There were four house maidens in the water. Samantha was one of them, and she stepped out, grabbing a towel and drying off. She looked quirkily at me.
“It has to be a hundred degrees,” she said. “Aren’t you uncomfortably hot?”
“It is hot,” I answered. “I cannot run around mostly naked. It is no wonder you shave your body hair.”
Samantha laughed and before she sat down, she asked for permission. “May I?”
“Yes.”
“I think I told you I was a little younger than you when things happened to the world. I remember how great things were. I also remember how horribly things went when the world took a nose dive. Gone were computers, social networking, country music…”
While I wasn’t completely familiar with social networking, I recognized the term country music. “Country music?”
“Oh, I loved Country Music. My father played in a country band.”
“What is that?”
Samantha smiled. “Musical instruments. When a bunch of people all play them, it makes a song. I mean, we have country music, but nothing new. No one really writes new songs anymore.”
“My friend does. When I was in Angeles City, he plays country music on his…” I closed my eyes, paused to remember what it was called. “…guitar. It was beautiful. Music and singing are beautiful.”
“They are.”
“My friend Davis said before the world went bad, he was ripping charts in country music. I don’t know what that means.”
“Tearing up the charts?” she quizzed. “Davis. Davis McCall?”
My eyes widened. “You are his friend? You know him? Oh, how happy he would be to know a friend is alive.”
Samantha laughed. “I didn’t know him. I know of him. Davis McCall was a huge country music star. He’s in Angeles City?”
“Yes. He is the leader.”
“Wow.” She sat back. “I didn’t know that.”
“Now, you do. And you can go with me when I return.”
Iry’s voice surprised me. “When will that be?”
Immediately Samantha stood and nervously backed up. This caught my attention and I watched her reaction.
“I apologize. I must begin my workday now.” She grabbed her towel and scooted away.
Suddenly she went from having the demeanor of someone in Angeles City to being subservient in the presence of Iry.
“Aren’t you afraid your skin will burn?” I asked him.
“I am wearing sunscreen, Vala. It is a lotion you put on your skin that protects it from the sun.”
“So you use magic.”
Iry laughed. “Man invented it. I’ll get you some to put on Sophie so she can come outside.” He sat down and looked at my cup. “I wish I could drink that. It smells so good.”
“Why can’t you? I thought you were able to consume anything that came from the ground?”
“We can.”
“Coffee is Mother Nature’s speed, whatever that means. Davis said that. What happens if you drink it?”
“I… I don’t know.”
I pushed my cup to him. “Go on. Take a sip. If you get ill, I will call for a medicine person and have your maidens at your beck and call.”
“I’ll try it if you tell me what your issue with me is today?”
“Deal.”
Iry lifted the cup. “I hope it doesn’t have the same effect as horse blood. We don’t need another plague.”
I reached out and gripped his arm.
“Vala, I’m touched you’re concerned,” he said with a grin.
“No, I’m curious. I know horse blood is deadly to you, but how can it cause a plague?”
“You don’t know?”
I shook my head.
“It causes a parasite, or virus, in us that is highly contagious and deadly.”
“That is good to know.”
“Gee, thanks. Here goes.” He took a sip. “Hot.” He cringed. “Bitter.” Then he took another sip. “Okay, this is good.”
“How long until we know if it will make you ill?”
He set down the cup. Tapping his fingers in anticipation, he looked up to the sky as if waiting. “A minute.” He paused. “All good. I have a new drink.” He took another and I grabbed for my cup.
“Get your own please, thank you.”
“Your turn. What’s up with you?”
“Samantha.”
“You don’t like her? Then she will not—”
“No. No. See, it was how she reacted to you that made me realize you aren’t as nice as you try to act.”
“Oh, please.”
“Iry, she was scared of you.”
“You were talking about taking her away. Of course, she was worried, that situation never came up. I’m a nice Ancient.”
“You put off that Ancients are basically good.”
“We are,” he said.
“Then why do you kill our elders?”
“What?” He laughed and twitched his head. “We do not kill your elders.”
“You round them up like cattle, those who have reached a certain age, and take them. We never see them again.”
“Okay, you got me. We hang them, drain them, and enjoy their blood like aged fine wine.”
My mouth dropped open and I gasped.
“I’m joking, Vala. Bad joke?” Iry then started talking fast, really fast. “We don’t kill your elders. Honestly we don’t. Why would you think we do? That is absurd.”
“Why are you talking so fast?”
“I’m not. I’ll prove it. Not that I’m talking too fast, I can’t prove that. I can prove we don’t kill your elders. Wanna see?” He stood up quickly. “I’ll show you.” He sat back down. “You aren’t moving, you don’t want to see?”
“I do want—”
He jumped up. “Let’s go, I’ll show you.” He darted in the house, ran back out. “Vala, are you coming? I thought you wanted to see?”
I hurriedly finished my coffee and followed him. It was a difficult task, because for some reason, Iry had moved into a hyper mode.
