by S. M. Bowles
Once I was settled Herrik stood up. He raised his hands and gestured everyone else to take their seats. Those who were standing quieted and took the outer chairs before turning their eyes toward the table.
"Thank you all for coming. We have an unfortunate occurrence to judge and the fate of two of our residents to decide. As you all know our society is one of truth and discretion. We live apart from the world beyond these walls not only to protect ourselves from it but to protect it from us. It is a life lived in a delicate balance and it must be regarded as such for if any incident, however minute, were to expose what we have created here it would mean the doom of us all."
There were nods of understanding and assent all around.
"Richard," a gentleman on Penny's side of the table stood up. "One of your people has violated our trust and risked our exposure by taking an unpledged, under-aged guest of ours to an unguarded, highly public event. Emily," Herrik turned to me, "is in a very precarious situation. One of our kind," here he sighed and bowed his head, "one of our people nearly took her life then in a reckless act of contrition used his blood to coerce her from death. Neither Artur nor I yet know the full extent or consequences of his actions but she may very well be altered beyond our ability to help."
"What?!" my mind cried out. I fretfully looked up at him wondering what he meant by his statement but Herrik was scanning the crowd. It didn't seem to make any sense for what I thought was taking place.
"I am deeply against...was deeply against having someone so young among us but as you all recall this is not the first time we have felt this type of obligation to protect and nurture a blameless bystander to our...our predispositions," Herrik's gaze fell on Penny. "Though it fills me with regret I have decided that for her protection and ours Emily must stay with us. Emily must stay until we can fully guarantee her safety."
As soon as I understood what he was saying I tried to stand up and protest but there was Avery's strange presence again holding me in place and controlling my actions.
Looking around I saw that even though there were several who shook their heads in disagreement most were nodding and accepting Herrik's missive. It seemed apparent that I would have no voice in the matter.
"With her fate decided we must turn to Jesse's."
My eyes shot across the table to where he sat near Penny and my heart and head filled with dread. Jesse stood up. Herrik took my hand as well as the person's on his left. Like a signal everyone reached to their lefts and rights and grasped the hands of the people beside them. Artur nudged me and offered me his hand which I fearfully took.
My stomach leapt when I felt the conjoined thoughts of everyone around the table. Herrik's were the strongest and most prominent at first but it was too chaotic to make any sense of whatever it was he was thinking or feeling. Then I felt Herrik brushing anything irrelevant and unimportant to the moment aside. He seemed to sort through all our thoughts and ideas and when he came to my mind focused on the information he wanted and brought it to the forefront of everyone else's.
There they were; the events exactly as they happened. I was in the hallway ringing Jesse's buzzer. He was introducing me to his friends then inviting me to the show. They heard our conversations and saw our actions from the time I showed up at his apartment until the time Avery delivered me home. The images were crystal clear; a precise record of everything that had taken place.
When it was over I felt the others drawing away from us one by one until finally it was just Herrik and me. He carefully extracted himself from my thoughts then let go of my hand. "He took a deep breath, "You've seen. Now you must decide."
Artur stood up and looked at each of the people that were sitting around the table. Richard nodded then someone I didn't recognize from Jesse's side stood up and reluctantly seconded his acquiescence to Artur.
"Jesse, however inadvertently and unknowingly, has forfeited his right to live among us." Artur flatly stated.
My eyes flooded with tears as I watched Jesse's face fall in shock and disappointment. Avery seized him a moment later and led him away.
"Penny," Herrik called her to everyone's attention. She nervously stood up for a brief moment and acknowledged him then sat back down.
We linked hands again but this time Herrik sifted through Penny's memories and shared them with everyone seated around the table. When it was over no one seemed to know what to do. Penny hadn't really done anything wrong other than leaving me in my apartment alone. Herrik had never specifically said that she was supposed to stay with me or given any explicit instructions for her to follow. At least that seemed to be how she remembered it.
I turned to Herrik but he wouldn't look at me. I felt my hand still firmly grasped in his and briefly fought to get away but he squeezed it tighter sending a shiver of pain through my palm. I wanted to cry, I could feel the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. I could still feel him like a ghost in my thoughts. It was agonizing and I realized that it wasn't just my own distress that I was feeling but his as well.
After several minutes of indecision Artur stood up and he met the eyes of each of the people seated around the table. One by one they either nodded or shook their heads. They seemed to be having a vote of sorts and once I realized what was happening I tried counting the yesses and no's to see if I could figure out if the same fate would be decided for Penny as it was for Jesse.
I missed the first few responses but by the time they were done it appeared to be a split decision. Herrik was the only one who hadn't offered an answer.
Artur turned to him, "Herrik?"
Herrik shook his head no then, "No," he mumbled.
It was over. Everyone stood up and began filing from the room. There were whispered conversations all around but between the noise of the crowd exiting and the murmur of all their collective voices I couldn't make any sense of what they had decided and whether they were satisfied with the ruling Herrik had so obviously made.
