by Coralee June
“Your job is in the Gardens, Sis. We will just have to see how your behavioral reports come back.” Cyler’s tone was matter-of-fact. He walked away, dismissing our conversation. I stood there, looking around the room as the gnawing pain filled me. I wanted to scream at him. Everyone was allowed freedom in Dormas but me.
A little girl tripped over my feet, jolting me out of my thoughts. She had curly blonde hair and dark brown eyes framed by thin brown lashes.
“I-I’m sorry Mistress,” she said while wiping her snotty nose.
“You know how you can make it up to me?” I asked while crouching low so that we were eye level. “Go dip Master Black’s hair in pink paint.”
I walked the Walker children back to the Dorms as my mind drifted to my conversation with Cyler. I dropped the Walker children off, and after debating for a moment on what to do, my feet carried me towards the Scavenger camp.
My emotions were all over the place as I walked. Relief, sadness, pain, frustration, hopelessness. My heart swelled at the distress of it all. I moved in a manic state, craving something I couldn’t quite name.
At camp, I was surprised to find a rowdy circle of joking Scavenger men. In the middle of the circle was Tallis and another Scavenger. Both of them held wooden long sticks and were dancing across the small space, sparring with one another. The loud slap of the wood hitting their bare skin echoed around the camp.
A loud cheer erupted from me as Tallis slapped the other man’s rib cage, and I pushed my way to the front of the crowd for a better view. Tallis clashed with his sparring partner, the vicious lines of his face contracted with each of his opponent's advances.
His strength and intensity both scared and invigorated me. I imagined feeling his muscles, submitting to his strength. Watching him fight made all the conflicting feelings I felt earlier disappear. Their movements were quick and powerful. Each step, each punch, each dive was a precise split-second decision. Tallis tackled his opponent to the ground, and while holding him down, he looked up at me. My pleasure at seeing his athletic display was evident as I licked my lips and nodded towards the forest. The Scavenger Chief’s face broke out into a cocky grin.
I started walking in that direction when I heard him shout, “Good fight, Thurst. End of lesson.” The sounds of pounding feet against the hard dirt followed soon after.
Once out of sight, I leaned against the trunk of a tree as Tallis descended upon me. “Like what you saw?” he asked while crushing his hips to mine and biting my ear.
“It was alright,” I replied coyly, but my breath hitched in response to him.
“Have you decided to take me up on my offer?” He pressed tighter. His smoky smell mixed with sweat made me dizzy with desire as I wrapped my arms around him and gripped the slick muscles on his back.
“I think I need more convincing,” I whispered.
His lips tenderly touched mine as his hands roamed over the curves of my hips. I moaned into his mouth as his tongue snaked out and licked my bottom lip.
We licked and sucked and moved our bodies against one another. Building the friction between us until our skin ignited with the heat between us. Tallis’ hand drifted lower.
“Do you want more?” he asked as I sucked on his sweaty neck.
“Yes,” I moaned out. I cursed my long, restrictive dress.
“I could give you what you want, Jules. It would almost be too easy,” he murmured. I arched my back to get closer.
“Please,” I begged.
“You know what you have to do,” Tallis whispered before pulling away. My body ached to keep close and felt empty by his departure.
“You can’t be serious,” I panted as he bit his lip.
“I won’t be your secret, Agapimenos.”
“Why does this have to be all or nothing? I didn’t peg you as a traditionalist, Scavenger,” I growled out in frustration while narrowing my eyes.
“With most women, I’m not,” he replied with a shrug while stepping closer. “But you’re someone I see a future with.”
I laughed boisterously while trying to ignore the jealousy that fluttered through me at the mention of other women. “Well, if you’re looking to lay a Dormas heiress, don’t hold your breath. My brothers cut me off,” I said in a bitter tone. For a brief moment, pity flashed through his steady eyes.
“It’s not your gold I want, Miss Black.” Tallis pulled me towards him and placed his hands on my waist. “It’s you.”
I pulled away and stormed off towards camp, muttering profanities.
