Vengeance Is Mine

by Katherine Elizabeth Curtis

  “Well, look now,” she prompted.

  He took the book from her with a little hesitation. The last time he opened it, strange things and feelings had come into him. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go through that again. But he finally took the book and flipped through it, a little half-heartedly. Nothing jumped out at him again, thankfully, and after a few moments he stuffed it in his duffel bag. “Couldn't find anything.”

  “Well, it doesn't really matter,” she said. “Now, we'd better get going before the guards find you. I've sent them on a wild chase but sooner or later they're going to realize what happened. I've got someone to take my place for now, so I can leave whenever.” She took down a duffel bag of her own that was hanging off a hook on the wall and slung it over her shoulder. It was nearly identical to Nathan's, except it was much fuller, by the looks of it and the way she grunted a little when she brought it down. “Oh, just sec,” she said. “I've got to change.” She ducked into a little room off the kitchen and closed the door.

  Nathan glanced about uneasily. Without the girl in the room, he felt more vulnerable, for some reason, as though he could get captured at any moment. No matter. She'd be out soon. And she was. In just a couple of minutes she came out, this time wearing a khaki outfit, like Nathan's, only with a sort of floaty skirt and pants combination instead of just pants. She had her hair bunched up under her cap but no one could mistake her for a boy.

  “You ready?” she said to Nathan. He nodded. “All right...wait a minute. I don't even know your name?”

  “It's Nathan,” he said automatically. “Nathan Bordage.”

  “Great,” she answered. “I'm Lily.”

  :::::

  “So, is there any particular reason you'd be interested in the treasure?” Nathan asked Lily in a hushed voice. They were threading their way through several thin little tunnels in the palace that Lily said were secret passages that no one but her knew about. Nathan had wondered how she knew about them, but she wouldn't say when he asked her. There was definitely more to her than met the eye. He resolved to observe her as closely as possible and try to figure out some of her secrets.

  “Is there any particular reason you're interested in it?” she asked in the same tone.

  “Hey,” he said, “I asked first.”

  “I'm going to be showing you in just a few minutes,” she said. Her jaw was tight and her movements stiff. Nathan guessed that she didn't like answering questions that much. She preferred asking them. “So what about you?”

  He shrugged. “No reason. I'm just curious.” He definitely wasn't going to trust her with his thoughts of revolution and Hunter. He decided that silence was the best option right now, so kept his eyes busy, looking all around him. The tunnels were quite small and cramped, but he was able to walk without stooping which was a great relief. They were only wide enough to accommodate Lily and Nathan, and even then it was tight. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad thing. Not many guards would be able to fit in here, at any rate.

  The floors were dusty and rough, cracked and pitted and the walls were an off-white that wasn't exactly cheerful. Lily had a powerful flashlight with her that lit up almost all the tunnel for a few yards radius but other than that there was no light. “How long do these tunnels go on for?”

  “Not that much. We'll come to the outside soon.”

  Nathan sucked in a little breath and held it for a little bit. Being around Lily was both invigorating and hard at the same time. One never knew what way her moods would be. It made for a stimulating companion, that was for sure.

  She was right about the tunnels. In just five or ten more minutes they came they came to a door. Lily opened it a crack, flicked off her flashlight and then opened it all the way. The sudden bright light momentarily blinded Nathan but he was more glad than he could say to finally be outside again. The door opened on to a crowded street but no one seemed to notice them. They were probably used to Lily coming in and out. “Come on,” she said fiercely. “We'll gather attention if we just stand around. Let me have the book.”

  Nathan hopped out into the busy street. Women were everywhere and spacious mansions lined the street on both sides. They were similar to the ones that he and the other boys cleaned on a regular basis but much richer. The city dwellers must be richer than those in the small towns and country. He gazed about in awe at the sight of so much wealth for a moment until Lily poked him in the ribs.

  “Don't do that. I'm ticklish.”

  She ignored this and held out her hand. “The book.”

