The Forbidden Fruit

by S. K Munt

  The crowd behind us hushed as he crushed me to him again. ‘It would gladden me if you went there,’ he said. ‘But you do know that if you go across the ocean, I will find a way to follow immediately, right?’

  I did know that, and I knew it was going to cause both Kohl and Kohén a lot of distress, which was why part of me was thinking that the best thing I could do- for everybody- was to sign a contract with Atticus agreeing to accept Pacifica from him when I was twenty-one, but to serve out an apprenticeship on the mainland, somewhere close to Kohén but without being literally in his lap and assuredly on Kohl’s mind until then. Possibly even St Miguel, for it was still just a march under Arcadia’s jurisdiction, which meant that Elijah would profit indirectly by keeping me within Arcadian borders. Sugar cane wasn’t cotton, but it was a crop that they grew on Caldera Island already, so I could learn a lot that would benefit a Pacifican future. And who knew? Maybe Elijah would offer me land there, with Hamlet McPhee’s blessing, to try my hand at cotton on?

  Besides- that was where Martya had been intending to go. Shouldn’t I honour her, by following in her footsteps, but making it across her finish line?

  ‘You talk to a man about a crown,’ I repeated, releasing his hands. ‘And I will talk to the same man about an island, and we will talk about what that means for our future when both are in our possession- and the ability to change rules, in yours.’

  Kohén frowned. ‘Wait… what about what you said in Pacifica? About seeing other men? Surely you know that I won’t court anybody-’

  ‘Larkin?’ Kohl’s voice closed in on us, and when I turned, I saw that he was holding his mother’s hand and her, trying to get a grip on my gaze. He looked from his twin, to me, and then smiled curiously, though the worry in his eyes was clear. ‘When you get a minute, Atticus wants to talk to you.’ He held out his free hand. ‘And I would like to squeeze you until your head pops like a champagne cork!’ I grinned and turned to him, accepting his offer, and Kohl picked me up and bellowed out a: ‘Who’s the guardian angel now?!’ while spinning me in a whip of a circle.

  ‘Karol, actually!’ I giggled and he put me down as the duchess moved to Kohén and held him tightly. I wanted so badly to tell him about the fine print, which would see me gift my virginity to Karol by the end of the week, but I couldn’t. And who knew? If Karol intended to keep what we did behind his locked door, then maybe no one would ever have to know, and the repercussions for me would be minimal. Well, internal, at least- probably not minimal. The very thought of disrobing for his greedy gaze made me feel light-headed and ill, so I could only imagine how cheap and wrecked I would feel after. ‘Who would have thought it, huh?’

  ‘I did.’ Constance said, and when I glanced over to honour her smug smile with a nod of acknowledgement, I saw her pull Kohén into her arms. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered to him.

  ‘For what?’ he asked, still wiping the damp tear tracks from his face.

  ‘For giving me a daughter at last, by treating her like a princess, instead of a whore.’

  I turned around in shock, and Kohl’s arms went limp, letting me go. I raced to the duchess and she wrapped her slender, soft arms around me and when I pulled back, a butterfly escaped from the palm of her hand. My breathing hitched in fear, but only I noticed how it had appeared out of thin air, and she smiled in a reassuring way.

  ‘You never know what someone’s capable of, hmm?’ she asked, and I laughed and hugged my mother again, hoping that she would love me as a mother, even if Karol’s plans for me quashed both Kohl and Kohén’s alternate plans for me.

  Hoping that a princess didn’t need a prince charming, in order to have a happy ending.

  31.

  The feast began immediately following Karol’s speech, and the people shifted from one mass to form lines along the common, while I accepted congratulations from total strangers and chatted with Atticus.

  As it turned out, one of the Islands that had been virtually destroyed by God’s wrath, Isthmus Isle, had recently been declared habitable again, and it was there that Kohén and the prime minister had sailed together that day in Pacifica, leaving Kohl behind, and the general had done that because there had been no natives there for Kohl to have to translate for.

  ‘It used to be called-’

  ‘Maui,’ I said, winking, and he blinked at me and then grinned and shook his head.

  ‘I should have assumed you knew already, hmm? With your test scores and all?’

