The Forbidden Fruit

by S. K Munt

  True to form we had a gas stove and an ice box in our kitchenette, and the water for the showers- though plentiful and very hot- was collected in aluminium rainwater tanks and heated by the sun’s direct exposure. And when they went without sun, they boiled water for baths and clothes washing. This scrambled Kelia’s mind, and the thought of us having an overcast day and having to draw her own bath depressed her to no end, but I was excited by the prospect of living differently for a change. After all, if I was going to be a farmer, I had to learn to become more self-sufficient in my day-to-day activities!

  And we would live differently. As Jovi moved about the room, bringing in our luggage and showing us where everything was, he explained how differently Pacifica worked compared to Arcadia. There were no roads, so there were no carriages and definitely not a car or truck to be seen. People got around on horseback, on foot or by bicycle, and there were plenty of dirt tracks to make this easier. There was only one Arcadian village at the base of the caldera because so far the region had only accepted one hundred Arcadian settlers (all Academics or Blue Collars and not a noble amongst them) in addition to the indentured Corps division that Kohl was a member of. But there was a smaller village of ‘native’ Pacificans who contributed to the island as guides, Artisans and plantation workers who earned very good wages and served to keep the culture of the region going strong- and our jolly Jovi was one of them.

  There was no such thing as fashion in Pacifica, not by Arcadian standards anyway, because it was hot year-round and the living easy, so everyone got about in saris, sarongs or the like, and to welcome us- we Companions had received a complimentary vacation uniform that almost made me faint when I saw it, for it consisted of a crocheted bikini that wouldn’t cover half of my breasts, a white silk wrap and golden sandals.

  I stared at it in shock after Jovi had joyfully farewelled us and left, wondering if I had to wear it, or if I could stick with my toga. I asked Kelia if she thought that I could get away with staying dressed as I was, but she confirmed my worst fear: Maryah had told her about the island uniform before we left and because it was what the resident Companions wore, we had to as well because people had to know who we were to avoid us being coveted by men who didn’t have crowns.

  Accepting defeat with a self-pitying groan, I had a long hot shower, which made me feel a lot better about life. Not only was it nice to be alone for once, but also I loved the feeling of being clean and coconut-scented after a week and a half on the boat with only sponge baths available. Afterwards, I wriggled into the ridiculous get up, and Kelia came in when I was stuffing my breasts into the flimsy crochet with one hand, while finger combing my long tangled hair with the other.

  ‘Larkin this is adorable!’ she squeaked, and I turned and felt my heart sink because she looked sexy for the first time in her life, and like the petty, undercooked teenage girl that I still was, I didn’t want Kohl thinking the same thing. ‘Look how lean it makes me-’ she stopped dead when she saw me, and scowled.

  ‘What?’ I asked, but then I followed her accusatory glare and looked down at myself, cringing and nodding when a second glance re-affirmed my fears that I looked like I’d shrunk my clothes in the wash. ‘I know- I look stupid. Argh, I am so done with white scraps of cloth!’ I nodded at her and smiled encouragingly. ‘You do look amazing by the way, and what do you mean by saying that it makes you LOOK lean? You ARE-’

  ‘It looks cheap on you,’ Kelia said sharply, cutting off my compliments cold, and I flinched, caught off-guard by the sudden acidity in her syrupy-sweet voice. ‘You need a bigger one, and I’m going to tell Kohén right now before you ruin all of our reputations!’

  I watched her go with an open mouth, amazed that I could be charged with something as ridiculous as giving a bunch of teenage hookers a bad name, but ended up shrugging it off. Still wrestling with the knot in my hair, I went out to the kitchen to boil the kettle, telling myself that Kelia had meant well. Yeah, I was embarrassed and sort of irritated, but if her hissy fit got me a larger size then I’d put up with the derogatory fashion commentary. Not that I had a choice to do otherwise! She was the size of one of my legs, just stretched longer- what was I going to do- throttle her? I’d probably rip her perfect neck off her perfect shoulders!

