Candidate (Selected Book 4)

by Robin Roseau

  "So it's all my fault."

  "Oh, no," Jasmine said. "Blame me if you want."

  "So I repeat. Why are we here?"

  That's when I chimed in. "Skye, I'm trying to understand. You broke up with your mate, broke your friendship with Jasmine, broke your friendship with Bluebell, and accepted dropping out of school and becoming homeless because Jasmine treated you like a mating candidate for a few days?"

  "Do not belittle my choices."

  "I'm only trying to understand. I think I'm missing something."

  "Yes, you're missing something. I didn't do it because I was treated like a mating candidate. I did it because they betrayed me. They promised they'd never do that to me again, but they did it anyway."

  "I didn't promise," Jasmine said. "In fact, I pretty much told you I'd do it again."

  "Fine, but these two promised. They broke that promise, and they congratulated themselves afterwards. They did it because Jasmine asked them to. They picked her and her games over me. And they refused to explain or apologize, which meant in spite of how hurt and angry I was, they still picked her over me."

  I held her gaze then said, "It looks like you've forgiven them but you're still angry at Jasmine."

  "They apologized and expressed a significant amount of grief. She hasn't, and I wouldn't believe her, anyway. She'd do it again given the opportunity." She turned back to Violet. "Why did Bluebell make us come?"

  "Because I begged her to," said Jasmine.

  "You have never begged in your life."

  "Well, I begged Bluebell to convince you and Violet to come, and I asked her to send Posey and Audra as well. Your mother misses you."

  "Then she can come visit. Or better yet, she can accept Bluebell's job offer, and then we never need to even think about you ever again." Then Skye put on a glower. "Oh, nice misdirect. Why are we here?"

  "So we could have this conversation," Jasmine said. "And I need something."

  "Of course you do."

  "Wait," I said. "I don't think I'm caught up yet."

  "That's because Skye didn't tell you the most important part," said Audra. "I'm her little sister. It's a long story, but she's had more reasons than most big sisters to protect me. They didn't just betray Skye. They made the same promise to me, and I was devastated by what they did. Skye didn't know, but I'd started dating Posey, and I'd never felt more betrayed when she and Violet turned on us like that. They both knew Skye would be mad and I'd feel hurt, but they did it anyway. I didn't realize they were doing it because Jasmine put them up to it. I thought they were doing it to be mean. Skye would have gotten over it if it had just been her. But they did it to me, too, and it's really hard for her to forgive someone who hurts me."

  I turned my gaze back to Skye. "All right. I commend you for that part. But in the end, you're mad not because they turned on you during a challenge, but because you had to spend four days as a mating candidate."

  "And how they picked her game over us," Skye said. "And when they saw how upset we both were, they refused to explain. We were supposed to just accept being treated like shit without apology or explanation."

  I looked at Jasmine. She was watching me. So I turned back to Skye, but then redirected my gaze as Audra. "Are you mad at Jasmine?"

  "I wish she would apologize to Skye, but I don't think she really feels bad."

  "Of course I feel bad," Jasmine said. "I felt bad while we were doing it. But sometimes I have to do things I hate doing for the greater good."

  I turned back to Skye. "You admitted you were immature at 18, that your reasons for volunteering were immature."

  "I was long past that."

  "I understand that. But you're not eighteen anymore. However, I'm not sure you're significantly more mature than you were then."

  "Of course you're on her side!" Skye exploded, pointing at Jasmine.

  "I think you're selfish and holding a grudge because it feels good."

  "You're insane."

  "Oh," I said, putting on a whiny voice, "they made me a mating candidate for four days, and because they did, hundreds and hundreds of women have had better lives. Hundreds of women had an easier time, and now we're moving towards actually asking for volunteers instead of kidnapping people. But I had to be a mating candidate for four days. Boo, hoo, fucking hoo."

  She stared at me.

  "I was a mating candidate for six months. Most of the women who came through before I got here were mating candidates for about two weeks. Because you paved the way, I've been able to trim that significantly for about half the women. You went through some emotional pain. I get it. I would have been livid, too. But it sounds like you expected to be a cook or a waitress like your mom. Jasmine paid for your undergraduate degree and was your friend. You owed her, and when she collected, she did it so she could help these women, hundreds of women a year. She didn't do it because she thought it would be fun. But I guess you weren't willing to help anyone."

  "That's not fair!" Skye said.

