by Jill Cooper
“Of course, Ma’am.” Meghan curtsied down low as the door to the private quarters, in which she rarely left, was shut.
Victor’s grin was smug. “If anyone can get her completely over to our side, it’s you, my love.” He kissed her fingers again, holding her hand to his cheek. The touch of his flesh was enough to make Liz’s skin crawl, but she endured it by thinking of Jake and everything there was to win if their game was successful. If somehow, they managed to pull this all off.
“She’s getting better. Don’t worry; she’ll come around to our side of thinking. Soon, everyone will know what an incredible man you are.”
“Once we’re married, the humans will see the way of the future is us—a joining of glistening and humans, side by side.” Victor slowed down as they came to the door that led to the roof. One of his guards opened the door and went ahead to make sure the coast was clear.
“And the ones that don’t?” Liz asked with a churning in her stomach at just the notion.
“Well, a glistening has to eat.” He laughed. “Come, the helicopter is waiting to take us to camp-1. Your subjects await, my dear, and when they see your beauty and how well cared for you are, they’ll see what they could have—their families, if they cooperate.”
Cooperate. Liz felt like she was betraying her own people, an entire race, but what could she do other than follow Victor up the stairs. Liz was marching straight toward her destiny and once you got on that sort of path, there was no getting off. She made a promise, a commitment, and no matter how horrified she was at what she needed to do, there was no way Liz could stop.
To do so wouldn’t only mean her death, but everyone she cared about as well.
****
Airspace was protected by the glistenings in the morning skies and, as the helicopter took off, there was no hope of escape—not even the smallest whisper. Liz sat in her seat behind the pilot and her fingers folded the hem of her dress repeatedly. Her eyes only gazed out the window.
Inside, it was cold and Liz could see her own breath. A dark reminder, that they were headed into winter. It would be hard on the resistance and Liz feared their people not might make it. But would it be hard on Victor’s glistenings? Liz could only hope.
The further away they were, the more damage Liz could see. Buildings smoked like giant bonfires and roads were destroyed. Traffic lights flickered on and off in the heart of DC but if there were motorists on the ground, Liz didn’t see any. Not a single person was out on the street, not even a stray puppy, or a feral cat. Anyone outside would be found by the hungry glistenings. They could smell flesh and blood from miles away.
Once caught, humans were forced into one of the concentration camps like the one Liz was on her way to. Her stomach nearly revolted at the thought, but she had to keep it together. If Victor figured out what she was up to, there would be no one to help her. Liz was alone and had to be her own savior.
A wire fence surrounded an area that was once a sport’s field. Now there was a raised platform, spotlights shining on the human residents, and giant makeshift tents where people were forced together. It was their home until they moved on and into the next phase of their plan.
The perimeter was guarded by glistenings in their dragon form, all sniffling snouts and stomping of oversized feet. Toward the end, the fence narrowed and led to a long, rectangular building, previously a bakery. Now, when Liz saw it, her skin shivered. People were sent into that building when they misbehaved or were suspected of trying to escape. When people went into that building; they simply never came back out.
Liz didn’t even want to think about what happened in that place or what she was privy to. Sometimes when you volunteered for an assignment, you didn’t really understand it. Now her decisions weighed on her, but there was only so much Liz could put up with. How many people would have to die before Jake gave the signal?
To be here made her heart race as the helicopter circled and landed. Liz and Victor were escorted out and they climbed up the staircase leading to one of the watchtowers that overlooked the inmates. The glistening in human form wore black uniforms with the ‘V’ on their armbands. They held firearms and gave them a nod as they approached. Liz couldn’t smile. She didn’t even think of smiling, instead all she could do was stare off at the crowd as they stared up at her.