  This and the fit that she pitched at the ball aren’t about me… she loves me! She says I’m her best friend so she can’t MEAN to hurt my feelings, right? I mean, I just happen to be around when she gets overwhelmed by the frustrations of this life, right? And she just doesn’t know how to vent politely because noble children are clearly born thinking that they’re above Blue Collars. That’s NOT her fault but society’s… she knows what’s proper, I guess. She’s a sweet girl… I’m sure of it! Just… just… a little mean sometimes...

  ‘Stop hustling me!’ Kohén sounded beyond irritated when I heard him cross over our porch a few minutes later. ‘You think I’m shocked to learn that Lark has an issue with her clothes? The woman’s got more hang-ups then-’

  ‘Ease up,’ Kohl’s voice was smooth and unmistakable, and I was tempted to crawl into one of the tiny kitchenette cupboards and hide at the sound of it. ‘She’s got a right to feel uncomfortable with a lot of the crap that’s demanded of her in her caste, as does Kelia and as do I.’ He chuckled. ‘You need to get in touch with the common man again, brother, before you become unmoved by our various plights!’

  ‘An unsatisfactory wardrobe is not a plight,’ Kohén insisted. ‘And from the way Lark carries on, you’d think that she was queen already, not a common anything. She can be downright im-’ his voice died.

  ‘Queen ‘already’ ?’ Kelia repeated, sounding dubious.

  ‘Downright what?’ I turned around and gave Kohén a dirty look, and found him staring at me with glassy eyes and parted lips.

  ‘See?’ Kelia wheedled. ‘She’s falling out of the thing like a tramp!’

  Okay yeah, I might have to decapitate this best friend of mine!

  Kohén swallowed and I felt his gaze do things to my flesh that only hands and lips were meant to do. ‘Oh sweet Jesus...’ he covered his mouth and stared at me, shaking his head.

  ‘I know, okay?’ I turned back to the tea I was making and poured the boiled water over the leaves in the strainer. ‘You can get me something more appropriate, yeah?’

  ‘You think I’m gonna find you something else?’ Kohén demanded, and I twisted back to blink at him. ‘Larkin you’re a heart-stopper! You should wear that every second of every day for always! In fact yes it’s decided- I’m moving here by the end of the year and bringing you with me just so THAT becomes your uniform!’

  ‘Ugh!’ I turned my back to him and finished pouring the water with a trembling hand. ‘You’re useless! Kohl, tell your brother that I look shameful, and quickly please.’ I waited, but there was no response, so I glanced over my shoulder and saw Kohl staring at my back with glazed over eyes, my nerves jangled. ‘Kohl?’

  Not you too! No, you see past this stuff, right?

  ‘I do not take orders from my brother, or my Companions!’ Kohén interrupted, then glanced at Kohl, and then shoved him a little as he smirked knowingly, snapping his twin out of his stupor enough to evoke a lethal look. ‘Besides, Kohl can’t speak right now anyway, can you Kohl?’

  ‘Uh…’ Kohl’s eyes moved back to mine and he cringed. ‘What?’

  You’re supposed to be the decent one!

  Actually no, he’s already admitted that he would have molested you long ago! Wake up and smell the twin instincts, darlin- Barachiel blood runs in his veins, which means it runs to his crotch as quickly as it does with the other two! Maybe even more quickly, seeing as how he’s denied access to a harem of his own!

  ‘That was Virgin for: ‘Get on the horse, Larkin, or be ridden like one in his mind,’ Kohén teased, pointing out the door. ‘It’ll be sunset soon enough so we may as well leave now so that I can enjoy the way you look before darkness falls. And Kelia?’

  ‘Yes, your highness?’ s
he asked, her tone and face disgusted.

  ‘You clearly consider yourself to be a pillar of proprietary, and my brother is going to need to learn how to act around such fine young ladies when his time to return to society comes… so could you please allow him to walk you around the grounds so that he can practice his courtly manner?’ he elbowed his brother. ‘And learn how not to gawk, as he is still doing at Larkin?’

