put it where it belongs. “According to my calculations we’re going to need five apartment buildings. I’m also going to tear down the wall that separates Litropolis from the rest of the colony so they can use our shops, restaurants, libraries and whatever they want. Starting tomorrow they will be going on assignment regularly.”

  I could feel the anger radiating off some of the men but I didn’t care. This was the way it was going to be and they would have to deal with it. I looked at Doyle but he was expressionless. I had no idea how he felt about my decision but I bet he was pissed that I hadn’t run it by him first.

  Just then the doors burst open and four Watchers marched in with Bram and Keira in tow. They both looked as though they wanted to punch someone.

  I rose to my feet as the two of them stood before the table. I didn’t know what to say but all eyes were on me and I had to say something. I didn’t want to ask them where they had been because I already knew. I didn’t want the council to know though.

  Korpin broke the silence. “Oh, you’ve located or runaway Grims. Good job. Where were they?”

  Reynold, the head Watcher, tightened his grip on Bram’s arm. “In Atlanta. When they saw us they still tried to run.”

  “What were you doing in Atlanta?” Uriah asked.

  “Minding our own business,” Bram said. Keira said nothing.

  Everyone turned to me. I had to do something about this. Now that the Ravens were threatening us, it was imperative that no one left Nowhere without being sent on assignment and that saving Human lives was now totally out of the question.

  “I was stopping a death,” Keira said finally and I cringed, wishing she had just kept quiet.

  The room broke into yelling and shouting. I rapped my knuckles on the table. “Hey! Enough!”

  Keira looked at Bram. “He had nothing to do with it. He was trying to get me to come back. He shouldn’t be in trouble.”

  “Intercepting Death is the being infraction a Grim can commit. How will she be punished?”

  Again, all eyes were on me. Lincoln was right—interfering with Death was the worst in fraction. Naomi had almost been hanged for it because we all ran away. Dammit, Keira.

  “So, what are you going to do about it?” Perry asked.

  Well, I certainly wasn’t about to sentence one of my best friends to death, but I had to do something. I couldn’t let a huge grievance like this go unpunished in front of the entire council. They’d say I was unfair and biased and probably tell everyone they knew the same thing. I didn’t care to much about that but I needed everyone to understand that rules were in place for a reason and what Keira had done had made the problem with the Ravens even worse. As much as it broke my heart, I had to punish her.

  I pretended to look down at a paper on the table because I couldn’t look her in the eye. “Keira, I’m sorry.”

  I’d like to say my voice didn’t crack but it did.

  When I did manage to look at her, her eyes were glossy and I had to look right away again.

  “Sorry for what?” Bram demanded.

  Dunningham would have sent her to Gattica to await her death, but I couldn’t do that. “I’m going to have them take you to a room on the ground level. I’m sorry. You’ll stay there until I figure out your punishment.”

  Her jaw dropped. “What? Chase!”

  I looked at Bram. “While you may not have participated in intercepting Death, you left the colony without permission. For that, I have to subtract some lifestones from you and you won’t be sent on assignment for the rest of the month.”

  Bram lunged at me, but Reynold yanked him back. I knew Bram couldn’t have cared less about his punishment but he was angry that I was having Keira locked up. Her face wasn’t angry, but sad and disappointed. I didn’t blame her, but she hadn’t left me much of a choice. “Take her away.”

  Bram went crazy which resulted in him being dragged forcefully from the room. The men were all talking at once and my head was filled with a buzzing sound. Doyle patted my hand as I lowered myself into my seat, not bothering to

  shut them up. “You did the right thing,” he said. “I know that was hard but you didn’t have a choice.”

  The talking died down and Opus mentioned something about going easy on her. I had a feeling it was because he was from Farrington too. He had probably even been friends with Keira’s father.

  Lincoln glared at Opus. “The punishment for that crime is death.”

  Opus shook his head. “The kid has been through enough. She just lost her entire family. Yes, what she did was very wrong, but I don’t see anything wrong with showing a little mercy.”

  He was met with argument from the Upper Estates men.

  “I’m not putting her to death,” I said sternly. “I’d step down from this position before I do that.”

  Korpin furrowed his brow. “But you have to.”

  I straightened my shoulders. “I am the Lord of Death and I don’t have to do anything. I said in our first council meeting that Grims would no longer but put to death for infractions, not even this one.”

  “What about a jury?” someone asked.