"Jules, wait," Tallis called after me. I didn't stop and reply, even after he fell into step with me.
"How was your morning, you're here early," Tallis said. I heard a crunch and looked over to see him eating a bright red apple. I was reminded of the night before and the crimson stain on his lips.
"My morning was fine. Actually, I saw the new schoolhouse. Looks like Cyler might let your people use it. I won't have to come here anymore."
Tallis grabbed my wrist and laced his fingers through mine. I wanted to pull away but was too tired to deal with his persistence.
"What if I want you to still come here?" He asked.
"We don't always get what we want, Tallis."
"I do."
I exhaled loudly as Tallis pulled me closer and navigated me through the crowded camp.
I looked over at Nikketa's tent and was surprised to see Gordon laughing with the girl we rescued. She still seemed cautious but happier as Gordon handed her flowers and made silly faces. Even from here, I could see that he was doing everything he could to put a smile on her face.
Tallis followed my gaze and chuckled.
"Ah, young love!" He exclaimed while holding me tighter. "I see a wedding in the future." He grinned.
"God, let them be young," I complained.
"The world is dying, Jules. People grow up faster. Weren't you engaged not too long ago?" There was a curious playfulness in the tone of his voice. It was light, but there also was the hint of disapproving jealousy beneath.
I pulled my hand away and sat down on a log. Tallis joined me, and we both stared at the fire for a moment.
"How'd you hear about my engagement?"
"Cyler mentioned it."
I rolled my eyes. This Scavenger Chief was relentless.
"All the girls in my class are either married or engaged now. It's like the moment you turn sixteen, we're supposed to find a suitable family to leech on to. Like a lifetime in a loveless marriage is preferable to being poor," I said with a sigh. "I thought Josiah Stonewell’s status was what I wanted. And yet...".
I thought back to my time in the Stonewell Manor and the part I was expected to play. I might have bragged to all my school friends about marrying a Governor, but it was the most alone I felt in my entire life.
"...And yet I was engaged to a stranger. A rich and powerful stranger. Someone that would have happily taken care of me. But still, a stranger."
Tallis flexed his fists and an animalistic growl vibrated in his chest.
"Agapimenos," he began, "I'm glad you did not marry him."
Chapter Eleven
Over the next few days, I found my mood to be considerably sour, despite the pleasant weather. The sun felt less intense as we moved deeper into harvest season, but it was still hot. Each swipe of my scythe felt like needles pricking my patience. My eyes were opened in Saberus, and now everything else felt pointless.
Anyone with half a brain could sense that the Gardens were a complete waste of my potential and talents. What use were years of elite tutorage and training if I had to spend it here? We spent our days performing mindless tasks that not only ruined my nails but also made my muscles burn.
Still angry about Pioneer Day, the Walker women spent their days ostracizing me. They casually kicked over my water bucket, I’d find dirt in my lunch, and whenever I walked near, they went silent and sneered at me.
Today, I walked with Tallis towards camp in silence. My muscles hurt from the lo
ng day and all this work, plus the angry attitudes from the Walkers was wearing me thin. Spending my days at the Gardens and nights with the Scavengers wasn’t sustainable. Something had to change.
I felt restricted by my punishment in the Gardens. I wanted something better but lacked the time, supplies, and energy.
I rubbed my shoulder and winced, causing Tallis to look over at me. The sun was setting, and I noticed lightning bugs dancing in the distance. “You need to rest, Agapimenos,” he observed with a frown. I could feel his piercing eyes sweep over my appearance with scrutiny. My hair was a frizzy mess, my eyes had black circles under them, and I wore one of my loose-fitting dresses intended for lounging.
“No, I think I need a massage,” I said suggestively in a sleepy tone. Things were still intense between Tallis and I. When we were alone, I liked to push his buttons, see if I could get him to plunge into all the things I shouldn’t want. But when we were in public, he would do the same to me. Lingering touches and stormy eyes that stripped me bare followed me everywhere. We just couldn’t get on the same page.