Their faces were dirty, hair uncombed. They wore beige, baggy shirts and matching pants. Some of them were missing buttons, but all of them had the same lifeless eyes, lacking any spark they had beyond the most basic will to live. With winter coming, the reality of the situation was setting in. Food was scarce and the glistenings didn’t care much if humans suffered, except maybe the ones who were part of the food supply. Not for the first time, Liz wondered what Victor and the other glistenings in the White House ate. She had never seen them feed and not knowing gave her a sick feeling. They had to be eating something or someone.
Victor approached the microphone and his hand swept against Liz’s. When he touched her, her flesh became alive and not in a good way. “Humans, the time has come for a new day; a day in which we stop fighting and embrace one another. Humans and glistenings working side by side—joining in hands.” When he said that, Victor picked Liz’s hand up high enough so the humans below could see the diamond ring she wore.
Liz resisted the urge to pull it away and instead, stared down in a crowd. When she made eye contact with a woman below, the woman’s nose wrinkled in disgust and she broke her gaze. Liz wanted to scream how much she hated Victor and what she was doing, but she didn’t. Instead, she only held it back, her chin quivering, and said a silent apology.
So sorry, could they ever forgive her?
I’m sorry. I’m . . .
And in her mind for a brief moment, she imagined what it would be like to end his life, knowing all along it was her, and no one else, that had done it—that Liz had him right where she wanted him.
“This young lady will soon be my wife. And with that joining of human and glistening, we’ll make way for the future. I know this isn’t perfect, I want to treat you humans better, but there’s only so much I can do when you’re trying to hurt us, when you’re trying to escape. But if there are any of you now that will stand with the glistenings, step forward.”
Several stepped forward, their heads hung low, but Victor’s jaw tensed. He must have expected more to give in. “Bring forward the suspects.”
Liz did a double take. She hadn’t been aware that they were seeing anyone guilty of anything, but two women in old, dingy chef uniforms were pulled forward. They were on leashes and the giant glistening dragons that yanked on them huffed in disgust. One of the women with short, brown hair scowled with malice, while the short, blond quaked in her sneakers.
“Both of you are charged with stealing food.”
“There’s not enough food here for us to survive,” the brunette said.
The blond gasped and was going to say something when the brunette held up her hand. “We’re fighting to stay alive down here, while you what, play house with your little California Barbie?”
Liz blinked her eyes and looked away; is that how others saw her? Is that what people thought of her? But were they wrong? They didn’t know what was in her heart, so why shouldn’t they judge her. Still, it ached down to her bones.
Victor laughed with a gasp of breath and shook his head. The anger in his eyes sparkled. “Then you plead guilty?”
“Don’t,” the blond begged her friend.
But the friend only snorted. “Shut up, Chrissy, or you’re no better than they are. Yeah, I plead guilty and I’d do it again if I had to, do you get that Victor? Maybe you’d like me to tell people what happens when you march them into the old bakery. God knows; I won’t work there anymore. I won’t!”
Victor’s jaw clenched tight and Liz could see the rage building in him. His hand was sparkling and if he didn’t calm down soon, he would change into a beast. Liz had never seen him change and she was afraid if he did that the lust fo
r blood would consume him until he feasted on everyone in the DC camp.
“Victor?” she whispered to warn him of the danger, but Victor shrugged her warning off.
“Pick twenty that can head into the bakery to help out with dinner rations. Make sure these two are last.”
Victor moved away from the microphone, but Liz was frozen in place. People down below sobbed and a few screamed. Some clung to friends, family, but the glistenings ripped them away with flapping of wings and the gnashing of their giant claws. Twenty were chosen and they marched single file toward the bakery.
The chefs that had been on display were fighting against their glistening guards. The glistenings yanked on the prisoners’ chains, but the brunette pushed against the rough hide of their skin. “They’re turning us into food! Their food!”
“Silence!” Victor screamed and bared his teeth to the crowd. “I’ve had enough of these two. Let them be an example to the others. Finish them. Feast on their flesh.”
“No,” Liz whispered and shook her head. She gripped Victor’s shirt and pulled him in closer. “This goes against everything we’ve talked about. They’ll never be on your side if you—.”
