by Seven Steps
“For how long?”
“A few days at most.”
Nadira nodded, her eyes trained on her mother’s locket.
“What are you doing after the funeral?” Marie asked. “Maybe we can have lunch.”
“I’m going down to the Hall of Judgment. Hopefully they’ll let me see Kiln before...”
Before they execute him.
Marie pulled her daughter into a hug. “Oh darling, don’t worry about that. You’ll get Kiln out before anything happens.”
“I hope so.”
“How about I come with you?”
Nadira shook her head. “No, I want to see him alone.”
“I understand.”
“Mother, can I ask you a favor?”
“Anything Nadira.”
“I need to borrow some funds.”
“For what?”
“I’ll put it to good use, I swear.”
“What do you need the money for?”
Nadira kept her eyes on the locket. “It’s for Kiln.”
Marie frowned.
“Will you be hurt?”
Nadira shook her head.
“Alright. I’ll have to move some things around, but I’ll send it as soon as I get back home.”
“Thank you mother.”
“I’ll comm you before I leave tonight. And don’t worry, it will all work out.”
Nadira gave her mother a final hug before losing her in the crowd.
Eva came and stood next to her.
“Are you okay?” Eva asked.
“No. My mother’s leaving tonight. What will I do without her?”
“Survive,” Eva said.
Nadira stared at her friend, remembered Baleen saying the exact same words last night.
Baleen!
Nadira searched the garden for Baleen, found her laughing with Czarina Arees next to the wine table.
“Look at that snake,” Eva growled. “How can she laugh with her knowing that she tried to kill her?”
Nadira didn’t respond. Her eyes were glued to the man entering the garden.
Short, with a head full of brown, shaggy hair, he wore the garment of a slave, but not the expression. Slaves were serene, peaceful. This man’s eyes were wide, his vision trained on his target.
His sights were set on Baleen.
Nadira pushed her way through the crowd, Eva hot on her heels.
“Baleen!” she screamed.
A shot. Another.
Screams.
Women scattered.
Nadira was shoved back through the crowd as they fled from the gunman.
“No! Save Baleen. She’s going to kill her!”
Another shot.
Nadira dropped her shoulder, forcing her way through the wave of women.
A hand pulled her forward.
It was Eva’s.
“Can you see her?” Nadira cried out.
“No!” Eva said back.
The crowd thinned, the last footsteps finding their way past.
The gunman was on the floor, a hole in his head.
Baleen’s eyes were glued to the body.
Arees held a blaster aimed at the back of Baleen’s head.
Nadira’s heart raced.
She turned back to the escaping crowd.
“Look! Arees saved Baleen!” she screamed as loud as they could.
Arees’ eyes turned to Nadira, murder in them.
“Arees you did it!” Eva added. “You saved Baleen!”
The crowd slowed, turned.
Baleen’s scared eyes found Nadira’s.
Arees lowered her weapon, and with it, her murderous mask, leaving only a face full of triumph.
The crowd returned, cheered.
Someone with a microphone came to the front of them and began to interview Arees as cameras flashed.
Arees was now a hero and,in front of the entire planet, Baleen embraced her. She sung her praises to the sky.
Nadira didn’t move as the crowd shuffled around her. Eva held her tight. In fact, she was the only thing keeping Nadira from falling apart.
*****
Finally escaping Drell’s memorial, Nadira made a quick comm before heading for the Hall of Judgment.
A woman greeted her from behind a round desk.
“Good day, and may your mother be well, Empress.”
“Good day. I am here to see Prime Servant Kiln.”
Nadira held her breath.
This was a different Enforcer, one she’d never seen before. She was smaller than most, friendly.
New.
All of the best officers were at Drell’s memorial.
Just what I was counting on.
“Kiln?” The woman’s hands danced over her touch screen. “Prime Servant Kiln is being held for execution for participating in the slave riots.”
“I am aware.” Nadira took a deep breath, fueling the lie she was about to tell. “I am here under the Czarina’s orders. She wants me to interrogate him.”
“You? You’re not an Enforcer.”
“No, but I am a Councilwoman.”
“And your name?”
“Empress Chee.”
The woman put something into her touch screen.
She looked at Nadira, then back down at the screen.
“Empress Chee?” she asked.
Nadira smiled broadly. “Yes. Is there a problem, officer?”
“I’m sorry. Your picture is just... different.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Odd.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t let you in. Not without clearing your identity first.”
“It must be a glitch. Why don’t you check again?”
The Enforcer nodded, turned her attention back to the screen.
“That’s strange. I could have sworn that the picture was different a moment ago.”
The Enforcer tapped a few more times on the screen, her face falling into a deep frown.
“Well, I’m sorry for the delay, Empress Chee. I see that you are cleared to speak with the slave and your identity has been confirmed. Shall I put him in the interrogation room?”
“No thank you, just point me in the direction of his cell.”
“He is being housed in the Execution wing. Cell 468.” She handed Nadira a card. “Here is your hard pass.”
“Thank you.”
