by Cait Ashwood
He followed Zad into the passageway, hyper vigilant. He noticed every sound, where the torches were, where hallways intersected, everything. If he had to get a tour of this hell hole, he was determined to remember every detail as clearly as he could. The screams that had faded from the entrance weren’t replaced here, but the sounds in this tunnel were almost worse. Weeping, soft moans, groans of pain, but nothing loud. Nothing immediate. These were sounds of people who had been suffering a long time, people who didn’t have the energy to put up a fight anymore.
The earthen walls fell away, and Deuce had a pretty good idea what he was going to see. Bars stretched away on either side, opening into two large communal cells. Women huddled in piles of rags here and there, some comforting each other, others as far away from anyone else as they could get. Not one of them looked up as they walked through, keeping their eyes steadily on the ground.
“You see, Josh? These women know their place, and it is in service to us.”
An infant cried off to his left, and the mother tried desperately to silence the child’s wails. Zaddicus turned on them, eyes narrowing as he stalked nearer. The key chain at his belt rattled, and the door swung open. The women parted before him like a wave, moving away as quickly as they could. Not a one of them tried for the open door behind him.
Deuce watched in horror as Zad strode towards the woman, ripping the child from her arms. He tore the swaddling cloth off and removed the diaper, staring at what was revealed.
“Another son? You dare to give me another son when I need daughters?” His pupils were pinpricks of rage, and he threw the child to the side. One of the younger women darted forward and barely managed to catch the babe before he hit the ground.
Deuce entered the cell behind Zad, bile rising in his throat. He didn’t know what he intended to do, but he couldn’t allow this to continue.
The mother of the child rose stiffly to her feet, her eyes wide in panic. She slowly began removing her clothing with jerky, uncoordinated movements reminiscent of a marionette. Deuce moved beside Zad, opening his mouth to object.
“This is her punishment. If she is pleasing to you, you may take her. If not, she goes to the Pit. Maybe she can be of more use to me there.”
Deuce stared on helplessly as the woman continued to strip until she was naked in the torchlight, the flickering flames revealing the hollow of her stomach and each rib as it protruded from her skin. The only thing he wanted to do to her was get her out and get her fed, but the other half of the threat weighed heavily on him.
“The Pit?” How he kept his voice steady, he had no idea. His body seemed to be operating on auto-pilot; too overwhelmed to even react to what he was seeing. His mind was similarly blank, and he found it difficult to think.
“Ah yes, I haven’t taken you there yet. The Pit houses the Seekers under my command. She’d be a serving wench, and of course she’d take care of the men’s other needs whenever they please. It’s the only way to teach these wretches.” He turned, wheeling towards the woman who had caught the baby.
“You may keep him, if only because I’ve lost soldiers recently. Let him replace the son you lost, eh?” The woman cradled him to her chest, looking fearfully at the mother.
Deuce could barely breathe around the lump in his throat. “If I am to have quarters here, I will need a wench of my own, will I not?” He tried to make the words sound careless, possibly even venomous. He had no idea if he succeeded, but the smile he earned from Zaddicus made him think he’d been convincing enough.
“I do like the way you think, my son. She is yours, then.” Zad gestured at the woman dismissively. “Cover yourself and report to the upper quadrant. You’ll get further instructions there.”
The woman dropped to her knees, gathering her scattered garments and clutching them to her chest, staring at both of them fearfully. Deuce forced himself to turn away and exit the cell, not giving her a second glance. He couldn’t avoid the eyes of the new ‘mother,' however, and the look she gave him pierced him to his core.
Deuce waited outside the cell as Zaddicus made a pass through the cell, cowing the women. He seemed to take a perverse satisfaction from it and was smiling as he shut the door and relocked it. Deuce couldn’t make himself look at the women in the cells on the other side, but he did manage to keep his head up and appear alert. In truth, he couldn’t have said what was in front of his eyes. He was spacing out; it was the only way he could handle it all.