  “No jury,” I answered shortly. I wasn’t going to let a group put Keira to death either. I already knew what conclusion they would come to. “I will decide how she will be punished. Now, we have something more important to talk about.”

  I brought up the Ravens and the witch hunt on Keira was quickly forgotten.

  “We need to get Dunningham in here to tell us what he knows,” Opus demanded once the initial shock had settled. Half the men in the room seemed alarmed and the other half seem like the needed to see the Ravens to believe in them.

  “He’s not
going to tell us anything,” Doyle said. “Trust me.”

  Lincoln nodded in agreement. “So, what do we do, Lord Chase.”

  I had been thinking about it all night. “I think we’re doing the people a disservice by not telling them about this threat. I know if I were them I would want to know.” Dunningham had said he’d kept it secret because he didn’t want to worry them but I wasn’t buying that. He wasn’t a person who cared about the feelings and well-being of his people. “I watched Watchers to train in extra combat and I want everyone trained on how to protect themselves, that includes men, women, and children.” I thought back to how Bram had trained us to fight on Earth. He would be perfect for this.

  We discussed this some more before the meeting was adjourned with the question of what I was to do with Keira hanging in the air.

  Naomi was late for dinner and since she wasn’t answering my calls, I assumed she wasn’t coming. Imagined my surprise when the butler opened the from door and she came storming in.

  “Hey—what,” but before I could finish my sentence she’d slapped me across the face. “The hell, Nay!”

  “Bram told me that you locked Keira up? How could you! You were supposed to be better than him.”

  I opened my mouth to explain, but Naomi was having none of it. “I want to see her now.”

  “All right.” I left my dinner which had already gotten cold waiting for her. Hester had offered to reheat but I told her not to worry about it. I wasn’t that hungry.

  All the way down to the ground level, I listened to Naomi call me every name in the book. I had been planning to visit Keira the following day after I had given her time to cool off. In the meanwhile, I’d made sure she had a comfortable bed, was eating the same food I was eating, was escorted out to take a shower and use the bathroom whenever she felt like it. If the council knew about the treatment I had been giving Keira they would have been furious. In their eyes she was a traitor and traitors deserved to die.

  Naomi finally stopped yelling when I stopped in front of a door. I nodded at the Watcher keeping guard. He unlocked the door and the two of us stepped inside. Keira sat cross-legged on her bed reading. She finished her sentence before looking up at us.

  When she laid eyes on Nay she tossed the book to the side and the two of them hugged as if they hadn’t seen each other in years. I hung back awkwardly waiting for more verbal abuse. Finally, Keira’s dark eyes met mine and she scowled. “So, have you come to tell me my execution date? You do know that I’m allowed a final meal and a final visit with the people I love. Even Dunningham did that.”

  Sighing, I took a seat on the edge of her bed. “Keira, I am so, so sorry about this but you and Bram really left me no choice. You know it’s against the rules to leave and every time you leave Nowhere to intercept, you put this entire colony in jeopardy.”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “What are you talking about?”

  I told her everything about the Ravens. She said nothing and took a seat beside me like she was finally realize why I had to punish her. “See, with the council sitting right there, there was no way I could have not punished you. Keira, they want you executed for what you’ve done. I tried to make you as comfortable as possible and of course I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  Her face softened. “I’m sorry, Chase. I guess I did put you in a bad situation, huh?”

  “So,” Naomi asked. “What are we going to do about these Ravens?”

  “I don’t know. We don’t know much about them but right now we’re sitting ducks. If they were to strike tomorrow, they could destroy our entire colony. According to Dunningham, they have already obliterated two—the first one being the colony the Interceptors came from. Of course, I’m not sure what I can’t believe from him but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I don’t want that to happen to us. Right now, I have the council and the Watchers drawing up a training plan to get everyone in fighting mode. In the meanwhile, we can’t do anything to antagonize them. Keira, you can’t intercept anymore. At least not right now.”

  She nodded like she understood and I hoped she did. I understood her desire to want to help Humans, but she couldn’t do it at the cost of our own people.

  Naomi sat beside me and rubbed my shoulder. Electricity ran up and down my body. “I’m sorry, Chase. I had no idea. I can’t even imagine the weight of responsibility you must be feeling right now.”

  It was massive. If anyone life was lost because I didn’t protect my Grims I didn’t know how I would be able to stand it.