  ‘Actually, I knew that because Kohén was so invested in the subject growing up. Always so eager to know his brother’s life as best as he could. We’d go through old encyclopaedias and spin his globe…’ I smiled a sentimental smile and took a sip from my glass of champagne. ‘I owe so much to him.’

  ‘And now the little brother owes his very own title of Lieutenant-General to you.’ He saw me blink and held up his hand. ‘Relax, it will become a duchy in addition eventually, I do not doubt that. But Duke is a royal title, and can be granted by the king only. I am certain that Elbert will come to see Kohl’s potential, but we still need to make that potential shine brightly so that he looks at all. So I have asked Kohl to become my new Lieutenant General, and to spearhead the settlement of Isthmus Isle using half of the Corps we have stationed on Caldera, and the prisoner Corps that are coming to us at the end of the year - most of which will eventually become your workers.’

  ‘Prisoners?!’ I squeaked, but he held up his hand again and laughed.

  ‘It’s not going to be a boatload of miscreants, sweetheart. This crop will be made up of people who have begged to be re-accepted into a society after having being evicted for committing a series of minor crimes- meaning that they’ll have more than three glyphs each, but for petty crimes like getting pregnant out of wedlock, insignificant but recurrent thievery, or prostituting to make money, etc etc.’

  The boat I would have been on according to the duchess’s plans!

  I twisted my pursed lips to the side, but nodded, accepting that. ‘So… people who fell through the cracks, like me, but didn’t have a guardian angel to pull them back out?’ I smiled wryly. ‘Huh. That’s kind of perfect.’

  ‘I thought so. Not only will this position give him the chance to shine while bearing quite a burden of responsibility, but he will be acting mayor of the village that will be established there over the next four years and-’ his eyes shone proudly, ‘he confessed to me, that being my second-in-command is his wildest dream, so relax, Larkin…’ he patted my shoulder. ‘It is my footsteps that he wants to follow in, for now, not his actual father’s. That will probably change, for I speak from experience when I say that it’s hard to stop climbing the ladder of success once you’ve overcome the fear of heights. But it will suffice for now, and instead of having to wait until he is eighteen to have any at all, Kohl will bear that title proudly on Sunday. And because it is a military issue, not feudal- I cannot be overruled.’ He wriggled his eyebrows. ‘Nor will Kohl be able to be overruled by Kohén- for lieutenant general will outrank prince on Pacifican soil, at least until Kohén is crowned King of it.’ He held up his glass. ‘So, do I get a thank-you?’

  ‘I have told Elbert no, so that is my thanks,’ I clinked my glass against his and grinned. ‘But this is a toast for hope for things to come in addition to that! From the bottom of my heart- and glass!’ I giggled, seeing that I only had a splash of liquid left. ‘Gosh, this is my third in an hour, I better slow down, hmm?’

  ‘Not at all! This is your day, and it must be celebrated until we are singing and having to pour ourselves into bed.’ He chuckled. ‘After we have discussed some loose arrangements regarding your future of course.’

  ‘Neither is very ladylike behaviour,’ I said, finishing my drink. ‘But to hell with manners!’

  ‘To hell with castes!’

  ‘To hell with champagne!’ I clacked my glass against his again. ‘Where’s the ale? Cigars? I ought to celebrate my feminine victory, in a masculine way.’

 
Atticus laughed and I finished what champagne I had, and looked around for somewhere to set it down but a servant appeared out of nowhere and handed me a glass of beer.

  ‘I couldn’t help but overhear, and this is supposed to be going to the Earl of Janiel, but here you go miss!’ she said, then turned around again. ‘I’ll see if I can’t swipe one of his cigars too!’

  ‘Thanks!’ I called, but turned with her, pulling on her blue apron strings. ‘Hey!’ I said assessed her dark hair, bountiful curves and olive skin. ‘Don’t I know you?’

  She glanced back at me over her shoulder and smiled briefly. ‘Well, I have worked in the palace a few times over the years as a caterer-’

  ‘Not from here. Not…’ I followed her and turned her around, and then recognition hit me. ‘Oh my gosh! Siria, isn’t it? Weren’t you a Companion?’