  "What you mean to say is that you don't like thinking about what a spoiled brat you are." I pointed to Jasmine. "Four years of college and friendship besides. Yeah, she used you. Like I said, I'd be mad. But I'd get over it."

  I shrugged. "You didn't go through anything compared to what I went through."

  "In fairness, I don't expect you to forgive Sugilite," Jasmine said gently.

  "She tortured me, and I haven't heard why."

  "Someone tortured you?" Audra asked.

  "Yeah, but it was only a few hours."

  "Seven," Jasmine said. "I was in agony just watching."

  "You let someone torture your mate?" Audra asked. "Why didn't you stop her?"

  "The Implacs she had guarding me weren't afraid to hurt me if they had to, and they were certainly capable of enforcing her word."

  "Implacs," Violet said. "God, I hate Implacs."

  "Everyone hates Implacs," I said. I smiled. "I kicked a female's ass in the arena, though. You should see the video. But we're getting sidetracked." I turned back to Jasmine. "I thought I wasn't going to ask, but I think I will. Why did she do all that to me if she was going to let you have me in the end."

  "There were members of the council who thought I'd put you up to it. Sugilite oversaw us Test you in your cell to prove I hadn't, and she was satisfied, but the Implacs weren't going to believe either of us."

  "Ah. Well, I still never want to see her again, or her daughter. Or a fucking Implac."

  "I don't blame you," Jasmine said. She tightened her tentacles for a moment, and I leaned over and gave one a quick kiss.

  I turned back to Skye. "I get it. You were mad. But she was your friend and patron for four years, and she needed you. And now you're a petulant child, kicking your feet because you were bored for a few days. It doesn't matter how much better we can treat the women who come through here since." I shook my head. "You should wear it all as a badge of honor. You helped. You helped me. You helped every woman who has come through here since. And I thank you for that. But you should get over it. You should forgive your friend and maybe ask for a hug. I for one would like a game of Boardwalk and maybe a little ice cream after. I understand I'll get my ass kicked, but Jasmine will kiss it later, so that's not so bad."

  Skye, glaring at me, stood up. "Fuck you," she said. Five seconds later, she was out the door.

  "Um. I better go with her," Violet said, scrambling from her own seat. "I'm sorry."

  "Of course," said Jasmine. "Go."

  Audra and Posey looked after both of them.

  "I think," I said, "that you two shouldn't look like you are picking this side of the dispute."

  "I think you're right," said Audra. But she turned to Jasmine, "You are never doing anything like that to either of us ever again."

  "No," Jasmine said. "I'm not."

  "All right then," she said. "Skye will do the right thing. She always does in the end, but sometimes it takes her a little while to figure out what that is." And then they both go
t up and headed for the door. Soon, it was quiet.

  "Ah," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I've still got it."

  "Got what?"

  "The diplomatic skills I used with the Implac."

  "Come on, Oh Great Diplomat. I could use a cuddle."

  * * * *

  It was, oh, an hour and a half later when Jasmine cocked her head. "Oh," she said. She tightened her hold. "It may be that Audra was right."

  "About what?"

  "Skye doing the right thing. Or perhaps she's coming to tell us off. They're at the door."

  "Well don't just sit there!" I said. "Go warm up the ice cream or something." I jumped to my feet, ran to the door, and then smoothed my appearance. But not too much. Let them see I was disheveled.

  Then I told the door it could open.

  Skye was through first. She was holding Violet's hand. Audra and Posey were next, and they were wrapped around each other.

  Jasmine stepped up to me and wrapped me in tentacles. Then we looked to our unexpected guests. Skye stepped forward a half step.

  "I'm not ready to apologize for my behavior."

  "And I have no intention of apologizing for mine," I said.

  "And I don't know if I can really forgive Jasmine," she added. "But I might be able to put it behind me. And a game of Boardwalk might be nice, but I think we should have our ice cream during the game. That is, if we're still invited."

  I glanced at Jasmine only briefly. "Of course you are. But we play a variation in this house."

  "Oh?"

  "Yes. Rule One. Mates may not form partnerships within the first half hour of the game. Rule Two. Within that same period, Catseye may defend against attack from a human, but may not initiate hostilities unless attacked first."

  Skye began to smile.

  "Rule Three. Catseye may not conspire together against humans."

  "I think I like these rules," said Audra.

  I cocked my head. "Rule Four. Human sisters may not form a partnership in order to attack an unallied human."

  "You just made that one up," Audra complained.

  "Tell me you weren't considering it."

  "I might have been thinking of conspiring with Violet to go after...um... someone."