  “Oh. Right.” He had no idea what she wanted it for, but he dug it out of his bag and handed it to her, glad to be rid of it for a while.

  “Come,” she said, leading the way down the street. She kept the book tucked near her, obviously hiding it as well as she could. Well, if she was going to hold it to hide it, why couldn't it have stayed in the duffel bag? Nathan was about to ask her just that when she turned and looked back at him. “You're not a woman. You're much more noticeable, so if you get captured again – which I hope won't happen, by the way – I should be the one keeping the book.”

  “But-”

  “Oh, and don't worry about getting captured. If you are, I'll just rescue you again. It'll be harder, but I can do it.” With that, she turned back and kept walking. Nathan just shook his head and gave up trying to understand her. It would take someone with much more wisdom and knowledge than him to do so. But at least he knew some things she didn't, such as Defensive Arts. That was taught exclusively in the facilities and since no girl pupils were allowed...

  They turned a corner. A long flight of stone steps going down confronted them. Nathan hesitated. Going down usually meant some kind of danger, or at least more danger if there was any to be had. Lily noticed his hesitation – she seemed to notice everything – and she gave him another poke. “What are you waiting for?”

  He didn't say anything about the poke and started walking down the steps. “May I ask where we're going?”

  “You'll see,” was all the answer he got. He wasn't really expecting another one and started running down the stairs to get to wherever it was faster. Lily kept up a sedate pace, but of course she would. She wasn't burning with curiosity to get to where they were going. Nathan reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around him. A stone wall confronted him on all three sides, with the fourth one being the stairs themselves. Instantly the thought of a trap ran through his head, but nothing happened, even though it most certainly was a dead end.

  Lily came down and coolly knocked on one of the stone walls. A small stone came out from the wall – was it actually a wall? - and an eye looked out at her. “It's me, Lily,” she said, her voice soft. “I've brought someone with me.”

  “Name?” came a crackly voice from the other side.

  “Nathan Bordage. He's a man.”

  A small gasp came from the other side. “Lily...”

  “It's fine.”

  Whoever was on the other side gave a noncommittal grunt and then the entire wall slid aside. The person turned out to be an woman who was so old it looked to be a wonder she was still alive. Hundreds of wrinkles lined her face and her frame, covered by a rough, ragged gown, was small and frail. She didn't look capable of pulling aside the stone wall, but, nevertheless, she had done it.

  Lily walked in, followed by Nathan. He noticed that she now displayed the book openly by her side, even flaunting it. Again, she seemed to anticipate his question, for she said, “It's illegal out there, but in here, nobody cares. And I'll probably get some good information about it just by showing it around.”

  “Why did you bring me here?” Nathan said. He focused on Lily's face hoping that would make her respond better.

  “Just look around,” she said, gesturing with her hand. He was already looking, of course, but he made more observations when she ordered him to. Everyone was poor. Instead of silks and jewels, there were rough rags. They were clean, but hardly good quality, and everyone wore them. Wome
n sat on either side of the small road with little bowls beside them, begging. Everyone was thin. Women, children, and the few dogs and cats that ran around here and there.

  No glorious mansions met his eye anywhere, just small cramped huts. It was the complete opposite of the place he'd just left and he didn't understand it. As he and Lily walked down the road, she put a coin into each beggar's bowl. They were bright shiny gold coins worth about fifty euros each. Where on earth did she get the money? She must have given out a couple of thousand all told by the time she finished.

  “These people are the poor. The ugly ones. The outcasts. The rejects,” Lily said, her voice taut with angry emotion. “They are what I want the treasure for. A good treasure would put the whole community back in good society for life.”

  Nathan was already seeing an entirely different side to her. Thoughtful, passionate, full of longing to make the world a better place, driven by anger against injustice. Almost the same as him and because of that he felt himself warming toward her. He might not understand everything about her, but what he could understand made him respect her. “Why are they here?”