With her heart slamming against her chest, Nadira took the elevator to the bottom floor of the Hall of Judgment. Slaves being held for execution were held in the bowels of the building, their only light coming from a naked bulb in the hallway.
Today, the cells were devoid of prisoners. All except one.
Where are the other men?
Nadira’s breath came in quick burst as she walked down the hallway.
She found Kiln with his head in his hands, perched on the edge of a narrow cot.
She put her hands up to the glass door. “Kiln.”
He looked up at her, his face drawn, his eyes hollow. Though his gaze roved over her, he didn’t respond.
“Kiln, it’s me.”
She held the card up to the door, and it slid open for her.
He looked as if he’d seen a ghost. His body was deathly still. Only his eyes moved.
She approached slowly, sitting on the opposite end of the cot.
“Kiln, are you okay?” She put a soft hand to his bristled cheek, and he closed his eyes at the feel of her.
Her world awakened for the first time since he’d gone away.
“I thought you were dead,” he whispered.
Nadira shook her head. “No, Kiln. It’s really me.”
He squeezed her close, burying his face in her neck. She felt his hot breath come in quick gasp against her, as if he struggled to breathe.
She pulled back from his embrace, and their lips found each other, held to one another desperately.
The tension in Kiln’s body eased, and the cot creaked beneath them. His hands were everywhere, as if reassuring himself
that she was actually there, in the flesh. When his inspection came to an end, his hands rested on either side of her face, and his haunted face broke into his trademark lop sided grin.
“I haven’t breathed since you left me.” His voice was soft, his wet eyes filled with renewed hope. He kissed her again, slower this time.
Nadira’s world shrank into the small space of their lips, his hands. She had something important to say a moment ago, she was sure of it. But with Kiln so close, so eager for her, she couldn’t for the life of her remember what it was.
“They told me you were dead.”
Her brain fired. Her world grew a little.
“What?”
“Bragnia told me you were dead but I knew she was lying because they hadn’t killed me yet. I knew that if I was still alive, then there had to be a reason.”
“Why would Bragnia tell you that?”
“I don’t know.”
“When they took you away, I didn’t know what to do.” Nadira’s voice cracked, and he used the pad of his thumb to wipe away a tear. “I was alone, and High Council was burning, and I didn’t know what to do.”
He wrapped himself around her, holding her to him as she cried against his shoulder. All of her anxieties, her rage, and her fear came out in hot tears that soaked into his dirty grey jumpsuit.
She wouldn’t have wanted them anywhere else.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she sobbed. “Kiln, I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you. We should have gone back to the Ring.”
“You did what you thought was best for both of us. I don’t blame you.”
“Arees threw you in here because I wouldn’t vote for her to be Council Leader.”
“I know. Bragnia and Arees commed each other when they brought us in. Arees ordered all of those men to be killed. They executed every one of them in front of me.” His eyes looked past her, remembering. “The Enforcers lined them up in the hallway, and shot them. Then they commed in some men to clean them up.” He refocused on her. “Naddie, listen to me. Be very careful. I don’t want you to get hurt on my account. I want you to do what Arees says.”
“It’s too late for that now.”
“It’s not. Forget about me. Vote for Arees, then get out of the Residential, and go back to the Outer Ring with your mother. Can you promise me that you’ll do that?”
“What? No! I won’t leave you in here to die.”
“You have to. They’ll kill me anyway. At least this way you’ll be safe, and Arees won’t have anything to hold over you ever again.”
“You don’t mean those things. You’re just tired.” She leaned back, let her eyes rove down his body, gasped at the way his stomach seemed to cave in, the bruises that worked across his face, his arms. “They haven’t treated you well.”
His sunken eyes were red rimmed.
“They’re Enforcers Naddie. You know how they treat men,” he moved a hair from her forehead. His lips quirked, his tired eyes on her. “They can do what they want to me, but it doesn’t matter as long as you’re safe. Promise me that you’ll leave this place. Then, I can die in peace.”
Nadira wiped away a tear that dripped down her cheek.
“Kiln, I can’t-”
“Listen to me!” He bellowed.
Her eyes widened, her body went stiff.
“Do what she says! Stay safe. Forget about me.”
Her eyes narrowed, her teeth ground together. “I won’t let you die.”
“Naddie, I’m already dead.”
She stood, her body tensing from the loss of him. “I’ll be back soon Kiln, I promise.” She kissed him on a bristled cheek.
“Nadira,” he grabbed her hand, pulled her close, kissed her hard. When he pulled away, she was gasping, her heart pounding. “Nadira, please don’t put yourself in danger because of me. I’m begging you, go back to the Outer Ring with your mother. She can protect you!”
“I promise that I will get you out of here. I just need a little more time. Be strong for me, Kiln.”
She took one last look at her love, before the glass door slid between them once again.
I have to get my evidence before the vote tomorrow night. If not, everything that I love will die.
Chapter 26
Czarina Arees’ two story home was brightly lit.
Countess Jun-Su, Maharani Nina and Princess Niadad sat around a table, wine in hand, food spread in front of them. No one touched a bite.