  My eyes met Kohl’s, and we shared a mutual look of panic. No! I didn’t want him off with Kelia dressed like that while I was off with Kohén, dressed the same! And if I looked that appealing to Kohl, then he had to hide it better! He hadn’t denied a single one of Kohén’s silly charges!

  ‘I will do so, your highness,’ Kelia purred slinging her arm through Kohl’s and making me feel heartsick. She turned her pretty face up to his. ‘This place looks so romantic, Kohl, and I’ll bet that you know all of the most beautiful, secluded spots, yes?’

  ‘Um…’ Kohl blinked at me, then lifted his eyes to mine and offered: ‘It’s what everyone wears around here, Larkin...’

  I sighed and shrugged, turning back to my tea. ‘If you say so, then fine, I guess...’

  But Kohén should have to wear those pants too… and get your tan… and grow his hair out… hmm… what would Kohén do if I just went over and licked the dimples in Kohl’s lower back?

  ‘Then it’s settled,’ Kohén said. ‘Oh and Kelia, one more thing?’

  ‘Yes your highness?’ My best friend was all sugar and spice again.

  ‘Remember yourself when you are out of my sight,’ Kohén said quietly. ‘Because manners are the only thing you have going for you right now.’

  ‘Excuse me?’ she demanded haughtily, and the kettle shook in my hands, spilling hot drops of water on the bench. I turned around, and was impressed to see that Kohén did not looked moved by her curt tone in the slightest, which was a feat because my feet were tingling for my intimidation.

  ‘I said: I am sending Kohl off with a lady, not a Companion of his own,’ Kohén went on. ‘And if I hear that you’ve made a single advance towards him, I’ll have you not just removed from the harem, but from Arcadia, got it?’

  A shocked silence followed this statement, and though Kelia’s face flushed scarlet with guilt and surprise, it was my heart that had to have lurched the hardest.

  Well, at least now I know what the penalty for licking Kohl’s back dimples will be!

  ‘I, I don’t know what you are-’ Kelia stammered but Kohén waved his hand.

  ‘Please Kelia; do not insult me by denying it. My loyal brother tells me everything, including what has been written in the letters that he has received from you- and my father has eyes everywhere watching for forbidden flirtations. I can understand it to a point for you have been isolated from the world, but touching a man intimately who is not myself is an act of treason, and I will see you punished accordingly if you cross one of my generously drawn lines.’

  Uh-oh!

  Kelia shot Kohl wounded look and then damned herself by removing her arm from his. The ground had continued to sway for me since I’d departed the rocking ship, but now it lurched a little harder. Kohl had told Kohén about Kelia’s crush? If he was that loyal, how could I believe that he’d kept OUR correspondence a secret?

  Um, because you’d be strangled by now if Kohén knew what had been written by either of you to one another behind his back?

  Kohl cringed. ‘She won’t, Big Kahuna…settle down.’ But Kohén stood taller and Kelia shrank with every passing second. He looked nothing like himself in that moment- more like a cross between Karol and Elijah and even though he was the smallest of all four Barachiels, he suddenly seemed like the most self-possessed.

  ‘And also,’ he went on, darting a look at me, ‘please remember how kind Larkin has been to you before you pitch a jealous fit in the future, instead of admitting that she looks like the very embodiment of the word paradise. Because if you offend either of us again, I will spare you the boat ride here the next time I bring my Companions to Pacifica, by leaving you behind so her perfect figure won’t make you sick to your petty stomach.’

  Oh my GOD!

  I blinked, and Kelia’s face fell. Looking more insulted than apologetic, she lowered her head. ‘Yes, your highness,’ she whispered.

