He had a picture in his mind of how things should turn out. He could not accept this conclusion to his services for the North American government. Sure, he could buy another sap, but it wouldn’t be the same. He didn’t want another sap. He wanted Cali. And one way or another, he would have her.
He got the pad from Crane without much struggle from the boy. But when he scrolled through it, he found that his flamboyant admirer had told the truth. He had no information on Cali. It was as if she’d never existed. The office had the information, and they didn’t want Superiors like Draven getting it from the guards. So the guards didn’t have it.
Draven let go of Crane and stepped away in disgust. But he couldn’t give up yet. “I apologize,” he said, stepping back around the counter.
“Oh, it’s all right. I quite enjoyed it. I knew you’d be more masterful than you look.”
“If you want to help me, I’ll let you.”
“And what is this information worth to you?”
“Whatever you want it to be,” Draven said.
“Is that a promise you’re prepared to keep?”
“Let me put it this way. You give me what I need, I’ll give you what you want.”
“Ooh, boy. That’s what I want to hear.”
“Now tell me what I want to hear.”
“I’ll try,” Crane said, but he didn’t look very certain of his ability.
“Good. How long have you worked here?”
“Um. I don’t really know. I guess a few weeks, a few months maybe.” The boy shrugged.
“That’s long enough. The sap I wanted to buy, she lived in that house,” Draven said, pointing to the pile of trash where Cali had sheltered. “She had dark blonde hair, about this long,” he said, gesturing just past his shoulders to show Crane the length of Cali’s hair. “Amber colored eyes. Roundish face, perhaps sixteen human years. Freckles on her face. About this tall.” He tried to remember anything else about her that might help.
The boy started nodding. “Yeah, I remember her,” he said, more lively now that he knew he could help. “Kind of sickly looking? Walked slow?”
“Yes, she had been sick.”
“Yeah, I saw her come in at night a few times. She was late coming back from eating or I wouldn’t have noticed her.”
“All right, good. That’s good. Now, a few days ago a man came in and bought her. Do you remember his name?”
“Oh, shit. Um, yeah, I remember he came in and signed for her and everything. I checked his ID and shit, but I’m not that good with names. Let me think.”
Draven fought his urge to shake the brainless boy. How could he not remember? It was so important.
“Okay, yeah. I remember now. The guy said he liked her but she had an attitude problem and he wanted a discount. Which, by the way, I didn’t give him. He was maybe middle aged, brown hair, he had a gut. And real important looking. A Second Order for sure. Um, maybe an Enforcer? I think his name was King something.”
Draven stood perfectly still, and his breathing stopped. If he’d had a heartbeat, that would have stopped, too. His voice came out slow and measured. “Kingsley? Was his name Byron Kingsley?”
50
“Yeah, I think so. That sounds right, anyway,” Crane said.
Draven looked at the boy and the boy looked back blankly. Draven’s world began shifting slowly. It all made sense now—why Byron had gotten so upset when Draven had taken that particular sapien from the restaurant, why Byron had the doctor examine her to make sure Draven hadn’t done anything inappropriate. The unhealed bites, like on the trip. Byron always hurried because he didn’t like to touch the saps, and Cali had said the man who bit her always hurried. And Byron had sent her to Draven in the hospital, not so Draven could see that she lived, but because he thought Cali had the best sap.
To be fair, Draven had said he didn’t like her at one point. But he’d also later told Byron he did like her taste. That aside, he couldn’t stand the thought of Cali living her whole life in pain. And even though he believed Byron would never hurt her unnecessarily, he knew that the man had no feelings when it came to humans. Draven couldn’t stop thinking about the story of Byron killing the first sapien, the girl he crushed in his ignorance. Maybe it had never happened again, and maybe it never would. But perhaps...
“So I helped you out, I guess,” Crane said, leaning on the counter and swaying his hips slightly. “When do I get my payment?”
“When your information gets me my payment,” Draven said, and he turned and left, trailing his hand back to swipe his ID off the counter as an afterthought.
In the car, Draven contacted Byron. Byron’s face came onto the screen, blurry and divided. Draven had never fixed his dash screen. “You have my human,” Draven said. Might as well get to the point. Byron liked directness.
Now he laughed. “Ah, I thought you might say that.”
“And now I have.”
“My friend. It’s good to hear from you. I was glad to purchase my favorite sap when I found out I’d be rewarded with one when I left. I was afraid you’d buy her first when you got paid. It only worked out perfectly that you were so slow getting back after killing Ander. If you’d been faster, perhaps you would have bought her before I was sent away.”