“Thank you for your generous hospitality, Arees,” Princess Niadad said. The cheap, pink feathers on the shoulders of her overly tight pink jumpsuit drifted onto the floor around her. “However, I don’t need your food or your company. Tell us why we are here.”
“You are here,” Arees replied, “Because you are my friends.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Acquaintances perhaps, business partners at times, but never friends. What do you and your minion,” she pointed at Jun-Su, “want?”
Arees plastered on a fake smile. “I want to make a deal.”
Nina and Niadad exchanged glances. Then, Nina took one end of the long, mud colored shawl that hung around her neck, and flipped it over her shoulder as she leaned forward. “What kind of a deal?”
“A trade of sorts. After the today’s primary vote, I realized that I needed more support. I have the Councilwomen from Alpha and Omega’s vote. All except one. But Zephta and Beta are still undecided.”
“Perhaps you’re blackmail tactics aren’t working as you’d hoped,” Niadad said.
Arees glared at her. “Here is my proposition. Force every councilwoman from Zephta and Beta to vote for me. In return, I won’t setup an immediate investigation of the Hollows,” she looked at Nina, “or the increased Roguish activity in Beta.”
Niadad’s purple eyes narrowed. “So now you’re blackmailing us?”
“Bargaining,” Arees corrected.
Niadad and Nina smirked at each other.
“We thought it would come to this,” Niadad said. “You Alpha women are all alike, entitled, and treacherous.”
“Let’s not call names, Princess,” Jun-Su replied. “There are many things that can be said for Habitat Zephta.”
“She speaks,” Nina spat at Jun-Su. “I was sure you were just part of the decoration.”
“Countess Jun-Su is my second in command,” Arees said. “She is a very useful asset in my campaign.”
Jun-Su bit the inner part of her cheek.
The beads and shells that hung from the ends of Nina’s dark, braided hair clanked against each other as she chuckled. “Second in command?”
Jun-Su paused, looked at Arees, then back at Nina. “Yes. Second.”
“Why Jun-Su, I’ve never known you to be second to anyone,” Nina said. “What has Arees gotten on you?”
Jun-Su swallowed. “Arees and I have a unique business arrangement. I am here to offer her my contacts, wealth, and support.”
Nina shifted in her chair, crossed one leg in front of the other revealing her open toed wooden sandals. “And what are you getting out of this business deal?”
“She has promised to push through a pet project of mine.”
“A pet project, huh?” Niadad smoothed her wig, a bouffant blond updo. A few strands of darker hair poked out from beneath the ridiculous thing. “Is that what we’re calling children these days?”
Jun-Su leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and bounced her foot.
“It has nothing to do with them.”
Niadad pressed on, despite the murderous look in Jun-Su’s eye. “Or maybe it has to do with how they got here?”
Arees stood. “That’s enough Niadad.”
Niadad smiled tightly, and backed off. “So we are all here for our own ends. However, the only bargaining today will be on me and Nina’s terms.” Niadad pulled out a touch screen, placed it on the table.
“What is that?” Arees asked.
“The reason why we are not going to bow to any of your demands.”
She t
urned it so that Arees and Jun-Su could see.
It was a full color feed of slaves preparing a meal inside Arees kitchen. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Ingredients were brought in from the greenhouse and placed on a black counter top. The top turned blue, and small doors dropped the ingredients inside. A few seconds later, seven soupy dishes popped up in sparkling white bowls, ready to be served.
“What is this? You have spies in my kitchen now?” Arees demanded.
“Keep watching,” Niadad replied.
A slave put the bowls on a serving tray, took out a small vial, poured its contents into one of the bowls, and took the tray out to the guest.
The screen cut to the dining room where a group of women held animated conversations, and sipped wine.
“Now Arees, I’ll bet you know what was in that vial,” Nadira said.
The tainted soup was served to Empress Drell.
“And I’ll bet you know what happened next. Empress Drell didn’t die of any natural causes. She was poisoned.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“Is it? Do you think that the rest of High Council will think it’s ridiculous when I send this video to them? It won’t take long, only a few seconds. I can beam this to the entire planet if I wanted to. Then, everyone will know what a murderous woman you really are.”
Arees fumed, her face tight. “What do you want?”
“I want full control of the Slave Market. To be fair, I will only take half of all sales.”
“And I want all Enforcers removed from Beta,” Nina added. “We can police ourselves.”
“What you’re suggesting is nonsense,” Jun-Su said.
“What we’re suggesting is a deal,” Nina said. “Concede now or later. It’s your choice.”
“How dare you try to cross me!” Arees exploded.
“You crossed us first when you murdered those women,” Niadad spat. “Yes, I know that you setup that riot to eliminate the women running against you. Sly, but sloppy. I lost three Councilwomen. Women I knew, women I grew up with. You’ll pay for that.”
“I will pay for nothing!”
Arees reached under a table, pulled out a blaster.
Niadad and Nina raised their hands in the air.
“Now,” Arees growled. “You will give me all copies of that feed or else you won’t leave this room alive.”
*****
Nadira tiptoed up to the side of Arees house. She’d circled the house when she first arrived. Now, she stood, looking up at the second floor room.