*
We went by motorized vehicle, leaving Sophie behind in the care of Samantha. I trusted her, she knew Davis. Iry kept talking fast and rambling and then just as we arrived and the car stopped, he exhaled and said, “I feel kind of drained. I may need to eat.”
“Don’t look at me.”
“I wouldn’t dare. I’m still not convinced you aren’t a bitter meal.” He opened the door and stepped out.
When I stepped from the car, I thought at first we had gone to another one of the Ancients’ huge homes. There was a gate and a wall set before a huge concrete walkway. The building was set back and it was huge.
“What is this place?”
“You wanted to know what we did with your elders,” Iry replied.
There was a rusted old sign, which I imagine was perfect at one time. The grounds surrounding the building were clean and beautiful. The sign read, “Acria Springs Retirement Resort.”
“What is this place?”
Iry didn’t answer, he just led the way.
The moment I stepped inside, I knew it wasn’t a slaughterhouse for human elders. There were flowers everywhere, although there was an odd scent, almost like a cleaning solution. Elder humans were walking, sitting, all around.
“This is where we bring your elders,” Iry said. “They each have clean rooms, meals, the clothing that was left behind, and clothing that they wore before they lived in the Straits. But only those elders who lived in the Straits get this opportunity.”
“You don’t kill them?”
“No, Vala, we do not.” He walked down the hall. Following the sounds of voices and laughter, we stepped into a large room. Many elders sat in chairs and they were watching a television.
“I Love Lucy.”
“They have their lives back.” Iry folded his arms and leaned against the doorway.
A part of me didn’t believe it. It was a ruse. But it had to be an ela
borate one. Then I heard someone call my name.
“Vala,” the voice was bright and I looked for where it came from.
“Miss Marilyn!” I said, shocked. I remember not many years before when she had left, happily waving to us as she rode off. I had thought we were saying goodbye forever.
She gripped my hands gently. Her skin was soft, and the folds and lines around her face reminded me of Marie. She wore a bright, flowered ensemble and even showed the lower portion of her legs.
“So good to see you,” she said. “How is your mother?”
“My mother has passed.”
Her brow crinkled and eyes filled with compassion. “I am so sorry. Lovely woman.” She clenched my hand once more. “Good to see you. It is. Stop by and sit by the pool with me one day.”
“I will.”
Another shake of my hands and a smile, then Marilyn returned to her chair next to her friend to watch the television.
“Did you feel fear from her?” asked Iry.
“No. I felt peace.”
“Exactly.”
“And all of these humans, you don’t feed from them?”
“No. The only time what we are comes into play is when they are ready to leave the Earth. We give them the option to leave or to turn and live on. Most say they’ve had enough.”
“Why, Iry?” I asked. “Why do you do this?”
“They are elders. All elders, no matter what species, should be respected for the life they have lived. A long life enriched with knowledge. They should be treasured, never discarded. They are responsible for continuing the human race, for teaching, we allow them to live the rest of their lives in comfort.”
Another eruption of laughter rang out and I looked around the room. They were happy and seemed content. My mind believed that every one of them were a meal, when in fact, they were having a much better life than anyone else.
It was an illusion I had created that was shattered. How much more would be? How wrong was I? For the first time in my life, I was truly confused about the Sybaris.
TWENTY-EIGHT – TANNER
Why I would think that the Savages would only go to the mountains is beyond me. I truly thought for sure they’d take refuge during the daylight hours where they were protected by nature. But the world had become nothing but a wilderness with only pockets of civilization, so the Savages could go anywhere.
I followed the Savages and the closer I drew to the unnamed town, the more Savages I saw. It got to a point where the road ended and I couldn’t go any further. Not by way of the Creeper.
It was not the mountains or woods, it was an overgrown city not far from Angeles City. The buildings were completely encompassed by trees and vines. There was a building with a domed roof and that was untouched. That told me it was the entrance and exit of the Savages. There were breaks in the trees, and I watched the Savages dip down into that area. Maybe that was their meeting place.
My stopping point was close enough to see I had found their home.
Then they found me.
Within minutes the Creeper was swarmed. It rocked back and forth and the noise was unbearable, even for me, and I was used to it.
Had they been smart enough, they would have realized that a group of them together could have lifted the Creeper and dropped it.
They didn’t; they continued to attack the metal as if they could break through. Then the sun rose and they pulled away.
I was debating whether or not I should step out. The scope gave me an ‘all clear’ view. I had to stay in the streaks of the sun to be safe and I opened the hatch, holding tight to my weapon and my crossbow on my back.
The second I did, I was bombarded by the most horrendous smell. It was sour and rotten, and I knew what it was.
Human remains.
I walked down the sunlit area of the trees and it brought me to the clearing. I actually heard the clearing before I saw it, because one thing always survived in this godforsaken world, and that was flies.
They were everywhere. The buzz was loud and they swarmed like a thick black cloud.