  Keira sighed. “I can’t believe Dunningham is holding back information that could save our colony—actually I can. It just goes to show how little he really cared about us Grims.”

  That was true. I knew Dunningham was withholding information to keep himself alive but little did he was about to lose his head if he didn’t spill. What was the point in keeping him alive if I couldn’t get any information out of him?

  9

  After breakfast the following day I met Opus walking across the foyer. He looked happy and I was glad to see that.

  “My Lord,” he said, “I was just meeting with Greyson to draw up plans for the new apartment buildings. The Grims of Litropolis have never been happy.”

  “Good,” I said, “so there should be no worried about any more riots or revolts?”

  Opus shook his head. “No. All we ever wanted was to not have to live like rats and to be able to collect lives to have some sort of lifespan.”

  I felt guilty. They asked for so little—just the basic things the Grims should have—the things they should have had a long time ago.

  I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Little by little we’re going to get Litropolis where it needs to be.”

  I had a meeting scheduled with Doyle after that. He still had charge of the dispatching device and I asked him how that was going.

  “It’s going fine. I’ve made sure all the Litropolites have been receiving assignments. What have you decided to do with Miss Keira?”

  I folded my hands on my oak desk. “I’m going to keep her for a week and then let her go.”

  Doyle pursed his lips. I didn’t have to make a guess that he wasn’t happy with that.

  “What do you want me to do, Doyle? Execute her?”

  He shook his head. I knew he wasn’t cold-hearted like that. “Of course not, but I’d keep her a lot longer than a week. Lord Chase, the people of Farrington are already started to show their disdain for your changes.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’re refusing to participate in the training. The prominent ones are spreading the rumor that Ravens don’t exist and that you made it up for the sake of scaring the people.”

  I rolled my eyes. Were these people really so self-centered and selfish that they would risk the safety of the colony just because things aren’t going their way?

  I wasn’t about to fight them on it. “Fine, if the Ravens attack they can all be killed. See if I care.” I didn’t really mean that but there was nothing more I could do about it at the time.

  “Also,” Doyle added. “They want a decrease in their tithes. They always pay a higher tithe than everyone else because of the houses they live in but they don’t want to do it anymore.”

  I knew that was only because they knew some of the money would be going to build up Litropolis. “Fine,” I said, “if that’s the way they want it we’ll send them on less assignments. Give more to Litropolis. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.”

  Doyle typed a note into the electronic device his always kept tucked into the front pocket of his suit coat. If he disagreed with what I said, he didn’t say so. I was happy for it because I didn’t want to hear it.

  Two nights later I was awakened from a restless sleep by sirens. It was the first time I had heard that sound since I had been the Lord of Death. It was the warning sound that there was an emergency in the colony. The last time we had sirens was because there was a riot.

  Before I
could even climb out of bed, four Watchers had burst in.

  “Lord Chase. We’re under attack and we have to bring you to safety.”

  Still a little groggy, I allowed them to haul me from the room. “Under attack from who?” As if I had to ask.

  “The Ravens.”

  My heart thumped in my chest. We hadn’t even had enough time to prepare for them. Now they were here and they were probably going to kill all of us.

  “Where are you taking me?” I asked as we took the elevator to the ground floor. One of the Watchers mashed the buttons as if that would make the elevator move any faster. “To your bunker, my Lord. Watchers are guarding the entire estate. The Ravens won’t get in here.”

  “No. I need to be out there. I need to see what’s going on.” All I could wonder about is where Naomi was and if she were okay. At least Keira was here safe and sound.

  “We are sorry, my Lord, but it’s policy that the Lord of Death is put on lockdown during situations like this. We can’t risk anything happening to you. And with all due respect, nothing you say is going to change that.”

  I took a deep breath. It was probably the wrong time to think about it but I wondered who would took my place if something did happen to me. It wasn’t like I had a son to take my place. Would Dunningham become the Lord of Death again? Probably. That was probably also the reason why he hadn’t shared any information with me about the Ravens. He was hoping I would die so he could have his throne back.

  The bunker was like a different version of my bedroom There was a bed and a chest filled with clothes. A book shelf filled with books and crate stuffed with food and water lined the walls. One of the Watchers pointed to himself and the Grim standing beside him. “I’ll stay inside and he will guard the door outside.”

  I nodded and took a seat on the bed feeling helpless. “I want updates on what’s going on outside every minute,” I ordered.