"I don't understand," I leaned towards Herrik and whispered. "What's happening? What's going to happen to Penny?"
Artur was the last to stand up and when he did he tossed a look of disapproval to Herrik said goodbye to me then turned and walked away.
"What is it Herrik? What's wrong? Why is Artur so angry?"
I didn't understand; wanted desperately to know what was wrong but he wouldn't answer. "Come, I'll take you home."
I was so frustrated by then that I lost my temper and screamed at Herrik, "This will never be my home!"
He looked down at me, "I'm sure if you knew the alternative you'd be thankful to call it that."
I was already imagining the worst for Penny and there was something in his expression and the way he said it that made me reel with fear, shame and anger. He didn't bother to stop me when I ran off. No one did. I made it to the elevator and punched the button for my floor over and over again until the doors finally closed and it lurched upwards.
When I got to my floor and hopped off the elevator I was surprised to find that the door to my apartment was wide-open. I slowly walked in and uneasily called out once or twice, "Who's there? Is that you Penny?"
I waited for a response but none came. I cautiously walked in and crept along the hallway until I reached the kitchen. Nothing at all seemed amiss but I was still leery and continued walking, carefully picking my way towards my bedroom. As I drew near I noticed that the light was on and there were shuffling noises coming from within.
When I was close enough I peeked through the doorway and much to my surprise saw Artur and Avery walking out of my closet. They each had a bundle of clothes slung over their arms and they were bringing them to my bed where a good deal of them were already laid out.
"What are you doing?" I demanded when I realized who they were.
Avery answered with, "What does it look like?"
I knew very well what it looked like, it was the why that I didn't understand.
"Hmm, you're not very intuitive are you? No sense of deduction in you wh
atsoever." He turned back to his task.
"No, I guess I'm not," I eyed him expectantly but he just ignored me while he worked.
I looked at Artur imploringly but he refused to acknowledge me and simply began folding and packing the things from the bed into the boxes they had originally come in. I tried to figure out what they both seemed to think I should have already known. I guessed that I was being moved but other than that I was at a loss.
"Am I being sent to the dorms?" I asked remembering Carah had mentioned them once before. I tried picturing what they would be like in my mind and under the circumstances imagined them to be more like a prison than anything else. It seemed as likely a place as any for Herrik to want to send me after what I had said and done.
Avery dumped the last of the closet's contents on the bed and began helping Artur tuck them away. "You could help," his voice was full of disapproval.
"I could and you could answer my questions." I turned intending to walk away.
Artur cocked his head at me and before I could get out of the room pulled me back. I thought it was Avery and was about to turn my wrath on him but the next thing I knew I was standing directly in front of Artur and he was the one glaring down at me, "You are a selfish little beast of a girl aren't you? Do you have any idea what you have done? What you have forced Herrik to do?"
"I...I..."
My mind flooded with images and I was ruthlessly made to understand.
"Oh," I cried when I realized what was happening. "He lied...he lied to...to everyone..." I whispered. "He...he changed Penny's memories and...oh...no...no...they...they would kill him if they knew wouldn't they?"
"Not before they killed you and Penny and anyone else he has had the misfortune of protecting."
I looked from Artur to Avery who seemed to confirm everything Artur had said.
"I'm sorry." I said knowing full well that my apology was as worthless as it was meaningless to either of them.
Artur released me and went back to packing my things. Avery did the same. I went to the bed and without a word began helping them. Minutes later the handful of boxes were stacked up and Avery carried them all to the elevator. Artur and I followed in silence. They brought me back down to the lowest level and surprisingly turned into the garden rather than passing it by.
As we made our way along the path it split several times and I wondered over and over again just where they were taking me. The garden was much more expansive than I had imagined. The foliage seemed to go on forever. I knew it was just an illusion though made by the layout and design of the garden itself. At one point we passed a magnificent pond hemmed in on one side by ferns and tall grasses but completely open on the other which was dotted with benches for relaxing after a morning jog or perhaps an evening stroll.
Eventually we came to what seemed the end of the path but when I looked closely I noticed that there was a door standing in the middle of it just a foot or so ahead of us. It had a keypad just like the one at my apartment on the upper levels.
A faint tremble of understanding ran through me and though I knew it wasn't Herrik's apartment I knew that I was very near to it. Artur stepped from behind me and punched a code into the keypad. I heard the lock click and release then he jostled the handle and pushed the door open.
Avery went first and I nervously stepped in behind him with Artur close on my heels. The entryway was quite wide and bathed in the soft glow from the glass garden wall that ran the entire length of the right side of the hallway. The left side was decorated with various pictures and paintings and a large elaborate mirror that was hung over a small accent table. The table held a vase of dried flowers and beyond this few decorations the apartment opened up into two large rooms.
The room to the left was filled with plush furniture arranged around a fireplace at the far end of the room. It held all the traditional pieces – a couch, loveseat, matching chairs and a flat screen TV. There were end tables and a leather coffee table that could double as a settee if the need should ever arise. Like Herrik's apartment there were no windows but curtains were hung at appropriate points to suggest that there were.