Pulling my shirt over my nose and trying not to inhale the smell, I moved forward. My foot sank into some substance and I glanced down. Lifting my boot, I saw strands of Savage salvia mixed with blood and I had made a footprint on what was left of a human head. Only one eye remained and the skull had been broken. The Savages took great care not to turn their meals into Day Stalkers.
I had seen a lot, and had the head been the only thing I saw, I would have been fine. But as soon as I looked away, the sight was overwhelming. The entire clearing, as big as a city block, was nothing but bones and rotting flesh. A garbage dumb for their leftovers.
It was too much, sight, sound, and smell, and I backed up, turned, and ran. I didn’t make it too far. My glands filled with spit, my eyes watered, and about twenty feet into my escape, I heaved forward and vomited.
I couldn’t stop. Not for a long time.
TWENTY-NINE – VALA
I embraced the silence to sink into thought on the way back from Acria. Iry knew it affected me, though remained silent. Had it not been for Marilyn I would have been convinced it was all a big show.
Upon arriving back home, I embraced Sophie, even though she did not respond. Her arms just dangled there. She showed no reaction to my hug or my declaration of love for her. I wanted my sister back.
Samantha assured me she would be back, that she knew many people who were transformed and in several days the only thing that separated them from what they were was the food they ate.
Speaking of food, I was extremely hungry and the kitchen maiden was preparing lunch.
After oddly asking permission from Iry, Samantha said that I was welcome to join her and others on days when they go to the retirement resort to visit our human elders and get enriched.
I would do that. I felt guilty that the Sybaris were treating our elders with more respect than we did. It was a crime.
Before the meal, I retreated to my room with the full intention of projecting. I had to tell Davis that I was fine. I had to tell him where I was, and more importantly, I had to get across to them that Nito had been banished.
I was besieged with guilt all the way around. Yes, it was true I could not lie, however, I was able to withhold truth. I withheld the truth from Iry about what I was doing and when I made partial connection, I didn’t give all the truth either.
Perhaps I would have had the chance to convey more. I sought out Tanner, and found him doubled over in unfamiliar woods, vomiting. Worried about him, I asked if he had eaten something he shouldn’t have.
“No, I saw something. Vala…”
“I don’t have much time. I’m fine. Things have happened.”
“Here too. It’s a game changer.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I told him. “I do know the name of the City of the Ancients. And Nito has been banished. She is no longer around. Sent to the abyss, I suppose.”
His eyes widened. “Then the whole thing is a game changer. Vala, there’s no—”
A knock on my door drew me from the projection. Certain I was fading before his eyes, I blurted out that I had to go and gasped for breath at my sudden withdraw.
I got up and walked to the door, opened it, and Iry stood there.
“I asked to be alone.”
“Are you all right? You’re breathing heavily.”
“I’m fine.”
“Were you projecting?”
I pursed my lips with a heavy swallow. Strangely I felt a sense of betrayal to Iry. Why that was I didn’t know, and it was a ridiculous feeling. Betrayal should not be a feeling I experienced when it came to any Sybaris. Yet, there I was feeling the need to be truthful. “Yes. I wanted to let Tanner know I was safe… and that Nito was banished.”
“It doesn’t matter. Don’t mention that you projected, okay? To anyone.”
“Yes.”
“We have a situation,” he said. “The king is here.”
&nb
sp; “The king? Does he come to homes often?”
“No.” Iry replied. “You must come down.”
He didn’t wait for me; he moved as if he was fearful of making the king wait.
As I descended the stairs, I saw King Seti standing there. If he was waiting on me to bow, he would wait a long time.
“My king, I have summoned her,” said Iry.
“You live a good life here, educator,” Seti said. “Your home is pleasant, you treat your maidens well. There is a problem, however. Despite the fact that it was proven what Nito has done, there is severe speculation on the Mare.”
I was confused and didn’t know what this meant.
Iry asked, “In regards to…?”
“Many know she traveled from the rebels’ camp. They believe since she is a Mare she is communicating with them, that she is only here to bring about the demise of the Ancients.”
“That’s absurd,” Iry stated. “She has been chosen, by me. Accusations of her are accusations of me.”
“This I know. I don’t believe they see you as a traitor, I believe they see you as a fool. Jaded by her and deceived. A Mare is important to us if she can be trusted.”
Iry’s head lowered. “What can we do?”
“They are calling to have her removed. To send her to the wild.” He then looked at me. “A Mare cannot lie. Are you here to cause our demise?”
I scrambled for an answer, one that would not be a lie. “I am here because of Iry. We have a bond. I stay because of my sister and what is best for her.”
“Very well. I will take the word of the Mare. I need you, educator, to tell me, is the Mare an intended?”
“Yes,” Iry replied.
“Great things can come to us if the Intention is carried through. If that occurs, then there will be no doubt, and no more uprising will occur.”
“Consider it done,” Iry stated.
“I’ll take your word for it and make arrangements. Mare, is that what you want as well?”
“As long as you stop calling me Mare.”
The king cracked a smile. “She is feisty, no wonder she is Intended. The sooner the better.” He turned, and with his two guards by the door, the king left.
Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) Page 9