“Maybe I should quit,” I began with a heavy sigh, my footsteps dragging along the path towards camp. “Tallis, I can’t stop seeing Saberus. My life here now seems so mundane. So pointless.” My voice sounded whiney even to my own ears. What was the point of teaching if my brothers still wanted me in the Gardens? The Scavengers would move to the Schoolhouse, anyway. My efforts felt wasted.
“When you get tired, it’s time to rest, not quit,” Tallis replied while pushing aside a rogue branch and guiding me to camp. "What else is bothering you?" I shuffled behind him while rubbing my eyes, smearing the black charcoal I lined my lids with all over my face.
"The Walker women are still mad at me," I grumbled.
"Why?"
"I took back something that belonged to me," I replied cryptically with a shrug. I felt too embarrassed to explain my little outburst. Tallis was one of the few people on my side, and for some reason, I worried what he would think.
"I feel like you're my only friend these days, Scavenger. Isn't that sad?"
Tallis' eyes flashed with hurt before he masked his expression.
"Sad?"
"I never thought I'd befriend a Scavenger Chief," I replied. Tallis let a small smile break free.
"I always hoped I'd befriend someone just like you," Tallis said in a low tone.
"And who, exactly, is someone like me?" I craved to see myself through his eyes. He stopped for a moment and grabbed my hands.
"Someone stubborn. Smart. Challenging. Compassionate."
I tried to find fault in his words. I waited for the inevitable insult, but there was none. Tallis stared at me, and I felt nothing but the genuine truth of his statement. His shining eyes and handsome face lacked malice, and there was no sign of hate shining in his bright eyes. I realized that against all odds, he didn’t think I was a spoiled waste of space.
“Maybe you don’t know me well enough then, Scavenger,” I countered.
“I know the parts of you that matter.”
We made our way back to camp where my students were waiting. Tallis walked to the front of the group as the Scavengers set up for the night.
“Attention everyone, Mistress Black needs a break tonight. Gordon will lead your lessons.” He grabbed my hand and guided me towards a large tent. I ignored the butterflies that filled my stomach in response to his authoritative tone.
“Tallis, where are you taking me?” I asked with a yawn. I was too tired to argue with him. At this point, I needed rest. He didn’t answer, but instead pulled me through the flap of a tent door and guided me to a pallet covered in furs on the floor. I sat down, and he kneeled at my feet with a smile. He started unlacing my boots.
“Beautiful girl, you need rest. I’ll be back in a little bit to bring you dinner. Nikketa would wring my neck if I didn’t feed you.” He chuckled as he picked up my thin legs and shifted them onto the pallet. I snuggled into the comfortable makeshift bed and breathed in the smoky scent that surrounded me. It was the most comfortable I felt in weeks.
“It smells like you,” I dreamily mumbled before biting my tongue to prevent more ridiculous statements from pouring out of my mouth. My attraction to Tallis amplified in the dim tent.
“That's because it’s my bed, Agapimenos,” Tallis replied in a husky voice with a chuckle. I widened my eyes and fought a blush as he lowered the light on his electric lantern, causing shadows to dance along the tarp walls.
Tallis started walking away when I whispered, “Stay.”
He paused with his hand resting on his thigh, then turned around with a soft smile as he made his way back to me.
“Tell me about the third trial,” I continued as he lowered himself to the floor. I shifted on my side making our eyes level. Only a few inches of space separated us.
“That’s not much of a bedtime story. I don’t want to give you nightmares,” Tallis whispered, and the ghost of his breath made my hair shift against my face.
“I can handle it,” I replied stoically. For some reason, I craved to know the darkest parts of him, I craved to know I wasn’t alone. That we shared tragedy and overcame it.