I took it all in then turned to my right. That room seemed to be the office or study. There were several comfortable pieces to sit or stretch out on and other functional ones like a computer desk and chair. It was all very elegant and sophisticated to my inexperienced eye and I was a little overwhelmed knowing I was expected to live there.
"Alone?" I wondered.
The buzzer rang. "You should get that," Artur softly smiled his expression hinting at an apology for his earlier outburst.
I took a deep breath, "Right," and slowly moved away from where he and Avery were standing beside the boxes of my belongings.
I was accosted by Penny as soon as I opened the door. She stooped and hugged me, "Surprise!" she said buoyant and happy.
I was surprised, too, after everything that had so recently happened. I didn't expect to see her; I didn't expect to see her ever again and certainly not to see her so happy and without a touch of anger towards me.
Then I saw Herrik directly behind her, "She doesn't remember," his voice seemed to echo in my mind.
"May we come in?" Penny asked.
I shook my head, "Oh, yes," I stepped aside.
"This is for you," Herrik handed me a small box, "it's not much but I wanted to be the first to welcome you to your new," he paused, "apartment."
With fumbling fingers I took the box from him, "Thank you," I said then nervously looked away.
"Aren't you going to open it?" Penny asked.
I glanced back at Herrik as he made his way toward Artur and Avery. I felt awful for accepting the gift; I didn't want it and knew full-well that I didn't deserve it after what he had done for me and for Penny. I peeled the wrapping away and opened the box. There were two silver candle holders in it.
"Here, let me help," Penny took the box from me so I could reach in and pull one out.
They were somewhat puzzling to me and I looked at Penny full of confusion.
"They are like projectors. See," she took the top off one. "The candle goes in here," she pointed, "then when you light the candle and put the top back on it casts a shadow."
I studied it for a minute, "Huh! That is really cool!" I said a bit louder than I realized then quickly checked my jubilance when I remembered my circumstances.
Penny smiled and motioned us down the hallway, "Isn't this wonderful?" she asked. "When I talked to Herrik about letting us share an apartment I never suspected he would give us this!" she whirled around as she stepped into the living room marveling at it all."
That was when I realized that I wouldn't be alone and that Herrik had arranged to have my things moved so that Penny and I could live there together. It was a huge relief to me and swept away a good deal of the apprehension I was currently feeling. Artur approached Herrik and as they moved into the living room together they stationed themselves near the fireplace. They began talking to one another in hushed voices but stopped as Penny made her way towards them.
"I can't thank you enough Herrik!"
"You're welcome! Both of you!" he was beaming as he spoke to Penny. I felt another spasm of shame and wished there was something I could do to make up for all the mistakes I had made. In my heart I felt like nothing would have been too much to ask if only it would make Herrik look at me that way. "There's more to see; why don't you have a look around." Penny sent a questioning glance my way and anxious to get away from Herrik knowing what he did for me and for Penny and everyone else involved I agreed to the suggestion. "Whatever you do, don't mention anything that happened today. This is where the day began as far as Penny is concerned." I heard Herrik quite clearly again even though he hadn't spoken a word out loud.
"I won't," I concentrated and hoped he would somehow hear and understand.
He seemed to nod but I couldn't tell if it was for me or for Artur since they had resumed their conversation. I followed Penny as she led us away so w
e could explore the rest of the apartment.
The garden wrapped around it on three sides and could be seen for some degree or another from just about every room. The kitchen was beyond the first two rooms and was completely open so you could look into it from the living area, the study area, dining room and hallways.
The study area went a good length of the apartment on the right and was bordered by the glass wall of the garden. To the left was the kitchen and opposite that was the dining room. I was anxious to see the bedrooms and only took a cursory glance as we walked past. It looked very formal with its long, dark table, artwork, chandelier and other furnishings.
When Penny and I came to the back hallway directly ahead of us was the common bathroom. Then the hallway split left and right towards either of the two bedrooms; one on each end.
"Yours is to the right," Penny said. "I thought you would like the one with the garden wall."
"Thank you," I murmured humbled by her unaffected generosity. She came with me as I went to inspect it.
It was painted white with light touches of a soft grey accenting it here and there. The furnishings were also white, sleek and very modern in design. It was very bright; especially with the light shining in from the garden wall. It dappled the room with shadows of leaves and limbs making it feel more outdoors than in. There was a long row of grey and white drapes that could be pulled closed all along the back wall so the garden could be shut out whenever there was a need for extra privacy.
It had everything my previous bedroom had – fireplace, sitting area, walk-in closet and changing room but unlike my previous room it also had a large private bath.
"Gorgeous," Penny sighed.
"It is!" I thoroughly agreed. "Let's look at yours."
We whirled around and followed the hallway straight towards the opposite end of the apartment. I looked to my left as we walked and smiled in appreciation of the openness of the rooms. We passed the study then kitchen and I glanced in the common bathroom to my right as we went by. When the wall to my left broke again I turned my head towards the living area.