“Shall I show you the Pit, next? Your rooms won’t be there, but it’s where our soldiers have their quarters.” Zaddicus had lost the overzealous approach and now seemed to be more menacing.
“I should get to know my men.” He felt hollow as he uttered the words. Luckily for him, he’d always been a great liar. At one point, his life had depended on that skill.
“Good! I’m glad you’re already feeling at home. I tried to keep you in mind as I arranged everything.” Zad rambled as he led them out of the Order’s dungeon, selecting another path from the circular antechamber and taking him into the darkness once more. This tunnel cut deeper into the earth and ended on a balcony of sorts, which was part of a lip running around yet another circular room, this one comprised of about five levels in total. They were on the third level, and Deuce could only imagine the number of troops that Zad had at his command; there were at least three hundred doors, if not closer to four hundred, and who knew how many men could fit in each room.
“Are all the rooms filled, or is there room here for growth?” Deuce was praying it was the latter.
“Oh, definitely room for growth. I’m hoping a great number of the surface Seekers can be converted.” Zaddicus gestured towards the railing, which overlooked a furnace many stories below. “There’s room here for so much more.”
Deuce approached the railing, looking up. The entire compound appeared to have been dug out of the ground and reinforced to prevent collapse. The amount of time and raw labor to have created this boggled his mind. With the current population, it didn’t seem possible that this place was created during his lifetime.
A commotion a floor below caught his attention. A woman was screaming as a man grabbed her around the waist from behind, his other hand groping at her chest. Deuce didn’t even think; he phased down to the lower level and ripped the woman away from the Seeker, putting himself between her and her assailant. The man was furious, advancing on Deuce with his lip snarled.
“Just who the hell do you think you are?” He spat over the rail, advancing slowly.
Zad phased in next to Deuce, frowning at him.
Deuce glanced briefly at Zad, returning his attention to the soldier.
“What the hell have you done to earn that?” Deuce snarled at the man, advancing on him. Just because he wasn’t a fighter didn’t mean he couldn’t get his blood up for a good reason. Abuse of a woman was a good reason.
“Sex is a reward for exemplary work in the field. You want to nut in something besides your hand?” He jabbed the man in the chest. “You fucking earn it, first.”
The soldier looked from Deuce to Zad and back again. “Who’s this guy, boss?”
Zad crossed his arms over his chest, grinning and shaking his head. “Your new boss.”
The man opened his mouth and closed it several times, like he wanted to object but thought better of it.
Deuce gritted his teeth. “Prove. Yourself.”
The man’s upper lip twitched. “Yes, sir.”
The woman had long since vanished, hopefully to a different level so she wouldn’t be the target of his anger once Deuce left. He was getting glares from several of ‘his’ men now, but he didn’t give two shits. He turned to Zad, hoping to capitalize on this event.
“I understand that being here is the women’s punishment, but I simply can’t have rampant sexual encounters happening among the troops. It’s undisciplined and does nothing for morale. They want it; they should have to work for it.”
Zad smiled, clapping him on the shoulder a
gain. “You’re absolutely right. Consider it law.” Zad looked across the ring, catching another Seeker’s eye. The man phased over, crossing his arm over his chest in salute.
“Pass the word around. Women are off limits unless offered as a reward.”
The man’s eyes widened briefly in surprise, but there was no hesitation in his response. “At once.”
Zad turned back to Deuce, gesturing back down the hall they had come. “You’re going to be just the breath of fresh air this place needs.”
Deuce was happy to trail behind Zaddicus as they returned to the circular antechamber. So far, he’d managed to make small improvements in the women’s lives, and he’d only been here an hour. He was going to have to be more careful in the future to ensure his actions were always taken in the best light, but if he was stuck in this crap situation, he was going to try and make the best of it. I need to get to know this place like the back of my hand, then get the information to Tops.