  ‘Good,’ Kohén said. ‘And please, don’t feel as though you cannot confide in me about crushes you may have, or needs that you have developed. All of the other girls have been very forthcoming about their own fantasies- especially regarding dear old Prince Karol’s ability to turn heads and invade dreams- and I accept the fact that you will notice other men. In fact, one day it could be your job to do just that-’

  ‘What?!’ Kelia’s head snapped up and her eyes were bright again with indignation. Kohén was clearly implying that he could punish her by taking her to bed, effectively pulling the loophole he was attempting to keep open for her shut, as quickly as someone might tug on a drawstring. Naturally, doing so would cement her in a future as a whore, and so I was not shocked to see her expression become an outraged one. ‘But you-’

  ‘I said COULD be- not definitely WILL be…’ Kohén drawled. ‘But if you cannot deal with your own urges then please, feel free to seek me out, for I have plenty of gold and urges-’

  ‘No, your highness,’ Kelia said, her voice acidic as she crossed her arms, and then had the audacity to include me in on her glare, as though Kohén’s behaviour were my fault! But I did wince at the severity of Kohén’s threat, and the implication that being attracted to a man meant that she ought to be attracted to ANY man, but what could I say? She had been throwing herself at Kohl, and I knew that Kohén had recently suggested dismissing her (talking his father into letting her go into the Corps instead of fulfilling her service with the rest of us) but Kelia had declined that offer believing that she was too good for such a fate… so it was her fault that she was still here, wasn’t it? Yes, we both wanted freedom but at least I would have been willing to work for mine in the Corps if I’d been given the same offer!

  ‘I will return as virtuous as I departed,’ she grit her teeth around the words: ‘and loyal to you.’

  ‘That is all I ask for, so thank you for understanding that it is not much. And Kohl, enjoy yourself... within reason.’ His smirk returned. ‘I’m told that Kelia has a lovely singing voice. Not that she’s ever offered to sing for me but...’

  The ground lurched again.

  ‘Um…’ Kohl looked like he wanted to disappear into a hole in the floor and I knew that he’d wring Kohén’s neck for putting him on the spot like that later. To be honest, I was a little surprised that he hadn’t already. Was it possible that he was actually intimidated by his brother? Or did he agree that Kelia ought to be reprimanded so harshly? And should she? I didn’t even know anymore!

  ‘Good. Now, Larkin…’ Kohén took my hand and smiled proudly at me with hard blue eyes, making it clear that I’d be the next person to receive a tongue-lashing if I defied him and heaven help me, but it was a little bit sexy to see how he’d reduced us all to twitching, silent lumps. ‘… Are you going to get onto that horse yourself, or do I have to go procure a drag net to trap you into spending time alone with me?’

  ‘I cannot get on a horse without your help, your highness,’ I said stoically, offering him my hand. ‘Help me mount it please?’

  Kohén grinned. ‘Damn, I was rather looking forward to wrestling you into submission while you were wearing something so flimsy.’

  ‘I know.’ I smiled sweetly enough to give myself- and him- cavities. ‘Why else would I agree to comply, so quickly?’

  Kohén rolled his eyes, but then grabbed me and as I yelped, hoisted me over the shoulder and smacked my backside hard. ‘Come on brat! I have woo to do!’

  ‘You wish you could woo,’ I muttered and he made an annoyed sound, but he didn’t throw me off and I allowed him to carry me out like the caveman he’d become, just so I’d have the chance to meet Kohl’s eyes as he
watched us go. His expression was mournful, but I took advantage of the fact that Kelia had already turned away to snatch up her sunhat (I couldn’t believe she was still going!) held up my palm and pointed to his ring on my finger. Then, I kissed it, before blowing him the kiss. Kohl’s face split with a smile, and he lifted his pendant to his lips and kissed it too, and I knew that even though we were being forced to spend time with other people, in our imaginations we’d be unified, and safe from detection.

  It had to stay in our imaginations though, for I’d sooner die than be dismissed from Eden for being an actual whore!

  12.

  My bikini felt as inappropriate as it looked- I bounced so roughly that after twenty gallops of the mare’s long legs through the jungle that I was forced to hold onto Kohén tighter and smush my breasts against his back. I didn’t have to see his face to know that he was smirking, but by the time we got to our destination, his scowl was fixed firmly back in place once more and I wanted to sigh in irritation. Why were we going through with this charade? How were we going to convince the king that we’d had a romantic outing, if we came back covered in the food that we were supposed to eaten because we’d started flinging it at each other?