  “Nobody out there likes to be reminded that some people need their help,” she said, her voice thick with bitterness, “so they made this colony for them. I'm sure they are all around the world. Most people don't even know we exist. That's why it just looks like a dead end out there. To keep us hidden from the world.”

  “Us?” Nathan said, surprised. He didn't think Lily was one of them.

  “Us. I don't live here, but my family does. I was lucky enough to get a job in the palace as a cook and maid.”

  “Your family?” Nathan could hardly believe it, but it would explain why she was so familiar with the whole place. “Will I get to see them?”

  “Of course. That's where we're going right now.”

  Nathan wasn't sure it was entirely tactful to ask this question, but he couldn't help it. “Why are they here? Are they poor? Surely your salary, whatever it is, would help.” As soon as he said the words, he wished them back. It had sounded terribly callous, even to him. Lily, however, didn't seem to mind that much. She was preoccupied with other things, Nathan guessed.

  “My mother's an outcast and my one sister is too little to go out.” Nathan knew better than to ask why her mother was an outcast. “Ah, here we are now. Oh, and don't feel hurt if my sister is a bit scared at first. She's never seen a man before and she's deaf to boot so we can't really explain things to her.” They had come to a humble little cottage, but one that still looked much better than the majority of homes he had seen lining the road.

  “Mother,” Lily called as she entered, “I'm here.”

  The inside of the cottage was bright and well-lit, mostly through the natural sunlight coming in through the windows. “Ah, Lily, it's good to see you again,” a woman sitting in a chair, doing some embroidery said. “But who's this?”

  Lily pulled Nathan forward out of the doorway and presented him to her mother. “This is my friend, Nathan Bordage.” Her friend? Nathan didn't know that he was considered her friend, but was glad that she thought of him as such. Her mother's face showed surprise for a moment and then regained its original passive look. She smiled and gave a little nod to Nathan and he felt quite at home.

  “Where's Hope?” Lily said, presumably talking about her sister.

  “Oh, Lyssa wanted to take her for the day, so I let her.”

  “Well, that certainly uncomplicates things,” Lily said with a little smile at Nathan. “I wasn't sure how she'd react to seeing Nathan,” she explained to her mother, “so it's probably for the best.” Her mother nodded.

  “Why'd you come to see me today?” she asked next. “Today's not your usual day off.”

  “I left.”

  “You did what?” Her mother's tone was shocked and more than a little angry.

  “I helped rescue Nathan – it's a long story – and then I left. I'm not going back, mother, but before you get angry, let me explain,” Lily said, a little nervously. “This book,” she continued, holding up the one Nathan had found in his cell, “will lead Nathan and I to great treasure. It's the legend book and it's our quest now. We're going to find the Nonexistents and get the treasure that's connected to the book.”

  Lily's mother was hardly pacified. “You don't even know where the Nonexistents are?”

  “No, but I have contacts,” Lily said. “It'll all work out.”

  Even as she spoke, the door opened and a girl entered. “Sarah,” Lily said, her voice full of happy surprise. “What brings you here?”

  “I need to talk to you,” Sarah said. “It's important.”

  “You can whatever you need to right here. My mom and Nathan can be trusted.” She encouraged the younger girl with a smile. “Go on. Tell us what it is.”

  “That book,” she said, pointing to it, now resting on the table.

  Lily shot a knowing glance over at Nathan. “See?” she mouthed to him with the appropriate facial expression. He gave a slight nod. Excitement pulsed through him. This was the beginning of everything, at least he hoped it was. “What about the book?” Lily said.

  “Helen says she needs to speak with you about it.”

  “Tell her I'll be right there,” Lily said, already getting up from the table. Sarah nodded and scampered out of the cottage. Then, to Nathan and her mother, Lily said, “We'll find the Nonexistents in no time. Helen is one of the people who everyone knows it part of the Nonexistents, only she lives here.”