But it was too late. The glistenings guards pinned the two chefs down to the ground. Their wings flapped furiously behind them, generating a windstorm of terror. Teeth bared, their fangs slipped through the soft skin of their necks like a warm knife through butter. Blood sprayed as their strong jaws clamped down on their flesh and ripped them apart.
Humans moved away, hugging the fence as the guttural screams of the chefs echoed through the camp. Liz squeezed her eyes shut so she wouldn’t have to witness their bodies convulsing on the ground. She took a deep breath and was able to smell the death, the warm copper tones of blood against her nose hairs. Liz just needed to pretend it wasn’t happening; it wasn’t real—just a nightmare.
She covered her mouth in horror, in a way to block out the smell and the reality of the chaos she was in the middle of.
Victor stared out at the crowd with a jovial glint in his eye. “They don’t need to be on my side, Liz. Fear will keep them in line. One way or another, they’ll realize who has the real power now. You do understand, don’t you?”
He turned to Liz with a softened glance and his hand stroked the back of her cheek. Liz closed her eyes as she quivered. “I only know I must be with you, Victor.”
“Good.” Victor kissed her fingers delicately. “Come, we have a busy day ahead of us. We need to visit five other camps and I, for one, am starving.”
Liz swallowed hard as she followed Victor back down the stairs. All the while, she could hear the screaming and tortured pleas for help. Help wouldn’t come in time, not for them, but she hoped maybe for others there would be.
Jake, where are you?
****
The day had been long and by the time Liz arrived back on the compound—the old White House—she rushed to her quarters to find Meghan. The thin glistening was folding Liz’s laundry and her eyes were haunted, like darkened swamp water. When Meghan saw her, she put down the folded shirts and sat on the sofa.
“Thank God you’re back.”
Liz took Meghan’s hands as she sat down. “Is it Travis? Is he all right?”
“He misses you, but he’s fine. I was worried for you.” Meghan squeezed her fingers.
Liz gave Meghan a slow smile. “Victor hasn’t hurt me. The signal?”
Meghan shook her head. “It hasn’t been given yet.”
Dammit, Liz, thought. With a trembling sigh, she gazed down at the floor and wishing it could swallow her whole.
“What’s the matter? Was it worse than the other times?”
“So much worse,” Liz said softly, hoping not to break, but she wanted to. She wanted to cry and let the horror consume her. “The glistenings . . . the conditions are worse than we feared. They’re starving and with winter coming, most of them will freeze. Victor’s using the situation to his advantage.”
“We knew Victor wasn’t stupid. He’s been planning this for a long time.”
Liz knew it was worse than that, but Meghan didn’t see. She couldn’t know. “He got so many humans to renounce and join his cause. He has them working in the factories now, Meghan. But they’re slaughterhouses. They’re . . . liquefying humans and turning them into . . .” Liz squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ignore the rise of vomit in her throat.
“Don’t,” Meghan sighed and grabbed Liz’s shoulders. “You’re sure? You saw?”
“I saw,” Liz whispered. “I saw more than I ever want to see again, Meghan. God, that stench; I’ll never stop smelling it. The toughest are led to slaughter and the weak? They’re the ones who do it.”
Meghan’s eyes widened. “How is that possible? That they would do that to their own kind? Friend and family?”
“It’s been over six months since the encampments were setup. Who knows what horrors they’ve endured or what they’ve had to do to survive this far.” Liz shook her head. “But if I ever have to see what I saw today again . . . I might lose it. I had to hold his hand.” She wrinkled up her nose. “Pretend that I—“ Liz snorted and stood up.
She crossed her arms and paced because it was the only thing she could do. Liz couldn’t admit aloud what it was she wanted to say, what she wanted to do. It sickened her to think how easy the idea of murder was now. That she—a good Saskatchewan girl—would be so ready to murder another? But Victor was a monster. He needed to be stopped.