So Byron hadn’t even had to pay for her. She served as his prize, his incentive for taking the assignment. Draven had worked so hard for her, and the government had just handed her over to Byron.
“Can I buy her from you?”
“I’m afraid not, soldier. I’m only sorry we have such similar tastes. I knew when you said you’d acquired the taste for her that you might try something like this. But remember, I’m your superior, Mr. Castle. I should have precedence over you in all things, the choosing of a sapien included. You understand, I’m sure.”
Byron admitted he was a man of principle. He was also a man of hierarchy. Just as he would always despise sapiens for their primitive natures, he would always believe he came before a Third. He always would.
“Yes, I understand,” Draven said, forcing his voice to stay neutral. “But I saved your life. Is that worth nothing?”
“Ah, yes. I’ll tell you what. Since I am fond of this sap’s particular flavor right now, I’ll take her on assignment. And in ten years, when I return, I’ll look you up and sell her to you for her value at that time. Which is less than you would pay now, probably. Saps decline with age, and she’s in her prime breeding age now. I’m getting a male for her to mate with so I can get a profit off the offspring and earn a little extra money in the deal. It’s the best way to go with livestock. I’ve bred the two I have as often as I can, and the saplings always bring in a pretty good price.”
“I don’t want her in ten years. I want her now.”
“Ah, see there, my friend, this is what I warned you about. You don’t focus on the big picture. You’re rash. So you like the taste of her, too. You’ll still like it in ten years. I’m really growing impatient. My offer is more than fair. You’ll most likely have her for more than ten years, considering how long saps usually live. So you’ll own her for longer than I do, anyway.”
“You gave her an infection by leaving her bites open. In ten years she’ll probably be dead.”
“See, there’s where you let your emotions get too involved with these saps. I know they can look pitiful, but you really shouldn’t get so attached. They’re just animals. Let it go, my friend. It’s nothing to lose your papers over. If she dies, you can find another sap you like. Maybe in ten years you won’t even remember her. You might find one you like better.”
“That won’t happen.”
“Very well then. I’d like to give you more advice, but I’m getting a bit hungry talking about this most appetizing sap. I think I’ll go have a bite to eat. Goodbye, soldier.”
Draven slammed his palm into the screen and the picture went out altogether. His friend would never change. Byron was as unchanging as time itself. He would never budge on this. Draven knew Byr
on’s offer was fair. He also knew that Byron made a cruel master, and that he would never ask Cali her permission for anything. Nor would he listen to any other requests, no matter how she begged. He would do with her what profited him, no matter the effect on Cali. Who knew how long before the same thing happened again, before she got poisoned or infected. Even if nothing drastic happened, she would live in pain for the next ten years. And Draven would live with a constant craving.
Worse still, Byron had snubbed Draven, insulted him. He had belittled his friend, dealt a blow to his pride. Draven didn’t consider himself an impulsive man, and he didn’t believe he had a temper. But perhaps he would amend that opinion. If Byron would do something underhanded to get what he wanted because he felt entitled, Draven could do the same thing.
When he arrived home, he sat and considered his next move. He couldn’t let Cali go that easily, not without a fight. And he didn’t want to wait ten years before he saw her again.
Byron could have planned the whole thing, let them take their time getting back so he could plan his departure for the night after their return. That way the government would give him Cali before Draven had the money for her. Byron had known Draven wanted her, and he hadn’t sent his report on the road like he could have. He had made sure Draven couldn’t buy Cali.
Draven thought about the things he had told himself. That he would get Cali, no matter what happened. That he would treat her better than other Superiors did. Certainly better than Byron.
He had told himself that he had killed a man for her.
He had wanted adventure, excitement. He had wanted an stimulating, varied life instead of a routine one. He had thought a sap couldn’t give him that.
But she’d proved him wrong.
Draven would take this journey alone. He would have the adventure, the struggle to survive. He had a long way to go to catch up with Byron, and he didn’t have a plan once he found the man. But he had said that tonight he would change his life. Nothing kept him from making that statement into truth. Nothing kept him from walking out of his apartment and his city and never looking back.
His bag was already packed.
The End.
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Acknowledgments
I need to thank all the wonderful people who made this book possible. My sisters, for being my guinea pigs and reading the terrible early draft. My editor Erin Valentine for all her encouragement, advice, and kindness. My cover artist Desiree DeOrto for her great work. My amazingly supportive parents, without whom my writing would not be possible. And most importantly, Gabriel, who drove me to write in the first place. I cannot thank any of you enough.
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