One other thing worried Deuce as he followed Zad through yet another wing of the compound toward the cafeteria. Everyone here was tainted, connected to Zad at a primal level. As of yet, he was sure he was unaffected, but he had no doubt that succumbing to the taint would be a condition of his continued residence here. He had to come up with a legitimate reason to delay it.
“A question, if you don’t mind.” He could smell the food from the cafeteria, but all it did was turn his stomach. “The food is how you administer the taint?”
Zad smiled. “Not much gets past you.”
Deuce nodded. “I’d like clean food, if possible. There are a few men above I’d like to recruit ahead of the main wave, but to do so, I’ll have to be free of the taint when I approach them. They’ve got Chosen scanning for it now, I’ve heard. I’ll never get within a mile of them if I’m compromised.”
Zad frowned. “The taint offers such strength. It even reverses aging, Deuce. We could live forever.”
“And while that certainly has its benefits, I won’t be able to convince them to come if I’m tainted. I can afford to age another year or so before beginning treatments. Dependent, of course, on your timetable.” Deuce shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant.
Zad stared at him for a long time, eyes slightly narrowed. “Swear to it.”
Deuce swallowed but didn’t have a choice. It’s the truth; I’ll submit to the taint when I can convince Ace to come to this side. Which will be never. It’s not a lie. He had to reassure himself several times before he slipped between planes, neither here nor in the other plane entirely.
“I swear that once I have recruited my men to the taint, I will submit to it myself.” He was relieved to slip out of the state on his own and not be yanked out of it due to a falsehood. At least some part of me believes this. And how messed up is that?
Zad nodded, the corners of his mouth slowly tugging into a grin. “Then you’ll have clean rations.”
Deuce followed Zad the rest of the way into the cafeteria and watched as his food was brought out separately from back in the kitchen and not off the main lines. So far, so good. But as for an exit plan? He had nothing.
9
“Are you ready for this?” Audrey looked at Gwyn, who was pacing nervously and wringing her hands. “No one will think less of you if you’re not comfortable making a public appearance.”
Gwyn looked up at her, the whites of her eyes larger than normal. “Just part of a team, right?”
“Exactly.” Audrey glanced at several of the Chosen milling about in the courtyard of the Institute. She was back to wearing Chosen green, as the Seekers didn’t want to announce the return of the Order formally to the population until the issue with the tainted Seekers resolved itself.
Audrey smiled as Jess wandered over. “Gwyn, this is Jess, one of the girls I was traveling with on my arrival.”
Jess stuck out her hand confidently. “Nice to meet you.”
Gwyn stared at the proffered hand, clutching both of hers close to her chest.
Jess frowned, pulling her hand back.
Audrey cleared her throat. “Gwyn hasn’t met too many new people. She’s been ‘sheltered,’ I suppose would be an appropriate word.”
“Right. Well, all that matters is that you two can do the heavy lifting in the Grove. There’s mostly empowerers here, so we’ll back you up if you need it.” Jess looked between Audrey and Gwyn, her eyes speaking volumes.
“Excuse me for one minute, Gwyn.” Audrey touched Jess on the arm and headed away from the poor woman.
“What’s her problem?” Jess jerked her thumb over her shoulder in Gwyn’s direction.
Audrey glanced over, worried that Gwyn would have seen the gesture, but Gwyn was currently pacing in the opposite direction. “Look, she’s been kept in an underground compound her entire life. All she’s known is threats and fear. It’s…going to take her a while to adapt.” If ever. Gwyn hadn’t shown much improvement from the last time they’d worked together and, with the crowd that had gathered here today, she was actually worse.
“Well, no way to get used to things but to get out there and do it.” Jess shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“I’m aware, but please try not to be too caustic or impatient with her?” Audrey and Jess hadn’t exactly hit it off when they first started working together, and only after a massive fight did they start being able to tolerate each other well enough to work together. Jess was the sort of person who didn’t sugar coat anything and often rubbed people the wrong way.
“Right. Avoid Ms. Special Snowflake. Got it.” Jess rolled her eyes but smiled before joining her fellow Chosen.