  Nathan felt nervous excitement rippling through him. Finally things were working out the way he wanted. “Hurry back,” he said to Lily, “and tell me everything you find.”

  Lily gave him a small smile. “Of course I will. That's what partners do, isn't it?” She held out her delicate hand to him and he took it. They shook firmly on the success of their quest.

  Chapter 8 – In Search Of The Nonexistents

  Helen had spent her whole life in fear. She was the daughter of Existent parents and had become one of the Faith as well. Then her parents were killed – her mother was discovered while she was cleaning a rich woman's house and her father had died soon after from grief – and so Helen was left to fend for herself. She knew where the Nonexistents lived as everyone of the Faith knew already or had it told to them by someone else, but it was too far a journey to make on her own, so she went to the poor community and had lived there ever since.

  Her fear was taken from the idea that someone might discover that she had no tattoo on her shoulder. Even the poor, listless people who lived here would turn her in, if only for a crust of bread. At least most of them would. Some, like Lily and her mother would never dream of doing such a thing but they were definitely in the minority. So she always made sure her rags sufficiently covered her and stayed inside most of the time. She had taken Sarah in after her mother died and the girl had proved to be very helpful in running errands that allowed Helen to then stay indoors.

  She was weeding her garden one bright morning when she noticed that Lily had come into the village. Walking beside her was a man, of all things, but that's not what captured Helen's interest. She noticed, with a quick intake of breath, that Lily carried a book with her that looked almost identical to the one that her mother often read. The same black leather and gold letters on the front. It had to be the same kind. What was Lily doing with it?

  She stayed kneeling in her garden, staring after them long after the book was out of sight. It was only when Lily and the man entered Vivian's cottage that she realized the slightly damp earth was seeping through the knees of her dress. “Oh, bother,” she sighed. “Sarah, come here for a minute, will you?”

  Sarah appeared almost instantly. “Yes?”

  “Did you see Lily come in here?”

  Sarah nodded.

  “Good. Could you please go and ask her to come here? It's about the book she brought with her.” Sarah nodded again and scampered off. Helen wasn't sure herself what her purpose in asking Lily
over here was but she felt she must know more about that book and make sure it really was similar to the one her mother had once owned. She brushed off her dress as best she could and went inside, making sure everything was tidy and as clean as possible. Of course, since she didn't have much to begin with, clean up didn't take that long.

  Several moments passed before Lily entered the small room with breathless apologies for being late. Her eyes were bright and she looked positively ecstatic. Helen wondered what had happened to make her so happy, but she soon forgot that as her eyes went directly to the book in her hands. “Could I-?” she said hesitantly.

  “Oh, of course,” Lily said, practically shoving the book into her lap.

  She ran her hands over the gold embossed letters and the soft leather, obviously worn smooth by much use. The pages were gilt-edged. Yes, this book was almost identical to the one her mother had owned. The sight of it bought back a wave of nostalgia and pain and it was all she could do to keep tears back. Thanks to her mother she had memorized bits and pieces of this book – their holy Bible – and just opening it up was like greeting an old friend. She spent a few minutes perusing the pages, catching out familiar verses, before she remembered Lily standing there.

  “Where did you get this?” she asked the girl.

  “My friend, Nathan, found it.” Lily seemed hesitant to say much more but Helen wanted to know where she'd found such a book. “It was in the prison cell he was in,” Lily said. Her voice was defiant as if she dared Helen to find something wrong with what she'd said. Helen had no idea of doing anything like that. The Bible must have been left by an imprisoned Existent for someone else to find and be comforted by.

  “We – Nathan and I, that is - want to find the Nonexistents,” Lily said.

  Helen looked up at her in surprise. “Why?”

  Lily hesitated again and she looked uncomfortable. “We heard that there was some sort of mystery connected with it. We're curious as to what the mystery is.” Helen mulled over this. How did Lily even know that she knew where the Nonexistents were? She posed that question to her and Lily shrugged. “I just knew. So will you tell us?”