  The maid’s brown eyes widened and yes, they bore a trace of gold, just as Siria’s had. ‘N-no miss,’ she stammered. ‘You are confusing me with my sister.’

  I pressed my hand to my chest. ‘I thought she was from Tariel?’

  ‘She was- I mean- we both were. I was born first and she, a few minutes later.’ The girl lowered her lashes. ‘We are identical but like the prince and his twin, not equal. Hector of Tariel took her in on his fifth birthday. And I…’ she lifted her eyes to me, and she was so beautiful that it stopped my heart. Beautiful, and sad! ‘My parents couldn’t stay and watch her life unfold like that. They requested a transfer for them and my older brother and I here, so they would not have to see her go through that life, and I qualified as a waitress just as she was released from her contract.’ She sighed. ‘I tried to transfer to re-join her in Tariel, but it was denied.’

  My heart ached for her. ‘So you do not see her?’

  ‘I do now that we are grown, but only I do, and it is not often.’

  I looked around, trying not to look like I pitied her too much, but how could I help it? She was a lot older than me- at least twenty-eight, going off the Prince of Tariel’s birthday, and she was unmarried and working and missing a twin. ‘Is she here today?’

  ‘No, but she may be here on Saturday, weather permitting, for the roads north have suffered a bit of rain damage last night and are all muddy.’

  ‘I hope she makes it,’ I said. ‘I never got to see her after the incident at the ball last year! I was taken outside too quickly and then sent off to bed.’

  ‘She was unharmed,’ the girl assured me, then shook my hand. ‘I saw her after myself, and a few times since. I’m Gabby-’ she held her hand out to me, balancing her tray on the other, and her skin was as warm as her eyes. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you for real, Larkin. I knew Lindy and her husband rather well, so I was grateful to hear you passing along her name to my sister- who had her make a pretty gown for me too!’

  ‘Really?’ I was beside myself with excitement, and the girl nodded, her eyes darkening.

  ‘I knew your mother as well. She used to do clothing alterations on our uniforms…’ she smoothed out her Blue Collar apron and smiled sadly at me as my heart sank. ‘Her funeral was pretty, Larkin- all of the nurses who knew her from the hospital came, and the seamstresses from where she worked…’ her voice trailed off. ‘I’ve said too much, I’m sorry.’

  ‘No,’ I shook my head. ‘It’s fine. I’m glad to hear whatever pleasant things I can, for I was still unconscious when the funeral took place.’

  ‘Well, that’s good. Anyway…’ her eyes drifted across the green. ‘I better get back to my duties. I ought to say that I hope to see you again soon, but I will not- just in case I jinx your escape.’

  I laughed. ‘Thank you, Gabby.’ I stepped back to Atticus and grinned, thinking that I’d have to find a way to get her transfer approved. Surely Kohén would back me on that, because she was a twin as well? ‘Small world.’

  ‘I have no idea what you two were on about…’ he said, finishing his own champagne then turning it upside down. ‘But I do know that she forgot to offer me another beverage.’

  ‘Here, take mine,’ I thrust the beer into his hand. ‘I’ve just realised that I’ve had too many without a bathroom break, so to save me from doing something hopelessly masculine- like peeing behind a tree- I better duck inside.’

  ‘So long as you don’t pee on the wrong throne!’ he called after me, and I laughed, excited to get the bathroom business out of the way with so I could return and grill him on the nitty gritty details of his relationship with Jovi. What a match! What a DELIGHTFUL match!

  It took forever to get up the green slope of the common with a sloshing bladder, and I was stopped so many times that by the time I made it through the front courtyard, I was in agony. I tried to go to the public restroom by the pool just inside the west wing doors, but there was a line of women already waiting and so I huffed and puffed and made my way toward the north wing instead. It was silent and dark inside the harem’s corridors, and because I wasn’t certain that I would make it past the bubbling fountain of the spring, I used the toilet in the spa and then practically danced toward my bedroom after, realising that I was actually drunk and ought to at least check my hair and make-up and re-apply some perfume spray so it wouldn’t be too obvious.

  And I should probably try and find Kelia… we could get drunk together! It’s not like anyone is ever going to mistake us for born-nobility again!