They had a substantial Seeker escort and would be visiting Amberfoot momentarily. The agricultural hub of the cities, Amberfoot was the town that most needed attention. Tops wasn’t happy with Audrey being so exposed but agreed that if she had to go anywhere, Amberfoot was the place to be.
Audrey was anxious for a host of other reasons. Amberfoot’s Grove had a guardian; a member of the Order who forsook their physical body to join spiritually with the Grove. Most of the time, these were seasoned members of the Order who didn’t want their knowledge lost to time. In the case of Amberfoot’s Grove, it was a prison sentence. The guardian of Amberfoot was Lynnara, and the woman had saved Audrey’s life and that of her unborn children after being poisoned by tainted agents. The kicker was, Lynnara had then attempted to leave the Grove via Audrey’s body, and only Ace phasing her out of there in the nick of time had kept the woman safely chained to the Grove.
There was simply no avoiding the place, however, and Audrey hadn’t been able to arrange a visit with Gwyn to discuss it with her ahead of time. Seeing the woman all ramped up already took the wind out of Audrey’s sails. She couldn’t bring herself to distress Gwyn any further.
“Everyone knows their positions?” Tops’ voice rang out authoritatively, and the Seekers took up positions around the outside of the group, a formation slowly becoming apparent. Gwyn and Audrey stood side by side in the center, surrounded by the Chosen, wrapped up in a layer of Seeker black.
“Good. Let’s get this show on the road, people.” Tops blinked out as he phased, then the medallion in the center of the courtyard pulsed, giving them the all-clear.
Audrey held her breath as they blinked between places, reappearing with a soft gasp in the town square of Amberfoot. It was the first town she’d ever visited, and her brand-new party had been met with axes by the local townsfolk. She sincerely hoped that wasn’t their reception this time as well.
“It’s the Chosen!” The shout went up from a child hiding behind a porch post, and the adults were quick to follow, converging on the square and muttering among themselves.
A small group of older folks singled themselves out from the whole, approaching the Chosen ensemble. Audrey recognized one of the men in front, a man that had given them quite a bit of trouble last time. She pushed her way through to the outer ranks of the Chosen but remained behind her Seeker guards. Ace was back hom
e with the twins, as it was their policy that one of them be with the children at all times. Not knowing these Seekers as well, she wasn’t going to push her luck.
“Jacob? It’s good to see you again.” She smiled graciously, having gotten rather adept at faking emotions in public.
Jacob cleared his throat, squinting at her for a moment before stepping forward. “You’re one uh Gretta’s girls, yes?”
Audrey clenched her fist at her side, her happy-go-lucky expression slipping from her face for just a moment. She was thankful when Jess bumped into her side as the other woman came to stand next to her.
“Sure were. We’ve graduated, though.” Jess’ confidence was almost inspiring at times. Simply nothing bothered the other woman.
“Oh. Woulda been nice t’see her again.”
Too bad she almost killed Ace, and I turned her into a tree. Should probably have Gwyn take a look at that, honestly. Not sure what I did there, but Gretta can’t hurt anyone now, at least.
Jess covered Audrey’s lapse effortlessly. “I hear she’s doing work a bit further east now.”
Jacob seemed to mull that information over for a bit before frowning, putting his hands on his hips. “You’re a bit late in t’season ta be getting started, ain’t ya?”
Tops stepped forward, not blocking Audrey entirely, but asserting his position. “We’re here now.”
Jacob glanced at the panel of elders behind him. “Righ’ then. Y’all know where it is.”
Tops turned away, muttering under his breath. “Indeed we do.”
The party made their way to the Grove, the Seekers doing a sweep through the sanctuary before allowing the women to enter. Audrey’s heart started racing just seeing the Grove again and the closer she got, the harder it was to breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Gwyn’s soft voice almost went completely unnoticed, but Audrey’s brain finally managed to make sense of the words.