  "We have not had to worry about a human-Catseye partnership," I said. "I believe I could argue that falls under one of the rules above."

  "Darn," she said. "Fine, fine."

  "You will notice I didn't suggest the humans can't form a partnership and go after the Catseye, one at a time."

  Jasmine snorted. "We might need a rule five."

  "Oh, I'm sure we don't," I said. "Come on in." Then I took hugs from the four of them.

  * * * *

  It was some time later when Skye asked, "I want to know why we're here."

  "For a second bowl of ice cream," Audra said, dipping a spoon into Posey's bowl. "Duh. You're supposed to be the smart one."

  "Said the Harvard girl," Skye replied. "I'm serious."

  Jasmine looked at me. I shrugged. She knew these people; I didn't, not really. I let it be her decision. And then I watched her make it.

  "I need your help," Jasmine said.

  "We need your help," I clarified.

  "No," said Skye.

  "Peony moved to Switzerland," Jasmine said. "I've been sending Clover up to her as often as I can, but it's only a few nights every few weeks."

  "Are they breaking up?" Audra asked. "What's going on?"

  "No, no. They've got a new job. Well, Peony does, and there's one waiting for Clover. She'd have left with Peony, but I've begged her to wait until I can replace both of them. Andie is helping, but we lost Dark Skies, too, and we still don't have a replacement for her. I need people I can trust. I need people who know what goes on down here and will be aligned with what we're trying to accomplish. I can get help, but not the kind of help I'm willing to accept."

  "Wait," said Skye. "You're offering Violet a job?"

  "Well, I'm offering you and Violet both jobs. And Posey and Audra, if they want them, but Audra isn't done with school."

  Skye stared. Jasmine paused a moment then said, "I asked your mother to give me time to find a replacement for her, too. Frankly, I stalled her until I could get you to come talk to me. I didn't want her moving to Boston and then try to get you to move here. If you tell me no, she'll probably leave with you."

  "You didn't have to tell us that," Skye said.

  "No, I didn't. But it would have been wrong not to."

  Skye surprised me. She didn't say 'no'. "We have to think about it," she said instead. "Send us the details."

  And so Jasmine nodded.

  Finale

  I met with the woman alone. Her name was Marybeth Hastings. Marybeth was young, only twenty-two, with a fresh undergraduate degree in physics. She was small, about my size, and cute. Bookish, with big glasses and inexpensively cut hair.

  She was dressed only in the clothes we had provided her.

  I'd asked Piper and Dilly to handle her themselves, and to leave the guys out in the hall. "Be gentle." And so they had.

  They brought her in and sat her in the chair. I commanded the chair to swallow her, and then the table to take her arms. Piper was about to remove the hood, but I shook my head, and they stepped out.

  I was dressed as I always did for these meetings, not all that differently than the women did. I'd been acquiring a great deal of lingerie, however. I made Jasmine buy me two new outfits for each batch we got.

  "Who is there?" Marybeth asked from inside the hood. "What's happening to me?"

  I moved to her side. She sensed me and leaned away, but I knelt down. "Marybeth," I said. "Don't be afraid. I'm going to remove the hood. All right?"

  She nodded. "All right."

  I was gentle, peeling it away carefully, then holding it in my hands as she looked around, blinking. The lights were down, so it wasn't too bright. I didn't like blinding the women after all.

  She searched the room with her eyes before settling on me as I knelt beside her. That was when I stood, making sure she got a real good look at what I was wearing.

  "Who are you?"

  I moved away then sat down beside her. Sometimes I sat across. Sometimes I sat beside. I thought she might want me to touch her, so I sat beside her this time. If this went on for a while, I'd move so she didn't have to crane her head.

  "My name is Andromeda," I said. "But you could call me Andie if you want. That's what my friends call me."

  "Andromeda," she said. "You don't look like a space alien."

  "I'm not. I was born every bit as human as you were. I grew up in Minnesota."

  "I'm from Iowa."

  "We were practically neighbors," I said. "I came here the same way you did. Well, that's not entirely true. I was in my Testing, and then when I woke up, I was naked in and in one of those cells. Just like you."

  "Where are we, Andie? Do you know?"

  "Africa," I said. "The aliens have a large place in Africa."

  "They...they kidnapped me! They kidnapped us!"

  "Well, they certainly kidnapped me," I said. "You won't remember, but you volunteered."

  "I did not!"

  "As I said, you don't remember. Why don't you let me tell you what you don't remember?"