  Swaying, I opened my bedroom door and then stepped inside, but then gasped when I was greeted by utter destruction. My things were everywhere! Absolutely everywhere! Vases smashed against the carpet, curtains ripped from the rods, my duvet was on the floor and when I stepped forward, something crackled under my boot. I looked down and saw a sheath of paper and my heart stopped when I recognised Kohl’s handwriting. Instantly terrified, I slammed my door behind me and locked it, and bent to gather up the three pages of the letter lying there, and my eyes followed the trail of destruction all the way to the over-stuffed chair in the corner where Kelia was huddled, hugging my bible to her chest.

  ‘Oh my god…’ I gaped at the girl, whose hair was a mess, and whose mascara was running down her face. Her feet were bare, and her tiny frame was shaking. ‘What…?’

  ‘There’s nothing comforting in here…’ she croaked, and I wasn’t certain if she was talking about the bible, or the harem, until she tapped the mouldy, warped cover. ‘It’s all damnation for a whore… unless you’re the prodigal son’s favourite, like Mary.’ She made a face at me. ‘Like you.’

  ‘Kelia, what’s the matter?’ I picked up my letter and hurried to kneel at her feet. ‘What have you done? Why would you do this?’

  ‘He released me,’ she whispered, and my chest tightened. She didn’t look at me, but kept her haunted gaze locked on the old book in her hands. ‘Not just me- all of us.’

  I blinked rapidly. ‘When?’

  ‘Twenty minutes ago,’ she whispered. ‘He summoned us all inside, and released us. His father was with him, and he tore every contract in two and told us to enjoy our last days in Eden at our leisure.’

  ‘Oh, oh no!’ I tried to take her hands, but she wouldn’t relinquish her hold on the bible. ‘That’s terrible!’

  Kelia’s eyes flashed. ‘Kohén said it was an honour. That we were already wealthy, and that we would be the youngest companions in Calliel, and would make a killing. Not just that, but we could afford to be selective.’ She began to cry. ‘And Elijah said that he would find placements for us all- that he’d even hit up the dignitaries here and ask if any of us were to his liking… but… but… I can’t be a whore!’

  ‘You’re not a whore,’ I assured her. ‘You’re a Companion.’

  ‘No, I’m not.’ She shifted her eyes to me. ‘I am nothing, Larkin with the potential to choose between two fates- resign myself to be a common man’s whore, or join the Corps.’

  I furrowed my brow at her. ‘What?’

  ‘I am a virgin,’ she whispered. ‘But I got a sixty-four overall. So if I admit that this…’ she held up a lim
p, gold-encrusted wrist, ‘is a lie, I will be put into the Corps to earn a wage, with a savings bond of golden trinkets waiting for me when I get out- as a favour from the prince.’ She swallowed, and my eyes widened. ‘But if I… if I want… I can…’ she sniffled and raised the book to cover her face. ‘I am nothing! Either way, I am nothing, and you get EVERYTHING!’

  I scurried back a few paces when she lifted the Bible and threw it, shattering my mirror. ‘What are you talking about?’ I demanded. ‘You’re not a virgin! I SAW you-’

  ‘There are ways that a woman can be taken by a man and left intact!’ she screamed at me, and I honestly thought I was going to throw up when I realised what she was saying. ‘Oh, yes, look disgusted with me! But it was what he wanted from me, okay?!’

  I pressed my hand to my stomach and stared at her in horror. My feelings for Kohén were like sands in an hourglass, constantly filtering from one extreme to the next, and Kelia’s confession flipped my sentiments towards the boy I had held in my arms only an hour before and saw them trickle down to the depths of depravity once more. ‘Why would you ALLOW him-’

  ‘I needed his protection!’ She pushed out of her seat and stomped past me. ‘I saw him, running out of the prime minister’s house and I just knew- I just KNEW by the look on his face, and the way Kohl ran in after you, that you’d finally screwed things up! You were his favourite, but he not yours, and now that he knew it, he would want to forget about you! So I threw myself at the chance to be more than just another, and I told him that if he branded me in gold, I would ask him to do so. I would lose my airs and graces, and beg at his royal feet to be defiled… to be his perfect little Companion if ONLY he’d make me his favourite and keep me in the palace forever!’