Tallis took in a deep breath and lifted his hand to my cheek. “Our old Chief was a wise, good man. For decades, he single-handedly ensured our survival. But in his old age, things changed. He became manic. Paranoid. He started talking to the trees. Hearing threats when there weren’t any. He didn’t have my people’s best interest at heart and began hoarding supplies necessary for survival. Our people were dying of starvation, and yet he had stockpiles of food. The only way to overthrow him was to survive the first two trials and then compete in a fight to the death,” Tallis said in a grave tone while stroking my cheek. The dark mood of the story and my tiredness made my resolve disappear, and I craved his contact.
“Our ways are gruesome, but it is our way,” Tallis added in a somber tone. “I did what I had to do, and I outmatched him in many ways. I made my kill swift, painless, and I took no joy in the act. It was in a closed arena, and the only people in attendance were our elder council members and his life partner, Nikketa. Not even Gordon knows that it was me that killed his Grandfather.”
My eyes widened in understanding. Gordon was the old Chief’s grandson.
Tallis continued, watching my face for my reaction to the news. “Our Chief was a proud man. I think he knew his end was coming. As per tradition, we dined together the night before battle. Even then, I remember seeing how his awareness seemed to flicker in and out. In one of his last moments of clarity, he requested that Gordon be told that he died in battle with a neighboring tribe. Since then, I’ve made sure that his wishes were granted.”
“The night he died, Nikketa waltzed into my tent and sobbed in my arms. I—I don’t think I’ll ever forget what she said,” Tallis began while sucking in a deep breath. “She thanked me for ending his suffering, and I remember wishing she would punish me. Hate me for what I did. But instead, she was kind and whispered, ‘Do not fail my people’ before leaving the tent. We never discussed it again.”
His recollection was filled with such emotion that I clutched my chest. I heard the tent flaps shift and something pound against the dirt outside, shaking us out of our intense conversation.
“I don’t know how you do it all,” I whispered as my eyes fluttered shut. Despite his sad story, exhaustion still clung to my senses.
“Same way we all do, Agapimenos. We just do what we can.” Tallis rolled his neck and scratched his forearm before leaning closer. I noticed grey circles under his eyes, too.
“You are such a hypocrite, Scavenger,” I said. Exhaustion made my sloth-like words drip and cling to each syllable.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re tired too.” I wordlessly shifted in the cot, making room for him. Tallis didn’t argue, even though indecision marred his expression. He slipped into bed beside me, and I bravely wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing in his smok
y scent. My lips trailed his neck and along his jaw line.
“Agapimenos, you’re killing me,” he moaned out and I smiled against him. “No more,” he added in a strained tone. My fingers traced the delicious V on his lower abdomen as I yawned.
“Why must you be so cruel?” I whined while pulling away and snuggling deeper into the cot.
“I could ask you the same question.” Tallis rolled over so that his muscular back was facing me. I tested my luck and wrapped my arms around his middle.
“I don’t want the world, Jules. I just want you to recognize that there is more here between us than lust and secrets.”
“Ok, so what if I told the world. What if I agreed to a courtship, what then?” I asked. “Would I become a Scavenger? Move here? One day marry you and be a Chief’s wife?”
Tallis turned to face me and smiled, as if envisioning our future together. He didn’t seem concerned by all the obstacles or even doubt that it would work.
“That sounds like a good plan to me,” he said softly while inching closer. “It's not so bad here, is it?”
“No,” I began, trying to visualize what he so easily saw. “I guess it isn’t.”
Tallis kissed me. It was a slow, drawn-out kiss meant to show me all that could be. How could something so new feel so good and make me feel so whole? I snuggled into him, reveling in the feel of him, as I drifted off into a deep sleep.
Chapter Twelve
Jules, wake up,” a voice said while shaking me. My eyes opened, and I squinted, blinking as they adjusted to the bright light from the lantern. After a moment, Tallis' worried expression came into focus.
“Wh—What’s going on?” I asked. My voice was still rough with sleep, and I coughed to clear it. I felt disoriented, then I remembered where I was.
“It’s Gordon,” Tallis began in a sad voice and my stomach dropped in worry. “He’s missing. We need everyone to search for him.” I sat straight up, causing my head to accidentally bump into him. We both held our foreheads while I shimmied off the low cot.