“If we strike early we’ll be killed, as well as Travis.” Meghan’s voice was strong while Liz was not, but Liz took strength from that.
“Above all else, we protect him,” Liz whispered. “We need to keep him and those like him safe—those that can’t do for themselves.”
“We’ll do it.” Meghan’s eyes flashed with defiance.
“And the other women? Are they on our side yet?”
Meghan shook her head. “I wish, but the whisper campaign has just started. I’ll get them there. If you could give them a little push, any of them, I think it’ll help. I do.”
Nothing happened as Liz expected and she felt her mood spiraling down the drain. A knock at the door pulled her attention away. She smoothed her dress as Meghan rushed to pull it open far enough so Liz saw Victor’s personal guards. He stood with a hunch, battle weary after his escape from New Haven.
“What is it you need?” Meghan’s voice strained to remain calm. “Miss is tired and plans to retire.”
“Tonight the master has demanded her presence in his quarters.”
On the inside, Liz blistered. She always knew that one night this ordeal might come. That she might have to give Victor something, a gift only meant for her true love, but now? God, Liz’s skin crawled at the idea of spending the night with Victor. If she didn’t go, surely he would suspect she had been acting the entire time. If she didn’t entertain the idea, at the very least, their cause would be lost.
“Well she’s tired. Can’t she come another night? Trevor needs her here.” Meghan, bless her heart, was doing her damnedest to ensure that Liz didn’t have to go.
But it was foolish and fool hearty. If Victor were suspicious already, then refusing his advances would just confirm it. “I’ll go.” Liz said and took Meghan’s hands. Without Meghan, Liz would fall apart and she couldn’t have them separated. “If Travis wakes up, just give him a drink and then he’ll go right back to sleep.”
Meghan’s eyes flashed with questions she couldn’t ask. Liz hugged her and held her close. Meghan squeezed her shoulders and Liz felt the woman trembling in her arms. “Be careful, Miss.”
Liz’s smile hid fear behind brilliance and tears shone in her eyes. “I’ll see you in the morning, in the very least, in time for breakfast.”
Meghan turned her head as Liz left for the hall. Victor’s personal guards flanked her, one on each side. One walked with a hunch, the other had a bad limp, dragging his leg behind him. In human form, one day, they’d be easy to over
power, but that day wasn’t here yet.
They didn’t say anything as they marched toward the president’s private quarters. Like a death march, the closer Liz got to Victor’s room the more her skin crawled. On the inside, she trembled when the guard opened the door.
He gestured for her to enter with his hand and Liz did. Taking quick little breaths, she stepped inside and the door shut latched behind her.
Soft footsteps drove her through the sitting area and Liz’s fingers netted together as she turned toward the bedroom. Lit candles flicked in the darkened glow of the room and brought to life it’s elegance. A grand four-post bed with the most luxurious, satin sheets commanded the room. Beside the bed sat a silver tray with wine and a sampling of cheeses and grapes.
This was it. This was the night she lost what was left of her soul.
Chapter Eight Victor
Liz came toward him—a vision of loveliness, youth, and purity—now she would give herself to him. If not, Victor would see to it she drew her last breath that night, but he didn’t tell her that. Instead, he stared down her soft curves, aware that her hands were trembling with nerves.
On the bed, Victor laid on top of the sheets with his ankles crossed. He was fully dressed for now. His smile was wicked, the corners upturned with dimples as he stared at her. “Let your hair down.”
“My hair?” Delicately Liz felt at her elegant, braid up-do. Her voice was a slight fraction of a breath. It was cute the way she was so nervous.
Victor nodded and licked his lips. He couldn’t wait to see her hair down, to push his fingers through, and grip it in the throes of passion.
Liz did as he asked; removing every bobby pin she could find, and used her fingers to pull the tendrils free. With a shake of her head, her hair went free, wavy, and loose around her shoulders. She bent over to put the bobby pins on the end table and Victor stroked her hand. His heart pounded, not so much at her simple beauty, but at her youthful appearance.